final drive - Mundo Motorizado

THIS WEEK IN F1
BUEMI STAYS
AT RED BULL
Former Toro Rosso racer
Sebastien Buemi will
continue as Red Bull’s
reserve driver in 2013.
The 24-year-old is slated
to complete extensive
simulator work alongside
being on stand-by during
race weekends.
2013 TYRES LAUNCHED
Pirelli launched
its 2013 F1 tyres
last week, which
feature new
construction and
compounds, and a
switch to orange
markings for the
hard tyre. The
Italian company
is confident that
the rubber will
recreate the
uncertainty of the
first half of the
2012 season.
ALONSO
TO MISS
JEREZ
Fernando Alonso will miss the first pre-season test
at Jerez on February 5-8. Felipe Massa will drive on
the first three days before handing over to new test
driver Pedro de la Rosa. Alonso will complete three
days at the second test at Barcelona and two in the
final test at the same venue.
BRAWN: NO PLANS TO LEAVE
Ross Brawn insists that
his future as Mercedes
team principal remains
in his hands. The team
has identified McLaren
technical director
Paddy Lowe as a
possible successor,
but any move appears
unlikely in the short
term. McLaren is
understood to have
sounded out Lotus’s
James Allison as a
potential Lowe
replacement, but he
remains committed
to the Enstone team.
ALGUERSUARI, DI GRASSI
TO STICK WITH PIRELLI
Ex-F1 racers Jaime Alguersuari and Lucas di Grassi
are set to continue as Pirelli’s test drivers this year.
“There is no reason to change what we have,” said
Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery.
Kimi Raikkonen will
contest the Race of
Stars oval ice race
event in Moscow on
February 23. Charles
Pic and Vitaly Petrov
will also compete.
NEWS
PIT & PADDOCK
This is a marathon, not
a sprint. If we arrive at
the first race and we are
in front, it’s going to be
spectacular, but if we are
not we know we just have
to keep working at it
→
Lewis Hamilton continues
to keep expectations for
2013 in check
P24 LEWIS HAMILTON INTERVIEW
RAIKKONEN TO
PERFORM ON ICE
PORTUGAL EYES RETURN TO F1
Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that Portugal’s Algarve
circuit is pushing for the vacant slot on the F1
calendar for 2013. The chances of the German Grand
Prix being staged this year are also receding, with
the return of the French GP still possible.
REMEMBER WHEN…
SEP 22, 1996
…Portugal last held an F1 grand prix?
The last of Portugal’s 16 world championship
GPs was held at Estoril on September 22 ’96.
Jacques Villeneuve led home team-mate
Damon Hill for a Williams-Renault one-two.
January 31 2013 autosport.com 15
PICS: BELLANCA, ETHERINGTON, FERRARO/LAT