I’m trying out a new section of the site where I’m putting together pictures of every F1 car from each season. It’s not a project that’s going to be finished overnight but I’ve made a start by adding eight years of pictures of F1’s oldest and most historic team: Ferrari. The first batch covers the … Continue reading Ferraris in pictures: 2001 to 2008
Month: August 2008 articles archive
Heikki Kovalainen: the driver debates
Posted onHeikki Kovalainen has had an odd introduction to Formula 1. After bagging a seat with reigning champions Renault in 2007, he made his debut as the team hit a slump in performance. He made a poor start to the year but quickly rallied, and beat his vastly more experienced team mate Giancarlo Fisichella on points … Continue reading Heikki Kovalainen: the driver debates
Phil Hill, 1927-2008
Posted onI was saddened to learn today of the death of Phil Hill. Hill, 81, was America’s first world champion in 1961, for Ferrari. Hill, from Santa Monica in California, was the only native-born American to win the Formula 1 world championship. (Mario Andretti, champion 17 years later, was an Italian emigree). He joined Enzo Ferrari’s … Continue reading Phil Hill, 1927-2008
Who will be fourth-placed team? (Poll)
Posted onBehind the Ferrari-versus-McLaren-and-maybe-BMW battle for the constructors’ championship is an even closer battle for fourth place in the F1 teams’ title race. Toyota, Red Bull and Renault have been the closest contenders for the honours this year, with Williams falling back and Toro Rosso making a late surge. Which of these five will claim ‘best … Continue reading Who will be fourth-placed team? (Poll)
A brief history of pit stops in F1
Posted onSteve suggested I write an article about how pit stops have changed in F1 and, following the controversy over Ferrari’s pit stop at Valencia, I thought now would be a good time to take a look at it. When the world championship began in 1950 pit stops were fairly disorganised affairs. But as the sport … Continue reading A brief history of pit stops in F1
Would you boo at an F1 race? (Video)
Posted onLewis Hamilton got an unsurprisingly hostile welcome from sections of the crowd at Valencia during last weekend’s European Grand Prix. (However there have been no reports of any repeat of the racist taunting directed at him in Spain earlier this year). Hamilton’s not the first driver to have been the target of a hostile crowd … Continue reading Would you boo at an F1 race? (Video)
Holiday and Gravatars
Posted onI’m away on holiday for the next week but F1 Fanatic will continue to be updated with plenty of new content from me, plus a selection of articles from guest writers. And if that’s not enough to be getting on with you can check out the top 100 most-commented F1 Fanatic articles, join the discussion … Continue reading Holiday and Gravatars
Olympians, like F1 drivers, told to keep their celebrations under control
Posted onThe international running-and-jumping festival Olympics finally came to a close over the weekend. As a sporting event it’s not really to my taste as there aren’t any racing cars involved, and apparently never will be. Oh well. What I find just as disappointing is the organisers take the same dim view of victory celebrations as … Continue reading Olympians, like F1 drivers, told to keep their celebrations under control
Peter Windsor vs Darrell Waltrip on F1
Posted onWe’ve approached the difficult question of passing in F1 from several angles on F1 Fanatic. Last night I found a fascinating video from the American TV channel Speed where F1 journalist Peter Windsor and ex-NASCAR driver Darrel Waltrip approach the question from opposite ends of the motor racing spectrum:
One To Watch: Sebastien Buemi
One To Watch
Posted onSebastien Buemi will drive for Toro Rosso during their three-day test in September as the team decide whether to give him an F1 seat for 2009.
Valencia: team mate versus team mate
Posted onLap times don’t lie – so what can they tell us about the performances of the top three teams’ drivers in the European Grand Prix? Here’s a comparison of their lap times at Valencia – Kimi Raikkonen vs Felipe Massa, Lewis Hamilton vs Heikki Kovalainen and Nick Heidfeld vs Robert Kubica.
F1 blogs & more: Coulthard’s crashes
Posted onA round up of interesting F1 blog posts and news items from the past few days. Including rumours of unhappiness at Force India, David Coulthard being urged to quit F1 sooner rather than later, and one fan who really, really likes Peter Windsor…
Bruno Senna – will he be in F1 in 2009?
Posted onBruno Senna has been linked to at least three different F1 teams for the 2009 season including Scuderia Toro Rosso, BMW and McLaren. The latter is the team his uncle Ayrton Senna won all three of his world championships for. Will Bruno Senna be the next GP2 driver to break into F1? Will he get … Continue reading Bruno Senna – will he be in F1 in 2009?
2008 European Grand Prix stats and facts
Posted onFelipe Massa had a lot to celebrate after the European Grand Prix after dominating the weekend. So did Bridgestone who marked their 200th F1 race start – regardless of the fact it was actually their 202nd appearance. Plus, which of Ayrton Senna’s records did Jenson Button match? Find out more F1 statistics and facts from … Continue reading 2008 European Grand Prix stats and facts
Thought the Valencia race was rubbish? Don’t blame the track, blame the rules
Posted onValencia’s first F1 race was not a classic. Looking at the rate the race poll it seems most people thought it was as boring as the Bahrain, Spanish and French Grands Prix. But let’s not jump to conclusions about the track. Circuit designer Hermann Tilke is not to blame for the paucity of action in … Continue reading Thought the Valencia race was rubbish? Don’t blame the track, blame the rules
Castroneves takes vital victory to stay in title hunt (Indy Car)
Posted onHelio Castroneves headed a Penske one-two at Infineon Raceway to breathe life into his championship effort. He ended a 29-race streak without a win after scoring seven second places so far this year. It came just days after Penske lost both their original race cars when one of their transporters cost fire. Castroneves and Ryan … Continue reading Castroneves takes vital victory to stay in title hunt (Indy Car)
Championship points after European GP
Posted onHere are the drivers’ and constructors’ championship points totals in full following the European Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton has 70 points and Felipe Massa has moved into second in the championship with 64. McLaren also made further gains on Ferrari in the constructors’ championship and are now only eight points behind their rivals.
Fine for Ferrari, Massa gets off free, and the FIA gets it wrong on every count
Posted onFelipe Massa has not been punished following his incident in the pits with Adrian Sutil in today’s European Grand Prix. His Ferrari team has been fined ?óÔÇÜ?¼10,000 (£7,979) for releasing him into the path of Sutil’s car following his second pit stop on lap 37. It’s a baffling verdict by the FIA and one that … Continue reading Fine for Ferrari, Massa gets off free, and the FIA gets it wrong on every count
Felipe Massa scores flawless win at Valencia (2008 European GP review)
Posted onFelipe Massa is a hard man to beat from pole position and so it proved once again in the European Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton never managed to get on terms with the Ferrari driver but second place means he retains the lead in the drivers’ championship. But Massa is being investigated by the FIA stewards … Continue reading Felipe Massa scores flawless win at Valencia (2008 European GP review)
Ferrari mechanic injured and Massa faces penalty threat after pit lane problems
Posted onFerrari sufferd two problems with their pit stops within six laps of each other during the European Grand Prix. First Felipe Massa was released from his pit box as Adrian Sutil was going past him, and he had to drive alongside the Force India towards the pit exit. The stewards said they would rule on … Continue reading Ferrari mechanic injured and Massa faces penalty threat after pit lane problems