Van der Garde seeks to secure F1 future

Giedo van der Garde admits that his focus for the remainder of the 2013 F1 season is to ensure he retains his position on the grid for next year – when fresh regulations are introduced in the sport.

The Dutch driver finally secured a role on the grid this year with Caterham and has a best finish of 15th after the opening five races of the campaign.

As has been the case in recent years, Caterham has yet to show signs of fighting for a place in the points-scoring positions, with the Leafield-based squad instead hoping that the new rules next year – when the sport switches to 1.6 litre turbo-charged engines – will be the catalyst that allows it to make progress up the order.

With that in mind, van der Garde admitted that he hoped to do enough this season to ensure he gets the chance to return next year to try and help his current team move forwards.

"Of course, in 2014 it's going to be a very interesting year for everybody,” he told ESPN. "So we have to try to learn as much as possible from the team and what they're doing now in the wind tunnel to gather as much data as possible. 

“Of course they have to push hard for next year because the change in the car is so big that you can have it on the right spot or not. So this is up to the team and I think they're pushing hard for it."

Crash.net

Van der Garde: Caterham will fight back

Giedo van der Garde believes Caterham can reign in Marussia despite losing out in the early battles between the two backmarker teams.

Having edged Marussia in the first three seasons of the battle, Caterham have fallen behind in the opening stint of this year's Championship.

Yet to beat Marussia's Jules Bianchi, van der Garde at least edged ahead of Max Chilton at the last race in Malaysia.

"The car was hard to drive, especially as the tyre drop off was much higher than my team-mate because the diffuser was gone," the Dutchman told Autosport.

"Like this we still managed to keep me in front of Chilton, so it was good experience. We know where we are at the moment, and we know in Barcelona an upgrade is coming.

"The next two races won't be easy but for after we can make a good step. Marussia has a little advantage but hopefully we can fight them."

However, it's not just Caterham who need to up their game with the 27-year-old rookie admitting he's still learning as well.

"It's how it is at the moment. It's not an easy car but I'm very happy. The team let me learn step by step, all the procedures, the way you drive, the tyres, so for me it has been good.

"It is different. Before in GP2 you wait at the front of the grid, look in the mirror, the cars are coming, first gear and away you go. Here it is like, select neutral and oh shit the lights go on.

"So the philosophy is a bit different but it's where we are at the moment. Race by race it'll get better."

PlanetF1

Van der Garde to 'lose' four FP1s

Giedo van der Garde could sit out as many as four sessions as Caterham run reserve drivers in Friday practices.

The 27-year-old rookie joined Caterham at the start of this season, securing a best result of P15 in the Malaysian Grand Prix.

However, Van der Garde's preparations will take a knock in Bahrain and at three other events as he hands his car over to either Alexander Rossi or Ma Qing Hua.

The Dutchman, though, doesn't begrudge the reserve drivers as it was a Friday role that helped him secure his Caterham drive.

"As it stands I will lose four Friday sessions," Van der Garde told GPUpdate.net. "The first one I won't be driving is Bahrain.

"I would have rather be driving these sessions myself and get as much track time as possible, but this is in the contract and I'm sure it will be good experience for these guys. I had that same role with the team last year and because of the work I did then, I earned this race seat."

PlanetF1

Caterham Unchained - Part 8

Caterham Unchained Part 8 - Cyril Abiteboul on Caterham's start of the F1 season.



Caterham on YouTube

Rookie diary - Caterham’s Giedo van der Garde

Giedo van der Garde is one of five drivers enjoying their debut Formula One season in 2013. In the latest of our series charting the personal and professional progress of this year’s F1 newcomers, the 27-year-old Dutchman reflects on his maiden Grand Prix weekend, which included enduring one of the most disjointed qualifying sessions in F1 history… 

“My trainer Carlos and I had put together a plan a while ago that built up to the first race, so we did what we could to make sure I wasn’t affected by the jetlag or everything else that was going on around me in the run-up to the race. I did a few fun things in Australia before we started work on track, including meeting a lot of jellyfish in the sea when we went paddle-boarding one day, but apart from that it was all what you’d call normal for an F1 driver.

“Quali was pretty tough, but it was a good session. FP3 had gone well - we made a few changes overnight and the car felt good right from the first lap - but then the rain came in. It was so hard the start of Q1 was delayed, so I was sitting in the car just waiting to go out, but I was relaxed. There’s nothing you can do to change that sort of situation and you can only influence what you can control, so there was no point getting tense about it.

“When the session started we went out as soon as we could on full wets. I had an early problem when I hit a big puddle and damaged the front wing, but we fixed that quickly and then, for quite a bit of the session, we were looking good, maybe even pushing on Q2. Then the conditions improved enough for inters and we made the change, went out and my last lap was quick, really good. Unfortunately I had to back off for double yellows and that cost me a lot. I don’t know where I’d have finally ended up but knowing we’d done well in those conditions was good.

“I think we’re very realistic about where we are at this point of the season, so anything more would have been a bonus, even in those conditions. We made the call to go to inters at the right time and if luck had gone our way a little more then maybe it would have been a different story, but it is what it is.

“The drivers’ parade - my very first - was pretty cool. We did the 2013 driver photo before the parade and that was a great feeling, knowing I’m part of the show and surrounded by a lot of guys I’ve known and raced with for a long time. Then we set off around the track on the back of some convertible cars and it was good, seeing the stands full, feeling the energy from the crowd. But to be honest it was all over in a blur and then it was back to the garage, back to preparing and it was all over pretty quickly.

“Sitting on the grid I honestly was calm. I had done everything I could up to that point, I was in control of the car, the launch procedures and my performance engineer Yoshi and race engineer Juan had talked me through the formation lap/start process, so I was focused on getting a good start. It went well - I passed a few cars into Turn 1 and was pushing well, so I’d have to say it went to plan.

“In the race, the most difficult thing to cope with was tyre management, simple. Everything else is what all my years of racing have trained me for, but switching on the tyres and then managing the various states of degradation is key to performance, and the more laps I do the better that will be.

Everything else went pretty well. The stops were good. I had a slow puncture on my first set of primes and that meant I had to box earlier than planned, but, again, that’s out of my control so no point getting frustrated about it. I did my job as well as I could and getting the car over the line in one piece, even with the floor damage, was what I was supposed to do.

“At this stage of the season we’re mainly fighting a couple of other cars, so for us, where we are now, it’s maybe not as aggressive as it was for me last year in GP2, but one big difference is managing the blue flags. You obviously lose time backing off for the leaders, so you have to drive with one eye in front and one eye behind. Juan keeps me updated on who’s around me, but you’re almost doing two races, one ahead and one behind, so that was a little tough, but I dealt with it fine. 

“It was good - maybe not the final finishing position I’d have liked, but the main thing was to get the car to the end of the race, learn as much as I could and enjoy myself. I did all of those successfully so I can say I’m pretty happy with how my first Grand Prix went. After the race I felt good physically, so the hard work I’ve put in over winter has paid off, and we also found that the car had damage to the floor, quite a bit actually, enough to cost us a lot of time and affect the car’s braking stability. So it wasn’t the easiest start to my F1 career, but pretty good all the same.

“We know points are a long way ahead of us now, and it was my first ever F1 race, so finishing was the goal. I think I did okay - the team were pleased, everyone who is around me was pleased and I got a lot of great messages from around the world after the race, so I think I achieved what I set out to do as a basic target in my first race.

“I think we can always keep improving, little by little, right across the team. The car is at a performance level now that is going to be improved, so that’s encouraging, and for me every lap is helping me understand how to get the most out of the tyres, how to use the full performance envelope in every sector, and how to keep improving my feedback for the engineers. It’s all part of being a rookie - you keep learning, and our team is still very young, so we keep moving forward together.”

Formula1.com

Van der Garde looks forward to updates

Giedo van der Garde has admitted he is prepared to endure a couple more painful grands prix.

The Dutchman has been struggling so far in his young F1 career, while Caterham's usual wheel-to-wheel rival Marussia - particularly the red and black car driven by impressive rookie Jules Bianchi - looks set to race into the midfield.

Van der Garde told De Telegraaf newspaper that his green car will not be updated until the fifth race of the season, once F1 has returned to Europe.

"The season really starts for me in Spain," he said.

In the meantime, Marussia has sped into the lucrative tenth spot in the constructors' championship, with France's Auto Hebdo calling compatriot Bianchi "flawless" so far.

The Ferrari-linked 23-year-old was recruited by Marussia at the very last minute, after Brazilian Luiz Razia's sponsorship money failed to arrive.

"It was nice to have held off (Williams' Pastor) Maldonado (in Malaysia) and to maintain the gap for so long," the Frenchman, who like teammate Max Chilton also complained at Sepang about being "stuck behind" a Caterham, said.

"This shows we have the car to fight with them (the midfield teams) in the future."

Grandprix.com

FIA Friday press conference - Cyril Abiteboul - Caterham - Malaysia

Team Representatives - Bob Bell (Mercedes), Cyril Abiteboul (Caterham), Robert Fearnley (Force India), Sam Michael (McLaren), James Allison (Lotus), Pat Fry (Ferrari).

 

Cyril Abiteboul - Team boss Caterham

 

Cyril Abiteboul - Caterham

Q: Cyril, Caterham one of I guess three teams that were perhaps a little disappointed with performance in Melbourne - perhaps along with Williams and McLaren - what’s going on behind the scenes at Leafield that gives you confidence going forward?
Cyril Abiteboul: Clearly, I think that we have chosen to go for a strategy that is a little bit different from other teams, in the sense that we do not operate our new car for now. We have strategies that will make the car evolve according to different packages, the first of which will come in Bahrain. So we are running right now on hybrid car, so we are pretty much where we expected it to be. It doesn’t mean it is where we wanted it to be. Having said that, we have been analysing clearly the difference, the gap between Marussia and our car. First we want to diminish a little bit the fight between Marussia and ourselves. We are just competitors and we would like to make our way up through the grid, not backwards but up towards the front. Clearly we see most of the developments that we did over the last year, the last 12 months, we think they made two-thirds of the difference over the last 12 months and only one-third over the winter. And of that one-third only half is coming from KERS. So I think that we have a real chance to be optimistic. Some good stuff is happening in the wind tunnel. Obviously we want to make sure this is translating into reality in Bahrain.

Q: Obviously it’s a home race for your Malaysian shareholders. How’s it looking for this weekend?
CA: It’s looking pretty much similar to the last weekend in the sense that it’s going to be on the edge with Marussia. I think the utilisation of tyres and driver familiarisation, driver mistakes also can make a difference so this is what we are getting ready for. We are going to have our shareholders present, so we want to make sure we have a good show at that moment.

 

Read the whole press conference here.

 

FIA Pressconference / Formula1.com

Photos: Giedo meeting media and fans in Kuala Lumpur

Meeting the media and fans in KL before the race weekend begins.

Giedo at the media session

Giedo being interviewed by Malaysian media

Giedo's Malaysian Tiger crash helmet

Giedo and his special Malaysian Tiger crash helmet

Giedo at the media session

Giedo signs his Malaysian Tiger crash helmet

Giedo and Ma present a rear wing endplate to Pavilion Shopping Centre

Giedo and Ma meet the fans

Giedo signs a team cap

Giedo and Ma check out the merchandise

Giedo's special Malaysian tiger crash helmet (with Charles Pic)

Credits: CaterhamF1 Facebook

Caterham Unchained - Episode 5: Giedo reviews testing, Harry Redknapp v

Episode 5: Giedo reviews testing..

Caterham Facebook/Twitter

2013 Australian Grand Prix view

General Race Information

Race Laps: 58
High average speed around the lap
Medium-high brake severity
In general the track surface is smooth with low grip, especially in FP1
Some bumps may cause braking stability issues and cause the car to bottom out, particularly in T9
Kerbs are generally not an issue
Overtaking is difficult, even with DRS
In 2009 the race start was moved to 1700 creating some vision difficulties due to sunset and fading light
The track is usually dusty with tree leaves typically getting stuck in radiator inlets
First gear is not used on the track 

 

2012 Race Weather
Air/Track temp ( C): 21 / 31
Altitude (metres ASL): 5
ATM Press (HPA): 1020
Hum (%): 50
Wind (kph): NE 5

2012 Timing
Qualifying
P1: Hamilton, 1.24.922 (Q3)
P2: Button, 1.25.074 (Q3)
P3: Grosjean, 1.25.302 9Q3)
CF1T best: P19 Kovalainen, 1.28.679 (Q1)

Race
P1: Button (1.29.187 L56)
P2: Vettel (1.29.417 L57)
P3: Hamilton (1.29.538 L57)
CF1T best: P18 Kovalainen (1.33.693 L26)

Circuit Particularity
Bumpiness: medium
Overtaking chance: low
Kerbs: smooth / medium
Ride height setting particularity: none
Engine severity: high
Gearbox severity: medium
Lat/Long grip: lateral
Aero eff ratio: high
Safety car history: 2012 – 1 (37 – 41), 2011 – none, 2010 – 1 (laps 1 – 4)
Track grip evo during w/e: high
Aero settings: high
Brake wear severity: high
Brake cooling necessity: medium / low

Team Quotes
Charles Pic, car #20: “I’m looking forward to returning to Melbourne, this time for my first race with Caterham F1 Team and I think it’s going to be a good weekend.

“Melbourne itself is a very nice city. It’s good to go from the end of the cold European winter to the hotter weather of Australia and even though the hours you spend flying mean you arrive feeling a bit destroyed, it’s the same for everyone and I’m feeling good physically and mentally so it won’t be an issue.

“The circuit itself is very cool. It’s quick but as it’s a temporary street circuit the cars run with high downforce and it’s a good challenge to get a really clean lap in. FP1 is always quiet as the track is very green for the early part of the session, but it evolves a lot over the weekend and you need to time your qualifying lap right to make the most of the rubber that’s being laid down.

“After the tests we’re definitely ready to start racing. We have a good idea of where we’re going to start out and I think we have a very interesting season ahead of us. Whatever happens, I’m enjoying myself in Caterham and it’s great to be part of a team that has such an exciting future ahead.”

Giedo van der Garde, car #21: “Honestly I can’t wait to get started. Melbourne will be my first Grand Prix start and, even though it’s taken a while to reach this point, I’m completely prepared and really looking forward to getting back to racing.

“Having spent a lot of time with the team last year nothing was new to me when I moved up to the Race Driver position, but it’s still a different world, being a Race Driver rather than a Reserve, but I’m enjoying every minute. I finished off 2012 with a win in Singapore, and, while we’re all realistic enough to know we’re not going to be fighting at that end of the grid, I also know I want to be in the right position to take advantage of anything that comes my way when the lights go out.

“Over the season, I know Spa is going to be a great race as it’s so close to home, but for me the most exciting moment of 2013 will be when the lights go out in Melbourne and everything I’ve dreamed of for so long comes true. I’ve worked hard all winter and in the tests to prepare myself and I’m ready, physically and mentally.

“Before it all gets serious in Australia I also want to take this chance to thank everyone who has helped me reach this stage of my career. McGregor have played a big role in helping me become and F1 driver, so thanks to everyone there, and thank you to all the people at Leafield. Caterham F1 Team is a family, a very cool group of people who have a long-term plan that will come true, and if I can help the whole team achieve its goals then that would be a good way of saying thanks.”

Cyril Abiteboul, Team Principal: “Australia will be a proud moment for the whole team. 2013 is our fourth year in F1, the first with our new livery and the first season start since we moved into Leafield.

“On the surface it may look like we’re starting 2013 in a similar position to 2012, but inside the team it is very different. We have a base in Oxfordshire in which we now control all elements of the design and production in-house. The wind tunnel we use has been upgraded to meet our exact specifications and is now producing results that turn into definite improvements. We are continuing to improve the efficiencies and working practices within the team so we can compete both on track and as a viable business with a secure long-term future and we are bringing in talented people at all levels to keep pushing us forwards.

“We also have two new drivers for 2013, Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde. Both are young, determined to succeed and eager to help the team achieve its goals. At the end of 2012 we were a central part of the F1 show, and I have told both drivers to be ready to be part of the show in 2013, maybe not right at the start, but with what we have coming to the car during the season, we can be confident that we are going to attract interest in us, for the right reasons.

“We have the facilities, we have the people and we have the infrastructure we need to take the next step forwards. We will do that in a calm, measured way, one that is grounded in a realistic view of the highly competitive world in which we operate, but we will do it with the greatest possible level of energy, passion and enthusiasm. It feels like the 2012 season finished only yesterday, but we cannot wait to start racing again!”

Caterham

Cyril Abiteboul believes Giedo van der Garde is worth his place in F1 with Caterham

Team principal Cyril Abiteboul believes Dutch rookie Giedo van der Garde has earned the right to compete in Formula One for Caterhm in 2013 – ousting Heikki Kovalainen in the process.

Giedo van der Garde with a Caterham engineer during his time as test
and reserve driver with the Norfolk marque in 2012. Photo: Charles Coates

The 27-year-old was racing in GP2 for Caterham Racing last year, while doubling up on testing and reserve driver duties for their sister F1 team.

And in that time, Abiteboul feels Van der Garde – who was Wolrd Series by Renault champion with Norfolk outfit P1 Motorsport in 2008 – delivered enough to be worth his drive alongside second-year Frenchman Charles Pic.

“Giedo has been part of our family since early 2012 when he joined our GP2 team and was appointed reserve driver for the F1 team,” said Abiteboul.

“He acquitted himself extremely well in both his GP2 season and his six F1 free practice one sessions, progressively improving his outright pace, technical feedback and his relationship with his engineers and mechanics, giving us the clear justification for promoting him to F1.

“This is the next natural step for Giedo with our team. We continue to grow as a team and we are committed to giving young talent across the motorsport industry the chance to grow with us and this is Giedo’s opportunity to show he deserves his place at the very highest level of global motorsport.

“He and Charles have been team-mates before (if GP2), so he is an excellent choice to partner Charles in what is going to be another very interesting season. We are all looking forward to seeing Giedo continue to progress as he takes on the ultimate challenge of F1.”

Van der Garde earned scored six podiums and two race wins in the Formula One feeder series last year.

He added: “I know I am ready to take the step up to F1 and all the work I have done throughout my career, and particularly in the last year with this team, has brought me to my ultimate goal.

“Throughout 2012 I was able to fully integrate myself into the team, both through the FP1 sessions I ran at a number of tracks that were then new to me, and as Reserve Driver, fully embedded with the team throughout the season.

“Now I can continue to learn at the highest level of motorsport and show that I am ready for F1. I cannot wait to start work.”

Norwich Evening News

Photo: Giedo in the Sky TV commentary box

Giedo van der Garde in the Sky TV commentary box, joining their live TV coverage of Barcelona.

Caterham Facebook

VIDEO Caterham Unchained - Episode 2: Simulator insight and Jerez review

Enjoy the second episode of Caterham Unchained, featuring a look at the team's Formula 1 simulator and a review of the opening pre-season test at Jerez.

CaterhamF1

VIDEO Caterham Unchained - Episode 1: 2013 Launch, Giedo, Charles and the CT03

 Inside the Caterham F1 Team throughout theri 2013 season.






CaterhamF1

Caterham announce that Giedo van der Garde will partner Charles Pic this season

Dutchman steps up from reserve driver role

Giedo van der Garde has been announced as Caterham's second race driver for the 2013 Formula 1 season.

The team confirmed on Friday afternoon that the 27-year-old Dutchman will partner Charles Pic. Van der Garde raced for Caterham in GP2 last season and also served as their reserve driver at six grands prix in 2012.

"I am absolutely delighted to confirm that I will be racing in the 2013 F1 World Championship with Caterham F1 Team," van der Garde said in a team statement.

"I know I am ready to take the step up to F1 and all the work I have done throughout my career, and particularly in the last year with this team, has brought me to my ultimate goal. Throughout 2012 I was able to fully integrate myself into the team, both through the FP1 sessions I ran at a number of tracks that were then new to me, and as Reserve Driver, fully embedded with the team throughout the season.

"Now I can continue to learn at the highest level of motorsport and show that I am ready for F1. I cannot wait to start work."

Van der Garde finished sixth overall in the feeder series last year and recorded two wins. However, his F1 career stretches as far back as 2007, when he was test and reserve driver for Super Aguri and also tested for Spyker.

"Everyone in the team is delighted that we can finally confirm that Giedo will be racing for us in the 2013 FIA Formula One World Championship," Abiteboul said. "He has been part of our family since early 2012 when he joined our GP2 team and was appointed as Reserve Driver for the F1 team.

"He acquitted himself extremely well in both his GP2 season and his six FP1 sessions, progressively improving his outright pace, technical feedback and his relationship with his engineers and mechanics, giving us the clear justification for promoting him to F1."

Van der Garde and Pic have been team-mates before, at the Barwa Addax GP2 team in 2011.

"He and Charles have been team-mates before so he is an excellent choice to partner Charles in what is going to be another very interesting season, and we are all looking forward to seeing Giedo continue to progress as he takes on the ultimate challenge of F1," Abiteboul added.

How the 2013 grid is shaping up

Red Bull: Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

Ferrari: Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.

McLaren: Jenson Button and Sergio Perez.

Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Lotus: Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean.

Force India: Paul di Resta and TBA.

Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Gutierrez.

Toro Rosso: Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

Williams: Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas.

Caterham: Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde. 

Marussia: Max Chilton and TBC.

Giedo van der Garde hoping for Caterham to sign him for 2013

Giedo van der Garde, who is a Dutch GP2 driver and also a test driver at Caterham, is waiting for Caterham to sign him on as an official driver for the 2013 F1 season.

“We had hoped for clarification last week, but Caterham has moved the decision forwards,” the 27-year-old told Dutch magazine Formule 1. “The decision is theirs and we can do nothing but wait and see. If all goes well, we will know in two weeks.”

Former Marussia driver Charles Pic has already announced his transfer to Caterham. Van der Garde will be replacing either Heikki Kovalainen or Vitaly Petrov, who were the part of the driver line up for 2012.

Caterham and Marussia had been in fight for the tenth place on the constructors’ grid most of the season and Caterham was reported to sign on another driver alongside Pic in case they do not achieve that place.

However, Caterham regained their tenth position after the season ending Brazilian GP and that has changed their financial situation so the decision for another driver has been delayed.

Van der Garde has taken part in many motor-racing competitions that include Karting, Formula 3 Series, Formula Renault and Formula Renault 3.5 Series. Racing in GP2 was part of his deal when he became the test reserve driver for Caterham.

However, he could not keep consistency with his race victories and finished in sixth place over all. He initially stepped into Formula 1 by participating in the McLaren Young Drivers Programme in 2006.

Caterham had originally established their team in 2010 with the name of Lotus which had brought the name of Lotus among the F1 community for the first time since 1994. The team is based in United Kingdom and was one of the best new comers in F1. In 2011, the team changed their engines from Cosworth to Renault and renamed themselves as Caterham in 2012.

Earlier in November, Cyril Abiteboul was named as new team principal which makes him the youngest team principal in F1. Caterham has been maintaining its tenth place on the constructors’ grid for the last three years.