Formula One could on verge of seeing more engine manufacturers becoming involved in Formula One with the news that the Honda Motor Company may be interested in making a return to the sport. Autosport is reporting that with Formula One set to switch to 1.6 litre turbo charged engine's from 2014 Honda have held 'informal talks' with the FIA about a possible return to the sport.
Honda pulled the plug on it's involvement in Formula One at the end of the 2008 season and sold it's team to Ross Brawn in a management led buy out. The team went on to the championship in 2009 before being sold to Mercedes at the end of 2009.
Realistically I believe Honda will not come back to Formula One because the sport will not be switching to the new engine format. It was due to switch to V6 engines in 2005, however this did not happen and instead a compromise was met and team's switched from V10 engines to 2.4 litre V8 power plants.
Bernie Ecclestone, has openly expressed his objection to the engine format and a number of the team's have stated that the cost involved in developing the new engine's has been too high. The FIA, Bernie Ecclestone and the team's are du to meet shortly to discuss certain issues and it is expected that this particular matter will be top of the agenda and I fully expect the plan for the new engine's will be scrapped.
If the plan is scrapped it could potentially cause a number of problem's the main one could be at Mercedes AMG with Lewis Hamilton signing for the team with one eye on the 2014 move to the new engine reg's and Merc being being one of only three engine suppliers in the sport and one of only two fully works team's on the grid Hamilton may regret signing for the Brackley based team.
However if the new engine's are brought in we could see a raft on new suppliers coming into the sport. For example, in my opinion if Honda do decide to come back to Formula One, Toyota may decide to do the same. VW may also decide to entry the sport as an engine supplier too however I would find this scenario difficult to see as the manufacturer is now heavily involved in a World Rally Championship project and it is unlikely that they would be willing to cross over into F1.
So right now, the future of the 1.6 V6 turbo charged engine's is up in the air, however team's are still pushing ahead for a future with the engine's but a decision on this topic is expected very soon I believe because if the team's do use the new engine's they will need to test them in a car and not just on an engine dyno in the factory.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Maria remembers entire crash
Marussia F1's test and reserve driver Maria De Villiotta has said that she remembers every detail from her near fatal testing crash in July. The Spanish driver was seriously injured in the crash and lost her right eye. In her first interview since the crash Maria said that when she woke up in hospital she was speaking English to her family and her father told her to stop and to speak Spanish as her mother couldn't understand her.
In the interview, she revealed that she is undecided as to whether or not to return to racing, however that the accident has helped her to see that there are more important thing's in life then racing.
In my opinion, it would be a huge shame if Formula One lost Maria's involvement in in the sport. She has been an incredible ambassador for the sport and her Marussia Formula One team. Despite the fact that she suffered horrendous injuries in the accident, in my opinion there is certainly a position for in Formula One.
She could become involved in the FIA Campaign for Better Safety. Equally she could still have a role in the Marussia team. I think that she could become a team adviser. But I understand that it could be tough for her to return to Formula One and not be able to drive. But I am sure that something will come up for her.
In the interview, she revealed that she is undecided as to whether or not to return to racing, however that the accident has helped her to see that there are more important thing's in life then racing.
In my opinion, it would be a huge shame if Formula One lost Maria's involvement in in the sport. She has been an incredible ambassador for the sport and her Marussia Formula One team. Despite the fact that she suffered horrendous injuries in the accident, in my opinion there is certainly a position for in Formula One.
She could become involved in the FIA Campaign for Better Safety. Equally she could still have a role in the Marussia team. I think that she could become a team adviser. But I understand that it could be tough for her to return to Formula One and not be able to drive. But I am sure that something will come up for her.
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Lotus set to announce Kimi extension
So it would appear that the BIG announcement due from Kimi Raikkonen on 17th October is that he is to stay on at the Lotus team next season. According to last week's Autosport Magazine the team have taken up their option on Kimi for next season and that it came into effect at the Singapore GrandPrix.
Kim has scored points in every race this season bar one in China when he dropped from second to 17th due to a mistake with his tyre's. I am absolutely delighted to hear the news that Kimi is set to stay in F1 next season. I know not to count my chicken's until the deal is announced but it certainly looks as if he is set to stay at the team.
At the Japanese GrandPrix at the weekend, the Iceman became the only driver to complete every single lap of every race so far this season and he is certainly the most consistent driver so far this year. It would be absolutely fantastic if he manages to finish ever race this season. Ironically the announcement dubbed 'What will Kimi Raikkonen Do Next? will come on Kimi's 33rd Birthday.
The Finn currently lies in third in the championship and is yet to win a race this season and in my opinion this is a fantastic achievement when you consider that a number of driver's behind him in the championship have won numerous races this season. So if he could win one race this season it would cap an incredible comeback season for the Finn.
Do I believe Kimi can win a race this season? Absolutely, and I'm not just saying that because I am a fan of his and the Lotus team. With race's to go this season, the team are currently 4th in the championship with a raft of new developments coming for the Korean GrandPrix so they could potentially leave Korea in third place but we shall wait and see what happens, equally they could leave Korea even further behind Ferrari but we shall see what happens.
Even if the team don't manage to win a race this season, they can certainly claim this season to be a huge success as they have met their target's. The team are in their predicted four place in the Constructor's championship and are currently 103 points ahead of Mercedes AMG who are in 5th having won a race this season.
This weekend's GrandPrix in Korea will be the first outing on the circuit for both Lotus driver's and when Kimi Raikkonen was asked during an interview 'How did he learn new track's? Kimi replied in typical fashion saying 'I drive it' haha...brilliant. Kimi will also have a first outing at the India GrandPrix two week's later.
Lotus scrap Double DRS Device
The Lotus team have confirmed that they will not run their Double DRS Device for the rest of the season and will instead test the device at the upcoming young driver test in Abu Dhabi. The decision comes following problem's in the development process of the device. Kimi Raikkonen ran the device during Friday's first practice session in Japan at the weekend. However the Finn and the team weren't happy with it and took it off his car.
It is a real shame in my opinion that they haven't been able to sort the device out because at this late stage in the season, results are key in the championship race particularly for Kimi as he lies in third in the championship and the Lotus team are fighting Ferrari for third in the Constructor's championship.
Despite not running the device, the team will be bringing a raft of new developments to this weekend's Korean GrandPrix which the team hope will help them to get their championship challenge back on track after a number of difficult races. One of the new developments is a new exhaust system that will help the aerodynamics of the car.
The team described the new developments on the car "as a new era for the team" so we will have to wait and se what happens n Korea. At the weekend RedBull Racing introduced their version of the Double DRS device and as a result of that Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber locked out the front row and Vettel went on to dominate the race and close to within four point's of leader Fernando Alonso.
Will the developments work for Lotus? We don't have long at all to find out. The team are hoping that they will be able to overhaul Ferrari in in the Contructor's championship. I believe that is a realistic target as Ferrari are currently without their own windtunnel at the moment due to technical problems so have had to resort to using Toyota's old one in Germany so it is the perfect opportunity for the Lotus team to capitalize at this crucial period in the championship.
It is a real shame in my opinion that they haven't been able to sort the device out because at this late stage in the season, results are key in the championship race particularly for Kimi as he lies in third in the championship and the Lotus team are fighting Ferrari for third in the Constructor's championship.
Despite not running the device, the team will be bringing a raft of new developments to this weekend's Korean GrandPrix which the team hope will help them to get their championship challenge back on track after a number of difficult races. One of the new developments is a new exhaust system that will help the aerodynamics of the car.
The team described the new developments on the car "as a new era for the team" so we will have to wait and se what happens n Korea. At the weekend RedBull Racing introduced their version of the Double DRS device and as a result of that Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber locked out the front row and Vettel went on to dominate the race and close to within four point's of leader Fernando Alonso.
Will the developments work for Lotus? We don't have long at all to find out. The team are hoping that they will be able to overhaul Ferrari in in the Contructor's championship. I believe that is a realistic target as Ferrari are currently without their own windtunnel at the moment due to technical problems so have had to resort to using Toyota's old one in Germany so it is the perfect opportunity for the Lotus team to capitalize at this crucial period in the championship.
Monday, 8 October 2012
Cracks showing at McLaren?
So I found it extremely interesting to hear today that yet again Lewis Hamilton has taken to Twitter for all the wrong reasons. Following yesterday's Japanese GrandPrix the Briton took to his account to accuse current team mate Jenson Button of unfollowing him and following his new team mate Sergio Perez instead.
Hamilton had to back track on his comment later when he discovered that Jenson had never followed him on Twitter. This is just another example of how in my opinion the relationship between Jenson and Lewis has begun to break down. For example a number of races ago Lewis tweeted a picture of the two driver's telemetry feeds, which is something that you just do not do. It was a crazy situation and he wasn't punished by the team at all.
I just find it interesting as the McLaren team have always said that the relationship between their two driver's has always been a very strong one but now that Hamilton has taken to Twitter to give out about Jenson I believe that all is not as rosy as it once was at the team.
It is going to be extremely interesting to se what happens within the team over the next five races and whether or not Jenson helps Lewis in the championship as Lewis has fallen further behind Sebastian Vettel following the German's win yesterday and Alosno still leads the championship by four points with five races remaining.
If I was the boss of McLaren, or indeed their media person, I would sit the two driver's down in particular Lewis and say to him 'listen you have five races left with us and for the sake of team unity and the championship stop taking to Twitter and criticizing the team and your team mate. Enjoy your last races with the team and focus on the goal at hand of winning the championship and leave any personal feeling's you have about the team at the door.
It is not the first time that Lewis Hamilton has been caught up in controversy in his own team. In 2007, at the height of the Spygate scandal Hamilton was accused of having knowledge of what was going on.
In 2009, following the Australian GrandPrix, Hamilton was disqualified from the race after he was found to have mislead the race stewards and as a result he was into making a very public apology and it also resulted in the sacking of Dave Ryan, who had been one of the longest serving members of the McLaren team.
In my opinion, when Hamilton moves to Mercedes he should keep his head down and get on with the job. I think possibly part of the problem with Hamilton is the fact that he has been associated with McLaren for so long that he has become complacent in his thinking and believes that he has can say what he wants. However that is just my opinion.
Hamilton had to back track on his comment later when he discovered that Jenson had never followed him on Twitter. This is just another example of how in my opinion the relationship between Jenson and Lewis has begun to break down. For example a number of races ago Lewis tweeted a picture of the two driver's telemetry feeds, which is something that you just do not do. It was a crazy situation and he wasn't punished by the team at all.
I just find it interesting as the McLaren team have always said that the relationship between their two driver's has always been a very strong one but now that Hamilton has taken to Twitter to give out about Jenson I believe that all is not as rosy as it once was at the team.
It is going to be extremely interesting to se what happens within the team over the next five races and whether or not Jenson helps Lewis in the championship as Lewis has fallen further behind Sebastian Vettel following the German's win yesterday and Alosno still leads the championship by four points with five races remaining.
If I was the boss of McLaren, or indeed their media person, I would sit the two driver's down in particular Lewis and say to him 'listen you have five races left with us and for the sake of team unity and the championship stop taking to Twitter and criticizing the team and your team mate. Enjoy your last races with the team and focus on the goal at hand of winning the championship and leave any personal feeling's you have about the team at the door.
It is not the first time that Lewis Hamilton has been caught up in controversy in his own team. In 2007, at the height of the Spygate scandal Hamilton was accused of having knowledge of what was going on.
In 2009, following the Australian GrandPrix, Hamilton was disqualified from the race after he was found to have mislead the race stewards and as a result he was into making a very public apology and it also resulted in the sacking of Dave Ryan, who had been one of the longest serving members of the McLaren team.
In my opinion, when Hamilton moves to Mercedes he should keep his head down and get on with the job. I think possibly part of the problem with Hamilton is the fact that he has been associated with McLaren for so long that he has become complacent in his thinking and believes that he has can say what he wants. However that is just my opinion.
Sunday, 7 October 2012
Should Romain Grosjean be banned from Formula One?
So in the early hours of this morning I got up at 5.20 for the Japanese GrandPrix in Suzuka. The race was won by Sebastian Vettel. (See my race report). Following the race however questions were once again being asked about Romain Grosjean, the Lotus driver who, once again not for the first time this season was involved in a first corner crash that destroyed Mark Webber's race and chance for a podium finish.
I am a huge Kimi Raikkonen and Lotus fan, however in my opinion the team need to dump him. Too many times this season he has caused first corner incidents. In fact the French driver was banned for the Italian GrandPrix after causing a massive crash at the Belgian GrandPrix.
Following the race RedBull's Mark Webber described Grosjean as 'a nutcase'. Grosjean has already served a race ban this season and I have come to the conclusion that the one race ban wasn't enough for him and I know that sounds harsh but he could potentially cause injury to his fellow driver's or spectators.
I believe that he should be put on probation for the rest of the season and then if he is involved in one more incident this year not only should he be thrown out of the championship but the team should also drop him. He has cost the team too many points this season. For example he started today's race in fourth place and didn't even get past the first corner.
In my opinion Jerome D'Ambrosio should be promoted to the race drive for the rest of the season alongside Kimi Raikkonen.
Vettel wins as Alonso fails
This mornings Japanese GrandPrix was dominated from start to finish RedBull' Sebatian Vettel. The German, who started from pole position made a great start and avoided the first corner mayhem to take a commanding victory in a race which saw many surprise's. Fernando Alonso, who coming into the race had a 29 point lead in the championship failed to finish as he tried to overtake Kimi Raikkonen's Lotus at the start.
The Ferrari driver pushed Kimi out wide heading down to the first corner, leaving Kimi with nowhere to go, Alonso's rear tyre made contact with Kimi's front wing causing the Ferrari to get a puncture and as a result Alonso went out wide and retired from the race. In the immidiate oftermath of the crash Alonso was blaming Kimi for the incident however Alonso should take a look at himself as it was him who was responsible for his accident and it was no one else's fault.
Meanwhile just ahead of Kimi, an unsuspecting RedBull of Mark Webber, who was recovering from a poor start was hit by the Lotus of Romain Grojsean going into turn 1, yet another incident this season involving the Lotus driver. I am a Lotus fan and in my opinion at this stage of the season Romain is hurting to the team in a massive way. He has shown that he is capable of finishing in the pints and on the podium, however all too often this season he has caused crashes.
He was even banned for the Italian GrandPrix following a heavy crash at the Belgian GrandPrix. So it is going to be extremely interesting to see what the team decide to do about him.
Meanwhile Jenson Button, who started the race from 8th place on the grid made a cracking start and by turn 1 he had made his way through the field and up to third just behind Kamui Kobayashi. It was a tough day for the other McLaren and Lewis Hamilton made a mistake with his set up on Satrday however, he did a great job to finish in 5ht place just behind JB.
It was an unfortunate day for the Sauber of Sergio Perez, fresh from signing a deal with McLaren to replace Lewis Hamilton, the young Mexican was lining up an overtaking move on Lewis when he ran wide and into the gravel trap and was unable to continue the race after getting stuck.
Michael Schumacher, who announced on Thursday that he will retire from F1 at the end of the year started the race from 23rd on the grid following a grid penalty had a fantastic race and narrowly missed on collecting a point for Mercedes when he finished in 11th place behind the Toro Rosso of Daniel Ricciardo.
However in my opinion, the driver of the race had to be home favourite, Kamui Kobayashi who picked up his first ever F1 podium at his home GrandPrix, becoming only the second Japanese driver to take a podium at his home race. He finished third behind Felipe Massa in second who was a welcome return to the podium for the first time since Korea 2010 and race winner Sebastian Vettel. The last Japanese driver to achieve a podium at his home race was Aguri Suzuki back in 1990.
Kimi Raikkonen drove another fantastic race for the Lotus team, helping them to cement their place in 4th place in Constructors championship and he remains in third in the Driver's championship after a well deserved 6th place finish following a tough qualifying yesterday.
So it set up to be a fascinating race in Korea and we don't have to wait too long at all as the next race is only one week away and with only four point's separating the top two in the championship it is going to be a cracking race as Fernando Alonso will be looking to put in a strong performance following today's DNF.
Another factor next weekend is that the Lotus team along with a number of other team's will be bringing heavily revised upgrade package's to the race so the championship as I predicted yesterday with five race's to go has been blown wide open. Don't miss any of the action!!!
The Ferrari driver pushed Kimi out wide heading down to the first corner, leaving Kimi with nowhere to go, Alonso's rear tyre made contact with Kimi's front wing causing the Ferrari to get a puncture and as a result Alonso went out wide and retired from the race. In the immidiate oftermath of the crash Alonso was blaming Kimi for the incident however Alonso should take a look at himself as it was him who was responsible for his accident and it was no one else's fault.
Meanwhile just ahead of Kimi, an unsuspecting RedBull of Mark Webber, who was recovering from a poor start was hit by the Lotus of Romain Grojsean going into turn 1, yet another incident this season involving the Lotus driver. I am a Lotus fan and in my opinion at this stage of the season Romain is hurting to the team in a massive way. He has shown that he is capable of finishing in the pints and on the podium, however all too often this season he has caused crashes.
He was even banned for the Italian GrandPrix following a heavy crash at the Belgian GrandPrix. So it is going to be extremely interesting to see what the team decide to do about him.
Meanwhile Jenson Button, who started the race from 8th place on the grid made a cracking start and by turn 1 he had made his way through the field and up to third just behind Kamui Kobayashi. It was a tough day for the other McLaren and Lewis Hamilton made a mistake with his set up on Satrday however, he did a great job to finish in 5ht place just behind JB.
It was an unfortunate day for the Sauber of Sergio Perez, fresh from signing a deal with McLaren to replace Lewis Hamilton, the young Mexican was lining up an overtaking move on Lewis when he ran wide and into the gravel trap and was unable to continue the race after getting stuck.
Michael Schumacher, who announced on Thursday that he will retire from F1 at the end of the year started the race from 23rd on the grid following a grid penalty had a fantastic race and narrowly missed on collecting a point for Mercedes when he finished in 11th place behind the Toro Rosso of Daniel Ricciardo.
However in my opinion, the driver of the race had to be home favourite, Kamui Kobayashi who picked up his first ever F1 podium at his home GrandPrix, becoming only the second Japanese driver to take a podium at his home race. He finished third behind Felipe Massa in second who was a welcome return to the podium for the first time since Korea 2010 and race winner Sebastian Vettel. The last Japanese driver to achieve a podium at his home race was Aguri Suzuki back in 1990.
Kimi Raikkonen drove another fantastic race for the Lotus team, helping them to cement their place in 4th place in Constructors championship and he remains in third in the Driver's championship after a well deserved 6th place finish following a tough qualifying yesterday.
So it set up to be a fascinating race in Korea and we don't have to wait too long at all as the next race is only one week away and with only four point's separating the top two in the championship it is going to be a cracking race as Fernando Alonso will be looking to put in a strong performance following today's DNF.
Another factor next weekend is that the Lotus team along with a number of other team's will be bringing heavily revised upgrade package's to the race so the championship as I predicted yesterday with five race's to go has been blown wide open. Don't miss any of the action!!!
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