The silly season of F1 is upon us. Big question is, which driver will go where? Will Kimi Raikkonen retain his Ferrari seat? Fernando Alonso won't reunite with Ferrari, he's clear about his relationship goals with them. And how long before Alonso signs up for Chip Ganassi Racing?
Is Mercedes feeling peer pressure to push their young driver Pascal Wehrlein? Or is Nico Rosberg secure for 2017? If Felipe Massa doesn't get an extension, perhaps his best retirement option would be to only groom his son for F1, inspired by Jos Verstappen!
Sainz, Bottas, Button, Perez, Hulkenberg and Grosjean – plenty of drivers sniffing around for an upgraded cockpit. Pastor Maldonado doesn't look like he's going to get a drive, which explains why he’s been practicing being pit crew instead. Is he paying off a team to hire him as one for '17?
There is lots to look forward to at the upcoming Canadian Grand Pix. The last time Ferrari won here was 2004 – when Max Verstappen was only six years old! Irrespective of which Mercedes driver emerges on top, we that predict Justin Bieber will definitely be on the podium. Perhaps Max Verstappen will crash into the wall of champions just to prove a point (though if anyone needs to prove that point, it's Rosberg). Tune in!
(Season 2016, Episode 19)
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Thursday, 9 June 2016
Monday, 6 June 2016
Montreal Preview - In the spirit of Gilles
You've probably noticed by now that the folks in and around F1 don't always agree on everything. Or more accurately, that they don't agree on very much at all.
But despite appearances there are some things about the sport on which there is close to unanimity. And one such thing is that its annual visit to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix, the latest of which is this weekend, is one to anticipate eagerly.
There are many reasons for this. Captivating drama and action are positive expectations at this race. The layout ensures plenty of overtaking opportunities. The nearby walls - the track being rather a street circuit without the buildings - can and frequently have punished even small errors. It even has its own 'Wall of Champions' which as its name suggests has ensnared a few of the best of them. Safety cars and carbon shards are a common feature in races here, and these have turned many-a Montreal race onto its head. As a result, outcomes here are not so easy to predict.
Further varying matters is that this track with plenty of straights and big stops has long had a reputation as a car breaker - tough on brakes, gearboxes and these days energy recovery systems - and is especially prone to this if the temperature gets up. While on the subject of the weather that also, appropriately, varies more than at just about any other modern day venue and the full range - from hot and sunny through to cool and wet - is possible and can even be witnessed within the same race weekend. If rain does arrive then all bets are off, the madcap 2011 race providing some sort of guide.
But despite appearances there are some things about the sport on which there is close to unanimity. And one such thing is that its annual visit to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix, the latest of which is this weekend, is one to anticipate eagerly.
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| The inimitable Montreal venue Photo: Octane Photography |
Further varying matters is that this track with plenty of straights and big stops has long had a reputation as a car breaker - tough on brakes, gearboxes and these days energy recovery systems - and is especially prone to this if the temperature gets up. While on the subject of the weather that also, appropriately, varies more than at just about any other modern day venue and the full range - from hot and sunny through to cool and wet - is possible and can even be witnessed within the same race weekend. If rain does arrive then all bets are off, the madcap 2011 race providing some sort of guide.
Sunday, 5 June 2016
New Grand Prix Times article: Lewis, Daniel and the case for stewards butting out
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| Photo: Octane Photography |
But no, I kept encountering people online who thought it was all a sham and the victor Lewis Hamilton should have had the book thrown at him for...missing a chicane once.
Strange. As it doesn't at all square with what we seem to want in the cold light of day, which is for stewards to butt out as the sport is over-regulated. In my latest article for Grand Prix Times I explore this apparent contraction as well as reiterate the case for stewards indeed letting drivers get on with it.
You can have a read here: http://www.grandprixtimes.com/news/id/12157
Thursday, 2 June 2016
Formula 1 Match-Ups by Car Leasing Made Simple
Us F1 fans love to compare the merits of different drivers, including those from different eras. It's not always an easy task though, and Car Leasing Made Simple has tried to resolve some of it by comparing the career statistics of three pairs of pilots from F1 past and present that often are compared: Michael Schumacher and his fellow countryman and Ferrari leader Sebastian Vettel; Lewis Hamilton against his current Mercedes mentor Niki Lauda; as well as Nico Rosberg versus his dad Keke.
It also outlines a few auxiliary stats and facts then has a quiz for you to enjoy. It's all below for your pleasure...
F1 Match Ups by carleasingmadesimple.com
It also outlines a few auxiliary stats and facts then has a quiz for you to enjoy. It's all below for your pleasure...
F1 Match Ups by carleasingmadesimple.com
Tuesday, 31 May 2016
Monaco Grand Prix review for Motor Verso - A game for two players
The Monaco round divides opinion like no other, and has done for years. Yet for all of its well-known downside it remains probably the greatest driver challenge on the modern-day F1 calendar. And is especially so when the rain comes down...
And we got all of that last weekend. A thrilling and tense affair, which started wet and dried throughout. And which boiled down largely to a fine, exhilarating battle for the win between Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo. Typically, they were brave, fast and no quarter was given. But there were plenty of other worthy drives out there too.
I give my take on it all in my latest Motor Verso race review. You can read it here: http://www.motorverso.com/monaco-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.
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| Photo: Octane Photography |
I give my take on it all in my latest Motor Verso race review. You can read it here: http://www.motorverso.com/monaco-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.
Inside Line F1 Podcast - Hamilton's Monaco GP Was A Gift
Lewis Hamilton finally won a Grand Prix after a long drought that lasted close to eight months. He was cheered on by his new friend Justin Bieber - musical collaboration, 'just good friends' or a full-blown bromance? Sorry Niki Lauda, Hamilton seems to have moved on quickly.
The one Bieber song that Red Bull Racing must dedicate to Daniel Ricciardo is 'Is It Too Late To Say Sorry' after the "screwed" pitstop which cost the Australian a race win. To top it off, Red Bull Racing came up with the most ridiculous justification for their error. Should Ricciardo move on or stay put and hope for the best? Is the 'Baby Webber' to the 'Baby Vettel'? And we're convinced that Max Verstappen's only possible weakness is the Monaco Grand Prix.
Did Red Bull Racing gift the race to Mercedes to settle their debt from Spain? If Pirelli's ultra softs can last 47 laps, does that mean that the hards would last two race distances? If so, that's longer than what the Honda engine lasts!
What the hell happened to Nico Rosberg, does he deserve to be World Champion after a drive like this? And a BIG cheer for Force India and Sergio Perez for their podium finish! We also tell you why Fernando Alonso should play football before every race, how Sauber are learning from the best, and why McLaren-Honda will finally win races in 2022. Tune in!
(Season 2016, Episode 18)
The one Bieber song that Red Bull Racing must dedicate to Daniel Ricciardo is 'Is It Too Late To Say Sorry' after the "screwed" pitstop which cost the Australian a race win. To top it off, Red Bull Racing came up with the most ridiculous justification for their error. Should Ricciardo move on or stay put and hope for the best? Is the 'Baby Webber' to the 'Baby Vettel'? And we're convinced that Max Verstappen's only possible weakness is the Monaco Grand Prix.
Did Red Bull Racing gift the race to Mercedes to settle their debt from Spain? If Pirelli's ultra softs can last 47 laps, does that mean that the hards would last two race distances? If so, that's longer than what the Honda engine lasts!
What the hell happened to Nico Rosberg, does he deserve to be World Champion after a drive like this? And a BIG cheer for Force India and Sergio Perez for their podium finish! We also tell you why Fernando Alonso should play football before every race, how Sauber are learning from the best, and why McLaren-Honda will finally win races in 2022. Tune in!
(Season 2016, Episode 18)
Sunday, 29 May 2016
Monaco GP Report - Fortune favours the brave
It's a pity really you can't have two winners of a Grand Prix. Today's really would have merited one. In a wet-to-dry Monaco Grand Prix, forbidding barriers nearby as ever, the sport's two best wet weather drivers (probably) disappeared into a race of their own. One thought of Jacky Ickx, Pedro Rodriguez, Zandvoort...
But just as was the case in the Netherlands dunes 45 years ago, in F1 there can only be one winner - no sharing; no honourable draws. And it was Lewis Hamilton that claimed the prestigious in-more-ways-than-one victory. The at least as impressive Daniel Ricciardo was the one this time to miss out.
Lewis had luck, though you could argue that given how his season has gone so far he was due some. He was also bold, particularly in almost uniquely choosing to skip a stop and go straight to the slicks from the full wet that everyone started on in the streaming conditions, in order to get track position on pole man and pace-setter Ricciardo. He also was bold in his driving, not to mention quick. Perhaps fortune favoured the brave today.
Not that's much compensation to Ricciardo, nor is it any slight on his own fortitude today, which also was considerable. As while there was no travesty in Lewis winning this one there was in Ricciardo losing it. From the off the Australian simply left everyone to be a spec in his rear-view while Lewis was bottled up by his team mate Nico Rosberg. Eventually after some synchronised swimming on lap 16 Lewis was allowed by and made a race of it, though by this time after just eight laps of green flag racing Ricciardo was 14 seconds up the road.
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| There could only be one victor, and it was Lewis Hamilton Photo: Octane Photography |
Lewis had luck, though you could argue that given how his season has gone so far he was due some. He was also bold, particularly in almost uniquely choosing to skip a stop and go straight to the slicks from the full wet that everyone started on in the streaming conditions, in order to get track position on pole man and pace-setter Ricciardo. He also was bold in his driving, not to mention quick. Perhaps fortune favoured the brave today.
Not that's much compensation to Ricciardo, nor is it any slight on his own fortitude today, which also was considerable. As while there was no travesty in Lewis winning this one there was in Ricciardo losing it. From the off the Australian simply left everyone to be a spec in his rear-view while Lewis was bottled up by his team mate Nico Rosberg. Eventually after some synchronised swimming on lap 16 Lewis was allowed by and made a race of it, though by this time after just eight laps of green flag racing Ricciardo was 14 seconds up the road.
Saturday, 28 May 2016
Talking about F1's Graham Keilloh talks Monaco Qualifying on Radio Woking
You may be aware that I'm a regular guest on Radio Woking on its Saturday afternoon sports show, where I chat about the latest F1 goings-on with their presenter Declan McCarthy.
I was on the show today after Monaco's qualifying, talking about the amazing quali hour, what we can expect in the race, as well as a few other recent F1 matters.
You can have a listen to all 15 minutes of our chat via the player below:
I was on the show today after Monaco's qualifying, talking about the amazing quali hour, what we can expect in the race, as well as a few other recent F1 matters.
You can have a listen to all 15 minutes of our chat via the player below:
Monaco Qualifying - A place for stars...
In a place known for attracting stars, today was one for possibly F1's very brightest. Daniel Ricciardo's sheer sparkle in and out of the car is not to be denied and today he made good on the former at least in qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix. That most important pole of all, for more reasons than one, is his. And is his in stupendous style.
"My time" concluded the triumphant Australian on his cool down lap. Not only was that apt but was another thing that could have more than one simultaneous interpretation.
Given everything you had to remind yourself it was in fact his first ever pole in F1. "It's been my time for a little while" Ricciardo added picking up the theme later, "and here it's the most rewarding place as you know, sure we've got a great car and the upgrade has helped us this weekend with the power unit, but there's that bigger percentage of driver difference here than at any other place on the calendar, so that's a nice little one". All was said with his habitual broadest of smiles of course.
But his lap time too, from his first effort in the vital final part of qualifying, sent reverberations up and down the pit lane - a 1m 13.622 mark that at the time Nico Rosberg could only get to around three tenths of and Sebastian Vettel barely within a second. Ricciardo promised in advance he would be "ragging it" in Monaco. I'm uncool and therefore not sure what that means, but from watching his astonishing and danger defying commitment through the final turns of that crucial lap he may have provided a clue. It certainly was on the ragged edge. "Just dynamite" was how his boss Christian Horner summed it up.
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| The bright star of Daniel Ricciardo took his first ever F1 pole Photo: Octane Photography |
Given everything you had to remind yourself it was in fact his first ever pole in F1. "It's been my time for a little while" Ricciardo added picking up the theme later, "and here it's the most rewarding place as you know, sure we've got a great car and the upgrade has helped us this weekend with the power unit, but there's that bigger percentage of driver difference here than at any other place on the calendar, so that's a nice little one". All was said with his habitual broadest of smiles of course.
But his lap time too, from his first effort in the vital final part of qualifying, sent reverberations up and down the pit lane - a 1m 13.622 mark that at the time Nico Rosberg could only get to around three tenths of and Sebastian Vettel barely within a second. Ricciardo promised in advance he would be "ragging it" in Monaco. I'm uncool and therefore not sure what that means, but from watching his astonishing and danger defying commitment through the final turns of that crucial lap he may have provided a clue. It certainly was on the ragged edge. "Just dynamite" was how his boss Christian Horner summed it up.
Wednesday, 25 May 2016
Inside Line F1 Podcast - Le Mans Says No To Formula 1
Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg claimed that they 'cleared the air' over their collision at the 2016 Spanish GP. But we're in Formula 1 - we don't clear the air, we dirty it! In this week's episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Mithila and Kunal give you a sneak peek into the conversation between the two not-so-bitter title rivals.
Le Mans has rejected Formula 1 - by saying NO to the FIA's proposal to race at the legendary Le Mans circuit. What hurts more is that MotoGP already races there! Hamilton is keen to race in MotoGP too, presumably to take some more selfies.
We give you our predictions for our favourite race of the year, in Monaco. Can Max Verstappen pull off another victory? Hamilton has not won in Monaco since 2008. In fact, he's never won here with Mercedes. Maybe he needs to focus on his opening lap strategy and quit pretending to be James Bond!
There's also chatter about Formula 1 drivers racing in the Indy Car series one day. While Perez is open, Hamilton has declined interest. But we wonder if that's possible and if it is fair, after all, the Indy Car series is all-American.
Finally, we tell you why Rosberg moving to Ferrari is only a rumour (he's not good enough!) and how the rumours of Hamilton missing the Monaco GP came about (he wanted to party on Saturday night). Will the new Red Bull Racing engine update propel the team to the podium? McLaren claims it will dethrone Mercedes, does that mean they will have Alonso and Button crash into each other? Oh yes, we also tell you why they have 'Sensodyne' as their sponsor.
Tune in!
(Season 2016, Episode 17)
Le Mans has rejected Formula 1 - by saying NO to the FIA's proposal to race at the legendary Le Mans circuit. What hurts more is that MotoGP already races there! Hamilton is keen to race in MotoGP too, presumably to take some more selfies.
We give you our predictions for our favourite race of the year, in Monaco. Can Max Verstappen pull off another victory? Hamilton has not won in Monaco since 2008. In fact, he's never won here with Mercedes. Maybe he needs to focus on his opening lap strategy and quit pretending to be James Bond!
There's also chatter about Formula 1 drivers racing in the Indy Car series one day. While Perez is open, Hamilton has declined interest. But we wonder if that's possible and if it is fair, after all, the Indy Car series is all-American.
Finally, we tell you why Rosberg moving to Ferrari is only a rumour (he's not good enough!) and how the rumours of Hamilton missing the Monaco GP came about (he wanted to party on Saturday night). Will the new Red Bull Racing engine update propel the team to the podium? McLaren claims it will dethrone Mercedes, does that mean they will have Alonso and Button crash into each other? Oh yes, we also tell you why they have 'Sensodyne' as their sponsor.
Tune in!
(Season 2016, Episode 17)
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