Ong Chi Hang

Pirelli Revealed Tyre Compounds For Canada, Europe & Great Britain!

Pirelli has allocated tyre compounds for upcoming races in Montreal, Valencia and Silverstone. Every allocation in this year has brought us some interesting, unpredictable races with a wide range of race strategy.

In Montreal, P Zero Yellow soft and P Zero Red Super-soft tyres are being allocated as the nature of the circuit is tight and twisty and requires maximum grip from the tyres. The tyre compounds are the same compounds allocated for Monaco this weekend.
In Valencia, P Zero White medium and P Zero Yellow soft tyres will be used. Valencia is a street circuit like Montreal, Monaco and Singapore, however given the higher temperature and speed, medium and soft tyres are most suitable.
In Silverstone, P Zero Silver hard and P Zero Yellow soft tyres are being allocated. Silverstone is one of the fastest circuit in a season. To open up more opportunities and possibilities, hard and soft tyres are the best combination.
In case of wet weather, Pirelli will be bringing its Cinturato Green intermediate and Cinturato Blue rain tyres.

Overview of the tyre allocations in 2012 :

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Features

Preview of 2012 Spanish Grand Prix Formula 1 Circuit de Catalunya

Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona is the venue for the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix Formula 1 on 11-13 May 2012. Soft & hard tyre compounds have been allocated for this race. The circuit is a all-rounder circuit with a variety of corners and long straights and teams have all agreed that the conditions in this circuit will be similar to what can be expected at forthcoming events. Teams have tested on this circuit for so many times that they are extremely familiar with it. So, tyre strategy will have a more important role here than on other circuits. On the new 2012 Pirelli tyres with heavier degradation than before, a more exciting and challenging race can be expected in Spain.

At the first four races in this season, all teams have suffered from the common issue which is the heavy tyre degradation and because of that, the winners of all the four races come from different teams respectively. Performance from the teams has been inconsistent since the understanding of the tyres is still insufficient. However, the teams have learnt and improved much on their cars during the in-season testing at Mugello so we can expect a more consistent performance from all the teams.

The circuit is known to have less amount of overtakes despite the long straights. Hamilton believes overtaking will be a big challenge here this year. His gear ratio choice last year failed to allow him enough speed to overtake Vettel in the DRS zone and had placed him second on the podium. The conditions of the circuit is also known to change with the wind and temperature. The effect of the changing wind directions is significant due to the importance of aerodynamics in F1 cars. It is quite difficult for the teams to find a good balance for the car’s set-up. The changeable conditions of the circuit can make the race more interesting with unexpected conditions.

Mercedes’s driver Schumacher has warned against high expectations for his team, “Barcelona is a track we have driven extensively on, and this is why we know that its characteristics do not exactly play fully into our hands.” Team-mate Rosberg is more positive on the next race in Spain because of better understanding of the tyres and how to set up the cars. Lotus’s driver Raikkonen expects Lotus to be very competitive and to be very close between the top teams. Red Bull also agreed that the race will be very tight and tricky due to changing conditions and upgrades from all the teams.

Vettel has won the race in Spain last year and also the previous race in Bahrain this year. Can he manage to win again in Spain as the race is full of uncertainties in track and tyre conditions and fiercer competition due to upgraded performance from other teams?

For more information on the issues of the new Pirelli’s tyres, you can read our previous post here.

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Photos, Social Media

Vodafone Hungary’s ‘Raise Your Game’ Weekend

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Jenson Button drove a Formula 1 car through the heart of Budapest on Tuesday May 1. Improvement – the desire to do better – is the common theme of the Raise Your Game weekend, with a wide choices of competitions in which the winners will get to meet Jenson in person. This had provided a perfect conclusion to the full entertainment weekend by Vodafone Hungary to celebrate the modernisation of its network.

All photos acquired from Vodafone McLaren Mercedes official Facebook page.

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Features, News

Preview of In-Season Testing at Mugello

The first in-season F1 testing since 2008 will starts on Tuesday 1 May at Mugello. The 3 days intensive testing is expected to give the teams a better understanding of the new 2012 Pirelli tyres and provide opportunities to evaluate new components, run different setups for analysis and introduce significant updates for the cars. However, the aerodynamics and setups for the Mugello’s high speed nature is only relevant for tracks like Silverstone and Suzuka and does not suit circuits like Monaco. It is up to the teams to decide how to reap the most out of the 3 day testing at Mugello.

Ferrari has been working on the update package, believed to include new exhaust configurations as well as sidepod and bodywork tweaks, hopefully will bring the team in front of the grid since the F2012 is lacking in performance from the start of the season. Mercedes is another team trying to make the most out of the 3 day testing. The pace of W03 is fast but failed to deliver consistent performance. Lotus will be trying things they cannot do on race weekends like different suspension setups rather than just aerodynamic updates. McLaren is the only team who will not be using its race drivers over the 3 days, with Gary Paffett and Oliver Turvey on duty in the MP4-27. HRT will not take part in the test because it wants to focus its efforts on its new factory move.

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Photos

Mark Webber Meme

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Features, Opinion

Poll : Are 2012 Pirelli tyres limiting the pace of the F1 races?

The main thing I feel unhappy about is everyone has to drive well below a driver’s, and in particular, the car’s limits to maintain the tyres. I just question whether the tyres should play such a big importance, or whether they should last a bit longer, and that you can drive at normal racing car speed and not cruise around like we have a safety car. I’m not happy about the situation, let’s see what happens in future. If it was a one-off car issue, you could say it’s up to us to deal with it. But basically it is everybody, with maybe one or two exceptions, and if it is 80% of the field that has this problem, then maybe the tyre supplier should think about that. – Michael Schumacher, 2012

In 2012 F1 season, Pirelli has introduced new tyres with squarer profiles, increased grip, and softer, more competitive compounds with consistent degradation. Their objective is to ensure entertaining and unpredictable races all the way down to the chequered flag, with two to three pit stops per race, a stronger emphasis on team strategies, and reduced performance gap between compounds. Tyres are now playing a more important role in F1 races than ever before.

Formula 1 teams agreed that improving strategy calls will be the key factor to make the most out of the current Pirelli tyres. Teams have to understand the nature of the degradation, wear-based or thermal-based and make their race strategies work for them. Drivers are now more important in calling for a pit stop because they are the sensors in the car and they can sense when the tyres are past their useful life. Ferrari’s head of race operations Diego Ioverno says that the biggest complication this year is trying to time the first stop of the race because of the dangers of getting trapped behind slower traffic. Due to the reduced performance gap between compounds, the field has become more compact and it is impossible to not fall behind traffic now.

Getting the tyres into the right operating window is now more essential for success this year. Swiss commentator and former F1 driver Marc Surer said, “It’s been a question of who can make them work, and that is depending on a number of factors.” McLaren’s team principal, Martin Whitmarsh, agreed that exploiting the tyres is now more important than delivering improvements to the cars as Hamilton and Button struggled to match the pace of Red Bull and Lotus in Bahrain. Lotus trackside operations director Alan Permane says they are still trying to understand how to exploit the tyres this year and make them last for as long as possible because there are still performance differentials that do not make sense. In Bahrain, the tyres appeared to be working for them and Red Bull.

Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery says that the tyres allow the best engineers and drivers to shine and produce exciting races. “The season so far has been fantastic. We’ve had four different winners and four different championship leaders. So the competition has never been closer and part of that is down to the fact that everyone has exactly the same opportunities and challenges with the tyres.” In response to the heavy degradation issues, he said “At the end of last year we had huge criticism for conservative choices and the races were boring. Make your mind up. We are doing what is asked.”

Quotes from teams :
McLaren’s Jenson Button : “We know we were slow (in Bahrain) but we don’t understand why.”
Mercedes’ Norbert Haug : “The challenge is how to use the tyres, how to set up your car.”
Red Bull’s Christian Horner : “I think this year the tyre has dominated performance and I think it’s crucial to understand how they work.”
Lotus’ Eric Boullier : “It’s clear that the key for performance is the tyres.”
Former HRT driver Vitantonio Liuzzi : “The tyres are not blowing up, they are not blistering and it’s always a challenge for both drivers and engineers to set up the car properly and get the maximum out of them.”

So, what do you think about the new 2012 Pirelli’s tyres? Are they making races more exciting or just limiting the performance of the cars? Let us know!

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Related articles :
Tyre Trouble? by Podium Finish

Features, Photos

Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit Walk On Normal Days

There are 10 more races until the 2012 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit on 21-23 September 2012. The circuit hosted the first night race in Formula 1’s history. The track is 5.073 km long in a harbourside location similar to Monaco and Valencia and it consists of public roads and temporary track sections (Turn 16 to Turn 19 & Turn 20 to Turn 3) around the CBD area. The circuit is very unique that it is being surrounded by many world-renowned attractions like the Esplanade, The Float @ Marina Bay, The Helix Bridge, ArtScience Museum, Singapore Flyer, Gardens By The Bay, War Memorial Park, Raffles Landing Site, The Asian Civilisation Museum, Merlion Park and hotels like Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz-Carlton, Marina Bay Sands, Pan Pacific, Marina Mandarin, Swissôtel The Stamford and The Fullerton Hotel. There are several corners being named specially such as Turn 1 named after the second President of Singapore and Turn 10 named after a world famous cocktail from Singapore.

Track under ECP — The track passes under ECP (East Coast Parkway) on the pit straight before Sheares (Turn 1).

Skid marks on Sheares (Turn 1). This corner was named after Benjamin Henry Sheares, the 2nd President of Singapore.

The Green Room is being constructed near Turn 2. In 2009, Mark Webber’s car hit the barriers at Turn 2 which ended his race prematurely.

Cars need to brake to about 90 km/h to tackle Turn 3. DRS detection zone is between Turn 3 & Turn 4.

The temporary marking on the public road after Turn 3 during Singapore Grand Prix.

The look of the pit building from behind at Turn 4.

Turn 5 is behind the Singapore Flyer. This is the start of the DRS activation zone.

Movable kerbs are used along the track for easy removal during Singapore Grand Prix.

The long straight after Turn 5 provides overtaking opportunities with DRS activated.

Shopping centres & MRT stations are in proximity throughout the whole circuit. Millenia Walk on the left and Promenade Circle Line MRT station on the right.

Turn 6 sandwiched by the two permanent overpasses on the long straight.

Directly at Turn 6 is the Pan Pacific Hotel.

The section of long straight close to Turn 7.

Memorial (Turn 7) with South Beach, a planned commercial and residential complex with green technology on the right.

Civilian War Memorial, also known as “The Chopsticks” at Memorial (Turn 7). In 2011, Hamilton was given a drive-through penalty for puncturing Massa’s tyre.

The corner in front (Turn 8) is very unique as the cars will come round again for Turn 14. In 2011, Schumacher has crashed into retirement at Turn 8.

Four such underpasses are located at the four corners of Turn 8 or Turn 14 to allow spectators to move around the circuit easily.

Singapore Recreation Club on the left side of the track just after Turn 8.

Swissôtel The Stamford, one of the tallest hotels in Southeast Asia, is right next to the track at Turn 9.

The long straight after Turn 9 beside The Padang (“Field” in Malay language) set against the Singapore skyline.

The Padang mainstage will be located here where Maroon 5, Katy Perry and Jay Chou will be performing during the race weekend in 2012.

The original look of the famous “Singapore Sling” (Turn 10). This corner is named after a world renowned cocktail originated from Singapore.

The Asian Civilization Museum near Turn 12.

The section of the track on Anderson Bridge, named after Governor of the Straits Settlements and High Commissioner for the Federated Malay States (1904–1911), Sir John Anderson.

Close proximity with the track on the sideways of Anderson Bridge.

The Fullerton Waterboat House at Turn 13. It was built in 1919 and was
designed by the renowned architectural firm, Swan & Maclaren and the building resembles the circular stern of a ship.

The Fullerton Hotel, which is also the former General Post Office Building is right next to Turn 13.

One Fullerton is also located at Turn 13.

Turn 13 consists of the right lane of the blue bus in the picture to the left lane of Esplanade Drive in the background.

After Turn 13 is a long straight about 500 metres before meeting up with Turn 14 or Turn 8 beside the Esplanade.

Underpass beside the Esplanade Bridge where the sound is amplified several times with fantastic reverberation.

The view of Esplanade Bridge and Esplanade on the far side under the bridge.

Merlion Park at Turn 13 with the famous Singapore skyline backdrop.

The long straight of Esplanade Bridge in reverse direction.

The view of Esplanade from the location of Connaught Grandstand.

Marina Square shopping centre on the left of the track at Turn 15.

The rear view of Bay Grandstand from Turn 16.

The front view of Bay Grandstand from Turn 17.

The view from Turn 18 in reverse direction. Cars going under the grandstand after this.

The section of the track that goes under the grandstand.

Turn 19, the exit from the Bay Grandstand.

The junction just before Turn 20 which leads into the temporary track sections.

Turn 21 which goes under ECP with Gardens By The Bay on the left side & Marina Bay Sands on the right side in the background.

The view of the last straight before the last two turns.

The Urban Beach Bar at Singapore Flyer is less than 4 metres to the pit lane.

The last turn of the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

The Float @ Marina Bay, the world’s largest floating stage is directly in front of Bay Grandstand, between Turn 17 & Turn 18.

For more information, please visit Singapore Grand Prix official website, Facebook page, Twitter page or Pinterest site.

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Features, Opinion

Opinion : Should F1 also be cancelled in Bahrain this year ???

The 2011 Grand Prix, due to be held on 13 March, was cancelled on 21 February because of the 2011 Bahraini protests. The race was canceled for 2011 after drivers including Damon Hill and Mark Webber protested. World champion racer Damon Hill called on Formula One not to reschedule saying that holding the race in the “blood-soaked” kingdom would be on a par with sporting tours that chose to play in Apartheid South Africa in the 1980s.

In Bahrain, people have been protesting against the 2012 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. Bahraini protests were initially aimed at achieving greater political freedom and equality for the majority Shia population. Bahrain’s Shia majority has often complained of receiving poor treatment in employment, housing, and infrastructure, while Sunnis have preferential status. Bahraini youths described their plans as an appeal for Bahrainis to take to the streets on Monday 14 February in a peaceful and orderly manner in order to rewrite the constitution and to establish a body with a full popular mandate to investigate and hold to account economic, political and social violations, including stolen public wealth, political naturalisation, arrests, torture and other oppressive security measures, and institutional and economic corruption. However, following a deadly night raid on 17 February 2011 against protesters at the Pearl Roundabout in Manama, protesters started calling for an end to the monarchy of King Hamad. Since then, Bahrain has been bitterly divided. A year on, protests still occur daily in Shi’ite areas, often ending in violence.

A month later after the cancellation of the 2011 Grand Prix, the Bahrain International Circuit fired twenty-nine employees who were suspected of sympathizing and supporting the protesters. Some employees said they were beaten and tortured by Bahraini police. 1600 government workers were also dismissed without any reasons. Bahraini police have been firing tear gas to the demonstrators and arresting them. According to statistics from Wikipedia, 64% of detainees or 1866 individuals have reported being tortured and at least 5 individuals have died as a result. As of 24 March 2012, the uprising resulted in about 86 deaths. The number of injuries is estimated to be 2908 on March 2011. The government is responsible to at least 34 deaths due to excessive use of tear gas.

Activists have intensified their campaign to push Formula One to cancel the Bahrain round of the world championship, slated for 20-22 April 2012 at the Sakhir, south-west of Manama. “We object to holding a sports race that belittles the sacrifices of our children and ignores our suffering and wounds. Do not tarnish the reputation of the respected auto sport with the blood of Bahrain victims.” On Twitter, a whole campaign has been launched against the return of the Grand Prix to Bahrain. “Stop, my blood is flowing” and “Race over blood,” were two slogans posted by activists on Twitter, where hash-tags like “BloodyF1” and “NoF1” generate scores of tweets.

Bahrain International Circuit chairman, Zayed R Alzayani, believes the return of Formula One to Bahrain will bring new hope and improvements to the region. Despite that, he said: “Whatever story we have tried to put out has always been overshadowed by conflict or political issues in the country, with people getting arrested, killed or injured, or whatever. But the worst is behind us now. There’s a genuine move towards progress, getting the country back on track. Everybody has suffered in Bahrain – the citizens, the businesses, and it’s time we find some hope, build on it and move back to where we were.”

After a visit to Bahrain in December, former Formula One driver and soon-to-be Sky Sports commentator Damon Hill is urging the return of Bahrain’s F1 race and acknowledging positive changes in the country’s government. “I listened to a lot of people there, including eye-witnesses and I believe they are making changes to become better. I understand the substantial economic significance of the GP for Bahrain and one could imagine the GP being a great fillip for Bahrain on the road to recovery.” However, with under 2 weeks to go, conditions do not seem to have improved, from the reports in newspapers, social media and on Al Jazeera TV. Hill emphasised he was not calling for the race to be cancelled – just for the F1 authorities to think about whether holding it was the right thing to do. “You don’t get 100,000 people risking their lives in protest for nothing.” Defending champion Sebastian Vettel and seven-time winner Michael Schumacher lately supported the return of F1 to Bahrain.

Bernie Ecclestone, the chairman of Formula One, says this year’s event, scheduled for April 22nd, will go ahead as planned although there will be no increase in security during the week of the event.

***UPDATE*** UK Labour MP Richard Burden is the latest public official to call for the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix not to go ahead, believing the country isn’t yet ready for the sports return.

***UPDATE*** Bernie Ecclestone insists that the race will go on unless being cancelled by the national sporting authority in the country. Teams are counting on FIA to do the right decision.

***UPDATE*** FIA has confirmed Bahrain GP will go ahead.

As Formula 1 fans, do you wish to see F1 back to Bahrain or do you prefer the race to be cancelled?? Sound off your opinions below!!!

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