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.
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
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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