What Formula One can learn from Red Bull - by Kunal Shah

We're in the 66th year of our sport of Formula 1. I am not sure about any other sporting category, but in the category of Motorsport, this is possibly the longest run annual World Championship. One of the most visually appealing man-machine duels in the world, the sport has possibly a million images and videos of the heroes (and zeroes) of the yesteryears, the victories, the near wins and the near losses, the crashes, exciting wheel to wheel battles between world famous drivers and more. (Read: What's Wrong With Formula One?)

Should F1 be doing more to promote itself?
Photo: Octane Photography

In a world where 'content is king', Formula 1 is in position to share this exciting content with fans on a regular basis and maintain the interest between races. Especially in times where the movie Rush was more spoken about (and possibly viewed?) than the Mercedes dominated 2014 Formula 1 Season. (Read: What Formula One Can Learn From Rush)

I have written about this before and I say it again - Formula 1 needs to invest in its own marketing. Currently, it relies on team sponsors and the local organisers to generate fan interest. And what's most surprising to me is that the sport makes more money than the stakeholders who currently end up marketing it, which means that the stakes are only that much higher for the sport. (Read: Formula One Needs To Market Itself Better)

Ending F1's Indian gap years

You know all about the modern F1 calendar. That it exists in a near-perpetual state of flux. You might even say a lot of the rounds on it these days seem interchangeable.

And given this it's almost easy to forget that we had on it an Indian stop off, and as recently as eighteen months ago. But we did, for three years, and while this was far from the universal view by the end of its brief run, I for one regretted its departure. Felt that the sport was way too quick to give up on it.

The welcome of F1 in India was a warm one
"Pitlane Walks - 2011 Indian Grand Prix" by Dell Inc. - Flickr:
Entertainment in India during pit lane walks. Licensed under
CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.
wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pitlane_Walks_-_2011_Indian_
Grand_Prix.jpg#/media/File:Pitlane_Walks
_-_2011_Indian_Grand_Prix.jpg

For me it was a no-brainer why too. The world's second most populous country, and a key global growth economy, with a burgeoning middle class with incomes to spend. As well as that as anyone who has watched an IPL game could tell you it has rather a lot of sports fans in it in addition to a few moneyed individuals willing to invest plenty in sport. In other words, the potential rewards for F1 establishing itself there are as vast as the country itself.

Even better too, unlike most other recent shifts of the sport into new markets, this Grand Prix was no top-down imposition by a Government interested mainly in national promotion and 'branding'. This was a labour of love from genuine motorsport enthusiasts, not least president of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India at the time Vicky Chandhok. The welcome was a conspicuously warm one. The commitment moreover for this to be but part of a broader push to develop grass roots motorsport in the country seemed genuine.

Latest episode of A Racer's Experience

I must have done well on my A Racer's Experience debut as they invited me back for the following episode. This latest episode is below. Herein presenter Matt Nicholas and I look in detail at the Bahrain Grand Prix as well as ahead to what we can expect when the European season kicks off in Spain.

You can have a watch below. My bit starts at around 26m and 45 seconds.



And if you're interested earlier in the episode Matt chats to Conor Daly about the IndyCar and Indy Lights Grands Prix of Long Beach as well as with Steve Parrish about the MotoGP in Argentina and the Superbike World Championship in Assen.

You can also check out the other A Racer's Experience episodes here.

Inside Line F1 Podcast - Did Bernie Call Mercedes?

Here's the latest Inside Line F1 podcast for your listening pleasure. THis time Kunal and Rishi look back on the Bahrain Grand Prix, and are astonished that it gave them so much positive to talk about... Sparks, Kimi, and the odd conspiracy theory among many other things make up their discussion.



The Inside Line F1 podcast is produced and hosted by Kunal Shah and Rishi Kapoor, and is one of the most listened to podcasts in India and Asia. They are looking to expand elsewhere, and here on Talking about F1 I'm delighted to help share it.

Kunal has been writing on F1 for eight seasons, you can visit Kunal's website at: http://www.kunalsf1blog.com/ and you also can follow him on Twitter here.

New Grand Prix Times article: Despite everything, do we malign Maldonado?

Photo: Octane Photograhy

Pastor Maldonado. Mention of his name no doubt brings many things to mind.

Crashing, mainly. Possibly that he's a danger to himself and others. Perhaps that he's an embarrassment. And it's all been brought into renewed focus with his, erm, adventures in the last couple of races.

In my latest article for Grand Prix Times I however take the contrary - perhaps unpopular - view and ask, despite everything is Pastor in fact not that bad? Is the criticism he gets over the top?

You can you have a read of the article via this link: http://www.grandprixtimes.com/news/display/10155

Bahrain Grand Prix review for Motor Verso - Lewis Wins When He Shouldn't

Photo: Octane Photography

My Bahrain Grand Prix review for Motor Verso is now available. In it I reflect on a race which while its winner didn't look appear a shock on the face of it, this one was in many ways the F1 equivalent of an away win.

You can have a read via this link: http://www.motorverso.com/bahrain-gp-lewis-wins-shouldnt/

As mentioned these race reviews will be a permanent feature from me on Motor Verso this season, so do keep an eye out for them.

On Motor Verso you'll find motoring news, car reviews and features - the team on the site carry out weeklong test drives of the latest cars - as well as photos and videos of the machines.

Bahrain GP Report: The Empire Strikes Back

We should have known better really. We thought this would be different. That it would be another day like in Malaysia, and the Mercedes would be required to step down.

It was a familiar face that triumphed, and
perhaps against expectations this time
Photo: Octane Photography

But it didn't happen. Not quite anyway. Whatever else happened today, Merc won a race that many expected it not to. The team will walk away from Bahrain well pleased.

And of its number, Lewis Hamilton especially so, who just as he did in Australian and China mastered the Sakhir race out front with a minimum of fuss. While he never was far away from his pursuers once again as in those previous two triumphs he never looked under threat.

There were a couple of minor false notes in this symphony. First was a slightly botched first pit stop, which brought the rest onto his tail. But Lewis simply set about moving smoothly away to re-establish his gap of old. Then on the last lap he developed a brake-by-wire problem, but after some weaving and a few palpitations from those watching on he still crossed the line 3.3 seconds to the good. And the familiarity of a Lewis-Merc triumph shouldn't deflect from that this scrum was rather won against the head.

Sakhir Qualifying: Holding on for tomorrow

This one was supposed to be different. Finally, we thought, the haughty Mercedes would have a fight on its hands. That the wind was gusting added another welcome variable. Some hope. Once this particular kaleidoscope had settled, its pieces were back in rather familiar places. Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix. As he has everywhere in 2015 thus far. And it wasn't even close in the end.

Lewis Hamilton continued his clean sweep of poles in 2015
Photo: Octane Photography

Many looked to Ferrari here, and indeed near the last of the final qualifying act Sebastian Vettel was at centre stage, on top of the timing screens. But crucially this was before Lewis had finished his lines, and they it transpired were emphatic, as he swept around almost last over the line with a mark four tenths under Seb's. Everyone was consigned back into their respective boxes.

"It's never easy doing qualifying" said Lewis later, and we don't doubt him. But like many sportspeople at the top of their considerable skills, Lewis right now makes it appear so.

But even so he couldn't conceal where he is right now: "As a driver, for me, I love qualifying" he went on. "You've got to go out and bring everything together that you've learnt for that one lap, and it's so intense...it's so much fun."

Talking about F1's Graham Keilloh on A Racer's Experience

This week I was invited to appear on the regular YouTube show A Racer's Experience. This is a programme by Matthew Nicholas which discusses the latest goings-ons in various motorsport categories.

With Matt I looked back at last week's Chinese Grand Prix as well as look to what can expect from Bahrain this weekend. You can have a watch by clicking on the below. I'm sure you'll agree it's worth 13 minutes of your time:



Apologies for the strange noises (other than those coming out of my mouth which I'll take responsibility for...), no idea what those are.

You can also check out the other A Racer's Experience episodes here.

The greatest moments in Formula One history infographic by Crossline on the Fort

As we know F1 has a rich past, and Crossline on the Fort has produced an infographic listing their ten greatest moments in Formula 1 history.  Many of them have gone into folklore, some as astonishing feats of triumph, others for more notorious reasons.

You can have a look through below. Hope you like it.

Be sure too to give Crossline on the Fort a visit here: http://www.crossline.ca/