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which are similar to those achieved in
F.1».
Have you got any innovations in the
pipeline for 2013?
«
We will not be changing anything with
respect to 2012, the DRS concept, as we
are currently implementing it, works
very well: unlimited use during practice
and a time limit during races».
The 2012 championship featured an
excellent crop of drivers, and a number
of youngsters graduated to various F.1.
organizations. How hard will it be to
maintain this trend in 2013?
«
Red Bull, MacLaren and Lotus remain
interested in the championship. We
won’t have anyone from Ferrari
because there aren’t any young drivers
that are ready for this category at the
moment, but the Ferrari Driver
Academy is very keen, I think it’s just
a question of waiting until their
drivers have matured a little. Also,
team Arden will continue to be known
as Caterham».
Is the new car more demanding than
the previous model for the drivers?
«
Decidedly so, the boundaries have
been pushed forward, including from a
physical point of view. If you’re not fit
you won’t be able to handle it. And this
is very positive for the drivers’ physical
and mental preparation for F.1. In
addition to the car, the contribution of
the Michelin tyres is decisive. We don’t
have the Pirelli tyres they use in F.1, but
it doesn’t make any difference, the
lateral grip is enormous and it takes
quite a while to get used to driving on
these ones».
Have costs increased with respect to
2011.
What are you forecasts?
«
Thanks to Dallara we are doing our
best to contain the costs that the teams
are obliged to pass on to the drivers.»
Massimo Costa
Abu Dhabi - Tuesday 6 november 2012, day 1
1 -
Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'42"651 - 40 laps
2 -
Antonio Felix Da Costa (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'42"717 - 79 laps
3 -
Gary Paffett (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'43"407 - 44 laps
4 -
Robin Frijns (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'43"775 - 78 laps
5 -
Nicolas Prost (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'44"194 - 55 laps
Abu Dhabi - Wednesday 7 november 2012, day 2
1 -
Antonio Felix Da Costa (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'42"679 - 61 laps
2 -
Oliver Turvey (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'43"176 - 62 laps
3 -
Edoardo Mortara (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'43"418 - 75 laps
4 -
Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'43"486 - 93 laps
5 -
Gary Paffett (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'43"771 - 41 laps
Abu Dhabi - Thursday 8 november 2012, day 3
1 -
Davide Valsecchi (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'42"677 - 86 laps
2 -
Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'42"827 - 51 laps
3 -
Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'43"093 - 80 laps
4 -
Robin Frijns (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'43"233 - 53 laps
5 -
Oliver Turvey (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'43"604 - 44 laps
*
The top-5 of F.1 Young Driver Test
