F1: WRC: - Realview

BriefLY
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It seemed as though half the F1
paddock – past and present – had
gathered at Glorious Goodwood for
the weekend’s Festival of Speed.
Making an appearance at the popular
annual event, described as the world’s
only motoring garden party, was
a long list of Formula One names:
Jenson Button, Karun Chandhok, Eddie
Cheever, Martin Donnelly, Emerson
Fittipaldi driving a Lotus 72, Marc
Gene, Lewis Hamilton, Nick Heidfeld,
Jacky Ickx, Heikki Kovalainen, Jochen
Mass, Stirling Moss behind the wheel
of a Lotus 18, Alan McNish showing
off an Audi R18 e-tron Quattro, Adrian
Newey, Emmanuel Pirro, Alain Prost,
Nico Rosberg, Jackie Stewart, John
Surtees, Sebastian Vettel, and Mark
Webber all took their turn up the hill
for the fans.
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The on-again, off-again Silverstone
Young Drivers’ Test is officially on, with
three teams confirming this week that
they would be running at the British
circuit in the week following the grand
prix. Williams, Marussia, and HRT will
be running on the Thursday and Friday
following the British Grand Prix, to
accommodate the Formula Student
race taking place the following
weekend. Talks are currently on-going
to determine whether testing can
begin on Wednesday, as it is believed
that a three-day test would entice
more teams to take part. McLaren
and Red Bull have long said that they
intend to run their YDT at the end
of the season, and have budgeted
accordingly.
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GPWEEK extends its congratulations
to Romain Grosjean and Marion Jollès,
who married on Wednesday in a
private ceremony in Chamonix.
Fernando Alonso may be on top of the drivers’
championship standings thanks to his impressive
drive to victory from P11 on the grid at last week’s
European Grand Prix, but Ferrari president Luca di
Montezemolo has warned the team not to rest on
their laurels.
“I am worried, and all of us should be,” he was quoted
as saying on the Ferrari website.
“Yes, I am worried, because I expect three very tough
races at Silverstone, Hockenheim and Budapest, and
because we have seen that Red Bull is very strong,
having had four-tenths in hand over everyone in
qualifying. And in the race it was flying away, at least
until the Safety Car.
“If we want to achieve our goals, then we must
make a step forward. It's thanks to your work, to an
extraordinary driver who, not by chance, drives for Ferrari,
to the strategy, the pit stops and the efforts of everyone
at the track and back home, that we find ourselves
leading the championship, even if we don't have the
best car. Now we must ensure we do everything as
well as possible because winning depends solely and
exclusively on us.
“It would be a big mistake to think the win in Valencia
means we have done enough. Today we have a
competitive car, but to win, we must do even more. I
don't want outsiders to think that one win is enough for
us to put on a fireworks display. I know how much you
F1 >>> news
Montezemolo keeps the
pressure on Ferrari
are working, how many sacrifices have been made, but
I am the first to know that all of us, without exception,
must still give something more. Let's remember for
a few more minutes that we are leading the world
championship, then let's get back to work.”
While Alonso has been highly praised for his
performances this season, team-mate Felipe Massa has
been struggling to bring home the points that would
help the Scuderia challenge for the constructors’ title
this season. The F2012 started life as one of the least
competitive cars on the grid, but in the hands of Alonso
became the first car to win two grands prix in what has
been the most chaotic Formula One season in recent
memory.
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