Eric Boullier on the Japanese GP: “Things should get better for us on quicker tracks and Suzuka is one of them”

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Eric looks forward to Suzuka, a circuit he considers on a par with Monaco, Silverstone, Spa and Monza.

Singapore must still be a painful memory for you…
Yes, but to be honest we've all put this experience behind us. We fully understand why we performed so poorly and the explanation is simple: slow corners in the 60-100km/h range just don't do it for the R31. It is written in its DNA. We could have worked three weeks on the set-up but we would not have found a second in laptime. This is what we know, and our mid-term mission is to make sure that we solve this issue with the R32 which should not be a problem.

What is the shorter-term mission?
Things should get better for us on quicker tracks and Suzuka is one of them. In Japan, we expect to return to the level of performance we saw in Belgium and Italy. Our mission will be to focus on getting both cars into Q3. From then on, the weekend should be pretty straightforward.

Are you happy with Bruno and Vitaly's level of performance so far?
Yes, neither of them had a clear race in Singapore but this was not the main issue for us. The car was a much bigger worry. Bruno is learning fast. He's always asking the engineers to push him, he wants to increase his knowledge and get better. He also loves the technical aspect of the job. This is the right approach. He's a very friendly person and everybody in the team likes him. Vitaly has scored 34 points since the beginning of the season. We have all seen how much he has improved since last year and he keeps getting better. As a driver there is always a little something to be gained here and there. He also gets on very well with Bruno. Both of them were at the factory after Singapore, meeting their engineers, and the way they collaborate in order to make the whole team better is very good to see.

There have been some changes to the race team recently following Steve Nielsen's departure - how is it structured now?
It's very simple. Part of what were Steve's responsibilities will be taken over by Alan Permane, who is now Track Operations Director. In addition, John Wickham is part of our team and further changes will be announced shortly. I expect this transition to be very smooth.

Suzuka is one of the drivers' favourite tracks - would it mean something special to perform well there?
Suzuka is one of the big names in F1. It is up there with Monaco, Silverstone, Spa and Monza. We've seen so many amazing races there. I still remember, as a teenager, waking up early to watch the battling between Prost and Senna on TV at the end of the 80's. The fans in Suzuka are quite incredible, too. Bruno is very popular there, so he will have quite a lot of autographs to sign!

Costa and Willis join Mercedes' technical staff

Ex-technical directors from Ferrari and HRT will join Mercedes later this year in order to bolster the team's technical staff.

Aldo Costa, who parted ways with Ferrari earlier this year, and Geoff Willis, who has been working at HRT since 2010, will join the team led by Ross Brawn to work under technical director Bob Bell. Costa, who will join at the start of December as Mercedes' engineering director, has worked with Brawn before during Ferrari's multiple-championship winning years in the early 2000s and Willis, who will join on October 17 as technology director, worked at the Brackley-based team when it was under running under the BAR name.

Costa will be responsible for design and development and Willis will head the aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, control systems and simulation functions.

"I am delighted to announce that Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis will be joining the Mercedes GP Petronas team," Ross Brawn said. "Geoff is a highly respected engineer with over twenty years of Formula One experience, and we look forward to his arrival next month. Having worked closely with Aldo for many years, I know that he will bring dedication and championship-winning expertise to the team when he joins in December.

"Building a winning team is an exciting challenge for us all as we work towards the competitiveness and standards that we aspire to as the Mercedes-Benz works team. With a strong technical structure led by Bob Bell, we are moving ourselves into the best possible position to achieve our ambitions."

Mercedes motorsport vice president Norbert Haug is confident the new arrivals will boost the team's competitiveness after two years off the pace of the front runners.

"Since Mercedes GP Petronas was formed as a new team in early 2010, we have been putting in place the building blocks for success," Haug said. "Our technical organisation was strengthened by the arrival of Bob Bell and, working closely with Ross, he has identified the areas where we can improve still further.

"Aldo and Geoff will reinforce our technical management and bring the experience required to harness the talents of our people in Brackley; we have also recruited and invested at other levels in order to maximise our competitiveness under the Resource Restriction Agreement. Our goal remains to progress step by step in order to establish ourselves as a front-running team for the long term, in line with the tradition of the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows."

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Mercedes targets Spa repeat at Suzuka

Mercedes is hoping to finish in the top six at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix after a difficult round in Singapore last weekend.

Nico Rosberg finished seventh on the Marina Bay street circuit, but found himself battling with the Force Indias rather than assuming Mercedes' usual position behind the top three teams.

However, the characteristics of the Suzuka circuit in Japan are closer to Spa-Francorchamps and Monza where Mercedes was more competitive, and while the team is not expecting to challenge the top three on outright pace, motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug is hoping for a return to the success the team enjoyed in Belgium and Italy.

"The layout is unique and one of the drivers' favourites; a mega-challenging circuit that is said to divide the men from the boys," he said. "In terms of average lap speed, Suzuka ranks - together with Spa and Monza - among the top five of the season, which should mean our technical package should be better suited here than at the slower speed tracks. Having said that, it is clear to us that we cannot change the current pecking order at Suzuka; our target will be to produce performances like we delivered in Spa and Monza."

Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher is looking forward to returning to Suzuka, where has won six times before.

"Suzuka is a very special circuit, and one which has held great races, and great memories, for me over the years. I always enjoy the challenge of driving here and getting the technical setup of the car right to get the best from the demanding layout of the track. A great first sector, high-speed turns, and interesting corner combinations all make Suzuka one of the best race tracks of the year, and definitely one of my favourites. We will be working hard to make the most of our weekend here, and hopefully we can come away with a strong performance and some more points."

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Big upgrade for Sauber in Japan

Sauber will bring an extensive upgrade package to its car at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, which it hopes will prompt a return to regular points finishes.

Sauber has scored just one point from the last four races and has been overtaken in the constructors' championship by Force India while Toro Rosso has closed the gap to its current seventh place position. However, it is ready to fight back at the remaining five races, staring in Suzuka where it will have a significant set of upgrades.

"We will bring a wide ranging aero package for the car, which includes a completely new front wing, new rear wings, new turning vanes and side pod deflectors, new brake ducts and modifications to the floor," technical director James Key said. "This was always planned for Suzuka and, if it all works well, it should give us a reasonable step forward. Obviously we want to bounce back from some recent bad luck. Going into the final quarter of the season there will be tracks which should suit our car better. It would definitely be great to get a positive result for all our supporters in Japan in what has been a very challenging year for the people there."

The Japanese Grand Prix is Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi's home race and he is hoping to put on a special performance for his fans, despite not knowing Suzuka that well.

"It is always very exciting going back to Japan to race, but when I went back last year it had been a long time since I had raced there and it felt especially good to be there. There were so many fans around and that in itself was very impressive. For me this year will only be the third time I have ever raced at the Suzuka circuit.

"Last year was my first time in a Formula One car, and before that I just did one Formula Toyota race in 2003 when I was 17-years old. Because of this I don't know it that well, and certainly most of the other drivers know it better than I do. Nevertheless Suzuka is one of my favourite circuits, and I also think one of the best tracks as well. Racing there is exciting and cool. I think every driver likes it. It is really enjoyable to drive on if you get in the right rhythm. The S Curves - two, three, four, five and six - are my favourites.

"This is my home country and so many fans are waiting, so I really think it is great to do. I believe Japan is very important for Formula One and I think we can put on a good show for the sport, which is a good thing for the Japanese fans. I think my parents may be coming to see me race there as they came last year."

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Karthikeyan gets another Friday run in Japan

Narain Karthikeyan will take part in Friday practice at the Japanese Grand Prix, taking over Tonio Liuzzi's HRT during the morning session for the second race weekend in a row.

Karthikeyan has been confirmed as an HRT race driver for the upcoming Indian Grand Prix at the end of October and is using Friday practice sessions to build up his experience in the car. In Japan he will take part in the first 90 minute practice before handing the car back to Liuzzi for the rest of the weekend.

The Italian is hoping for a high-paced finish on Sunday with mixed weather conditions expected over the weekend.

"We're reaching the final straight of the championship with the next event in Japan," Liuzzi said. "Suzuka is one of my favourite circuits and definitely one of the nicest tracks. It is a really fast and technical circuit where set up and aerodynamics are key to having a good result.

"It won't be an easy place for us but we will put up a fight until the end. We are really motivated to keep on pushing until the end of the season. Weather conditions are uncertain, which could be interesting since experiencing difficult weather conditions in Japan may give us a better chance of achieving a good result."

Liuzzi will also donate a specially designed helmet to charity in support of the victims of the earthquake last March.

"For this Grand Prix I've wanted to pay my respects to the victims of the earthquake that struck Japan earlier this year by wearing a special edition helmet named Embracing Japan designed by Kaos Design, the helmet will later be put up for auction with the benefits going towards charity," he said.

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'Suzuka will play to my strengths'

Lewis Hamilton believes his attacking driving style will pay dividends at next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix on the high-speed Suzuka circuit.

Hamilton has vowed not to change his approach to racing despite being involved in a string of incidents this year, two of which have resulted in retirements while the others have cost him points. But it is his ability to attack the circuit over a single flying lap that he thinks will really put him in good stead in Japan as he looks to bounce back from another below par result in Singapore last weekend.

"I think Suzuka will play to my strengths: it's a track that really requires you to drive in an attacking way to be able to get a good lap time," he said. "It's an uncompromising place. But that's when the thrill of driving a Formula One car is at its highest; when you know you can't afford a single mistake and where driving on the absolute limit is the only way to get the best time. In that sense, it's a lot like Monaco, and maybe that's why I like the place so much - it's unique."

Hamilton has yet to finish on the podium since Formula One returned from its summer break in August, while Sebastian Vettel has won all three races in the Red Bull. The McLaren driver said he will be wary of Red Bull's pace in Japan but is confident his team can also challenge for victory.

"I think we're headed there in pretty good shape: we know that the Red Bulls will be strong - but we also have a very quick car, and we can make it work on different kinds of circuit," he said. "Suzuka is another reasonably high-downforce track, which should play to our strengths. The weather in Japan in the autumn is always unpredictable - we've seen before that it can be beautifully sunny and hot or extremely cold and wet. I'll take any conditions as long as I can race hard."

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Don't underestimate McLaren in Japan

Jenson Button has warned his rivals not to underestimate McLaren ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix next weekend.

Title leaders Red Bull are the favourites to win at Suzuka after dominating at the circuit over the last two years and coming to Japan on the back of three consecutive wins. But Button, who finished a close second to Sebastian Vettel in Singapore last weekend, is confident McLaren can pose a threat on the high-speed circuit.

"In the last few races, I think we've shown that we have extremely good pace and that we've been the team most able to take the fight to Red Bull," he said. "On paper, I think it's a circuit that will suit the Red Bulls, particularly in the high-speed sweeps that make up the first sector of the track, but I certainly don't think people should underestimate our package.

"We showed at Spa that we have a car that's very effective in high-speed corners. We've also improved our straight-line speed and we have a more efficient rear-wing for qualifying, so I think we're feeling positive about the weekend. For everyone who follows Formula One, I hope we can put on a great race to bring further strength to the people of Japan. And to everyone in Japan, I say: ganbatte!"

With Vettel now a single point away from clinching the drivers' championship, McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh admitted the teams focus is now on securing individual wins and using the car to develop parts for 2012.

"While there remains a mathematical, albeit slim, chance of Jenson securing the world championship, we realistically go into these last races with an undimmed resolution to win, and to ensure the world championship remains interesting, exciting and unpredictable for as long as possible," he said. "To that end, we're still pushing ahead with the development of key areas of the MP4-26 - in particular, we're focusing on areas where there will be significant carry-over of performance and learning into 2012. With the 26, the key areas of overlap development are the front and rear wings: any downforce we find this year can be carried over to the MP4-27.

"Encouragingly, we were able to successfully track-test our latest iteration of rear wing in Singapore, it proving sufficiently positive during Friday practice that it was deployed on both cars for the remainder of the race weekend. While there will be an inevitable shift of focus and deployment towards the new car, we still have enough momentum within the development system to ensure that we'll still be introducing new parts through until the last few races of the season."

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Vitaly Petrov wins the GQ 'Sportsman of the Year' award

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News | 28/09/2011

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  Xavi Martos – My Race Weekend

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Vitaly scooped up another award last week, as he was unveiled as the 2011 'Russian GQ Sportsman of the Year' in Moscow.

Racing in the Singapore Grand Prix, Vitaly was unable to attend the celebration but was very honoured to win the award.

"I was very honoured to be voted sportsman of the year by GQ magazine. Formula 1 was almost an unknown sport in Russia a few years ago and I'm glad to see that it is getting more popular every year. I'm very happy to be part of this process and I hope my future results will help raising even more awareness towards the sport ahead of the first Russian Grand Prix, in 2014. It's been a long, hard season so far, but a very exciting too and we made hard work of it at some times. The wheels haven't stopped turning yet and I promise to move forward and give you fans more reasons to be happy", said Vitaly.

Held at the Russian Academic Junior Theatre, the award was nominated by the jury and readers were then asked to vote. This year's ceremony was part of Russian GQ's 10^th anniversary celebrations, which continued all through the night…

Bruno Senna: “Suzuka is one of the classics that has changed very little since the start ”

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News | 29/09/2011

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Three races into his Lotus Renault GP race driver career and Bruno is chomping at the bit to return to the cockpit at one of his favourite tracks – Suzuka.

What was your verdict on the weekend you had in Singapore?
Bruno Senna: For me personally, it was quite a positive weekend. In this latest part of the learning curve, I managed to cut out any mistakes which is a positive. I had a very full programme working with engineers, and the work I'm doing with them is getting better. Despite the Marina Bay Circuit not being a track where the R31 is naturally at ease, I have still been able to notice an improvement in my relationship with the car, and I feel there is a discernible direction in which we are going. I'm becoming more ingratiated with the team and with the car, which provides me comfort as I look forward to the next race.

Having got three races under your belt, do you feel on more of an even keel with the other drivers?
BS: Not yet. Undoubtedly they (the other drivers) still have the upper hand because they have completed more races than me. I've driven at three very different circuits so far in very different conditions, and Suzuka will be another of the traditional races where I have limited experience. I'm learning and catching-up with the other drivers on the grid, but they have a considerable amount more experience than I do, and have greater knowledge about the tyres too.

The Japanese Grand Prix – word has it Suzuka's one of your favourite circuits…
BS: You're right, it's one of my favourites! The blend of high speed and mid speed corners makes it a very stimulating track. It's one of the classics that has changed very little since the start. I'm really looking forward to driving there, and I'm confident that I can put my name back on the points board for the team.

Is it a circuit that should suit the car better than Singapore?
BS: I'm convinced that will be the case. The low-speed nature of Singapore made it the worst circuit for us in terms of performance. That hurt us a little bit, but with the updates that we have planned for Suzuka we should be strong there, and get both cars in the points again – that's where we belong.

We are entering the closing stages of the season now with five races left – what do you expect?
BS: My prerogative is adding more points to my name. If we can still add to the car a little bit here and there, that will help. We need to stay ahead of the teams behind us, in particular Force India. If we can close the gap to Mercedes GP in fourth, that would be a real boost for the team but primarily we must hold on to fifth position.

James Allison on the Japanese GP

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What can be learnt from the Singapore Grand Prix?
James Allison: It is much harder to say with any precision just what it is about our car that can impact performance at these low speed tracks. Neither is it clear why Singapore was notably worse than either Monaco or Hungary. We know from our experiments with rear blowing exhausts earlier in the year that they do offer a lot more rear downforce – especially at high rear ride heights. We know that slow speed tracks allow the rear to be held up high in all the corners and we know that rear downforce is a prized asset for coping with the traction demand at these tracks. We also know that the forward exhaust, by contrast, performs more strongly once the rear ride height starts to compress – something that cannot be avoided in medium and high speed corners. It is probably reasonable to conclude that this is the basic mechanism behind the way that we shed so much competitiveness at slow speed tracks. Our car is very sensitive and extremely unforgiving of even the slightest geometric misalignment. We were plagued by rear wing and floor issues that all seem to be even more sensitive at very low speeds than they are at the higher speeds where our car is more comfortable.

Will LRGP be able to get rid of these problems with the R32?
JA: Of course. Each of these problems we can engineer out of the R32. However, at this stage of the season it is much harder to address these underlying problems for the R31.

The Japanese GP comes next – do you expect the R31 to be competitive at Suzuka?
JA: I expect it to be much more in the hunt than we were in Singapore. There are just two slow corners at Suzuka, and the R31 is much more at home on flowing, faster tracks. I will be disappointed if we are not in the top 10 cars in qualifying to give us an opportunity to exorcise the disappointment of Singapore. We ought to be able to get the car back into the points. We need to – Force India is starting to breathe down our neck and we need a few good results to stay ahead.

Suzuka – what challenges does it present?
JA: Suzuka, like Spa, is one of F1's classic tracks. It is popular with the drivers who relish the test of nerve and skill posed by the 's curves', Turn 1 and 130R. These last two will be particularly interesting in 2011 to see whether anyone dares make it through them in qualifying with their DRS system activated. We are long overdue a wet Suzuka race– we have had a wet session every year since 2005 and yet surprisingly, all the races have been dry for over 10 years!

Senna convinced Renault will bounce back at Suzuka

Bruno Senna is convinced Renault will put on a better showing at the Japanese Grand Prix that it did in Singapore.

The Renaults qualified 15th and 18th on the street circuit last weekend and finished 15th and 17th. It was the team's worst result of the season and earlier this week technical director James Allison said the R31's front-exiting exhaust was to blame for the lack of performance on tight circuits such as Singapore.

Suzuka, the venue for this year's Japanese Grand Prix, is a high-speed circuit and both Senna and the team are confident it will suit the Renault better.

"I'm convinced that will be the case," Senna told Renault's website. "The low-speed nature of Singapore made it the worst circuit for us in terms of performance. That hurt us a little bit, but with the updates that we have planned for Suzuka we should be strong there, and get both cars in the points again - that's where we belong."

Asked what his personal aim for the rest of the season is, Senna added: "My prerogative is adding more points to my name. If we can still add to the car a little bit here and there, that will help. We need to stay ahead of the teams behind us, in particular Force India. If we can close the gap to Mercedes GP in fourth, that would be a real boost for the team but primarily we must hold on to fifth position."

But having been promoted to race driver just three races ago at the Belgian Grand Prix, Senna dows not yet feel up to speed with the drivers who have been on the grid since the start of the year.

"Undoubtedly they [the other drivers] still have the upper hand because they have completed more races than me," he said. "I've driven at three very different circuits so far in very different conditions, and Suzuka will be another of the traditional races where I have limited experience. I'm learning and catching-up with the other drivers on the grid, but they have a considerable amount more experience than I do, and have greater knowledge about the tyres too."

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Toro Rosso not for sale

Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz insists his Formula One teams are not for sale, although he would consider taking on a partner in Toro Rosso.

There was speculation earlier this month that Toro Rosso would be sold to the Abu Dhabi-based International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), and while its brand CEPSA has appeared as sponsorship on the cars, Mateschitz says there are no plans to sell.

"No," he told the Independent when asked if it is for sale, "although partnerships would not be ruled out, as long as the partner is the right one."

With the senior Red Bull team on the verge of its second championship success in as many years, Mateschitz said he has no plans to sell a stake in that either, but added: "A forecast is difficult and a decision always depends on the wider picture, the politics, influence of F1 shareholders and many other factors".

And he does not think it is likely Red Bull will take on a title sponsor - like Vodafone is to McLaren - as it is "difficult to find one due to the strength of the Red Bull brand".

He added: "The return on investment [for Red Bull] is the marketing value, which depends on the race performance and results."

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Teams' association 'unneccesary'

F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has labelled the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) "unnecessary", insisting its members' financial interests are best served by him.

FOTA was established in 2008 to give the teams a single voice in issues affecting the future of the sport. In 2009 it locked horns with the FIA over plans for a budget cap in 2010 and threatened to create a new series, separate from Ecclestone's F1 brand. In the end it came to an agreement with the FIA and has since enjoyed a more harmonious relationship, but it is currently pushing for a bigger share in the Formula One Group's profits under the next Concorde Agreement.

When asked in a recent interview on the official F1 website what he thinks of FOTA, Ecclestone responded: "I try not to think of them."

He added: "It is an unnecessary association of people who should put their sole emphasis on getting competitive cars on the grid. It's just more of what they don't have to think of. I look after that so there are enough financial resources."

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Pirelli tyres have made starts more difficult

Mark Webber believes the characteristics of the Pirelli tyres have made it more difficult to make consistent getaways at the starts of races this year.

Webber has suffered more than most off the startline this season and dropped from second to fourth heading into the first corner in Singapore last weekend. Some drivers such as Fernando Alonso have mastered their starts this year, but consistency has been difficult to achieve.

"This year, we have seen the biggest fluctuation in starts for years, which is purely down to the new Pirelli tyres and how they perform off the line," Webber said in his column on the BBC Sport website. "It is harder to manage the grip away from the start but if you get it right - as Fernando Alonso did in Monza - it makes a big difference. For all that, my starts have been poor this year."

And he explained that drivers still have a big part to play when engaging the clutch.

"The rules make it pretty challenging for engineers to get the starts right as launch control and other electronic aids that limit wheel-spin are not allowed," he added. "There is a lot of work for the drivers to do as well. I cannot give too much away but there are a number of procedures to go through before we get going. When the lights go out, we quickly release one clutch paddle on the steering wheel and feed in a second gradually - that's the one the driver uses to modulate the grip of the rear wheels."

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Vitaly wins the GQ 'Sportsman of the Year' award

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News | 28/09/2011

• 27/09/2011

  Xavi Martos – My Race Weekend

• 26/09/2011

  Vitaly Petrov - "We didn't perform...

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Vitaly scooped up another award last week, as he was unveiled as the 2011 'Russian GQ Sportsman of the Year' in Moscow.

Racing in the Singapore Grand Prix, Vitaly was unable to attend the celebration but was very honoured to win the award.

"I was very honoured to be voted sportsman of the year by GQ magazine. Formula 1 was almost an unknown sport in Russia a few years ago and I'm glad to see that it is getting more popular every year. I'm very happy to be part of this process and I hope my future results will help raising even more awareness towards the sport ahead of the first Russian Grand Prix, in 2014. It's been a long, hard season so far, but a very exciting too and we made hard work of it at some times. The wheels haven't stopped turning yet and I promise to move forward and give you fans more reasons to be happy", said Vitaly.

Held at the Russian Academic Junior Theatre, the award was nominated by the jury and readers were then asked to vote. This year's ceremony was part of Russian GQ's 10^th anniversary celebrations, which continued all through the night…