Gazz Posted November 12, 2013 Report Share Posted November 12, 2013 Haha, cock nose 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Lineker Posted November 13, 2013 Author Admin Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 Heikki Kovalainen has emerged as favourite to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus for the rest of 2013, although the team's final decision could wait until the day before Austin practice. The Finn has moved into pole position for the seat after a potential deal with Nico Hulkenberg fell through. Following a frantic week of talks between Lotus and numerous drivers to work out who is best to stand-in for the races at Austin and Interlagos, Kovalainen is now close to a deal that would see him back racing for the first time since 2012. With Raikkonen only announcing last weekend that he would not finish the season, Lotus has faced time pressure to find a suitable replacement that would give it the best chance of beating Ferrari to third in the 2013 Formula 1 constructors' championship. With it currently lying 26 points behind its Maranello-based rivals with two races to go, Lotus felt that it needed a driver with experience to ensure it grabbed any opportunities that came its way. Reserve driver Davide Valsecchi has never raced in F1 and, with pressure to deliver instantly, it was felt that it was not the right time to move him up to a race seat. AUTOSPORT understands that advanced talks were held with Hulkenberg, who even visited the Enstone factory earlier this week as Lotus closed in on a deal to move him from Sauber. However, Hulkenberg changed his mind at the last minute and elected not to take up the Lotus offer. Kovalainen's recent experience of F1 machinery - having driven six Friday practice sessions for Caterham - allied to the knowledge of how a front-line team operates has made him an obvious candidate. The Finn also has good knowledge of how Enstone functions, having been the then Renault team's test driver in 2006 and raced for it in '07 - securing second place at that year's Japanese Grand Prix. Although talks with Kovalainen are progressing, a final green light on him racing may not be made until Thursday while Lotus sorts out contractual matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Lineker Posted November 13, 2013 Author Admin Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 Perez confirms that he is leaving McLaren: McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh thanks Sergio Perez for a statement he describes as "kind and gracious", as well as "for being a fine team member during the 2013 Formula One season". Perez confirmed in an open letter to his fans on Twitter he is to leave McLaren at the end of the season. Whitmarsh said: "There are still two grands prix yet to run this year, and our collective focus is on scoring as many points as we can in those two remaining races. "Checo has made many friends during his time at McLaren, and together as a team we intend to do our utmost to help him finish his year with us with two good results, especially here in Austin, where he has so many fans." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2K Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 Looks like Kovaleinen is all but confirmed driving for Lotus in the last two GP, but only because MICHAEL SCHUMACHER turned down Lotus' attempts to get him to drive. And that new nose design looks horrendous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katsuya Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 Kovalainen giving a good performance in the Lotus could help him if Force India etc. are still faffing about choosing a new driver. Seems like Hulk is getting the Lotus drive one way or another though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Lineker Posted November 14, 2013 Author Admin Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 So glad that it isn't Schumacher. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Lineker Posted November 14, 2013 Author Admin Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 Lotus have now confirmed Heikki for the rest of the season. Wonder if this will affect his chances of returning to a Caterham race seat next year. McLaren have now also confirmed Kevin Magnussen as Sergio Perez's replacement. I suppose this means that Telmex won't be the new team title sponsors? In other news, Pastor Maldonado in self-important prick shocker, and David Ward has dropped out of the upcoming FIA elections, meaning that Jean Todt should be re-elected unopposed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Lineker Posted November 14, 2013 Author Admin Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 Fernando Alonso has been given the final complete medical all-clear from FIA doctors to compete at Austin. Nico Hulkenberg admits he got as far as visiting the Lotus factory with Eric Boullier before turning down the two-race 2013 stint with the team as it could possibly mean a less certain longer term future for him for 2014 and beyond (although surely it's just a matter of time now). Felipe Massa confirmed that he spoke with McLaren, Lotus, and Force India as well as Williams about 2014 drives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJB Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 I'd love for Maldonado to end up without a seat. Can't see it but I'd be forever happy. So, PER, DIR, SUT, KOV, HUL, GUT and MAL all going for one seat at Lotus, one at Sauber and then two at Force India. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katsuya Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 If the Mexican money is still with Perez, I can see him ending up with Sauber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Lineker Posted November 15, 2013 Author Admin Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 FP1 delayed due to fog and then red-flagged due to a technical problem with the medical helicopter. So far so good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Lineker Posted November 15, 2013 Author Admin Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 The technical problem with the medical helicopter, it turns out, is that they've lost it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rainiac Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 How exactly do you 'lose' a helicopter? I'd have thought it was a little big to just vanish like that ...Why do I have this horrible feeling that this weekend's US Grand Prix could be a disaster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katsuya Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 Heikki was 5th in FP2, faster than Grosjean (though behind him on race pace). This is why I <3 Heikki. Also, Red Bull are fastest again. Looks like it goes Mercedes > Lotus > Sauber > Ferrari after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazz Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 How exactly do you 'lose' a helicopter? I'd have thought it was a little big to just vanish like that ...Why do I have this horrible feeling that this weekend's US Grand Prix could be a disaster David Blaine is special guest race director Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Lineker Posted November 15, 2013 Author Admin Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 All the new guys were good. In addition to Heikki outpacing Grosjean, Alexander Rossi was almost a second quicker than Charles Pic in the Caterham and Kvyat looked decent in the Toro Rosso. Jenson Button has been hit with a three-place grid penalty for overtaking under red flag conditions during Friday morning practice for the United States Grand Prix. The McLaren driver was found to have passed another car after the session was red-flagged because of a problem with the medical helicopter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katsuya Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 Vettel pole lol. Hulkenburg got 4th and continues to show how it's a fucking joke that it seems he's Force India bound next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJB Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 Gutierrez has been given a ten place grid drop for impeding Maldonado while Chilton has to do a drive-thru penalty within the first five laps. If Webber has his usual poor start, coupled with being on the dirty side of the grid, could leave him about 5th after turn one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katsuya Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 Chilton's penalty is bizarre. I don't think I've ever heard of that before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJB Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 One of the Caterham's (Pic, IIRC) had it in Japan, I'm sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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