Virgin gambled on an aggressive low-downforce set-up at Montreal but changing track conditions and continued unreliability meant a poor race for the team. Timo Glock Lucas di Grassi Qualifying position 21 23 Qualifying time comparison (Q1) 1’18.941 (-0.734) 1’19.675 Race position 19 Average race lap 1’25.921 (-0.838) 1’26.760 Laps 50/70 65/70 Pit stops 4 3 … Continue reading Set-up gamble fails (Virgin race review)
Virgin articles archive
HRT closing on Virgin (HRT race review)
Posted onHRT driver Bruno Senna out-qualified one of the Virgin cars while team mate Karun Chandhok led home one of the VR-01s during the race. But technical trouble continues to blight the Spanish team. Karun Chandhok Bruno Senna Qualifying position 24 22 Qualifying time comparison (Q1) 1’27.757 (+8.273) 1’19.484 Race position 18 Average race lap 1’25.529 … Continue reading HRT closing on Virgin (HRT race review)
Turkish GP team-by-team: Virgin
Posted onVirgin did not seem to have an answer for Lotus’s pace at Istanbul – Glock was half a second slower than Jarno Trulli in qualifying. But the race saw a reversal of the teams’ usual fortunes this year as neither Lotus made the finish and Virgin just managed to get both cars to the chequered … Continue reading Turkish GP team-by-team: Virgin
Monaco GP team-by-team: Virgin
Posted onBoth Virgins failed to finish once again in Monaco. Timo Glock Lucas di Grassi Qualifying position 20 21 Qualifying time comparison (Q1) 1’17.377 (-0.487) 1’17.864 Race position Average race lap 1’31.943 (-0.666) 1’32.609 Laps 22/78 25/78 Pit stops 0 1 Timo Glock Glock had a brief but exciting race before a broken track rod put … Continue reading Monaco GP team-by-team: Virgin
Spanish Grand Prix team-by-team: Virgin
Posted onVirgin got both their cars to the finish for the first time in 2010. The team ran one revised VR-01 for Timo Glock while Lucas di Grassi remains in the old car until Istanbul. Timo Glock Lucas di Grassi Qualifying position 22 23 Qualifying time comparison (Q1) 1’25.475 (-0.081) 1’25.556 Race position 18 19 Average … Continue reading Spanish Grand Prix team-by-team: Virgin
Lucas di Grassi says Virgin can catch the midfield teams (Interview)
Posted onLucas di Grassi believes Virgin can find much more performance in the VR-01 and expects to catch the midfield teams by the end of the year. In an exclusive interview with F1 Fanatic he also explained why he thinks tracks need to have more quick corners and how he’s improved as a driver since making … Continue reading Lucas di Grassi says Virgin can catch the midfield teams (Interview)
Chinese GP team-by-team: Virgin
Posted onVirgin once again demonstrated the best one-lap pace of the new teams but also the worst reliability. Timo Glock Lucas di Grassi Qualifying position 19 22 Qualifying time comparison (Q1) 1’39.278 (-0.505) 1’39.783 Race position Average race lap 3’55.358 Laps 0/56 8/56 Pit stops 0 0 Timo Glock Took ‘new team pole position’ with a … Continue reading Chinese GP team-by-team: Virgin
Virgin still working on fuel problems
Posted onChinese GP racepreparation in pictures Virgin hope they have solved the fuel pick-up problems which have dogged their car in the opening races. The fuel system has been a bane of the VR-01, particularly the fuel tank whose small size means they have to conserve fuel to complete a race distance. They will not have … Continue reading Virgin still working on fuel problems
Malaysian GP team-by-team: Virgin
Posted onVirgin achieved their first race finish thanks to Lucas di Grassi – but they might have got both cars home had Timo Glock not crashed out. Nonetheless technical director Nick Wirth was pleased the team had finally seen the chequered flag: We’ve come in for heavy criticism for our radical low-cost design approach and relative … Continue reading Malaysian GP team-by-team: Virgin
F1 2010 season preview: Virgin
Posted onVirgin were the first of the new teams to appear on the track in testing. But they’ve suffered mechanical and aerodynamic gremlins with their VR-01. How will they fare against the other newcomers, and can they trouble any of the established teams in their first season?
Virgin replace Parente with Soucek
Posted onAndy Soucek has taken Alvaro Parente’s place as third driver at Virgin. Soucek, who won the Formula Two championship last year, drove for Williams in the young drivers’ test at Jerez at the end of 2009. Parente lost his place as the team’s third driver after planned sponsorship from the Portuguese tourism institute failed to … Continue reading Virgin replace Parente with Soucek
Virgin VR-01 hits the track (Video)
Posted onVirgin Racing have put out a video of their new F1 car’s shakedown test at Silverstone last week. Timo Glock – sporting a new helmet design – was first to drive the car. Team mate Lucas di Grassi also had a go and prepared for his test by taking a Nissan GT-R around Silverstone’s Stowe … Continue reading Virgin VR-01 hits the track (Video)
Virgin VR-01’s track debut (Pictures)
Posted onVirgin Racing have run their VR-01 for the first time at Silverstone. See below for pictures of Timo Glock driving the car around the Stowe circuit. Update: Pictures of Lucas di Grassi’s Friday test in the VR-01 added.
Virgin Racing launch VR-01
F1 pictures
Posted onVirgin Racing are the first of the new F1 teams to launch their 2010 car. See below for more pictures and information about the VR-01.
Virgin VR-01 to launch online
Posted onVirgin Racing will launch their first F1 car in an online event on February 3rd. The car, to be called the VR-01, will have what the team calls an “all-digital” launch to complement the cars all-digital design process which shunned wind tunnel testing for CFD design. The VR-01’s debut will happen at 10am GMT. I … Continue reading Virgin VR-01 to launch online
Manor GP3 driver to get Virgin F1 test
Posted onManor Motorsport has announced it will run a GP3 team in 2010 – and the its top driver will get a test with the new Virgin F1 team. The two teams will be run from the same base and Manor’s GP3 outfit will form part of Virgin’s driver development programme. They will have access to … Continue reading Manor GP3 driver to get Virgin F1 test
Virgin Racing confirms Manor takeover and announces Lucas di Grassi for 2010
Posted onVirgin Racing has confirmed its long-expected take over of the Manor Grand Prix team for 2010. And it has announced the team’s second driver will be Brazilian rookie Lucas di Grassi. Di Grassi completes Virgin’s 2010 F1 driver line-up, joining Toyota refugee Timo Glock.
Virgin to confirm di Grassi on Tuesday?
Posted onVirgin has announced it will reveal the first details of its 2010 F1 team on Tuesday next week. Now Brazilian website IG Esporte claims Lucas di Grassi will be announced as the team’s second driver. He will join Timo Glock, who he raced against in GP2 in 2006 and 2007. Virgin will take over the … Continue reading Virgin to confirm di Grassi on Tuesday?
2010 F1 teams list sees Virgin replace Manor, no Sauber or Toyota
Posted onThe official 2010 F1 teams list published today by the FIA has confirmed long-standing rumours the new Manor entry will be branded by former Brawn sponsors Virgin. The FIA has also noted the absence of an entry from Toyota and has not yet substituted it with another team – including new BMW owners Sauber. Toyota … Continue reading 2010 F1 teams list sees Virgin replace Manor, no Sauber or Toyota
F1 links: Virgin to take over Manor
Posted onManor Motorsport’s F1 entry for 2010 looks set to be branded by Richard Branson’s Virgin company. Also, Rubens Barrichello won’t have to take a second gearbox change at Singapore. Virgin reach for the stars with Manor (The Independent) "Richard Branson's Virgin group have taken control of the new Manor team joining Formula One next year, … Continue reading F1 links: Virgin to take over Manor