BMW Sauber are first to give their 2006 challenger a ‘proper’ launch in something close to the spec in which it will run in Bahrain. Team boss Mario Theissen was quick to dispel talk of immediate Grand Prix wins: “In our first season we will mainly be gathering experience… it requires patience and endurance.” They … Continue reading BMW low-ball F1.06 hopes
The latest batch of updates to F1Fanatic.co.uk are being held in the pipeline while we resolve some technical problems. Check back soon for the 1993 and 1994 season histories and additions to Who’s Who.
The first round of the ten-race Grand Prix Masters season will be held at Losail International Circuit on 27th-29th of April according to the Gulf Times. The full calendar will be published at gpmfanatic.co.uk and f1fanatic.co.uk as soon as it is available.
Anthony Davidson has been confirmed as Honda F1 Racing (formerly BAR)’s third driver for a fourth year. Davidson has started three Grands Prix – two for Minardi and one for BAR – and has made clear his desire for a full-time race seat. The move ends speculation that he might drive for the nascent Super … Continue reading Davidson signs for Honda, rules out Super Aguri
The F1 press are getting into a frenzy about Kimi Raikkonen’s plans for 2007, with Fernando Alonso confirmed at McLaren in 2007 and little major news until testing resumes. Although Raikkonen out-scored Montoya in 2005 and is close to Ron Dennis, speculation is mounting that he is frustrated over reliability problems that cost him them … Continue reading Kimi Raikkonen in ’07: Place your bets
Renault 1 Fernando Alonso 2 Giancarlo Fisichella McLaren-Mercedes 3 Kimi Raikkonen 4 Juan-Pablo Montoya Ferrari 5 Michael Schumacher 6 Felipe Massa Toyota 7 Ralf Schumacher 8 Jarno Trulli Williams-Cosworth 9 Mark Webber 10 Nico Rosberg T Alexander Wurz Honda 11 Rubens Barrichello 12 Jenson Button T Anthony Davidson Red Bull Racing-Ferrari 14 David Coulthard 15 … Continue reading 2006 Driver Line-up latest
Researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, USA, have claimed football (‘soccer’) is the most exciting sport to watch. The study, excluding motor sport and confined to English football, American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey, asserts that football is exciting because of the frequency with which it delivers surprise results. Were such … Continue reading Study hails football as ‘best sport’
The winter issue of Renault’s consumer magazine (inspiringly titled The Renault Magazine) carries a 13-page spread by Anthony Rowlinson on Fernando Alonso’s championship success. Renault boss Carlos Ghosn has publicly stated that to him, Formula One is only of value when his team is winning. With Alonso off to McLaren in 2007, can Renault stay … Continue reading Renault enjoy it while it lasts
We’re often quick to criticise modern Formula One drivers for being uncontroverial and boring, at least compared to the likes of straight-talking James Hunt and Alan Jones. But hearing David Coulthard being interviewed on ITV’s Formula One 2005 season review programme (ITV, January 1st) was a breath of fresh air. Sat alongside fellow F1 Briton … Continue reading Coulthard: “Rubens isn’t serious”
2005 gave us some good action: that unforgettable race in Suzuka, genuine overtaking at Monaco and plenty of incident.
Alain Prost: A controversial figure. And one who, despite his superior statistical successes remains overshadowed by his late nemesis Ayrton Senna.
This editorial wraps up the weekly editions of F1Fanatic.co.uk for 2005, but’s there’s plenty more to come between now and the new season. It’s strange to think that eight months have passed since I sat down to write the first F1Fanatic.co.uk editorial in March – 31 more have passed since then on almost every week. … Continue reading Editorial: That’s not all, folks
Five months without Formula One? What on earth can you do with all those Sunday afternoons? Fear not – we’ve put our heads together and devised a range of activities for petrolheads to keep the nagging withdrawal at bay?�?�?����?�?�?� A1 Grand Prix A1 Grand Prix couldn’t be better for the F1 fan in winter: the … Continue reading Beat the off-season blues
F1 enjoyed a much better season in 2005 than in 2004 – but didn’t necessarily receive the press attention it deserved. Ironically, the spotlight shone brightest on the sport when it covered itself in shame at Indianapolis. And ITV’s coverage continued to decline in quality. The United States Grand Prix farce was undoutbedly the meia … Continue reading 2005: Media Review
Concluding our season review, F1Fanatic’s resident columnist Be Evans dishes out the awards to the very best of 2005 – indeed, even those who excelled in mediocrity. Driver of the Year Most years this is shoe-in for Mr M. Schumacher but 2005 has seen perhaps the greatest generational shift in driving talent for many years, … Continue reading 2005: Season Awards
Continuing out ranking of the drivers of 2005, this week we present the definitive top ten. 10 (-1 on half-term ranking) Jenson Button, BAR-Honda, 37 points With zero points at the halfway point in the season, you’d have been forgiven for assuming that Button would be happy with his move to Williams for 2006. But … Continue reading 2005 Driver rankings #10-1
2005 was the year when F1 stopped being predictable – Michael Schumacher didn’t win everything and a pair of stellar new talents dominated the season. Even some of the best motor sport commentators were caught out. Matt Bishop, writing in the F1 Racing monthly subscribers’ letter back in February, was as dismissive of the 2005 … Continue reading Editorial: Predictable?
Statistics are unfairly maligned. Yes, they can be distorted, manipulated and spun – but lay the figures out in full and clearer picture often emerges. We take a look at some of the stories of 2005 with a little help from F1Fanatic’s brand new statistics pages. Raikkonen vs Alonso Alonso tallied 135 points to Raikkonen’s … Continue reading 2005: Statistical Review
In the first of a two-part feature we reviews and rate the 25 drivers who participated in the 2005 world drivers’ championship. The top ten will be revealed in the final issue of 2005.
A constructors’ championship battle just isn’t as exciting as a drivers’ championship battle – so it was with the lacklustre Chinese race that got a lukewarm press response. Jim Rosenthal bade farewell to ITV after another year in which the broadcaster took a backward step. The most disappointing omission from almost all of the race … Continue reading Chinese Grand Prix 2005 Media Review