Montreal hotels offer tax rise to save GP "Montreal is desperately trying to save its Grand Prix in 2009. Part of a new deal on offer is the suggestion of local hotels to up the occupancy tax and thereby raise $5 million, Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay has confirmed. In total, the city need to find … Continue reading F1 links: November 13th
Keith Collantine's articles on RaceFans
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring journalist, Keith began running the site full-time in 2010, achieving a long-held ambition to dedicate his full attention to his passion for motor racing.
The themes of 2008: Mistakes
Posted onIt was, by anyone’s standards, an error-strewn season. Crashes, spins and the odd pit blunder are part of Formula 1, but rarely have we seen so many of them committed by the championship front runners. Was it just a gaffe-prone year for the leading lights? Or are more mistakes inevitable in post-traction control F1?
"Regga"
Posted onClay Regazzoni book review
The teams: Renault (F1 2008)
Posted onRenault started the year struggling to get into Q3 and score points. Eight months later it has scored back-to-back victories in Singapore and Japan and re-signed star driver Fernando Alonso – which seemed a remote possibility earlier on. Can it continue the progress over the winter and return to championship-challenging form in 2009?
The themes of 2008: Rain
Posted onRain was one of the trends that defined the 2008 championship. Talk of the weather was seldom far from people’s lips this year, especially in the second half of the season. Time and again we were reminded of how a few drops of rain can transform a Grand Prix from a tedious procession into an … Continue reading The themes of 2008: Rain
“From the Fells to Ferrari”
Posted onCliff Allison biography review
F1 links: November 12th
Posted onIt’s Hamilton’s title: Formula One diary, October 28 to November 4 "I am subsequently crushed by a cosmopolitan mish-mash of TV crews as I make a desperate bid to record an early Hamilton sound bite. The bruises are scarcely worth it as I escape to discover my voice recorder missed most of what he said, … Continue reading F1 links: November 12th
The teams: Toyota, Toro Rosso and Red Bull (F1 2008)
Posted onOne of the surprises of 2008 was Toro Rosso beating its sister team Red Bull in the constructors’ championship and claiming its maiden win. Toyota, meanwhile, had one of their best ever F1 seasons. Here’s a look at how these three teams performed in 2008.
The teams: Williams, Honda, Force India & Super Aguri (F1 2008)
Posted onThese four teams ended 2008 propping up the constructors’ championship table. One of them had gone bust so long ago many had forgotten they were ever there. Where did it go wrong for Williams, Honda, Force India and Super Aguri in 2008? And will things be better for the three that remain in 2009?
Hitler’s Motor Racing Battles reviewed
F1 reviews
Posted onF1 book review
F1 links: November 11th
Posted onTodt, Briatore, unlikely for FIA top job "Radovan Novak, a member of the Paris body, the chief of the Czech motoring federation, and believed to be a close ally of Mosley…believes Mosley will opt to remain in the job for 'another term'." Novak was the same man who suggested Ron Dennis was linked to the … Continue reading F1 links: November 11th
F1 teams lobby for equal engines (Poll)
Posted onHonda and Renault are leading the push for F1 engines to have equal power outputs in 2009. Renault’s Flavio Briatore is said to have demanded the equalisation because Renault, unlike many other teams, did not get around the ‘engine freeze’ rules to enhance its power output in 2008. Should the FIA equalise engine power in … Continue reading F1 teams lobby for equal engines (Poll)
Hamilton boosts British GP
Posted on22,000 tickets sold in a week
Will Force India make a leap forward in 2009 after their McLaren deal?
Posted onForce India’s technical tie-up with McLaren-Mercedes, which was rumoured for several weeks, was announced today. Having used Ferrari engines in 2006 (as Spyker) and 2007, Force India is embarking on an ambitious project which will see them use the same gearbox, KERS, Mercedes engine and other parts as McLaren. How will this massive acquisition of … Continue reading Will Force India make a leap forward in 2009 after their McLaren deal?
How will you remember F1 2008?
Posted onHow will you remember the 2008 F1 season? A close battle for the title that built to a glorious crescendo? Or a comedy of errors between two racers seemingly desperate to throw the championship away? Here are six memories of the 2008 championship that stand out in my mind – share yours below.
F1 links: November 10th
Posted onToo much money is wasted in F1 – Klien Christian Klien: "Perhaps too much money is wasted. Take for example Jenson Button: he uses 18 helmets per season and every one costs 6,000 euros before the paint." Piquet says he was ‘green’ on F1 debut Nelson Piquet Jnr said: "It wasn't the season I dreamed … Continue reading F1 links: November 10th
Race-by-race review (F1 2008)
Posted onWe shared every twist and turn in the 18 Grands Prix of 2008 here on the F1 Fanatic Live Blogs. Here’s a reminder of how each race unfolded and what we said about the most exciting moments of the year as they unfolfed before our eyes:
$4,378,133 – the price of a point in 2008
Posted onFerrari is the F1 team that made the best use of its budget in 2008. The constructors’ champions spent $2.4m per point this year – less than any of its rivals. At the other end of the scale, Force India and Super Aguri (deceased) failed to score at all, giving no return on their comparatively … Continue reading $4,378,133 – the price of a point in 2008
Links: The Schumacher song
Posted onDoes anyone know the words?
40 ways to survive the off season p4/4
Posted onIf you’ve not already figured out how to make it to March without going crazy, here are ten more ways to sate your F1 craving this off-season.