Incredible as it may seem, August 26th marked a year since Sebastian Vettel last won a Formula One Grand Prix, when he triumphed at Spa-Francorchamps. In that year, his form has been blighted by errors and a marked loss of form, while new teammate Charles Leclerc goes from strength-to-strength. But is this the continued sign … Continue reading “F1: Is Ferrari’s Inner Fight Already Over?”
Category: F1 Opinion and News
“F1: Thoughts on Gasly, Albon, Red Bull and Maturity”
Monday’s announcement that Alexander Albon was to replace Pierre Gasly at Red Bull Racing may not have been the biggest shock in the world, but its timing most certainly was. With Monday morning came another change in Red Bull’s Formula One roster, as Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly swapped seats at Red Bull and Toro … Continue reading “F1: Thoughts on Gasly, Albon, Red Bull and Maturity”
“Defining Valtteri”
Valtteri Bottas finished 5th in this year’s Formula 1 Driver’s Championship, a long way distant of team leader and champion Lewis Hamilton. Has the highly rated Finn been broken or is something else holding him back? ---- “When it's so close, you start to think about every lap and every corner after the race, trying … Continue reading “Defining Valtteri”
“Thoughts on The Peter Principle and Ferrari”
Sebastian Vettel’s and Ferrari’s descent from Formula One championship contenders to also-rans since July has been painful to watch. But is this form truly a surprise or the reality of a team and driver combination having reached their Level of Incompetence? There is a concept known as The Peter Principle, more commonly known today as … Continue reading “Thoughts on The Peter Principle and Ferrari”
“F1: Kerb extension laid at Parabolica”
Following a lengthy drivers meeting yesterday, an additional kerb has been added to the exit of Parabolica for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix. With drivers using the excess run-off at Parabolica to obtain a better drive onto the start-finish straight, it was agreed to add an additional kerb to dissuade competitors from going too far … Continue reading “F1: Kerb extension laid at Parabolica”
“A Misunderstood Question”
‘What are your expectations for the season ahead?’ (or variations thereof). It is a question that I despise and there are certainly better ways of asking it, but no matter what, it is a very clumsy query that make me curl up inside. Season preview guides are often vacuous efforts, that recall past results and … Continue reading “A Misunderstood Question”
“Thoughts on Renault and Jolyon Palmer”
Jolyon Palmer has been on the receiving end of plenty of criticism in 2017, but would replacing him for the remainder of 2017 be in Renault’s best interests? It wasn’t meant to be quite like this for Jolyon Palmer. Now in his 2nd season in Formula One with the works Renault team, the Englishman is … Continue reading “Thoughts on Renault and Jolyon Palmer”
“Vettel blurs the line in the sand”
Just like at an FIA GT World Championship qualifying race at Silverstone in 2011, Sebastian Vettel showed why hot-headedness, a racing car and hand gestures are not common or advised behaviour in top-level motorsport. In the Silverstone situation, an angry Stefan Mücke (Young Driver Aston Martin) – recovering after a clash with JRM Nissan’s Richard … Continue reading “Vettel blurs the line in the sand”
“Giovinazzi stays on for Chinese Grand Prix”
Sauber revealed last night that reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi is to stay on in place of Pascal Wehrlein for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix. Citing a lack of fitness following a truncated pre-season, Wehrlein withdrew from the Australian Grand Prix after Free Practice 2 – a situation born out of Race of Champions crash in … Continue reading “Giovinazzi stays on for Chinese Grand Prix”
“A new battle is afoot”
It may not have been the most dramatic of Grand Prix, but the events in Melbourne offered a sign that Formula One as a championship battle has been rejuvenated. All it needs to do now is turn on the races and keep it up. Easy, right..? It would not be a surprise if I was … Continue reading “A new battle is afoot”
“McLaren: A race through gritted teeth”
If their performance at Australian Grand Prix is anything to go by, McLaren-Honda’s winter of discontent looks set to add Spring, Summer and Autumn to that mix, but it is not all doom and gloom at Woking. While Fernando Alonso drove what he felt was one of the drives of his career and was happy … Continue reading “McLaren: A race through gritted teeth”
“Progress for Renault, but only small steps”
Following a difficult transition year in 2016, the factory Renault team look to have delivered some gains with the RS17, but midfield battles may be the peak for the French squad. “Our race result highlights that we were not as well prepared as our opposition and our lack of mileage and preparation, both during pre-season … Continue reading “Progress for Renault, but only small steps”
“A Brief Story About Antonio Giovinazzi”
Antonio Giovinazzi’s late call-up for Sauber for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix was certainly a surprise, particularly given the reasons for which Pascal Wehrlein was withdrawn. But had one told the Italian about his Formula One less than two years ago, it is doubtful whether he would have believed it. During the early stages of … Continue reading “A Brief Story About Antonio Giovinazzi”
“Australian GP: Wehrlein withdraws, replaced by Giovinazzi”
Sauber F1 team have decided to sit driver Pascal Wehrlein out for the rest of the Australian Grand Prix following the continued after effects of his Race of Champions crash. The German racer complained of a “fitness deficit” following the Friday practice sessions, leaving Sauber little choice but to bring in reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi for his Grand Prix debut.
“A short story about Nico Rosberg”
-- For no reason, this little story about Nico Rosberg popped into my head today, so I thought it would be nice to share it with you. -- Over the weekend of the 2015 DTM season finale at Hockenheim, then Mercedes racer (and future world champion) Nico Rosberg was brought in to take part in … Continue reading “A short story about Nico Rosberg”
“Conclusions from Singapore invaders”
During the second half of last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, a member of the public breached security and entered the circuit – a moment of madness that could have rewritten the race. Beyond the obvious alterations to the form of the event – the track invasion necessitated a second safety car period – the wandering … Continue reading “Conclusions from Singapore invaders”
“I Did Not Know Jules Bianchi”
I did not know Jules Bianchi. In acknowledging that, it is the case that I had met him on a few occasions, but at no stage did I ever know him – there is quite a difference. Over the years, there was plenty of stumbling along as I shadowed a few steps behind the young … Continue reading “I Did Not Know Jules Bianchi”
Jules Bianchi
It has been confirmed today Marussia Formula One driver Jules Bianchi passed away at the Le Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice.
“The Other ‘Drive of the Day'”
While much of the post-race talk of the Monaco Grand Prix focussed on Mercedes’ strategic mix-up that cost Lewis Hamilton the race win, one highly successful run went largely unnoticed in the melee. Starting from the pitlane, Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz slipped serenely up the order to eventually take home 10th place and one point come the final order.
“The Art of Being Human”
Despite what the Internet will tell you, simple human error and confusion cost Lewis Hamilton the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday. If nothing else, it was a timely reminder that at the heart of our sport lay not just computers, but banks of people making split-second decisions – and sometimes they get it wrong.