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cf.mega poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Deepest pits of Hell
Age: 41
Posts: 4,964
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Re: Formula 1 2013 Pre-Season
Ferrari announce the 2013 car will be the F138.
Ferrari have revealed that their 2013 car will be called the F138. The machine, the 59th single-seater the Scuderia have built for Formula One racing, derives its name from a combination of the current year and the number of cylinders in its engine.
Ferrari say that the name pays tribute to the V8 engine, which is being replaced next year as the sport’s standard power-unit configuration by V6 turbo engines.
The F138 will be launched on Friday at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters in Italy. It will then be transported to Jerez in Spain for next week's first pre-season test of 2013, where Felipe Massa will give the car its track debut.
Newly-recruited test driver Pedro de la Rosa will take over testing duties from Massa on day four of the first session, with 2012 championship runner-up Fernando Alonso getting his first run in the new car at the second test in Barcelona from February 19.
Christian Horner signs new deal with Red Bull.
Christian Horner is to remain as Red Bull team principal for the foreseeable future after renewing his contract with the reigning world champions.
A team spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that Red Bull have agreed a multi-year extension to Horner’s contract, as their partnership with the Briton prepares to enter its ninth F1 season.
Red Bull entered the sport in 2005 after the Austrian energy drink company took over the Jaguar team, and Horner, 39, has been in charge throughout, leading them to championship doubles in each of the last three seasons.
Red Bull continue with the unchanged driver line-up of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber for 2013 and the team’s new car, the RB9, will be launched at their UK factory in Milton Keynes this Sunday, February 3.
Button and Perez unveil new McLaren car.
The wraps came off McLaren’s 2013 car on Thursday morning, as drivers Jenson Button and Sergio Perez revealed the Mercedes-powered MP4-28 at the team’s UK base in Woking.
Following a cavalcade of historic machinery from McLaren’s past - the team celebrate their 50th anniversary this year - Button and Perez entered the McLaren Technical Centre driving the company’s latest road cars, before uncovering their new F1 challenger.
McLaren describe the MP4-28 as a deep and sweeping re-design of its race-winning 2012 predecessor in several key areas, most notably around the nose and front suspension (now a pull-rod configuration following the trend set by Ferrari last year), the sidepod profiles and the rear bodywork.
“We were extremely strong throughout the whole of the 2012 season, but, for one reason or another, we couldn’t quite pull it all together to challenge for the championships,” said Button, who starts his fourth season with McLaren this year. “That’s something we want to address for 2013. I’ve seen just how closely everybody has been working together on this car, and I think we’ve got the basis for a very strong season.
“This year’s car is the best we’ve ever made - I know the engineers have left absolutely no stone unturned in wringing every ounce of performance from every available area. I cannot wait to get behind the wheel and attempt to carry forward the incredible legacy that lives beneath the skin of every single man and woman who works at McLaren.
“We’ll be working extremely hard during the pre-season to ensure we go to the first race with bulletproof reliability. Operationally, too, I think we’ve learned and developed from last year, and that will help us run a much smoother and stronger campaign.”
As well as a new car, Button has a new team mate for 2013 in ‘Checo’ Perez, who will start only his third season of Formula One competition this year, having joined McLaren from Sauber over the winter.
“For me, this is a great day,” said the Mexican. “In fact, every day this year has been great: I’ve been working hard with my new team to get everything ready for the start of the 2013 season - and it’s been an incredible journey to get to know this incredible organisation.
“Of course, I am fully aware of the steep slope ahead of me: it has already been an intense couple of weeks, getting to grips with a new team, meeting my engineers and mechanics, learning new ways of working and, of course, learning all about a brand new car - something I’ll need to do with just six days of on-track testing. It’s a big challenge.”
Team principal Martin Whitmarsh added: “For 2013, of course, we go racing to win. With Jenson and Checo, and this fantastic-looking new car, I believe we’re extremely well prepared for another competitive season. Jenson is driving better than ever - he’s the most experienced driver in Formula One, but he makes every ounce of that experience count: he’s peerless in his ability to read a race and one of the very fastest drivers out there. He’s a consummate professional, too, and will revel in working hard to drive this team through the year.
“Checo joins us after a sensational 2012 season and he’s immediately proved that he’s intelligent, modest, hard-working and, make no mistake; very, very quick. Of course, there’ll be a learning curve to overcome as he gets used to our organisation, particularly during the hustle and bustle of the early-season race weekends, but he understands that we are placing no pressure on him.
"This is an exciting time for the whole team. In our 50th anniversary season, I want Vodafone McLaren Mercedes to underline why we are the finest Grand Prix team in the world.”
The MP4-28 will make its track debut at the first pre-season test of 2013, which begins at the Jerez circuit in Spain next week.
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