2014 Formula 1 Report:  USA Edition

Drafting the Circuits

Week 24

Grand Prix                          Date                   Tire Compounds      

Grand Prix of Austria        June 20-22      Supersoft/Soft

British Grand Prix             July 4-6            Medium.Hard

German Grand Prix         July 18-20        Supersoft/Soft

 

Michael Schumacher Update

After months of quiet from the Michael Schumacher camp, it appears that Michael is no longer in a coma and has been moved from the hospital in Grenoble France.

Sabine Kehm, the publicist who has been releasing all of the information for the Schumacher family has the following statement.

“Michael has left the CHU Grenoble to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. “He is not in a coma anymore.”

The seven time Formula 1 champion has been transferred to University Hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“For the future we ask for understanding that his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye,” Kehm said of Schumacher, who turned 45 earlier this year.

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Austrian Grand Prix

Formula 1 settles in Europe for the summer after a quick jaunt to Canada where Daniel Ricciardo took victory for Infiniti Red Bull Racing.

Riccirado has received massive praise from both Christian Horner and Adrian Newey about the way he has approached his first season with Red Bull Racing.

“Daniel has been massively impressive this year,” explained Newey. “He has certainly exceeded all our expectations.

“What I find amazing about him is how calm he is in the car. When he’s on the radio it’s like he’s sitting down with a cup of tea and driving one-handed. It’s quite remarkable.

“He’s very calm, collected, takes everything in his stride, and he’s really enjoying his job.”

This week, Red Bull again takes center stage as the series come to Austria’s Red Bull Ring.  The Red Bull Ring was previously called the A1 ring and before that the Osterreiching.

The Red Bull Ring is one of the shortest track of the season and is expected to have the shortest lap times.  The quick track has plenty of undulation and will be a medium downforce set up.

Few of the drivers have competed at the track and fewer have raced a Formula 1 car here.  Sebastian Vettel gave this account of the upcoming race.

“I have great memories of the Red Bull Ring. I was 13 years old when I first drove around it. I had the chance to test a Formula car from the Auinger family. That is a huge step if you’re coming from a karting background. It was something completely new and it took me a while to get used to it. I’m really happy that we will race there. The circuit is actually very pretty, not only the track, but the whole area. The circuit’s set amid a beautiful natural landscape. There are not many distractions there – it’s just about racing. The Red Bull Ring is a short track, with only a few turns, but it’s very challenging. There are also a lot of elevation changes, which makes it interesting and fun. The fans will have a great time as every grandstand offers a great view of the circuit.”

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New Direction For Formula 1 Suggested?

Luca di Montezemolo has suggested to Bernie Ecclestone and Donald McKenzie to call a meeting to regenerate interest in Formula 1.  Montezemolo comments that the sport has “lost its way” and he is looking to carve a new path to recovery.  He suggest that teams, media, promoters, as well as social media outfits like Google and Apple should be invited to find this new direction.

Montezemolo has offered up the Maranello factory the week before the Italian Grand prix as a meeting place.

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