Formula One 2014

[Lineker]

Infiniti Red Bull Racing (Renault)

#1 Sebastian Vettel

#3 Daniel Ricciardo

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team (Mercedes)

#44 Lewis Hamilton

#6 Nico Rosberg

Scuderia Ferrari (Ferrari)

#14 Fernando Alonson

#7 Kimi Räikkönen

Lotus F1 Team (Renault)

#8 Romain Grosjean

#13 Pastor Maldonado

McLaren Mercedes (Mercedes)

#22 Jenson Button

#20 Kevin Magnussen

Sahara Force India F1 Team (Mercedes)

#27 Nico Hülkenberg

#11 Sergio Pérez

Sauber F1 Team (Ferrari)

#99 Adrian Sutil

#21 Esteban Gutiérrez

Scuderia Toro Rosso (Renault)

#25 Jean-Éric Vergne

#26 Daniil Kvyat

Williams F1 Team (Mercedes)

#19 Felipe Massa

#77 Valtteri Bottas

Marussia F1 Team (Ferrari)

#17 Jules Bianchi (Round 1-15)

#4 Max Chilton (Round 1-16)

Caterham F1 Team (Renault)

#9 Marcus Ericsson (Round 1-16) / #46 Will Stevens (Round 19)

#10 Kamui Kobayashi (Round 1-11, 13-16, 19) / #45 André Lotterer (Round 12)

[Lineker]

[EddieG]

No fancy graphics for the tracks?

[Lineker]

Technical regulation changes

• The 2014 season will see the introduction of a new engine formula, with turbocharged engines returning to the sport for the first time since 1988. The new engines will be a 1.6 litre V6 format with an 8-speed semi automatic gearbox. The rules dictate the use of a ninety-degree engine bank, with fixed crankshaft and mounting points for the chassis, while the engines will be limited to 15,000rpm. Individual engine units under the 2014 specifications must last for at least 4,000 km (2,500 mi) before being replaced, in comparison to the pre-2014 engines, which were required to last for just 2,000 km (1,200 mi).
• The Kinetic Energy Recovery System (known from 2009 to 2013 as KERS, and renamed from 2014 as ERS-K) will be incorporated into the design of the engine and its usage increased; its function as a supplementary power source will be taken by the introduction of the heat-based Energy Recovery System (ERS). The ERS unit captures waste heat as it is dispelled from the exhaust turbocharger, using an electrical device known as a Heat Motor Generator Unit. This waste heat is stored as an electrical charge until it is utilised by a complementary system called the Kinetic Motor Generator Unit. This device is connected directly to the drive train to deliver the additional power in the most direct and efficient way. In combination with the ERS-K it will give drivers an additional 161 bhp (120 kW) for thirty-three seconds per lap, compared to the KERS units used prior to 2014, which gave drivers 80 bhp (60 kW) for six seconds per lap.
• Teams will be able to use electronic braking devices to manage the braking of the rear wheels as the increased power output of the ERS-K units will make regulating the brake bias much harder than previously.
• The 2014 regulations require the use of lower noses than in previous years, in the interests of safety. The tip of the nose will have to be no more than 185mm above the ground, in comparison to the 550mm allowed in 2012. These regulations were amended in June 2013 so as to completely outlaw the use of the "stepped noses" used in 2012 and 2013, thereby forcing teams to design a car with a genuinely lower nose rather than using the temporary solution.
• The original rules—first published in August 2011—also called for a variety of bodywork changes aimed at cutting downforce, most notably through the use of narrower front wings, and a shallower angle to the main plane of rear wings. These additional changes were formally abandoned in December 2012, but the requirement that cars be built with a nose no more than 185mm above the ground was retained. The planned reduction in front wing width from 1,800mm to 1,650mm was subsequently reintroduced.
• In order to promote fuel efficiency, fuel will be flow restricted to 100 kg/h above 10,500rpm; below 10,500rpm a formula for the maximum flow must be applied based on the rpm in use.
• The position of the exhaust outlet will change so that it is now angled upwards toward the rear wing instead of downwards to face the rear diffuser so as to make the practice of using exhaust blown diffusers—passing exhaust gasses over the rear diffuser to improve the car's downforce—extremely difficult to achieve.
• The minimum weight of the cars will increase from 642 kg (1,420 lb) to 690 kg (1,500 lb).
• The use of false camera mountings will be banned. Teams had previously exploited a loophole in the regulations that allowed them to add additional pieces of bodywork to the car in the place of camera mountings and take advantage of the aerodynamic benefits. From 2014, this loophole will be closed, with the regulations rewritten to only allow camera mountings to be used for cameras.

Sporting regulation changes

• In order to facilitate the introduction of the engine regulations, the FIA proposed rewriting the sporting regulations with regard to winter testing. Under the proposal, winter testing will be brought forward to January to allow for an additional test if it is deemed necessary, with testing venues relocated away from southern Spain to the Middle East—with the Losail circuit in Qatar and the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain being put forward as candidate venues—to minimise the chances of rain interrupting testing.
• The Young Driver Tests, held to allow teams to evaluate potential drivers, will be abandoned in favor of a return of mid-season testing. Four European venues will each host a two-day test in the week following the Grand Prix held at the circuit. These rules were later adjusted to allow teams to choose which venues they tested at during the season. Cars will also be classified as "current", "previous" and "historic", with the FIA introducing limits on which cars may be used and the conditions under which they are tested.
• The penalty system will be overhauled in 2014 so as to improve driving standards, with the introduction of a "penalty points" system for driving offences. Under the system, driving offences would carry a pre-determined points value based on their severity that would be tallied up over the course of a season, with a driver receiving a race ban after accumulating twelve penalty points. Any driver who received a race ban would also receive an additional five penalty points upon their return, as a form of probation to discourage further driving offences.
• Stewards will have the power to hand out five-second penalties in addition to the existing range of penalties within their power. The five-second penalties were introduced for situations where a penalty was justified, but the existing penalties—such as a drive-through or a stop/go penalty—were considered too severe, or where such a penalty would radically alter the outcome of a race if applied retroactively, with penalised drivers facing the loss of championship points for otherwise minor violations of the rules.
• Drivers will only be able to use five engines over the course of a season in 2014, down from eight in 2013. Drivers who use a sixth engine will start the race from pit lane, as opposed to the ten-place grid penalty handed down for going over the engine quota in previous season. In the event that individual elements of the engine unit—including the turbocharger, ERS unit or KERS battery—are replaced, drivers will incur a ten-place grid penalty.
• Following a series of high-profile incidents involving tyres throughout the 2013 season that culminated in a string of explosive blow-outs at the British Grand Prix, the FIA passed a resolution granting them the power to change the specifications of the tyres used by competitors with immediate effect should the need arise.
• The pit lane speed limit will be reduced from 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) to 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph).
• The first Free Practice session of the race weekend will be extended by thirty minutes to be two hours in length, with the teams encouraged to field rookie drivers during this time as an alternative to the Young Driver Tests. Teams will also receive an additional set of tyres for the first practice session at each Grand Prix. The extra set of tyres will only be available for the first thirty minutes of the session, to encourage more running during free practice.
• Drivers will be assigned permanent numbers for the duration of their careers, with the championship adopting a system similar to the one used in MotoGP. The number 1 will be put in reserve as the champion's right, with drivers free to choose any number from 2 to 99; the champion's "regular" number will be put into reserve while they are using the number 1, so as to prevent another driver from taking it. The regulations further stipulate that a driver's number must be clear visible, both on their car and on their helmet. Previously, the numbering system had been based on the World Constructors' Championship finishing positions from the previous year.
• Drivers who do not take part in a qualifying period will be assigned grid positions based on the qualifying bracket they were in at the time and their Free Practice 3 lap times. For example, if two drivers qualify for but do not take part in Q3, they will start the race from ninth and tenth places, with the positions they take decided by their FP3 times. The rule was rewritten as grid positions for drivers who had not set lap times had previously been decided by car numbers.
• The FIA will introduce the "Pole Trophy", a non-championship award presented to the driver who qualifies on pole for the most races.
• The final race of the season will offer double points to drivers in a bid to keep the championship fight alive for longer.

[Lineker]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_btRRJPZ10

Although Rosberg had a big blow-out at the 2014 tyre test, it apparently is not a worry and the problem of excessive marbling seems to have been solved.

UK Formula 1 television broadcasters Sky Sports F1 and the BBC have announced their coverage split for the 2014 season. Under the shared deal that began in 2012, Sky shows the whole F1 season live on its dedicated channel, while the BBC broadcasts live from nine grands prix with highlights packages for the remainder. Sky has exclusive live rights to the season-opener in Australia on March 16, but the BBC's live coverage commences one round earlier than in 2013 as it begins with Malaysia two weeks later. The BBC's selections also include the inaugural Russian Grand Prix on October 12, as well as the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Neither broadcaster has announced any changes to their presenter line-ups for 2014.

[Lineker]

Sauber have confirmed that Esteban Gutierrez will be racing for them again in 2014. And apparently Caterham is looking increasingly likely to be Kobayashi/Ericsson, but that still remains to be seen.

[hugobomb]

I'm assuming Gutierrez bring a decent amount of money to the team, otherwise I'd have gone for Di Resta.

[MJB]

Gutierrez still has his Mexico money, IIRC.

Surely VDG and his money will keep him at Caterham?

[Lineker]

Yeah the Telmex sponsorship deal got renewed so no surprise to see Gutierrez retained. If they do partner him and Sirotkin next year... man that will suck.

And MJB Kobayashi also brings money. Could well also lead to Caterham eventually taking Honda engines.

[Lineker]

Michael Schumacher has been injured in a skiing incident in Grenoble. Nature of the injuries are as of yet unknown.

[EddieG]

Head trauma, apparently. He went from slightly injured this morning to critical just now.

[Katsuya]

Schumi is in critical condition, with "serious brain trauma with coma".

[Dan]

That's sounding pretty bad

[Lineker]

He's had brain surgery. Here's hoping that he's able to recover from this.

[Starvinho]

Terrible news, hope he makes a speedy recovery.

[FLiam]

Michael Schumacher, ex-F1 champion, critical after ski fall

19 minutes ago

Schumacher's injuries were initially said not to be life-threatening

Michael Schumacher, seven-time Formula 1 world champion, is in a "critical condition" after a skiing accident, says the French hospital at which he is being treated.

The 44-year-old German suffered a serious brain trauma, was in a coma on his arrival and has undergone a brain operation, the Grenoble hospital said.

Schumacher's management confirmed his critical condition.

He was skiing off-piste with his son in the Alps when the accident occurred.

Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he fell and hit his head against a rock, Meribel resort director Christophe Gernignon-Lecomte said earlier.

Early reports had said his condition was not life-threatening and he reportedly walked away from the accident complaining only of feeling a bit shaken.

Mr Gernignon-Lecomte said Schumacher was attended to by two ski patrollers who requested helicopter evacuation to the nearby valley town of Moutiers.

He was subsequently moved to the bigger facility at Grenoble, in south-east France. His wife Corinna and two children are with him.

"Mr Schumacher was admitted to the University Hospital of Grenoble at 12:40 [11:40 GMT], following a skiing accident which occurred in Meribel in the late morning," the statement said.

"He suffered a severe head injury with coma on arrival, which required immediate neurosurgical intervention. He remains in a critical situation."

The hospital statement was signed by the facility's neurosurgeon, the professor in charge of its anaesthesia/revival unit, and the hospital's deputy director, reports said.

A hospital official declined to give more details and said more information would be given out on Monday, said Reuters news agency.

Experts say it is likely that his brain began to swell and the urgent surgery was required to relieve the pressure, says the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris.

Stellar career

The German, who is due to turn 45 on 3 January, retired from F1 for a second time in 2012.

Professor Gerard Saillant, a close ally and friend of Schumacher, and his former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt are at the hospital.

Prof Saillant is an expert in brain and spine injury. He oversaw Schumacher's medical care when the German broke his leg in the 1999 British GP.

Schumacher won seven world championships and secured 91 race victories during a 19-year career in Formula 1.

He won two titles with Benetton, in 1994 and 1995, before switching to Ferrari in 1996 and going on to win five straight titles from 2000.

The German retired in 2006, but returned in 2010 with Mercedes. After three seasons which yielded just one podium finish, he quit the sport at the end of 2012.

from BBC news.

Pretty shocking news. Here's hoping he pulls through.

didn't realise it had been posted in F1 thread.

....close?

[Lineker]

There's a hospital press conference updating on his condition at 1000.

[Lineker]

Schumacher was placed into a coma. He has suffered brain lesions and is 'fighting for his life'.

[Lineker]

Michael Schumacher remains in an induced coma and his critical condition has been described by doctors as 'extremely serious' following his skiing accident on Sunday.

The seven-time world champion suffered a severe head injury after hitting his head on a rock, and is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital in Grenoble.

During a press conference on Monday morning, the doctors looking after Schumacher made it clear just how serious Schumacher's injuries were, and said it was too early to offer a prognosis.

Professor Jean-Francois Payen said: "I would say that this accident was particularly serious and was dealt with immediately at our hospital.

"He was immediately operated on after a brain scan and afterwards his condition is critical.

"As far as cerebral care [is concerned], all the recommended treatments have been introduced, but for the moment we are not able to express ourselves with regard to Michael Schumacher's future.

"He is in a critical condition and his condition is said to be extremely serious. He is in intensive care."

The medical team confirmed that Schumacher was being kept in an induced coma to help his chances of recovery, having being operated on after it was found he had suffered cerebral contusion and edema. He has also suffered lesions to his brain.

The severity of Schumacher's injuries and his current condition means doctors are unable to make any predictions about whether or not the German will be able to make a full recovery.

Payen added: "We are currently not able to talk about after effects. We are talking about treatments and working hour-by-hour.

"We are going to try to gain time, and try to give ourselves some time. The treatments that are going to be introduced, we know what we are hoping for from these treatments.

"But currently I am not able to give you any more information, and cannot tell you what direction we are going in or what prognosis we are going to have."

Doctors do believe that Schumacher's fitness should help his chances of recovering though.

[Adam]

Absolutely awful news, skiing can be so dangerous but then F1 drivers make their careers in dangerous waters.

I was no fan of Schumi on the track at all, but he's a smart guy and a real sporting great. I hope he can pull through this and recover as soon as possible.