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[Jabberwocky]

The FXX-K is a beast

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[sagi58]

The FXX-K is a beast

Here's hoping the SF15-T is, too!!

[darwin dali]

We'll find out soon enough

[sagi58]

Pretty nervous, right now!!

[sagi58]

 wrote:">Many similarities between Vettel and Schumacher - Arrivabene

The true 2015 pecking order will still not become clear at this week's Barcelona test. That is the view of new Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene, after the Italian team surprisingly topped the times at the first test of the winter at Jerez.

Now, the sport is setting up at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, where the final two tests before Melbourne will take place. "Obviously the most important test will be the last one," Arrivabene told the blog of Ferrari insider Leo Turrini.

"The simple reason is that it is only then that teams must throw away their masks and show their cards for Melbourne," he predicted. "Mercedes was hiding at Jerez," said Arrivabene, "and you must always expect positive surprises from Honda."

So he said not much can be read into Ferrari's chart-topping Jerez pace. "No one can sell smoke, even if I have worked in tobacco for a living," the former Marlboro executive laughed. "I have big dreams but also feet planted in the ground. I say to our fans to believe in the effort we are making, bearing in mind the situation in which we began."

But he said the atmosphere at Maranello is now totally different, due in part to the arrival of Sebastian Vettel from Red Bull. "I was around in Michael (Schumacher)'s time," said Arrivabene, "and I confess that there are times when I look at Vettel and, in some ways, it really seems like a carbon copy of Schumi! There are impressive similarities," he added, "for those who have known both. We all hope that the results are the same as well."

[sagi58]

 wrote:">Vettel must be faster than Raikkonen in 2015 - Coulthard

Sebastian Vettel must beat friend and new Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen in 2015. That is the claim of former F1 driver David Coulthard, who fears the quadruple world champion cannot afford to lose another internal battle this year.

In 2014, Vettel was humbled by Red Bull newcomer Daniel Ricciardo, amid the German's struggle to adapt to and enjoy the new turbo V6 era and his eventual decision to switch to Ferrari for 2015. Now, he is paired at the fabled Maranello team with his friend and Finn Raikkonen, who also notably struggled in 2014.

Coulthard told Germany's Sport Bild that Vettel cannot afford to be beaten again. "He needs to be faster," the Scot said. "If he's not, frankly: it's his career (in jeopardy)," said Coulthard.

In total contrast, Australian Ricciardo's career is cresting a wave at present, as he rides the perception that he is better than Vettel at adapting to a car. "So far," he confirmed to Brazil's Totalrace, "I have managed to adapt to any car that I have driven. Maybe because I like new challenges. I don't know what the limit is," Ricciardo added. "I don't know if it would work with a rally car, but at least in single seaters, I've managed to adapt."

Ricciardo demonstrated his apparent adaptability in style last week, when he smashed Lewis Hamilton's track record in the Suzuki Liani during an appearance on the popular British motoring show Top Gear. "Absolutely staggering," the BBC programme's host Jeremy Clarkson told the F1 star. "How did you do that?"

[sagi58]

 wrote:">Vettel: "I'm Sebastian, not Michael Schumacher"

Sebastian Vettel has denied he is a "carbon-copy" of fellow German and F1 legend Michael Schumacher. Earlier this week, new Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene hailed the arrival at Maranello of Red Bull's quadruple world champion.

"I was around in Michael (Schumacher)'s time," the former Marlboro executive told Leo Turrini's blog, "and I confess that there are times when I look at Vettel and, in some ways, it really seems like a carbon copy of Schumi!" Vettel, however, reacted to Sport Bild: "It is almost impossible to compare any driver to Michael. What Michael achieved was unique -- he played in his own league."

Ferrari insiders, however, insist that 27-year-old Vettel has adopted a Schumacher-like disposition at the fabled team, as he stalks the paddock analytically taking notes. "It is always very special to be compared to Michael," he acknowledged. "And I'm also happy that I have been so warmly welcomed by everyone at Ferrari. Still, I'm Sebastian, not Michael, and I must and will go my own way," Vettel insisted. "I also think today is a very different time to Michael's."

But the early signs are positive, as Ferrari has begun yet another test week with impressive pace from the new SF15-T car. "The first impression at the tests has been good," Vettel agreed, "but we need to keep the ball nice and flat. I know how much work we still have ahead of us. Ferrari is a team that is changing and it will be a while until everyone feels comfortable in their new roles. Including me," he said.

[sagi58]

 wrote:">Ferrari improving 'day by day' - Vettel

Sebastian Vettel is unconcerned by his drop down the timesheets in Barcelona on Saturday as he continues to be impressed by the reliability and performance of his Ferrari.

Vettel finished fifth on Saturday, the lowest he or Kimi Raikkonen have finished in a test session all winter, but still accumulated 105 laps.

When asked if the performance is improving, Vettel said: "A little bit. We have to go day by day, it's difficult to say because today was quite cold. Maybe not as good as the days before but then again it's the same for everyone. The most important thing is the car continues to run and without any big problems. For sure there are a little things here and there to work on but it's about really understanding the car and making the right adjustments for the final test and Melbourne as well."

Like the rest of the grid Ferrari expected heavier rain but Vettel said Ferrari had another fruitful day.

"We could do more laps than expected because it didn't rain too much. We didn't really change much on the car. We continued to do a lot of laps and continue to work on reliability, continue to do a lot of laps. In terms of performance, this test is to keep understanding the car, keep putting mileage on it and find the problems."

Vettel's day started with a spin into the gravel trap just four corners into his first lap, something he puts down to over-enthusiasm and the damp conditions. "I was probably not wide awake! It was very crisp this morning, quite cold, and I wanted to see how cold it was and went a little bit too aggressive and just spun. It was my mistake so it was up to me to try and help the team as much as I can, taking some of the gravel out of the car."

[sagi58]

 wrote:">We can certainly hope to be on the podium - Vettel

Sebastian Vettel says he has arrived at Ferrari with the passion the most fabled name in formula one deserves. "Many things have changed" at the Maranello team, the former Red Bull driver and German told the Italian broadcaster Rai. "Even a driver," he smiled.

Indeed, it was rare to see the former quadruple world champion smile at all last year, as his ex-boss Christian Horner revealed the 27-year-old even contemplated quitting the sport amid the sport's switch to V6 power. Vettel is a much bigger fan of the F1 of Michael Schumacher's day, when the cars were loud and powerful and hard to drive.

He admitted he liked the look of Ferrari's computer-designed 'concept car'. "Very cool," said Vettel. "I think if you add to the picture a lot of power, it would be good to get back to where we were ten years ago. From the driver's perspective that would be really great," he admitted.

But for now, Vettel has re-kindled his smile and motivation by entering the passionate world created by the great Enzo Ferrari. "For me it's a dream to be part of this team," he confirmed. "I am very happy to be here but it is obvious that the key for everyone is to win, and that's my ambition as well."

Vettel said winning at Monaco in a red car is one target in his mind, while "I don't even dream of a victory at Monza," he beamed. He joins new boss Maurizio Arrivabene, however, in not declaring Ferrari the 'winter world champion' based on the new SF15-T's promising test form.

"We have a good car to work with," said Vettel, "but we cannot think anything more than that. If you race to win you need to be in a position to beat Mercedes, but I think we can certainly hope to be back on the podium soon," he insisted.

Finally, Vettel confirmed he is in yet another race -- to perfect his grasp of the Italian language. "I am making progress," he smiled again. "I am doing quite well in terms of understanding, but my vocabulary is still quite lacking."

[sagi58]

pssst... the title of this article is a bit misleading...

 wrote:">Vettel wouldn't mind paying a fine for helmet change

Sebastian Vettel has admitted he might ignore F1's new ban on helmet livery changes. Reports have indicated the German has made about 60 livery changes since debuting in formula one.

But it has also been a growing trend among Vettel's peers as well, moving Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt to clamp down on the practice and limit each driver to a single design for the entire season from 2015. "I was going to do it a little less this year anyway," international media reports quote Vettel, who has switched from Red Bull to Ferrari, as saying.

So far in 2015, the 27-year-old - who admitted to causing his spin in the new SF15-T on Saturday - has worn a mainly white design with a German tricolour. It is not yet clear what penalties await those who infringe the new ban.

"In these difficult times," Vettel said, "this (livery ban) seems to be the only thing they can agree on. I don't know what the punishment will be," he added, "but if it is only a small fine for charitable purposes, then I will gladly change my helmet again."

[sagi58]

Class!!

 wrote:">Vettel not put off by Ferrari 'teething problems'

...Vettel was on track behind Fernando Alonso when the McLaren driver veered off the track and crashed into the barrier. Alonso is being kept in hospital overnight as a precaution but was uninjured in the accident.

"I'd like to wish Fernando a quick recovery," Vettel said. "Luckily, we have already received some good news, so I hope he we'll be back in top form at next week's test."

[sagi58]

 wrote:">Sebastian Vettel Q&A: Ferrari should be a perfect fit

28 Feb 2015

Fourth in the Barcelona test times on Friday, with almost 150 laps on the board - it looks like the combination of Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari is starting to gel. But how does the four-time world champion feel he is settling into his new home? Here’s what he had to say after his latest session in the SF15-T…

Q: Sebastian, 143 laps in one day - that looked like a pretty good workload for a test day...
Sebastian Vettel: Yes, it was - and I am really happy with how well it went. No issues, no problems, nothing broken. Sometimes the red flags interfered a bit with our running plan, but overall a pretty good day. What we will read out of that day? We will have to analyse it. Of course the time Nico (Rosberg) did was a stunner, but in reality it was clear that they would be at the front as nobody loses the gap that they had in 2014 in the blink of an eye.

Q: What were your laps like on the soft tyres?
SV: To be honest I was pretty happy with them. Nowhere near compared to the lap times Nico did, but that was at a different point in the day with a set-up that was different. All in all I’ve got into the groove well and had a couple of decent runs and no issues to get the tyres up to temperature. Even on the hard compounds later on it was fine. If you are able to do that amount of laps you develop a pretty good feeling that things are moving in the right direction.

Q: How comfortable do you feel now?
SV: Of course we would all like to have more time in the car, doing more mileage, getting better prepared - but this is what we have and it’s the same for all of us. I feel that we are in good shape, even though there are things that have to be addressed before Melbourne. Be assured that we are working very hard on it. Our main focus is to get quicker - but that is the aim of every team here! (laughs) And to answer the question: I feel very well. The tests so far have contributed a lot to that feeling. Of course things take time, as growing into a team that works a bit differently requires that - even though every single team member is trying to make it as easy for me as possible.

Q: Your day looked rather flawless - was it really that easy? Where are little glitches still hiding?
SV: Ha, if I tell this they would probably give me a piece of their mind! (laughs) One thing is for sure: you definitely want to do well at the first race, but you also want to finish that first race - and in that mould we are working.

Q: Would you say that the combination of you and Ferrari will be competitive from the very first race?
SV: I would say that the path to the very top right now still leads via Mercedes and it is our aim not only to draw level with them but to surpass them - and that is a very ambitious goal. But let’s stick to the moment: it is much too early to make any statement on how things will develop. We simply haven’t seen enough yet to stick the head out. Starting the season well is the aim right now - and then let’s take it from there.

Q: Does joining Ferrari mean some kind of matriculation examination for you?
SV: I leave this answer to the outside world. The change felt right for me - and it gives me a lot of joy. In many ways you could say that it is a dream come true - but dream is a rather immaterial term. But my ambition is to be right there at the top again - not only for me but also in terms of the team. In this respect we should make a perfect fit.

[sagi58]

Sebastian visits Santander Germany



Moenchengladbach, 5 March –

It’s always nice to go back to one’s home country, even if it’s just for a few hours. That’s what Sebastian Vettel must have thought, when he visited the Moenchengladbach offices of the Santander Bank, a Scuderia Ferrari sponsor.

In Germany, the driver met local representatives of the bank, their business partners and workforce, who gave Sebastian a very enthusiastic welcome, prior to the start of the Formula 1 championship, which gets underway next week in Australia.

The Ferrari man also met up with students who had built their own race car for a schools competition. After the visit, Sebastian met with some journalists and repeated just how keen and ready he is to take on this new challenge with the Ferrari family and its partners.

[sagi58]

Vettel begins 2015 with big ambitions at Ferrari


Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel enters the new Formula One season in the unusual position of being the outsider. This time, the Ferrari driver is doing the chasing -- behind the Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Vettel used to be the man to beat, winning the title four years in a row with Red Bull. But Mercedes ended that dominance in crushing style last year and Vettel -- who seemed isolated and despondent throughout the season -- made the switch to Ferrari.

"The change felt right for me and it gives me a lot of joy," Vettel said. "My ambition is to be right there at the top again, not only for me but also in terms of the team. In this respect, we should make a perfect fit."

The German also gets the chance to emulate his childhood idol, seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, who won the vast majority of his titles and his 91 wins with Ferrari.

The 27-year-old Vettel, who has 39 wins and 45 pole positions, clearly needed to get away from Red Bull.

Vettel finished a dismal fifth in the drivers' standings, with no wins and just four podium places. The gap between him and Hamilton was a mammoth 217 points. Worse still, he was usurped by his junior teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, who finished third and won three races.

The timing seemed just right for Ferrari, too, which needed a change following two seasons of tensions with Fernando Alonso.

Pre-season testing has been like a fresh start.

"I feel very well. The tests so far have contributed a lot to that feeling," Vettel said. "Of course things take time, as growing into a team that works a bit differently requires that."

The positive tone was set at the first testing session in Jerez, with Vettel and teammate Kimi Raikkonen claiming the fastest time on three of the four test days as Ferrari announced its comeback in style.

Overall, a reinvigorated Vettel completed more than 600 laps over the three winter testing sessions and Ferrari showed glimpses that it can challenge Mercedes for speed. Over the 12 days of testing, Ferrari completed 1,182 laps -- the fourth most mileage of any team -- and the second most by power unit behind Mercedes.

"The path to the very top right now still leads via Mercedes and it is our aim not only to draw level with them but to surpass them," Vettel said. "That is a very ambitious goal.".........

[sagi58]

Vettel is legitimate heir of Schumacher - Villeneuve

Sebastian Vettel made the right choice in deciding to leave Red Bull for Ferrari. That is the view of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who said it became clear last year that despite winning four titles with the energy drink marque, the Vettel era at Red Bull was over.

"There was this young guy now with a big smile," said the Canadian, referring to Daniel Ricciardo, "and everyone knew -- that's the future of Red Bull. "At 27, he (Vettel) was in Red Bull's view a grandfather. Sebastian also felt that, which is why he needed to change," Villeneuve told Sport Bild. "After five years in a team you have finished learning, but now at Ferrari he's like a newcomer again."

Villeneuve, whose legendary late father Gilles was also a beloved Ferrari driver, also thinks Vettel and the fabled Maranello team is a perfect fit. "His attitude is reminiscent of Michael Schumacher," said the former Williams and BAR driver, "and that's why the Italians will love him. And that's important at Ferrari, otherwise the pressure can quickly become overpowering. But he comes as the saviour of the team, like the Messiah, and is the legitimate heir of Schumacher," added Villeneuve.

However, while Ferrari's 2015 car has appeared good so far, new president Sergio Marchionne warned that it may be as late as 2018 before a title is ready to be won. "Of course I want to be world champion before that," Vettel said on a visit to his native Germany on Thursday.

"And I absolutely believe in that, otherwise I would not have taken the plunge. I am very encouraged by what I have seen so far, but with so many changes in the team it does take some time. The sooner the better," he smiled.