November 2015 – Page 2 – Wilde Consulting

Formula One: Infiniti Red Bull Racing extends technology partnership with Siemens PLM Software to 2018

In a continued demonstration of their long-term commitment to Formula One Infiniti Red Bull Racing have announced the extension of their partnership with long standing technology partner Siemens for a further 3 years to 2018. Since the team’s inception in 2004, Siemens’ unrivalled NX™ software for digital product design and manufacturing has been integral to realizing the design vision for the car. As well as supplying the team’s primary design tool, Siemens’ product lifecycle management (PLM) software business also provides their industry-leading digital lifecycle management package, Teamcenter® software to manage the rapid and ever-changing workflows through the company from design to manufacture to track.

By using Siemens’ PLM software for design, manufacturing and workflow management as well as its ongoing support and services, the team have been able to achieve superior workflow handling, from the technical office right down to the assembly bays. With hundreds of new parts released for manufacture every week to keep the car development on track, design revision and bill-of-material management have become critical to the efficiency of the factory.

Team Principal, Christian Horner, said: “Siemens have provided a functional foundation for our design department for a number of years now, and their continued partnership has seen us take on more and more of their software to support our business processes. Managing the flow of design change through the company has become an increasing challenge as our capacity to innovate grows, and the PLM software has enabled us do this more effectively. This is another example of Infiniti Red Bull Racing seeking expertise from a class-leading supplier to help us improve our operation.”

Siemens PLM Software, VP EMEA Marketing, Neil Dunsmuir, said: “Infiniti Red Bull Racing continues to represent an ideal partner for Siemens PLM Software; continuously pushing our software’s capabilities in an effort to improve their on-track performance, the team consistently drives to achieve the highest levels of innovation. The partnership, in turn, serves as a unique technical showcase to customers and prospects, and supplies invaluable data and metrics for the development of our PLM solutions for other industries.”
Formula One: Pirelli- Smooth asphalt means low tyre wear and degradation

The 2015 championship concludes at a venue that is very familiar to Pirelli: the spectacular Yas Marina circuit at Abu Dhabi, which has been used for testing and a pre-season launch by the Italian firm, including the world’s first wet-weather test run at night. Due to the smooth asphalt, the two softest tyres in the range will be brought: soft and supersoft, as used at the slowest track on the calendar in Monaco (and at four more grands prix). The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is held from late afternoon into the evening. As a result, track temperatures tend to drop over the course of the race, meaning that the pattern of tyre behaviour is slightly different to normal: another complex variable for teams to factor into their strategy calculations.

Paul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director: “It’s incredible to think that the 2015 season is over already: it seems a lot less than a year since we were at Abu Dhabi for the final race of 2014. With the championships decided the teams can obviously push to the maximum and our tyre choice in Abu Dhabi provides them with an interesting challenge: while the surface is very smooth, the tyres are still pushed quite hard due to the track layout, so tyre management becomes an important part of the strategy, particularly under acceleration in the traction areas, where it is very easy to spin the wheels. This is the same nomination as last year, so we’d probably expect another two-stop race, but track temperatures can be quite variable as the sun goes down and this can clearly have an effect on the tyres and therefore strategy. Just two days after the chequered flag on the 2015 season, we already begin testing for 2016: there will be a dedicated Pirelli tyre test from 9am to 9pm on Tuesday 1 December, with all the teams running one car to test some 2016 constructions and the new ‘ultrasoft’ tyre, which will carry purple markings at next year’s races.”

The biggest challenges for the tyres:
The falling track and air temperatures over the course of the race (which does not start until 5pm) means that the track tends to get faster as the grand prix goes on, a phenomenon that is accentuated by falling fuel loads.

Just like the previous round at Interlagos, the track runs in an anti-clockwise direction at Abu Dhabi: a relatively unusual feature, which can sometimes cause physical problems for the drivers.

The first part of the circuit effectively consists of a series of non-stop bends, which heats up the tyre compound. The compound then gets a chance to cool down on the long straight, with the cars on full throttle for around 15 seconds, with the equivalent of around 800 kilograms of downforce.

Last year’s strategy and how the race was won: A two-stopper was the winning strategy for Lewis Hamilton last year. He started the 55-lap race on the supersoft, before changing to the soft on laps 10 and 31. Then 24 laps later, he became 2014 world champion!

Expected performance gap between the two compounds: 1.0-1.2 seconds per lap.
Formula One: Force India- 150 not out!

Sergio Perez (MEX) Sahara Force India F1 VJM08. Brazilian Grand Prix, Sunday 15th November 2015. Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Sahara Force India Preview the season closing race in Abu Dhabi and celebrate their 150th race in Formula One:

Team Principal, Dr Vijay Mallya, toasts the team’s most successful season ahead of the final race and a special milestone for the team.

VJM: “Heading to Abu Dhabi with fifth place in the championship already secured feels pretty good. It means we can approach the last weekend of the season free from pressure and with nothing to lose. Our focus is simply on enjoying the race and ending the season in style. Abu Dhabi will be a special race for us as it marks the 150th of our history as Force India, and we will aim to celebrate it with a strong performance on the track.

“All season I’ve been saying how proud I am of my team – particularly our development curve in the second half of the season. With 81 points from the last eight races we’ve enjoyed our best ever strike rate and we have been competitive at every race. With stable regulations for 2016, there is every reason to believe we can carry this form through the winter and into the new season. There is plenty to be excited about and a lot of positive energy in the team.

“This weekend’s race is simply another chance to demonstrate how far we have come. Our aim will be to qualify in the top ten and add a final helping of points to our tally.”

Sergio on Abu Dhabi

Sergio Perez savours his best ever season and looks ahead to the final race of the year.

Sergio: “The 2015 season has gone by so quickly, but I have lots of great memories and I’m very proud of what we have achieved. I think it’s probably been my best season in Formula One in terms of results and also the most enjoyable. We have grown a lot during the course of the year and we have had some special days, with a highlight being my podium in Russia and my home race in Mexico.

“I think Abu Dhabi is the perfect place to end the season, especially with a race under the lights. The whole venue is impressive and the track is quite a challenge from a set-up point of view. You need a car that works through the fast corners in the first sector, as well as through the slow final sector, which feels more like a twisty street circuit.

“I think we have the potential for a big result in Abu Dhabi. Things didn’t work out for me in Brazil so I’m determined to get back in the points this weekend and finish this great season on a positive note.”

Nico on Abu Dhabi

Nico Hülkenberg hopes to end the season with another strong performance in Abu Dhabi.

Nico: “The final race of the season is always important because you want to finish the season well and carry the momentum into the winter months. We have already secured fifth in the championship but I want to make sure I end the season in the top ten of the drivers’ championship so there is still a lot to play for.

“Abu Dhabi is a fun place for the season finale: the venue is great and the twilight racing helps create a special atmosphere. As a track, it’s not easy to get a good lap as the layout is very technical, especially in the final sector. It’s quite easy to come into a corner too hot and make a mistake, and finding a good flow is a big challenge.

“Brazil was a very enjoyable weekend for me: the car felt great and we maximised every session to come away with a well-deserved result. I think we can realistically aim for a similar performance this weekend. It’s been a great year for everyone in the team and we deserve to finish on a high.”
Formula One: The Fastest Show on Earth

The Fastest Show on Earth – The Ultimate Guide to the World of Formula One.

I like to think of myself as fairly knowledgeable when it comes to Formula One, or at least I did, after reading this book I have to say I feel humbled. The subheading of ‘The Fastest Show on Earth’ refers to the book as Mammoth, and believe me, this is an understatement! With over 600 pages of content no matter how much you think you know about F1 this book will teach you something new!

Do you know the complete history of every team on the F1 grid? Can you summarise their performance in each and every year they’ve participated in the world championship? This coupled with a tidy ‘teams in their own words ‘section is a fantastic tool to brush up on your team knowledge and build a greater understanding of the history of the sport.

In the Anthology section of the book Chicane have bought together a series of excerpts from experts across the sport, each with their own perspective on what makes F1 special. From Terry Lovell’s take on “Bernie’s Game” to my personal favourite Mark Gallagher’s “The Business of Winning” who knew that Eddie Jordan had a tattoo!

The Fastest Show on Earth’ acts as the perfect point of reference for someone looking to research or write about the sport, using myself as an example over this weekend I’ll be writing about the Bahrain WEC, GP2 and GP3 races with the intention of comparing each class to F1 performance at the track. Normally this would involve a couple of hours trawling the internet for data on historical F1 performance at the venue. Not anymore! The Fastest show on earth details all the technical data you could possibly look for from every F1 circuit on the calendar. This comes alongside a review of every team and driver participating in the 2015 season.

Another highlight in the guide is the collection of images taken from Lewis Hamilton’s 2014 championship campaign. There’s even a deliberate mistake in this section to make sure you are paying attention!

So if you are looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the F1 obsessive or looking to expand your F1 knowledge through those long winter nights… or if you just NEED to know what EJ’s tattoo means, this is the book for you!

Click here to purchase your copy through AMAZON

Click here to follow Chicane on Twitter
Formula E: Mexico City to Round 5 of the 2015/16 Formula E Championship

Mexico City has today been confirmed as the host city for round five of the 2015-2016 FIA Formula E Championship, subject to approval from the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in December. The Mexico City ePrix will take place on March 12, 2016. The track is approximately 2.14km in length and subject to FIA track homologation. It will use part of the historic Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with seating for around 40,000 of the world’s most passionate fans.

Mexico has a rich racing culture hosting major international races and now Formula E with the help of DHL, the championship’s Official Logistics Partner.Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag said: “We are delighted to be taking Formula E to Mexico City. This is one of the world’s great cities, with a rich heritage and passion for motorsport. I’m confident the fans will create an amazing atmosphere and make the Mexico City ePrix one of the most memorable races of the season.”

Alejandro Soberon, President and CEO of CIE said: “For OCESA it is an honour to open the doors to Formula E to the just newly-renovated Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez track. A circuit that is positioning itself day-by-day as the temple of motorsport.”

Miguel Angel Mancera, Major of Mexico City added: “Staging events such as Formula E is helping to make Mexico City one of the ‘sports capitals’ of the world. After the success of the Formula 1

Grand Prix, the addition of the Formula E race shows that the Hermanos Rodriguez racetrack is the perfect place for all kinds of racing events and is a key part of the work that the Mexico City government has undertaken to enhance our tourist attractions.”

Salvador Duran said: “Formula E is a great championship that produces fantastic races among top-line drivers and I am sure the Mexican fans are going to love the races. The sound of the cars will be totally new to them, but I know that once they see the quality of the action they are going to be hooked.”

Tickets for the race will go on sale on December 7 with prices starting at 350 Mexican Pesos (approx. 19 Euros).
Formula One: Exclusive – Jordan’s F1 Dream

As Manor Marussia F1 Team development driver Jordan King returned to Europe to prepare for the Bahrain & Abu Dhabi rounds of the GP2 season with Racing Engineering , he took some time out to review his experiences of the 2015 season and discuss his prospects for the future.

Jon Wilde (JW): Hi Jordan thanks for your time today, let’s kicks off with what you’ve been up to over the past month or so, How did you find your time with the Manor Marussia Team in Austin & Mexico?

Jordan King (JK): Austin was a great experience; I attended all the briefings and observed on the pit wall obviously there was a lot to take on board for the first week so it was nice to do a second straight after as I knew a bit more about what was coming.

JW: With the rained off qualifying and condensed Sunday schedule. What was the atmosphere with the team like over the weekend in Austin?

JK: The atmosphere was great, it was strange to be at the race circuit working with a team but not have the stresses of driving, but as I say that the race was very stressful as obviously you want the best for the Manor cars and one crashed out and then we were close to getting points so I was getting very into the race and very stressed myself.

JW: How have you found your season in GP2 so far? What’s been the highlight? How have you found having Alex Rossi as your team mate?

JK: GP2 has been amazing this year! It really has been a childhood dream for me to race in the series so I do feel like I have come a long way in my career but there is still a long way to go. My highlights have been the first race coming from last under safety car to finish 4th and finishing 2nd in Spa, although I was a bit annoyed as I wanted, and could have won! Having Alex as my team mate has been great he is incredibly experienced so has had a lot to offer the team and has helped my development and understanding as well.

JW: What are your expectations for the final rounds of the GP2 calendar in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi?

JK: I would really like to get a few more podiums which I know are manageable. Moreover I want those podiums to be in the feature race not just the sprint.

JW: What plans do you have for 2016? Do you expect to stay with Racing Engineering and GP2? Can we expect to see you behind the wheel of a Manor F1 car in testing or free practice sessions?

JK: I am planning to stay in GP2 and that will more than likely be with Racing Engineering I don’t see any reason to move and I’ll be doing all 3 days with them in Abu Dhabi testing to work on next year.

I am working towards getting in an F1 car but you know how this world works it is very hard!

JW: Are you still targeting to be on the F1 grid for 2017? Is F1 still your key focus?

JK: Yes. 100%!

JW: Has the Manor Mercedes partnership had any impact on your plans?

JK: no, not that I am aware of anyway.

JW: You’ve had some great sponsors supporting your career, how important do you think it is for a driver to focus on developing commercial deals as well as developing skills on track?

JK: I think it is just as important as any part of driving as the model of Motorsport at the moment is you need to bring commercial partners with you so without them the results don’t count and without results the commercial partners don’t come, so it’s a catch 22.

JW: Is your father still involved in the Manor management structure? After the difficulties of last season the team seem to have been able to bring stability and finally build towards a competitive future, what changes have you seen in the team since joining?

JK: He helped get the team back on their feet but has really taken a back step since then and started other work. As for the team they are making steps, small steps but steps and it does look like they are heading in the right direction long term.

JW: What advice would you offer to anyone trying to get into Motorsport today?

Go for it 100%! I have loved every minute of it, it will be stressful and disheartening at times but keep trying and you will have a great time while living your dreams!

Thanks to Jordan for this fantastic insight into the world of a driver moving up through the development path. Congratulations on qualifying an excellent 5th on the grid for tomorrow’s GP2 feature race in Bahrain , and we hope to see you behind the wheel of an F1 car very soon!

To follow Jordan on Twitter click here.
Formula One: Alfonso joins Sahara Force India

Sahara Force India have announced the signing of Mexican racer, Alfonso Celis, as a development driver. The 19-year-old will get his first experience of Formula One power behind the wheel of the VJM08 at the season-ending Abu Dhabi test – sharing driving duties with Nico Hulkenberg.

Alfonso is one of the most promising young Mexicans emerging from the junior formulas. Following karting success in Mexico, he moved to Europe in 2013 to compete in the Formula Renault NEC championship, and progressed to the GP3 Series last year. This year he raced for ART in GP3 in parallel to a World Series by Renault programme with AVF.

In his development role with Sahara Force India, Alfonso will spend time on the simulator at the team’s Silverstone factory. He will also take part in seven official practice sessions at Grand Prix events during the 2016 season.

Alfonso Celis: “Ever since I started racing I’ve been dreaming of Formula One, so it’s a huge honour to begin working with Sahara Force India. It’s an amazing opportunity for me to learn about Formula One and to work closely with the engineers and race drivers. Being on the track in Abu Dhabi will be an incredible feeling. It’s going to be the biggest moment in my career and I am fully focussed on doing a good job for the team.”

Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director: “I would like to welcome Alfonso to the team and wish him well ahead of his debut with us in Abu Dhabi. As our development driver we will work hard to prepare him for the demands of driving in Formula One and provide a good grounding in all aspects of the job. It’s a fantastic opportunity for Alfonso to learn from Sergio and Nico, and to get valuable mileage in the car.”
Formula One: #placesalonsowouldratherbe how Hilton not F1 got it wrong.

F1 news over the past 48 hours has been dominated with journalists commenting on how Formula One Management should wake up to social media and could have capitalised on the viral event that was #placesalonsowouldratherbe. In many respects the comments are correct; the viral event demonstrated that there is a quick thinking well humoured proportion of the F1 community with impressive photo editing skills. To have this level of engagement is something Formula One Management should be proud of and embrace. Perhaps, for example, through a 3 part competition run by sponsor Tata Communications (@tata_comm) evaluating the graphical content and future broadcast plans for the sport.

Putting the viral event into perspective, #placesalonsowouldratherbe saw 14,500 imprints on twitter; this is less than 15% of the total number of imprints from #BrazilGP, the event specific naming convention used by the Formula One twitter feed. Taking this a step further the Formula One Qualifying broadcast will likely have been seen by an audience of at least 20,000,000 people (a very conservative number even taking into consideration the current decline in F1 viewing figures) this would mean that 0.07% of the F1 audience participated in this viral event. Is this really an audience the Formula One Management Twitter feed should be seeking to capitalise on?

I’ve read a number of articles commenting that other sports or racing series do a far better job than Formula One on engaging with fans through social media, and whilst it can be argued that prior to the 2015 season this would be accurate it is no longer correct. The Formula One Twitter feed serves as an information point, providing exclusive pre and post-race content. It does not engage in conversation with followers, fans or teams, and why would it? Would it be an effective use of resources? I have read comments that Formula E and other racing series do a better job at engaging with their fan base through social media, on this point I disagree. The main twitter feed for Formula E operates in the same way as the Formula One feed. On occasion the individual maintaining the feed will acknowledge or respond to messages, but only in an informative style and this can only be achieved due to scale of the audience. The reputation Formula E has with respect to social media is borne out of the team and sponsor engagement.

Again some perspective @F1 has 1.68M followers on twitter, @FIAFormulaE has 76K followers on twitter. It is not realistic to expect Formula One Management to engage with fans in the same way Formula E can, the resource requirement is not realistic. @SauberF1Team has over 300K followers (the smallest of any F1 team) @AmlinAndretti has 13K followers (the most of any Formula E team) it is not realistic to expect the same level of engagement from teams in each series.

In my opinion, the #placesalonsowouldratherbe viral event served to demonstrate a failing not from @F1 but from that of @MclarenF1 and its sponsors. Many Formula One team sponsors have taken to live tweeting during on-track action, commenting on events as they unfold, commonplace with feeds such as Mobil’s @Grid1TV, or on the progress of their respective team or drivers seen with Force India F1 team sponsor @hypeenergy for example. I understand there are restrictions on the usage of team branding without agreement for fear or misrepresenting the team brand or ethos but imagine if the Hilton Group had taken the #placesalonsowouldratherbe viral event and placed Alonso in the lobby of their flagship hotel, or if they turned the hashtag into a discount code for online bookings.

For me the failing of the #placesalonsowouldratherbe viral was that sponsors did not react quickly enough. Perhaps it is time for the teams, not F1, to further adapt to social media. Give sponsors a freedom to engage in a way they believe their followers will respond.

As a side note, the image of Alonso used in this article, in every #placesalonsowouldratherbe tweet and subsequent article is the property of FOM. It was taken from their broadcast feed. FOM would be entirely within their rights to pursue copyright infringement cases for each use. The F1 of old may have taken this approach. F1 has is embracing social media.
Formula One: Tag Heuer partner Red Bull Racing for 2016

Tag Heuer have this morning confirmed that they have entered into partnership with Red Bull Racing from 2016 onwards. At this time it has not been confirmed if this partnership will impact the existing Mclaren partnership with the Swiss Watch Maker.

In an interview with L’HEBDO, (documented below) CEO Jean- Claude Biver when questioned around the move commented

“yes, we have Red Bull Racing F1 for next season. This is a young team, dynamic, go-getter, perfectly in keeping with the strategy of Tag Heuer”(translated)

Whilst no formal comment has been issued from Red Bull Racing it should be presumed that the existing Casio relationship will not be extended. The Tag Heuer partnership further demonstrates Red Bull’s commitment to Formula One.

12.11.2015_Itw M. Biver_L’Hebdo

Further updates on this development will be posted here as they become available.
Formula One: Revealed: Technical requirements of Formula One’s Alternative Engine.
Following the FIA’s formal call for expressions of interest in the supply of an alternative engine for Formula One, the FIA have today outlined the technical requirements under which the alternative engine should be developed.

Whilst no price for engine supply has been defined the FIA have requested this be as low as possible, suggesting price point will be a differentiating factor in any business award decision.

The engine configuration requirement is confirmed to be:
- 2.5 Litre (or less) turbocharged V6, with a KW output greater than 640, which may be detuned to 530 in qualifying and race levels.
- Total weight of the power unit being less than 135kg.
- The FIA will impose no limits on Maximum RPM, engine durability or fuel flow.
- The power unit solution will feature no hybrid power.
- Hydraulics for the engine must be the same for all teams supplied.
- The unit must be compatible with the standard F1 ECU and data logger.
Manufacturers expressing interest in candidacy to become sole supplier of the alternative engine supply will have freedoms around:
- Number of turbochargers – 1 or 2
- Turbocharges must be able to cope with the maximum boost pressure imposed by the FIA.
- Freedom around cranktrain and valvetrain in all areas except crank length.
- Freedom is give on the exhaust system, although a variable exhaust system is not permitted.
The technical specification goes to explain the financial boundaries of the submission which includes but is not limited to; all engine sub assembly, all PU pressure charging components (turbo), PU Waste gate and air inlet system, the fuel system and electrical components.

In addition candidate manufacturers must provide support of 5 personnel per team supplied at all race and test events, along with sufficient power unit supplies for up to 20 events and 5000 km of testing.

Candidates have until 17:00 CET November 23^rd to register their interest and capability to meet these requirements with the required supporting documentation.