The seven teams at the heart of the United States Grand Prix fiasco have responded to the FIA’s suspended punishment with an immediate appeal. They argue that the FIA’s contention that they were not in possession of suitable tyres is not applicable to them as it was the responsibility of Michelin, not the teams, to … Continue reading Suspended ban for 7 teams
By way of apology for the United States Grand Prix fiasco, Michelin have offered to refund all tickets for the 2005 United States Grand Prix and buy tickets for 20,000 spectators at the 2005 race to the same event in 2006, at a total cost of up to USD22.5m (GBP 1.4m / EUR 2m). This … Continue reading Michelin’s $22.5m refund
Two days ahead of the hearing into the US GP farce, FIA President Max Mosley has given his strongest indication yet that he will hit the Michelin teams as hard as possible. He also used the opportunity in an interview with the Guardian to dismiss suggestions that the ‘Group Of Nine’ will break away and … Continue reading Mosley raises the stakes
Put to one side the speculation over the future of F1 and the threats that, if the FIA hit Michelin with an excessive punishment, we could find ourselves watching another six-car race. If normal service is resumed in France, there is a mighty championship battle to be fought. If Silverstone, host of the first ever … Continue reading French Grand Prix 2005 Preview
Now, as anyone will tell you, last week’s US GP was a disaster, and a stultifyingly tedious one at that. OK,some die-hard Ferrari fans loved it, but that’s all. But was there really a better way for us to spend a Sunday evening? We came up with a few alternatives: Watch another channel? – Among … Continue reading Something Completely Different
The toughest decision a sportsperson faces in their career is when to retire. This is especially true in F1, where drivers, team owners and even the sport’s administrators past and present have outstayed their welcome, to the detriment of their legacy. Of course back in the ‘golden age’ of racing this was not a problem … Continue reading How to know when to go
5. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 17 pts (9) Yes, he should have got out of McLaren much sooner than he did. But now he has, and found a comfortable berth at Red Bull where he is free to stick two fingers up at his detractors and produce quality drives that give this flamboyant team a … Continue reading 2005 half-term Report: Drivers #5-1
If the punishment for the seven teams who boycotted the United States Grand Prix is deemed unreasonable, F1 could be on the road to an unavoidable split. The FIA will trial the Michelin teams on Wednesday June 29th, and the outcome will be pivotal for the future of Formula One. Already Paul Stoddart, a strong … Continue reading Editorial: How can you expect to be taken seriously?
Nine rounds passed in the unprecedented 19-round 2005 Formula One World Championship, and Spain’s Fernando Alonso is the clear championship leader. But he may not have it all his way in the second half. We rate the drivers’ performances through the season to date. 21. Christijan Albers, Minardi, 4 pts (17) There has not been … Continue reading 2005 half-term report: Drivers #21-6
Organisers of the Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland have generously offered to honour any tickets stubs for the United States Grand Prix as entry for their round of the Champ Car calendar. For more information see http://www.grandprixofcleveland.com/ The FIA and F1 teams would do well to imitate such generosity if they hope to ever … Continue reading Champ Car take F1 tickets
When logic and persuasion are failing to vindicate your political position, reach for flimsy, vague analogies instead. In defence of the FIA’s ‘no compromise’ stance on Michelin’s tyre problems at last weekend’s United States Grand Prix, Max Mosley argued: “To make the competitors in a downhill ski race with the correct skis run on a … Continue reading Mosley gets defensive
BMW confirmed F1’s worst-kept secret by buying into the Sauber team. They must have dropped their heads in dismay when they realised that their official announcement of the purchase would coincide with the most dismal controversy in F1 since 1994.
The political strife that has dogged the 2005 season behind the scenes finally boiled over onto the track, leaving the US Grand Prix an unedifying farce that may have caused terminal damage to F1’s reputation in the USA.
So, if you were in Jenson Button’s position last Sunday you wouldn’t have crashed into the wall? Likewise I bet that if it had been you in the cockpit of the number 10 McLaren you would have ignored the team, pitted and won the race? Of all sports, motor sport is perhaps the easiest of … Continue reading Unforced Errors
Stalinist Russia had nothing on propaganda, F1-style. F1Fanatic takes an ever-so-slightly cynical look at what those team press releases really mean… You know the score, halfway through a deathly dull one shot qualifying session, Louise Goodman grabs David Coulthard or Felipe Massa to talk through their heroic drive to 12th on the grid. They will … Continue reading F1-Speak
The FIA have put forward a radical proposal for the Formula One rules package from 2008 onwards. But in the light of the shambolic preparations for the United States Grand Prix, is there any cause for optimism that they might get it right? Let’s turn our minds back to the recent FIA survey of what … Continue reading Editorial: A Rules Revolution
Just five days after announcing the departure of technical director Trevor Carlin, the troubled Jordan team have now revealed that their 2006 car will not be manufactured by Dallara, but be built in-house. Although team owner Alex Shnaider threw a lavish party at his adopted homeland Canada last week in celebration of his team competing … Continue reading Jordan drop Dallara
The nation’s sports writers lined up to condemn the travesty of a Grand Prix that took place in the United States. The June 20th newspapers did not make welcome reading for dedicated fans of Formula One. At least ITV made a decent fist of the broadcast for once. Ecclestone and Mosley have presided over a … Continue reading United States Grand Prix 2005 Media Review
The Canadian Grand Prix gave us drama, incident and a smattering of controversy. But did it capture the attention of the nation’s sports writers? Find out in our post-race media review. So, when was Jenson Button’s last retirement as a result of driver error prior to his Canadian crash? The Sun quote the man himself … Continue reading Canadian Grand Prix 2005 Media Review
This week’s racing press has seen perhaps the biggest split since Ayrton Senna died, between those who ‘get’ racing and those who do not. I cannot believe those who comment that Kimi Raikkonen should have jeopardised a potential Grand Prix win by changing his damaged tyre. Newsflash: Raikkonen is a racing driver and he is … Continue reading Talking Money
