Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher express readiness for the Monaco GP

Rosberg and Schumacher in Barcelona last weekend. Photo courtesy of Mercedes GP

The short turn around between the Spanish Grand Prix last weekend and this weekend's Monaco race doesn't give Mercedes GP Petronas drivers, Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher, much chance to reflect on the highs and lows from Spain.

For Nico Rosberg, the Spanish GP was one to forget as he found himself catapulted out of point scoring opportunities for the fist time this year. Monaco is a home race for the German who'll be looking to reverse last week's hiccup. His early races have caught the attention of many due to his ability to plonk the under performing Mercedes car high on the points table and out perform the sport's most successful driver, Michael Schumacher. But Monaco is a tough place to reverse disappointing form and things will really have to click this weekend given the presence of McLaren, Renault, Ferrari and of course the confident Red Bull Racing team.

"The Monaco Grand Prix is my home race and it's always an enjoyable weekend. Formula One brings a real atmosphere to my home town and it's very special to have all of my family and friends there to support me over the weekend." said Rosberg. "Living so close to the track is helpful too! After a rewarding first four races, Barcelona was disappointing, so we will hope to see an improvement for Monaco and we will work hard to understand our issues from last weekend. Monaco is a completely different circuit with its own unique challenges and characteristics so it will be interesting to see how the car goes there. I had a good race last year, qualifying and finishing in sixth place, so it would be nice to go a few places better this time."

It will be crucial for Mercedes to place their cars as high in the order as possible during qualifying if they're to have a chance of scoring decent points, something Schumacher finally achieved last weekend. His revitalized performance on Sunday has encouraged the seven-time World Champion considerably and he brings renewed confidence into this weekend's event. "I have always liked to drive in Monaco and that's why I am really looking forward to competing there this weekend. " said Schumacher. "The Monaco Grand Prix certainly adds something very special to the Formula One calendar and driving through the streets of Monte Carlo is undoubtedly unique.

We go there and hope that the characteristics of the street circuit suit our car better than in Spain last weekend. On the other hand, we should be careful to expect too much this time as we have seen in Barcelona that there is still a lot of work ahead of us. So, other than having achieved my best result so far this season, I have taken with me a lot of motivation to work even harder with our engineers to improve the car further."

Last week BBC commentator Jonathan Legard reported that Schumacher had an extra spring in his step ahead of the Barcelona race. According to Legard, that usually means Schumacher has something up his sleeve, and sure enough he did. It'll be interesting to see if Schumacher carries the same spring in his step in Monaco on Thursday where the first free practice gets underway.

Mercedes GP CEO Nick Fry seems to think so, and told Autosport yesterday that Schumacher had recaptured his "sparkle". www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/83514. He also admitted however, that the Red Bull team has at least half a second on them and that therefore there was a lot of work to do if Mercedes hope to catch them.

(The Mercedes GP Petronas team's ability to improve has a lot to do with the "brains trust" of team principal Ross Brawn, left, and CEO Nick Fry, right. Fry admitted early this week that they were half a second off the pace of Red Bull Racing. Photo courtesy of Mercedes GP Petronas) 

Fortunately the slower Monaco circuit is a bit of leveler in terms of advantage, since the outright pace of the front runners and more powerful cars is negated a little by the twisty circuit. Monaco has a propensity for throwing in far more variables than a standard sweeping track. Overtaking is very difficult, back markers are hard to dodge and the slightest loss of concentration could spell disaster, since the street circuit's barriers are notoriously unforgiving on race cars built on the edge of their design limits.

Accidents mean yellow flag incidents and suddenly a driver's comfortable lead is whittled down to nothing and he/she has to fend off the pack again. If you throw rain, and more cars on the circuit this year, with Virgin, Lotus and HRT struggling for pace with entirely new cars, it's going to provide more than the usual challenge for the leading teams.

Michael Schumacher has the lap record at the circuit, a 1:14.439, which he captured in 2004 with of course, Ferrari.

Nathan can be contacted at pricklyhedgehog@yahoo.com and welcomes your comments and suggestions, or you may post below.

 

Source : http://www.examiner.com/x-37065-Mercedes-GP-Examiner~y2010m5d11-Nico-Rosberg-and-Michael-Schumacher-express-readiness-for-the-Monaco-GP

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Mercedes-Benz GP Petronas F1 Chinese Grand Prix Race Facts

In anticipation of the Chinese Grand Prix on April 18th, we've got a detailed look at the track and a variety of other F1 facts

 

15 April 2010 | CDanielson

International motor racing came to China (i.e. the People's Republic of China) first in the mid nineties with races of the BPR Series, a sports car championship.  They staged races on a temporary street circuit in down- town Zhouhai south of Hong Kong.  In 1996, the race moved to a new track outside the city and the organisers hoped for a Formula One Grand Prix in China already at that time, however, the track didn't match the requirements of the FIA.

The Shanghai International Circuit is located in the countryside to the Northeast of Anting Town, Jiading District, Shanghai City.  The whole site covers an area of 2.5 square kilometres with the grandstands offering seats for about 200,000 spectators.  More than 2 million cubic meters of earth material were filled into the area of the auto racetrack and nearly 40,000 batches of pile foundation were laid into the racetrack area for consolidating ground foundation. The steel used in the top of the primary stand reached over 5,000 tons of a total 12,000 tons used for the entire project.  The track which has the shape of the Chinese symbol 'Shang', which translates as 'high' or 'above' was completed within 18 months.

The Shanghai International Circuit is the biggest race track in Asia with a grand stand capacity for about 200,000 spectators.  It cost 240 million US dollars and matches the latest standards.  The track was designed by the leading architect Hermann Tike.

Two years ago, McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton started from pole position, posted the fastest race lap and won – an important step towards his World Championship title which he clinched two weeks later in Brazil.

Track Records:

• Lap Record – Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) 1m32.28sec (2004)

• Fastest Lap 2009 – Rubens Barrichello (Brawn Mercedes) 1m52.592sec

• Pole Position 2009 – Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Renault) 1m36.184sec

To learn more about the Chinese Grand Prix, the Shanghai International Circuit, and a variety of other interesting F1 information, we invite you to view the full gallery packed with digital racefacts below (don't forget you can click the images in the gallery to make them easier to read).

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Petronas ‘Keen to Expand’ in Indonesia: Hatta

Malaysian state oil and gas company Petronas plans to expand its investments in Indonesia, including in the upstream sector, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa said on Wednesday.

“They expressed a commitment to expand investment in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry,” he told reporters following a meeting with the president of PT Petronas Niaga Indonesia, M. Ibrahimnuddin M. Yunus, and Malaysian Ambassador Zainal Abidin M. Zain.

“When the Energy Ministry opens tenders for new oil and gas areas, we’ll push [Petronas] to participate,” Hatta said.

He explained that the government wants to encourage firms like Petronas to look for new oil reserves in remote areas because of declining production in the country’s existing, mature fields.

He did not provide details. Yunus could not be immediately reached for comment.

The Energy Ministry announced on Monday plans to open tenders for 35 oil and gas blocks this year, most of them in eastern Indonesia.

Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati warned earlier this month of a likely shortfall in the country’s oil production this year due to aging wells.

Efforts to lure investors into new oil and gas areas have been relatively unsuccessful. A tender for new oil and gas working areas last year was widely shunned because of uncertainty over cost recovery for oil and gas projects. Only five of the 16 blocks offered by the government in December attracted successful offers.

The government is planning to issue a new regulation on cost recovery in the oil and gas sector, which some said would put a cap on the expenses that can be claimed back by oil and gas contractors from the government.

In December last year, Petronas won the rights to distribute subsidized fuel in Medan, North Sumatra, ending the monopoly of state-owned PT Pertamina. The Malaysian company began distributing non-subsidized products here in December of 2005 and now operates 19 gas stations in Greater Jakarta, Bandung and Medan. The company reportedly expects to have up to three more gas stations by 2011.

However Petronas is less aggressive in the Indonesian upstream oil and gas sector. Out of the six oil and gas blocks it owns, two will reportedly be relinquished to the government because they lack prospects. They are the Karapan block in East Java and the Northeast Madura offshore block.

The remaining four blocks are still in the exploration stage with the Ketapang offshore block in East Java likely to start production in the near future.

(Sources : http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/business/petronas-keen-to-expand-in-indonesia-hatta/368155)

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Mercedes confident Michael Schumacher will shine

Rosberg has out-qualified and beaten Schumacher in each of the first three races


Michael Schumacher's Formula 1 rivals would be "foolish" to write off the seven-time world champion, Mercedes GP chief Nick Fry has warned.

Fry is convinced Mercedes can build on Nico Rosberg's third-place finish in Malaysia and expects the German team-mates to challenge for more podiums.

"We've got an extremely strong team and anyone who underestimates us is fairly foolish," Fry told autosport.com.

"Every race Michael is learning a bit more and it is all coming together."

Schumacher returned to F1 this season after a three-year break but has only collected nine points from the opening three grands prix and is trailing leader Felipe Massa by 30 points.

And 41-year-old Schumacher, who suffered the team's first retirement in Malaysia after losing a wheel nut, has also been out-qualified and beaten in each of the three races by Rosberg.

But despite being slightly off the pace in the early grands prix, Fry hailed the impact his veteran driver has had on the team.

"Michael is, for me, quite remarkable," said Fry.

The level of feedback he gives is something that I have never seen before, and is just not in the debriefs.

"When you have the headphones on you hear amazing things. In qualifying he was driving around almost giving a commentary.

"He has taken the disappointment of what happened in Malaysia very well.

Schumacher has no doubts over F1 return

"He has taken away the positives again. I would not underestimate him."

The Mercedes team has so far struggled for pace in comparison to Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari, each of whom has a win under their belt.

However, Rosberg's finish in Malaysia was the team's first podium after three races in 2010.

And Fry is adamant the team, which won six of the first seven races in its guise as Brawn GP last season, will be competitive.

"We've got excellent people. I would say we still have the best technical leader in Ross [Brawn], we have the best manufacturer and engine provider in F1, and we have two phenomenal drivers," explained Fry.

"All of that means that we are going to be strong, and we have the tools in terms of the money to do a very good job.

"I am very optimistic. We will be strong this year. Whether we can win it, who knows, but I think we will be there or thereabout."

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Rosberg: It's a great feeling to return to podium

 

By Adam Leveridge.

Having secured third place in Sunday's Malaysian grand prix, Nico Rosberg said it is a great feeling to be back on the podium again, after a 22-races without success.


In the home race for Mercedes' title sponsor, oil firm Petronas, Rosberg drove cleanly and consistently to finish behind the Red Bull pairing, who secured their first one-two of the 2010 season.

Swift work from the Mercedes pit-crew got the young German out ahead of Robert Kubica in the Renault, who pulled off another surprising performance to finish fourth.

After the race, Rosberg indicated that third place was Mercedes' limit in Malaysia, as he said it was just a case of managing his pace throughout the grand prix, knowing the Red Bulls had a quicker package.

"Its a fantastic result today to achieve our teams first podium," said Rosberg.

"It's a great feeling to be back up on the podium again and to have so much support from the Malaysian fans here.

"My start didn't go that well today as I had a bit too much wheelspin and once I was in third place, I knew it would be difficult to follow the leading cars.

"I struggled a little with the options in the first stint which allowed Robert [Kubica] to stay quite close but once we switched to the primes, I felt really comfortable and we could manage the race home to third place.

"This is a great end to a strong weekend for us.
"We're not quite where we want to be yet so we need to push on but I'm confident that well get there soon."

The result means Rosberg finished ahead of his vastly more experienced team-mate Michael Schumacher, who retired from the Malaysian grand prix when he suffered a problem with his left-rear wheel.

Mercedes GP team principal Ross Brawn praised Rosberg's effort in Malaysia, but was disappointed Schumacher missed out on a points again, this time, because of an unprecedented and unpreventable fault.

"That was an excellent drive from Nico today and a first-class performance to secure his third career podium and the first podium for the Mercedes GP team," said Brawn.

"We are delighted to have achieved the first podium for the Silver Arrows here in Malaysia and to be able to share the rewards of our hard work with our title partner Petronas at their home grand prix.

"My compliments to Nico for an assured performance today and over the weekend.

"Michael was in a good position after the start and we were looking forward to having a good race on his side but unfortunately it wasn't to be.

"The car lost a wheel nut which is a problem that we haven't experienced before.

"The wheel nuts are double-checked on the grid so we will investigate and put in place the necessary solutions."

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Petronas Lubricants to boost market share

More products and marketing campaigns in the pipeline

KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas Lubricants International Sdn Bhd aims to be the lubricant market leader in Malaysia in five to 10 years by introducing more high standard lubricant products and having aggressive marketing campaigns, said Petronas Dagangan Bhd lube business division general manager Mohd Shobri A. Bakar.

“Currently, we control about 21% to 22% of the local lubricants market. There are about 30 players in the market and we have to compete with all of them, which will take some time,” he told reporters yesterday after the launch of Petronas Syntium Moto, a synthetic motorcycle engine oil marketed by Petronas Dagangan.

Shobri said there were still growth opportunities in this industry such as in the motorcycle sector and the introduction of the new product would further boost the company’s market share. He was confident Petronas Syntium Moto would be well received by motorcycle enthusiasts locally and internationally.

“With growing demand for the synthetic range and being distinctive from any other lubricant brands, Petronas Lubricants will be well-poised to play a bigger role as a leading producer, manufacturer and distributor of engine oils, both in Malaysia and overseas,” he said.

Petronas Syntium Moto would be marketed to several countries including Indonesia, Thailand, China, Japan, Singapore and India soon.

Petronas Lubricants International marketing strategy and business development general manager Domenico Ciaglia said Petronas Syntium Moto was the result of two years’ hard work in research and development (R&D) and Malaysia was the first country to introduce the new product.

“Our continuous long-term lubricant development programme that produced Petronas Syntium Moto further proves our R&D ingenuity in developing world-class lubricant products,” he said.

Petronas Syntium Moto is currently available at all Petronas service stations and Kedai Mesra outlets nationwide at prices ranging from RM23 to RM88.

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Assembly Approves Motion To Take Oil Royalty Issue To Court

Assembly Approves Motion To Take Oil Royalty Issue To Court

KOTA BAHARU, March 1 (Bernama) -- The state legislative assembly Monday approved the motion to take the oil royalty issue to the court.

The motion, proposed by Abdullah Ya'akub (PAS-Air Lanas) and seconded by backbenchers and several opposition members, was unanimously approved after being debated by five members including Opposition Leader Datuk Mohd Alwi Che Ahmad (BN-Kok Lanas).

State economic development, finance and welfare committee chairman Datuk Husam Musa said the state government would file an injunction against Petronas to stop its operations in Kelantan waters "even if only for two days."

"We know that the two-day (halt in operations) would give a huge impact to the country's economy but this is something that we have to do to claim what is ours," he said.

Meanwhile, the state government called on Petronas to carry out arbitration as a means to resolve the issue apart from going to court.

Husam said the process would give Petronas the opportunity to listen to the basis for the claim and for the national oil corporation to reply to the claim.

"The arbitration should only involve the state government and Petronas, to be presided by an independent chairman, without the presence of representatives from the federal government, Umno or other political parties," he said when winding up the debate on the motion today.

Husam said the state government would not want the federal government or Umno to get involve in the process.

He added that the arbitration process and the court process could be carried out simultaneously.

Kelantan had been demanding the oil royalty and not compassionate payment as proposed by the government.

Kelantan would get RM20 million in compassionate payment for two oil wells found 150 nautical miles from its coast.

-- BERNAMA

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