Take the Ultimate F1 Circuit Quiz

With the 2016 F1 season now in full swing JCT600 has created an F1 quiz intended to put even the most knowledgeable of fans to the test. It challenges you to see how much you know about some of the most famous and evocative tracks in F1 history.

You can have a go at the quiz below, and even better if you share your result you have a chance to win a £50 Amazon voucher!

The terms and conditions are here.

And without wishing to blag, I got a clean sweep. Probably more a reflection of me being tragic than anything else, but hey...

I got "You're in pole position" on "The Ultimate #F1 Circuit Quiz" What about you? https://t.co/gDP2BMIkRe via @jct600 13/13. Beat that :)

— Graham Keilloh (@TalkingaboutF1) April 6, 2016

Inside Line F1 Podcast - Power Struggles Trouble Formula One

The repeat mismanagement of the qualifying fiasco has brought Formula 1's power struggles to the fore, say Mithila and Kunal in this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast. While the FIA & FOM seem to have ganged up against the teams, the fans have been neglected yet again. And for a change, the drivers too.

Given that the 'three tyre compound' rule seems to be working wonders for the sport, the duo wonder if this was a fluke decision after all. Also, does it make the sport a tad too confusing at times? We tell you why we prefer tyre strategy over fuel strategy.

Nico Rosberg's victory in Bahrain was long overdue, but the same can be said about his career as well. Whether the 'five consecutive wins' statistic works for him or not, Rosberg is a true champion and we tell you why.

As for Lewis Hamilton, he seems better in finishing races than starting them; will this prompt a rule change by the FIA-FOM to help him back to his winning ways? We discussed the Hamilton-Bottas incident and wonder if the FIA Stewards are missing Pastor Maldonado this season.

Fernando Alonso might have missed performing on track in Bahrain, but he did make up for it via a stellar performance on LIVE TV with Johnny Herbert. Clap! Clap! And we wouldn't be surprised if Stoffel Vandoorne reluctantly returned the keys of the McLaren Honda back to Alonso for China.

Lastly, are Ferrari pushing their development agenda at the cost of reliability? And did you know that three out of Kimi Raikkonen's last four podium finishes came at circuits where there was no alcohol served (on the podium).

Tune in!

(Season 2016, Episode 10)

New Grand Prix Times article: Why Fernando Alonso's not done yet

One way or another Fernando Alonso was the talk of the Bahrain steamie last weekend. And this despite not driving his McLaren so much as the distance of a Pirelli's circumference.

Photo: Octane Photography

He had to sit out of Bahrain proceedings, as following on from his spectacular Melbourne barrel-roll he had a broken rib. But given it's Alonso this fairly straightforward development had to be accompanied by rumour and invective. Not least from Johnny Herbert who suggested that it was all a sign of Alonso lacking commitment and opined that he should retire.

In my latest article for Grand Prix Times though I rebut Herbert's claims, as well as more generally outline why Alonso is far from being done yet.

You can have a read here: http://www.grandprixtimes.com/news/id/11702

Bahrain Grand Prix review for Motor Verso - Things go for Rosberg

Here is my latest Motor Verso race review, this time for the Bahrain Grand Prix just passed.

Photo: Octane Photography

Just like in Australia, wrangles off-track threatened to dominate the Sakhir weekend. Just like in Australia, the excruciating qualifying system was used. Just like in Australia too through, the race despite everything turned out to be a diverting one. And just like in Australia, everything's coming up Rosberg. Still.

For Motor Verso I give my take on all that went on at the Sakhir track. You can have a read here: http://www.motorverso.com/bahrain-gp-2016-review/

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.

Bahrain GP Report - Rosberg keeps rollin'

When things are rolling for you, they roll for you. Really, you enter a race with three credible rivals, yet one has dropped out before the race has even started and the other two have had their days severely compromised as quickly as the point of exiting turn one. Already the day is as good as yours. It's hard to imagine how it gets much better.

Nico Rosberg had another win come his way
Photo: Octane Photography

That's exactly what happened to Nico Rosberg in today's Bahrain Grand Prix. First off Sebastian Vettel didn't last even to the end of the parade lap, his Ferrari engine going pop; redolent of Michael Schumacher in France 20 years ago. The red cars' reliability hasn't looked near to being perfect in the 2016 calendar year and in this instance F1 once again demonstrated that it abides closely by Murphy's Law.

Then neither Lewis Hamilton nor Kimi Raikkonen got good starts. Worse for Lewis a rather lairy Valtteri Bottas hit him at the first corner, the upshot of it all was that Kimi was P5 and Lewis could continue but in P7. Worse still for Lewis was that his car was damaged, particularly in the floor, and some later spoke of it costing him up to a second a lap. For more than one reason he was condemned to damage limitation. While moreover the matter of first place was done pretty much by the first turn.

Sakhir Qualifying - Lewis lights up the gloom

Light and shade, this F1. Light and shade.

Lewis Hamilton made it two poles from two in 2016
Photo: Octane Photography

And rarely can it have been more markedly the case than in today's Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying session. Not merely either because it is one of the few run under artificial illumination.

The notorious flopped qualifying format did no better than when it debuted in Melbourne two weeks ago, as everyone worth listening to said it wouldn't. The long spells of empty track; cars being eliminated while sat in the garage; that the final grid was not the jumbled one that the system was designed to create. All were repeated pretty much exactly as in its excruciating first outing. Albert Einstein's definition of insanity - of doing the same thing and expecting different results - was quoted endlessly. Surely now we'll never see its like again.

But in another repeat of a fortnight ago the awful system at least provided a worthy pole winner. In fact it did so even more emphatically than then, as the lap that took it was as extraordinary as it was unexpected. Just like then Lewis Hamilton won out. Unlike then this was one taken against the head.

Inside Line F1 Podcast - Ferrari Should Sign Max Verstappen

In this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Mithila and Kunal tell you why Ferrari should sign up Max Verstappen at the expense of letting go the yet-to-find-form Kimi Raikkonen.

We explain why there's no 'crisis in Formula 1' and wonder what Haas Racing's real pace is. As we THANK GOD that Flavio Briatore isn't Bernie Ecclestone's successor, we wonder if Formula 1 needs a Narendra Modi too?

The dubious qualifying format, Pirelli tyres, Ferrari vs. Mercedes - so much to look forward to in Bahrain, including Toro Rosso scoring their first points ever? And obviously, there's no incentive to race to the podium in Bahrain for Kimi Raikkonen (we tell you why!).

And finally, did Kunal crack his best F1 joke ever in this episode? Tune in and find out.

(Season 2016, Episode 09)

Sakhir Preview: Reds in the reckoning?

Typical Tilke. It is a phrase that for better and worse has entered the modern F1 lexicon, reflecting that for pushing the last two decades the architect Hermann of that ilk has been responsible almost exclusively for the sport's new-fangled circuits. And that for the forthcoming Bahrain round embodies the phrase more than most of them.

The Bahrain round has often been controversial,
but also has provided good races
By Habeed Hameed - https://www.flickr.com/photos/
122685162@N04/13712443725/, CC BY-SA 2.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/
index.php?curid=32283169

The Sakhir facility is indeed typical Tilke. It's built from nothing, all clean lines and gleaming architecture. And comes with a sense that everything has been thought of.

Yet it has some of the typical Tilke flipside too. As with so many of these new circuits it represented a large geographical stride into a new world; when it debuted in 2004 it was the first F1 race in the Persian Gulf. Some of course agonise over the extent that F1's been turning its back on its core support, as well as over the motivations of its newer hosts. The Crown Prince of Bahrain has been known to justify the event more in terms of 'national branding' than sport, while as we know this particular round has had controversy attached for much more weighty reasons than that.

It is typical Tilke in its layout too. Much of the fingerprint is there: long straights book-ended by tight corners designed to promote overtaking, with a dash of quicker turns elsewhere. This track is a little bigger on the former at the expense of the latter compared with some of Tilke's other efforts however, its triangular layout somewhat like a flattened-out Red Bull Ring. Like the Red Bull Ring also though it has with reasonable regularity produced entertaining races.

New Grand Prix Times article: Formula 1 driver power - a nice idea but impossible?

F1 driver power is quite the subject right now. We had the GPDA's very public shot across the bows on the running of the sport in recent days, which indeed is just the latest raising of the stakes from the increasingly active organisation.

Photo: Octane Photography

While over the season-opening weekend in Melbourne Lewis Hamilton had a lot to say on the subject of drivers being brought into the sport's decision-making. And he had a point; if nothing else the drivers' record on getting it right is in fact a good one.

But...F1 history is not encouraging on driver power. And in my latest article for Grand Prix Times I outline that while bringing drivers in from the cold would be a good thing, it's hard to see how it can happen.

You can read it here: http://www.grandprixtimes.com/news/id/11626

Inside Line F1 Podcast - Verstappen's Typical Teenage Tantrums

Max Verstappen showed his trademark speed at the 2016 Australian Grand Prix, but did he also show some immaturity? Is he behaving like a typical teenager?

Verstappen's request on the radio for 'team orders' shows that he's learned well from our current and previous World Champions.

In this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Mithila and Kunal talk about how the opening round in Australia showcased the best and worst of Formula 1. They wonder why Rosberg's race winning drive wasn't covered as well on TV just as Hamilton's off-tracks antics received their due interest.

Given our reigning World Champion's interest in taking selfies while riding a bike, should Bernie also put out a message saying 'Think Before You Take A Selfie?'.

As we wrap up this show, we wonder why Formula 1 is this expensive and why Haas won't have be paid in their first year despite delivering a dream result on their debut. And finally, a Vettel-Webber show on Formula 1? We'd love that, won't we!

Tune in!

(Season 2016, Episode 08)