It has been reported today that RedBull Racing driver Mark Webber looks set to sign a one year deal to drive alongside Fernando Alonso at Ferrari for the 2013 season. The reports appeared today as Felipe Massa who has really struggled at Ferrari since his horrific accident in Hungary in 2009 attended the Sao Paolo IndyCar race at the weekend sparking rumuors he is about to be dropped by Ferrari in favour of Webber who is out of contract with RedBull at the end of the year and is very keen to continue in the sport.
It is thought however, that he faces stiff competition from RedBull's junior driver's at Toro Rosso for a seat at the Championship winning team for 2013, added to the fact hat je get's on very well with Fernando Alonso. So watch this space
Monday 30 April 2012
Sunday 22 April 2012
Vettel wins as Lotus shine
RedBull's Sebastien Vettel became the fourth winner from four race's as he stormed to victory in Bahrain today closely followed home by the Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean. Kimi started from 11th on the grid for the controversial GrandPrix after saving tyre's for the race, this proved to be a fantastic strategy as the Iceman carved his way through the field to finish second behind Vettel in a race which the Lotus driver should have won.
Kimi was joined on the podium by team mate Romain Grosjean who finished third giving the Lotus name it's first double podium finish since 1979. Mark Webber finished 4th While Force India's Paul Di Resta and the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg finished 5th and 6th respectively. It was a very poor day for both McLaren and Ferrari as Jenson Button had to retire his car just before the end of the race while Lewis Hamilton coud only manage to finish in 8th place.
Meanwhile Ferrari could only manage 7th for Alonso and 9th for Massa which was a far cry from Alonso's shock victory at the Malaysian GrandPrix.
So the F1 circus now head's to Mugello in Italy on 3rd May for the only in season test of the year before the next race the start of the European season in Barcelona from 11th to 13th May.
I am absolutely delighted for the Lotus team especially for Kimi as only four race's into his come back to F1 he has scored a fantastic 2nd place finish. The double podium finish move's Lotus up to third in the championship with 57 points
Kimi was joined on the podium by team mate Romain Grosjean who finished third giving the Lotus name it's first double podium finish since 1979. Mark Webber finished 4th While Force India's Paul Di Resta and the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg finished 5th and 6th respectively. It was a very poor day for both McLaren and Ferrari as Jenson Button had to retire his car just before the end of the race while Lewis Hamilton coud only manage to finish in 8th place.
Meanwhile Ferrari could only manage 7th for Alonso and 9th for Massa which was a far cry from Alonso's shock victory at the Malaysian GrandPrix.
So the F1 circus now head's to Mugello in Italy on 3rd May for the only in season test of the year before the next race the start of the European season in Barcelona from 11th to 13th May.
I am absolutely delighted for the Lotus team especially for Kimi as only four race's into his come back to F1 he has scored a fantastic 2nd place finish. The double podium finish move's Lotus up to third in the championship with 57 points
Sunday 15 April 2012
Rosberg takes light's to flag victory in Shanghai
Mercedes AMG driver Nico Rosberg took a fantastic maiden victory at today's Chinese GrandPrix in Shanghai. The German started from pole position just ahead of team-mate Michael Schumacher and made a lightening start. The team took their first win since their return to the sport.
Kimi Raikkonen had a fantastic start and was on a two stop strategy for the race. towards the end of the race he lost 10 laps and eventually finished down the order in 14th place while team-mate Romain Grosjean finished in 6th place.
It was a great race for the McLaren team who finished second and third allowing the team to extend their lead over RedBull in Contructor's Championship.
The Williams team had a great race as both their driver's finished in the points for the first time since Korea 2010.
The race was fantastic apart the strategy call that Lotus made with Kimi but the next race is only one week away in Bahrain so hopefully Lotus will be able to continue their form. The Lotus team have increased their points total to 24 to lie in 6th place only two points behind Mercedes AMG.
Kimi Raikkonen had a fantastic start and was on a two stop strategy for the race. towards the end of the race he lost 10 laps and eventually finished down the order in 14th place while team-mate Romain Grosjean finished in 6th place.
It was a great race for the McLaren team who finished second and third allowing the team to extend their lead over RedBull in Contructor's Championship.
The Williams team had a great race as both their driver's finished in the points for the first time since Korea 2010.
The race was fantastic apart the strategy call that Lotus made with Kimi but the next race is only one week away in Bahrain so hopefully Lotus will be able to continue their form. The Lotus team have increased their points total to 24 to lie in 6th place only two points behind Mercedes AMG.
Saturday 14 April 2012
Rosberg takes maiden F1 pole
Mercedes AMG driver secured his first ever pole position for tomorrow's Chinese GrandPrix in Shanghai. Rosberg finished just ahead of McLaren's Lewis Hamilton who has a 5 place grid penalty for the race. That move's Michael Schumacher up to 2nd on the grid giving Mercedes their first front row lock out since their return to F1 in 2010.
Meanwhile Kimi Raikkonen secured his best qualifying position since his comeback he start's from 4th on the grid, team-mate Romain Grosjean will start 10th.
It was a very difficult day for RedBull particularly for reigning champion Sebastian Vettel who will start the race from 11th on the grid. Mark Webber starts sixth. Lewis Hamilton will start 7th.
Following a fantastic result in Malaysia three week's ago Sergio Perez will the race in 8th while team mate Kamui Kobayashi will start 3rd on the grid and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso will start from 9th place.
I think that if Lotus give Kimi a good strategy he could very well end the race tomorrow on the podium.
Jenson Button will start from 5th on the grid so we shall see what happens tomorrow.
Meanwhile Kimi Raikkonen secured his best qualifying position since his comeback he start's from 4th on the grid, team-mate Romain Grosjean will start 10th.
It was a very difficult day for RedBull particularly for reigning champion Sebastian Vettel who will start the race from 11th on the grid. Mark Webber starts sixth. Lewis Hamilton will start 7th.
Following a fantastic result in Malaysia three week's ago Sergio Perez will the race in 8th while team mate Kamui Kobayashi will start 3rd on the grid and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso will start from 9th place.
I think that if Lotus give Kimi a good strategy he could very well end the race tomorrow on the podium.
Jenson Button will start from 5th on the grid so we shall see what happens tomorrow.
Friday 13 April 2012
Bahrain will go ahead
The FIA announced today that next weekend's Bahrain GrandPrix WILL go ahead despite the continued unrest in the kingdom state. There was no Bahrain GrandPrix last year due to the unrest in the country.
Despite fears over the security situation in the country all the team's, the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone met today in China where it was decided that the race will go ahead. I believe it is extremely stupid that Formula One is travelling to Bahrain. Not only are the sport putting all the team's at risk but they are also potentially putting spectators and all the media attending the race at risk as F1 is putting a massive target on their back's.
I believe that the sport is going to lose an awful lot of support by travelling to Bahrain.
Despite fears over the security situation in the country all the team's, the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone met today in China where it was decided that the race will go ahead. I believe it is extremely stupid that Formula One is travelling to Bahrain. Not only are the sport putting all the team's at risk but they are also potentially putting spectators and all the media attending the race at risk as F1 is putting a massive target on their back's.
I believe that the sport is going to lose an awful lot of support by travelling to Bahrain.
Thursday 12 April 2012
Hamilton handed grid penalty for Chinese GrandPrix
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton's chance's of winning a second successive Chinese GrandPrix were dealt a major blow today as the team announced that they had to change his gearbox, as a result the 2008 Championship has been given a 5 place grid penalty for Sunday's race.
Hamilton has finished on the podium in the first two race's of the season with two third place finishes. Meanwhile team mate Jenson Button has one win and from the two race's. So the fact that Lewis has a penalty Jenson has the possibility to capitalize this weekend.
In other F1 news, the Lotus F1 have not ended their sponsorship agreement with Group Lotus the deal has just been restructured. Group Lotus have said that they are committed to the sport until at least 2017.
Meanwhile the Formula One team's are due to meet Bernie Ecclestone over the Chinese GrandPrix weekend to discuss the Bahrain GrandPrix. The F1 commercial right's holder has insisted that the race will go ahead next weekend,
Hamilton has finished on the podium in the first two race's of the season with two third place finishes. Meanwhile team mate Jenson Button has one win and from the two race's. So the fact that Lewis has a penalty Jenson has the possibility to capitalize this weekend.
In other F1 news, the Lotus F1 have not ended their sponsorship agreement with Group Lotus the deal has just been restructured. Group Lotus have said that they are committed to the sport until at least 2017.
Meanwhile the Formula One team's are due to meet Bernie Ecclestone over the Chinese GrandPrix weekend to discuss the Bahrain GrandPrix. The F1 commercial right's holder has insisted that the race will go ahead next weekend,
Wednesday 11 April 2012
Susie Wolff joins Williams
DTM driver Susie Wolff has signed a deal with Williams Renault to become the team's development driver. Susie is the wife of Williams shareholder Tot Wolff and has been racing in the DTM series is just about to start her seventh DTM campaign.
Wolff will work with the Williams simulator and it's technicians and will take part in the in season F1 test in May. Wolff becomes the second female driver to sign for a F1 team this season as Marie Villote was signed to the Marussia young driver programme and will take part in the young driver test session in Abu Dhabi later this season.
Wolff will work with the Williams simulator and it's technicians and will take part in the in season F1 test in May. Wolff becomes the second female driver to sign for a F1 team this season as Marie Villote was signed to the Marussia young driver programme and will take part in the young driver test session in Abu Dhabi later this season.
Lotus angered by leak of confidential information
the Lotus F1 team were said to be extremely angered today by the news that information that a group of team members had gathered in Bahrain last week about the safety of the race was leaked to the media. It has been reported that the information that the team gathered was attributed to the FIA, however this is completely untrue as Lotus travelled to the Gulf state on behalf of the teams.
The document was then due to be passed on to all the other team's so that they could form their own opinions on the current situation in Bahrain.
In a separate development, the Formula One Team's Association (FOTA) has said that the final decision on whether the Bahrain GrandPrix goes ahead rests firmly with the FIA as the team's race in the FIA Formula One World Championship.
It has been revealed that if the team's were to boycott the race they would face severe financial sanctions from Bernie Ecclestone as the team's are obliged to race in all the races on the calendar. I believe that the team's should be allowed to decide themselves if they want to travel to the race as they don't want to send their employee's to the Gulf state if their safety cannot be guarnteed.
In a statement a number of week's ago Jean Todt, president of the FIA said that the race will go ahead and that they have no fears what so ever regarding the safety of the Bahrain GrandPrix. Everyday the situation in Bahrain change's so we shall see what happens.
The team's are set to hold a meeting about the Bahrain GrandPrix in China this weekend.
The document was then due to be passed on to all the other team's so that they could form their own opinions on the current situation in Bahrain.
In a separate development, the Formula One Team's Association (FOTA) has said that the final decision on whether the Bahrain GrandPrix goes ahead rests firmly with the FIA as the team's race in the FIA Formula One World Championship.
It has been revealed that if the team's were to boycott the race they would face severe financial sanctions from Bernie Ecclestone as the team's are obliged to race in all the races on the calendar. I believe that the team's should be allowed to decide themselves if they want to travel to the race as they don't want to send their employee's to the Gulf state if their safety cannot be guarnteed.
In a statement a number of week's ago Jean Todt, president of the FIA said that the race will go ahead and that they have no fears what so ever regarding the safety of the Bahrain GrandPrix. Everyday the situation in Bahrain change's so we shall see what happens.
The team's are set to hold a meeting about the Bahrain GrandPrix in China this weekend.
Tuesday 10 April 2012
Sauber to retire
As I reported yesterday Peter Sauber is to retire from his position of team principal however he confirmed today that he will retire from the team earlier then expected. Sauber will retire from the team towards the end of this season. The Swiss man set up the Sauber team in 1993 and was responsible for bringing Kimi Raikkonen to Formula One in 2001.
In 2006, Sauber joined forces with German car manufacturer BMW who went on to buy the team outright in 2007 and renamed the team BMW. However in 2008 the team reinstated the Sauber name so it became BMW Sauber. The team took their first and only win at the 2008 Canadian GrandPrix with Robert Kubica behind the wheel.
At the end of the 2009 season BMW announced that they were pulling out of Formula One and put the team up for sale. Throughout BMW's involvement with the team Peter Sauber remained as team principal. In 2010 Sauber bought back the team somewhat reluctantly and the team was funded by BMW for the 2010 season infact the team was known as the BMW Sauber Ferrari team. However in 2011 the team struggled financially.
I am delighted that the team are still involved in the sport as they along with McLaren and Williams are the only team's who are not involved or owned by billionaire businessmen. In 1995 Sauber were the first team to be sponsored by energy drinks firm RedBull.
In 2006, Sauber joined forces with German car manufacturer BMW who went on to buy the team outright in 2007 and renamed the team BMW. However in 2008 the team reinstated the Sauber name so it became BMW Sauber. The team took their first and only win at the 2008 Canadian GrandPrix with Robert Kubica behind the wheel.
At the end of the 2009 season BMW announced that they were pulling out of Formula One and put the team up for sale. Throughout BMW's involvement with the team Peter Sauber remained as team principal. In 2010 Sauber bought back the team somewhat reluctantly and the team was funded by BMW for the 2010 season infact the team was known as the BMW Sauber Ferrari team. However in 2011 the team struggled financially.
I am delighted that the team are still involved in the sport as they along with McLaren and Williams are the only team's who are not involved or owned by billionaire businessmen. In 1995 Sauber were the first team to be sponsored by energy drinks firm RedBull.
Chinese GrandPrix Preview
This weekend sees the F1 circus roll into Shanghai for the UBS Chinese GrandPrix. Lewis Hamilton won the race last year and I think it is going to be an extremely race with weekend between the top four teams. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, won last time out in Malaysia however I believe the fight for victory this weekend is going to be between McLaren and possibly RedBull Racing.
I really enjoy the GrandPrix in China, the track layout is very technical and is a very fast and flowing circuit with a number of fast straight's and very tricky corners. For example turn's one and two are very tricky. The run up to turn one is very short and the driver's immediately launch themselves into turn two and then they fly down to the heavy breaking zone of turn three.
The 56 lap race has been on the F1 calendar since 2004 and the lap record was set by Michael Schumacher during the 2004 race.
It is going to be extremely interesting to see how the team's get on this weekend. The Sauber F1 team had a fantastic weekend in the rain delayed Malaysian GrandPrix where Sergio Perez finished the race in second place behind Fernando Alonso however the Sauber driver very nearly won the GrandPrix. For the second GrandPrix in a row Lewis Hamilton and McLaren finished on the podium.
I am hoping that the Lotus F1 team have a great weekend where they don't encounter problems. Kimi Raikkonen had a very poor start to his F1 comeback where he started 17th on the grid however he fought back and finished the race in 7th place. Meanwhile Romain Grosjean has yet to finish a GrandPrix this season. Kimi had another great race in Malaysia where he finished 5th just ehind the RedBull of Mark Webber.
I fully believe that the Lotus team will be on the podium before very long.
I really enjoy the GrandPrix in China, the track layout is very technical and is a very fast and flowing circuit with a number of fast straight's and very tricky corners. For example turn's one and two are very tricky. The run up to turn one is very short and the driver's immediately launch themselves into turn two and then they fly down to the heavy breaking zone of turn three.
The 56 lap race has been on the F1 calendar since 2004 and the lap record was set by Michael Schumacher during the 2004 race.
It is going to be extremely interesting to see how the team's get on this weekend. The Sauber F1 team had a fantastic weekend in the rain delayed Malaysian GrandPrix where Sergio Perez finished the race in second place behind Fernando Alonso however the Sauber driver very nearly won the GrandPrix. For the second GrandPrix in a row Lewis Hamilton and McLaren finished on the podium.
I am hoping that the Lotus F1 team have a great weekend where they don't encounter problems. Kimi Raikkonen had a very poor start to his F1 comeback where he started 17th on the grid however he fought back and finished the race in 7th place. Meanwhile Romain Grosjean has yet to finish a GrandPrix this season. Kimi had another great race in Malaysia where he finished 5th just ehind the RedBull of Mark Webber.
I fully believe that the Lotus team will be on the podium before very long.
Monday 9 April 2012
Monisha Kaltenborn to take over as Sauber team boss
Sauber F1 team boss Peteer Sauber has announced that the team's CEO Monisha Kaltenborn will take over as team principal in the near future. I think that this would be fantastic for Formula One. Monisha would become the first female F1 team boss in the sports history. She has been with the team for the last 13 years and was heavily involved in the deal for Sauber to buy back the team when BMW sold the team.
Monisha has also been on the pitwall for the team over the last two race's and has been talking to the media. The team recorded a fantastic 2nd place finish in Malaysia two week's ago when Segio Perez finished runner up to Fernando Alonso.
Monisha has also been on the pitwall for the team over the last two race's and has been talking to the media. The team recorded a fantastic 2nd place finish in Malaysia two week's ago when Segio Perez finished runner up to Fernando Alonso.
Team's prepare for cancellation of Bahrain GrandPrix
Formula One team's are assessing the possibility of returning to Europe following this weekend's Chinese GrandPrix in full preparation for the cancellation of the Bahrain GrandPrix the week after China. According to a report in today's UK Times paper the team's have been issued with two ticket's the first being flight's to Bahrain and the second is flight's for the team's to return to their base's in Europe.
I fully believe that common sense should prevail in this situation and the race in Bahrain should not go ahead amid the fresh violence that has taken place in the kingdom state in recent week's as Formula One if they travel to Bahrain are setting themselves up as targets.
The race didn't happen last year and I think it was stupid for it to be put back on the calendar for 2012 particularly as the US is back on the calendar for this year. Also with the addition of New Jersey and potentially Argentina next season the sport will have to make room for the extra race's so I believe it is about time that F1 cut their ties with Bahrain and concentrate on the sport's return to the US.
I for one never liked the the Bahrain circuit as it is not really a challenging circuit. I find it very interesting that so far no driver's have commented on the situation in Bahrain however last year Mark Webber was the first driver to state that he was no comfortable going to Bahrain. So with just over a fortnight until the race is due to take place Formula One has a make or break decision to take.
I for one do not support a return to Bahrain.
I fully believe that common sense should prevail in this situation and the race in Bahrain should not go ahead amid the fresh violence that has taken place in the kingdom state in recent week's as Formula One if they travel to Bahrain are setting themselves up as targets.
The race didn't happen last year and I think it was stupid for it to be put back on the calendar for 2012 particularly as the US is back on the calendar for this year. Also with the addition of New Jersey and potentially Argentina next season the sport will have to make room for the extra race's so I believe it is about time that F1 cut their ties with Bahrain and concentrate on the sport's return to the US.
I for one never liked the the Bahrain circuit as it is not really a challenging circuit. I find it very interesting that so far no driver's have commented on the situation in Bahrain however last year Mark Webber was the first driver to state that he was no comfortable going to Bahrain. So with just over a fortnight until the race is due to take place Formula One has a make or break decision to take.
I for one do not support a return to Bahrain.
Friday 6 April 2012
Lotus F1 part company with Group Lotus
It was announced today that the Lotus F1 Team have terminated their title sponsorship deal with Group Lotus due to the financial uncertainty surrounding the beleaguered sports car manufacturer. It was also announced that Genii Capital, owners of the Lotus F1 team have terminated Group Lotus' option to buy a 50 percent stake in the F1 team.
This news comes as a major shock to me as the Lotus F1 team have made a promising start to the 2012 F1 season and the loss of such a key title sponsor could have a knock on affect on the team's development program. Genii Capital funded the team in 2011 and they may have to do the same again this year if hey can not find a suitable replacement as title sponsor.
I believe however that they would not have dropped Group Lotus if the team did not have another backer already in place. Due to the current economic climate it could be extremely difficult for the team find a new title sponsor willing to spend a lot of money.
We will just have to watch this space and see what happens.
This news comes as a major shock to me as the Lotus F1 team have made a promising start to the 2012 F1 season and the loss of such a key title sponsor could have a knock on affect on the team's development program. Genii Capital funded the team in 2011 and they may have to do the same again this year if hey can not find a suitable replacement as title sponsor.
I believe however that they would not have dropped Group Lotus if the team did not have another backer already in place. Due to the current economic climate it could be extremely difficult for the team find a new title sponsor willing to spend a lot of money.
We will just have to watch this space and see what happens.
Thursday 5 April 2012
Alesi becomes latest Ex F1 driver to compete in IndyCar
It has been confirmed that former F1 driver Jean Alesi has signed up to race at this year's Indianaoplis 500 with the Newman Haas Racing team with a Lotus powered Dallara DW12. Newman Haas are not competing in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series and instead have opted to run Alesi at Indy.
Alesi joins a long list of former F1 driver's who have competed at Indianaoplis including, Justin Wilson, Mario and Michael Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Jaun Paoblo Montoya and Jacques Villenuve. Alesi will join former F1 driver and IndyCar new comer Rubens Barrichello on the grid for the most famous Motorsport event's in the world.
Alesi completed in 201 GrandPrix during his F1 career and drove for a number of different team's including, Jordan, Prost, Tyrrell, and Benetton. It is going to be the first time that the Frenchman has every attempted to qualify to race on an oval circuit. I believe it is going to a fantastic race and it is great to see another ex F1 driver compete at Indy.
Alesi joins a long list of former F1 driver's who have competed at Indianaoplis including, Justin Wilson, Mario and Michael Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Jaun Paoblo Montoya and Jacques Villenuve. Alesi will join former F1 driver and IndyCar new comer Rubens Barrichello on the grid for the most famous Motorsport event's in the world.
Alesi completed in 201 GrandPrix during his F1 career and drove for a number of different team's including, Jordan, Prost, Tyrrell, and Benetton. It is going to be the first time that the Frenchman has every attempted to qualify to race on an oval circuit. I believe it is going to a fantastic race and it is great to see another ex F1 driver compete at Indy.
Monday 2 April 2012
Button held talks with Ferrari last year
It has been reported in the F1 media today that Jenson Button was approached by Ferrari late last year when the McLaren driver was in the middle of working on a new long-term contract with the team. Apparently JB spoke with a number of team's just to see what was on offer.
The news comes as speculation continues to grow over Felipe Massa's future with the Italian team as he has not been able to match Alonso so far this season and Alonso has performed very well with an underperforming car even taking a hugely surprising victory at last weekend's Malaysian GrandPrix.
The news comes as speculation continues to grow over Felipe Massa's future with the Italian team as he has not been able to match Alonso so far this season and Alonso has performed very well with an underperforming car even taking a hugely surprising victory at last weekend's Malaysian GrandPrix.
Calls to cancel the Bahrain GrandPrix increase following the reported death of protestor
The calls to cancel this year's Bahrain GrandPrix have resurfaced following the reported death of a young in the kingdom state over the weekend. It has been widely reported that the youth, who was protesting the fact that the GrandPrix is to go ahead was reportedly shot by a gang in an unmarked car with a false number plate.
As I write this article Bernie Ecclestone has yet to comment on the latest violence in the country and was insisting that the race will go ahead as planned on April 22. However it has been reported that the team's may not be too keen to send personnel and equipment to the state if the situation is still intense.
In my opinion, Bernie Ecclestone is just looking for the ace to go ahead because he wants to make sure that he gets money from the organizers, however if the race is indeed cancelled he will probably fine the organizers for not fulfilling their contract requirements. However this scenario is highly unlikely as it is ultimately up to the team's as to whether or not they travel to Bahrain.
The race is due to take place the week after the Chinese GrandPrix however the team's have apparently set up contingency plan's if the race in Bahrain does not go ahead.
As I write this article Bernie Ecclestone has yet to comment on the latest violence in the country and was insisting that the race will go ahead as planned on April 22. However it has been reported that the team's may not be too keen to send personnel and equipment to the state if the situation is still intense.
In my opinion, Bernie Ecclestone is just looking for the ace to go ahead because he wants to make sure that he gets money from the organizers, however if the race is indeed cancelled he will probably fine the organizers for not fulfilling their contract requirements. However this scenario is highly unlikely as it is ultimately up to the team's as to whether or not they travel to Bahrain.
The race is due to take place the week after the Chinese GrandPrix however the team's have apparently set up contingency plan's if the race in Bahrain does not go ahead.
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