All posts in “formula one”

The Vantage F1 Edition

Previously we already published the return to Formula One by Aston Martin and the fact they would bring along the official 2021 F1 Safety Cars for the first time in history, because the special Aston Martin Vantage F1 Safety car was a modified version of the ‘normal’ production model, Aston Martin deemed it interesting to offer their wealthy customers the possibility to obtain a similar car to be driven on the road instead of on the track.

In comes the Vantage F1 Edition, a track-focussed road car based on the Vantage as an Official Safety Car of Formula 1 that comes with the uprated engine, modified chassis, and naturally the special aerodynamic upgrades as seen on the Safety car, the first deliveries of the Vantage F1 Edition are foreseen for May 2021 already.

The Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition is a celebration of the return to Formula One racing after six decades, this model is now the top-of-the-line offering in the Vantage line up at Aston Martin, the most sporting Vantage in the product range and in essence, a replica of the Vantage Official Safety Car of Formula 1.

The Vantage F1 Edition comes with a 25PS power increase, to 535PS in total, and while the maximum torque of 685Nm is the same as the base Vantage, on the F1 Edition this number can be maintained for longer in the 8-speed automatic transmission by implementing an optimized torque cut during upshifting.

A modified suspension comes with reworked dampers and more structural stiffness for the front, the result is less vertical body roll, both at speed and over crests while still maintaining a relatively comfortable driving experience at low speeds, while the larger 21-inch wheels for the Vantage F1 Edition come with bespoke Pirelli tires specifically developed for this F1 Edition to ensure progressive on-limit handling to give maximum confidence in even the most extreme track driving scenarios.

While the rear diffuser is taken from the base Vantage, the full-width front splitter, the front dive planes, and the underbody turning vanes are specifically designed for the F1 Edition, as is that impressive rear wing … with these modified aero parts, the Vantage F1 Edition creates 200 kg more downforce at top speed compared to the regular Vantage.

With every special edition model comes a bespoke color palette, and the Vantage F1 Edition is no different, so your first option for the bodywork of this new Aston Martin is naturally the famous Aston Martin Racing Green color scheme, which mimics the Formula One team car and the Safety Car livery … on the Vantage F1 Edition you can opt for either a glossy finish or a satin topcoat.

Other options are either Jet black or Lunar White, while no matter what color you choose, you’ll get Solid Matte Dark Grey racing graphics on your F1 Edition, while for the interior you have the option of Obsidian Black Leather and Phantom Grey Alcantara upholstery and trim, with a choice of Lime Green, Obsidian Black, Wolf Grey or Spicy Red contrast stripe and stitching.

MSRP in the UK is set at £142,000 while for the German market they list at €162,000, a price for the US market hasn’t been listed at this moment … and just in case you prefer top-down driving, fear not, this new Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition is also available as a Roadster next to the Coupe version.

March 22, 2021 / Comments Off on The Vantage F1 Edition
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Aston Martin Safety Cars

At the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix we will not only see the return of Aston Martin to Formula One racing with two cars, but for the first time in F1 history we will be seeing an Aston Martin as the Official Safety car and a second one as the Medical car, the first based on the Vantage while the DBX will be seen in the event of an emergency.

The Aston Martin Vantage Safety car will not be a factory standard model however, it is a custom built version with a modified chassis and improved aerodynamics, developed by the in-house team at Aston Martin’s Headquarters in Gaydon, the UK, this one-off will be driven by Bernd Mayländer (DE) who has been at the helm of the F1 safety car for over twenty years, the Aston Martin will remain on standby in the pit lane throughout the race.

In case of a problem on the track, and the safety car takes the lead, the slower speeds can cause the race cars tires to decrease in temperature, so the pace car has to able to reach high speeds quickly, this special Aston Martin Vantage has it’s power increased to 535PS from the 4.0-Liter twin-turbo V8 … she’s able to reach 60mph in only 3.5 seconds.

The Vaned grille coupled with a new front splitter creates 155.6kg of downforce at 200km/h; more than 60kg than the production Vantage produces at the same speed.  Modifications to the suspension, steering and dampers have also been undertaken, with further detailed underbody bracing modifications to increase front structural stiffness.  All this, together with a comprehensive aero kit and a switch to lower profile Pirelli tyres, the Aston Martin Vantage Official F1 Safety Car has all the credentials to handle a F1 circuit.

The return of two Aston Martin F1 race cars from the Cognizant Formula One Team comes with a new livery, 2021 Aston Martin Racing Green, specifically created to celebrate their return to F1 after 60 years, the front splitter is emphasized in Lime Essence, a shade we’ve already seen on the Vantage that competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

The otherwise luxurious leather seats of the Vantage have been replaced by FIA-approved racing seats, complete with six-point safety harness, a pair of displays show a live feed of the race and individual car position of the competitors, the necessary switches for the lights and siren for instance have been placed on the central console. The Aston Martin Vantage Safety car even comes with outside cameras so they can broadcast a live feed from this car on the track.

The official Medical Car for the 2021 season is based on the Aston Martin DBX, the larger SUV comes in the same livery combining Racing Green and Lime green, powered by the same 4.0-Liter twin-turbo V8 engine, in the DBX she pumps out 550PS and 700Nm which allows the DBX Medical car to reach 62mph in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 181mph.

Whilst the interior trim is fully representative of a customer vehicle, the central rear seat has been removed, and the remaining four have been replaced with sport bucket seats, each equipped with a 6-point safety harness.  These provide seating for the driver, Alan van der Merwe and Dr Ian Roberts – the FIA Formula 1® Medical Response Coordinator, as well as a Local Doctor, leaving one spare.

The development of both these Official Safety Car of Formula 1® and Official Medical Car of Formula 1® was carried out by the engineering team at Aston Martin.  Both vehicles have endured significant testing, which included high-speed durability assessments and aggressive circuit driving at the Aston Martin facility at Silverstone, totting up almost 15,000km collectively.  The vehicles have also been tested in a dyno climate chamber to ensure they will perform in all race conditions.

Aston Martin fans will be able to see the Aston Martin Vantage Official Safety Car of Formula 1® in action for the first time during the three-day pre-season test at Bahrain on 12-14 March, and then again during the opening round of the FIA Formula One® World Championship, at the same venue two weeks later.

March 9, 2021 / Comments Off on Aston Martin Safety Cars
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TDF 1: $1.9 Million Formula One Car Launched for Private Ownership

TDF, British historic Formula 1 specialists, recently announced the sale of a brand-new purpose-built run of 5 Formula 1 machines. The TDF-1 will be built off of genuine Marussia or Sauber chassis with components and engine power provided by a bespoke TDF powertrain package.

TDF has gained a reputation, providing support for private customers who run Minardi, Williams, Jordan, Jaguar, Toleman, Benetton, BAR, Honda and Sauber Formula 1 cars from the modern era. They are also able to manufacture new components for these cars, alongside a considerable parts holding of spares for 1985 – 2007 F1 cars.

It seems that the Bedfordshire-based company has managed to acquire 5 chassis and is ready to offer these to the public for the first time. They won’t come cheap though! TDF is asking for $1.9 million in exchange for the ultimate track car.

For the money, TDF is promising to deliver a 2011 Marussia MVR02 or 2012 Sauber C31 chassis fitted with a 1.7-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which develops 600bhp at 9,000rpm, mated to a six-speed semi-automatic gearbox. The engine will be fed through a 130 litre FIA FT3 homologated fuel cell with triple lift pumps and a pressurised collector. Cars will run Sunoco 260GT Plus fuel.

TDF-1 Wheels

The stats might read like a Formula 1 car, however, TDF has confirmed that the experience has been pegged back a bit. Gear ratios and steering wheel functions have been simplified so drivers can focus completely on the driving experience and less on the systems management that modern Formula 1 cars demand. All cars will also feature a simplified version of the DRS system which closes automatically under steering and braking.

It should feature 95% of the on-track performance of an equivalent F1 car. TDF is using aerodynamics similar to the Marussia and Sauber setups to ensure this. It should be capable of producing 4.0 G in a high-speed corner and 4.5 G under braking. Act quick, they are sure to sell out!

GTSPIRIT NEWSLETTER
January 25, 2020 / Comments Off on TDF 1: $1.9 Million Formula One Car Launched for Private Ownership
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New Porsche hypercar could use F1-spec hybrid powertrain

Not long after the Porsche 918 Spyder went out of production in 2015, the automaker began internal debate about what kind of powertrain it would use in the follow-up. Four years later, the debate is ongoing. In 2017, Porsche voiced its desire to move its hypercar game on with a battery-electric powertrain, beyond the hybrid 918. The problem — echoed by McLaren — was that battery technology wouldn’t make such a BEV possible until at least the middle of the 2020s. In 2019, the same issues remain, with solid-state battery tech not progressing as quickly as hoped. Autocar reports that Porsche could switch to Plan B in the meantime, that being an as-yet-unused 1.6-liter V6 hybrid engine Porsche Motorsport developed in order to return to Formula One as an engine supplier.

Porsche has been mentioned as a potential new F1 entrant for years, but uncertainty at the Volkswagen Group and in the F1 rulebook compelled the German sports car maker to walk away from the opportunity, opting for Formula E instead. However, after leaving LMP1, 40 Porsche engineers from the Le Mans effort began working on a six-cylinder version of the 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid from the 919 Hybrid. That work turned into the creation of a 1.6-liter V6 hybrid along the lines of an F1 engine but without “the complex and expensive” MGU-H unit that converts exhaust heat into electrical energy. Motorsport chief Fritz Enzinger says that engine is still in development, having got as far as running on a test bench for “analysis with regard to series production relevance.”

There’s no info on the hybrid component yet, but Stefan Weckbach, who oversees Porsche’s EV projects, said the company could turn to its partnership with Rimac for that aspect.

Even though Porsche has a motor ready, the board hasn’t decided on whether to go electric or hybrid, and sports car boss Frank-Steffen Walliser says he doesn’t care what kind of powertrain goes into the car as long as it can tick off a 6:30 lap time at the Nürburgring. So according to Autocar, what kind of bodywork might surround this powertain “remains at conceptual stage, with an introduction unlikely before 2023 at the earliest.” We don’t think the 917 Concept from 2014 would be a bad place to start. If Porsche goes with the 1.6-liter hybrid, though, the market would get a clearer competitor to the Mercedes-AMG One, and the platform could provide entries to the ACO’s new so-called Hypercar class in the World Endurance Championship and to IMSA’s Daytona Prototype class. 

November 26, 2019 / Comments Off on New Porsche hypercar could use F1-spec hybrid powertrain
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1975 Ferrari 312T On Auction

When you’re religiously following vehicle auction blocks, once in a while a gem goes up for sale. By some stroke of luck, you can sometimes stumble upon ultra rare items that immediately causes a frenzy among collectors everywhere. It looks like this moment is upon us as a 1975 Ferrari 312T will be up for bidding soon. It is one of the more impressive items that will be in the lineup at the 2019 Gooding & Company Pebble Beach event in mid-August.

What makes this race car so desirable is the fact that it was driven by the legendary Niki Lauda. Sadly, the three-time world champion passed away on May 20 of this year. Formula One fanatics will recognize it as the machine that helped rack up his victories on the race track. Moreover, it is reportedly one of the five built by Ferrari to compete in the 1975 season labeled chassis 022. The 312T owes its design to Mauro Forghieri, the brand’s mechanical engineer

For those wondering what the “T” in the 312T means, it refers to the transverse engine-mounting setup. This configuration enhances the race car’s cornering capabilities, which alongside the exceptional driving skills of Lauda, produced consistent podium appearances.

Powering the 1975 Ferrari 312T is a Flat-12 engine that can produce up to 500 horsepower. We can already imagine the bidding to skyrocket up to insane amounts. Nonetheless, this is hardly out of the ordinary given the pedigree and history of this superb specimen. We can’t say for certain until the hammer falls during the auction and one lucky buyer walks away with the prize.

Learn more here

Images courtesy of Gooding & Company

June 22, 2019 / Comments Off on 1975 Ferrari 312T On Auction
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Formula One Racing Car Customized By BAPE

It’s not everyday you hear about an unusual collaboration between big companies. Even rarer is when the result of such a pairing is actually worthwhile. Here’s one for the books: Formula One and Japanese streetwear brand A Bathing Ape (BAPE) has now unveiled a special edition F1 car covered in the iconic camo print.

BAPE fans will know this isn’t the first of the brand’s collaborations with cars — it also came out with a camo-coated Mercedes vehicles in years past, giving the designs of the 300 SL, AMG GT S, and Benz G-Class extra sizzle. This time, it’s Formula One’s turn. It also just so happens that the car you see above also marks the 25th anniversary of the clothing powerhouse. BAPE, as you may know already, uses Shark hoodie and camouflage prints heavily. It had previously hinted at the F1 collab, and thus comes the BAPE Formula One race car.

Here’s Tanya Wilkinson, a marketing executive at Formula 1, on the momentous ride:

“Both brands have such a unique heritage and identity and we are excited to be collaborating with BAPE to celebrate their 25th anniversary. We have made a promise to our fans to bring them closer to the sport and this collaboration with BAPE acts as a vehicle to help us do that.”

The camo-decked BAPE Formula One race car is merely the beginning of a promising partnership, it should be noted. BAPE’s collaboration with the international auto racing league might also involve special edition capsules in the future. Nothing is set in stone, of course. However, Billy Choi, BAPE’s managing director, noted that “there are many possibilities to build on the partnership in the future.”

MORE INFO HERE

Photos courtesy of Formula One and BAPE

December 4, 2018 / Comments Off on Formula One Racing Car Customized By BAPE
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F1: Raikkonen Wins at United States GP: First Win Since 2013

Raikkonen has won the 2018 United States GP, after leading for most of the race thanks to a superb strategy from Ferrari. Verstappen finished second, his teammate Ricciardo retired today. Hamilton finished third and was not able to seal the title fate.

Top ten at the US Grand Prix 2018 were: 1. Raikkonen, 2. Verstappen, 3. Hamilton, 4. Vettel, 5. Bottas, 6. Hulkenberg, 7. Sainz, 8. Ocon, 9. Magnussen, 10. Perez.

Hamilton started the United States GP 2018 from pole, a race that brought him to his fifth F1 title win. Vettel started from fifth after collecting a penalty for failing to slow down under the red lights. This is round 18 of 21 in the championship.

Raikkonen managed to jump Hamilton for the lead, the Brit took second while Bottas was third. There was a series of collisions on the field, major one being between Vettel and Ricciardo, leaving the Ferrari spinning. There was another collision on turn 12 involving Sauber.

Leclerc took his Sauber to the pits after the spin, so did Stroll, Grosjean and Alonso. Vettel was now down the order, Mercedes took note and advised Hamilton on what was going down the order. Alonso and Grosjean later retired after the contact incident, with the McLaren driver saying his rivals are impossible to race with.

Vettel was up to P8 by lap 7/56, Verstappen on the other end had started from the last row and was up to P6. Meanwhile, the stewards decided to take no further action on the Vettel-Ricciardo incident.

Ricciardo’s car stopped on the track prompting the VSC, and just like that the Red Bull was out of the race. Vettel had jumped Sainz for sixth, while Verstappen was now running fourth with the fastest times among the leaders. Hamilton managed to pit under the VSC, and rejoined behind Bottas in third on soft tires.

Hamilton was back in second after Bottas lifted off on the main straight, allowing him to cruise through to P2.

“I cannot keep him behind” Raikkonen told Ferrari, referring to Hamilton who was now 0.2s behind him.

Bottas stayed out as Verstappen was brought in to the pits, Ferrari man Vettel was also running and yet to pit. The Red Bull rejoined behind Raikkonen, just when Bottas made his stop, and Verstappen was now ahead of the Mercedes. Raikkonen passed Vettel for second, and was now chasing Hamilton.

Vettel made his stop on lap 27, taking on some softs like his rivals, before he pitted Verstappen was able to pass him successfully without contact. The Ferrari man rejoined in P5 behind Bottas.

Hamilton stopped again on lap 37, picking up soft tires before rejoining in fourth ahead of Vettel. Bottas seemed to let Hamilton through to third. Under these circumstances, for Hamilton to win the championship, he needed to finish second and Vettel fifth. Verstappen was currently second.

And Vettel managed to catch up with Bottas for fourth, denying Hamilton any chance of winning the world champion today.

Raikkonen went ahead to win the US GP from Verstappen and Hamilton. Vettel bought himself some more time in the fight for the championship.

October 21, 2018 / Comments Off on F1: Raikkonen Wins at United States GP: First Win Since 2013
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Mercedes-AMG One delayed: Surprise, Formula One engine not ideal for emissions

Putting a Formula One engine into a road car has always felt unrealistic, and now that Mercedes is actually trying to do it in the AMG One, the engineers are finding out how difficult it really is. Passing emissions is the biggest roadblock. In total, the car formerly known as the Project One fell prey to a nine-month delay in development because of the challenges faced with this specific issue.

In an interview with Top Gear, Tobias Moers, CEO of AMG, says that finding a stable idle was the toughest part.

“Getting a stable idle at 1,200 rpm, that’s challenging. To give you a simple example. You have leakage in the throttles in Formula One, and nobody cares, because it runs at a 5,000 rpm idle. At a 1,200 rpm idle, you have to meet the emissions regulations. You need a stable, proper idle. If it’s unstable, your emissions are unstable.”

When the objective is to make maximum power, emissions don’t matter all that much. Still, a 1,200 rpm idle is really high for a road car. It’s clearly worth it to AMG and its customers to make it work with this engine, though. Here’s what Moers said about feedback from the people who are waiting for their cars: “You know what they tell me? ‘Make sure that the car works. Because of what we experienced in the past with hybrid cars, take your time.'”

So, Mercedes still intends on delivering an incredible hypercar with a modified Formula One engine, but it doesn’t appear to be going silky smooth. We don’t think anybody’s surprised about that, though; Formula 1 engines were never intended for a road car application.

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October 16, 2018 / Comments Off on Mercedes-AMG One delayed: Surprise, Formula One engine not ideal for emissions
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Mercedes-AMG wants to prevent Project One owners from flipping them

Mercedes-AMG will include contract language in its exclusive upcoming Formula One-sourced Project One hypercar when it starts delivering to customers early next year prohibiting the new owners from flipping the $2.6 million car for a quick profit.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports the move is similar to what Ford is doing with its GT supercar and Porsche, with its 911 GT3 Touring after customers began flipping the 911 R. It also says all 275 examples of the 1,000-horsepower-plus Project One are sold and that Mercedes-AMG has undertaken the first test drives using camouflaged prototypes on closed race tracks in England and Spain.

Late last year, Ford sued wrestler and actor John Cena for violating the terms of his purchase contract, which involved an application process, for the $450,000 supercar. The two sides in June settled outside of court for an undisclosed amount that Ford will reportedly donate to charity. Meanwhile, another 2017 Ford GT is on Mecum’s Monterey sale bill. It’s headed for the block Aug. 23-25.

Similar attempts have already been made with the Project One. Motor 1 reports someone tried to sell a build slot last November for the equivalent of $5.2 million, nearly double the asking price, and a newer listing not yet removed is similarly asking $5.2 million, with a mid-year 2019 delivery date.

The Project One, which debuted as a concept last fall in Frankfurt, boasts some eye-popping specs, with its mid-mounted 1.6-liter single-turbo V6 doing more than 1,000 horsepower, a top speed of more than 217 miles per hour and going from 0-124 mph in just 6 seconds. It can also operate as a zero-emission electric car for 15.5 miles, thanks to its lithium-ion battery powering two 120-kilowatt electric motors, plus two smaller ones driving the front wheels. Owners will have to take the car in every 31,000 miles or so to have the gas engine rebuilt.

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August 2, 2018 / Comments Off on Mercedes-AMG wants to prevent Project One owners from flipping them
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F1: Ricciardo Wins Monaco GP 2018 after Dominating All Weekend

Ricciardo wins in Monaco. Red Bull has clinched another victory of the season after the Aussie driver led from start to finish in a race that is notoriously known for its difficulty in overtaking, coupled with tire issues that faced almost every driver. Vettel finished second for Ferrari while Mercedes took the final podium spot with Hamilton.

The top ten at Monaco GP 2018 comprised of 1 Ricciardo; 2 Vettel; 3 Hamilton; 4 Raikkonen; 5 Bottas; 6 Ocon; 7 Gasly; 8 Hulkenberg; 9 Verstappen; 10 Sainz.

The Monaco GP 2018 formation got underway with the top ten starting on hypersofts while the rest opted for ultrasofts besides Sergey Sirotkin in 13th and Brendon Hartley in 15th. Ricciardo started from pole and after lights out, he pretty much managed to fend off a hungry Vettel, the order remained as 1 Ricciardo; 2 Vettel; 3 Hamilton; 4 Raikkonen; 5 Bottas; 6 Ocon; 7 Alonso; 8 Sainz; 9 Perez; 10 Gasly.

“The pace is quite slow, car feels quite good” Hamilton said while in third place. Verstappen meanwhile had gained three places after starting from last, proving once more its possible to overtake in Monaco. After lap 7/78, Ricciardo’s gap over Vettel was 1.5s. Hamilton was 3.5s behind the leader, and already complained about his tires graining.

Mercedes was the first to pit on lap 12, bringing in Hamilton who later emerged on ultrasofts ahead of Alonso in P7. On lap 15 Hamilton passed Ocon for fifth and was now behind teammate Bottas. “If you can keep this pace, stay out,” Ferrari told Vettel, who later agreed to staying out longer. But the Ferrari man pitted a lap later to cover Hamilton.

Vettel emerged ahead of Hamilton after his pitstop. Raikkonen and Bottas also stopped, but interestingly for Bottas, he picked up supersofts while the rest were on ultrasofts.

Raikkonen was pushing hard and only 0.6s behind Hamilton, who was 8s off the leaders Ricciardo and Vettel. Hamilton was already complaining that his tires were graining once more.

By lap 30, Vettel had noted that Ricciardo’s car ahead was flashing a red light and Ferrari confirmed that indeed the red Bull man had a power unit issue. Ricciardo was holding it down well though despite the issue.

“I told you about this tyre,” that was Hamilton complaining about his tires.

At one point Hamilton was 9s behind Vettel, but by lap 41 he had closed the gap to 3s despite complaining about his tires. Vettel meanwhile complained of a blackout when his dashes went blank. Besides Hamilton, other drivers were also recording high tire graining including Vettel, the reason he was able to keep up with the rest of the leaders.

“My rear tyres are gone, I’m just sliding on four wheels,” said Verstappen, and after 48 laps, the Dutchman was called in for his first stop. First retirement of the race was Hamilton after 54 laps, the McLaren suffered a gearbox failure. That was Alonso’s first retirement of the season. “I can’t keep the same pace as those guys [Ricciardo/Vettel],” said Hamilton, but his team told him he doesn’t need to.

Virtual safety car was deployed on lap 73 after Leclerc hit Hartley from behind. “I had no brakes. Brakes went completely off. We had to do brake-saving before, honestly.” he said.

After the VSC ended, Vettel was now 5s behind Ricciardo. And 3 laps later the Aussie went ahead to win the Monaco GP 2018 ahead of Vettel and Hamilton.

May 27, 2018 / Comments Off on F1: Ricciardo Wins Monaco GP 2018 after Dominating All Weekend
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Vettel Wins Bahrain GP, Bottas Leads Mercedes 2-3

A second consecutive win for Vettel in the season so far, the Ferrari driver has won the Bahrain Grand Prix 2018 after leading from start to finish. Ferrari initially put him on what appeared to be a two stop strategy but after Raikkonen retired, Vettel made his soft tires stick to the end. Bottas finished in second place ahead of teammate Hamilton to give Mercedes a double podium.

Bahrain Grand Prix 2018 results

1. Vettel, 2. Bottas, 3. Hamilton, 4. Gasly, 5. Magnussen, 6. Hulkenberg, 7. Alonso, 8. Vandoorne, 9. Ericsson, 10. Ocon

Vettel started from pole at the Bahrain Grand Prix 2018, his 200th Grand Prix. Hamilton started from P9 after getting a five place grid drop for an unscheduled gearbox change, Mercedes found a leak in his gearbox after Australia. Elsewhere, Max Verstappen started from P15 after crashing out of Q1 yesterday, caused by an unexpected power surge of 150hp in his Red Bull.

It was not a smooth start for all, Perez spun at turn 1 while Hamilton made contact with Verstappen. There was also a stagnant Red Bull of Ricciardo on the field, the VSC was deployed to remove the car. At the front meanwhile, the race was led by Vettel away from Bottas and Raikkonen.

Verstappen’s Red Bull suddenly stopped on lap 6/57, and that was it for Red Bull at Bahrain GP 2018, it was later reported that Verstappen was told to retire the car by Red Bull. Hamilton meanwhile had managed to jump to P5.

The Perez spin on turn 1 was caused by Hartley, and he was given a 10s penalty. Hamilton had moved to P4 by lap 10, still on the soft tire while the three ahead were on supersoft, at around this time some cars began pitting for new tires including Lance Stroll, Vandoorne, Leclerc and Perez.

At the front, Vettel and Bottas were having a battle of their own, by lap 17/57, Bottas had trimmed down Vettel’s gap to 2.3s. Hamilton meanwhile was only 6s away from Raikkonen. Vettel made his first stop on lap 19, and switched into softs before rejoining the race in fourth behind Hamilton. “It’s all going to start happening now Lewis. Remember, we are sticking to Plan A.” Mercedes told Hamilton. Bottas stopped two laps later after Vettel and picked up medium tires, leaving Hamilton in the lead. Mercedes was having a one stop strategy while Ferrari was using a two stop.

Vettel managed to pass Hamilton on lap 26 with the help of DRS, taking back the lead. The Mercedes was yet to stop, and Bottas was further back in third. Raikkonen was told to pass Bottas as the Mercedes driver was not going to stop again. Hamilton made his first and only stop on lap 27, he switched mediums and rejoined in fourth.

Raikkonen stopped on lap 36 and switched into softs, but as he was leaving the pits he accidentally knocked down a member of his crew. The Ferrari pulled up to retire, in the meantime, the crew member was taken to the medical center for checks. Vettel was then told to go to plan B since Kimi retired. Ferrari was being investigated for unsafe release.

“I feel you guys aren’t giving much of a picture, I don’t know what the **** I’m doing,” said Hamilton. The team was having a problem with the radio.

By lap 52, Vettel was beginning to show struggle with his tires and Bottas had brought the gap down to 2.2s. But the Ferrari managed to hold till chequered flag, winning the Bahrain GP 2018 after leading from start to finish.

April 8, 2018 / Comments Off on Vettel Wins Bahrain GP, Bottas Leads Mercedes 2-3
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Enzo Ferrari would have turned 120 yesterday

Former race driver-turned company founder EnzoFerrari was born 120 years ago Sunday, and the Italian sports car maker is celebrating the anniversary with a photography exhibit of his life at the Enzo Ferrari Museum, on the site of his birthplace in Modena.

The exhibit includes images of il Commendatore during various stages of his life, from childhood to his career as an Alfa Romeo race driver, then a manager and manufacturer. Ferrari died Aug. 14, 1988 at the age of 90.

Born outside of Modena, Italy in 1898. His father, Alfredo, owned a small metal engineering shop that built bridges and roofs for the state railway. Enzo started out as an Alfa Romeo racing driver in 1924 but quickly transitioned to his true talent, preparing the race cars under the Scuderia Ferrari name. He ran Alfa Romeo’s factory team before striking out on his own, first under the name Auto Avio Costruzioni in 1939, then as Scuderia Ferrari, which he founded in 1929 in Modena, fielding mostly Alfa racing cars and motorbikes. The 125 S was the first official car to bear his name in 1947, powered by a V12. Ferrari under his watch went on to produce other classics including the 288 GTO, the Dino series and the 365 Daytona.

The iconic businessman reluctantly agreed to start producing street cars only thanks to the pleading of his accountants, who argued for the need for revenue to cover the overhead of racing and two different factories destroyed during World War II bombings.

According to a 1979 People Magazine profile, he once reacted indignantly to the distraught wife of a Ferrari race team driver who was anguished over her husband risking his life “for a hunk of iron.”

“It’s not just a hunk of iron,” Ferrari replied. “It has a heart and soul, and I give if life.”

Nowadays, Ferrari is looking to expand its product portfolio to hybrids and an SUV, the latter of which might’ve made Enzo squirm. “He was a man with extraordinary vision and ability to manage people and resources as well as a strong entrepreneurial spirit and exceptional courage,” current Ferrari Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne said in a statement. “One wonders what he could have achieved if he had had access to today’s technical resources and knowledge.”

For those of us who aren’t likely to make it to Modena, there’s always the dueling Enzo Ferrari biopics to look forward to — the Michael Mann version starring Hugh Jackman and reportedly set for release in 2019, and the Robert De Niro vehicle, though details about that project have been scant since it was first announced in 2015.

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February 19, 2018 / Comments Off on Enzo Ferrari would have turned 120 yesterday
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The Mercedes-AMG hypercar will require a full service at 31,000 miles

When shopping for your next Mercedes-AMG hypercar, you might want to opt for the extended warranty, or at the very least inquire about regular maintenance costs. AMG boss Tobias Moers told Motor 1 that the F1-derived turbocharged V6 will require a significant overhaul after about 31,000 miles. While that may not seem like a lot of miles, the new AMG is a multi-million dollar car rumored to make in excess of 1,000 horsepower, so you can’t expect Toyota Camry-like maintenance intervals.

The 1.6-liter turbocharged hybrid V6 that’s rumored to power the 300 new cars is derived from the championship winning Formula One engine, though revs would be limited to a measly 11,000 rpm. Expect electric motors to power at least the front wheels, meaning the 0-60 mph time should be ridiculously quick. We won’t see the car until the Frankfurt Motor Show, but expect more hype and teasers in the meantime.

Most of these multi-million dollar hypercars (like the Porsche 918, McLaren P1, LaFerrari, or Bugatti Chiron) won’t touch 10,000 miles, much less 31,000. AMG has to know that going in, which is why it focused more on performance and less on maintenance costs. Also, if you’ve got a few million to blow on a car, you can afford to have trained techs maintain it.

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March 13, 2017 / Comments Off on The Mercedes-AMG hypercar will require a full service at 31,000 miles
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