Last year Ferrari and McLaren took every race victory on offer and, more often then not, filled the top three. On only five of 51 occasions did we see a driver in something other than McLaren or Ferrari overalls on the podium. But we also saw the two teams dominate at different types of track: … Continue reading 2008: The calendar
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 FIA must solve the customer car problem
Posted onOnce again the Super Aguri transporters have departed a testing session with the teams’ F1 cars not even having turned a wheel. The teams presence in the 2008 championship looks less likely with every passing day. They could be the second team to announce their non-participation in F1 this year, following Prodrive who were originally … Continue reading The FIA must solve the customer car problem
2008: The rookies
Posted onI can’t remember the last season to see such a diverse crop of rookies. There’s a four-times Champ Car champion, a guy who actually made his F1 debut four years ago then disappeared off into the wilderness, one who looks fast but wild and is perhaps reaching F1 12 months too soon, and one who’s … Continue reading 2008: The rookies
Poll: should F1 have push-to-pass?
Posted onNext year F1 cars will have to use KERS which will allow them to re-use energy generated under braking. The FIA intends for drivers to be able to used the stored energy to get an 80bhp power boost on-demand. Other series like A1 Grand Prix use similar systems called ‘push to pass’ where drivers can … Continue reading Poll: should F1 have push-to-pass?
Poll results: NASCAR vs F1
Posted onLast week I asked how many of you watch NASCAR as well as Formula 1. I also watched the Daytona 500 and suggested some things F1 can learn from NASCAR. Here are the results of the poll:
2008: The new rules
Posted onSeveral major changes to the rules this year have attracted a lot of attention – the traction control ban, four-race gearboxes, and changes to qualifying. Which change are going to have the biggest impact on F1 this year? Here’s a quick look at some of the rules changes for 2008.
Interview: F1 journalist Nigel Roebuck
Posted onNigel Roebuck hasn’t missed many races since he started covering Grands Prix in 1971, but when he skipped the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos for the first time, he wrote about relieved he was not to be going to Sao Paulo – and incurred the wrath of the most powerful man in Formula 1: When … Continue reading Interview: F1 journalist Nigel Roebuck
F1 Fanatic in 2008: new look, new stuff
Posted onF1 Fanatic is getting a total redesign for the 2008 season and brand new site will be launched next week. Here’s a little peek at the new logo… I want to thank everyone who helped out by completing the survey last year and emailling me with feedback and suggestions. There’s going to be lots of … Continue reading F1 Fanatic in 2008: new look, new stuff
2008: The year ahead in numbers
Posted onBeing a sucker for stats I wanted to take a look at what milestones were coming up in 2008. There’s already been some discussion about Rubens Barrichello being poised to break Riccardo Patrese’s 15-year record as the most experienced driver in Formula 1 – but exactly when will he pass the mark? McLaren have one … Continue reading 2008: The year ahead in numbers
Wickens goes from hero to zero in A1GP crash-fest
Posted onRobert Wickens was looking good for another strong finish while running second in the A1 Grand Prix feature race at Durban until he spun at the exit of turn one. But he compounded the mistake by driving against the flow of traffic and hitting Oliver Jarvis, who was running third. It was just one of … Continue reading Wickens goes from hero to zero in A1GP crash-fest
Dominant win for Wickens in A1GP Durban sprint
Posted onCanada’s teenage star Robert Wickens took a classy win from pole position in the A1 Grand Prix sprint race at Durban. He fended off Brazil’s Bruno Junquiera at the start and shot into an immediate two second lead as Junqueira and Oliver Jarvis were assaulted by New Zealand’s Jonny Reid at the first corner. Jarvis … Continue reading Dominant win for Wickens in A1GP Durban sprint
Chequered Conflict (Maurice Hamilton, 2008)
Posted onMaurice Hamilton’s new book on the 2007 and the McLaren-Ferrari spy scandal has the full title, “Chequered Conflict: The Inside Story on Two Explosive F1 World Championships”. What’s the other world championship? That would be the 1986 F1 series, which saw Alain Prost nick the championship at the last round from the battling Williams pair … Continue reading Chequered Conflict (Maurice Hamilton, 2008)
Superleague Formula? No thanks
Posted onAutosport have interviewed the man behind Superleague Formula, Alex Andreu, who’s unsurprisingly confident about the prospects for his motor racing-cum-football league championship, due to get the green light/kick off at Donington Park later this year. Andreu said: We did some research, and then we went to the top football clubs in Europe – Juventus, FC … Continue reading Superleague Formula? No thanks
2008: What are you most looking forward to?
Posted onIt’s getting close now: the start of the 2008 Formula 1 season is three weeks away. The teams have their final test session next week before the cars are packed away for the flight to Melbourne, Australia. The F1 Fanatic 2008 season preview starts today with my pick of what I’m most looking forward to … Continue reading 2008: What are you most looking forward to?
2008 F1 testing round-up 9: Circuit de Catalunya & Valencia
Posted onMost of the teams tested at the Circuit de Catalunya this week, with BMW decamping to Valencia for a private test, and the beleaguered Super Aguri team cancelling their planned test amid continue doubt over their 2008 entry. The highly anticipated sight of Ferrari resuming testing alongside the rest of their rivals was dampened – … Continue reading 2008 F1 testing round-up 9: Circuit de Catalunya & Valencia
F1 blogs review: Champ Car and IRL merge
Posted onThe Champ Car World Series and Indy Racing League have ended their 12-year feud and joined back together, a move that could have interesting consequences for Formula 1. Also in the F1 blogs this week, video of Juan Pablo Montoya wrestling, Spyker describe Formula 1 as a ‘massive bleeder’, F1 Racing gets a new editor … Continue reading F1 blogs review: Champ Car and IRL merge
New DTM drivers: Oliver Jarvis, Katherine Legge… and Ralf Schumacher
Posted onThree new names have been confirmed for this year’s DTM championship. The headline grabber is F1 refugee Ralf Schumacher, who will drive a one year-old Mercedes C-Class. Oliver Jarvis (pictured above with team mates Legge and Markus Wikelhock) joins Audi in a one year-old A4, which really disappoints me. Jarvis has had some excellent results … Continue reading New DTM drivers: Oliver Jarvis, Katherine Legge… and Ralf Schumacher
Champ Car and IRL end war and confirm merger
Posted onThe Champ Car World Series and Indy Racing League have ended a rift that has lasted over a decade and issued a statement that the two championships are to merge. The full details of the merge are not yet known, including what the series will be called, how many teams will participate, and what races … Continue reading Champ Car and IRL end war and confirm merger
F1 news review: Alonso looked at Renault move in March
Posted onIn the F1 news this week Fernando Alonso first approached Flavio Briatore about returning to Renault in March of last year after just one round of the championship. Plus Ralf Schumacher comes clean about his claims of having an F1 seat for 2008, Kimi Raikkonen hints at his eventual retirement, and Bahrain International Circuit takes … Continue reading F1 news review: Alonso looked at Renault move in March
Video: Best F1 passes of 2007
Posted onLast year I picked my favourite 50 F1 passes on video from the last three decades. I realised I’m long overdue updating it with some of the best picks from last year’s racing – featuring Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and more. Quick, watch them now before someone at FOM decides that having videos … Continue reading Video: Best F1 passes of 2007