Liuzzi will have tough time beating karthikeyan.
people are very critical of karthikeyan unncecesarily ... if karthikeyan beats liuzzi , then instead of appreciating him , they will criticize liuzzi of getting beaten by him .if he beats karthikeyan , then people will say karthikeyan is not a good driver and will not praise liuzzi if he does so ... liuzzi will gain respect from people only if he completely blows away karthikeyan which i don't see happening

And this would be really well deserved. Vitantonio has just driven an entire season in a less than hopeless car designed with contemporary rules.
Narain haven't run on slicks and neither with a race distance fuel tank.

If by occasion Narain is the faster one that would be because Liuzzi is sucking pretty hard behind F11-whatever's wheel.

ok liuzzi will be criticized but will karthikeyan be praised or will he continue to be a bad driver in the eyes of people ?

That's is more about people perception, I worry.
Ane thing is being mediocre and defeat a more mediocre driver, another one is being competitive. Unfortunately, the performance of the car will have a big role in this, just like last year. If the F111 is as bad as its predecessor both drivers will be perceived as snails.

It is what it is. People will mindlessly rip on just about every driver from time to time, when I'd say that last year dragging the F110 or whatever it was called into 10th place would've been more impressive than the same driver in a Ferrari finishing 2nd or 3rd. You always have to keep shit like this in perspective, though obviously a lot of people don't. It's the same argument a few of us had when we found out Hulkenberg turned down the Virgin/Hispania drives - if Hulkenberg got one of those cars into the points a couple times this year it would be infinitely more impressive than his pole last year to anyone who knows a thing or two about racing, but your average fan wouldn't see it like that.

Any pictures available of the new HRT chassis, expect for the small launch picture in the news section?

Edited: Oh, they actually had a website. I'll look there..

Apparently Mondini isn't actually in contention for the second Hispania seat. He apparently paid $210,000 for the Barcelona test. Which seems weird given that he's been out of the sport for five years and the test was said to be "to assess his fitness", which implies he's being set up for a future role with the team. But if it's true ... seriously, who the hell accepts a pay driver for a single pre-season test? Are you that far up poo creek that you need two hundred grand from an almost anonymous driver?

You know what? I don't care anymore. I am beyond caring. Just pick a damn driver.

If a guy gives you 200k to do half a day's testing in an out of date car, why the hell not.

Uh, because with time counting down until the first race of the season - this was before Bahrain was cancelled, mind you - you want to give all your genuine contenders for the seat as much running time as possible in order to fully assess them. Or to get more running time with the Pirellis to better understand them. Mondini was just a waste of a day's testing that could have been put to better use.

Source?

I'm trying to find it. I've very definately seen it (famous last words). Here:

Thanks.

But... but... they released a photoshop of a deceptive new livery superimposed on a superficially updated F110? They can't be in trouble!

There is this interview with Kolles here (German), which I guess is the translation/cooperartion of this autosport plus article.

Some ballsy statements from the man:

- (Bahrain cancellation = new car gets more testing time before 1st race) Kolles: "As always I'm lucky."

- "We should be ready until later this week. Of course we are now not under the same time pressure as before, so we might reconsider certain things. Maybe we go our own way while testing, perhaps we will make the shakedown elsewhere. We do what is best for us."

- (Toyota TF110 deal burst last season -> late start for new car) "We have worked on different options. One always needs to have a plan B. That's my strategy. Of course we started later than others, but it is as it is. The Dallara then served as the basis for our comparisons, so you know what you gotta do to build a modern formula one car."

- "It took about 40 engineers to make all drawings and other things we needed for the production. Because of the time limit just imagine this as a virtual Office. In these days you can sit here and communicate with others that are sitting 3,000 miles away."

- "Actually we are very modern and futuristic." (like Virgin only CFD design and no wind tunnel (for money reasons obviously))

- (Willis has only limited resources) "Of course it is difficult. It is also difficult for me, I would like to win as well. But the only choice we have, is to work hard to stay alive and moving forward. I can dream of the budgets of Red Bull and Ferrari day and night, but what's the use of that? Only through hard work can we succeed . I don't think that we need the budget of Red Bull to do a good job. Still, if we had Toro Rosso's budget, we would be better."

- (Willis) "He is a very analytical, quiet person - he only wants to do his work. He has no interest in politics and self-promotion. This proves his qualities – he is a good engineer with a proper understanding. Others do not have this knowledge, but they constantly praise themselves."

- (Williams gear box) "I believe that it makes no sense for small teams to build its own gear box - not even for midfield teams such as Force India. You waste resources that are needed elsewhere."

- HRT had three chassis build at the Salzburg company CarboTech. "CarboTech is one of the largest carbon firms in Europe, I believe that we are served very well there. We have a few suppliers who are very good, working day and night to bring their performance."

- "Our plan is a new monocoque with the first updates at Monaco." (there will be a new version called the F111B) "The car will have a completely new aerodynamic package."

- "Our strategy is to be in F1 long term. Maybe others have other goals, I can not tell."

Mike Gascoyne.




This does not sound like efficient use of limited resources. Why build a new monocoque half-way through the season when you haven't run a single lap in the original? They should have incorporated all the ideas in the original monocoque, with only the aero package being updated through the season. Now they will have at least three useless tubs before the season is over.

Yet again you are wrong! The tubs have little impact on the aero profile. The aero profile is dependent on wings, floor, diffusor. One can change those paramaters while the tub is homogulated. Here eneth the lesson.

Primer, I think he means that the f111 HAS a new monocoque, and thats its first updates will be in monaco. Not that theyre will be a new car in Monaco.

Hell, they might even qualify.

I believe that potentially the 'original' monocoque is the very same one being used for tests, the very same one that raced last year.
The F111B would be the real F111.

Erm.. Go Hispania!

No, actually, he really did say that they will bring a new monocoque to Monaco, together with a completely new aero package.

Where did I imply that the tub has great impact or any impact on aero for that matter? That was not even the point....never mind.


It can be interpreted both ways, I recognized that on first reading. An issue due to translation, it should become clear in the coming days what Kolles truly meant. Although I strongly feel it will be a new monocoque at Monaco along with updated aero package, because teams usually don't suffix 'B' to their car's title just because they have updated aero.


Kolles statement has given me confidence in the team. After reading this interview I too am willing to consider the possibility that they will make it to the first race. The team's method are unconventional but there seems to be some method to Kolles' madness.

It must be a mistranslation. Some of us who bother to read the regulations know that the tub configuration is fixed once the season starts. The only way to produce a new monocoque is to get a special waiver from the FIA as Virgin had to do last year.

Thats the tub, yes.

THe bodywork around it can be altered as the team see fit. As has been said, we have a translation issue.

Well, please believe me, there is not much ambiguity in the translation, what he sad is just not 100% clear.

Didn't mean to criticize you or your translation, thanks for translating and sharing infact. There is no ambiguity about the F111B part, at least in my mind. I can understand why there's some doubt though, because planning for a 'B' chassis without running a single lap in your 'A' does not make any sense.
Teams have built a 'B' -most famously Mclaren- but that was when their first effort clearly proved to be a dead end, performance wise.

So to conclude the questions are now:

What does he mean when he says 'new monocoque'? (We all know, that by the rules he can not change the tub. Maybe he is just speaking of a fourth chassis?)

At what point does an upgrade become a legit 'B' version? (Is for example a new front wing, rear wing and engine cover enough?)

Surely they have to have a 'new' monocoque at the first race. How else would they pass the new crash tests and other changes to the rules regarding the tub?

Liuzzi: 'I've never paid for a drive and I cannot start now'

Kolles is in a talkative mood today: next short bit (in German again)

"We have great resources, particularly in regard to CFD. We are further working on it. We have already used it, but it will become much bigger. Our plan is to bring it to the level of a top team, to go to the maximum of the FOTA restrictions in this area."

I think the whole monocoque thing has got miss translated, Hispania have recently passed all crash tests for the new car, I think he means a new upgrade for Monaco.

In the 2011 regs teams can modify the tub unlike 2010.

Go where, exactly? Go to Melbourne? Go away? Go west? Go past GO and collect $200?

Virgin are already doing that this year. They expanded their CFD facilities during winter, and Wirth said they will do the maximum amount of CFD allowed. But that will only affect the upgrades of the car, as the new car has been designed with the old facilites. So looking at their rate of development during the season, we will probably know what the "maximum amount of CFD" actually means. Will it do them any good? HRT are probably a step or two behind in that technology, so I wouldn't expect them to produce any miracles. BUT, if they have a new car, and they will even develop it during the season, then it's a step forward.

He meant all of the above. Especially collecting 200 dollars. They are a new team with not much money, They originally were called Campos, but they had money trouble which has hampered their seasons so far.

Here is more reading on the subject:
Campos

You seem like you were not around last year, this should help your views on this matter.

Happy to help.

I'm aware of the team's history, and of the way Adrian Campos fundamentally overestimated the demand for a Spanish "national" team, just as Alain Prost did back in the late 1990s. You linked to the Wikipedia article; well, I'm the one who wrote most of the stuff on their formation and re-branding on that page. See the stats under my avatar? I've been around for 18 months now. Not 18 days. My comment was intended as a joke, about the myriad number of ways Hispania could actually go. Thank you for ruining the punchline.

Don't Phiss off Tightpants, He's australian and his pants are too tight.

Some of us may have not bothered to read the regulations, then.

We have great resources, particularly in regard to CFD. I got a new Dell laptop for Christmas
We are further working on it. I'm popping down the shops to get one of those wireless mouse thingies
We have already used it, but it will become much bigger. I'm also saving up for an external hard-drive - maybe with my birthday money?
Our plan is to bring it to the level of a top team, to go to the maximum of the FOTA restrictions in this area."I want to be like Richard Branson and have my own hot-air balloon

If they can make it to the first race with the new car, have a reasonable pace and finish the race i will be happy Although i do think they could be 4-5 seconds off the pace...

Oh you guys.

'Go Hispania' as in 'Go Hispania, go nick a 9th or a 10th here and there and stick it to all the pretentious douchebags around here that think Ferrari, Williams and McLaren are the only teams worthy of the honor of an F1 grid slot and that no other teams are fit to lick their boots. Stick it to all the arrogant dumbasses that consider you an embarassment, however right they may often be in doing so'.

er, when do we get to see the new car*?
*might not be totally new, strictly speaking

Just because some ill informed individual has said that the chassis is not homologated does not make it so. The tub specification you turn up with in Melbourne is what you've got for the season.
There is a dictat used by the Royal Society it says and I quote " Accept no evidence soley on Authority".

They've managed to get three cars built, get over it.

After reading the Autosport + article the car(s) will be ready tomorrow.

I would imagine they will be presented before the last test @ Barcelona.

According to this week's Autosport, Liuzzi will probably not get the second Hispania seat because he does not have any funding. Mondini, on the other hand, is reported to be a serious candidate.

I read the Autosport article this week, has that been published before the Autosport Plus article with Colin Kolles??? He wants Liuzzi and Liuzzi has mentioned Hispania are negotiating with sponsors still.

I can imagine Mondini being the reserve driver and Liuzzi being the 2nd driver.

I think Autosport goes to press on Tuesday evening, so about the same time.

Damn, this really is a downer. 2 rookies with no current F1 experience is not going to move the team forward. After Kolles comments about Senna and Chandok one wonders why he would repeat the same approach.
This season success is going to depend on the interaction of the chassis with the tyres and how well you can tune the suspension geo to minimise tyre wear. Hispania could build a fast car but we'd never know if both drivers are rubbish. One also wonders how they will be able to direct setup if they have little or no previous F1 experience.

I think we just have to wait to see what happens, after Kolles downgrading Senna and Chandok ability I cant see anyone but Liuzzi in that 2nd seat.

Narain mentioned how much Liuzzi brought to the front end of the car in 1 test session, I think that sums it all up!