Williams have shown off the final livery for their 2008 FW30 which looks only slightly different to the leaked version revealed a few weeks ago. Notable changes are the appearance of sponsor Hamleys on the side pods where previous it had less prominent position. As Pitpass noted last week Hamleys is owner by Baugur Group … Continue reading Pictures: Final 2008 Williams livery
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.
Farfus half-disqualified from Curitiba races
Posted onAugusto Farfus has been stripped of the points he scored in yesterday’s first WTCC race at Curitiba after it was found an engine protection support had been incorrectly mounted to his car. However he has not lost the points he scored in the second race, which suggests that his car was legal in the later … Continue reading Farfus half-disqualified from Curitiba races
2008: Toyota
Posted onA lot of mixed messages have been coming out of Toyota this winter. First boss John Howett back-tracked on reported remarks that the team had to become successful within two years: The rumours about us leaving the sport have always been groundless. Having signed the Concorde Agreement, we are in it at least until 2012. … Continue reading 2008: Toyota
Poll results: Push-to-pass
Posted onMost F1 fans would like to see the quality of racing improve. But how far should the governing body go in trying to make the sport better? Other series like A1 Grand Prix use ‘push to pass’ systems to give drivers a brief boost of power to let them overtake an opponent. Is this too … Continue reading Poll results: Push-to-pass
Another Seat win at Curitiba
Posted onGabriele Tarquini was chased home by 2007 champion Andy Priaulx in the second WTCC race at Curitiba. Further back another Seat, race one winner Yvan Muller, desperately kept Augusto Farfus at bay for fifth place. Seat have started the year with a quicker car over a single lap – their turbo engines aided by the … Continue reading Another Seat win at Curitiba
Yvan Muller wins WTCC round 1 at Curitiba
Posted onYvan Muller bounced back from the disappointment of losing the 2007 WTCC to win the first round of 2008. But it looks like being another year of tiresome political wrangling over how competitive the cars are. The turbo diesel-powered Seat Leons were able to cruise away easily from the petrol BMWs on the straights. Seat … Continue reading Yvan Muller wins WTCC round 1 at Curitiba
New rumours say Ron Dennis to quit this week
Posted onThe Sunday Times claims Ron Dennis will hand over the role of chief executive at McLaren to Martin Whitmarsh this week. According the newspaper Dennis had planned to relinquish his role in the team at the end of 2007 but postponed the change because of the espionage affair. The story alleges Dennis’s decision to step … Continue reading New rumours say Ron Dennis to quit this week
2008: Scuderia Toro Rosso
Posted onToro Rosso are supposed to be using the same car as sister team Red Bull this year, as they did last year. But they’re having to wait until later in 2008 to get their hands on the new car, even though Red Bull got the latest model earlier than they did in 2007. Are Red … Continue reading 2008: Scuderia Toro Rosso
The Top 100 F1 Drivers of All Time – Alan Henry, 2008
F1 reviews
Posted onIt’s a book called “The Top 100 Formula 1 Drivers of All Time”, it’s written by a British journalist, and Michael Schumacher isn’t in the top ten. This is going to go down well.
F1 testing round-up 10: Catalunya & Jerez
Posted onThe final big test before the 2008 season was completed this week and it wasn’t Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen or Michael Schumacher who set the fastest time – it was Jarno Trulli. Afterwards a confident Trulli praised the new Toyota: The TF108 is a completely different car. Last year straightaway I knew we had a … Continue reading F1 testing round-up 10: Catalunya & Jerez
2008: Honda
Posted onHonda had a nightmare 2007. But chief executive Nick Fry did the right thing by using it as a starting point for major change. Fry scored a major coup by luring Ross Brawn to the team as principal. He’s made several other astute hires in the past 12 months including Loic Bigois (aerodynamics), Jorg Zander … Continue reading 2008: Honda
F1 blogs review: Ferrari aero video
Posted onHere’s some of my favourite picks from the F1 blogs this week including an excellent video showing the detail changes Ferrari have made to their front wing in time for the first race at Melbourne. Plus Michael Schumacher gets back in an F1 car, rumours about Ron Dennis, and a Ferrari that’s good enough to … Continue reading F1 blogs review: Ferrari aero video
Ecclestone wants French Grand Prix in Paris from 2009
Posted onBernie Ecclestone has confirmed what many people were saying last year, that he wants to move the French Grand Prix from Magny-Cours to Paris in 2009. I wouldn’t be sorry to see the back of the Circuit Nevers – it’s too flat and featureless for my liking. Presumably Ecclestone wants another new street circuit in … Continue reading Ecclestone wants French Grand Prix in Paris from 2009
2008: Super Aguri
Posted onThey’ve hardly tested at all, and when they did they ran out of parts. They’ve cancelled tests, launches and media briefings. Team boss Aguri Suzuki has flown to Japan for crisis talks. Super Aguri have said today they will be on the grid at Melbourne, but they face a race against time.
F1 news review: Changes to Canadian GP track
Posted onIn the F1 news this week the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve gets some changes – but are they safety fixes or just cosmetic tweaks? Also in the F1 news this week a pair of excellent features in “The Times”, one adapted from the hugely expensive new book “F1 Opus”. Plus Michael Schumacher on Nico Rosberg, and … Continue reading F1 news review: Changes to Canadian GP track
2008: Force India
Posted onIs Giancarlo Fisichella right to be this optimistic about Force India?: Looking at everybody’s lap times I believe we will not have a car that will be last anymore. His boss certainly thinks so – Colin Kolles reckons the team will make it into the second part of qualifying in Melbourne in three Saturday’s time. … Continue reading 2008: Force India
A first for F1Fanatic.co.uk
Posted onI’ve just finished reading Alan Henry’s new book “The Top 100 F1 Drivers of All Time” – I’ll be posting the review as usual on Sunday. But I got a pleasant surprise when I flipped through the back pages and found the publishers had printed a portion of my review of Mark Hughes’ “Lewis Hamilton: … Continue reading A first for F1Fanatic.co.uk
Spygate and racism: F1 back in the news (updated)
Posted onEvery major British newspaper has at least one Formula 1 story in it today – and they aren’t good news for the sport. McLaren boss Ron Dennis’s home has been raided as the spygate investigations intensify. Two days ago a report in Spanish newspaper Marca alleged Mercedes were on the verge of taking over McLaren … Continue reading Spygate and racism: F1 back in the news (updated)
What F1 can learn from other racing series
Posted onThe other week I wrote about lessons that F1 could learn (and forget) about NASCAR and got a big response. It got me wondering what other ideas should F1 steal from other sports? Here are a few of my suggestions. What other motor sports do you watch – and what would you like to see … Continue reading What F1 can learn from other racing series
Video: 3D lap of the Singapore Grand Prix track
Posted onBig thanks to Toncho who spotted this 3D video lap of the Singapore Grand Prix track made using Google Earth. I do hope the track doesn’t really go through that grandstand. You can also compare it to the video of the Valencia Street Circuit that was seen earlier. More on the Singapore Grand Prix Night … Continue reading Video: 3D lap of the Singapore Grand Prix track