Why F1 shouldn't beat itself up over Newey

F1 is a sport that rather likes to beat itself up; to look inwardly with a degree of disgust; to self-recriminate. At least certain factions within it do. We've seen it rather a lot this season especially.

Adrian Newey's announced side step
from F1 caused some recrimination
Photo: Octane Photography

And there's been a bit more of it about since last Sunday in Montreal, following the news that Adrian Newey plans to side step F1 in order to do other things. 'What does this say about modern F1?' was the gist. It's a terrible indictment of the sport, of the regulations, that the design standard bearer should chose to go off and pen boats or whatever it is to be. It was all given a bit of encouragement by Newey earlier in the year having made some critical comments about the 2014 spec of rules.

Perhaps though - without meaning any disrespect to Newey - such criticism from him has a touch of Mandy Rice-Davies's 'he would say that wouldn't he?' about it. After all, Newey was and is the aerodynamicist supreme, so is unlikely to be too keen on anything that dilutes the importance of aero, and the increased (and probably temporary) variation of power unit performance has indeed done that this season. And plenty of others expressed the view that the balance of importance had been tilted rather too far in favour of aero in 2013 and previously.

But also one way in which F1 history can be helpful is that in many matters it provides some oil of perspective to pour on the troubled waters of the moment; demonstrate that a lot of things aren't as peculiar to the here and now as you might think. And it does in this case, both for Newey's personal tale and those for F1's technical stars more generally.

An end of an era, in more ways than one

For all that the goings-on of the Canadian Grand Prix dazzled, probably the most important happening of the weekend - in terms of its implications in the broadest context - had already come and gone, before the race had even got started. Arguably nothing in the Montreal race would have trumped it.

Adrian Newey - saying goodbye
Photo: Octane Photography

The rumblings over the future of Red Bull's (and F1's) design genius Adrian Newey was resolved. He wasn't going to Ferrari, he was instead staying at Red Bull. The team's announcement couched it in the language of triumph, and a few media outlets it seemed read the statement only as far as the end of the opening line and reported it initially as such too. But gradually those who read all the way to the end started to counter them. The devil was in the detail. He was staying at Red Bull, but not as we know it.

Instead after the fundamentals of the 2015 car are in place his role in F1 will be restricted to 'advising and mentoring'. Newey will be more enveloped in 'new Red Bull Technology projects' - presumably exploring design projects in fields other than F1. In other words, if the Red Bull team couldn't have him on the Grand Prix frontline then it was making sure that no one else was going to have him either. An auxiliary benefit also is if Newey's love for F1 ever is rekindled then Red Bull will still have him under lock and key. Smart move on both counts.

New F1 Times article: Time for a social-ist revolution in Formula 1

Credit: HLundgaard / CC

In the days before the Canadian Grand Prix there was a bit of chat about what if anything F1 should be doing via social media, as well as Pirelli's Paul Hembery commenting that the sport's latest TV numbers continued to disappoint.

I explore the whole issue in my latest article at The F1 Times. I look at what could be causing the sport's TV viewer slippage - it might be a broader problem than you think - as well as explain why the sport really needs to be doing more via internet, mobile and social media.

You can have a read via this link: http://www.f1times.co.uk/news/display/08976

Canadian GP Report: Danny Ric nicks it in the Montreal mixer

It was never going to be that simple, was it? Not given where we were.

But still, we thought we knew better; that we could count on what would happen for the first two places at least. But no. It turned out that not even the astonishing Mercedes preponderance of the 2014 F1 season could survive the Montreal mixer. Very few things do.

Daniel Ricciardo was a surprise
and popular winner
Photo: Octane Photography

For a long time it didn't look that way however, given that as usual in the first half of the race the Mercs disappeared. After the first 27 laps of green flag racing (the first seven were behind the safety car) the guy in third was 27 seconds shy of the nearest silver car way up the road. It looked again the Nico Rosberg vs. Lewis Hamilton private battle for the win that we've grown accustomed to. Lewis this time giving all indications that he had both the means and every intention of depriving Nico of his lead.

At one point Nico was a little lucky to escape penalty after gaining half a second (and setting the fastest lap at that point) after skipping the final chicane, missing his braking point. Nico at another point came oh so close to spearing the wall at turn 4. Yet he survived both.

But on lap 37 of 70 the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve's sense of the bizarre out of nowhere struck. Lewis reported a loss of power. Then of the very next lap Nico did too. It was a MGU-K failure for both, which deprived them apparently of 160 bhp each. Before we knew it we had the previously unthinkable sight of the two imperious Mercs circulating three seconds or more a lap over the pace of those behind. Suddenly things had got interesting.

Montreal Qualifying - Rosberg continues his renaissance

Whisper it, but are we lately witnessing the renaissance of Nico Rosberg?

Just a few weeks ago such a happening seemed rather unlikely; then his stable mate Lewis Hamilton had his foot planted firmly on the throat of the situation, whether it be in the intra-Mercedes fight or in the probable ultimate destination of 2014 title honours. But over the last three Grand Prix weekends this has changed.

Nico Rosberg prevailed again - but things were much more
cordial between the Mercedes drivers this time
Photo: Octane Photography

It happened gradually at first, with in Spain Nico giving Lewis a fright with his late charge for victory that Lewis only just managed to repel. Monaco a fortnight ago we know about, and whatever might have happened there and their rights and wrongs if nothing else Nico displayed a steel and stoicism that perhaps a few of us doubted that he possessed (in this ilk, notice that no one calls him 'Britney' anymore?).

And the trend continued in Canada's qualifying session today at Montreal. Just like in Monaco Nico - having been shy for the most part - pipped his team mate in the first run of Q3 and then kept ahead for pole position. Unlike in Monaco there was not a single doubt over its veracity. No one can deny this one was fair and square. There was no funny business real or imagined in the final efforts - Nico improved his time and Lewis, having lost some ground in the middle sector, came up short by 0.079 seconds. Once again the difference was tiny, but massive.

Canadian GP Betting Preview - Best of the rest to take the spotlight in Canada, by Andy Morgan

With plenty of overtaking opportunities, the Canadian Grand Prix has hosted a number of corkers in recent years, suiting the cars that consistently excel on straight lines and reaching top speeds.  Williams and Force India will be looking to make the most of their power advantage and score solid points. Add in the improving Red Bull and the heavily upgraded Ferrari and the 'best of the rest' battle is shaping up to be an intriguing one, perfect for a punt.

Lewis Hamilton looks the man to beat once again
Photo: Octane Photography

Canada is the host for round seven of the 2014 F1 World Championship where the battle reignites between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

After the break up in Monaco where Lewis struggled to accept his teammate beating him for the first time in 5 races, publicly it's all happy families this weekend. The Stevenage man (it's not that bad, I've lived there long enough) looks to have taken a step back and rightly reflected on his antics, knowing he has the historical advantage in Canada to capitalise and take back the World Championship lead. Rosberg on the other hand will need to use the confidence built in Monaco and be on stunning form to challenge Lewis whose late breaking style suits Canada perfectly.  Expect to see the Mercedes drivers pull away, extend their lead in the constructors and lock horns for the seventh time this season.

New Vital F1 article: Friday I'm In Limbo - why reducing Friday practice to one session is a bad idea

Photo: Octane Photography

You may have seen the reports yesterday that the F1 strategy group has given the thumbs up to a latest wheeze in seeking to control the sport's costs. Namely having but one 90-minute practice session on Friday rather than the current two, and starting the said session late in the afternoon.

Over at Vital F1 I've outlined why I think this is a bad idea, as well as is one that doesn't reflect well on the sport's decision-makers.

You can have a read via this link: http://www.vitalf1.com/article.asp?a=2361

A festival of F1 in London - the first ever Race Week

F1 fans who're likely to be in or near London in the week before this year's British Grand Prix may be interested in Race Week. This is a brand new sporting festival for this year, which is taking place on Thursday 3rd July 2014, day and evening, at the Royal Artillery Gardens which is a six acre open site in central London.

Charles Pic and a Lotus were in London
recently to launch Race Week

It'll be an action-packed day, and a real treat for any F1 fan. This unique celebration of all things F1 will include:

• Appearances by F1 stars and their cars;
• F1 cars performing high adrenaline stunts for the attending crowds including doughnuts and burn outs;
• Over 50 historic F1 cars including some of the world's rarest such as Ayrton Senna's 1984 Toleman and Michael Schumacher's 1992 Benetton in which he won his first ever Grand Prix; 
• F1 simulators, as used by the teams, in which Race Week attendees can try to beat the times set by F1 drivers;
• F1 memorabilia shopping and a luxury shopping village;
• F1 driver autograph session including driver Q&A sessions; 
• The F1 driver's cricket match (last played in 1974 with James Hunt and Niki Lauda among others);
• Grand Prix Ball, the annual black tie spectacular attended by the stars of F1 - all in support of The Prince's Trust;
• Black Ball Race Forum – an F1 business forum (in partnership with Sports Pro); 
• Post British Grand Prix drivers' party; and
• Invitation to young Londoners to learn about apprenticeships in F1.

So plenty going on in other words for the F1 aficionado...

Jonny Dodge, CEO of Race Week, said:

'We're really looking forward to launching the Race Week festival in London. The UK is often called the spiritual home of F1 and so it's about time an event took place where race fans and committed petrol heads can come together and enjoy some of the glamour, excitement and sophistication of F1. And, of course, we are delighted to be supporting the Prince's Trust as part of the Grand Prix Ball'.

You can find out more about the Race Week festival at http://www.raceweeklondon.com. Tickets are £40 and can be purchased on the website too via this link: http://raceweeklondon.com/purchase-tickets/.

You can also follow Race Week London 2014 on Twitter at @raceweeklondon.

And for tickets to the Grand Prix Ball on Thursday 3rd July visit: http://www.gpball.co.uk.

And here's a video of Charles Pic launching Race Week recently:

Special offer for Talking about F1 readers - 10% discount on a phone case designed by you

Fancy a new phone case? Moreover, fancy one that you designed yourself? Well you can at Mr Nutcase - at www.mrnutcase.com - which specialises in custom phone cases for a variety of phone and case types.

Or even if your creative juices aren't flowing and you don't wish to come up with your own creation then you can select a case from the Mr Nutcase collections.

And as a special offer to Talking about F1 readers you can get 10% off the price of a case from Mr Nutcase by using the discount code: 'Thanku10'.

I went onto the site and designed a case of my own; here's a picture. I'm sure you'll agree that it's beautiful. Some of the pictures may look familiar too...

Montreal Preview: Living up to your name

The folks in and around F1 don't agree on everything. Check that - phrasing it that way would be to employ language of the extreme diplomatic sort. The folks of F1 don't agree on very much at all. We've seen as much lately.

But there are some things about the sport that you'll find close to anonymity on. And one such thing is that its annual visit to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix is one to relish.

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a popular stop-off
Credit: magicfab / CC

There are many reasons for this. The layout ensures plenty of overtaking opportunities - captivating drama and action are positive expectations here. The nearby walls - the track being in large part a street circuit without the buildings - can and frequently have punished even small errors and from the best of them. The safety car makes regular appearances and they scupper and save races in equal measure.

It is genuinely hard to cite a tepid Grand Prix to have ever taken place at the Montreal venue; it's harder still to imagine one. Additionally the fans in attendance are knowledgeable and plentiful, and always provide a great atmosphere.

But even with these in my view we haven't got to the crux of the matter. As far as I'm concerned a central tenet of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve's appeal is that it is different. Very much so.