F1 Mid-Week Roundup

"Should fix any reliability problems the Woking based team have had"

5.

Two teams have confirmed two more drivers, this time in the form of reserve drivers. Marussia Virgin has announced that former Super Aguri, Spyker and more recently Hispania driver, Sakon Yamamo, will be joining them alongside lead drivers Timo Glock and Jérôme d'Ambrosio. Team Lotus have also announced another reserve driver, Hispanias's 'ex' Karun Chandhok. He will be reserve to an unchanged line up of Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli.

4.

Sebastian Vettel has stated that a drivers strike is a possibility if the FIA does not review the new to 2011 moveable rear wing. The 2010 World Champion has taken the reigns on the issue over the safety implications that the new rear-wings have on the drives. Many other drivers have expressed similar worries claiming that controlling the new rear wing, KERS and all the other gizmos they have on the steering wheel takes concentration away from the track thus putting them in a dangerous situation. Whilst Vettel says that it is a last resort there is still a looming possibility of a drivers strike.

3.

The Sun newspaper drew me in with a headline "Hamilton: I'll keep Butt behind me again." However in further reading it turned out nothing but the typical sensationalism that one would expect from a tabloid newspaper. What he really said was "I believe I'm the best and know I can be faster than Jenson." Which is exactly the fighting talk you would want from a competitive sports man. It would not be as intense watching them say "You're the best," "No you're the best," "No you are!"

2.

Robert Kubica has undergone further surgery but seems to be on the road to a speedy recovery. One of his doctors was quoted as saying "In a few weeks, it is likely he will be able to walk around [with crutches]." Whilst Kubica is on the mend there is no certainty when he will return. Some, within his inner-circle, are saying by the end of this season whilst others are not sure if he will return at all. All our thoughts are with him and we hope to see him back in a Formula 1 car as soon as possible.

1.

Probably the biggest news of the week is the massive overhaul the McLaren MP4-26 seems to be undertaking. Whilst the McLaren was arguably not the worst car on the grid in terms of speed it was certainly the most un-relaible and not as quick as it should be. Martin Whitmarsh, the team principle, has come out saying that most the un-reliability was down to a complicated exhaust system that they had implemented and that fundamentally the car was decent. Now he has told the press that McLaren have opted for a much simpler solution for the exhaust and have also changed the floor of the car. The new upgrades, if successful, are reportedly worth up to a second and should fix any reliability problems the Woking based team have had. Let us hope that this is not a repeat of Silverstone 2010 when their 'big upgrades' failed. Whitmarsh has said that it is a big gamble and that if it does not pay off he will bare the brunt.

Posted by Sean Russell - Follow him on twitter @SeanRussellF1.

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Last Comment Posted »

• "Hamilton: I'll keep Butt behind me again."

  IS SUCH a nothing headline AND story. I literally question myself sometimes on reading tabloid F1...
  by Jimmy
  [ click here to read in full ]