Hungarian F1 Grand Prix 2011: Race Preview Feature - The V8 Centenary (MGP)

The 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix will be a race of anniversaries, including 100 Grands Prix for MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver Nico Rosberg and 200 for the Mercedes-powered 2009 World Champion Jenson Button. But it will also mark a technological milestone for the sport, as the 2.4 litre V8 engine, competes in its 100th race. Here’s a summary of what the engine has achieved since its very first appearance at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix…


What has been the history of the 2.4 litre V8 engine since it was introduced in 2006?
Although the engine architecture and capacity has remained the same for the past five and a half seasons, the V8 engine has been operated under a wide variety of regulations. In 2006, development was free, although the engine had to last for two race weekends. For 2007, the engine was homologated (the start of the ‘frozen’ era) and had to last for two race weekends only including Saturday and Sunday - teams were free to use a different engine on Friday, to encourage them to run during practice, and ran to a maximum rev limit of 19,000 rpm. These rules remained in force for the 2008 season. Since the start of 2009, each driver has been able to call on a pool of eight engines for the entire season, and the maximum engine speed has been fixed at 18,000 rpm. In both the 2009 and 2011 seasons, the engine was also adapted to incorporate the KERS hybrid system.

What are the basic specifications of the engine?
The 2011 engine is codenamed FO108Y and is designed and developed by Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines in Brixworth, UK. It has a maximum capacity of 2.4 litres, while its architecture is fixed at eight cylinders in a ‘V’ configuration, with a bank angle of 90 degrees. The engine’s minimum weight is fixed by regulation at 95 kg, and it develops over 750 bhp.

How much mileage does the V8 engine now do?
Since the start of the 2006 season, the Mercedes-Benz V8 engine has completed a total of 102,427 race kilometres – 89% of the possible total. Under the 2006 rules, each individual engine had a life of around 1,000 km, while each engine now completes approximately 2,000 km.

How many wins has the Mercedes-Benz V8 engine taken?
The most successful season for the engine was in 2009, when it took a total of 10 race wins (59% of the season total), 10 pole positions and five fastest laps – as well as both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. The least successful season was in 2006, when the engine won no races. Since the engine was homologated for the start of the 2007 season, it has taken a total of 32 wins from 81 races - a winning percentage of 40%.

What other statistics has the engine accumulated?
In its 99 races so far, the engine has achieved 30 pole positions, 25 fastest laps and a total of 94 podium finishes with four teams - MERCEDES GP PETRONAS, McLaren-Mercedes, Brawn GP and Force India.

Has the engine achieved any particular milestones?
The Mercedes-Benz V8 was the first engine to score three race wins with one engine: in 2009, Jenson Button used engine FW049-01 to win races in Bahrain, Spain and Monaco. The unit went on to be used for Friday practice in Germany and Hungary, accumulating a total of 2,016 km. It also scored two pole positions (Spain and Monaco) and spent 72% of its racing laps in the lead. In the same season, engine FW058-01, used by Lewis Hamilton, also became the first hybrid-equipped engine in Formula One history to win a race, at the Hungarian Grand Prix.










* Official photos and details courtesy of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS *

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Hungarian F1 Grand Prix 2011: Preview (MGP)

The third of the 2011 season’s four sets of back-to-back races continues this weekend in Budapest with Round 11 of the Formula One World Championship, the Hungarian Grand Prix, taking place at the Hungaroring.


• The Hungarian Grand Prix will be the 100th race for the Mercedes 2.4 litre V8 engine.
• The Hungarian Grand Prix has been won from pole position just once in the past five years (Hamilton in 2007).
• Ten of the Hungaroring’s14 corners are taken at 155 kph or below.
• The average lap speed of 196 kph is the lowest of any permanent circuit on the calendar.

Michael Schumacher
“We have had two home races in a row now, and Hungary too feels like it is linked with me in a way. I will obviously never forget that I won one of my world titles there, and I always enjoyed the support of a lot of fans travelling to Budapest. Ideally we can help them enjoy their weekend, and I am hopeful we can as we have seen some progress lately with our car. I am impressed with the effort the team and the guys back in England are constantly putting into it and it is good to see developments. I am looking forward to travelling there.”

Nico Rosberg
“Hungary will be my 100th Grand Prix which seems crazy when my father completed 114 races over his whole career. It’s a nice number but statistics aren’t that important to me. I’m looking forward to the weekend in Budapest as I like the Hungaroring very much, and I’m hoping for a better time than in 2010 when unfortunately I didn’t finish the race. We need to work on our race set-up to see what improvements we can make as the car that I had in qualifying in Germany was better than the one that I had in the race. I’m sure we can do it and take another small step forward.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal
“An extremely busy few weeks for the team come to a conclusion with the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest next weekend, before the well-deserved break of the summer shutdown gives the opportunity to recharge the batteries. The Hungaroring is renowned for being a technically challenging track and it will be very useful for us to gain further experience of our latest developments there. It’s not a track where overtaking has been easy in the past, so it will be interesting to see how the combined effect of DRS and KERS improves the possibilities this year. Our recent performances in Silverstone and Germany have been encouraging, although the pace is still not there to compete with the front-running teams, and we will keep working hard to continue to find improvements.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
“The Hungarian GP can be described as a medium-speed challenge, with 40 per cent of the lap spent in corners at or below 150 kph. The 70-lap race is long and demanding, and usually held in very hot conditions – which would make a pleasant change after the past two race weekends! Our aim in Budapest will be to take some positive momentum into the summer break. The Hungarian Grand Prix will also mark the 100th race for the Mercedes-Benz 2.4 litre V8 engine since its introduction at the start of 2006: in the 99 races so far, our V8 has taken a total of 32 wins.”

* Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS *

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

PREVIEW: Mercedes-Benz aims at BMW X6 with the new MLC

Guns are firmly pointed towards the Bavarian company and Mercedes-Benz is clearly stating its determined message to catch up the lost time. Starting with 2014, a new model will enter the Star's lineup: the MLC will reportedly be marketed as a SUV coupe, the first of its kind in the history of Mercedes-Benz. The new 4x4 vehicle will use the powertrain of the new M-Class, but don't expect eminent offroad capabilities, because the MLC will be street-oriented. The design team led by Prof. Gorden Wagener are met with a difficult challenge: creating the most beautiful coupe aura on a high-sitting car and visually emphasizing the dynamical potency of the future MLC. Don't be fooled by the funny rendition posted above - looks far from promising, we say. Sticking to basics, most probably, Mercedes-Benz will be kind enough to release a concept car serving as a preview sometime ahead of the official unveiling of the serial production car. Oh boy, things are really heating up...

Related articles:
- PREVIEW - 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLC
- PREVIEW: A new Mercedes-Benz SUV concept in the pipeline - the GLS

Photo: Autobild


Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

PREVIEW: A technical look into the new Mercedes-Benz B-Class

This sort of photos is quickly becoming a tradition for Mercedes-Benz in advance of the official presentation of a new model. After the SLS and the SLK got previewed in the same way, it's time we saw a bit of the upcoming B-Class. And that's exactly what happened a few days ago when a set of teasers and technical images were leaked onto the web. Among the photos we found two darkened studio shots which only reveal the basic shape of the new compact MPV. The rest showcase either the construction of the body structure, made up of various materials divided into specific panels, or certain components such as the steering column or the front axle. One photo reveals the multitude of safety and assistance systems the new B-Class will feature: Collision Prevention Assist, DISTRONIC PLUS, Speed Limit Assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, ATTENTION ASSIST, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist, PRE-SAFE, Active Parking Assist, Torque Vectoring Brake, a rich list of airbags (thorax, pelvis and kneebags in addition to the conventional ones) and many other clever solutions to make your life easier whilst driving.
















Photo Source: Mercedes Fans

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

British F1 Grand Prix 2011: Preview (VMM)

It’s the beginning of July and we’re just a few days off heading to our home race – the Santander British Grand Prix. There’s much to look forward to, with a new pit and paddock complex and a new starting position for our drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.


Lewis has fond memories of racing at Silverstone – he won the race the year he won his World Drivers’ Championship and is looking to add another home win to his tally if possible.

He said: “My victory at Silverstone in 2008 was one of the sweetest and most satisfying moments of my entire Formula 1 career – and it’s a memory that I always carry with me. Standing on the top step of the podium, and looking across at the sea of flags and faces in the grandstands opposite was simply incredible.

“For this year, of course, we head to a very new Silverstone – and while much has changed around the circuit and in the paddock, I’m sure that all those thousands of fans will be just as passionate as ever – it’s one of the greatest things about the Santander British Grand Prix.

“Going into this race, we’re facing some very stiff new interpretations of the regulations; while they’ll affect all teams, it will be interesting to see if the competitive order is changed as a result. It’s going to be a busy weekend for our engineers as they adapt – as always, they’ll do a fantastic job to ensure we stay competitive.

“I’m really looking forward to Silverstone: it’s one of the best circuits in the world, and I really think that the arrival of DRS and KERS Hybrid will make this one of the best and most exciting British Grands Prix ever.”

Jenson is eager to improve on his career best fourth place finish at the circuit and admits it would mean everything to win in front of his home fans, which in his eyes are some of the greatest in the world.

He said: “My best finish at Silverstone is fourth, which I earned in 2004 and last year, after a great charge through the field after a disappointing performance in qualifying. Although it’s a place that’s not been too kind to me, I’m really looking forward to this year’s race: we raced on the new layout last year, but this will be the first time we’ve experienced the new circuit as it’s really meant to be.

“With a new startline, a new first corner and an all-new pit and paddock complex, the new facilities should be fantastic, and I think they’ll confirm Silverstone as one of the best circuits in the world. Still, it’s going to be strange sitting on the grid with the prospect of going flat into Abbey as the first corner!

“As always, we’ll see once again that the British fans are some of the most passionate, knowledgeable and loyal in the whole world. It would mean everything to me to be able to win my home grand prix – that would be my dream come true. Whatever happens, it will be a great weekend.”

Martin Whitmarsh believes the recently constructed new pit and paddock complex at the circuit will help cement Silverstone’s place as the home of British motor racing. He’s also keen to see if mid-season rule changes will shake up the competitive order.

He said: “This will be an exciting time for teams and fans alike as we head to an all-new Silverstone for the Santander British Grand Prix. Silverstone has been the spiritual home of Formula 1 in Great Britain since the birth of the world championship back in 1950, and it’s hugely rewarding to see that, not only has the circuit gone from strength to strength, but that it’s still leading the way.

“The new track layout, which we raced for the first time last year, and the superb new pit and paddock facilities, will confirm Silverstone as one of the greatest racetracks in the world and cement it as the home of British motor racing.

“This weekend will also be exciting for different reasons, with new restrictions placed on off-throttle exhaust blowing and the anticipated effect that may have on the competitive order. As always, our engineers have been committed and resourceful in managing this mid-season change, and I’m optimistic that we’ll remain competitive and will hopefully be able to provide the many thousands of home fans with a good result next weekend.

“It’s important that grand prix racing continues to change while simultaneously respecting its past: I think the advent of a new rules package at Formula 1’s spiritual home is the perfect reflection of a sport that has managed to capture and thrill generations throughout the ages.

“As our home race, I sincerely hope this will be a great Santander British Grand Prix!”

* Official photo and details courtesy of VODAFONE MCLAREN MERCEDES *

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

British F1 Grand Prix 2011: Preview (MGP)

The British Grand Prix, the first of two home races for MERCEDES GP PETRONAS, takes place at Silverstone on Sunday 10 July. Located just eight miles from the team’s factory in Brackley, and 20 miles from Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines in Brixworth, Silverstone will be Round Nine of the 2011 Formula One World Championship.


• At 5.891 km, Silverstone is the second longest circuit on the current Formula One calendar.
• The current Silverstone layout is 1.24 km and 27% longer than the original first used for Formula One in 1950.
• DRS can be used for 3.35 km around the lap in qualifying, equivalent to 57% of the lap distance.
• The race has been won from pole position just three times in the last ten years.

Michael Schumacher
“Silverstone is one of our home races where we will be backed by everybody from the factories in Brackley and Brixworth, and therefore we would love to do well and thank them for their hard work. However, with all the changes we have this season, it is difficult for me to judge how the track will suit our car. As always, we will probably only know more after the Friday practice sessions. We are in the process of developing further upgrades and new solutions which I am confident will help us to make a step forward again. The message for all of us is to put our heads down and work our way through, and as we are all sharing this attitude, I am sure we will get there.”

Nico Rosberg
"Silverstone is a very cool track. I’m really looking forward to all the fast corners, especially from Copse through Becketts to Stowe. I finished third last year and I hope to have another good result, especially because so many of the people working at Brackley and Brixworth will be there with their families. This is the first of our two home Grands Prix in July, so I want to give a good performance in front of our people. We will have a few new updates, and I’m curious to see how this will affect my car. Hopefully we can close the gap to the top a little bit.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal
“Silverstone is always a special weekend for our team, with the home of the British Grand Prix being located so close to our factory in Brackley and to Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines in Brixworth. It’s a great opportunity for our staff and their families to see the cars in action so close to home. Having visited the new pit and paddock complex earlier this year, combined with the layout changes implemented in 2010, I believe Silverstone is now really a venue to be proud of. We are very much looking forward to competing there next weekend. We have been working very hard on developments for the car to improve our competitive position, and I would like to take the opportunity to thank the team for the commitment they have shown. We look forward to having a positive weekend at one of our home races.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
“As one of the original rounds of the Formula One calendar since 1950, the British Grand Prix is a true classic race. The circuit at Silverstone has moved with the times and, after a new layout last year, 2011 will see the start-finish line move to its third location in the circuit’s history, as well as the introduction of a modern pits complex. In spite of these changes, though, the circuit has retained its essential high-speed character and the drivers universally love it. In dry conditions, 11 corners are taken above 200 kph while during the impressive sequence between Copse and Stowe, the cars never drop below 195 kph. It is a circuit that rewards efficient aerodynamic performance, while slow speed grip is also important through the new section of the circuit, making this a wide-ranging challenge for the car. Looking to our team’s performance, we know that we are currently not in a position to challenge the top three teams in Valencia and we cannot expect that situation to turn around at Silverstone. However, a lot of hard work is being done to improve our technical package and we all will focus on achieving a decent result.”

* Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS *

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Canadian F1 Grand Prix 2011: Race Preview Feature - Brakes in Canada

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart/Brackley, Germany/United Kingdom, Jun 07, 2011

It may sound counter-intuitive but being quick in Formula One isn’t just about going fast - stopping well is also a major part of the equation. Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve features seven braking events in all, of which six are considered to be ‘heavy’ and four involve braking from over 295 kph. It amounts to one of the toughest circuits of the year for the brakes. Getting the braking system right for Montreal involves fitting revised air ducts to optimise the cooling, and using different materials to ensure consistent performance for each one of the race’s 70 laps. It’s no small challenge…


How severe a test is Montreal for the brakes?
The energy input to the brakes is roughly double that measured in Spa. At both circuits, the drivers spend around 15 seconds of the total lap time braking; in Montreal this accounts for 20% of the lap spent on the brakes, while in Spa it only represents 14%.

Where is the heaviest braking event on the circuit?
The biggest single braking event comes at Turn 10, where the cars must slow from 295 kph to just 60 kph for the corner apex. The cars shed 235 kph in a distance of just 140m. When deceleration is at its greatest, the drivers are subjected to peak forces of some 5.5G.

How hard are the drivers working in the cockpit under braking?
The force the drivers exert on the pedal is approximately 2000 newtons – that’s equivalent to lifting 200 kg. The theoretical stopping distance of a Formula One car from 300 kph to zero is approximately 135 metres in a straight line, but varies according to drag levels and tyre grip.

What temperatures do the brakes reach?
Peak temperatures during a braking event don’t occur when maximum force is applied, but later during the braking phase owing to heat transfer rates. The discs can reach up to 1000°C while caliper temperatures stabilise at around 200°C.

What parts of the braking system are altered for a heavy braking circuit like Montreal?
The thickness and diameter of the brake discs is limited by the regulations to 28mm and 278mm respectively. The brake material – the type of carbon disc and pad – is changed between high and low severity circuits to provide the necessary durability. Large brake ducts are used in order to achieve adequate cooling; these large ducts cost around 0.2s compared to the smallest versions run during the year.

What is a typical brake balance at Montreal?
A typical figure is a front to rear brake force distribution of approximately 55% front/45% rear. However, this changes with KERS, which provides significant torque to the rear axle under braking. This means the drivers must run the brake balance even further forward to prevent the rear tyres from locking.

How will the DRS zones, and the resultant higher straightline speeds, affect the braking demands?
Braking energy inputs will be slightly increased when the DRS is activated. However, this will be highly dependent on how often it is activated during the race, and with what fuel load. Its impact will be greater on higher fuel loads.

* Official photo and report courtesy of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS *

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Monaco F1 Grand Prix 2011: Preview (VMM)

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Woking, United Kingdom, May 24, 2011

It’s a quick turnaround for us at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes this week, with just four days between the chequered flag dropping in Barcelona and cars powering onto the Armco-lined streets of Monaco during Thursday practice for Sunday’s Grand Prix.


Lewis Hamilton is eager to return to a circuit he won at in 2008 and considers one of its favourites. He said: “I love Monaco, it’s a race I remember watching when I was a kid and it’s a place that really showcases Formula 1 at its very best: racing flat-out against around the toughest and greatest circuit in the world.

“After such a strong showing in Spain, I’m really looking forward to Monaco this year because I think we’ll see a different race from previous years. I think a combination of DRS, KERS Hybrid and the tyres will really make the racing come alive, and I’d love to see some overtaking action and some hard racing this year.

“I think the DRS zone at Monaco is only around 300 metres, so it’s pretty short, and not really long enough to enable us to really get enough of a launch on the car ahead. I think the aerodynamics will only really start working properly once we’ve reached the braking zone for Ste Devote, so I don’t think we’ll see too many DRS-assisted overtaking moves next weekend.

“However, I think the tyres will probably give us the greatest scope for excitement and the best chance of passing. While I don’t think the Super-Soft and Soft compounds will be as critical around Monaco as they were at a place like Turkey, I still think the drop-off we encounter as the tyres go off should create opportunities for overtaking. And I don’t think the marbles will be as bad as people fear, because they tend to occur at the exits of high-speed corners, and Monaco is generally quite a low-speed track, so I don’t think we’ll see the build-up that we saw at somewhere like Turkey’s Turn Eight, for example.

“I’m already looking forward to it.”

Jenson Button thinks adjusting to the confines of Monaco after a fast circuit is challenging but very rewarding once mastered. He said:

“Monaco is the most glamorous and historic race on the calendar. Winning there [in 2009] was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, and it remains one of my favourite grand prix victories.

“It’s always a strange contrast going from a circuit like Barcelona, which is fast, open and flowing, then arriving a few days later at Monaco – which is the slowest, tightest and toughest track on the calendar.

“On your first lap out of the pits, the acceleration just feels incredible and the barriers feel far too close! But you build up a little more gradually than you would at any other circuit, and you quickly find your focus. Still, it’s an intense and slightly unbelievable feeling.

“There’s been some suggestion that KERS Hybrid might not provide a useful lap time benefit around Monaco, because you might think you couldn’t really exploit it to give you a boost onto a straight. But our simulations suggest that it’s worth as much at Monaco as it is pretty much anywhere else, which is another positive because I think that the Mercedes-Benz unit is the best in Formula 1.

Martin Whitmarsh is mindful of the team’s unmatched success on the unforgiving street circuit, and is keen for Lewis and Jenson to add to its record. He said: “Both our drivers have won the Monaco Grand Prix, and McLaren has an enviable record around the streets of the principality – we’ve won the race on 15 occasions which is more than any other team – and we go into next weekend aiming to make it 16!

“Our Barcelona race pace, in particular our sector three times, looked very respectable indeed last weekend – and hopefully that will give us a good idea of what to expect at Monaco, because it’s a slow, stop-start section of the track. I think one of the strengths of the MP4-26 is its low-speed grip and traction, so I think we should be in good shape from the start of the weekend.

“Additionally, I don’t think the deployment of driver-operated tools like the DRS and KERS Hybrid will affect the concentration of our drivers. One of the many strengths of having two strong drivers is that they are both gifted enough to be able to deal with those added complexities within the cockpit without it affecting their performance.

“Let’s hope we can put on a showcase race at Formula 1’s showcase event.”

* Official photo and details courtesy of VODAFONE MCLAREN MERCEDES *

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Monaco F1 Grand Prix 2011: Race Preview Feature - Working the wheel in Monaco

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart/Brackley, Germany/United Kingdom, May 24, 2011

In times past, Formula One drivers negotiated the Circuit de Monaco practically one-handed, their right palms rubbed raw by the thousands of gear changes required during up to 100 laps of the tortuous track in the Principality. Today’s drivers may have a slightly easier time of it, in that they can at least keep both hands on the wheel, but those hands are also significantly busier in 2011. The modern Formula One steering wheel also fulfils the function of dashboard, gear lever and clutch pedal, and the drivers have up to 32 individual controls that can be adjusted. With the increased in-cockpit workload for 2011 generated by KERS and the DRS, Monaco will present an even greater challenge for the drivers aiming to extract every last ounce of performance.


We are used to seeing the drivers’ hands as a blur in Monaco as they make constant corrections to the car. How many steering inputs are made per lap?
The steering wheel is in almost constant motion in Monaco – from major steering inputs for tight corners to the tiny corrections that they are making all the time. At the hairpin, for example, the wheel is turned through more than 180 degrees, and special front suspension is needed to generate the required turning circle. The circuit comprises 19 numbered corners but the drivers make a significant change to the steering angle approximately 130 times per lap.

How much of the lap is spent with no steering input?
The wheel is relatively centred for around ten seconds per lap – which equates to 13.5 per cent of last year’s pole time.

How has the pole position speed evolved over the past decades?
In 1980, Didier Pironi’s pole lap was set at an average speed of 140.582 kph; last year, Mark Webber did so in 162.869 kph. Pironi’s lap was 14 per cent slower than Webber’s, while even Mika Häkkinen’s 2000 pole speed of 152.651 kph was over six per cent slower.

How many controls are there on the steering wheel?
Including the rotary switches, buttons and paddles, there are approximately 32 individual controls on the wheel – although this can vary from driver to driver according to how certain switch positions are configured. The MERCEDES GP PETRONAS drivers control DRS activation with a foot pedal, rather than from the wheel. In terms of the dashboard display, the team has approximately ten options for displays which include parameters such as car speed, KERS boost or split times. The drivers generally display the available KERS boost to precisely time its deployment, and split times relative to their best lap so far.

Which controls are used most frequently?
By far the most frequently used are the gear change paddles. At Monaco, the average number of gear changes per lap is 55 – which equates to over 4,300 changes over the 78-lap race distance. Next most used is the DRS foot pedal, then the KERS button. The rotary wheels to tune the differential are also in frequent use, but not every lap.

How has the workload in the cockpit changed in 2011 compared to 2010?
On their Monaco qualifying laps in 2010, the drivers made approximately 50 control inputs on the steering wheel. The systems for 2011 have added around 20 inputs per lap, between DRS activation (with the foot) and precisely timed KERS boosts. That represents an increase of up to 40 per cent in the driver’s workload. Similarly, on in- and out-laps, the drivers also have up to ten additional operations to perform including setting engine torque and mixture modes, charging the KERS battery and talking to the engineers on the radio.

For 2011, what will a qualifying lap be like in the cockpit for the drivers?
When one calculates the total number of inputs the driver is likely to have to make, the total is impressive. 130 significant changes of steering direction; 55 gear changes; and up to 20 further inputs for DRS, KERS and any other adjustments. That gives the driver a predicted workload of over 200 different inputs per lap – and that’s before we even consider the balletic dance on the throttle and brake pedals.

* Official photo and report courtesy of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS *

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

F1 Istanbul 2011: Preview (VMM)

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Woking, United Kingdom, May 04, 2011

Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Martin Whitmarsh share their thoughts ahead of the fourth round of the season

We’re just a few days away from the Turkish Grand Prix, and Lewis Hamilton is looking forward to racing at Istanbul Park and the opportunity to build on his Chinese Grand Prix victory. “I won this race last year and Istanbul Park is a circuit I really enjoy,” says Lewis. “It’s a great modern track, with a real variety of corners, plenty of high-speed stuff and a place where you really feel the benefit of having the car properly hooked up beneath you.


“Of course, everyone talks about Turn Eight, which is a fantastic corner, but I also love late-braking into Turns Nine and 12, because you can get the car into the corner while still carrying quite a bit of speed; and getting it right is really satisfying.

“For this race, I think we’ll be seeing drivers working quite hard to look after their tyres throughout the race, particularly in Turn Eight, which is fast and bumpy; it’s one of the most demanding corners for tyres anywhere on the calendar.

“This is also a circuit where KERS Hybrid will be a major benefit – most of the straights come after low-speed corners, so there’s plenty of scope for using the KERS Hybrid – most notably out of Turn 10, but also out of the final corner.

“There’s always quite a big chance for passing into Turn 12, because it’s quite easy to stay with a leading car out of Turn 10 and duck into the tow.

“There’s every reason to believe that the run of interesting and exciting races will continue this weekend.”

Jenson Button thinks managing tyre wear is going to be crucial at the circuit, especially through the multi-apex Turn Eight.

“After the race in China, I think there’ll once again be a lot of focus on tyre durability and drop-off next weekend,” says Jenson. “Looking at the track configuration, our simulations suggest that Turkey will be a critical test for the tyres – particularly the front-right, which will be placed under considerable load through Turn Eight.

“It’s a high-speed, multi-apex turn with a lot of loading, so I think we’ll spend part of Friday monitoring the loads through the tyres to make sure we can achieve a safe and achievable balance for the race before we head into qualifying on Saturday.

“I don’t think it’s an underestimation to say that tyre wear will probably determine every team’s race strategy. It will be important to run the tyre within a safe operating window, and that’s likely to determine when and how often we stop during the grand prix.

“The weather also looks like it’s going to be a bit colder than we’re used to in Turkey – the race is three weeks earlier in the season than it was last year, and that might also have an effect on how the tyre operates. It’s going to be another interesting race.”

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh is well aware of the need to keep developing our car, but feels memories of last year’s one-two finish at the circuit will give the whole team a boost.

“Winning in China,” says Martin, “was a fantastic reward for all the hard effort that’s been undertaken both at the racetrack and the McLaren Technology Centre to turn MP4-26 into a race winner.

“We’re excited and encouraged by the pace and consistency that both drivers have shown in the opening three flyaway races, but the return to Europe brings fresh challenges.

“We’re under no illusions that we need to improve our qualifying and race pace if we are to remain a threat at the front. Additionally, many teams will be readying significant upgrade packages for the Turkish Grand Prix; nobody can afford to sit still.

“For this race, we’ll be evaluating a number of small modifications – which include some aerodynamic refinements to the bodywork – during Friday practice.

“Our pace of development is what can win us this championship, and we go into Turkey determined to ensure our upgrades deliver practical gains and are able to confer a useful margin to both drivers.

“Our one-two finish in Turkey last year was one of our most exciting races – and the memory of that result will doubtless spur on the whole team next weekend.”

* Official photo and details courtesy of VODAFONE MCLAREN MERCEDES *

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Rihanna : The 'Last Girl' in Melbourne

Rihanna's "Last Girl 'in Melbourne-
Rihanna appears on stage at Rod Laver Arena Monday in Melbourne, Australia. The 23-year-old pop star is currently on the Australian part of her last girl on earth tour. Rihanna will also be making stops in Adelaide and Perth! Rihanna's schedule will get even busier in October, when she starts her Loud tour dates in England An eighth London show was recently added due to popular fan demand!

Mila Kunis - Fun Fearless Female of the Year

Mila Kunis Fun Fearless Female of the Year-
Mila Kunis is white hot at Cosmopolitan's Fun Fearless Males of 2011 event Monday at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City. The 27-year-old Black Swan star was named the magazine's Fun Fearless Female of the Year, while Russell Brand took home the male title.During his acceptance speech, Mila regretted feeling in the air. "I'm a little sick,"she shared before admitting that she agreed with Cosmo, since she was 15.







Mila friends with benefits co-star, Justin Timberlake, who recently lowered about shooting sex scenes with her for his comedy out 22 July.

International Balloon Festival at Chateau d'Oex - Switzerland

International Balloon Festival at Chateau d'Oex:-

The International Balloon Festival in the picturesque alpine village of Chateau d'Oex, Switzerland, has been detained for three decades. This 33  years at the Swiss resort of 18 pilots from different countries and about 80 balloons in different sizes, colors and patterns.The International balloon festival in Chateau-d'Oex is an arena for aerostiers from over twenty countries. Nearly one hundred balloons take advantage of the unusual winter climate in the Alps. Skiers can hear the slow breathing of the balloons in various colors the sky above them was the balloon festival initiated by aerodynamic paths His Buck and Charles-André Rams owner, former director of Château-d'Oex tourist. Bucket originally proposed balloon flights for winter visitors. It held in January each year attracts the International Balloon Festival balloons from around the world. The image of colorful balloons against the snowy peaks is unforgettable.


The first International Balloon Festival at Chateau D'Oex, the Swiss held in 1979 and in 33 years ago, the colorful and odd-shaped bags of hot air increased over the white snow-capped mountain peaks in the Alps every winter (although in recent years some lighter on snow). Now the balloon extravaganza normally held the last week of January. Than 80 balloons and 10 specific types of curious shapes, animals in mountain huts, from 18 countries will participate. Daily balloon flights for the week-long festival is accompanied by the air show and aerobatic aircraft, parachute jumping, and demonstrations of the flying wing suits and gliders. Wednesday is Children's Day with special activities for children, costume contests and tethered balloon flights. Friday evening brings spectacular "Night Glow" sound and light show, probably the most popular event of the festival with balloon illuminations, dance music night performance paragliders and fireworks. The Feast Village is open with craft stalls and restaurants, and "Alpine Wave "disco dancing

to 04:00 AM, more balloons through last weekend.

it is a great place to fly because of the configuration of the valleys and weather, especially in winter, leads to very interesting flight. And see the Alps covered with snow from above on a day like today is awesome, "agreed Bristol-based pilot Muir Moffat, who passed his 20 Château-d'Oex festival over the years, the event has grown in size from 12 balloons to today's 100 including a dozen special-shaped balloons, but it has retained the same format and professional, but down-to-earth, convivial atmosphere that is much appreciated by the pilots for the local tourist festival was a very important platform to make it possible to separating this area from its competitors, "says current director, Olivier Bovet.

Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, the festival is the first event of its kind held in the Alps this winter.

Festival highlights include the group launches, special-shaped balloons, night flights and different races. Passenger rides are also available to the public, and there are other events that are specifically put on during the week for families. is around 50 to 60,000 people are expected to attend.This year a record 150 
journalists from 13 countries attendance.Château-d 'Oex headlines in March 1999 when Betrand Piccard and Brian Jones lifted from the resorts to be the first to sail around nonstop around in a balloon.