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As usual, Formula 1 teams are participating in an official test session for young drivers immediately after the grand prix held at Abu Dhabi. This year, GP2 talent Sam Bird took part in the event for MERCEDES GP PETRONAS and was in charge of the Silver Arrow for three days. His best result was achieved in the last day of testing through consistent work and pace: he ranked 2nd in the official standings, falling 2 seconds behind Red Bull's Jean-Eric Vergne.
Check out the full 3-day report after the break!
DAY 1
Two days after the 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Formula One’s Young Driver Test began at the Yas Marina Circuit this morning.
GP2 driver Sam Bird is driving for MERCEDES GP PETRONAS at the test and had the first of his three days in the car today.
- The team ran 2011 Pirelli tyres throughout the day whilst working on some development items for 2012
- A transmission issue cost some running time in the morning, however the lost time was recovered in the afternoon session
- Having used the team’s simulator extensively, Sam was quickly up to speed, and showed impressive pace and consistency
- The team plan to start evaluating the 2012 Pirelli tyres tomorrow
Sam Bird
“We did some good work today as the team began on-track preparations for the 2012 season. It’s fantastic to be behind the wheel of a Formula One car again, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself out there. I’m looking forward to the next two days and making a contribution to the team’s work for 2012. Many thanks to MERCEDES GP PETRONAS for giving me this opportunity.”
TIMES
Pos Driver Car Time Laps
1. Jean-Eric Vergne Red Bull 1:40.011 83
2. Jules Bianchi Ferrari 1:40.960 85
3. Robert Wickens Lotus Renault 1:42.217 78
4. Fabio Leimer Sauber 1:42.331 67
5. Gary Paffett McLaren 1:42.912 41
6. Max Chilton Force India 1:43.016 81
7. Valtteri Bottas Williams 1:43.118 71
8. Oliver Turvey McLaren 1:43.502 35
9. Sam Bird MERCEDES GP PETRONAS 1:43.548 53
10. Rodolfo Gonzalez Team Lotus 1:44.022 87
11. Stefano Coletti Toro Rosso 1:45.278 87
12. Dani Clos HRT 1:45.329 68
13. Charles Pic Marussia Virgin 1:46.930 30
14. Adrian Quaife Hobbs Marussia Virgin 1:47.292 32
DAY 2
On the second day of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi today, Sam Bird continued his work at the wheel of the MGP W02 car.
- The team focused on 2012 Pirelli tyre evaluations throughout the day with short runs in the morning and longer runs this afternoon
- Consistent driving from Sam allowed the team to collect plenty of data, along with his feedback on the feel of the tyres
- Sam and the team will complete the test tomorrow on the third and final day.
Sam Bird
“We made some very good progress with the programme today and were able to achieve all of the goals that we intended. It was interesting to try out the new 2012 Pirelli tyres for the first time, and I enjoyed the experience. Overall it was a very good day for us and I’m looking forward to completing our programme of test items tomorrow.”
TIMES
Pos Driver Car Time Laps
1. Jean-Eric Vergne Red Bull 1:40.188 43
2. Jules Bianchi Ferrari 1:40.279 91
3. Gary Paffett McLaren 1:41.756 71
4. Valtteri Bottas Williams 1:42.367 88
5. Johnny Cecotto Force India 1:42.873 84
6. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber 1:43.637 96
7. Sam Bird MERCEDES GP PETRONAS 1:43.734 94
8. Kevin Korjus Lotus Renault 1:43.776 70
9. Luiz Razia Team Lotus 1:43.944 89
10. Kevin Ceccon Toro Rosso 1:44.808 97
11. Jan Charouz HRT 1:46.644 56
12. Charles Pic Marussia Virgin 1:46.698 61
13. Nathanael Berthon Marussia Virgin 1:48.646 9
DAY 3
The third and final day of the Young Driver Test took place in Abu Dhabi today, with Sam Bird rounding off the test programme for MERCEDES GP PETRONAS at the Yas Marina Circuit.
- The team ran a 2012 exhaust position this morning and collected data to help develop our package for the new regulations
- This afternoon, we returned to a standard car specification and focused on developing the set-up of the car on the soft Pirelli tyre
- The three day programme has been extremely productive and enabled Sam to complete over 1394 kms of running
Sam Bird
“We again had a very good day today and were able to cover a lot of mileage with 104 laps in total. We were focusing on further development work for 2012 which went well and the team are very positive about the results gained. I would like to say thank you to MERCEDES GP PETRONAS for trusting me with the driving responsibilities for this three-day test. It’s been a very positive and enjoyable experience for me, and I’ve greatly enjoyed working with the team.”
Ross Brawn
“We have had a very good test in Abu Dhabi this week, and my compliments to Sam and the team at the Yas Marina Circuit for their efforts over the three days. The test has enabled us to make a good start to our 2012 preparations, and provided a wealth of data for our engineers to study. Sam has performed extremely well this week, providing consistency and accuracy in both his driving and feedback, and our engineers in Abu Dhabi have been very impressed with his contribution.”
TIMES
Pos Driver Car Time Laps
1. Jean-Eric Vergne Red Bull 1:38.917 46
2. Sam Bird MERCEDES GP PETRONAS 1:40.897 104
3. Jules Bianchi Ferrari 1:41.347 106
4. Oliver Turvey McLaren 1:41.513 89
5. Max Chilton Force India 1:41.575 79
6. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber 1:42.049 77
7. Mirko Bortolotti Williams 1:43.277 74
8. Kevin Ceccon Toro Rosso 1:43.686 35
9. Alexander Rossi Team Lotus 1:44.283 74
10. Jan Charouz Lotus Renault 1:44.470 82
11. Stefano Coletti Toro Rosso 1:44.545 48
12. Nathanael Berthon HRT 1:45.839 51
13. Robert Wickens Marussia Virgin 1:45.934 34
14. Charles Pic Marussia Virgin 1:46.348 49
* Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS *
Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
The final race of the 2011 Formula One season, the Brazilian Grand Prix, takes place at the Autodromo José Carlos Pace in Sao Paulo on Sunday 27 November. Located in Interlagos, the historic 4.309 km circuit is the highest of the year at 800m above sea level, and one of only five anti-clockwise tracks on this year’s calendar.
• The Safety Car has been deployed in seven of the last ten races in Interlagos, on a total of 11 occasions.
• Interlagos is the shortest permanent circuit on the calendar with the shortest lap time of any circuit.
• DRS can be used over 59% of the lap in practice and qualifying: only Montreal, Spa and Monza have higher values.
Michael Schumacher
“The final race of the season is approaching fast and I am looking forward to the weekend in Brazil. There is always a really good atmosphere at the Interlagos track and it’s one of the traditional venues for Formula One to end the season. We have enjoyed some good results finishing in the top six over the last few races, and I would love to continue this trend in Brazil and bring the season to a positive end. The team have worked very hard to improve our performance with the car that we have available to us and it would be a fitting reward for them.”
Nico Rosberg
“I’m really looking forward to going to Brazil next week. The Interlagos track is amazing to drive, and in the last weeks we have made some steps forward without having any big updates on the car, so it should be a good weekend. I would love to give the season a nice ending; our engineers, the boys in the garage and everybody at our factories in Brackley and Brixworth deserve a good result at our last race. The stronger qualifying and race pace in Abu Dhabi makes me confident that we can push and try to catch one of the cars from the top three teams at Interlagos. Our Mercedes engine power and the top speed in the car will be good for getting up the hill on the long start-finish straight.”
Ross Brawn, Team Principal
“The Brazilian Grand Prix weekend is always a lively and vibrant event, and Interlagos is a fitting venue for the final race of this year’s Formula One season. Although our focus at the factory has been on 2012 for some time now, at the race track we are continuing to work hard with this year’s car and make improvements. We are determined to end the season on a high and continue the run of top six results that we have enjoyed recently, which is the upper limit of the potential of the current car. Interlagos is a very unique track which presents some unusual challenges; the high altitude location, the bumpy surface and the challenging layout all test both the drivers and engineers.”
Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
“Brazil is a great venue for a Formula One season finale: our sport has a proud history in the country, and the atmosphere and dedicated spectators at Interlagos are fantastic. The circuit layout usually delivers exciting and unpredictable races. Interlagos is the second shortest circuit of the year and, coupled with a relatively high average speed, this normally makes for an intense race. The 71 laps around an anti-clockwise layout are challenging for the drivers, and the circuit requires good aerodynamic and mechanical performance in the second sector, and efficient aerodynamics and good engine performance in the first and third sectors. Seven of the last ten Brazilian Grands Prix have featured Safety Car deployments, so we must factor this probability into our strategies - and even more so with the increase in wheel-to-wheel action this year, thanks to DRS and the Pirelli tyres. In Abu Dhabi, we saw for the first time ever six Mercedes-Benz powered cars finish in the top ten - including in first and third places. Good results for MERCEDES GP PETRONAS and our partner teams are our target at the final round of the season.”
* Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS *
Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
The new ML 63 AMG will be unleashed at this week's Los Angeles Motor Show. Prior to the event, a teaser announcing the Affalterbach-tamed model was released last week. Mercedes-Benz describes the new SUV as being the best in class, the one that rises above all the average contenders by boasting crucial values such as dynamic handling, pulse quickening power and, most importantly, sport. So, let's wait for Mercedes-Benz to release the first details on the 525 hp ML 63 AMG to unbiasedly judge its performance capabilities.
Source: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
His Heighness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Opens the 2011 DUBAI INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW and Welcomes BRABUS Middle East to his Country
A prominent visitor for BRABUS and the team from BRABUS Middle East, the new branch in the United Arab Emirates: at the opening of the 2011 DUBAI INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, visited the BRABUS show exhibit.
He congratulated Prof. h.c. Bodo Buschmann, CEO of BRABUS Group, on the founding of BRABUS Middle East LLC in Dubai. On behalf of the government Sheikh Maktoum presented him with a marble slab as a valuable good-luck charm, which will receive a special place of honor in the new state-of-the-art tuning center in the Arab metropolis.
“We feel very honored that His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited us here at the show and welcomed us and our new subsidiary to Dubai on behalf of the government,” Prof. h.c. Buschmann declared. “The United Arab Emirates are one of our most vital markets in the world. That is one of the reasons we decided to found BRABUS Middle East LLC here in Dubai.”
The modern building with more than 3,000 m² of floor space is adjacent to Sheikh Zayed Road, the country’s most important traffic artery. The Arab headquarters of BRABUS houses not only a large show room, but also a modern workshop with its own upholstery shop and a large logistics center for the rapid supply of customers and dealers on the Arabian Peninsula with BRABUS tuning components.
The BRABUS team in Dubai consists of German and local specialists who were all trained extensively at the BRABUS factory in Bottrop.
BRABUS Middle East LLC presents two world debuts and several premieres for the Arab market at the 2011 DUBAI INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW. The BRABUS 800 Coupe based on the Mercedes CL-Class sets new standards for this type of vehicle with its 800-hp (788-bhp) / 588-kW V12 Biturbo engine. The second world debut is the BRABUS 800 E V12 Cabriolet, the world’s most powerful and with a top speed of up to 370 km/h (230 mph) fastest convertible.
* Official photos and details courtesy of BRABUS *
Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
The annual international classic calendar will finish only in November – with the “London to Brighton Veteran Car Run” (LBVCR) in England. In the anniversary year celebrating “125 years of the automobile”, Mercedes-Benz, as a primary sponsor, will be entering two vehicles from the company’s own collection and two customer vehicles in the event on 5 and 6 November 2011: from the museum collection, a 1902 two-seater Mercedes-Simplex racing car (starting number 234), and a 1904 four-seater Mercedes-Simplex touring car (starting number 523). One of the two private teams will be driving a 1903 60 PS Mercedes-Simplex (starting number 367), while the other team will be behind the wheel of a 1904 28/32 PS Mercedes-Simplex racing car (starting number 531).
“It’s an honour for Mercedes-Benz to support the event in this year of the anniversary of the automobile”, says Michael Bock, head of Mercedes-Benz Classic and director of the Mercedes-Benz Museum. “We invented the automobile, and the ‘London to Brighton Veteran Car Run’ is the oldest classic car event worldwide. That represents the basis for an ideal collaboration.”
The “London to Brighton Veteran Car Run”, held in the anniversary year of the automobile, will be symbolically opened by Jutta Benz, great-granddaughter of Carl Benz, inventor of the automobile. She will be driving a replica of the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen. This is the 63rd year since 1948 that Mercedes-Benz will have attended the Veteran Car Run, which is an annual highlight of the Mercedes-Benz Classic calendar.
The two participating Mercedes-Simplex cars are outstanding vehicles considering the automotive technology of their time. Following the invention of the automobile in 1886, the Mercedes-Simplex model, introduced in 1901 by the former Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, is regarded by today’s experts as the first modern automobile. For the first time, it showed important features which can still be found in passenger cars today, such as the low centre of gravity, the honeycomb radiator and an inclined steering column.
The Mercedes-Benz vehicles will once again be piloted by celebrity drivers this year: one will be driven by Nigel Mansell, 1992 British Formula 1 World Champion. Doug Nye, well-known British motor journalist, and Bernd Ostman, editor-in-chief of the professional journal “Auto Motor und Sport”, will be driving the second vehicle.
Remembering the emancipation of the automobile
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is held exclusively for vehicles built before 1904. The annual event marks the “Emancipation Run” of 14 November 1896. That event was organised by Harry J. Lawson in celebration of a then new law in Britain that raised the maximum permitted speed for automobiles with an internal combustion engine, from a walking pace of 6.4 km/h (4 miles per hour) to 22.4 km/h (16 miles per hour). The new law also abolished the requirement that vehicles be preceded by a man walking ahead of the vehicle, for the safety of other road users, as previously required by the 1865 “Locomotive Act”, also known as the “Red Flag Act”. The first event was started by the symbolic tearing up of a red flag, since, up until 1878, the man walking ahead of the vehicle had to also carry a red flag as a warning.
The first official commemorative repeat of the London to Brighton Run took place in 1927, and since then it has been organised annually, with the exception of the years 1940 to 1947. The 77th event will take place this year. This makes the Run the oldest existing motoring event in the world, and, at the same time, the largest gathering of veteran cars from the early days of automotive history. In addition to four-wheeled cars with internal combustion engines, three-wheelers and also steam cars and electric cars will also take part. The British Royal Automobile Club has been organising the Run since 1930.
In the 2011 Run, approximately 550 vehicles from 20 countries will be taking part. Around 50 vehicles date from the period before 1900. They will all set out on 6 November 2011 on the approximately 96-kilometre (60-mile) course, which mainly follows the A23 road. The two oldest vehicles are expected to be a Benz Velo and a Benz Victoria, both from 1894. As many as 500,000 spectators are expected to line the route. The start is at Apsley Gate, at London’s Hyde Park, where the first vehicles will depart at the official sunrise time of 7.02 a.m. From there, the cars will head to a checkpoint at Market Square, Crawley, before the event comes to an official end in Preston Park, a suburb of the seaside resort of Brighton. The unofficial, but actual finish is subsequently also celebrated by the public on the grand promenade, Madeira Drive. Only cars that arrive in Brighton by sunset will be counted.
Around 100 vehicles will take part in an eve-of-event Concours d’Élégance, on London’s Regent Street, on Saturday, 5 November 2011. Each car will be individually introduced, and spectators will have an opportunity for closer inspection. Before that event, on 4 November 2011, Bonhams on New Bond Street will host an auction of vehicles and automobilia from the early days.
Mercedes-Simplex: the modern automobile
The Mercedes-Benz Classic cars which are to take part are all Mercedes Simplex models. Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft produced a range of automobiles bearing this designation at Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, from 1901 to 1905, all of which had two things in common: they were designed by Wilhelm Maybach, and they were superior to all other cars at the time. The Simplex represented the pivotal transition from motorised carriage to purpose-built car. The Mercedes-Simplex is therefore regarded as the first modern automobile.
The most striking technical features of the Mercedes-Simplex were its four-cylinder, front-mounted engine with cylinders cast in pairs, the U-section pressed steel frame, a low centre of gravity, honeycomb radiator and inclined steering column. These features are what provided the typical car-like appearance that distinguished it from contemporary carriage-type automobiles. Next to the 38/40 PS Mercedes-Simplex, the 28/32 PS was the more compact automobile.
Technical data for the 38/40 PS Mercedes-Simplex racing car
Year of construction: 1902
Cylinders: 4 (in-line)
Displacement: 6558 ccm
Output: 40 hp (29 kW) at 1050 rpm
Maximum speed: approx. 75 km/h
Vehicle weight: 1250 kg
Technical data for the 28/32 PS Mercedes-Simplex touring car
Year of construction: 1904
Cylinders: 4 (in-line)
Displacement: 5315 ccm
Output: 32 hp (24 kW) at 1200 rpm
Maximum speed: approx. 60 km/h
Vehicle weight: 1250 kg
Technical data for the Benz Patent-Motorwagen Model I
Year of construction: 1886
Cylinders: Single-cylinder four-stroke engine with buzzer ignition
Displacement: 954 ccm
Output: 0.75 hp (0.55 kW) at 400 rpm
Fuel consumption: approx. 10 litres per 100 km
Maximum speed: 16 km/h
Vehicle weight: 265 kg
Nigel Mansell
Born on 8 August 1953 in Upton-on-Severn, Worcestershire, England.
The rise of Mansell’s sporting career proceeded in a straight line from karting 1968-75, the Formula Ford 1976-77 and the British Formula 3 Championship 1978-80, all the way to his Formula 1 début in 1980 in a Lotus Ford.
A long series with successful races in Formula 1 followed, crowned by three second-place titles and finally, in 1992, the World Champion title. After a brief interlude in the IndyCar Series (he won the Champion title on his first attempt in 1993), he returned to Formula 1 in 1994, and won the Grand Prix in Australia.
In 1995, he started in the Formula 1 for Team McLaren-Mercedes.
Source: Daimler AG
Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
LEWIS HAMILTON
- MP4-26A-03
- Started: 2nd
- Finished: 1st
- Fastest lap: 1m43.461s (+0.849s, 3rd)
- Pitstops: Two: laps 16 and 40 (Op-Op-Pr)
- 2011 points:227 (5th)“This result is just fantastic. I’m usually my own biggest critic – I’m always hard on myself when I make mistakes – but I really felt like I maximised everything today. To be able to sustain that kind of pace, under constant pressure, and not make mistakes, is really satisfying.
“For most of the race I was concentrating on managing the gap to Fernando [Alonso]. He’s such a strong driver. He’ll never give you an inch, in fact. Into the closing laps I found myself beginning to think about victory, but I didn’t want to do that really so I kept saying to myself: ‘Don’t even go there!’
“It worked: I stopped my mind from wandering and I didn’t allow myself to think about the win until I’d crossed the line.
“To have Jenson on the podium alongside me was great – great for me, great for him, great for the team, and a great boost as we move towards the end of the season. The team has been fantastic all weekend – the strategy, the pitstops, everything – really top-class. The whole package came together today and I owe everyone a big thank-you.
“This is so uplifting – for the team and for me. To be able to walk away with a smile feels just fantastic: victory is good for the soul.”
JENSON BUTTON
- MP4-26A-04
- Started: 3rd
- Finished: 3rd
- Fastest lap: 1m43.154s (+0.542s, 2nd)
- Pitstops: Two: laps 16 and 36 (Op-Op-Pr)
- 2011 points: 255 (2nd)
“It was a difficult race for me, as I had a KERS Hybrid issue, which is admittedly very rare for us. After about 15 laps it stopped working – and that doesn’t just affect your power out of the corners, it affects engine braking too.
“Fortunately, my engineer came over the radio and told me they’d found a way to make it work again – but it meant pushing lots of buttons on the steering wheel every couple of laps because it only returned intermittently. So I’d arrive at a corner and not know whether I had any engine braking because I had no warning. So selecting the right spot at which to brake was tough.
“Still, as I say, it’s extremely rare for us to encounter a problem with our KERS Hybrid. Mercedes-Benz has done a great job this year, and in fact I’d say theirs is the best and most reliable unit in the pitlane: a fantastic system, in fact. So as I say it was a rare issue – and, although the problem made for a tricky drive for me, it also made it even more satisfying to manage to keep it together and end up on the podium.
“Last of all, I want to say: ‘Fair play to Lewis.’ He did a great job today. It’s very positive to move towards the end of the season on a high, because it’s the best possible way to build for the new season.”
MARTIN WHITMARSH
Team Principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
“Lewis drove an utterly faultless race today, taking the lead at the second corner and controlling the gap back to Fernando with consummate skill over the remaining 54 laps. To put it simply, he was brilliant today.
“Jenson, too, drove a truly excellent race, managing KERS Hybrid problems throughout, and emerging with a hard-won third place and 15 valuable world championship points to consolidate his second position in the drivers’ world championship.
“While I’m on the subject of KERS Hybrid, it’s worth paying tribute to the excellence of our Mercedes-Benz system. It’s been fantastically reliable all season, and has delivered considerable performance benefits too; today’s hiccup was therefore extremely rare. So I want to say a big “Bravo!” to all the guys at Brixworth [Northamptonshire, UK], where Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines is based, for a job very well done all year.
“Returning to the subject of today’s race, it’s always a great feeling to see two Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers on the podium together, and today I’m particularly delighted for Lewis, but also for Jenson, and of course for the entire team too.
“It was Lewis’s 17th career grand prix victory, all of them scored for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, his third of the season, and the sixth time this year we’ve had occasion to pull on our famous Vodafone rocket-red victory T-shirts.
“But 2011 isn’t done and dusted yet – from here we’ll travel to Brazil, and the famous Interlagos circuit, over whose majestic twists and turns Lewis and Jenson will be trying their damnedest to score Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ seventh victory of the year.
“Bring it on!”
* Official photos and report courtesy of VODAFONE MCLAREN MERCEDES *
Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.
