Domination is Ok, As Long as Its Us

Sometimes you have to wonder how F1 Team Principals keep a straight face when they talk to the media...

Whether it's Bob Fernley at Force India when he claims that the team's opposition to Manor/Marrusia's return isn't related to money, or any time anybody at Ferrari says pretty much anything about their performance...

But this week's (or at least today's) "Are you kidding me?" award  has to go to Red Bull's bearded leader Christian Horner...  To be more specific, FOUR TIME CONSTRUCTOR'S CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING Red Bull's bearded leader Christian Horner who in an interview stated that Mercedes current engine advantage is turning away fans...    This is the same team boss who in 2013 as the team and Sebastian Vettel were cruising to their 4th consecutive championships stated that he wasn't concerned by the "boring dominance."

As some point I'm sure that Ferrari is also going to chime in over how Mercedes is ruining the sport by continuing to be successful.  Why not, when they've done it before?  Besides, it makes perfect sense for a team that won 8 Constructors Championships in 10 years (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007,2008) to complain that it's boring when a single team is successful over a long period of time...

Are The Buzzards Circling Force India?

Force India, while a strong mid-pack team hasn't traditionally been a financially strong team.  Much of the team's finances were based on the successes of team owner Vijay Mallya, and one of the big pieces of his fortune was the low cost airline Kingfisher Air.

Things looked dim for the team in late 2012 when Kingfisher went bust, but somehow the team struggled along.   Cracks started appearing again around Austin when team principal Bob Fernley threatened to boycott the race due to concerns over F1s distribution of funds to the teams.  Ultimately no boycott happened but grumbling continued.

Force India missed last week's testing.

As we mentioned last week, Force India vetoed Manor Racing's push to start this season with a 2014.  To date the team is the only one to come forward and admit to vetoing the entry, which they insist wasn't due to financial reasons even though they'll get more money from FOM if Marrusia's 2014 prize money is forfeit.

We also got word last week that even though Force India won't let Manor run with at 2014 car - Force India will be doing just that at this week's testing.  The reason for the 2014 car - because supposedly the failure of Caterham and Marussia delayed wind tunnel testing and suppliers now want cash up front.

But money is apparently so tight at Force India, that not only aren't they running their 2015 car at the second test - but Force India will be letting Mercedes development driver Pascal Wehrlein drive the first two days of this week's test...  It's doubtful that this isn't being done without Mercedes providing Force India with some "financial consideration"

But outside of Formual 1 it appears that there are further cracks in Vijay Mallya's empire.  The State Bank of India (SBI) is reportedly about to seize Kingfisher House home to key offices of the grounded airline.  Mallya's apparently been named a "Willful Defaulter" by the United Bank of India and SBI is preparing to do the same, for being able to pay back his debts, but refusing to do so.  

Kingfisher Airlines wasn't Mallya's only business, he has a minority stake in Diageo a major beverage company, and is the Chairman of United Beverages Group (which produces Kingfisher Beer), along with three Indian football teams.  None of these groups appear to be struggling, so the money may be there to feed to Force India - if Mallya is inclined to.  Right now, he seems to be willing to let the team flounder through the pre-season.

 

First 2015 Winter Test Complete

Last week was the first test of the F1 season in Jerez, Spain, and here's some of what we know and don't know...

1. Force India wasn't there - claiming everything from supplier issues, to cold temps, to an abrasive track surface, to Jerez just not being relevant, Force India was absent from last week's testing.  They admit that this year's car isn't ready yet, and won't be ready for the second test in about two weeks.  Rumors are circling that the team not only won't be ready to test at either session in Barcelona, but won't be ready to compete in Melbourne.
2. Ferrari power was fastest in Jerez - On the plus side Ferrari powered cars were at the top of the time sheets every day of testing last week, with only Sauber taking the top spot from Ferrari one day of testing.  What we don't know, about Ferrari's performance - a lot.  For starters, was either team's speed due to better engine performance or a lower fuel load?  Was either Ferrari team running at full power?
3. Mercedes ran a lot.  On the first day of testing they got in a staggering 157 laps, which may be a record for any day of testing.  Over the course of the entire test, Mercedes got in 516 laps - no other team ran more than 400 laps.  The one weakness of the team last year was reliability, and while the test wasn't trouble free for the team it looks like they've made progress on stamping out last year's bugs...  The question is - how much did they have their power unit turned down?
4. McLaren Honda ran a little.  Much like last year's post season test in AbuDhabi, McLaren Honda is still struggling to get their program in gear. They did get in more running than Red Bull did last year, so I guess that's a plus.  At least Eric Boullier says it is...
5. Red Bull is hiding something.  Red Bull's new car ran the test clad in swirly camouflage more commonly spotted on concept cars being tested by an auto maker and not typically found on a race car.  So the question is - what are they hiding?
6. Caterham is done.  Probably.  Administrator Finbarr O'Connell says that the packages for the potential buyers weren't as advanced as he would have liked and now the team is up for liquidation.  Auctions are scheduled for March to sell off several of the remaining assets.  So it looks like the team is done.
7. Marussia might not be done. Even though much of the team's assets were auctioned off in December, it's not all gone yet, and Graeme Lowdon, former team principal says that he has the money to resurrect the team now known as Manor Racing.  The problem is, they don't currently have a car that's compliant with the 2015 regulations.  The team got clearance from the FIA to run a modified 2014 car to start the season - but the teams get final approval of the plan and they needed to approve it unanimously.  Unfortunately Force India voted it down.  Now remember, in order for Marussia/Manor to collect their share of the 2014 prize fund that they're owed, they need to compete in 2015, if the team can't compete in 2015 that share of the prize money goes to the remaining teams...  Bob Fernley at Force India swears that his veto of Manor's application wasn't money related, Bob Fernley at Force India who tried to stage a boycott of last year's Grand Prix of America due how prize money is distributed.  Bob Fernley at Force India - who missed the first test of the season, will most likely miss the second test of the season and rumor has it, might not make it to the first race of the season...  As the saying goes - J'Accuse!!!

Here Come The 2015 Cars - Updated

With the first Winter Test of the 2015 season just 7 days away it's time for our first peek at this year's contenders.

• Williams was first out of the gate with their car revealed on January 21st.
• Force India has revealed their 2015 livery - but not their car design.  Also on the 21st, the team will miss next week's test in Jerez.  It's expected that their 2015 challenger will be revealed at test 2 in Barcelona on February  19th.
• Shortly after this was first posted - Lotus released images of their 2015 competitor.

Here's the rest of the reveal schedule:

• McLaren's FP4-30 - January 29
• Ferrari's SF15-T - January 30
• Toro Rosso STR-10 - January 31
• Mercedes F1 W06 - February 1
• Sauber C34 - TBA
• Red Bull RB11 - TBA

This year's pre-season test schedule:

• February 1 - 4; Jerez, Spain
• February 19-22; Barcelona, Spain

February 26 - March 1; Barcelona, Spain

Common Sense Prevails! Kind Of

In a quick follow up to last week's post, the BBC is reporting that it appears that common sense has prevailed over at the FIA.  Last night Formula 1's Race Director and Chief Rules Enforcer announced to that teams that Honda will be held to the same standards as the rest of the grid when it comes to upgrading engines during the 2015 season.  That is, Honda will be able to upgrade their engines during the season - but because this is the FIA and Formula 1, neither of which can get out of their own way, Honda may not be able to upgrade their engines AS MUCH as the rest of the grid...

At some point during the year, this issue is sure to raise it's head again...