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April 2017 | ALLSPORTS | 3

light it up

J

ust a few days have elapsed since the Chinese Grand Prix but Formula 1 is already back in action, swapping the unseasonable cool weather and drizzle seen in Shanghai for the warmer climes of the Gulf and the first night race of the 2017 FIA Formula 1 World Championship – the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Bahrain International Ciricuit made the move from daytime racing to a 6pm start in 2014 and the shift has not only given the grand prix a character all of its own but also increased the complexity of task at hand, adding a different temperature gradient and more changeable track conditions to the existing challenges of tyre and brake wear, as well as fuel consumption headaches.

The track configuration of four straights linked by a series of low- and medium-speed corners gives the circuit something of a stop-start nature. As such brakes wear is high. It also means that good traction out of the corners is critical for lap time. Finding grip is not easy, however, as desert winds often deposit a fine layer of dust across the surface leading to a rapid deterioration in track conditions

within the space of a few hours. The stopand-go character of the track also means fuel consumption is high.

The cars have an increased fuel limit of 105kg this year, but this is largely to compensate for the greater weight of the cars, so the issue could still figure in strategic considerations.

The track surface itself is not particularly abrasive, but even though the critical sessions are held in the evening, ambient temperatures are still elevated and thermal degradation of tyres is problematic, though it may be less of a concern this season due to the greater durability of this season’s tyre specifications.

The season may only be two races old but already we are seeing patterns emerging. This is especially true of the tight battle forming at the top of the order between defending champions Mercedes and Ferrari, and in particular between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

The pair arrive in Bahrain level on points and just how well each masters the many demands Sakhir imposes could decide who heads toward the European phase of the season with the upper hand. (fia.com)

2017 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX

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FAST FACTS ABOUT THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX Length of lap: 5.412km Lap record: 1:31.447 (Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren, 2005) Start line/finish line offset: 0.246km Total number of race laps: 57 Total race distance: 308.238km Pit-Lane speed limits: 80km/h in practice, qualifying, and the race. n This is the 13th Bahrain Grand Prix. The first race took place in 2004 and with th exception of 2011 when the race was cancelled it has featured on all calendars since.

The 2010 race was the only edition to be held on the longer ‘Endurance Circuit’, featuring an extra loop between Turns Four and Five of the Grand Prix Circuit. n In 2014, for its 10th anniversary celebrations the race start was moved to a 6pm slot, with the race being run under floodlights. The grand prix has held at the same time since. n The most successful driver at the Bahrain Grand Prix is Fernando Alonso, who has three victories to his name (2005 and 2006 for Renault and 2010 for Ferrari). Felipe Massa, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis n Hamilton all have two wins apiece. n Curiously, all three drivers have back-to-back wins at the Sakhir Circuit. Massa’s were scored with Ferrari (2007’08); Vettel’s pair came with Red Bull Racing (2012-’13), while Hamilton’s were with n Mercedes (2014-’15). n Three other drivers have won in Bahrain. Michael Schumacher won the inauguralevent in 2004 for Ferrari, Jenson Button won with Brawn GP in 2009 and Nico Rosberg won last year’s race with Mercedes. n Alonso may have the most victories in Bahrain but Kimi Räikkönen has the most visits to the podium to his name, with eight. He scored a hat-trick of third places from 2005-2007 and since then the Finn n Has finished second five times – in 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015 and last year. n Romain Grosjean made his first trip to the F1 podium here in 2012. In his 11th grandprix start the Frenchman finished third for Lotus behind Räikkönen and race winner Vettel. His second Bahrain podium was in 2013. He was again third for Lotus. n Five other current drivers have featured on the podium here – Hamilton has five visits to the rostrum to his credit, Massa, Alonso and Vettel have three, while Sergio Pérez raced to third place here in 2014. n Ferrari is the most successful constructor at this race, with four wins (2004, 2007-’08 and 2010). Mercedes have three wins (2014-’16), while Red Bull Racing (2012-’13) and Renault (2005-’06) have two and Brawn GP won in 2009. n Stoffel Vandoorne made his Formula One race debut here last year. The Belgian driver stood in for Fernando Alonso who was unfit to race following a crash two weeks earlier at the Australian Grand Prix. Vandoorne qualified in 12th position and drove to 10th the race, scoring a point at the first time of asking. n Four drivers have multiple pole positions here.

Michael Schumacher (2004, ’06), Vettel (2010, ’12), Nico Rosberg (2013, ’14) and Lewis Hamilton (2015, ’16). n Four other drivers have been on pole: Alonso (2005), Massa (2007), Robert Kubica (2008) and Jarno Trulli in 2009. From 12 runnings, the race has been won from pole five times. The Bahrain Grand Prix has never been won from further back than fourth on the grid.

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vettel begins the year with melbourne victory T

en years on from Kimi Raikkonen’s victory at Albert Park, Scuderia Ferrari returned to winning ways in Melbourne, in the first race of the season.

Sebastian Vettel crossed the finish line in first place after 57 laps, in a race whose key moment came on lap 23, when a perfectly executed pit stop for fresh tyres saw him rejoin the track ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes.

This is Scuderia Ferrari’s 225th Formula 1 victory, Seb’s 43rd and his fourth with the Maranello team.

Thanks to his fourth place finish, Kimi Raikkonen brought home a further 12 points.

Sebastian Vettel: “It’s been a great day for us. The team has been working so hard at the track as much as back at the factory. It’s a great feeling. “Grazie mille”, you can’t say much more. The last months have been really intense, it’s been tough to get into the rhythm. It’s just the beginning and there’s still a lot of work going on. This is one of many steps and we have to enjoy what we do. It’s great to see people smiling.

Now we have to reset to go to China and try to do a good job.”

Statement from Ferrari Chairman Sergio Marchionne “It was about time. I am delighted for the team and for our tifosi who stood by us throughout this whole period. We’ve been waiting for this victory for almost a year and a half. Hearing the Italian national anthem again was very moving.

“Sebastian delivered a great race and I am sure Kimi will be soon up there battling alongside his team-mate. Of course, this victory is something to share with the entire team, both at the circuit and back in Maranello, because teamwork is the only way to achieve major goals.

“Now, however, it is absolutely essential to remember that this is not the destination but the first step on a long road that must see us all focused on improving each and every day.”

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HAMILTON TAKES CHINESE GP GRAND SLAM L

ewis Hamilton took his 54th Formula One victory – his fifth at Shanghai International Circuit, his first of the 2017 season and the third Grand Slam (pole position, race win, fastest lap, leading every racing lap) of his F1 career.

Hamilton (43 points) holds a joint lead in the Drivers’ Championship with Sebastian Vettel. Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport (66 points) lead the Constructors’ Championship by a single point from Ferrari (65 points) Hamilton: “My pole lap put me in a great position and then the start was just fantastic. I’m really happy with my starts right now so I want to keep that up! During the race I needed to keep my composure in some really tricky conditions out there. After the pit stop under the Safety Car the speed was low and the tyres were very cold, so it would have been very easy to make a mistake, so I’m just grateful that I didn’t. In those final 20 laps Seb and I were just pounding around as fast as we could, exchanging fastest lap times, that’s what racing is all about. In the future there will be times when we don’t have a Safety Car and we won’t have that gap. I’m excited for that.

It’s very close and there were times when it was hard to match Sebastian.

It has been a fantastic weekend and I’m so grateful for the effort the team has put in for us to be where we are today. It’s very overwhelming when you have a weekend like this, because I’m just a single link in the chain and there are hundreds of people who are involved to put me up here on the top step. Big congratulations to everyone, especially those back home, I hope they’re celebrating and feeling the spirit and the fight.”

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THE CONTENDERS 14 | ALLSPORTS | April 2017

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MERCEDES-AMG PETRONAS MOTORSPORT

back for more LEWIS HAMILTON

and NICO ROSBERG formed a virtually unbeatable partnership last year for Mercedes.

The team clinched its third straight constructors’ world title while Rosberg dethroned defending back-to-back champion Hamilton to claim his first-ever drivers’ crown.

But Rosberg’s sudden retirement shook things up for the German manufacturers and with Valtteri Bottas stepping in, it remains to be seen which direction the Silver Arrows are headed in 2017.

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A complementary, competitive driver pairing

n Bottas

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O

ne of the most significant changes for the new season sees Valtteri Bottas become just the fourth Silver Arrows driver of the modern era in 2017. Next to him in the garage will be three-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who comes to the new season refreshed and reinvigorated.

“It’s been a fantastic winter and an exciting training season for me,” explained Lewis of his preparations for the increased physical demands of 2017.

“I’ve added a new element to my training regime that has kept it really enjoyable and I’m in great shape. Then I’ve visited the factory and that has been super encouraging to see the way in which everybody is working.

“After all the success we have had, people could be sitting back and resting on their achievements. So it’s inspiring to see how everybody is pushing even harder than ever and taking nothing for granted at all.

“This is the most exciting period of the year when the car comes together - and my privilege as a driver is then to get to feel what it’s like and what all the team has worked for.

“There’s not too much point setting goals until we’ve really driven the car, so I’m going to go with the flow until we understand the possibilities.

“I’m feeling in a positive place with the team – we talked about a lot of stuff over the winter, I was able to get some things off my chest and now we are communicating better than ever and continuing to grow together.

“I’m the best equipped I have ever been to work with my team-mate and manage the relationship with my experience and maturity.

“I welcome Valtteri to the team and I know that the team will be giving us both everything they can to win the championship.”

New arrival Valtteri Bottas is equally excited at the prospect of the new season: “It’s a new chapter in my career, a new team, new regulations... new everything!

“I’ve been waiting for a long time to get this car out on track and, although this is just a Filming Day, I’m looking forward to starting to test properly next week in Barcelona and to really understand the car that we’ve been given by everybody in Brixworth and Brackley.

“It has been a busy winter for me since signing with Mercedes and we have tried to make the most of the time we have had.

“We’ve been going day by day, making the most of each one, spending a lot of time in Brackley and going through as much stuff as possible with the engineers.

“I feel well prepared in such a short time but, of course, the learning curve is still steep and I’m getting more useful information every day. It’s up to us to make the most out of the time together.

“In terms of my physical preparation, I think I have done the most amount of training of any winter so far. I have done some good training camps and feel in the best shape I’ve ever been, definitely ready for the season ahead.

“Right now, it’s a very exciting feeling for me. I want to say a big thank you to everyone in our factories for getting this car ready to go.

It’s been a massive effort and I’ve got a lot of respect for the shape we are in at the moment.

“But it’s only the first step - and this is where the work really begins.”

n Hamilton and Rosberg at Bahrain Grand Prix last year

I

n Hamilton

A brand new technical challenge

n Formula One, major regulation changes have usually been designed to limit performance a nd provide the technical teams with new constraints to work within.

The new rules for 2017 opened up a new and exciting challenge – the freedom to explore a more generous set of n Bottas regulations, coupled with the uncertainty of not knowing exactly where targets should be set, or what will represent a good result.

If last year’s W07 was all about refinement and elaborate, detailed evolution, the W08 project has gone back to first principles. With the car having to be designed before running the definitive 2017 tyres, and in some parts before the regulations had even been finalized, it was important to arrive quickly at a sound base architecture, while following a flexible, adaptable philosophy to allow scope for major developments during the season. With this in mind, only 17% of the components in W08 have been carried over from its predecessor, with the team’s main focus lying on optimizing the car within the new aerodynamic regulations.

This is also the first major regulation change to occur under the Aerodynamic Testing Regulations (ATR), which limit every team to the same maximum amount of wind tunnel testing – 65 runs per week. Given the extent of the regulation changes, the first W08 concept ran in the team’s 60% Brackley wind tunnel before the first race of last season and has completed over 2,000 runs during its development so far.

In addition to the new shapes of front and rear wing, the biggest areas of aerodynamic opportunity are the floor and the barge board area in front of the sidepods, which have been the focus of significant work. And while

the performance opportunity has been significant, the design teams have also worked to improve the W08 structurally in order to withstand the substantial increases in aerodynamic and mechanical loads.

The Power Unit, christened M08, has also been comprehensively redesigned for the new season. Although the previous token system did not constrain power unit development since 2014, its abolition allows the technical group more freedom for engineering solutions.

As ever, much focus has been on the primary energy conversion opportunity - the combustion process – but there are also many opportunities for gains further downstream, including within the engine ancillaries. The new aerodynamic regulations have had a significant impact on the configuration of the engine which, as a structural component of the car, must cope with significantly greater physical loads.

To maintain its structural properties, the engine is therefore slightly heavier than its predecessor.

In addition to this comes an increased duty cycle, with the cars expected to spend approximately 10% more of every lap at full throttle – a change that is reflected in a 5% increase in race fuel allowance for the new season. M08 has also been designed for increased durability, with only four Power Units per driver per season permitted by regulation in 2017.

April 2017 | ALLSPORTS | 19

n Rosberg meets Bottas during tests

n Hamilton

Hamilton answered some interesting questions at the launch of Mercedes’ W08 EQ Power+ challenger This is the tenth anniversary of your F1 debut this season. What’s your mindset going into 2017?

Hamilton: Well, the mind-set’s the same as it is every year. I want to win. It’s a pretty simple mind-set to have. It’s a lot harder to do that but every year I want to grow, I want to improve as a driver and as a human being and your use of time, your use of energy and the work you do with your engineers. I think, particularly at the end of last year, I had an incredible relationship with my mechanics, my engineers, together through a difficult season. We won the last five races, so it’s really to try and get back in the season, start on the right foot, try to continue if we can in the same form as a unit as we did at the last race.

(Martin Moravec – dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH)

Mr. Hamilton. With Valtteri Bottas you have now a new team-mate but will you somehow miss Nico as a competitor?

Hamilton: I don’t think I’ve ever missed a team-mate in my life because generally there’s always another one that takes his place. It’s definitely going to feel strange, it already is, being down in the garage, seeing someone else in the car next to me. But you soon get past it and you soon get on. One day, when I leave, another driver will come along and initially,

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perhaps, it will feel strange – but you get used to it immediately and will soon… not forget. But you soon get used to what you have. Valtteri seems to have settled in quite comfortably already in a short space of time and I know he’s working very hard with all the engineers to acclimatise. He’s got a great frame of mind, a lot of positive energy in him just in general.

Excited to work with him.

(Kevin Garside – i newspaper)

Lewis, Nico paid you the complement of retiring, saying that he just basically couldn’t get up for another year, going up against you every fortnight, which kind of says something about your intensity that you bring to this game. How did you view that kind of commentary? And what do believe you have that makes it so difficult for others to race against you as a teammate, if he found it so hard?

Hamilton: That’s a difficult question for someone to answer about themselves. I don’t know. Formula One in general is such an intense sport. The intensity and the rivalry.

You talk about it being a team – which we are – but there’s two Championships. There’s a Drivers’ Championship and in the Drivers’ Championship it is about the one driver. Each individual driver. You’re not out there racing to help the other driver win the Championship. I guess it’s just the intensity of staying focused, fit, consistent. The challenge of a racing driver is always to be the fastest, both in testing and in the race, through strategy, through use of tyres, through engine use, through fuel use, through all these different things to be the most all-round driver. As team-mates that’s where you really have to push each other to raise your game in all of those areas.

It’s not just going out and driving a lap.

It’s everywhere: your technique; as I said it’s your fuel usage; it’s how you interact with your engineers; it’s how you interact with the media; it’s social media and how you engage with the

fans. It’s a real broad spectrum of things and it’s not an easy job. I honestly don’t know all of the reasons that made Nico decide to stop but I can empathise with the feeling of wanting to stop and do something different. Every now and then I have a thought about what I do afterwards – but then I see that car and I’m like: “I think I’m going to stay!” I don’t know how long I’ll be staying but at the moment I’m still competitive, I’m still hungry and I’m still driving at my best, so I will continue to do so.

No matter who I race against, I feel I can put up a good fight.

(Rebecca Clancy – The Times)

Lewis, you said that the cars will be a massive challenge this year and you don’t know whether you’re fit enough.

How’s your training gone over the winter? Have you changed your diet?

Have you put on any weight? Do you think you’re physically ready for this season?

Hamilton: I’m definitely mentally ready for the season. Time will tell whether I’m physically ready. Every year is a little bit different.

Sometimes you start training earlier, sometimes you train later, sometimes you do more intense training for a shorter period. I’ve done it a little bit different this year and it’s been more enjoyable, that’s for sure. I started a little bit later. Usually I start at the end of December, this year I started early January. I’ll get in the car next week and after the first day I’ll know exactly where I’m weak.

Whoever it is, it doesn’t matter how fit you are or how hard you train, if you train every single day in the gym or you run every single day of your life, you get in that car and it beats the crap out of you. It just does. There’s just no simulation for it. Whether you feel it in your neck or a muscle you didn’t even know you had, deep down under your ribcage, you think “what the hell?”

April 2017 | ALLSPORTS | 21

forza ferrari

T

he 63rd single-seater designed and built by Scuderia Ferrari to take part in the Formula 1 World Championship is born out of a regulation change that is without precedent in this category of motor sport. Generally, in the past, regulations went in the direction of slowing down the cars. However, this year, the rule changes go in the opposite direction, meaning the cars have more aerodynamic downforce and more mechanical grip.

AERODYNAMIC CONCEPT. On this topic, the Gestione Sportiva group has concentrated its efforts on finding the right compromise between downforce and aerodynamic resistance, or drag. The new Pirelli tyres are much wider than in the past, by

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6 centimetres each at the front and 8 at the rear. This increased frontal area constitutes a “brake” on forward motion as does the increased downforce coming from the 2017 specification front wing, floor and diffuser. Countering this effect, the combination of downforce and the bigger footprint from the tyres translates into increased grip, leading to higher cornering speeds.

CHASSIS. There are several differences between the SF70H and Ferraris from the recent past: the lengthened nose and the arrow-shaped wing are a consequence of the regulations, as is the obvious fin on the engine cover and the more complex aero appendages ahead of the air intakes on the sidepods, whose unusual shape was designed in harmony with the front crash

structure. Visible at the front is a duct that has an aerodynamic role, while behind the driver, the roll-hoop, which incorporates the engine air intake has been completely redesigned. Also updated is the suspension layout, which still retains a push rod design at the front with pull rods at the rear. The hubs and wheel nuts have been redesigned to facilitate the work of the mechanics when changing wheels during the pit stops. Finally, also as a function of the expected increase in performance this year, the power-steering and braking systems have been upsized.

POWER UNIT. In contrast to the aerodynamics, when it comes to the power unit, there have been few changes to the

regulations. The main one concerns the amount of fuel that can be used by each car during the race: with the predicted increase in performance, with a bigger percentage of each lap spent at full revs, the permitted amount of fuel has increased from 100 to 105 Kg, although the flow rate is still fixed at 100 kg/ hour. The 062 engine is a definite step forward compared to its predecessor, when it comes to chasing performance. The layout of some of the mechanical components on the hybrid power unit has been revised, while other areas maintain a similar layout to the 2016 car. On the sporting regulation front, the abolition of the “Token” system allows the teams more room for development over the course of the season.

April 2017 | ALLSPORTS | 23

SAHARA FORCE INDIA TEAM

n Ocon

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n Perez

a force to be reckoned with

April 2017 | ALLSPORTS | 25

Q&A with Team Principal

VIJAY MALLYA FORCE INDIA enjoyed their best-ever season in Formula 1 last year. They claimed their best-ever Championship position in fourth overall with 173 points. They beat their previous points record of 155 in 2014, when the final race had double points. In 2016, two podiums, 30 points finishes out of a possible 42, and 12 double-points finishes out of 21 possible. Force India also finished in the points in 18 out of 21 races, scoring 159 out of 173 points after the Spanish GP, while also being in 38 out of 42 finishes; on the lead lap in 26 of 42. They are hoping they can translate that success into even greater things come 2017.

Vijay, 2017 is the tenth year of Sahara Force India competing in Formula One. That’s quite a milestone…

“I’m very proud of the journey we have taken over the last ten seasons to become an established Formula One team racing at the sharp end of the grid. When I think back to 2008 and the task facing us, it’s remarkable to see the progress we have made and the way the team has evolved.

Everybody associated with this team deserves huge credit for the achievements of 2016 and I still regard our fourth place finish as one of my proudest moments.”

Can the team keep delivering at this level going forward?

“We don’t underestimate the scale of the challenge ahead of us, especially with the sport undergoing a huge overhaul of the technical regulations. Simply repeating our performance level of 2016 will be a big task in itself. I don’t want to set goals or targets other than to say that we intend to maintain the momentum we have built up in recent years and carry it into the new season. There are too many unknowns to say more than this.”

Are you excited by the shake-up of the technical rules?

“I think it’s important that Formula One stands out as the clear pinnacle of motorsport and there’s no doubt this year’s cars will look more aggressive.

The drivers always want more speed and hopefully it will excite the fans. The learning curve will be very steep this year, too, so I think each weekend will have a bit more uncertainty, which is good for the show. I’m not convinced that the new cars will generate better wheel-to-wheel racing, but let’s wait and see what happens.”

n VJM10 and drivers

T

he VJM10’s new aerodynamic package is guaranteed to get heads turning, while the silver and orange livery retains the team’s traditional colours with a fresh twist.

Team Principal, Dr Vijay Mallya, was the first to praise the VJM10: “I can’t remember being more excited ahead of a new season. The VJM10 looks aggressive and purposeful, and is the result of a huge effort behind the scenes over the last twelve months. We have big hopes for this car, which looks stunning in its new livery.”

With a complete overhaul of technical regulations, the VJM10 represents a clean sheet of paper in terms of design.

“This year the cars are completely new and nothing can be carried over from previous years,” explained Chief Operating Officer,

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Otmar Szafnauer. “Although we have completely new aerodynamics on the VJM10, it’s fair to say that our aero philosophy is very similar to 2015 and 2016.”

Technical Director, Andrew Green, explained how the team has relished the challenge presented by the new rules and expects huge scope for in-season development: “It’s definitely a big overhaul; one that requires a change in mentality. It took a bit of time to adjust at first, but we are there now and I am confident we know where to look and where the performance is coming from with this car.

“The development slope is incredibly steep and we are going to see significant updates to the cars at regular intervals, right from the start; it’s going to be big updates and I don’t think development will start to taper off any time soon.”

The team has a new driver this year with Esteban Ocon alongside Sergio – it’s an interesting pairing…

“Our philosophy has always been to choose the quickest drivers available and I’m very happy to welcome Esteban to the team. Together with Sergio, I believe we have one of the most exciting line-ups on the grid. Esteban is young but we know he has the raw talent and potential to develop.

As for Sergio, he showed last year that he is an exceptional racing driver. This is his fourth year with us and he has matured to become one of the most complete racers on the grid. He is our benchmark and provides valuable consistency as we enter the new season. Who better for Esteban to learn from?”

The car has more silver on it this year – tell us the thinking behind the new livery?

“We’ve kept the basic colour scheme that we’ve been running for the last couple of years, but we’ve just freshened up the design slightly.

Everybody has been telling me how much they love the colours on our cars so there was no reason to make a radical change. This livery gives our cars a contemporary and premium feel, which works well considering the partners we have on the car.”

April 2017 | ALLSPORTS | 27

Q&A with Race Driver

D

sergio perez

uring his three-year tenure at Sahara Force India, SERGIO PEREZ has matured into one of the fastest drivers on the grid, surprising the world of Formula One with a string of giant-killing results that established him as a leading force in the sport. At 27 and in the wake of his most successful season in his career, he can match the hunger for more success with the experience of six seasons at the forefront of the sport.

2016 turned out to be an even more spectacular season for Sergio. An incredible podium under the rain in Monaco heralded the start of a strong run of form destined to last the whole season; a further visit to the rostrum in Azerbaijan and a string of ten consecutive points finishes saw the Mexican break through the 100-points barrier for the first time in his career (and in the history of the team) and clinch seventh place in the drivers’ standings, a lifetime best. It was a just reward for the talented Checo, who was confirmed for the 2017 season, alongside a new team-mate, to continue pushing the team to new heights.

How did you spend the off-season?

“It’s been a mixture of relaxation and lots of training. It was nice to go home to Mexico and see my friends and family because it’s not something I can do often during the racing season. Also, this year my training schedule has been much busier because I need to be ready for the massive physical challenge of the 2017 cars.

Have you done anything different this winter on the fitness front?

“I’ve not really changed that much, but just spent more time doing the same things. Normally I would spend the month before testing doing intensive training, but this year I’ve been working really hard for two and a half months.

I’ve been training in the hot weather too.”

What will be the biggest change compared to last year?

“It’s going to be the energy and force you feel through the corners. It’s going to be much more physical with bigger lateral forces. Also, I expect less degradation with this year’s tyres so the rhythm of the races is going to be faster with less drop-off. I really hope that these new regulations will test us as drivers and put us under pressure. Formula One needs to expose who are the best drivers over two hours and I think the new rules are taking us in this direction.”

How are you getting on with your new teammate Esteban?

“I don’t know Esteban that well yet, but he seems very friendly. I’ve always got on well with my teammates and my relationship with Nico [Hulkenberg] was very open so I think it will be the same with Esteban. I hope we can push each other hard because it’s important to have somebody next to you who can really challenge you. That’s what the team needs too.”

This is your fourth season with Sahara Force India.

You must know the team inside out by now…

“The time here has gone really quickly. We’ve had an incredible amount of success in the last three years and I want this fourth year to be even better.

Knowing everybody makes a massive difference because you feel as though you are part of the family, which is especially important when you start working with a new set of regulations.”

What are your personal goals for the new season?

“My target is to improve on what we achieved last year, which will be a big challenge. I hope that we can be one of the surprises of the season and I even dream that we can achieve our first victory together. This is a pure racing team; everybody understands their role and we all work well together. That’s why I believe we can keep delivering in 2017.”

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WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING

A FASCINATING 40!

On May 8, 1977 at the Circuito de Jarama in Spain, Patrick Neve finished 12th in a March 761 to mark the start of something special – the birth of one of the greatest Formula 1 teams of all time: Williams. Little did anyone know that 40 years down the line, Francis Owen Garbett Williams, a humble man brought up in the humble surroundings of Jarrow; and an automotive engineer by the name of Patrick Head would have constructed a team that boasts 114 wins, 128 pole positions and 133 fastest laps, culminating in nine Constructors’ and seven Drivers’ world championships.

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he year 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of Williams. To celebrate such a momentous occasion and to demonstrate our gratitude to everyone who has supported us over the years, we have a series of exciting events and special Williams 40 content planned for our fans, partners, media and our many friends in the paddock to interact with and be involved in.

“Forty years ago my Father and Patrick Head created what would become one of the most iconic teams in the history of Formula 1 – Williams,” said Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams.

“We are immensely proud of what we have achieved during our long and illustrious history. We have experienced the most euphoric highs - reaching the pinnacle of the sport nine times as a constructor and seven times with Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve. We have also experienced the lows; the heartache of championships and victories that have agonisingly slipped away. But we’re proud of it all.

“So much has changed in Formula 1 in the last 40 years but one thing remains the same, our passion.

We want to celebrate our passion, our achievements and our history with everyone who has made this journey possible – the fans, our partners, the media and the many friends we have made in the last 40 years. Racing, it’s in our blood, it’s our DNA and has been since 1977, which will never change.

“We are racing. We are Williams.”

To mark the anniversary, the team’s 2017 chassis is named the FW40, following on from last season’s FW38. n Massa “This season is one synonymous with change,” Claire added. “Not only are we competing under a new set of regulations, but for the first time since 2013 our driver line-up features a new face in the form of 2016 FIA European Formula 3 Champion, Lance Stroll. He takes on his rookie year alongside Felipe Massa, one of the most experienced drivers on the grid.

“After finishing fifth in the Constructors’ Championship in 2016, it will be a challenging year - especially as we enter this new era of racing. However, the team have been working extremely hard over the winter to deliver the maximum performance out of the car going into a brand new season.

“We hope that everyone’s hard work over the winter will have paid off, but it’s now a waiting game to see where we stand in relation to our rivals. We are ready for 2017. With changes up and down the grid, a new era is upon us and we will keep pushing to get Williams back to where it should be.”

“There have been a lot of changes at Grove over the winter that could have been considerably distracting for all involved in the delivery of the FW40, but everyone has been incredibly professional, rolling up their sleeves and getting on with what’s important. Frank, myself and the Board are extremely grateful to everyone at the factory for all their efforts over the winter. I hope they, our partners and our fans are rewarded with a more competitive year on track this season.”

After coming out of retirement to compete in a fourth successive season with Williams, Felipe Massa said: “I can’t believe we’re back racing again already. It’s amazing to have another year with the team – after my very short retirement! I always knew I wouldn’t stop racing and I was delighted to get the n Stroll opportunity to return with Williams, it’s the one team I feel a lot of love for.

“I have a new team mate this year in Lance and I’m confident he will use his youth to his advantage and learn quickly. Having raced in F1 for many years I will be happy to share my experience with him and I know we will work well together which will only be a good thing for the team as a whole.”

“I’m looking forward to racing the FW40. 40 years in racing is a significant and special milestone for Williams so I really hope we can make this year a great one. Everything is reset with the new rules this year so it’s important we are ready for anything.”

Lance Stroll, who will be competing in his debut season in Formula 1, said: “I can’t wait for the season to start! It feels like a long time coming. However, I feel like I’m as prepared as I can be – a lot of people have put in a lot of hard work to help get me to this point and I’m very grateful for that. I hope that it’s a good first year for me but I will be taking it race by race. There is a lot of pressure on rookies but I have a great team around me and I just need to maintain focus and deliver. Kicking the season off with testing will be a good first step but Melbourne will be the real test for everyone.”

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HAAS F1 TEAM

BIGGER, BETTER, FASTER...

F

ormula 1’s only American team is looking to build on a successful maiden season and in 2017 is aiming for nothing less than BIGGER, BETTER, FASTER! Haas F1 Team debuted in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in 2016, becoming the first American Formula 1 team since 1986.

Founded by industrialist Gene Haas, Haas F1 Team is based in the US on the same Kannapolis, North Carolina, campus as his championshipwinning NASCAR team, Stewart-Haas Racing.

Haas F1 Team’s 2017 challenger in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the VF-17, follows the team’s very first car, the VF-16, which carried Haas F1 Team to an eighth-place finish in the 2016 constructor standings.

Twenty-nine points were scored by the VF-16 during Haas F1 Team’s inaugural season, the largest points haul of any new Formula 1 team in this millennium.

Incorporating “VF” into the name of the car is a nod to the history of Haas Automation, the team’s title sponsor. The first CNC machine manufactured

by Haas Automation was the VF-1 in 1988. The “V” stands for vertical, which is an industry standard designation for a vertical mill.

Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation, added “F1” to the name to unofficially designate it as the company’s “Very First One”.

As chairman of Haas F1 Team, the “F1” moniker of that first machine takes on added significance as Haas prepares for its second Formula 1 season.

“Being a Formula 1 participant brings a level of credibility that you just won’t get through traditional advertising,” says Haas.

“People are kind of ‘show me’ people, like show me what you can do and then I’ll believe in you.

That was the initial concept – to convince people of our ability to do things others can’t, and I think that translates into being a machine tool builder.

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“Bigger, Better, Faster, Lighter is what we strive for in the machining industry and it’s what we strive for in motorsports. People see what we can do in Formula 1, and people believe Haas Automation can build world-class machine tools.”

The VF-17 was built under a new set of technical regulations featuring an advanced aerodynamic package designed to create a higher level of downforce. A wider front wing, larger barge boards, a lower and wider rear wing and a diffuser that expands 50 millimeters (two inches) in height and width comprise the changes, along with wider tyres from Pirelli, by 60 millimeters (2.4 inches) in the front and 80 millimeters (3.1 inches) in the rear, a 25-percent increase to bring the front tyres to 305 millimeters (12 inches) and the rear tyres to 405 millimeters (15.9 inches).

“I think the pedal box is the same, but all the rest is very different from last year’s car,” said Guenther Steiner, Haas F1 Team Principal. “You always try to make a faster car, which is normally a lighter car. Now we can put on more ballast and get better weight distribution. The aero is completely new, as are the tyres, so we needed to have some built-in adjustability.

“Aesthetically, the car has a more aggressive look. It’s lighter and more aerodynamically efficient.

Everything we learned from our first car has been applied to our new car.”

The colors from the original car were carried over to the VF-17, but the overall scheme is different. A dark gray makes up the majority of the livery, with tones of red, black, white and light gray incorporating the look of Haas Automation’s complete line of vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning centers and rotary tables and indexers.

The VF-17 is back on track for the seasonopening Australian Grand Prix on March 26 in Melbourne.

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TORO ROSSO

LET’S GET PHYSICAL! Toro Rosso drivers DANIIL KVYAT and CARLOS SAINZ JR. give us an insight on their personal winter training programme in preparation for the new season ahead.

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D

espite all the uncertainty heading into the new Formula unnecessary body mass, they can still be generally strong.

1 season, there is one point that everyone agrees on: the “February has been a busy month, with work in the simulator drivers will have to be fitter and stronger than in the past. and meetings at the factory, so finding the ideal time for Faster cornering speeds produce higher G-forces, so physical preparation is often challenging, but manageable. Dany the drivers will have to endure greater horizontal and understands the importance of this work, because physical lateral forces. fitness is the tool to help a driver maximize his potential The increased downforce means drivers at the racetrack.” will be able to brake later, but in simple terms they will Teammate Carlos Sainz reckons: “These past have to hit the brake pedal much harder, so a driver months have been arguably the toughest winter of who can reach peak braking force in about 0.2 to 0.3 my life. Our level of preparation for previous seasons seconds, producing the necessary force quickly and would just not be enough for this year.” explosively, might gain an advantage this year.

This winter the Spaniard has worked on a very One aspect of driver fitness that has not changed, varied programme planned by his trainer, Rupert is that they have to build up a “reserve” of fitness in Manwaring. “I have used the crossfit method, but I the off-season, as once the testing and racing begins, it call it ‘Formula 1 crossfit’, working at a heart rate of becomes a case of maintaining a level, fitting in training between 180 and 190 beats per minute, combining work n Sainz as and when possible. In the winter time however, it is every with weights with the toughest ever cardio sessions,” says driver’s primary focus Instead of the usual 50 minutes, we now do between 90 and 120 “On December 9 last year, Daniil and I reviewed the past minutes, the same length of time as a grand prix. season and looked ahead to the new era,” recalls Daniil Kvyat’s “I also include boxing in those sessions, which all in all means trainer Pyry Salmela. “We established a plan and spent a day doing I work my physical endurance way more baseline assessments, a process which we will repeat four to “In addition, there have been sessions in the swimming five times this year and then we officially kicked off our pool, lasting an hour or more. The neck has been the preparation for 2017. focus of much attention, to cope with the expected “Even though the 2016 season had been a long higher G-forces.” one, it was clear to see that after a challenging season, “We have worked on that in two ways,” explains Dany had a hungry tiger in the tank, which set a nice Carlos. “Firstly, we pull and hold weights with the atmosphere for our training sessions. neck in the gym, which is very similar to what we “We started with general preparation, where the will experience on the track and secondly we did a emphasis is mainly on general strength and aerobic specific go-karting programme two or three times a qualities. Many athletes tend to like this training week, putting weights of between 1.5 and 2 kilos on phase, because the response is rewarding when, after the helmet to replicate the G-forces I will experience in lots of sweat and agony, the numbers in the weights room the F1 car. n Kvyat and on the running trail improve nicely.

“On the one hand, I believe you get to the best physical “Dany likes to spend time in the weights room and he is form of your life when you’re 21 or 22 years old, and that could surprisingly strong in some areas, with his favourite exercise be good, but on the other hand, some of the older drivers on the being the deadlift. He can lift over twice his bodyweight, which grid will have the advantage of having already experienced the shows that even though drivers have to be lean and avoid kind of G-forces we will see this year, back in 2005 to 2007.”

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sauber

a new era

In 2017, the Sauber F1 Team is celebrating another milestone: it is the 25th Formula One season in the team’s history. The Swiss manufacturers will again be competing with a young yet talented pairing of 26-year-old Swede MARCUS ERICSSON and the new arrival 22-year-old German PASCAL WEHRLEIN. Together with its new owner, Longbow Finance S. A., the Sauber F1 Team starts a new era.

N

ot only will Formula 1 be starting a fresh era with its new technical regulations and rules, but so will the Sauber F1 Team.

With new ownership, the Sauber Group has the chance of a new beginning, and can establish itself and can create a solid basis for a competitive and successful future.

CEO and Team Principal Monisha Kaltenborn is looking forward to exciting times: “Together with Longbow Finance S. A., we have great opportunities to be competitive again and to return to previous successes in Formula 1. We want to position ourselves with a new approach, and we have already taken the first steps in order to build a solid foundation for the future.”

Despite the fact that Formula 1 and its teams will again enter new territory based on the new technical regulations and rules in 2017, the Sauber F1 Team’s expectations are straight to the point: “We clearly have to improve,” says Kaltenborn. “With the Sauber C36-Ferrari we have a solid basis as well as the resources to further develop the Sauber C36-Ferrari through the season. This will be important to establish in mid-field.”

Ericsson and Wehrlein looking forward to season-opener Said Ericsson: “I can’t wait to finally kick off the 2017 Formula One season in Australia. After challenging preseason testing with a lot of data collection and preparation, I am going to Melbourne with a positive mindset. Now we have to see how things work out during the first race weekend with the new car. In general I think it is going to be a challenge to find the right set-up, but I am confident we will get this done.”

Wehrlein: “It is the beginning of my new role as a Formula 1 race driver in the Swiss team, and I am sure when those five lights go out it will be a unique moment on the race day. During the second week of pre-season testing I had productive days, where I was able to get quite familiar with the Sauber C36-Ferrari procedures. After intense physical preparations in the last few weeks I am excited about going to Melbourne, and I feel ready and wellprepared for the challenging season opener. It looks promising at the moment for me, but we never know until we get to Melbourne. I have full trust in our teamwork.”

Zander and new car n Ericsson

In Jörg Zander, a new technical director arrived at the high-tech factory in Hinwil in January 2017.

The first thing he had to do was to get an overview of the technical prerequisites and to familiarise himself with both the new and the old conditions – which he soon managed to do because he felt comfortable from day one. Zander is a familiar face, returning to the Swiss team after having worked there from 2006 to 2007 as chief designer for the BMW Sauber F1 Team.

The German summarises the most conspicuous changes that define the Sauber C36-Ferrari due to the new regulations: “The cars are becoming wider again, from 1.80 to 2 metres, the tyres are 25 % wider, the front and rear wings are becoming wider as well, plus the diffuser is being enlarged. In total, this means more downforce, more grip and, as a result, faster lap times.”

Work on the concept of the new car was focused on reducing the drag coefficient (due to instance by means of the new roll structure.

In certain areas of lightweight design the team went to the limits.

The aero concept includes the optimisation of the front and rear wings and the underfloor. The radiator, the sidepods and the bodywork were designed to be as slim as possible. Clear progress was also achieved in terms of additional downforce.

Zander explains the changes in the development procedure in more precise terms: “We put greater emphasis on aerodynamic stability as opposed to maximising downforce.” n Wehrlein

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RED BULL RACING HEAD INTO THE NEW FORMULA 1 SEASON AS ONE OF THE TEAMS TO LOOK OUT FOR. THEY ARE SPEARHEADED BY A YOUNG YET SUPREMELY TALENTED DRIVER TANDEM IN DANIEL RICCIARDO AND MAX VERSTAPPEN. THEIR 2017 CONTENDER, THE RB13, IS SLEEK AND POWERFUL. RED BULL HAVE ALL THE INGREDIENTS TO CONTEND FOR THE F1 DRIVER AND CONSTRUCTOR TITLES.

red bull

A P N O S L L U B

E D A R

f ce o chan a em year. on the e th er. t leng ts ensur race las a swan lly we l a h c e r e k o era l 3 i f t l gen ir ef rs' ti RB1 are heir ope the structo n: “We ason, so t n n aig -se er o twee con ey h e be the wint lace, th in the w campvery pre l b l o a t e rk s in p econd the ne as e cted wher e t wo hind expespeeds rd a gulation ishing s ng into he sam a s i h h be r i t n n g e a d g s e r fi u c i a n e o r i g t b he t tha he te er in en .” have ineer on af says, u s: “T corn er.” one now ack ar cing ew eng is seas Horner neath, b l add hrough s quick have d l r a t a R h e th er th ast ye ull ars come t corner e team en an l bM ed B With th ercedes Christi usly und g on lkin d books always top r Ro ain will nd the y and th l o a e M i a t r c p g i u fi e u f r n c f e e g h i o o v n t h O g r s ’ t i two c t I r n a p a o ring t of th ill go t both ecli Team P paddli ’s d ula 1 re onally, lves as e t e e n L w a s i s e s. ng mo he car ieve th and t.” ours Form : “Per ircu l ief E and ace t very F1 c rote the do says stablish surf on targehile, Ch faster l mean PEN be 17. e h t r ilt a e w ccia 0 l p P u d i y w 2 e e l a b e A l r r l n w T s n a Mea ds a ave car VERS lenge i ’ve mis n, who ory, Ri can rea the t X l we h I e con I ully d. e se orce on and MA itle cha , says: “ erstapp er in his ax and f v e fi p t i f d o 016 ate V winn lly M e gr RDO ious own e an in. H aga ix up th thre eased d RICCIA t a ser hird in 2teamm nd Prix Hopefu o r n e . t r L a m z m tions inc DANIE to mou iardo, Dutch a 1 Gr self to l y t fro c a th s star w regul ene lian Ric ship wi t Formu lenge m u c s o Y e ne “ : the Austra artner unges n chal s d h r, ad ully t is p I ca e yo Of h ming th meone t yea . Hopef s a l fth ositive eco g so as fi p by b d havin ho w is very w , love rs.” n d e o p o e driv Verstap car. M h.” tive e toug peti com “It will b

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[ 2017 Pre-season Interview ] What have you missed being away from the F1 circus?

I’ve certainly missed the race weekend, like the F1 circus. You know you get to the end of last season and I was like “I’m done with this for a while. Give me a holiday.” But now you know we’re coming up to the start of the year and I’m hungry for that again, so everyone’s been posting videos, photos of the training in the off-season but, yeah, let’s do the talking on the track now and see what happens.

What are your goals for 2017?

Goals I’ve personally set for myself this year is to be on the top step again, and I guess the goal is to be on the top step enough times that come October-November, it’s put in me in the fight for a title. That’s the real goal.

DANIEL

RICCIARDO What about the new regulations?

Sure there’s gonna be some things different you know with us as drivers. The car’s going to feel a lot different I think and more physical. But as a show, as far as the racing goes, if it’s going to be closer, more intense, to be seen I guess.

Will the cars be harder to drive?

I think the cars will be harder to drive probably on two sides: on a physical side we’re going to go faster so it’s going to take more energy from us and I think more strength. We’ve been given a little bit of room to put on some weight over the off-season, I think all of us so it’s to put on a little bit of muscle to withstand the high G-forces that we’re going to have so that’s where that kind of fits in and I think if we’re lapping at a quicker pace then. Things are coming at you faster, the corners, the faster you go, the quicker corners approach you and even with racing, if you’re racing another car you might have to respond or react quicker and be more responsive so I think from that side as well it could be more difficult, more challenging. Fortunately, I’m still young so my eyes can keep up with things coming at me fast.

Superstitious about the RB13?

Look, I’m not superstitious. Not at all. I think superstitions are... I’ve always said it’s an excuse for things to go wrong or it’s a sign, of like, fear. So... never been into it. I’m happy that the team have stuck to the general trend and gone with... 13 comes after 12.

How’s the motivation in the team?

I think, us a team can build, take, and learn a lot from 2016. I think we really set ourselves up well to continue in the trend that we did, so 2017, we’re looking strong, we’re looking good. I think everyone’s definitely in the right mind set right now and that hunger is back.

What about your teammate?

I think it’s very positive having a strong teammate. Personally I’ve always loved, having someone I can I really challenge myself to and... you always want to beat your teammate so it’s not nice maybe having someone you can beat easily but I think you can learn and grow a lot more with someone who’s a top-shelf driver, so I feel that the team has that with myself and Max and we recognise that as a pair and I think it showed last year. We push each other a lot and that was good for both of us and this year it’s gonna... I hope it continues to grow like that and we can really establish ourselves as, you know, two top drivers.

Is it more pressure having the first race in Melbourne?

Going to Melbourne, Australia for the first race it’s like, it’s kind of a double hit in terms of everyone’s excited and anxious for the start of the year but I get another load of that because it’s my home race, it’s the first race and it’s like they’re all not sure how its going to go as well, so they’re all like hoping, hoping, “Are you going to win? Are you going to be the first Australian to win here?” and this and that. So it’s like sure there’s a bit of pressure, don’t get me wrong but it’s positive. It’s all positive pressure and everyone’s excited for me and definitely I feel they’re supporting me so... from that point of view, I’m just like “This is great.” Sure it’s full on, but they’re all with me so let’s go on have fun with it and try and give them a reason to celebrate.

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[ 2017 Pre-season Interview ] What are your goals for 2017?

Of course, I always want to win races but, you know, you need to have the right equipment for that as well.

Can you carry the momentum on from 2016?

If you just start from zero again, you know, it’s a completely different car so yeah hopefully we did build a very competitive car but also that we still have to wait and see, but I’m very confident that Red Bull can do very good as they’ve shown in the previous years.

How is the mood in the team?

Well, the mood, first of all, is very good, very positive.

So that’s always very nice to see in a team and everybody is getting very excited. Yeah, everybody is really looking forward to it.

What about the new regulations?

I think... hopefully it mixes up more the grid and it’s always good I think for Formula1 in general but hopefully for us as well and then from there on hopefully closer racing, less degradation when you’re behind someone else... from the tyres so you can push a bit harder behind someone else for a few more laps. So, I think I’m just looking forward to that.

Will the cars be harder to drive?

I think it will be quite more physical on your neck because the cornering speeds, they are quite a lot higher, I think up to 20km to 30km in a corner. So we did quite a lot of training to get prepared. Hopefully it’s enough. I mean, you never know for sure the first test or two test weeks you will feel a bit sore because you can train what you want, you can get a lot stronger, but always the first time you jump in the car you just get a stiff neck so you just have to deal with it. But hopefully for the rest of the season it will be good enough.

MAX

VERSTAPPEN

How’s the RB13 looking?

The car looks very aggressive and I think, well, when it looks that aggressive and cool, it will be fast but you know we still have to wait and see but yeah I think the cars look a lot better than they’ve been the last three years.

Superstitious about the RB13?

No. For me the number does not matter. I think there are some championships won from other constructors as well with number 13 in it so it’s all right.

And what about your teammate?

It’s always positive to have a very strong teammate because you develop yourself really well. You are always on top of yourself. You always try to push yourself to the limits. So, yeah, I’m of course very happy to have Daniel as a teammate. We always try to push each other and I think at the end of the day that’s very good for the team.

What do you hope will happen in Melbourne?

Oh dear, well, a bit difficult to say but hopefully we have a good start from the race point of view; basically lead the whole race in a very boring race. Yeah, that would be perfect.

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mclaren

A stunning new colour scheme that harks back to the team’s 1960s roots, a restructure in senior management, a new race driver, and a set of challenging but exciting new technical regulations – all these help frame the genesis of McLarenHonda’s newest Formula 1 challenger, the MCL32.

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he all-new MCL32 follows in the evolutionary footsteps of its two immediate predecessors, MP4-30 and MP4-31, but it has been overhauled in every area as the design team has looked to capitalise on a series of new aerodynamic regulations introduced

for 2017.

The result is an extremely elegant but aggressive-looking race car, fitted with Honda’s latest-generation power unit, the RA617H, which has been thoroughly revised by the company’s team of talented engineers.

Most strikingly apparent is the MCL32’s new colour scheme, which blends old-school McLaren history with contemporary thinking on vehicle livery design. The MCL32 has been exclusively painted by long-term partner AkzoNobel Sikkens, in Tarocco Orange, a custom McLaren colour with a pearl sparkle, and a contrasting satin black and gloss white finish.

The new colouration is a particularly crowdpleasing touch, intended not only to revisit McLaren’s past but also to kick-start a fresh chapter in the team’s history.

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‘We need to capitalise’: Alonso Former World champion Fernando Alonso hopes he can lead the team to glory. Despite having little left to prove in a glittering career, his competitive spirit is as strong as ever.

“I think there’s a lot to admire about what we’ve achieved over the past 12 months,” says the Spaniard.

“Sure, the results haven’t really showcased it, but we’ve really made progress, and I think the whole team has gelled together through those difficult times. Now, at a moment of significant regulatory change, we need to capitalise on that period of uncertainty to push forwards – and I’m confident that we’ve got the expertise to do just that.”

Of their new car, Alonso says: “What I’ve seen of the MCL32 appears to be really promising – the new regulations seem to be well thought-out, and the cars look fast and aggressive.

“The look of the car makes me really want to get in the cockpit – I’ve lost none of that all-important hunger every Formula 1 driver needs. Training over the winter has gone well – I worked really hard – and I can’t wait to get going in the car as I say.”

Looking ahead to the new season, Alonso is prepared for the trials that lay ahead. “We still think the start of the season will be a challenge,” he explains. “We can’t ignore the fact that we’re still coming from a significant step behind the current front-runners – but I’d like to think we can target the second half of the year as a time when we’ll really be able to start making useful performance steps. The aim is to look respectable this year – and I’d like to think we can achieve that.”

Newcomer Stoffel Vandoorne is heading into his first full season of racing in the top flight. He was named the replacement to former World champion Jenson Button, who has taken on a new role on the team.

Vandoorne is highly regarded as being one of the brightest stars in the sport today, and he is upbeat and ready for what he says is a dream

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opportunity.

“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for my whole life,” he says. “My preparation has been long, intense and meticulous. I’ve spent the winter training ferociously hard, I’m fitter now than I’ve ever been, and I’m raring to get going.

we’re about to turn the corner. Our relationship with Honda has blossomed – there’s a real sense of comradeship to what we do now – and I think we’re all very excited about what we can achieve together this year.

“Technically, in 2017 man and machine will be pushed to the absolute limit, owing to higher speeds and more severe braking. All our partners and suppliers have done a great job, but I want to mention Akebono, one of our team’s long-standing technology partners, who have developed all-new brake callipers and brake systems to cope with the increased loads and forces that will face Fernando, Stoffel and the MCL32.”

“This is my opportunity.

And I’m ready.”

Button stays on

Of the MCL32, the Belgian says: “It’s really nice to see a McLaren looking like a proper McLaren. The livery is a great mix of the past and the future: the orange of the 1960s and ’70s, but pushed forwards. I really like it.

“As for the car itself, it looks great. There are so many beautiful little details – the gills on the nose hangers, the bargeboards, the front wing – it all looks incredibly well finished and thoroughly thought-out.”

For Racing Director Eric Boullier, the ambition is clear: “Within McLaren-Honda, there’s a tangible feeling of progress, of change.

This year’s rules reset is a valuable opportunity for us – it will allow us to make progress with what we feel is a well ordered and clearly defined chassis-engine package, and hopefully to narrow the delta between us and the frontrunning teams.

“The addition of a striking orange and black paint job reinforces the notion that we’re moving away from what immediately preceded it, but it’s the engineering detail on the MCL32 that really impresses me. It’s the result of a huge amount of work from a team that has really developed together over the past few years. The chassis is incredibly well realised, the power unit has been significantly developed and, in Fernando and Stoffel, we have a hugely exciting driver pairing that’s already blending really well.

“There’s a feeling around the factory that

Ex-World Champion and 15-time Grand Prix winner Jenson Button has signed a new contract to extend his relationship with the McLarenHonda team.

As part of an innovative three-driver strategy for 2017 and 2018, Button will continue to play an active role as a key member of the team.

McLaren-Honda’s two race drivers for 2017 will be double World Champion and 32-time Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso, and the most talented and exciting young driver in the sport today, Stoffel Vandoorne.

“I’m delighted that I’ll be staying on as a key member of the McLaren-Honda team,” says Button.

“In fact, I’m massively excited about my new role, which has come about as a result of a number of in-depth chats with Ron. “Specifically, I’m looking forward to becoming even more deeply involved in the team’s efforts to bring about the success we’ve all been striving to deliver.

“I love McLaren-Honda – I firmly believe it’s made up of the best bunch of people I’ve ever worked with – and I have no intention of ever driving for another Formula 1 team.

“To be clear, I’m very definitely not retiring.

I’m contracted for both 2017 and 2018, I intend to work hard on car-development, and I’m sure I’ll get behind the wheel of the new car at some point.”

April 2017 | ALLSPORTS | 47

locations and the result is a car we can be proud of.

“We have a strong line-up of personnel at all levels of the team and we’re proud to see Nico join Jolyon in 2017.

“We are the fastest growing F1 team and we now need to prove our performance on track. Our objective is to score points at every round.”

lot of work ahead and we’re both looking for a positive long term relationship. For sure 2017 comes after a build-up year in 2016 where there was improvement and crucially growth in many areas for the future. The target is to move forward in the midfield over the season ahead and be in shape to take another step forward in 2018. I am inspired with being part of this and adding my share to push us all to better performances.

S

Your new team is your fourth in Formula 1; what benefit can your experience bring to the equation?

tar driver Nico Hulkenberg talks about life on his new team, his goals for the new season and how he feels he can help return Renault to its glory days in Formula 1.

Nico Hülkenberg has joined Renault Sport Formula One Team with an impressive racing career ahead of his eye-opening Formula 1 debut in 2010, with championship titles secured in Formula BMW, A1GP and the GP2 Series. Nico also achieved a pole position in his rookie F1 season and won at Le Mans on his debut with Porsche in 2015.

I’m bringing everything I’ve got! My passion, my experience, my hunger for success. At the end of the day, it’s a team effort and everyone is important, but ultimately the two drivers have to deliver on the track. I know the goals the team has for the season and I’m taking everything step by step to make the most of the opportunity for us all to achieve good things. I will do everything I can to ensure success happens.

What do you want from the R.S.17?

What attracted you to Renault Sport Formula One Team?

RENAULT RESURGENCE 48 | ALLSPORTS | April 2017

P

owered by Renault Sport Racing’s R.E.17 power unit, the R.S.17 has no carry over parts from last year’s R.S.16.

The team has worked from a clean sheet of paper to respond to Formula 1’s latest regulations.

It is the first Formula 1 car designed from the outset by Renault Sport Racing from its two locations in Enstone, England and ViryChâtillon, France.

Renault Sport Racing President Jérôme Stoll comments: “The R.S.17 is the first car which Enstone and Viry have been able to plan and develop from the outset and we’re satisfied by the fruits of this interaction.

“It’s a beautiful car.

“For 2017, our performance targets are clear. We want to take a definite, tangible step forward in performance and results. Fifth position in the Constructors’ Championship is our goal.”

Renault Sport Racing Managing Director Cyril Abiteboul adds: “For 2017, we are perfectly placed to take the step forward we all desire.

“The R.S.17 is the result of many long working hours spent over our two integrated

It’s a new and fantastic opportunity for me. Going to a manufacturer team is something I’ve always wanted and it’s with a team that has been at the top in the past and is fighting its way back there. It’s a great opportunity for me as I want to be challenging for world championships and victories. Renault returned last year as a manufacturer team and share the same ambitions as me, so it’s a great opportunity on both sides.

n Hulkenberg

How has the introduction to the team been?

n Palmer

It’s early days of course, but so far so good! I’ve seen around the factories at Enstone and Viry, I have a very good impression of both sites and the people working there. It’s definitely a good lineup of people and you can feel the passion to succeed; there’s a good vibe with highly motivated individuals. There’s a lot of change occurring at the Enstone site and this illustrates the scope of the expansion. It’s great and it’s very encouraging to be part of this.

How are you approaching the long term project?

I’m very happy to be part of it. There’s a

It’s all about having a strong package, as you need a car that is a good all-rounder to perform well across the season. It needs to work well on all the different track types we visit with all the different types of tyres. It needs to work on all the different corner speeds and have strong handling with a good balance so you can work in harmony with the car, a having stable rear end is also particularly crucial. That’s what I’m looking for.

How much tougher physically do you expect the 2017 car to be and what have you done in preparation for this?

I’ve been working out a lot. My preparations started early with a training camp in December and this continued through January and February. Lap times are going down and downforce is up so I’m training very hard to be fully prepared for this when I get out on track.

What are your personal targets and objectives for 2017?

I haven’t set a number. I know the team’s targets and I will do everything I can to help them achieve this. Obviously, I want to achieve the best result possible at every Grand Prix.

April 2017 | ALLSPORTS | 49

dream until your dreams come true FORMULA 1 HAS YET TO SEE AN ARAB DRIVER COMPETE IN A GRAND PRIX. IT IS THE DREAM OF MANY FROM THIS PART OF THE WORLD, BUT THE OPPORTUNITIES TO REALISE THIS DREAM ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. ALLSPORTS CATCHES UP WITH RAED RAFFII, ONE OF BAHRAIN’S STAR MOTOR RACING DRIVERS, WHO HAS LONG DREAMED OF MAKING IT TO THE TOP FLIGHT. RAED TALKS ABOUT HIS RACING CAREER, WHY WE HAVE YET TO SEE AN ARAB DRIVER IN FORMULA 1, AND HIS HOPES FOR THE BAHRAINI YOUTH IN MOTORSPORT.

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April 2017 | ALLSPORTS | 51

I

t’s 3.15p.m. on a gloomy Friday afternoon.

Raed Raffii, one of the fastest men in Bahrain, waits patiently in his car to conduct an outdoor photoshoot.

A familiar tune comes up on the radio – there’s some electric guitar plucking before an iconic voice begins to sing: “Every time I look in the mirror…”

Raed smiles. He knows this tune; it’s one of his favourites. Aerosmith. “Dream On”. A classic. He turns up the volume.

“Dream on, dream on, dream on, dream until your dreams come true…”

The lyrics resonate loud, and they couldn’t be more fitting for a guy like Raed.

Raed, himself, is a dreamer.

He is a passionate sportsman, and anybody who has played a sport and taken it seriously has surely – at one point of his or her life – dreamt of competing at the highest level and performing on the biggest stage.

For a motor racing driver like Raed, Formula 1 is the pinnacle of the sport. It is the ultimate goal of many.

And for aspiring racers in the Middle East, that dream of a Formula 1 drive reached a whole new level when the maiden Bahrain Grand Prix took place at Bahrain International Circuit around 13 years ago on 04/04/04.

Raed was just 14 years old at the time, and he remembers clearly how he felt.

“The first time I watched the Formula 1 cars – I was blown away!” he recalls excitedly. “I was just a little kid and they sounded amazing; I was sitting in Turn One and watching those machines brake from that kind of speed was just out of this world.

“But my love for motorsport was there way before the first GP in Bahrain; we as kids used

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to go down to the karting track and have fun, and that was it. Then and there I developed so much love towards driving race cars, and started it all off by trying to beat all my cousins.”

After getting serious about racing, Raed was not only beating his cousins, but also other talented prospects in official competition.

From there, he continued to raise his expectations from one level to another, before finally making it a point that it would be something he could work on as a career as he gets older.

“Probably around the same time I clinched my first championship in 2005, I was 15 and the media was there and people were saying all sorts of things, that is when I started to believe that this actually could be a reality later down the road,” says Raed.

Through the years he has put together an impressive racing resume that includes the him excelling in the Thunder Arabia Middle East Series, the International Formula Challenge, the Lumina CSV Championship Middle East, the Supercars Middle East Championship, the Formula Middle East and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.

“When we first started, everyone’s aim was to get there, but then we all realised that Formula 1 is not an easy target,” Raed says.

Not easy? More like impossible for a majority. There are thousands of drivers from all over the world who share the same goal, but there are only 20 or so seats each year that can be occupied in Formula 1, with only a handful going to new blood each season.

Furthermore, many Formula 1 teams prefer to nurture their talents from a very early age after seeing their potential at the grassroots level. They help mold their careers into future

Formula 1 drivers, thus leaving even more hopefuls stuck on the outside looking in.

“You not only have to be really good, but you also have to have really proper backing,” Raed says about making it.

“This support is not only financially, but it also means being in the right place at the right time, looking for the right people to give you the right opportunity to move to the right places and drive the right cars.

“There are just so many factors that need to fall into place to make it work.”

Raed admits that he had his chances to move up the motorsport ladder, although Formula 1 was always quite distant.

“I would not say I was not lucky to not get there; I had some opportunities,” he recalls.

“I had my chances to drive with great teams in beautiful championships and I worked with many great people; but in Formula 1, these are very selective seats, and even for people who have already reached there, it is very difficult to maintain their place.”

Raed wasn’t the only Bahraini driver making waves on the international stage over the past decade or so.

Fellow-Bahrainis Hamad Al Fardan and Shaikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa were another supremely talented pair, and they too were keen on knocking on Formula 1’s door.

Hamad was likely the closest to making it, having competed for one season in the nowdefunct GP2 Asia Series with leading British team iSport. Hamad had also raced in the ATS Formel 3 Cup in Germany, as well as in the Asian Formula 3 and, along with Shaikh Salman bin Rashid, in the British Formula 3.

Despite not being able to reach the top flight, Raed, Hamad and Shaikh Salman bin

Rashid all succeeded in promoting Bahrain to the rest of the world and raising the Kingdom’s profile in the motorsport industry.

“It’s been just over 10 years since the sport grew dramatically in the region, but looking back to Europe and other continents like America and the rest of Asia, the sport has been around for 50 or 60 years,” Raed says. “Even from countries like Australia and New Zealand, you don’t see a constant number of Formula 1 drivers coming up each year because the drivers are mainly coming from Europe, where the main school is.

“Even drivers as big as Ayrton Senna and other huge names moved from their own country to Europe to grow. So to be a part of this European motorsport school, you have to have really good funding; and for guys like Hamad, Shaikh Salman bin Rashid and I, we had some of that and we were able to show to the rest of the world that we have good talent here and our drivers are capable of doing great things.”

Much of their funding was hit due to the global financial crisis and the subsequent economic downturn.

“Inconsistency in the incoming funds was a

great issue,” Raed explains. “Driving for a year or two, and then not driving at all, made things very difficult.”

Raed is now hoping to work with Bahrain’s next crop of talented racing drivers and pass on any knowledge that could help them succeed as they venture into international competition.

“Today, the big names we have are His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa; they are both coming up quickly and they each have huge potential,” Raed says.

“I am sure that these guys will at least go a little bit further than what we were able to do, if not reach Formula 1.

“It all depends on the backing they get. If it is there and they keep working hard on their craft, they have a good chance. I’ll base my hopes on these youngsters.”

Now 28 years old and working full time with telecommunications giants VIVA Bahrain, Raed is still busy racing, most especially in karting, where he has won races and secured podiums many times both in sprint and endurance events on the national, regional and international stages.

Raed accepts the fact that the very best of

his racing days may be behind him, but he also admits that if any opportunity to race at the elite level would knock on his door once more, he would not even think twice to accept it.

“I would pick up any opportunity right now, even if it’s too late, I would grab it with both hands,” he says excitedly.

“I’m not yet that old, although it seems like the train has already left the terminal. But if I get an opportunity to get back into a proper car, I would still take it and move forward.

“I’m still racing in karting, especially endurance races which is also very interesting.

“One thing I know for sure about race drivers is that we never lose hope. We are very persistent. So, for me, the dream is never over.”

Asked of any major highlights in his career, Raed looks back with a smile: “I think my whole journey was one big highlight. I always say that if it wasn’t for motorsport, I would not have met so many great people. I’ve come across a lot of people who have supported me not only on track, but also off of it.

“The motorsport community is amazing. We all have a common goal, and it gets a bit tense sometimes, but the highlight is being blessed to be in it.”

April 2017 | ALLSPORTS | 53

double drag delight for jackson and mohammed

S

teve Jackson and Khaled Mohammed were amongst the biggest winners in the 2016/2017 Bahrain Drag Racing Championship-Arabian Pro Series, which came to a close Saturday night with an end-of-season awards ceremony held at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.

Both Jackson and Mohammed came away with two titles, having won their categories in both the national championship and the Arabian series, which they share hosting privileges with Doha.

Saturday’s ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials including BIC Chairman of the Board Arif Rahimi and BIC Chief Executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, along with guests, sponsors, team members and media.

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Competing for returning outfit Bahrain1Racing, Jackson triumphed in the highly competitive Pro Mod category, whereas Mohammed, driving for E Kanoo Racing, clinched both trophies in the Super Street V8.

Jackson enjoyed a near-perfect debut campaign in Bahrain, winning four of the five rounds held at BIC while also setting a new World Record in his class.

“We had a lot of preparation and a lot of work went into this season,” said the American, who is more popularly known by his nickname “Stevie Fast”.

“I never dreamed it would come out as good as it did. We have an awesome team and an awesome leader behind us in His Highness Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and the results showed on the race track.

“We like to be spunky and speak our mind, but we let the cars do the talking and they spoke pretty loud this year!”

Mohammed, himself, had a wonderful campaign. “This was a really great season for us, specifically for this Super Street V8 category because we were planning to take both championships here,” said the veteran Bahraini.

“We also did very well in the Pro Mod so overall I am very happy with everything and I would like to thank our entire team at E Kanoo Racing.

“We’re a little tired after racing back-toback over the last five to six weeks in both Bahrain and Qatar but we are very pleased how this season has gone and we look forward to planning our next moves.”

Another three drivers managed to come

away with the Bahrain championship-Arabian Pro Series double. They included Kuwaiti Meshal Alsaber in the Pro Bike category, Saudi Mishari Al Turki in the Super Street Bike class, and Kuwaiti Jamal Al Maghribi in the Index 4.5 category.

Others to be called champions of 2016/2017 were Kuwaiti Sheikh Duij Al Subah in the Outlaw 10.5 for Bahrain and Qatari Mustafa Al Atat in the Outlaw 10.5 of the Arabian Pro Series; American Gary White in the Outlaw 6-Cylinder for Bahrain and Bahraini Yousif Al Zayani in the Arabian Pro Series; and Bader bin Edan in the Street Bike’s Bahrain championship with fellow-Kuwaiti claiming the same category’s Arabian Pro title.

Several other titles were handed out in the Bahrain championship. Salah Salahuddin won in

the Street V8 to lead six Bahraini winners.

His triumphant countrymen included Ahmed Aljalahma in the Street 4 and 6, Mohammed Mubarak in the Outlaw FrontWheel-Drive, Hamad Al Murbati in the Super Street 6, Mohammed Jawad in the Index 9.50 and Hussain Hassan in the Index 8.50.

Kuwaiti Suliyman Dawood on in the Index 10.50 and Saudi Fadi Abu Jamoos was the champion in the Bike Index 9.50.

Salahuddin commented: “I am very happy with winning the title but I don’t have any words to describe how difficult this season was for us.

We had so many challenges, especially with our problems with the car – we’d break something and have it fixed, and then break something else and have it fixed, and so on – things like that it knocks us out of the race. But with all that being

said, it came down to the last race and thankfully I was able to come away with this trophy.”

Bahrain Drag Racing Club President Fahad Taqi expressed his delight with how things turned out this past season.

“It was very successful,” he said. “A major thank you to BIC for doing this for the racers.

Having this series very proud of. We have been trying for years to have a set of rules that all drivers can compete and race, and this was a great opportunity.

“As BDRC, we saw a huge increase in the number of participants. From round one to round five, it was just amazing. We didn’t even know who the champions would be until the end of the season and this one of the best races I’ve in the club.”

April 2017 | ALLSPORTS | 55

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