F1Fanatic have launched sister site A1Fanatic for fans of the new A1 Grand Prix single seater series. Billed as “The World Cup of Motorsport”, A1GP starts a 12-race season at Brands Hatch on September 25th and rns mainly throughout the F1 off-season. Drivers will represent their countries and 23 nations are already signed up including … Continue reading A1Fanatic.co.uk launched
Issue 28 of F1Fanatic is now available, featuring: Brazilian Grand Prix preview: Can Alonso wrap up the championship at Interlagos? Feature: Points mean prizes. How the points system has shaped the championship battle Editorial: Countdown to A1. The all-new A1 Grand Prix series is almost upon us For all this and more visit: www.f1fanatic.co.uk
It is virtually assured that Fernando Alonso will be the 2005 champion – if not at Brazil then in a couple of weeks’ time. He deserves it because, while he has not been the fastest driver in the class of 2005, he has been the most consistent finisher at the front end of the field. … Continue reading Points mean prizes
In 1950 the Formula One World Championship was invented. And we looked upon it and we saw that it was good. And then we asked, ?â?ó?óÔÇÜ?¼?àÔÇ£but what shall we do during the winter??â?ó?óÔÇÜ?¼?é?Ø Happily, in 2005, it seems we finally have an answer. The A1 Grand Prix series – the ?â?ó?óÔÇÜ?¼?àÔÇ£World Cup of Motorsport?â?ó?óÔÇÜ?¼?é?Ø – … Continue reading Countdown to A1
The World Championship has never been decided in Brazil before, but there is a high chance that Fernando Alonso will become the youngest ever World Driver’s Champion at Interlagos this weekend. Fittingly, he is set to eclipse the record of Brazilian twice-champion Emerson Fittipaldi. Third place will be good enough for Alonso, even if Raikkonen … Continue reading Brazilian Grand Prix 2005 Preview
The purchase of the Minardi team by Red Bull is bad news for wealthy journeymen hoping to use their capacious wallets to sneak their way into Formula One by the back door, writes Alan Baldwin of Reuters (subscription required). On the face of it this may seem like cause for cheer. If Formula One is … Continue reading Bye-bye for pay drivers?
Williams have lost major sponsor Hewlett Packard after the technology firm cut nearly 1,000 jobs in the UK. The prior loss of engine partner BMW is believed to be the major factor, although HP’s press release does not explicitly state it. Williams had drawn acclaim for building a roster of respectable blue-chip advertisers, having decided … Continue reading HP drop Williams-BMW
Red Bull’s purchase of Minardi has ended Vitantonio Liuzzi’s F1 racing for this season, and their peculiar ‘driver swap’ arrangement. Christian Klien will remain in the second RB1 for the last three rounds of the year as they try to hold off BAR for sixth in the constructor’s championship. Liuzzi is expected to get a … Continue reading Liuzzi stays on the bench
To an F1 fan, a wet race at Spa is about as good as it gets. But Fleet Street are still in love with the cricket, and ITV’s coverage was just plain awful. All eyes are on The Guardian this week with its much-vaunted launch to a new not-quite-tabloid, not-quite-broadsheet Berliner format. F1 gets an … Continue reading Belgian Grand Prix 2005 Media Review
In a world where a spot of rain brings tennis or the cricket to a halt, it is amazing that racing continues in all conditions. Today’s Belgian Grand Prix was a shining example of the perils of wet weather and changing track conditions as the drivers grappled with a slowly drying track. From club racers … Continue reading Wet and wild
The Minardi name is set to bow out after 21 years and, by this season’s end, 340 Grands Prix. The new owners are Red Bull, who will add a second Grand Prix team to their portfolio, and potentially cause another dramatic shift in F1’s political landscape. Since the conclusion of hostilities following the Indianapolis farce … Continue reading Red Bull Light
Kimi Raikkonen took his sixth win of 2005, but Fernando Alonso was right there once again, notching up fifth second-place of the year and needing only six more points to become the youngest ever world driver’s champion.
Abysmal conditions at the Belgian Grand Prix meant that no drivers set times in the second free practice session. Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button and tyre supplier Michelin have all suggested the race could not go ahead in similar weather. It is two-and-a-half years since the last fully wet race – Interlagos 2003 – at which … Continue reading Rain stops play at Spa
New Sauber owners BMW have confirmed a contract with Nick Heidfeld for 2007. But attempts to get him in the 06 car have been stalled by the ongoing Jenson Button saga. If Button remains at BAR, Williams have first call on Heidfeld for next year. Rumours persist that BAR have offered Williams a substantial sum … Continue reading BMW wait on Heidfeld
Philip Morris, owner of the Marlboro tobacco brand, have extended their contract with Ferrari until 2011. This comes in spite of the European Union’s ban on tobacco advertising in sport that began last month. Ferrari are expected to run with so-called ‘subliminal’ branding although it is unclear whether the European Union may attempt to prosecute … Continue reading Morris extend Ferrari deal
With the tabloids still revelling in thier new-found interest in cricket, Formula One is basically left to pick up the scraps. The Italian Grand Prix may have been significant for the championship chase, but it was still rather dull, which also explains its poor billing in the Monday ‘papers. David Tremayne in The Independent has … Continue reading Italian Grand Prix 2005 Media Review
For the past few years the F1 grid has stabilised at 10 team franchises providing 20 cars on the grid. Of these 10, it is arguable that 8 are, on their day, capable of scoring a podium finish. But does this represent quality over quantity or the death of the entreprenuerial spirit in F1? Short … Continue reading Tail-end nightmares
Michelin boss Pierre Dupasquier has been on the offensive against the FIA this week, condemning President Max Mosley’s insistence that Formula One become a single-tyre series in the future. Mosley has been at great pains to use his much-vaunted survey of Formula One fans conducted earlier this year justification for the necessity of a single-tyre … Continue reading Editorial: the Michelin witch-hunt
As a motor racing fan looking for entertainment the Italian Grand Prix was a horror show of the problematic 2005 regulations. In the end Juan Pablo Montoya won, having never really been pushed, but he bravely drove the final laps with a failing left-rear tyre at speeds of over 350 kph. Championship hopeful Kimi Raikkonen’s … Continue reading Italian Grand Prix 2005 Review
Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum al Maktoum added another string to the bow of his inaugural A1GP series by announcing an expansion of the 2005-06 calendar to include a round at Curitiba, Brazil. The series is set to be the second most international single seater racing series after Formula One in terms of countries visited. Round … Continue reading A1GP adds Brazil round