Max Mosley has fired a double salvo in retaliation to media criticism of driver safety in the wake of Kimi Raikkonen’s last-lap crash in the European Grand Prix. Mosley has warned teams not to risk accidents by allowing drivers to race on seriously worn or damaged tyres – potentially a futile plea, as no team … Continue reading FIA warning on tyres
Dan Wheldon’s victory in the Indy 500, his fourth win in the first five roudns of the 2005 Indy Racing League, has led to inevitable speculation that he will switch to F1. He has denied that he would be willing to make the switch with anything other than a front running team. The Briton has … Continue reading Wheldon to F1?
We had a thrilling chase to the finish and ITV let us watch it all this time. Raikkonen’s heart breaking last-lap failure made big news in the British papers – or was it just because the football season’s finally over? ITV commentators James Allen and Martin Brundle did not see eye-to-eye on McLaren’s decision to … Continue reading European Grand Prix 2005 Media Review
On an already jam-packed calendar, why does Germany get two races? The case for the European Grand Prix to be held at a different venue each year is a sensible one. It’s time someone took notice of it. In the midst of last-week’s white hot build-up to the Eurovision song contest (I voted for Norway) … Continue reading The Eurovision Grand Prix
Changing the number of points that are given for finishing positions in Grands Prix could revolutionise how drivers approach races and fundamentally alter the meaning of the Driver’s Championship. It is something the governing body should very seriously consider. The Formula One rules have been in a state of flux since 2002. Not a year, … Continue reading Missing the points
Having slumped almost to the very back of the grid, Jordan are now not far short of being beaten by usual backmarkers Minardi. In theory, 2006 should bring a relaunch of the team as Midland F1 – but the current sorry state of affairs is not breeding much optimism. The European Grand Prix was a … Continue reading Editorial: No joy at Jordan
The A1GP series, which is due to start this September, announced the provisional calendar for their 2005 winter championship this week. It promises to be the most internationally diverse motor sport series, even more so than Formula One. In all, twelve events are planned for the inaugural championship year, and the list of destinations makes … Continue reading A1 Grand Prix Calendar Revealed
Fernando Alonso kept Kimi Raikkonen under pressure throughout the European Grand Prix and capitalised at the last possible moment, when Raikkonen’s suspension shattered and pitched the Finn into the barriers. Alonso now has a 32-point advantage in the title race. From the outset the European Grand Prix looked like it was going to be McLaren-Mercedes … Continue reading Last-lap drama for Raikkonen hands Alonso victory
Red Bull have confirmed that Vitantonio Liuzzi will be replaced by Christian Klien after the European Grand Prix. This is the first time that a team have deliberately shared a single seat between two drivers since Ligier made a similar arrangement with Aguri Suzuki and Martin Brundle in 1995. Brundle started eleven races to Suzuki’s … Continue reading Liuzzi out, Klien back in
So what was the big story after Monaco? The near-collapse of Renault? That stunning pass by Nick Heidfeld? Juan Pablo Montoya’s remarkable drive from 16th to 4th? Or just Kimi Raikkonen’s maiden win in the glamorous principality? If you answered, “none of the above,” then congratulations, because you kept in mind the British press’s negative … Continue reading Monaco Grand Prix 2005 Media Review
The FIA have launched a survey to canvas Formula One fans on their opinions of how the sport should develop in the future. F1 Fanatic sets out what changes need to be made to ensure F1 gets stronger and stronger over the coming years. As much as they suffer criticism for their handling of the … Continue reading The FIA Survey: How to fix Formula One
Open this week’s Autosport, Motorsport News or Autocar at any page and you will see someone connected to Formula One talking about improving the show. Now we know that it isn’t going to happen, but there is a simple way to improve the ‘show’ at Grands Prix. The simple answer is to put on better … Continue reading More bang for your buck
A reputable bank, keen to promote their close alliance with a leading Formula One team, have rolled out a series of adverts to communicate to Formula One fans that they understand the complexities, the pressures and the demands of the sport. At least, that is what they tried to do. Because when you show an … Continue reading Editorial: Bashing the bishop
So what was the big story after Monaco? The near-collapse of Renault? That stunning pass by Nick Heidfeld? Juan Pablo Montoya’s remarkable drive from 16th to 4th? Or just Kimi Raikkonen’s maiden win in the glamorous principality? If you answered, “none of the above,” then congratulations, because you kept in mind the British press’s negative … Continue reading European Grand Prix 2005 Preview
Kimi Raikkonen continued his assault on Fernando Alonso’s championship lead by winning the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix.
An agreement between the teams at Monaco has finally given the unpopular two-session aggregate qualifying system the boot. As of the next round, the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, starting positions will be determined by a single qualifying session on Saturday where drivers will run with the same load of fuel they will start … Continue reading Aggregate qualifying finally axed
David Coulthard, revelling in his newfound outspokenness since leaving McLaren, has hit out at the increasing sanitisation of Monaco. Since 2003 the notorious Monaco Armco barriers have been removed from several places and the Rascasse corner has been made less tight (see The Magic of Monaco, issue 11). “Now they have changed the last part … Continue reading DC: Monaco is “normal”
A classic example of how different media outlets skew stories in different ways. BBC Sport claim Jacques Villeneuve is demanding that Sauber spend more in order to become more competitive. Autosport-Atlas treat the story more gently, reporting that Villeneuve believes Sauber are struggling because of their lack of money (but, note the difference, not actually … Continue reading Villeneuve pushing Sauber
The FIA are to launch a survey this weekend asking F1 fans what they want from the sport, ahead of the forthcoming new commericial agreements and rules packages. It will be opened for responses over the Monaco Grand Prix weekend. The FIA’s survey is supported by AMD (who also sponsor Ferrari) and Haymarket, who publish … Continue reading FIA want fans’ opinions
Not only is the Monaco Grand Prix the most glamorous event on the motor racing calendar, it is also a living piece of F1 history. Drivers have gone to battle in the impossibly tight confines of the streets of Monte-Carlo since 1929. Nine non-championship events were run at Monaco from 1929 to 1937, followed by … Continue reading The Magic of Monaco
