Formula One 2014

[Rich]

The new Mclaren looks sexy as sin.

I am starting to get excited about the new season, before my crushing doubt of enjoying it because of Seb kicks in

[MJB]

New Ferrari F14 T looks a bit different to the rest, especially around the nose.

[Lineker]

Well, it's flatter!

[MJB]

Sauber C33. It would look so much better in black rather than dark grey.

[MJB]

STR9. What a stupid looking nose.

[Gazz]

It's going to be interesting to see who has got this new nose business right and who has got it absolutely wrong.

We could see some changes in the status quo and some teams losing seconds per lap to the front runners, it'll be like the mid-90's again when backmarkers were getting lapped by lap 10.

[Lineker]

STR evaluated a Lotus-style 'twin tusk' nose design for its 2014 car, technical director James Key has revealed. Obviously they think that it's the wrong path to take, as they've gone for a penis-nose.

At least Tost has admitted how fucking ugly they are. Hopefully they won't last too long.

Lotus Formula 1 team owner Genii Capital has agreed to sell a stake in the squad to new Russian backer Yota Devices Company, AUTOSPORT can reveal. The Enstone-based outfit announced a sponsorship deal with YotaPhone last week, with its logos featuring on images of the new E22 that were released. But as well as using its brand to enhance the profile of its mobile phone company, Yota Devices has bought a minority shareholding in Lotus too. It is not clear how big the stake is, but sources have suggested that it is around 10 per cent. Although Lotus would not confirm the buy-in, a spokesman for Yota Devices revealed that the tie-up with the team included an investment plan.

[Gazz]

Toro Rosso, now with actual bull penis.

[Lineker]

Allan McNish completes BBC’s F1 team for 2014 along with Suzi Perry, David Coulthard, Eddie Jordan, Ben Edwards, James Allen, Lee McKenzie, Tom Clarkson and Jennie Gow.

Following a very successful debut for the BBC last season, Allan McNish has signed up to the BBC’s F1 team for 2014 as co-commentator for Radio 5 live and expert analyst across TV, radio and online.

Allan will be live from the radio commentary box for 15 of the 19 races and will also feature across the BBC’s F1 output. He’ll be using his extensive experience from across all areas of motorsport to steer audiences through the intricacies of the forthcoming season, which promises to be a fascinating one with all the technical changes ahead.

Eddie Jordan, chief analyst and David Coulthard, co-commentator and expert pundit both return and, after her first season at the helm in 2013, Suzi Perry resumes her duties as TV anchor for 2014.

Ben Edwards once again leads the commentary on TV with Lee McKenzie and Tom Clarkson bringing all the news from the pit lane.

On Radio 5 live, James Allen leads the coverage as F1 correspondent and commentator with Jennie Gow as F1 presenter and pit lane reporter.

Ben Gallop, BBC Head of F1, says: “The 2014 F1 season picks up pace tomorrow as testing begins and the BBC’s F1 team is ready to deliver another exciting year of coverage. We’re delighted that Allan McNish is on board with the team this year in an expanded role - his experience and expertise is an invaluable addition, especially as he joins us straight from a highly successful career on the track. The strength of our presenting line up is something we are very proud of and it's great to have them back again for 2014. We’re looking forward to the new season and delivering audiences a great package across TV, radio and online.”

Meanwhile, Gary Anderson who left the BBC's team, will be taking his technical analysis to AUTOSPORT.

[MJB]

Lewis has done the most laps this morning but is now in the wall.

[Lineker]

Red Bull has launched the car with which it hopes to secure a fifth consecutive Formula 1 championship double, the RB10.

The new machine was unveiled in the pitlane at Jerez, shortly before the start of the first day of 2014 pre-season testing at the Spanish track.

Like several rival teams, including sister outfit Toro Rosso, Adrian Newey's design team has gone for a nose with a narrow protruding section at the front.

Adrian Newey reckons 2014 Formula 1 nose designs are not only ugly but could cause fresh dangers.

F1 has adopted low noses this year in a bid to prevent cars being launched into the air in rear impacts with rivals.

But Newey fears that the new designs could now be driven under rear crash structures if they hit a rival from behind.

"The regulations has been introduced following some research by the FIA that the nose height reduces the chances of cars being launched - like with the accident that Mark [Webber] had when he hit the back of [Heikki] Kovalainen at Valencia a few years ago," said Newey at Jerez.

"I must admit that I am concerned that the opposite may now happen - that cars now submarine effectively.

"So if you hit the back of the car square on, then you go underneath it and end up under the rear crash structure, which I think is a much worse scenario."

The nose issues are not Newey's only safety concerns, because he fears potential complications from a rule that mandates the new battery packs must be housed underneath the fuel tank in the centre of the car.

Until now, Red Bull housed its battery packs under the gearbox for packaging reasons and ideal weight distribution.

Mercedes revealed its 2014 Formula 1 challenger, the F1 W05, which it hopes will earn the marque its first world championship as a works team since 1955.

The W05 features a nose solution similar to that on the Ferrari F14 T, without one of the controversial protrusions.

Force India has finally shown its new VJM07 in public for the first time.

The Silverstone-based outfit had published a digital image of its new livery last week, prior to the car being given a shakedown during a promotional run at Silverstone in the hands of Nico Hulkenberg.

It finally revealed the new car during an unveiling in the Jerez pitlane on Tuesday morning, ahead of the first pre-season test.

The nose on the new car protrudes notably, in the manner that has prompted controversy and a fan backlash since the potential frontal aerodynamics consequences of the new rules emerged.

Caterham's 2014 Formula 1 car made a belated debut in testing at Jerez on Tuesday afternoon.

The team had initially scheduled an unveiling in the pitlane prior to the start of the morning's running, but an issue with the car meant this was delayed.

It then took track to the track just before 3pm local time with rookie signing Marcus Ericsson at the wheel.

The new Renault-powered CT04 features an anteater version of the low nose that has become the focus of this year's F1 designs.

Caterham's version is one of the most extreme in the field, with its protruding section attached under a stepped upper element.

Marussia will definitely join the Formula 1 test at Jerez in Spain later this week after the car was dispatched from the factory on Tuesday.

The Banbury-based outfit had originally hoped to be able to join running from today, but a last-minute technical glitch came to light during the final build preparations.

The team decided that it was better to solve the problem back at its base, rather than send the car to Spain and deal with it there.

Following intense efforts over the past 48 hours, the unspecified technical problem has been sorted and the MR03 has now been sent to Jerez.

The journey from Banbury to Jerez means the car is unlikely to arrive before Wednesday, but that should still give Marussia enough time to be able to join the test as early as Thursday.

Lotus has quashed any talk that its radical 'twin tusk' Formula 1 nose design could be outlawed this year.

The Enstone-based outfit has caused a stir with its unique interpretation of the nose rules on its E22.

But amid speculation at Jerez that rivals could protest the design because it goes against the spirit of the regulations, Lotus made it clear on Tuesday that it had received full backing from the FIA.

Technical director Nick Chester said: "As you know we have passed all the necessary crash tests and we are very confident that our design complies with all the FIA legal requirements.

"We have just taken an innovative direction, and one that's different to the other teams.

"Where there are so many variations in design, there is always bound to be a little talk, but we remain relaxed and focussed on our design and progression."

AUTOSPORT has learned that the FIA is happy with the design of the Lotus nose, and has been approached by other teams who have enquired about going down that route.

[Chris2K]

The Caterham is the most hideous F1 car in the history of the sport. They better hope it works better than the previous cars.

[Lineker]

Williams has taken the wraps off its first Mercedes-engined Formula 1 car.

The Grove-based squad unveiled the FW36 at Jerez as it began testing in Spain for F1's new 1.6-litre turbo machinery.

Valtteri Bottas was the man in charge of driving the car for the first time, just one hour ahead of the end of the first day of testing.

The front of the car, one of the main areas of discussion so far, features a finger-style nose like some of its rivals.

Williams has switched from Renault to Mercedes power this season as it attempts to revive its fortunes after a disappointing 2013.

The squad, which has 16 constructors' and drivers' titles to its name, finished ninth with just five points.

The FW36 is also the first Williams produced under the chief technical stewardship of Pat Symonds.

Long-time Ferrari racer Felipe Massa joins the squad, replacing Lotus-bound Pastor Maldonado alongside sophomore driver Bottas.

Bottas is scheduled to drive the car for the first two days of Jerez testing, with Massa expected to take over on Thursday and Friday.

[Lineker]

Today's timesheet

1 Raikkonen (Ferrari), 1m27.104s (31 laps)

2 Hamilton (Mercedes), 1m27.820s (18 laps)

3 Bottas (Williams), 1m30.082s (7 laps)

4 Perez (Force India), 1m33.161s (11 laps)

5 Vergne (Toro Rosso), 1m36.530s (15 laps)

6 Gutierrez (Sauber), 1m42.257s (7 laps)

7 Vettel (Red Bull), no time (3 laps)

8 Ericsson (Caterham), no time (1 lap)

[Fry_4000]

holy fuck that Caterham is ugly

[Lineker]

Eric Boullier's switch to McLaren has been confirmed, with the former Lotus Formula 1 boss taking up the position of racing director.

The Frenchman quit Lotus last week as he closed in on a switch to McLaren, which is undergoing a restructuring under new Group CEO Ron Dennis.

It had been expected that Boullier would take the team principal role, but McLaren now looks set to implement a structure where there is no straight team boss.

Instead, Boullier will report to the CEO of McLaren Racing. A decision on who will take that role has not yet been taken, but is being temporarily filled by managing director Jonathan Neale.

It is unclear how long it will take for McLaren to fill the McLaren Racing CEO role, but it is possible that a high profile figure like Ross Brawn could still take that position in the longer term.

Meanwhile, Formula 1's second day of 2014 testing at Jerez in Spain will be devoted to wet weather tyre evaluation following overnight rain. Under F1's new sporting regulations, teams have to assign at least one day of pre-season testing to wet weather work for Pirelli. That had originally been pencilled in for Friday this week, but the damp start to the second day of testing on Tuesday meant that plan has been revised. Pirelli has decided that Wednesday will now be devoted to wet weather running, with the track being artificially wetted throughout the day. Although a day of wet weather running may not seem ideal for teams, the early preparation work that is being done on engine reliability and understanding means that it will not impact much on their programmes.

[Lineker]

One month after his skiing accident, Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher is still in a medically induced coma, his manager has said.

Sabine Kehm told the BBC the seven-time world champion remained in a "stable" condition at a clinic in Grenoble.

She has rejected as "speculation" a French media report saying Schumacher was being woken from his coma.

The German suffered a severe head injury on 29 December when he fell and hit a rock in the French Alps.

Surgeons have performed two operations to remove blood clots around Schumacher's brain. He is being kept asleep to reduce swelling.

Doctors in Grenoble have ruled out giving a prognosis for his condition in the coming days and months.

But it is medically possible for someone to spend several weeks in an induced coma and make a full recovery.

However Professor Gary Hartstein, a former F1 doctor who worked with Schumacher, said it "was extremely unlikely" that the 45-year-old would regain his previous level of health.

Prof Hartstein nevertheless described the champion's current state as encouraging.

"The fact that he is still sedated and not in an unsedated coma is better news than I expected," he told the BBC.

British neurosurgeon Peter Kirkpatrick suggested French medical staff may keep Schumacher in a coma to avoid chest infections and breathing problems.

"I think it's true to say that our French colleagues tend to ventilate patients for much longer than we do here, but I certainly wouldn't discount the possibility of Mr Schumacher still having a reasonable recovery."

Meanwhile, Ferrari - the racing team with which Schumacher had 72 of his 91 F1 wins - said in an online statement it was "waiting" for his return:

"Dear Michael, having spent so many years at Ferrari, you became one of us. You thrilled us so often, bringing us great joy, but the greatest one is yet to come: namely seeing you here in Maranello again, to meet your second family, the Ferrari one."

Schumacher's family have been by his bedside since the accident. They have received hundreds of letters and gifts from around the world, as a show of support for the popular sports star.

On Sunday, fans marched around the Spa-Francrochamps race track in Belgium to pay tribute to Schumacher.

He made his grand prix debut at the track in 1991 and won six of his seven world titles there.

Earlier this month, investigators probing the accident said Schumacher had been going at the speed of "a very good skier" at the time of the accident in the resort of Meribel.

He had been skiing eight metres off-piste when he fell, they added.

Experts reconstructed events leading up to the crash after examining Schumacher's skiing equipment and viewing footage filmed on a camera attached to his helmet.

The German retired from racing in 2012 after a 19-year career.

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.

[MJB]

The Mercedes powered cars (Merc, McLaren, Williams and Force India) look good while the Renault trio (Red Bull, Caterham, Toro Rosso) look to be playing catch-up, especially seeing as Lotus aren't even in Jerez.

[Lineker]

Day 2 results:

1 Jenson Button (McLaren) 1m24.165s, 43 laps
2 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 1m24.812s, 47 laps
3 Valtteri Bottas (Williams) 1m25.344s, 35 laps
4 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 1m25.588s, 97 laps
5 Sergio Perez (Force India) 1m28.376s, 37 laps
6 Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber) 1m33.270s, 53 laps
7 Marcus Ericsson (Caterham) 1m37.975s, 11 laps
8 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) 1m38.320s, 8 laps

[Sam]

I know it doesn't mean too much but it is nice to see McLaren back at the top of the time sheet.