Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2017 i AUTOSPORT

We’ve been here before: those periods in an F1 season when the champion-elect hits his groove and leaves his rivals whimpering at the roadside, with nothing better to show for their efforts than a covering of road dust. Michael Schumacher did it routinely in the noughties; Sebastian Vettel closed out 2013 with ten wins from 11 races. And that’s pretty much how it looks for Lewis Hamilton right now, despite the valiant efforts of Seb, Ferrari and, latterly, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, to stand strong in the face of the Hamilton-Mercedes tsunami. The stats tell their own story: since the August break, Lewis has won four from five, dropping only seven points from a maximum 125 with his P2 finish in Malaysia. In the same period, Vettel has taken only…

Q1 Jackie Stewart led over 50 per cent of the grands prix that he started – true or false? Q2 Lewis Hamilton has won four out of the five GPs held at the Circuit of The Americas, but how many times has he set pole for this US race? Q3 The first Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp took place in 1973. On how many occasions did it run? Q4 Where did Daniil Kvyat come closest to a win, finishing second behind Sebastian Vettel? Q5 In which year did Kimi Räikkönen secure his only Abu Dhabi Grand Prix victory? Q6 Pierre Gasly’s promotion means that there are now three Frenchman on the grid. How many were there on the last French GP grid in 2008? Q7 One year, four months and…

Have you ever found yourself wondering why McLaren don’t build their own engines, especially after three ruinous seasons with Honda? We’ve covered the death of that relationship in detail on p58, so I won’t rake over it here, save to say that the subject of McLaren “growing their own” came up in a debate with the team’s executive director, Zak Brown, over their Honda/Renault conundrum. Brown conceded that such a project was a remote possibility post-2020, but made a good point: even sister company McLaren Automotive don’t build their own engines. Their delectable sportscars are pushed along by engines supplied by automotive engineering consultancy Ricardo, albeit engineered to McLaren’s spec and, in the case of the hybrids, with considerable input from McLaren Applied Technologies. It would be better, said Brown,…

“RACING HAS TO BECOME SAFER TO BE SUSTAINABLE” ALEX WURZ ALEX WURZ GPDA chairman “The halo is a contentious topic, but before readers judge my comments, I must mention the one thing that has been key to everything F1 has developed over the decades, especially with regard to safety, and that is: function first and design afterwards. So any additional head protection is currently in the ‘function’ phase and not the ‘design’ phase. To me, the halo device is not the most aesthetically pleasing object, but aesthetics are subjective. I find sportscars to be more aesthetically pleasing than F1 cars. So my comments are based purely on the function of halo. Since the days of Jackie Stewart in the 1960s, F1 has done one thing year in and year out,…

How did the INFINITI Engineering Academy come about? “The reason we wanted to do this project was for INFINITI to bring to Renault added value as a technical partner, in addition to the expertise we bring with the hybrid technology in the F1 power unit. So we launched the academy in seven regions around the world.” What do the seven winners get? “They get work placements at the Renault Sport F1 Team and a further six months at the INFINITI Technical Centre at Cranfield. I don’t know of another programme that does this for their students. Automotive and Formula 1 are different playgrounds but engineering principles are the same and we place them in the best field for their profile, so in either vehicle dynamics, electronics or aerodynamics – depending…

The company was founded in 1963 by an Italian leather craftsman by the name of Sante Mazzarolo Past champions, including Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Räikkönen and Jenson Button, have all played an integral role in developing Alpinestars products A Nomex Alpinestars racesuit can withstand a 650°C naked flame for up to 30 seconds with minimal damage The company’s name is derived from the English translation of the Italian mountain flower stella alpina, which is better known as edelweiss The first motorcycle boot was produced by Alpinestars in 1965. It featured a steel shin protector and a buckle instead of laces Brazilian racer Christian Fittipaldi was the first F1 driver to wear Alpinestars apparel, back in 1993…

After a season that has been marred by tremendous misfortune, by no means all of it self-inflicted, Max Verstappen secured his second grand prix victory in emphatic style at what looks to be the last ever Malaysian Grand Prix. He took the lead on lap four, scything past pole-setter Lewis Hamilton at Turn 1, and was never threatened at the head of the field thereafter. His Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo lost ground on the opening lap and had to settle for third place, behind a struggling Hamilton. Following Ricciardo was the sole Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel, who had secured fourth, having started last on the grid thanks to an engine problem on Saturday. QUALIFYING After a strong Friday, the problems for Ferrari began in the dying moments of FP3…

DEAN & EMMA WRIGHT Recent Motorsport Network recruits Dean and Emma do more than just 3D animation – check out their illustrations on p42 ANDREW FERRARO He’s making waves in the commercial world with his portraiture – turn to p74 to see what Andrew did with Stoffel Vandoorne JUSTIN HYNES As a regular contributor to FIA Auto magazine, Justin was just the man to get the inside line on the controversial ‘halo’ device (p42) MALCOLM GRIFFITHS We sent ‘Malcy’ to the Merc Museum in Stuttgart to shoot our cover feature – an interview with Nico Rosberg (p32)…

Racing cars have souls; of course they do. Just ask Lewis Hamilton. He’ll talk to his baby in the closing laps of any given race, urging her on, exhorting her not to break and patting her on the nose afterwards in parc fermé. Or ask Sebastian Vettel. He names his cars as you or I would name a Labrador. He has feelings for them and they, I suspect, have feelings for him. So let’s have none of that stuff about objects or animals being soul-less because they feel no sense of right or wrong. Somehow we’re all connected. Mineral-animal-human. The growth of the soul is an onward-going thing in both this life and the next. That’s the purpose of existence. Which brings me back to Formula 1 cars. Just look…

with more than a hint of reverence, Nico Rosberg reaches out to touch his championship-winning W07 Hybrid affectionately on the nose, then turns to regard the grand sweep that is the cavernous concrete inner sanctum of the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Here, like pinned butterfies in a natural-history exhibit, but on a grander scale, the racing cars attached to the banked wall bear silent testament to an evolutionary line – in this case, one that stretches from chain-driven pre-war leviathans such as the 1909 Blitzen Benz to the latest hybrid Formula 1 machinery. A large red crane stands ready to hoist Nico’s title-winner onto its final resting place – but not before its operators have posed for a selfie with both him and it. He obliges with the same easy charm that…

At the top of the three-storey Williams is a rooftop terrace that overlooks the paddock. This is where team guests and VIPs mingle with a cocktail and gossip about the latest goings-on in the soap opera world of Formula 1. Monza is the motorhome’s last destination this year, before it reappears in the Barcelona paddock next May. On this sun-blessed Italian afternoon, a handful of guests are lolling in one corner. In another is the team’s celebrated chef, Michael Caines, tapping busily away at a laptop. And on a sofa next to the Martini bar sits Williams’ rookie racer Lance Stroll. The 18-year-old copped a certain amount of fak during the early parts of his debut season: the opening races were a struggle until he achieved his first points finish…

IN THE END, it all came down to trust, faith and confidence – or the lack of them. During the three years they spent with Honda as their engine partner, McLaren were “bleeding”, as one senior team member puts it, and they felt they had to extricate themselves from the failed relationship. Doing so proved more difficult than they could ever have envisaged. A decision initially made in March, when it became abundantly clear just how much trouble Honda were in, finally came to a resolution in September. Six months of negotiations, which involved three engine manufacturers, four teams, and two drivers. And in the end, McLaren have waved goodbye to a net $100m and swapped the worst engine in Formula 1 for the second worst. Or third best, to…

PIERRE GASLY CV Toro Rosso racer Age 21 Born Rouen, France 2017 Replaces Daniil Kvyat at Toro Rosso for selected races 2017 Japanese Super Formula with Team Mugen. Makes Formula E debut 2016 GP2 champion with Prema, taking four wins 2015 Finishes eighth in GP2 with DAMS. Named as a Red Bull reserve 2014 Joins Arden as a Red Bull Junior in Formula Renault 3.5. Makes GP2 debut at Monza 2013 Formula Renault Eurocup champion with Tech 1 Racing 2012 Formula Renault Eurocup with R-ace GP 2011 Third in French F4 2006-2010 Karting In the murk of the Sepang paddock, Pierre Gasly’s white cap is illuminated by the glare of a TV camera’s spotlight. He’s just finished his first day’s running at a GP weekend and is the apple of…

CV TAVO HELLMUND Formula 1 race promoter Age 51 2011-2015 Pulls together Mexican GP revival 2005-2012 Masterminds F1’s US return in Austin 2005-2008 Promoter of Texas Racefest, voted best NASCAR/USAC event 2003 Establishes Full Throttle Productions 1997-2004 NASCAR Grand National Division 1995-6 Formula 3 1991-4 Formula Ford 1600 / Vauxhall Jr 1985-1990 BA in psychology from St Edward’s University, Texas 1983-4 Assistant at Brabham F1 team Two of the most popular races on the F1 calendar owe their existence to one man. Austin resident Tavo Hellmund provided the impetus for the US GP’s return in 2012 at the new Circuit of The Americas, and he engineered the revival of the Mexican GP two years ago as well. It’s perhaps no surprise that Hellmund, 51, became a race promoter: he’s following…

Give Kubica another chance While I am happy that Carlos Sainz is finally getting a chance at an up-and-coming team like Renault, I’m concerned about what this means for Robert Kubica. Renault have been hasty and short-sighted with this move. Robert deserves another shot at F1 and Renault were the perfect team to give him that. Yes, Sainz is younger and more proven in current F1 cars, but just think of the goodwill Renault would have created by bringing back Robert. Surely a marketing dream – and the right thing to do by Robert. Even if the strain of competing in an entire season turned out to be more than Robert could physically handle, that wouldn’t be the end of the world for Renault. There are always quality drivers out…

YOUR BOOKING INCLUDES: • Return flights from London/Manchester to Nice • Return airport transfers to your hotel by coach • A great choice of hotel accommodation with breakfast provided daily • Friday night welcome drinks reception or a drinks voucher if arriving after 8pm • Race day (Sunday) general admission ticket • Return race day (Sunday) circuit transfers • A merchandise pack with sun cream, poncho, pen, bag, ear plugs, ticket lanyard and wallet • Service charges, taxes and ATOL protection WHERE TO STAY NH Hotel Nice This hotel is in the east, a 15-minute walk from the historic old town, with the centre and coast a short tram ride away. There are great views across the city from the rooftop pool and bar. Hotel Aston La Scala, Nice Situated…

RENAULT SPORT LAYSHAFT AND GEAR LAMP Price £439 www.mementoexclusives.com Function always leads form in Formula 1. But when precision-engineered racing car parts have been finished with, their aesthetic qualities can be put to new uses. This stylish lamp forms part of a new collection from Renault Sport F1 Heritage, with a base created from a genuine, race-used gear ratio set on carbon fibre anchoring a layshaft stem. The parts have all been sourced from Renault F1 cars that raced between 2002 and 2010. Their provenance is ensured by unique parts identification numbers, supported by an official team certificate of authenticity. CODEMASTERS F1 2017 GAME PS4, Xbox One & PC Price From £49.99 www.formula1-game.com F1’s official video game evolves year on year. The annual updates are always worth getting so you…

I’ve kept my helmet design largely the same over the years, ever since I started out racing in karts. The key features that have remained as part of its design are patriotic, with the colour of the Spanish fag represented in red and yellow stripes around the middle. Turquoise is the main colour of the Asturian fag, Asturias being the region of Spain I come from, and I also carry its yellow cross on the back of my helmet. On top of the helmet are two silver-coloured, thunderbolt-shaped arrows. I took these from a remote-control car, which was a Christmas present from the Three Wise Men when I was a kid. Well, with hindsight I think it must have come from my mum! I liked those arrows so much that…

It’s not often that technical arguments are so long-lived in Formula 1, but this year two subjects have had a longevity beyond the norm. In the past disputes have been settled quickly or, at worst, brought before the FIA International Court of Appeal by way of a challenge to a decision of the stewards. The latter action involves a route that might take a little longer, but provides an authoritative finality to the matter. The first of the two disputes concerned suspension. Before this season started, the FIA had decided to clamp down on the ever-growing complexities of suspension systems that were supposed to be passive. The genesis of this goes all the way back to 1993 when the FIA declared that the active suspension systems then in use were…

For a long time, fire was an F1 driver’s greatest enemy. One of the most persistent arguments against introducing seatbelts was the view that it was better to be thrown out of the cockpit in an impact than to be trapped within a faming car. Tireless work by the FIA and clothing manufacturers eventually produced a solution that’s now so closely woven into the fabric of motor racing that you’d be forgiven for forgetting it’s even there. But make no mistake, a racing driver’s suit, boots, underwear and gloves are designed to save lives, and the FIA documentation outlining the standards they have to meet (number 8856-2000 if you want to look it up) extends to a staggering 76 pages. There can be no short cuts and no risks. Racing…

“BOTH OF THE FERRARIS MISJUDGED THE AMOUNT OF SPACE THEY NEEDED… I’M HAPPY THAT THE THREE OF US RETIRED, SO IT’S NOT ONLY ME”” max verstappen Since its 2008 debut, the Singapore Grand Prix has never failed to offer something special. This year would prove no different, thanks to a pre-race rain shower and a multi-car first-lap shunt that tipped a closely balanced drivers’ championship dramatically in Lewis Hamilton’s favour. Post-Singapore, the 2017 title looks like his to lose. QUALIFYING Seb Vettel was a driver fully in the zone on Singapore Saturday. His Ferrari SF70H had been reconfigured overnight after a scrappy Friday, thanks to a trackside engineering all-nighter and live simulator sessions at Maranello with Ferrari protégé Charles Leclerc at the controls. But even then, Seb came oh-so-close to…