Posts Tagged ‘F1’

Brazilian Grand Prix

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

Well this is odd, this isn’t the final race of the season, but once again, the F1 championship has been decided in Brazil…again!

First things first, I’m enjoying a few pints so this blog is written slightly under the influence!

And next thing, congratulations to Mark Webber winning the Brazilian Grand Prix and his 2nd Grand Prix win this year. I do wish the camera’s did look at him more today, but if you are a F1 fan, you know where all the camera’s were looking at.

Next, congratulations to Jenson Button for winning the FIA world Championship, and to Brawn GP for winning the FIA Constructors Championship. The story of how they won it this year is one that won’t be repeated. I didn’t think Brawn had a chance at beginning of the year, until their first test at earlier this year, they was rated at the dirt bottom price of £4 million for the start of the FF1GP season.

If anyone is wondering how much they will be next year, it will be the top notch price of £16 million, however I will say the prices for FF1GP 2010 are yet to be fully confirmed.

So back to this Grand Prix weekend. I was away down in Plymouth seeing my family, who are all just as interested in F1 as me. I was staying with my brother and watching the F1 coverage on the TV until about 7.30pm where we had to head off to a meal at an Italian restaurant for 8pm.

If anyone was following the F1 qualifying, well it took a long time to decide the grid due to the rain. Qualifying was not decided until 9pm UK time, so I was using every means to see the qualifying. I had to resort to streaming the BBC on my N95 phone while working down to the restaurant and sneaking a few clips while in restaurant to see what was happening as well, but as I said earlier everyone was interested, even if it was a little bit of shock to find Jenson qualifying in 14th when the first course arrived!

Next to the race, I made it back to my home 10 minutes late for the start of the F1 coverage on the BBC, since the M5 was being dug up and I’m not allowed to drive quicker than a F1 car. (And my car can’t do 180mph either!)

Still it was fantastic race to watch. I do like Rubens Barrichello, and I do wish he did win his home Grand Prix. He has brought so much to Brawn GP. It’s rumoured he’s off to Williams, but I hope he stays at Brawn, as he and Ross Brawn can bring that winning experience to Brawn GP, not that I knock Nico Roeberg for his racing, I just feel Rubens with his 16 years of F1 experience can still make a difference at Brawn.

Now to the FF1GP results. They are marked provisional, as the results at the official F1 results are marked that way. There was a few collisions which the Stewards are looking at, but none that I think should have affected the results. If they do change, I will post them up here.

However this year’s winner isn’t decided yet. ARH F1 may have the lead of 22 points, but in FF1GP nothing gets decided until the last race, and with at least 16 (Or more) other teams in contention, it will go down to the wire here!

In the mean time, I’m going to join the F1 party…where is that pub in Somerset?!

Silverstone Grand Prix

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

What a race to watch! Sebastian Vettel just blew the field away starting on Pole position and finishing 1st for his 2nd win of the season.

The race was much more interesting down at the back, where two World Champions were fighting it out for the best of the last few places.

The scrap between Lewis Hammilton and Fernando Alonso was great to watch, and it seems the crowd at Silerstone loved it when Lewis outbraked Fernando at Copse Corner. It may go down as the overtaking manoeuvre of the year, but it was one of the best of the race.

There also was one very unusual result as well today. Nelson Piquet Jr *beat* Fernando Alonso.

However one thing for sure is, there is now a fight for the world championship going on between Red Bull and Brawn Grand Prix. That’s good news for F1 fans, as we like to be kept on the edge of our seats, although last year’s finish at Brazil will take a lot of beating.

So in the next 3-4 races I expect the World Championship to be between 3 drivers - Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel and Rubens Barrichello. However I do expect someone to get in the show a little, and that is Mark Webber.

Silverstone memories.

Finally, is it Silverstone’s final F1 race?

Domington park may not be ready in time, and Bernie in the past has stated there will be no British Grand Prix in 2010 if Domington Park isn’t ready. However both Bernie and Max have now both stated there will be a British Grand Prix in 2010. Where it will be, is yet to be decided, maybe we will know in a few weeks time.

However I’ve been to a few Grand Prix’s in the last few years, I was at Silverwind in 2005. Here is a pick of a few memories I’ve found.

British Grand Prix - Silverstone - 2005 - A lot of support for Jenson Button, I bet there was more flags out today.

British Grand Prix - Silverstone - 2005 - A lot of support for Jenson Button, I bet there was more flags out today.

British Grand Prix - Silverstone - 2005 - David Coulthard's Red Bull car being towed back to the pits during a practice session.

British Grand Prix - Silverstone - 2005 - David Coulthard's Red Bull car being towed back to the pits during a practice session.

British Grand Prix - Silverstone - 2005 - David Coulthard taking time out to sign autographs with the fans.

British Grand Prix - Silverstone - 2005 - David Coulthard taking time out to sign autographs with the fans.

British Grand Prix - Silverstone - 2005 - Give's you wings! Well today, they did have wings by finishing 1st and 2nd.

British Grand Prix - Silverstone - 2005 - Give's you wings! Well today, they did have wings by finishing 1st and 2nd.

British Grand Prix - Silverstone - 2005 - Bring back Eddie Jordan. Who would have expected Eddie Jordan to be a F1 pundit for the BBC?

British Grand Prix - Silverstone - 2005 - Bring back Eddie Jordan. Who would have expected Eddie Jordan to be a F1 pundit for the BBC?

British Grand Prix - Silverstone - 2005 - Jenson Button in his Honda in 2005, taken at Luffield during the race.

British Grand Prix - Silverstone - 2005 - Jenson Button in his Honda in 2005, taken at Luffield during the race.

See you all in 3 weeks time for the German Grand Prix.

Why there may not be 26 cars on the F1 grid in 2010

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

The FOTA (Formula 1 Teams Association) vs. FIA row has been going on for weeks. For those who don’t follow the politics of Formula 1, I can’t say I don’t blame you for not following it or understanding it.

Let me sum it up in a nutshell it’s about a proposed budget cap, and also the rules for the 2010 season.

One thing I agree with FOTA, is there should be one set of technical rules, for whether you are spending £40million or £400million. One thing the FIA and FOTA agreed to is have one set of regulations for 2010. As many people pointed out, it would be confusing for people.

However what FOTA don’t like is the £40million budget cap. FOTA quite rightly argue, the cap could cost the teams spending £400 million a lot of jobs. Why the FIA have not agreed to accept gradually reducing budget cap, (Like £100million for 2010, then £40million for 2010) is beyond me.

Anyway, here is my clear and cut solution to the budget cap. If you decide to race under the budget cap, your cars and teams can score points in the FIA championship. If you want to go for the no budget cap option, you can’t score any points.

If by any chance Bernie or Max is read this article, and you do decide to suggest or use this idea please send me a cheque for £1million.

At this rate I think a breakaway series is likely, but knowing Formula 1 a deal will be reached by the morning of Qualifying at Silverstone and everyone will be smiling again.

However I suggested earlier that there would be only 20 cars on the Grid next year, where one of the changes in the Formula 1 rules for 2010 is the increase in grid slots from 24 to 26.

Now either the FIA have been very sneakily clever and saw this row coming or this is just pure co-incidence.

5 teams are defiantly on the 2010 grid, they are the 3 new teams (Campos Grand Prix, Team US F1 and Manor Grand Prix), and 2 existing F1 teams. (William and Force India)

Next we have the 5 other teams (McLaren, BMW Sauber, Renault, Toyota and Brawn) who have to submit unconditional entries by this Friday. If they don’t there are another 5 teams wating to take their place.

That brings us to 10 teams, and 20 slots on the grid filled up, leaving the 3 other teams - Ferrari, Redbull and Toro Rosso.

Now in the case of Ferrari, Redbull and Toro Rosso it’s slightly different. The FIA has said, they are on the 2010 grid, as they have signed the 2005 Concorde agreement, which contracts them to race until 2012. If this is the case this leaves an interesting dilemma.

If the 3 teams are indeed contracted to race in 2010, then the FIA cannot give their slots to anyone else, otherwise the teams could sue the FIA for breach of contract. If Ferrari, Redbull and Toro Rosso decide not to take their slots, the FIA could sue the teams for breach of contract.

Of course, I and I’m sure you will be wanting to see 26 cars on the grid next year, let’s just hope everything gets settled in the next few days.