Caterham wants to return to the expected level
However, in a respectable position for a team in only its third year in F1, the Caterham team is behind its performance forecasts, which should have seen it challenge Toro Rosso. But the English team, which will move to Leafield over the summer, has confidence in the new package introduced at Silverstone and little tested due to the rain.
Although unranked since it did not score any points, Caterham remains ahead of Marussia and HRT, thanks to the best results obtained: two 13th places by Heikki Kovalainen in Monaco and Vitaly Petrov in Valencia. The English team currently holds the juicy bonus reserved for the 10th team in the hierarchy, around 25 million dollars, which it has already collected in the previous two years, proving that it is undoubtedly the best of the three “rookie” teams.
And to further distance itself from its direct competitors and get closer to Toro Rosso, Caterham has committed to a major development effort, which began in Valencia and intensified at Silverstone. However, the progress seen in Spain did not materialize on British soil, as the rain prevented the accumulation of miles at the wheel of the revised CT01s. The English team is therefore behind its schedule, which aimed to put more pressure on Toro Rosso.
Thus, if Heikki Kovalainen hopes for a sunny Friday to be able to test different settings and find more speed, Vitaly Petrov wishes to work on aerodynamic balance. Mark Smith, technical director, considers that the team has not used the new package very well, but remains optimistic that the situation will be corrected: “Obviously, we will also have more time to analyze the data collected during the weekend, so I am reasonably confident that we can get back to the level where we want to be.” And for Tony Fernandes, the team director, who talks about a chance to get back on track, both literally and metaphorically, the efforts will very soon pay off.
The British chapter is therefore closed in favor of the German episode, held at Hockenheim. A track that Vitaly Petrov considers to be a good circuit, rather technical, where finding the right settings is a good challenge. Heikki Kovalainen, on the other hand, prefers to talk about the compromises it requires: We are back on a circuit slower than Silverstone, but where there is still a good portion of the lap taken at full throttle. At the time, the circuit had one of the longest “flat-out” sections of all F1 circuits, but since it was removed, you need a car with the right balance between good traction for the slow corners and significant top speed to take advantage of overtaking opportunities in turn 6.
Mark Smith describes the track as the archetype of an intermediate circuit: « Technically, Hockenheim is as median as it gets. Brake wear and cooling are average, the downforce level is between medium and high, and it’s a track where the stress on the engine and gearbox is average. This means the driver can be aggressive throughout the lap, and it forces engineers to find settings that allow them to attack as much as possible, in both the high-speed sections and the more winding parts in the Stadium. »
One of the positive points of Germany, unanimously recognized by both drivers, is the atmosphere on the circuit, created by the spectators. “German fans are just as passionate as those we encounter all over the world, and there is always a good atmosphere here,” says Heikki Kovalainen. “I remember my passes in front of the Mercedes stand when I was with McLaren, seeing all the fans holding signs with my name on them – it’s pretty cool, and even if this year other names will be featured, I am still well received.”
His teammate is even more enthusiastic, comparing the Germans to the British, who made a great impression at the last Grand Prix: One of the good things about Germany is the atmosphere, which is particularly positive at Hockenheim. The circuit is always filled with fans very similar to the British. They know a lot about the sport, and the promoters have arranged a great array of entertainment for them to ensure they have a really good weekend, whether we are on track or not.
The Russian driver seems to have attended several races on the circuit, as he appears to know the stands so well and wants to spend time there! The entire track is good, and if you choose the right spot, you can see a good portion of it, but one of the best places on the circuit is the Stadium. Perhaps one day, I could wear a disguise and see what it’s like to be among the fans there! It would be nice to hang out there, but I think if I didn’t go in disguise, I couldn’t come back!
Joking aside, the German round will be Heikki Kovalainen’s 100th Grand Prix weekend. Although technically it won’t be his 100th start, due to a stubborn gearbox even before the start of the 2010 Spanish Grand Prix, it is indeed at Hockenheim that he will celebrate this milestone at the same time as Lewis Hamilton: “It’s a great achievement to reach, and I’m happy to celebrate it with a great team and many friends in the paddock,” he says joyfully.
The final word goes to Tony Fernandes, who talks about the growth of his team, whose premises will be relocated during the holidays: « We are still a small team, but we have already made significant progress this year, and with a bit of luck and a bit more work, I know we will make the step towards the midfield and join the battles happening in front of us. We have the people to help us with this, and after Hungary, we will move the F1 team to our new premises in Leafield, which will start a new chapter in our extraordinary history. »
