The hearing of the FIA appeal against BAR’s reinstatement into the San Marino Grand Prix results has begun. FIA prosecutors are aiming to prove that BAR’s ‘second fuel tank’, which retains a small amount of fuel to regulate its pressure as it enters the Honda engine, contravenes the rules. More controversially, the FIA are insisting … Continue reading FIA claim BAR cheated
The dismal 2004 season was invariably eclipsed by the political disputes taking over the sport. This year the bitter division between the majority of the teams on one side, and the FIA and Ferrari on the other, threatens to ruin the action on the track and cause irreparable damage to F1. It is an appalling … Continue reading Testing Times
It is perhaps a sad state of affairs that there are currently more British drivers enjoying successful careers in the Indy Racing League (IRL) and Champ Car than there are in the upper echelons of European single seater racing. Coupled with the ever-growing number of Brits in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and other … Continue reading Flying the flag in the States
The whole Red Bull Racing way of managing and promoting their drivers, which is all rather fascinating to me. In the past two decades, as commercial investment in Formula 1 has ballooned to stratospheric proportions, so, inevitably, have drivers been required to toe a more corporate-friendly line. Be positive about your team and – most … Continue reading Editorial: DC’s RBR PR
Fernando Alonso may be on a three-win hot streak, but Michael Schumacher in the rejuvenated Ferrari is bearing down on him hard. Alonso faces a major battle if he is to take his first home win this weekend. The teams In Imola Ferrari, with Schumacher at least, were right back on the pace. The controversial … Continue reading Spanish Grand Prix 2005 Preview
Mark Webber has slighted team mate Nick Heidfeld’s racecraft in a recent interview, in which Webber claimed Heidfeld, “just sits there,” and doesn’t try hard enough to pass other cars. Perhaps Webber needs reminding that Heidfeld was ‘just sitting there’when Webber needlessly clashed with Giancarlo Fisichella in Malaysia, promoting Heidfeld to a podium place. Something … Continue reading Webber criticises Heidfeld
ITV have posted an apology to F1 fans on their website for showing adverts instead of the concluding laps of the thrilling San Marino Grand Prix. “It is ITV1’s firm commitment to continue to bring you the best F1 coverage that we can,” they claim. Rest assured, F1Fanatic will be keeping a very close eye … Continue reading ITV ‘Sorry’
Paul Stoddart may regret signing 40 year-old Israeli Chanook Nissany – the first Israeli to drive an F1 car – after the rookie crashed into team mate Christijan Albers during one of the team’s rare test sessions.
Four races in and Trulli has given ‘little Schu’ a bit of a thrashing at Toyota so far. Faster in every qualifying session and ahead in every race, Trulli has amassed twice as many points (18-9) and two podium finishes, versus Ralf’s fourth and fifth placings. Ralf blames the ‘handling characteristics’ of the TF105 – … Continue reading Jarno Trulli 4 – 0 Ralf Schumacher
Nick Fry is continuing to defend BAR against allegations that Jenson Button’s car ran underweight at Imola. It spent six hours in scrutinerring before being passed by the stewards, but the decision was bizarrely appealed against by the FIA and BAR face a potential ban if the appeal is successful. “Does anyone really think that … Continue reading BAR weight row goes on
Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that he hired The Great Train Robbery driver Roy James to design an F1 trophy, after James’ release from prison. Ecclestone’s many detractors will be rubbing their hands with glee at the latest unsavoury, though completely above-board, association. As you would expect the F1 supremo was on form with a cheeky … Continue reading Bernie the Train Robber
The San Marino Grand Prix may have reached an entertaining and climactic conclusion, but the post-race talk is all controversy and skullduggery. The ‘group of sevem’ teams have lined up to condemn Ferrari’s rejection of the testing agreement and the huge testing programme that has led to their massive improvement in performance at Imola. But … Continue reading San Marino backlash
A resurgent Ferrari gave us a nail-biting race to the flag in San Marino, and with Jenson Button getting back on the podium surely F1 merited high mention in this week’s sports pages? We tell all in the media review… Monday’s Daily Star gives an adequate write-up of the San Marino Grand Prix, sandwiched gracelessly … Continue reading San Marino Grand Prix 2005 Media Review
When I first sat in a racing car three years ago I was certain that I was the next Grand Prix star in waiting and duly confirmed this (in my mind) by winning my first race. Since then the ascent to F1 has been slower than expected, hampered by a lack of money (a little) … Continue reading So you want to be a Formula One driver?
In his fifteen years of Formula One, Michael Schumacher has been the dominant force in the sport for most of the time. As such, he has led an assault on the F1 record books almost without parallel. He is notoriously indifferent to the scale of this achievement – in public, at least. Having won one … Continue reading Schu vs Stats
If the world was perfect, every F1 race would naturally boil down to a no-holds barred chase to the chequer. In the real world, it hardly happens at all, and even when it does, the powers-that-be make you watch adverts instead. Apologies international fans of F1Fanatic – this gripe is purely for the British viewers, … Continue reading Editorial: Watching from a distance
Red Bull Racing have decided to give Vitantonio Liuzzi three races to prove himself, starting this weekend past, at the expense of Christian Klien. For Liuzzi this is a golden opportunity. Luckily for Liuzzi, these three races are at Imola, Catalunya and Monaco, all places the Italian knows from his F3000 days. He knows he … Continue reading Earring Out, Hairstyle In
The San Marino Grand Prix may have been Fernando Alonso’s third win this year, but it was also a warning the he will not have an easy run to the title.
Juan Pablo Montoya is out of action again, with Alex Wurz promoted in his place this time. McLaren have apparently modified an MP4-20 chassis to his accommodate his above-average (for an F1 driver) height. This is a blow for Pedro de la Rosa, who drove a patchy but impressive race in Bahrain, setting fastest lap … Continue reading Montoya still out, Wurz now in
The first round of the US Champ Car series was held at Long Beach, California last weekend. Race fans from across the world were able to watch via a live Internet stream. F1Fanatic took a look at the service and considered whether we might see the same for F1 anytime soon. For many Formula One … Continue reading Live Champ Car on the Internet
