Rediscover Formula One

Sorry Karun Chandhok, its all about money, honey :)

Formula One Addict — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:56:38 +0000

Hispania HRT F1’s decision to drop Karun Chandhok surprised many, but many had also expected it. Its no secret that India and Indians are primarily looked as a source of funds by the various formula one teams as well as the FIA itself. The only reason for offering Narain Karthikeyan a seat for racing was that he had the dollars of Indian multinationals behind him, same is the case with Chandhok. Unfortunately , it looks like he shall also suffer the same fate as Narain. Narain was kicked out when his sponsorship dropped.

Thats the problem with these lower rung teams, they don’t hire the drivers for their skills, just for the amount of money they bring in.

For those who are a little out of touch, earlier Bruno Senna had been dropped to make way for Sakun Yamamoto, however now Senna has his seat back and its time to kick Karun out of the picture.

Meanwhile Chandhok has expressed hope that he will race again :

“I expect to be back for races later in the year,” Chandhok was quoted
“At the moment we are talking only about Hockenheim but with four drivers and two cars, it is probably inevitable I will miss some more races.
“I came into this team looking to establish myself as a credible, respectable formula one driver and I’ve done that.” said the Indian

Hamilton enjoys as Red Bull rift becomes public

Formula One Addict — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:43:38 +0000

Lewis Hamilton was out once again giving interviews which some may call as controversial. At Sunday’s British Grand Prix, Mark Webber was not happy that his wing was given to teammate Sebastien Vettel for qualifying. Using that very same wing Vettel beat Webber.

Lewis Hamilton added oil to the fire :

“I can imagine how Mark feels. If that was me, jeez! When you’re in a team that you love, all you want to do is to be loved back,” Lewis Hamilton was quoted.
“At least with the guys that we’re mainly competing with we have more harmony in our team. That’s why we’re leading both championships.
“We’ve got two weeks to work on our upgrades before the next Grand Prix and then we should be looking pretty strong. We just have to keep on pushing as this world championship is still all to play for,” The Brit Hamilton added.

Fernando Alonso calls European Grand Prix a fixed affair

Formula One Addict — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:31:56 +0000

In a sensational accusation Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso has gone onto say that the result of this weekend’s European Grand Prix was fixed. He was ofcourse referring to the Lewis Hamilton incident with the safety car which saw the Brit illegally overtake the safety car to get a better position.

On lap 10 after pitting Hamilton came out from the pits just behind the Safety car which had been deployed after Mark Webber’s accident. Fernando Alonso was right behind. While Alonso respected the rules, Hamilton quickly overtook the safety car. the end result was that despite being a few meters from each other Lewis Hamilton came 2nd and Feranndo Alonso came 9th at the end of the race.

A drive through penalty was given to Lewis Hamilton, but with the super short pit-lane at Valencia it was in consequential to say the least.

Fernando’s outburst seems justified especially at the deliberate rule breakage by Lewis Hamilton, it seems he twisted the rule into his favour being well aware that a drive through penalty wouldnt affect him a lot if he was able to overtake the safety car. Also the penalty came too little too late according to most observers and in the end Hamilton was able to get mileage by breaking the rules and was able to finish in a better position.

‘All the kids in the stands know that you cannot pass the safety car. When the safety car came out I was one metre behind Hamilton. I finished ninth; he finished second. I respected the rule: he didn’t.’

‘I think 20 laps to see the replay is long.’

“But here, when you do the normal thing, which is respecting the rules, you finish ninth, and the one who doesn’t respect them finishes second.”

Lewis Hamilton put up a meek defence :

“As I was coming around turn one, literally as I got to the safety car line I saw the safety car was pretty much alongside me.”
“I thought that I’d passed it so I continued and that was it.”

Meanwhile Ferrari in a statement opined on the incident :

A scandal – that’s the opinion of so many fans and experts involved in the sport, who are all in agreement

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo released the following statement:

“The result of yesterday’s race was misrepresentative. Ferrari, which showed itself to be competitive in the European Grand Prix, paid a price that was too high for respecting the rules. Meanwhile those who didn’t follow the rules were penalised by the race officials in a way that was less severe than the damage suffered by those who did respect them.

That is a very serious and unacceptable event that creates dangerous precedents, throwing a shadow over the credibility of Formula One. We are sure that the FIA will fully analyse what happened, taking the consequent necessary decisions. Ferrari will watch this with interest.”

FIA delivers final blow to USF1, fines them 309,000 Euros

Formula One Addict — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:38:28 +0000

The World Motor Sport Council of the FIA today delivered the final blow to the USF1 team by finding them guilty of financial mismanagement. The USF1 team was one of the four teams to have been granted a license for the 2010 formula one season but after much anticipation they failed to participate in the season opener at Bahrain.

As a result of non-participation, they have been fined 309,000 Euros an equivalent of 255,000 Pounds. This is basically the amount they had deposited with the FIA as entry fee. This fee will now not be refunded and will be retained by the FIA.

Apart from the fine the USF1 team is disqualified from the formula one races and other FIA events in the form of sanctions imposed on them. The order listed Ken Anderson and Chad Hurley as the owners of the team.

Separate parts of the decision by FIA read :

“It was wholly unacceptable that the FIA was presented with only three weeks warning of the total non-appearance of the team at the Grand Prix in Bahrain and for the 2010 season, and WMSC members had real concerns about the impact on the championship, not least the deprivation of the opportunity for another team to have provided two cars to run in the championship in 2010 instead of US F1.”

“USF1 had displayed poor financial management and had underestimated the requirement to present an F1 car for the 2010 season in the time and with the financial resources available to them.”

Jacques Villeneuve to give one last shot to formula one return

Formula One Addict — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 13:17:02 +0000

Jacques Villeneuve,the veteran formula one driver and son of the great Gilles Villeneuve (on whom the Montreal circuit is named), has said that he will try for one last time to secure a F1 seat for the 2011 season.

Till the start of the season he was being linked to Stefan GP who weren’t able to secure a slot for the 2010 formula one season. Since the Stefan GP outfit are trying desperately hard to get a slot for next year, its very much possible that Villeneuve might be able to get a seat with them if he is able to convince them.

“I’m quite happy right now being busy raising kids. I would obviously be happier behind a wheel. Once you’ve been a racer, I think you’re a racer all your life,” Villeneuve said.
“I worked hard on it in 2010. I’m giving myself until 2011. There’s still a few months,” he added.
“The teams don’t want to take a risk. There comes a point where you’ve been out for too long and the teams just won’t give you a chance,” he said.

Meanwhile German rival Michael Schumacher who has had a controversial relationship with the Canadian agreed with Villeneuve.

“I have proved this year F1 is not like football and other sports, you don’t need to be a young age to perform,” said Michael Schumacher.

“The point is, as Jacques was saying, we are racers, and we have that in our blood. So, what you have there, you always keep.” The German ace added.

Will Michael Schumacher stay on for the 2011 formula 1 season

Formula One Addict — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:17:59 +0000

Mercedes boss Ross Brawn confessed in Turkey that he would like to retain his all German pair of Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher for the 2011 season. Pre season speculation had suggested that Michael Schumacher had a three year deal with Mercedes.

However the initial bad performances by Michael Schumacher which saw the relatively inexperienced Nico Rosberg beating him were enough for critics to hint to an early exit for the seven time world champion at the end of the 2010 season. But the speculation about the early exit seems to be fizzling with more and more input coming about Schumacher staying back for the 2011 season atleast.

In Turkey, when asked about the future of his drivers and if they shall be retained, Ross Brawn was quoted :

“I hope so.
“Do you know something I don’t? We’re pleased with the drivers, they’re both enjoying themselves, so yes,”

Michael’s younger brother Ralf Schumacher too joined in on the rumour brigade and was separately quoted as saying :

“I think he’s pretty happy with what he’s doing and, as far as I know, it’s a three-year plan, so I’m sure we’ll see him around for a while”

Meanwhile Michael Schumacher seems to be finally enjoying the comeback. The German had a small battle with Jenson Button in the Turkish Grand Prix, he spoke fondly about the encounter :

“We saw each other a couple of times this year,” said Michael Schumacher.

“This time he had clearly the better end of it. I was trying my best, but it wasn’t good enough this time. Anyway, as I understood, he had a nice fight with Lewis, so he must have been putting in some very good laps.

“Honestly, I was just trying to focus and do the maximum I could with my car. Forward, there was no chance, obviously. I was watching the mirrors and making sure that I keep the tires in shape so that whenever I had to have some reserves that they are available.” He added.

Now the F1 circus heads to Canada and the German has asked his team to improve the top line speed to ensure a better result. Lets hope Mercedes deliver and its a good result for Schumacher.

Image : Mercedes Media

Formula one returns to Canada after a year’s gap

Formula One Addict — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 05:49:47 +0000

The last race at the circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal was held in 2008, Robert Kubica was the man of the moment then who had taken the chequered flag. The race was cancelled for the 2009 season after the local authorities failed to reach a consensus with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone over money matters.

However this year, Provincial as well as Federal governments have pledged a lot of money to get the race back to Canada. A new five year deal worth 75 million USD was signed between the FIA and the Montreal Race representatives to ensure the survival of the Canadian grand prix fixture.

Bernard Ragueneau who is the co-president of the Crescent Street Merchants Association was quoted as saying :

“We should never have lost this Grand Prix in the first place,”

“The Grand Prix needs us as much as we need the Grand Prix” he said.

True we say, the heritage associated with the Gilles Villeneuve circuit is no less than the Hungarorings and the Hockenheims. And now with its return, the Canadian Grand Prix is the only formula one race in North America. Ofcourse the United States is also on a comeback trail as we had reported earlier with the formula one race planned in Austin, Texas instead of the earlier venue Indianapolis.

Ferrari extends Felipe Massa’s contract till 2012

Formula One Addict — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:56:47 +0000

Ferrari today announced that Felipe Massa’s contract has been extended till the end of the 2012 formula one season. the Brazillian has been with the team for 10 seasons now. He ofcourse was ecstatic about the renewal.

Official Press Release from Ferrari follows :

Maranello, 9 June 2010 – Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro announces that it has extended its contract with Felipe Massa, who will now drive for the team until the end of the 2012 racing season.

Felipe has been with the Scuderia since 2001. To date, he has competed in 69 Grands Prix for the team: he has taken eleven wins, 30 podium placings, 51 points finishes, fifteen pole positions and twelve fastest race laps, scoring a total of 360 championship points.

“I am happy to be given the opportunity to drive for Ferrari for a further two seasons,” said Felipe.

“Throughout my entire Formula 1 career, I have always raced with an engine made in Maranello and it is a matter of pride for me to be able to continue working with a team that I regard as a second family.”

“Felipe has been part of Ferrari for almost a decade and together with us, he has grown as a driver and as a man, going through some very difficult times as well as giving us moments of great happiness,” commented Stefano Domenicali. “We wanted to show proof of stability for the future, believing in the worth of a driver pairing that is without equal in terms of talent, speed and its ability to work together for the good of the team.”

Photo : Ferrari SPA

Lewis Hamilton goes into damage control on Jenson Button incident

Formula One Addict — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:53:20 +0000

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button also came close to colliding at last week’s Turkish Grand Prix, however their incident was thoroughly overshadowed by the one involving the two Red Bulls of Sebastien Vettel and Mark Webber.

As Red Bull PR went into damage control by releasing what seem like canned and cooked up interviews, the McLaren PR seems to have gone into lets take advantage mode. McLaren PR again came out with quotes in which Lewis Hamilton professes his love for Jenson Button. This could also be damage control for a radio conversation that came out on formula 1’s official website.

The conversation goes something like :

After Lewis Hamilton was asked to conserve fuel

Lewis Hamilton says “Jenson’s closing on me you guys”

and asks his team “If I back off , is Jenson going to pass me or not?”

The voice from McLaren replies “No Lewis, no”.

Its another matter than Jenson Button did overtake Lewis Hamilton, Hamilton later regained the lead.

Read ahead for the quotes :

“Jenson and I both want to win, but not in an aggressive manner. The fighting won’t happen with me and Jenson,”Lewis Hamilton was quoted
“We got a one-two in Turkey and it was a professional drive from two team-mates. You couldn’t ask for more from a partnership. We are both world champions, we’re both professionals and we both have a huge amount of respect for each other,” he added.
“When I win he is happy for me and vice-versa. Jenson is a great bloke, a very supportive team-mate and he is doing a solid job. It works both ways. I have no doubts that the rest of the season will be the exactly the same,” Lewis Hamilton added

What a mutual admiration society , I can already predict similar quotes from Jenson Button within the next month.

Vettel and Webber collision proves that “Red Bull doesn’t give you brains”

Formula One Addict — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:21:19 +0000

Red Bull might give you wings , but it definitely doesn’t give you a brain. At last week’s Turkish Grand Prix, the Red Bulls looked all set to be heading for a 1-2 finish before they collided. Before the collision, I was wondering if a good racer would be able to move ahead with the kind of dominance Red Bull and McLaren are showcasing. Thankfully God does do justice (although in little packages).

The Red Bull cars are fast, very fast and while that’s why they are ahead, their drivers are mediocre and that mediocrity was fully showcased at the Istanbul circuit. I am posting a video of the collision, take your shot at whose fault it is. I just recalled Vettel making cuckoo signs about Webber after the crash. A few times before removing his helmet and a few times after it.