Maybe bad news for D " title="oi" /> We have no Mark Webber thread, so I post it here....
ZitatF1 » 'Webber to quit F1 at end of season' 05 May 2013 "Mark simply feels it is time to call time on his 14-year F1 career..." writes the Daily Star's Adrian Stiles today Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber has decided to call time on his F1 career and will quit at the end of the 2013 F1 season, it has been claimed.
According to reports by British tabloid newspaper, The Daily Star, he has 'confided in close friends' about his intentions and he is 'already making plans to leave Britain... to return home to Australia'.
“He has had an unhappy working relationship with his team-mate - and triple world champion - Sebastian Vettel [for a while]. The pair have hardly spoken since their problems at this year's Malaysian Grand Prix, when Vettel ignored team orders to pass Webber, denying him a 10th career win. But that hasn't played a major part in Webber's decision, as he simply feels it is time to call time on his 14-year F1 career,” the report in the 'paper says.
“The Aussie [has also] never lost his love of endurance racing and could be tempted to have another go at Le Mans once he leaves F1,” it adds.
Webber was linked to Porsche in the aftermath of the race at Sepang in March, as the Weissach marque will return to the prototype ranks in 2014, when it hopes to add to its 16 outright wins at Le Mans. Porsche, however, subsequently denied the speculation [see separate story], while Webber insisted last month that he is in no rush to make a decision about his future.
“Year by year, that's how it's always been for me, so come the summer, I will talk to Dietrich [Mateschitz] and then go from there. If I'm driving well, performances are good, then we'll make some decisions in the future but at the moment, it's the second or third race and I've never ever made decisions on my career at this point in the season,” he said prior to last month's Chinese Grand Prix.
“Obviously it's a bit of a topic at the moment for different reasons, but I don't see why I should make any decisions at the moment for the future.”
It remains to be seen if anything has changed since then, and how close to the truth the report is, is debatable to say the least.
Esclusivo: Allison lascia la Lotus, arriva Nick Chester 7 MAGGIO 2013 17:01 SCRITTO DA: DAVIDE REINATO 7 COMMENTI James Allison lascia la squadra. Il nuovo direttore tecnico della Lotus sarà Nicholas Chester.
ZitatSiamo in grado di confermare quella che finora era considerata solo una voce: James Allison, direttore tecnico della Lotus, lascia la squadra. La decisione è ormai stata presa e il team di Enstone ha già il nome del sostituto: Nicholas Chester.
Allison entra così nel periodo di gardening leave, ossia 6 mesi lontano dalla squadra prima di passare alla concorrenza. La sua destinazione, però, ci è ancora ignota. Due le opzioni più accreditate: McLaren o Ferrari.
Nel primo caso, il tecnico inglese andrebbe a rimpiazzare Paddy Lowe, già ufficialmente uscito da Woking e in procinto di passare alla Mercedes per il prossimo anno. Nel secondo caso, invece, sembra escluso che Allison possa sovrapporsi all’attuale direttore tecnico, Pat Fry. Tuttavia, non è da sottovalutare l’opzione secondo la quale i due potrebbero lavorare insieme.
Dopo la laurea a Cambridge, Allison ha impiegato le sue capacità ingegneristiche direttamente in Formula 1, nel reparto aerodinamico della Benetton. Un paio d’anni dopo diventò responsabile aerodinamico della Larrousse, prima di tornare nuovamente ad Enstone a metà degli anni ’90. Allison non è nuovo neanche alla Ferrari, con cui ha lavorato negli anni d’oro della Rossa (2000-2004) supervisionando le operazioni aerodinamiche del Cavallino. Quando Briatore, ai tempi della Renault F1 Team, gli offrì il ruolo di vice-direttore tecnico, James decise di tornare a Enstone e mise in bacheca altri titoli mondiali. Dal 2009, Allison è direttore tecnico della squadra e ha portato la E20 e la E21 alla vittoria, sotto il marchio Lotus.
A prendere il posto di Allison in Lotus, come detto, ci penserà Nicholas Chester. Anch’egli proveniente dall’università di Cambridge, ha iniziato l’esperienza in Formula 1 con la Arrows Grand Prix nel 1995 prima di passare in Renault nel 2000. A Enstone ha ricoperto diversi ruoli: ingegnere di pista, capo delle performance e – da un anno a questa parte – Engineering Director.
Google Translate:
We are able to confirm that until now was considered just a rumor: James Allison, Technical Director of Lotus leaves the club. The decision has now been taken and the Enstone team already has the name of the replacement: Nicholas Chester.
Allison thus enters the period of gardening leave, ie six months before moving away from the team competition. His destination, however, there is still unknown. Two of the most reliable options: McLaren or Ferrari.
In the first case, the Englishman would be to replace Paddy Lowe, already officially released from Woking and about to go to Mercedes for next year. In the second case, however, it seems possible that Allison can override the existing technical director Pat Fry. However, do not underestimate the option according to which the two could work together.
After graduating from Cambridge, Allison has used its engineering capabilities directly in Formula 1, in the aerodynamics department of Benetton. A couple of years later became responsible for aerodynamic Larrousse, before returning to Enstone in the mid 90s. Allison is not new even at Ferrari, with whom he worked in the golden years of the Red Army (2000-2004) overseeing the operations of the aerodynamic Cavallino. When Briatore, at the time of the Renault F1 Team, offered him the post of deputy technical director, James decided to return to Enstone and put it on the bulletin board more world titles. Since 2009, the Allison business is technical director of the team and led the E20 and E21 to victory under the Lotus brand.
To take the place of Allison in Lotus, as mentioned, we will think Nicholas Chester. He, too, from the University of Cambridge, started the experience with the Arrows Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1995, before switching to Renault in 2000. A Enstone has held various positions: track engineer, head of performance and - for a year now - Engineering Director.
Zitat von SpinsterWhatever... I really hope kimi is on a mclaren or rbr deal tbh
I think Red Bull is his best chance for a WDC. McLaren is undergoing a lot of transition with so many engineers leaving to merc and I personally think whitmarsh is a second tier team principle.
If this is true about JA going to Ferrari: I really hope Kimi is able to snub Fernando again this year from winning a WDC " title="hmph" />
Zitat von SpinsterI do hope ferrari will never win a wdc with FA that would be nice... Somehow i want kimi to win a wdc within mclaren...
Many people will always look back and say "what if..." But the past is the past. McLaren had Newey, who is turning out to the best designer if F1 history. And one of the best team principles at the time. That was then.. This is now. The best team is " title="rb" /> ..
Where will he go? Red Bull have categorically denied they are interested. Toto has said Mercedes were ‘historically’ speaking to James Allison before they bagged Paddy Lowe but that all ‘stopped’ when he joined the team.
The we have Il Padrino is doing his Manwell impression, denying all knowledge of any Ferrari discussions with the Lotus ex-Technical Director and we have only the word of the BBC that McLaren have denied there is anything going on between them and James.
Williams et al appear unlikely options for someone on the ‘up’ in F1 and all this denial has led to speculation that Allison has just jumped ship because Lotus have financing problems. James Allen responding to a comment in his blog gives this theory some credence too.
Other F1 writers ‘in the know’ state categorically a deal is done and a gagging clause is preventing Allison from revealing his destination. I looked at the possible reasons for gagging on a team by team basis in yesterday’s news.
ESPNF1 have an interesting couple of comments from McLaren’s MD, Jonathan Neale today. Responding to a question on how the Woking outfit are coping with life after Paddy he reveals, “We’ve realigned slightly internally and we are still going through those adaptations.”
In terms of preparations for 2014 it [Lowe leaving] is not an issue for us”. However Neale goes on to add, “I need to make sure, though, that we have got somebody who is championing us, as Paddy was, in the longer-term research and development programme. Keeping the stuff that is further away alive is important. But Tim and the guys are doing a good job on the here and now.”
If that isn’t a suggestion McLaren need to recruit – I don’t know what is. We could rephrase this as follows – the ‘here and now’ and 2014 is under Tim’s control, but we need someone for matters further down the line.
Sudden changes/additions to senior personnel in any organisation is unnerving for other’s in management positions. Were McLaren to be having discussions with James Allison, they can hardly begin the internal debate over why additional management resource would be beneficial – before a deal is done.
Why? Because having persuaded the senior management team, including Tim, that additional resource is required if the deal doesn’t get done, it then leaves those currently holding the fort feeling under resourced and exposed. Not good when you have a car miles behind where it should be.
So, that internal reasoned debate is best left until McLaren knows it has procured the services of a new manager/director. They can then begin to persuade those internally in senior positions of the worth another body on board brings.
This would then explain the need for a gagging clause, and why the party line is at present – nothing is going on between Allison and ourselves.
Neale’s statement is absolutely the first time we have heard an admission from McLaren they may be suffering due to Paddy’s departure. Previously the message from Woking has been that ‘we are strong and bring through our own talent’.
So why admit this now? Is it part of the initiation of internal conversations suggesting they could do with recruiting some senior assistance to look after the ‘longer term’. issues?
Any other business arrives towards the end of a board meeting and Chairman Ron suggests, ‘What about trying to get this James Allison chap to joins us lads? There’s a job we need doing and you guys are pretty flat out with this year and next year’s cars. thoughts anyone?’ An almost unnoticeable twitch flickers briefly across the corner of his mouth.
Yes, and they are also implementing a new penalty points regulation. For each violation they get certain amount of penaty pionts (1, 2 o 3) and when someone hits 12 points they get 1 race ban.
I'm not sure about that being a good idea, let's see how it goes...
Changes to the tyres would be unfair - Lotus ESPN Staff May 13, 2013
Lotus team principal Eric Boullier says there is nothing wrong with the current Pirelli tyres and it would be unfair to start making changes to the compounds midway through the season.
Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen is second in the drivers' championship after enjoying success at the opening races in a car that is not as fast as its rivals but is easier on its tyres. At the Spanish Grand Prix he finished second after making one less pit stop than the other cars in the top five positions and it was a similar story when he won the opening round of the season in Australia.
However, pressure is growing on Pirelli to tweak its tyres amid complaints from the likes of Red Bull and the Italian tyre manufacturer is weighing up possible changes at the British Grand Prix.
"In some ways it's not fair, but we have to deal with it," Boullier said. "Everybody has the same tyres.
"The question is not the tyres. If our car can do it [three pit stops], it is because we did something to allow our car to do it."
He pointed out that the hard compound was already tweaked ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix to satisfy Lotus' rivals.
"It's the same tyres for everybody. There was some slight change here that was supposed to please the complaining teams. I don't think Pirelli is going to change anything. They were asked to bring tyres that last 20 laps and they did it."
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Wed May 01, 2013 4:49 pm
" title="snowball" /> and Boudica.
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" title="oi" /> We have no Mark Webber thread, so I post it here....
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