New Motor Sport Magazine article: The races that never happened: F1's cancelled grands prix

Hamel Alrayeh [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org
/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Today the not-exactly-surprising confirmation has landed that the forthcoming Chinese Grand Prix, scheduled for April 19, is at least postponed due to coronavirus.

But as with most things in Formula 1, grands prix being postponed or cancelled is far from being new.

So for Motor Sport Magazine I have taken a look at five notable previous times that F1 races were canned.

You can have a read here.

New Motorsport Week article: Why we shouldn’t write off Sebastian Vettel yet

How exactly could the Italian Grand Prix have gone worse for Sebastian Vettel?

Photo: Octane Photography

The fact that you have to think underlines just how regrettable it was for him.

And ever since, his time at Ferrari, perhaps even in F1, has been declared roundly as akin to the man slung over his associate's shoulder in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Either dead, or it'll be dead very soon as it's very ill.

But, ever the contrarian, I wonder if we're being premature. There remains a possibility that Vettel can recover. Although, for a few reasons, it'll be difficult.

And in my latest for Motorsport Week I explore what might lie next for Vettel. For good and ill. You can have a read here: https://www.motorsportweek.com/news/id/24403

1971 Italian Grand Prix review for Motor Sport Magazine

By Unknown - http://60years.autosport.com/?year=1971,
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org
/w/index.php?curid=29477842

My latest classic Formula 1 race retro review for Motor Sport Magazine is here. This time it's for this weekend's race, the Italian Grand Prix.

Of course, there is no shortage of Italian Grands Prix in history to pick from, and - in a unique level of ubiquity - all but one are at Monza. But one even so stands out. The 1971 race.

Many cite it as the finest Formula 1 grand prix of all. For a long time it was the fastest. In more than one sense it was the closest too.

It even managed to be remarkable in other ways.

You can have a read of my take on the extraordinary race via this link: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/f1/best-formula-1-race-ever-1971-italian-grand-prix

Motor Verso F1 2018 Season Summary - Italian Grand Prix review

Photo: Octane Photography

And so the Ferrari revival is off. Or delayed at the very least. The season's nagging theme returned at Monza - that of the Scuderia dashing the opportunity presented by its fine car. While Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton were brilliant in taking advantage.

My take on a thrilling and surprising Italian Grand Prix is now added to the ever-expanding Motor Verso F1 season summary. And as ever it also includes stunning Pirelli photography and the best F1 content on YouTube.

You can check out the latest incarnation here: https://www.motorverso.com/2018-f1-summary/

Do check out the Motor Verso site too; you'll find motoring news, car reviews and features - the team on the site carry out week-long test drives of the latest cars - as well as photos and videos of the machines.

Italian GP Report - Come together

After Spa last week we thought things would be different. But in its back yard the chief theme of 2018 reasserted - that Ferrari for all its stunning speed isn't beginning to make good on it where it really matters. That something insists on coming along to trip it up. Sometimes of its own doing.

Lewis Hamilton against all expectations
defeated Ferrari to win
Photo: Octane Photography

Matters in the Italian Grand Prix weekend started just as expected though. Continuing the Spa pattern Ferrari on Monza's rapid circuit had a clear pace advantage, including on its title foe targets Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. After qualifying the grid's front row was all red. But a day later things were scarcely recognisable. Hamilton had won and left Ferrari's homeland with an extended 30 point lead in the championship table over the Scuderia's Sebastian Vettel.

And with the talk of big themes this shift was not down to just one thing. Rather a lot of - often ostensibly minor - things came together. Lenin reminded us that everything is connected to everything else. It's especially the case in F1.

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow. The acorns that grew into the mighty oak of Ferrari's defeat were planted the day before the race, in that very same qualifying session. There was one fly in Vettel's Saturday ointment, that his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen took pole position ahead of him. The Finn was aided by that he ran behind Vettel on track and thus got the benefit of his slipstream on Monza's many lengthy straights. Vettel meanwhile had been fed out by his team a little late and therefore didn't really benefit from the car ahead in the same way (Hamilton's, as it happened).

Italian GP Betting Preview - Just like old times?

F1 has in a sense gone full circle. Time was we could expect a Ferrari upturn for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. As its home round, with everything that entails, the red team would turn up with a 'special'. For various reasons those days are in the past. But for the first Italian visit in a good while we nevertheless turn up this time with Ferrari emphatically the team to beat.

The view the rest will be getting of Ferrari?
Photo: Octane Photography

The Scuderia generally has been on top pace-wise in recent rounds, and in the Belgian stop-off last weekend - at a track just like Monza with plenty of full throttle sections - both Ferrari and Mercedes turned up with new power units and Ferrari remained at least as far ahead on that front as it had been before. Perhaps more so. Sebastian Vettel sailed past Lewis Hamilton on lap one as if he was parked on the way to a comfortable victory. Much to Hamilton's audible chagrin.

And as intimated this advantage will count for a lot at Monza, and the bookies have noticed judging by that they've made Vettel favourite for the pole and win. The odds still look pretty tempting as you'll near enough double your money if Vettel prevails, with 8/11 for him to get pole and 19/20 to win the race.

With this too you may be similarly tempted by the 8/13 available for Vettel's fellow Ferrari Kimi Raikkonen to finish on the podium. The grapevine has him being retained at the Scuderia for next year, and another Ferrari tradition is announcing drivers for the following year at Monza - so with this the Finn should be in a good mood. You can also get 3/5 on a Ferrari to win.

Monza Preview: Home run?

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, then as in previous visits we approached an Italian Grand Prix expecting a Mercedes demonstration run. The German power unit couldn't be matched on full noise and the works team was best placed to take advantage on the Monza track's many long straights. To wit - Mercedes has won the last four races here, all imperiously and three of the four have been one-twos. Last year the first non-Mercedes - Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari - finished some 36 seconds adrift of the winner.

Will Ferrari again be showing Mercedes the way?
Photo: Octane Photography

Now in advance of the latest Italian stop-off you'll struggle to find anyone who doesn't expect exactly the same of Ferrari instead. That its power unit is a clear step ahead of the rest on grunt and is particularly so in the back of the works car; that Ferrari therefore is the car to beat at Monza and likely will not be beaten. The Spa round just passed - another power circuit - underlined the point in thick red lines.

"He came sailing past me like it was nothing," said Lewis Hamilton then of his foe in red Vettel. "We made a big step coming into this weekend; they made an even bigger step..."

He added elsewhere his perception of the Ferrari engine's "trick things".

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted too after Spa that the silver car's traction and performance in slow stuff is poor - which in turn blisters the tyres - which will also be a problem at Monza.

Italian GP Report - Mercedes mastery

This F1 championship battle seems determined to fox us.

The Italian Grand Prix was all about Mercedes,
and especially Lewis Hamilton
Photo: Octane Photography

In many ways this one at Monza was a lot like the one at Spa a week before. A high speed track that we thought could be designed for Mercedes. Indeed it's likely so to an even greater extent than the Belgian track - plenty of long straights to show its top end grunt; few corners that Ferrari can catch up in. Merc's trimmed set up appears the more efficient too.

And the winner was as expected - Merc's very own Lewis Hamilton.

Highlighting the ebb and flow he thus became the first back-to-back winner this season. With it he took the title lead for the first time.

But just like in Spa the significance for plotting the championship destination laid instead in the margin of the victory. Only this time the other way around - this time Merc was even further ahead of Ferrari than anticipated. Spa titled predictions towards Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel; this one titled them back.

Firstpost Video - Italian Grand Prix Review

The latest Firstpost Video Grand Prix Review is here. Mithila and Kunal (now based in Norway!) of Inside Line F1 Podcast look at yesterday's Italian Grand Prix. They discuss the dominant Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes of course, the other protagonists including Valtteri Bottas and Esteban Ocon, Ferrari's flop at home, as well as other matters of moment such as grid penalties...

You can watch below:

No Italy qualifying report from me...

By Britcar24 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58846526

Hello all.

Just thought I'd let you know that I won't be able to do a qualifying report for the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

As this weekend I'll be at Donington Park covering the Britcar event for Autosport.

And while there will be a Italy race report it will be on the late side...

Normal service will resume for Singapore.

Regards,
Graham

Italian GP Betting Preview - Flutter on Ferrari?

On one level the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend went as expected, with a Lewis Hamilton pole and win. But on a broader level, expectations shifted.

Can Sebastian Vettel run with Lewis Hamilton
just like he did at Spa?
Photo: Octane Photography

Mercedes was supposed to dominate at Spa but instead Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari chased Lewis all the way and looked quicker in race trim. Now at Monza this weekend we have another track with similar (ish) high speed demands, plus Ferrari is at home where it historically finds extra oomph. The chat is of a new engine debuted this time.

On the other hand a heavier restriction on oil burning is also coming in this weekend. It was thought anyway that it'd impede Ferrari more than Mercedes and yesterday we learnt furthermore that Merc's new engine - debuted last weekend - won't be subject to the stricter limit.

Still if it's too close to call then Seb's 18/5 to win is better value than Lewis's 2/3. It's still worth backing Lewis for pole - where Mercedes can turn its engines up more than Ferrari- at 8/13. Given both Ferrari and Merc will likely be backing their 'number one' pilot it's likely not worth backing anyone else to triumph.

Monza Preview: F1's soul survivor

So what is it about Monza?

What is it about Monza? Well if you need to ask...
Photo: Octane Photography

As Louis Armstrong said when asked to define 'swing', if you have to ask then you'll never know...

On one level it's tricky to explain. The venue lacks the gleaming modernity of some. It has never entirely shaken its air of vague chaos. Aspects of the crowd aren't to everyone's taste. Unlike Spa it isn't much of a driving challenge. It can't even be counted upon to produce a wonderful race - they often are follow-my-leader.

So, what it is? Well we can start with that Monza's heritage is unparalleled - racing cars have been in combat around this Italian royal park going all the way back to 1922, and the layout - other than the addition of chicanes and the coming and going of a fearsome banking section - has remained unaltered for almost all of the time since.

The latest Lights to Flag Podcast - 2016 Italian Grand Prix Review

The latest episode of the Lights to Flag podcast has landed, and in this one Ewan and I look at the Italian Grand Prix just passed.

It was race that didn't thrill, but still the weekend gave us plenty to talk about, and Ewan and I explore various of them: among other things Lewis vs. Nico, whither Ferrari, as well as the many signs of F1's changing of the guard. You can listen by clicking play below.

As ever you can interact with the podcast via its Twitter account and on its Facebook page. If you want to appear on it give us a shout too.

And on next week's episode we'll be previewing Singapore, so if you have comments then get them to me via the various channels and we'll read out the good ones!

Inside Line F1 Podcast - Nico Rosberg Suffering From Major FOMO?

Nico Rosberg has done it again - surprised the hell out of us, that is. He won his first ever race at Monza, right on the heels of his first ever win at Spa. He also won his first Driver of the Day award! Is his FOMO, or 'Fear of Missing Out' driving him? The BIGGER question is, will it culminate into his first ever World Championship victory too?

The Inside Line F1 Podcast turns football analyst as we analyse the friendly match between 'F1 Stars vs. All Stars', held on the pit-straight in Monza. Fernando Alonso was the best player (because football does not need an engine), Jolyon Palmer scored an own goal (no surprises) and Max Verstappen was the best defender (did anyone get hurt?!) We wonder whether Daniil Kvyat was demoted to the bench!

Are Lewis Hamilton's starts from pole position jinxed? We talk about manual starts, the one thing making the 2016 season exciting (apart from Max Verstappen). Manual starts are awesome because you have some drivers gaining positions, others losing positions - and some just blaming the clutch!

The podium celebrations at Monza were more fun than the race itself. We loved Rosberg's podium performance (did it give Lewis 'Rockstar' Hamilton a complex?). If Rosberg ever applies to Ferrari, we are sure his Italian speaking skills will be helpful! We also tell you why Rosberg chose to sing that particular song apart from the fact that it is super catchy!

Why was Max Verstappen unusually subdued at Monza? Perhaps we should have a 'chat' with young Max, because everyone seems to want to have a chat with him! Was Daniel Ricciardo's overtaking move on Bottas THE move of the season?

Constructor battles are heating up as Ferrari closed the gap to Red Bull Racing and Williams continued to fight Force India. We give you our predictions on what lies ahead in these battles. How did Bottas's changed helmet help him beat Ricciardo in qualifying?

We have big news from the September 'silly season'. Felipe Massa announced his retirement from Formula 1, who will replace him at Williams? Jenson Button is taking a sabbatical next year, seems McLaren has a hard time letting go of its World Champion drivers. Button is going to spend 2017 doing what all retired drivers do - without calling it a retirement! Next in the line of retirements could be none other than Bernie Ecclestone - buzz has it that F1 is set to change ownership soon. Will that be for the better of the sport?

Tune in!

(Season 2016, Episode 28)

Italian Grand Prix review for Motor Verso - Foreseeably unforseen

To again employ the increasingly-said F1 euphemism, that wasn't the most entertaining race.

Photo: Octane Photography

Still there was intrigue around in the Italian Grand Prix if you dug a little. Not least that the outcome - a Nico Rosberg win - looked a world away for most of the weekend as his team mate Lewis Hamilton dominated. But even in the Englishman's qualifying afterglow the ways in which things could change very quickly could be foreseen, not least because we have witnessed similar already this year. That the Mercedes' starts haven't always been great, and if you lose places off the line in the modern sport it's very difficult to turn it around. For a few reasons.

And it turns out we're quite good mystics, as that's precisely what happened.

I give my take on it all in my latest Motor Verso race review, which you can read here: http://www.motorverso.com/italian-gp-2016-review-foreseeably-unforeseen/

Do check out the Motor Verso site too; you'll find motoring news, car reviews and features - the team on the site carry out week-long test drives of the latest cars - as well as photos and videos of the machines.

Italian GP Report - Redressing the balance

To think that we were convinced that someone, somewhere, was smiling on Lewis Hamilton just lately. I guess this one in Monza you can file under redressing the balance. Yin and yang.

Against the form of most of the weekend,
Nico Rosberg triumphed
Photo: Octane Photography

For most of the Italian Grand Prix weekend though it appeared that Lewis wouldn't need any of the luck that he might have been benefiting from in recent times. He looked on utterly dominant form, and rather relishing the fact too. Almost gleefully braking later than late and throwing his car expertly through Monza's chicanes. He certainly looked gleeful out of the car. And it all added up to a half second advantage over his Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg next up in the final qualifying order, a margin between them almost unprecedented. And at a track with but a handful of corners.

And the two Mercedes were as per Sebastian Vettel's lucid words "in a world of their own". As with the gap between the two Mercs, this also was the expected situation but was manifesting itself to a greater extent than usual this time.

Yet even in the afterglow of Lewis's qualifying effort paths that diverged from his imperious march to victory could be, and indeed were, charted. The run to the first turn is a very long one here; the Mercs' starts have been of variable quality in 2016 thanks to an 'inconsistent' clutch.

Monza Qualifying - Lewis's full beam

Lewis Hamilton bounced into the Monza press conference room, only to rather stop on his heels, confronted by a flat screen TV. It was showing onboard footage of his pole position lap for the Italian Grand Prix. Every perfect, and late, braking point. Every chicane negotiated with elan rather like the Mercedes was a yo-yo being expertly controlled on the end of its string.

Lewis Hamilton took pole position
and positively beamed about it
Photo: Octane Photography

Lewis stood aside and turned to the room of assembled hacks pointing at the screen with the broadest of grins and a satisfied nod of his head. The message was clear - did you see what I just did? Good, wasn't it? It was Lewis. It was.

Respective second and third-placed men Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel even with this sideshow trudged in what seemed a while later. It felt appropriate on a few levels.

Yep, if the Mercs this weekend at ultra-fast Monza were in Vettel's words "in a world of their own", similar could be said about Lewis in relation to his team mate. He's simply been on another level to everyone from around the mid-point of Friday, and if anything has seemed to stretch his advantage ever wider since.

The latest Lights to Flag Podcast - 2016 Belgian Grand Prix Review/Italian Grand Prix Preview

The latest episode of the Lights to Flag podcast is here, and in this one we look back at the Belgian Grand Prix as well as look ahead to Monza.

Host Ewan Marshall and I reflect on a Spa weekend and race that gave us plenty to talk about. And yes, Max Verstappen does feature... We also look ahead to the Italian race and just what is so very special about the Monza venue. You can listen by clicking play below.

As before too do let us know what you think, we're very keen to hear feedback. You can also interact with the podcast, such as by suggesting questions or letting us know your comments, via the Twitter account and on its Facebook page. If you want to appear on it give us a shout too.

Italian Grand Prix Coin Collection by Rosland Capital

You may recall a few weeks back me writing about premier precious metals asset firm Rosland Capital releasing and distributing The Formula One Collection, a new limited edition series of F1 themed coin collections.

The limited edition gold coin celebrating the Italian Grand Prix

This collection includes individual one-quarter ounce gold coins to celebrate four of the most prestigious modern-day Grands Prix specifically.

And of course there are few as prestigious as Monza's Italian Grand Prix which takes place this weekend, and the limited edition .25oz gold coin celebrating the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix is now available.

Minted by Swiss-based PAMP and distributed by Rosland Capital, the front of each coin features the official Formula 1 logo, a striking representation of a 2016 F1 car, and the name of the event in Italian - Gran Premio d'Italia™. The obverse features Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the legal tender value of the coin, the year of issue, and the metal fineness.

You can follow Rosland Capital's Twitter page to stay up-to-date on more Formula 1 coin news, with releases for the Brazilian and United States Grands Prix to come.

And if you'd like more information or are interested in purchasing one of these then you can visit this page on Rosland Capital's website.

The Italian Grand Prix coin in its presentation card

The observe side of the presentation card

Monza Preview: F1's soul survivor

The modern F1 calendar, to put it euphemistically, divides opinion. But in this two-week period after the summer break these days you will hardly find a murmur of objection. The stops-offs suddenly feel recognisable and wonderful; embodying a lot of what F1 is, or should be. We've just been to Spa of course, and this weekend coming we'll be in Monza, the venue for the Italian Grand Prix. And so a lot feels right in F1. Enjoy it while it lasts.

What is it about Monza? Well, if you need to ask...
Photo: Octane Photography

So what is it about Monza? Why does just about anyone whose heart has beaten a little faster for a racing car anticipate this round like no other? On a certain level it's a tricky one to explain as there are a good few things not to like about it. The venue lacks the gleaming modernity of the newer ones. The place has never entirely shaken its sense of vague chaos. Certain aspects of the crowd aren't to everyone's taste. Unlike Spa's its layout isn't all that much of a driving challenge these days. It can't even really be counted on to produce a wonderful race.

But still the original question puts in mind, as Louis Armstrong said when asked to define 'swing', that if you have to ask then you'll never know...