Bob Barnard Track Engineering

Even if the 2013 engines do not make a lot of noise the decision to go to a four cylinder turbo certainly is. Bernie is the latest one to chime in on the possible lack of an F1 sound and how that would hurt the sport. It's OK though because Jean Todt has said it will be, " the smaller engine is very important to the manufacturer."  Number one it should be what is important to the fans, without them there is no F1, and since when is the FIA a department of the MIA, the Motor Industry Association? It is there to promote and regulate the sport, it is time to bring FISA back to look after it. Who are these manufacturers? The ones who left F1 or have never been in it? We currently have Ferrari, who yes are owned by Fiat who make a lot of 1.6 lite engines, but Ferrari are the most vehement in their opposition. Then there is Mercedes who probably make a small engine but that is hardly their brand image, and Renault who does build small engines, but are in the process of downsizing their interest to an engine supplier. Cosworth will build whatever someone will pay for and don't care about road cars. So who are these manufacturers? VW? Or maybe Tony Fernandes' Toyotas and Hyundais? Todt clearly has an agenda, it would be nice if he let us in on it, or better yet ask us if that's what we want to watch. He should look over the wall to his mates at the FIM and see what the manufacturers have done to that sport.

Now we have Mallorca wanting an F1 GP, presumably Valencia's. If Valencia is having trouble filling seats then why would Mallorca, an island, do any better? I can hardly imagine it needs promoting as a tourist destination. Still Bernie says to go ahead with their plans, he just loves to have promoters waiting so he can squeeze the existing ones. His mate Phillipe Gurdjian is involved, the guy who planned that white elephant at Abu Dhabi.

Looks like Chris Dyer is the scapegoat for the Ferrari screw up at Abu Dhabi, despite years of great calls he is to be punished for one bad one. As someone asked about me once, "do you think he forgot how to do it?" Maybe time and circumstance played a big part.

There are signs that McLaren might be dropping the silver paint job now Mercedes are not a big part of their team other than an engine supplier. So, what will the colors be? I think I mentioned a great article about watching paint dry, about McLaren and how they paint the cars. Still worth a read. http://en.espnf1.com/mclaren/motorsport/story/27211.html?wrapperetype=print

So Sir Stirling Moss thinks Michael Schumacher needs to clean up his act? Bit late now don't you think? Where have you been Stirling? He thinks the new rules on dirty driving will cramp his style. I would hope so, and why did we need a rule, the Stewards should have done something about this years ago, and maybe not just to Michael.

The media is having a field day with Montezemolo's comments about the future arrangements for F1 after the current Concorde Agreement runs out. Joe Saward again has a great piece on what he actually said, which was really no more than laying out possible alternative paths. I think it is just early maneuvering to improve the team's cut of the pie in the next go round. He likens the current regime as "like being in prison."

Looking forward to seeing the McLaren in GT3, that is getting to be the best racing with so many closely matched makes and top drivers.

The biggest motor racing story of the day seems to be Briatore selling his shares in QPR to Bernie. That's sad. You would think with all Bernie's millions QPR would be up with Chelsea by now. Maybe this is his fun and not his business.

The newly repaved Daytona track got the thumbs up from the drivers, but the combination of a new surface and a smaller restrictor plate may make for some boring races. Jamie McMurray said, "You're not really having to turn the steering wheel because the car has so much grip,"  while Jeff Burton said "You don't even think about having to lift unless you're trying to keep from wrecking. In the past it was quite a bit of throttle control to keep your car going around the racetrack." What else is left for the driver to do?

The long dark days of winter are upon us, with a lot of people getting snow already, but thankfully not in Phoenix. Working hard to set up the sessions for Los Angeles which will be set up slightly differently this year, a lot of engineering sessions with great information. Racing is closing down, but we have the snippets of new cars and drivers.

Hamilton has "driven" the MP4-26 already, in the simulator, with KERS and movable rear wing and pronounced himself very happy. As I have said in my presentations, if simulation is so good why not just give each driver one and have them compete in cyberspace, very green. Very safe too, but I suspect not much fun for most of us, but who knows maybe that is the future? Not one I wish to see.

Sir Frank Williams is not one that would wish to see it either I suspect. He is not happy with sixth in the Championship. What a great warrior he is despite all his difficulties both personal and with the team, "never give up."

In a similar vein, Richard Petty has taken control of his NASCAR Team again after the collapse of the Gillette sports empire. Richard is 73 and still very much involved. His famous team has struggled for years to recapture the dominance of his years. I well remember as a boy in England reading Motor Sport and their one page reports on NASCAR. About the only thing I understood about NASCAR in those days was that Richard Petty was the man, and Wood Brothers the team. And they are both still fighting to compete.

Our young F1 Champion just cannot keep his mouth shut about Ferrari and Mercedes. Can you imagine the feeling in the Red Bull camp? What an ungrateful bastard. No wonder Christian Horner is tipping Webber for the Championship next year, I would nobble Vettel's car, if he is still in it.

I trust all my American friends had a great Thanksgiving, I certainly did. Spent it with Aussie mate also from Adelaide and we watched the movie made of the set up for the first Adelaide F1 GP that I recently managed to obtain a copy of.

It is sort out time for the remaining seats in F1 next year, so let's look at who's where and who might be. McLaren is set with Hamilton and Button, and it looks like despite everything Webber and Vettel will be back at Red Bull. Christain Horner is tipping Mark for the title, so he must think he will be back. Ferrari will have Alonso, but is Massa safe? Who is available that is a better #2 to Alonso? Kubica and Webber have been mentioned, but neither look like moving and would not want to be a number 2 anyway. Mercedes has Nico, and maybe Michael. He says he likes the Pirelli's, and I don't think his ego is going to let him give up that easily. If they wanted a German driver there is Hulkenburg or Heidfeld, or even Glock, that would do as good a job or better, but Michael's name is great marketing for Mercedes. Renault has Kubica and looks like it might keep Petrov. The car is improving all the time so Kubica will stay, and Petrov did well at the end of the season, and with the Russian connection it seems smart to keep him. Force India is likely to keep Sutil, another German that Mercedes could take, but it seems Liuizzi might be replaced by Hulkenburg which would be a smart move.

Williams are retaining Barrichello, how long can this man go on, and I presume Maldonando with his sponsorship, although that is not announced.  Torro Rosso has given a big hint that Buemi is not coming back and could make room for Ricciardo. When was the last time Australia had two F1 drivers? Answers on a postcard please. Sauber has Mr. Overtaking, "I do not see the other cars" Kobayashi and the young Mexican driver Perez. Lotus, or whoever, will have Trulli and Kovalainen back, but the other two new teams are still up in the air. Glock will probably stay at Virgin, or whatever it is next year, with just maybe a Russian partner, Aleshin. HRT will take whoever has a big check book, and will anybody care?

So the GP2 winner may again not find an F1 seat, and drivers are bypassing it from FR3.5 and GP3 etc. Far from being a stepping stone it is becoming a support series for F1 for drivers that are not quite good enough.

On a final note, Bernie was mugged entering his home last night. Some journalists are unkind enough to repeat Bernie's comments after the attempted muggings in Sao Paulo, "They look for victims, they look for anyone who looks like a soft touch and not too bright," Bernie said in Sao Paulo. "People who look a bit soft and simple, they will always have a go at." I cannot for one moment subscribe to Bernie being "a soft touch and not too bright" so it seems no one is safe.

Congratulations to Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull, it is nice to see that good guys do finish first. Red Bull had the guts to stand by their ethics and beliefs when everyone was telling them to do otherwise. I personally was wanting Webber to win for obvious reasons, but Vettel will do. Nice job by Button, and well done McLaren, second and third in the race to sew up second in teams Championship, not a year of failure. Congratulations to Renault, great drive by both drivers, did that win Petrov the second seat? It should, the pressure on him must have been tremendous.

So another season is over, and the next will start tomorrow. New rules, new engines and sponsors/owners for the new teams, so there will be changes, but you can expect the usual suspects out front. The big question will be Mercedes, is Michael coming back, will the 2011 car be better?