Monaco GP - Technical Image Gallery - Wednesday

A selection of the best technical images from Monaco on Wednesday courtesy of Sutton Images

Force India test at Duxford (15/05/13)

Last week Force India partook in an aerodynamic test day at Duxford, for those thinking that bar the pre season tests "aren't teams banned from testing?"

Article 22 of the Sporting Regulations:

22.1 Track testing shall be considered any track running time not part of an Event undertaken by a competitor entered in the Championship, using cars which conform substantially with the current Formula One Technical Regulations in addition to those from the previous or subsequent year. The only exception is that each competitor is permitted up to eight promotional events, carried out using tyres provided specifically for this purpose by the appointed supplier, to a maximum distance of 100kms per event.

or

ii) Four one day aerodynamic tests carried out on FIA approved straight line or constant radius sites between 1 February of the current year and the start of the last Event of the Championship. Any of these days may be substituted for four hours of wind-on full scale wind tunnel testing to be carried out in a single twenty four hour period.

James Calado was at the wheel of the VJM06 whilst the team conducted the test and through an acquaintance on Twitter I'm able to show you a few pictures he took.

As a reference here is the VJM06 at the Circuit de Catalunya

Below are the images captured by David Slater

In the last picture which I have blown up from the original we can see that the team were also using Flo-Viz to correlate their findings.

FIA show their teeth and force Pirelli to back down

I've already written at length this week about the Pirelli situation but I find myself at the keyboard once more, it's a topic that I feel compelled to write about as any decision made has significant technical ramifications for the season ahead.

Autosport / Jonathon Noble ran a piece last night (17/05/13) declaring the FIA's position on Pirelli's intention to make changes to their tyre range ahead of the Montreal GP.  The crux of the story centres around the FIA's insistance that changes only be made to the Italian tyre manufacturer's product on the grounds of safety.

Craig 'ScarbsF1' Scarborough looks at a modern F1 Clutch

In the latest episode of the Racers Edge with Peter Windsor, Craig took the time to show and explain a modern F1 clutch. (47.38 minutes in)

Honda to return to F1 as engine supplier in 2015?

This is the rumour that will not die, most likely because there is truth behind with an announcement imminent from the Japanese car manufacturer. I have touched on the return of Honda back in October last year: http://somersf1.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/mclaren-honda.html at which point I stated that in reality 2015 would be when we could first expect to see them back on the grid.

Pirelli to make changes ahead of Montreal - The Technical Implications

Having looked at the relationship between mechanical grip and downforce of the 2013 tyres yesterday (http://somersf1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/pirelli-are-they-really-to-blame.html?m=1) the Italian tyre manufacturer announced today they would make changes to their tyres for Montreal. 

Armed with yesterday's article and today's announcement let's look at what that will mean for the racing going forward.

Pirelli – Are they really to blame? - Understanding 2013's Tyres

The Spanish GP held at the Circuit de Catalunya has for years been a forgone conclusion, rock up on a Saturday, duke it out for pole position and you're guaranteed to take victory on the Sunday. This year that changed and for the first time in years I didn't find myself drifting off in front of the box a third of the way through the race. You will all know I am both a fan of strategy and a defender of Pirelli but perhaps what isn't clear is why the GP became a four stopper. I would also like to say that although Social Media has led to my own rapid rise it may also be the reason why we are seeing Pirelli take the brunt of the criticism this year. If I may borrow a line from the film Inception:

'An idea is like a virus. Resilient. Highly contagious. And even the smallest seed of an idea can grow. It can grow to define or destroy you.'

Spanish GP - Barcelona - Technical Image Gallery - Saturday (FP3 & Qualifying)

The best images of Saturday courtesy of Sutton Images

Spanish GP - Barcelona - Technical Image Gallery - Friday

The best technical images available from the Spanish GP courtesy of Sutton Images

Spanish GP - Barcelona - Technical Image Gallery - Thursday

 The return to Europe leads to a plethora of upgrades being made available to the teams here are some of the images captured during the build up stage on Thursday.