Monaco GP - A special helmet for a special cause

Monte Carlo, 25 May – The Monaco Grand Prix is a unique race on the championship calendar and, often the drivers like to display something unusual, either on the car, their race suit or their helmet.

As from tomorrow morning’s free practice, Fernando Alonso will be using something special: a helmet with the same design but new colours, as the traditional yellow and blue have been changed for a gold-white combination.

This scheme will also be used in Singapore, the second street circuit on the 2011 calendar and it is in a worthy cause: the helmet will be auctioned at the end of the championship and proceeds will go to the Fondazione Fernando Alonso which is mainly involved in projects aimed at developing road safety initiatives for children.

Source: Ferrari.com

The Vettel Diaries: 'Abu Dhabi has special place in my heart'

Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel shares his first impressions of the sport’s new tyres and reveals his plans for the immediate future

Hi!

It really feels great to be back in Abu Dhabi. I know for sure that this place from now on will always have a very special place in my heart. Today we had the first opportunity to test the new tyres for the next season and I have to admit that it went better than I thought it would. They worked pretty well and made a good first impression.

Of course we are used to last season's tyres but I think that we really need to get involved with them. But I already got the feeling that the front tyre is a bit stronger than the back tyre. Before we can finally say which tyre was the best we really need to adapt our car to them and see how it works once it's done.

Despite the busy day, it was really nice to be back in the car and I look forward to tomorrow's test. It's the final time that we can collect data for the winter.

Just like last year, I will also compete in this year's "Race of Champions" and try to defend the nation cup and get better in the individual results. After all that we did in the last weeks, it will be a nice alternation and fun for sure.

But despite that, I really look forward to my time after Abu Dhabi, because I am finally able to fly home to Heppenheim. I can't tell you how much I look forward to see all these people who already gave me an unforgettable day as we drove through town with our show car. I hope that this Sunday will be as great as that day. Let's wait and see.

Talk to you soon!

Sebastian

Source: Red Bull

Sebastian Vettel Q&A: Suzuka and I have a special relationship

Over the last few months there have been mutterings about Sebastian Vettel’s self confidence and he was even labelled a ‘crash kid’. But on Sunday at Suzuka, Vettel silenced his critics, notching up pole position and a dominant victory all in one day. The Red Bull driver reviews his performance…

Q: Sebastian, a great day for you...
Sebastian Vettel: Yes, today was really, really special for me. To have qualifying and race on one day and ending both occasions at the top of the sheet is quite something! My second victory on this track seems to suggest that the track and I have a special relationship. When the car became lighter towards the end of the race it was just sheer fun to drive. To ‘fly’ up the hill and see the fans left and right - awesome.

Q: How would you analyze the race?
SV: I think the start was crucial. Then came the safety-car phase and after the safety car pulled in it was more of a controlled race - I was always looking to keep the gap to Mark (Webber). My reasoning was that a forward escape would be the wrong thing to do, as if there was another safety car you would have needed an extra bit from the tyres and then you stand there empty handed. With no further incident my plan worked out perfectly!

Q: Did you feel pressure from Webber?
SV: He was running in second and trying to put me under pressure, but for me it was basically about nursing the car and the tyres because until the first stop it was not certain when the tyres would fall off and we made the stop at just the right time. Yes, you could have gone for a couple of more laps. After that we were behind Jenson so I was not pushing at all and just waiting for him to pit. Then I was putting in a couple of fast laps and then I was just carrying the car around. It was not an easy day, but it was nice and controlled.

Q: Suzuka seems to be a lucky place for you. How about a town partnership between Suzuka and your hometown of Heppenheim?
SV: Why not? The saying goes three times lucky - so let’s wait for next year! But coming back to the track, it is a fantastic place to race and if you have such a car - it’s even more fantastic! I have to thank the team and the guys back home in the factory - today this track was ours!

Q: What does your win mean for your championship ambitions?
SV: Well, it never looked better than today so of course the ambitions are there. There is a clear upward trend and if I could win all three remaining races then everything would have worked out perfectly. (Laughs) So there you have a clear direction to go and be assured that we will all do our best to get there.

Q: You must be pretty satisfied with your performance…
SV: Well, there have been attempts to meddle with my self-confidence but you build it up for yourself and it was never in any danger. I guess that with all that happened I had the least amount of problems. Of course you never have to bank on anything and you work hard all season long - only then do success and self-confidence come together.

Source: Formula1.com

Yet Another Special Message from Sebastian Vettel

Source: puma

Rally Japan 2010: Special Interview with Kimi Räikkönen

Questions for Kimi Räikkönen

-This is the first year for you to join WRC. Could you tell me how do you feel so far?
"So far I have a very nice feeling with the WRC and everybody has been very welcoming. But of course I knew from the beginning that it would be an extremely tough transition from Formula One and that has certainly been the case. You just cannot compare the two things. However, step by step I am learning and slowly everything we have taken on board since the start of the year is beginning to come together. So I am feeling quite happy; quite confident."

-What brought you to change your career to WRC?
"The WRC was always something I wanted to do at some point in my career, because I have been a rally fan since I was a kid actually. Last year, the circumstances meant that it was the right opportunity to finally do it ? but it was something that I have always been interested in."

-Could you tell us about the difference between F1 and WRC?
"It's like talking about the difference between night and day. There are so many things that are different that it's almost impossible to know where to start. The characteristics of the cars and surfaces are extremely different and also another huge difference is that in rallying you have a co-driver and pace notes to work with. It's basically a completely different sport and a completely different world".

-Please tell us the most impressive race and episodefor you when you were a F1 racer.
"I don't know...there were lots. To be honest it's not something I even think about so much. But I suppose the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2007, when I won the World Championship, is one that I will always remember. Basically we had to win to get the title, which is exactly what we did, in a very difficult race. So that was a good memory."

-Please tell us how you change your moode betweenthe races?
"There's nothing special; I just spend time with friends and family like most people do. That's what I do to relax. Then I've got my boat that I go out on sometimes. But mostly I like to be doing things; I don't like to be sitting still."

-Is there anyone you admired when you wereyoung? If any, who and why?
"No, not so much. I was always more focused on my own career. But looking back in the past, I always liked the character of James Hunt in Formula One and in rallying I have always admired Tommi Makinen, who is still a good friend of mine now. All these guys are really good drivers but they know how to have fun as well."

-A lot of fans of you are expecting you to comeback to F1. Do you have any consideration of it?
"For the time being, I have not decided that: I always wanted to give myself enough time to experience rallying properly before drawing too many conclusions about the future. But OK, soon I will begin to think about it. The only thing I can really say for the moment is that I am enjoying myself in rallying and I haven't really missed Formula One. If I missed Formula One I would be out there doing it."

-Please give your message to Japanese fans!
"I have always liked the Japanese fans: they are so enthusiastic about motorsport and they know so much about it too. I like the country and the food as well: sushi is one of my favourite things. I won the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka in 2005 and this is a really good memory. I don't know so much about the rally though, although people tell me it's going to be quite difficult!"

Source: Sprope.com
Courtesy: maki