Friday 30 August 2019

2002 Belgian Grand Prix review for Motor Sport Magazine

Whatever you think of Formula 1 at any given moment, you can almost certainly count yourself fortunate that it's not 2002.

By I, SilverArrows, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.
wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2437574
That was a soporific season; made so by crushing Ferrari domination combined often with rigorous Ferrari stage management.

Michael Schumacher's 10th win of the year, finishing just ahead of team-mate Rubens Barrichello in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, therefore may not strike as having much to sell it. But it pays to look deeper. It was in fact a stunning display of Schumacher's driving genius.

In my latest classic Formula 1 race retro review for Motor Sport Magazine, to coincide with the latest Belgian Grand Prix at Spa I look back at the 2002 equivalent, which had much more than meets the eye...

You can have a read of my take here: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/f1/michaels-masterclass-schumachers-domination-2002-belgian-grand-prix

Thursday 29 August 2019

4 new ways to watch F1 for the Belgium GP with F1 TV Pro

As any avid F1 fan knows, watching what's happening on the track is just the tip of the iceberg.

There's all that chatter on the radio. Then there's the telemetry data – and that subtle on-the-track edging between two cars to mark territory – or threaten the overtake. All the good stuff you can't see on a wide camera shot.

Until now.

What if, instead of just watching F1, you could experience it? Think about it: what if you got a live feed of the behind-the-scenes action? If you could tune into the heated team chatter once only for the Pit Wall.

In case you want to know more, we've got the download: 4 reasons should stop just watching F1 and start experiencing it with F1 TV Pro.

1. Watch live any two drivers head-to-head with Battle Mode

F1 has a lot of famous rivalries. Mika Häkkinen vs Michael Schumacher; Ayrton Senna vs Alain Prost.

With live Battle Mode, you can watch the race from the point of view of two drivers of your choice, so you can see every hair-raising second.

2. Get a direct audio feed of what's happening on the track and in the Pit Lane

Want to know what they're shouting on the radio? Want to hear the conversations that inform the decisions the drivers will make?

So don't just watch the race – hear what the race engineers are hearing. Or listen to Max or Leclerc colourfully complaining about each other. Or even Vettel complaining about penalties.

(There's never a dull moment.)

3. See more action and hear more commentary on the Pit Lane Channel

With the Pit Lane Channel, you can home in on more action – at home, sure, but also anywhere you've a connected device, such as a smartphone or tablet. So you never miss a moment no matter where you are.

The Pit Lane Channel provides essentially the same view as a Team Manager. In addition to the standard broadcast feed, you'll see live feeds from two additional onboard cams optimised to capture the hottest actions. Plus, Pit Lane Channel broadcasts dedicated professional commentary, so you can get schooled in F1 strategy from the world's experts while you watch. 

4. Get the telemetry straight from the Pit Lane


As you know, each F1 car is equipped with thousands of tiny data-gathering sensors that feed information to the pit. Everything from the drivers' heart rate to tyre temperatures is considered and discussed.

Now you can pull back the curtain and see exactly what the pros in the Pitwall see.

To learn more click here

Monday 19 August 2019

New Motorsport Week article: Why we shouldn't cry for Pierre Gasly or decry Red Bull

Photo: Octane Photography
After the recent Red Bull rumpus - Pierre Gasly being ditched forthwith to be swapped with Alex Albon, until recently of Toro Rosso - there was an outpouring of opprobrium.

That Red Bull was harsh; that it had ruined another of its drivers' careers...

But in my latest feature for Motorsport Week I take the contrary view, and explain why we shouldn't feel all that sorry for Pierre Gasly for being dropped, nor should we trash Red Bull's approach with young drivers.

You can have a read of my thinking here: https://www.motorsportweek.com/news/id/24085

Saturday 17 August 2019

Inside Line F1 Podcast - With Which Team Will Verstappen Win His F1 Titles With?

Photo: Octane Photography
Max Verstappen is in the form of his life. But with which team will his record-breaking Formula 1 career be with? Will he stay put at Red Bull Racing or jump ship to Mercedes or Ferrari? Red Bull Racing-Honda is exciting, but how soon before it can deliver a championship winning package to Verstappen?

Will Verstappen be as patient with Red Bull Racing as it was with him during his find-my-feet days? Could Mercedes use this opportunity to swoop in and sign Verstappen as Lewis Hamilton's successor?

Yes, lots of questions in this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast as we focus on Max Verstappen and his supposedly long future in Formula 1. We also talk about the Gasly-Albon swap and make a bold prediction of either Grosjean or Hulkenberg not having a seat in 2020. Finally, are McLaren hunting for the Triple Crown themselves? Tune in!

(Season 2019, Episode 30)
Subscribe to the Inside Line F1 Podcast on iTunes, audioBoom (RSS feed), Spotify and Google Podcasts for your weekly dose of Formula 1 humour

Sunday 11 August 2019

Retro on Nigel Mansell's best drives for Motor Sport Magazine

There are some drivers that it is almost impossible to be indifferent about. And Nigel Mansell is quintessential.

By Jerry Lewis-Evans - https://www.flickr.com/photos/
figsbury/9350241055/in/album-72157634767569482/,
CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/
w/index.php?curid=43891659
But whatever you make of him, almost no driver can drama have followed so closely and persistently as him. And this of course manifested in some of the most thrilling and aggressive drives ever seen.

So to mark Nigel Mansell's birthday the other day, for Motor Sport, with help from Jake Williams-Smith, I looked at eight of the best drives from Mansell's ever-dramatic career.

You can check out the selection here: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/history/f1/nigel-mansells-best-drives

I also for Motor Sport recently marked Fernando Alonso's birthday by looking back at his astonishing win in the 2012 European Grand Prix at Valencia. You can check that out here: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/history/f1/fernando-alonsos-greatest-drive-2012-european-grand-prix

Saturday 10 August 2019

Inside Line F1 Podcast - A Legit Hamilton Beater?

After years of waiting, does Formula 1 finally have a Lewis Hamilton beater in Max Verstappen? Frankly, we don't care who beats who as long as we have a battle to witness for the seasons to come. Sorry, Seb, but the narrative does seem to now be all about Verstappen vs Hamilton.

Photo: Octane Photography
In this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, we discuss Verstappen's talent, form and his psychological attacks on Hamilton. Is Nico Rosberg the new Jacques Villeneuve? Did Toto Wolff drop the biggest hint yet of his aspirations to becoming the next F1 CEO? Pierre Gasly deserves a hug and everyone needs to stop playing Helmut Marko. And finally, is Captain Planet Sebastian Vettel racing in the wrong motorsport series? Tune in!

(Season 2019, Episode 29)
Subscribe to the Inside Line F1 Podcast on iTunes, audioBoom (RSS feed), Spotify and Google Podcasts for your weekly dose of Formula 1 humour

Saturday 3 August 2019

1989 Hungarian Grand Prix review for Motor Sport Magazine

My latest classic Formula 1 race retro review for Motor Sport Magazine is here, and it's for the forthcoming Hungarian Grand Prix.

By Stuart Seeger from College Station, Texas, USA -
Explaining, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.
org/w/index.php?curid=5495613
The Hungaroring round hasn't always been everyone's cup of tea since landing as an F1 venue in 1986. But over time it's developed a knack of being the scene of great drivers putting in great drivers.

And few can have been greater than that of 30 years ago in 1989, when Nigel Mansell for Ferrari defied all odds to come through for victory.

Even for one whom drama followed as habitually as Our Nige, this one has good claim to be his most stunning drive of all.

You can read the tale via this link: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/history/f1/senna-realised-i-was-only-driver-he-couldnt-intimidate-mansells-majestic-1989-hungarian

New Motorsport Week article: Formula 1's Hungarian Rhapsody

By Derzsi Elekes Andor (talk · contribs) - Own work, CC
BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/
w/index.php?curid=15965571
The Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring is an interesting one. Really.

It long was dismissed as Formula 1's ugly duckling, 'Monaco without the houses' and the like. Yet there has always been a lot more to it than that.

And in my latest feature for Motorsport Week I explore just what it is about the enigmatic Hungarian Grand Prix. Why it's important, why it's captivating, why it grew to be a Formula 1 favourite.

You can have a read of my thinking here: https://www.motorsportweek.com/news/id/23914

Friday 2 August 2019

How to Choose the Best Car Speaker Size for Your Vehicle

The car is the next place we get to spend our time after work or if we are not at home. To some, the car doubles up as their workplace. Having to sit alone in the confinement of your vehicle for hours in silence can be boring.

You can solve this by installing a sound system to play music or connect it to the radio for updates and hear the latest news. The sound also keeps you alert, making your ride safer and fun. Since cars take up a chunk of our investment, you should not just install speakers haphazardly.

Make the effort of getting nothing but the best in the market. However, despite knowing the car speakers and even making the purchase, they might not be ideal for your vehicle. To ensure you get the best speaker size, consider implementing the following tips.

1) Know the Type of Speaker You Want
Photo by <a href="/photographer/sardinelly-
64706">sardinelly</a> from <a href=
"https://freeimages.com/">FreeImages</a>
You need the correct information to purchase the perfect speaker. A full range speaker comes packed with the whole system under one system while a component speaker comes separate components.

For DIY projects, the full range one is ideal since it is easy to install. In terms of the quality of sound, consider component speakers since they have proven to be the best.

The size is also a key factor as a speaker too small might end up getting overpowered by the woofer, and the system might not support a large one. Most standard speakers range between 3.5 and 6.5. However, lately, custom made pieces have no limits. The best 3.5 speakers can be installed anywhere in the vehicle, making them ideal for both small and big cars.