Max Chilton chose number #4

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After being retained as a Marussia team driver for the second year, it’s time for Max Chilton to choose the personal race number to be used for the remainder of his F1 career. The Englishman, born in 1991 chose number #4.
For the first time since the Banbury-based team joined the F1 Championship, two experienced drivers will race alongside it, as the 2013 line-up has been confirmed. Chilton will continue to partner the FDA French member Jules Bianchi.
Even if Chilton scored no points throughout his first F1 season, the Englishman led the way as a F1 newcomer, as he managed to cross the line all through the season.
Now only Caterham still has to reveal its 2014 line-up and race numbers.
1* Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull
3 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
44 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
6 Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
14 Fernando Alonso, Ferrari
7 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
8 Romain Grosjean, Lotus
13 Pastor Maldonado, Lotus
22 Jenson Button, McLaren
20 Kevin Magnussen, McLaren
27 Nico Hulkenberg, Force India
11 Sergio Perez, Force India
99 Adrian Sutil, Sauber
21 Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber
25 Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso
26 Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso
19 Felipe Massa, Williams
77 Valtteri Bottas, Williams
17 Jules Bianchi, Marussia
4  Max Chilton, Marussia
TBA, Caterham
TBA, Caterham
* Vettel chose number #5 in the case he won’t win the World title

F1 reveals race numbers

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FIA has officially announced the 2014 drivers’ line-up. It immediately stands out that Max Chilton has been retained as a Marussia team driver and he will partner the FDA French member Jules Bianchi for the second season.

At the same time the Federation has revealed the race number each driver will use for the remain of their career into F1. Starting from the 2014 season, numbers will not be awarded according to the constructors’ standing, but each driver will have his own personal number.

Red Bull’s World Champion will run with number #1 being displayed on his car, while his partner will run with number #3. Sebastian Vettel also chose number #5 as his race number in the case he loose the world title. At Ferrari, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen will run with number #14 and #7.

Number #44 and number #6 for Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, number #8 and number #13 for the Lotus pair Grosjean and Maldonado, number #22 and number #20 for Jenson Button (the number with which he won the world title) and Magnussen (the number with which he won the WSR 3.5 title in 2013).

Max Chilton hasn’t chosen his race number yet, as well as the two Caterhams; the team drivers’ line-up still has to be announced.

1* Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull

3 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull

44 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

6 Nico Rosberg, Mercedes

14 Fernando Alonso, Ferrari

7 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari

8 Romain Grosjean, Lotus

13 Pastor Maldonado, Lotus

22 Jenson Button, McLaren

20 Kevin Magnussen, McLaren

27 Nico Hulkenberg, Force India

11 Sergio Perez, Force India

99 Adrian Sutil, Sauber

21 Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber

25 Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso

26 Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso

19 Felipe Massa, Williams

77 Valtteri Bottas, Williams

17 Jules Bianchi, Marussia

TBA Max Chilton, Marussia

TBA, Caterham

TBA, Caterham

The Formula 4 takes shape

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Tatuus chassis, 4-cylinder FPT 1.4 l FIAT turbo engine, Promoter: WSK Promotion….all the pieces which compose the puzzle of the new FIA Formula 4 are finding their position.

The new category, which was strongly desired by FIA and is supported by the Italian Automobile Association, was established to the purpose of discovering new car racing talents, connecting the world of kart racing and the world of Formulas, since it’s open to 15-year-old drivers.

The Italian Championship, in which the 160 hp FPT engine powered Formula cars, whose chassis is made by Tatuus, will participate, will consist of 7 racing events and will kick off in the month of May at the Vallelunga circuit and finish in Barcelona on October 19th, running through the circuits of Adria, Imola, Mugello and Monza. It has still to be defined the circuit the event scheduled for June 8th will be run at. The name of the tyre supplier will be disclosed in a short time.

As far as costs are concerned, the costs made known by FIA are confirmed. The chassis costs 33.000 euros + V.A.T. and it’s 9.500 euros + V.A.T. for the engine.

Reliability and Consumption, the two key words for the 2014 season

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The beginning of the new year represents a hot spot for Formula 1. Some squads will disclose their new cars (in a virtual way at least) over the next few weeks, before the first testing session, scheduled for January 28th on the track of Jerez, takes place. We still don’t know how many teams will take part in the Spanish event. What is certain is that LOTUS team won’t be present at Jerez. That is probably due to financial or strategic reasons, as the English team was “robbed” by its technical crew. We don’t have to forget that the team originated from the Toleman Team and has always managed to re-emerge and survive several corporate changes.

A new chapter is about to start and all teams have to face several issues; delay can be felt. Some teams have received a “draft” of the engine – based on which the bodywork and the plant design will be built – just a few days before Christmas. So Ferrari and Mercedes could have an edge versus other teams because of that.

It will be hard to understand the 2014 racing season and the key words will be Reliability and Consumption. The important thing this year is to have not only the most performing car, but also the most reliable one, with reduced gas consumption. After 8 years of unchanged regulations, this year everything will start again from scratch. New energy recovery strategies will be found and research will make huge steps forward. It will be so important to close partnership agreements with suppliers in order to assembly all car parts the best way.

Pre-season testing will play a more important role this year, if compared to last seasons. I’m almost sure teams will hide themselves much less, so I can’t wait to see the first laps.

Whereas in the past seasons to have the best drivers pair was an added value, in the 2014 season to rely on Champions the likes of Alonso, Vettel, Rosberg and Hamilton couldn’t be enough. This year, to win will probably mean to cross the line first, instead of being the fastest on track…….