Keith Collantine's articles on RaceFans

We said we wanted The Secret Diary of Michael Schumacher, aged 37. Well, we very nearly got it! Ferrari have launched three blogs on their Ferrari World website, including one by new driver Felipe Massa. The blog doesn’t appear to be available as a feed yet, which is a shame, because his feedback on his … Continue reading Ferrari launch Massa blog

Reports from Japan indicate that Honda’s Suzuka circuit will lose the Japanese Grand Prix to Toyota’s Fuji Speedway in 2007. The Yomiuri Shimbun claims Fuji have done a deal with Formula One Management, but that Suzuka could yet be thrown a lifeline as Japan could host two races. In 2005 Suzuka was voted the second-best … Continue reading Suzuka ‘dropped for Fuji’

In this week’s issue of F1Fanatic: Bahrain Grand Prix review Starting in style Cold turkey Schumacher: The qualifying king? Malaysian Grand Prix preview Editorial: A change for the better

After qualifying in Bahrain, all the talk was of Michael Schumacher equalling Ayrton Senna’s twelve-year-old record for most pole positions – 65. So does this make Schumacher the all-time premier pole-sitter?

Conventional wisdom has it that when you make a big change to the F1 rules, the better-resourced teams steal a huge advantage. 2006 has already turned that on its head. The new 2.4-litre V8 engines are the most substantial individual change to the technical rules since the imposition of grooved tyres and narrow-track chassis in … Continue reading A change for the better

So, how did you cope with five months without Formula One? Ben Evans shares his solutions to off-season boredom. The BBC stepped into the breach with some rather excellent alternatives to the lack of F1 action over the winter. First there was the Winter Olympics – complete with F1 action in the opening ceremony. Admittedly … Continue reading Going cold turkey

The Bahrain Grand Prix was a bit of a stonker – and there’s nothing like a cracking first race to set you up for the season. Ben Evans reviews some of his favourites.

All eleven Formula One teams have signed a new pact limiting themselves to 36 days on testing in 2006 as predicted last week. Even Ferrari, who refused to sign a similar pact for 2005 limiting testing to 30 days and repeatedly stated they would only agree to limit testing mileage, have signed. The new deal … Continue reading Test pact gets unanimous support

The Guardian report today that Vodafone have fired the man responsible for their sponsorship arrangements with Formula One teams. Ousted marketing director Peter Bamford had arranged Vodafone’s sponsorship of Ferrari from 2002 (pictured). The mobile telecommunications giant will transfer their allegiances to McLaren from 2007. The move leads to inevitable speculation over whether Vodafone are … Continue reading Vodafone fire their McLaren man

Speed TV are celebrating their tenth anniversary by counting down the top ten motorsport moments they’ve broadcasted since 1996. The latest addition, number four, is Mercedes’ disastrous comeback to sports car racing at Le Mans in 1999, when the CLK-GTRs of Mark Webber and Peter Dumbreck flipped at high speed. The full list includes Michael … Continue reading Speed TV’s top 10 motorsport moments

Over the weekend the UK newspapers have been looking ahead to the new Formula One season. Top read was The Guardian, simply for the two page cartoon strip “Super Aguri saves F1” in their excellent 68-page mini-guide to the season published on Saturday. The Guardian lead with Richard Williams’ piece on the ‘Michael Schumacher: will-he-won’t-he-retire’ … Continue reading F1 ’06: What the press say

For those of who are being ‘Formula One Season Preview’-ed to death (and F1Fanatic are culprits as much as anyone), do check Sniff Petrol’s hilarious Factually Inaccurate F1 Preview. Sniff Petrol Issue 71 Factually Inaccurate F1 Preview (external)

In the first issue of 2006: 2006 Formula One Preview – team by team Bahrain Grand Prix Preview – new season, new starting place Editorial: On with the show