F1 Fanatic guest writer John Beamer examines the technical updates from Abu Dhabi and gives his early thoughts on the major changes for 2010. As evident from my recent musings on the technical side of F1 every team has focused its development resources on 2010. Suffice to say there is little to report from Yas … Continue reading Abu Dhabi Grand Prix technical analysis – and a look ahead to 2010
formula 1 articles archive
F1 links: Barrichello wins $500K lawsuit
Posted onF1 Racing Driver Barrichello Wins $500,000 Libel Suit Against Google (TechCrunch) "Google has been ordered by a Brazilian court to pay Formula One racing driver Rubens Barrichello $500,000 in damages for the presence of fake online profiles of the driver on its social network Orkut, which is hugely popular in the man’s home country." Ross … Continue reading F1 links: Barrichello wins $500K lawsuit
Nick Craw on USF1 and US Grand Prix (Video)
Posted onNew president of the FIA Senate Nick Craw has addressed rumours about whether America’s new F1 team USF1 will make the grid in 2010. In a video interview with Speed TV Craw told the channel he had inspected the team’s facilities twice and they had recently paid their $440,000 (?é?ú265,000) entry fee. He was also … Continue reading Nick Craw on USF1 and US Grand Prix (Video)
F1 2009: Year of controversy (Part 2)
Posted onIt was the year F1 almost split in two: the summer of 2009 was dominated by the row over budget caps. When the FIA and the teams finally reached an agreement on reducing costs it briefly seemed F1’s season of scandal might be over. But then came word of some extraordinary allegations from Nelson Piquet … Continue reading F1 2009: Year of controversy (Part 2)
F1 links: N.Technology loses FIA court case
Posted onCourt rejects N.Technology’s claims (Autosport) "N.Technology's legal action against the FIA over the way that the process for the selection of the new teams for the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship has been unsuccessful after French courts rejected all of its claims." Jaime Alguersuari: F1 debut without testing was like entering a slaughterhouse (Daily Mirror) … Continue reading F1 links: N.Technology loses FIA court case
Michael Schumacher’s 1994 title-winning F1 car on sale for ?é?ú2.3m (Pictures)
Posted onThe Benetton-Ford which Michael Schumacher won his first world championship with in 1994 is up for sale on eBay. According to the seller it is the very car which Michael Schumacher used in the last race of the season, when he infamously crashed into title rival Damon Hill. A bidding war has broken out for … Continue reading Michael Schumacher’s 1994 title-winning F1 car on sale for ?é?ú2.3m (Pictures)
F1 2009: Year of controversy (Part 1)
Posted onFormula 1 seems to have become incapable of getting through a season without some kind of scandal. But even after 2007’s spying investigations and the Mosley scandal last year, somehow 2009 even manage to trump these for controversy. Here’s the first of a two-part look back at the controversies that spoiled the F1 season.
Track or car design – what’s to blame for F1’s passing problem? (Poll)
Posted onTwo F1 car designers have claimed F1 track designs need to be changed to increase overtaking – instead of making changes to the cars so they can follow each other more closely. Do you think tracks need to be changed more to create overtaking opportunities? Or does the problem still lie with the cars?
F1 links: How Honda’s team was saved
Posted onCatching up with Ross Brawn (Autocar) "'They were clearly surprised at this because their view was that the team was unsaleable. Equally, the notion of a management buy-out is something virtually unknown in Japanese business circles.' Thank heavens Ross introduced to the concept, is all I can say." And hopefully someone's explained it to Toyota … Continue reading F1 links: How Honda’s team was saved
Classic F1 cars from the ’70s and ’80s in action at Paul Ricard (Pictures)
Posted onThe last round of this year’s F1 season coincided with the final event in the 2009 Historic Formula 1 championship. Philippe has kindly shared some photographs from the race at Paul Ricard in France. They include various great cars from the 1970s and 1980s from the likes of McLaren, Williams, Brabham, Lotus, Tyrrell and more.
2009 F1 DVD is called “Not in a hurry”
Posted onThe official Formula 1 season reviews often get lumbered with bad names and the 2009 F1 DVD is no exception. This year’s F1 review will be called “Not in a hurry” according to a sleeveshot posted on Twitter. It’s hardly the most imaginative title they could have come up with. But then, this is from … Continue reading 2009 F1 DVD is called “Not in a hurry”
Brazil voted best race of 2009, Turkey named worst of a bad bunch
Posted onAfter the millions ploughed into radically revised aerodynamic packages and Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems to improve racing, did we get a more entertaining season in 2009 than 2008? Not according to how your voted in our post-race polls. Interlagos served up the best race of the year for the second season in a row – … Continue reading Brazil voted best race of 2009, Turkey named worst of a bad bunch
Is the FIA to blame for teams leaving?
Posted onAs the F1 world waits to learn whether Renault will join Toyota in quitting the sport, the finger-pointing for the manufacturers’ exodus has already begun. The FIA reacted to Toyota’s decision by claiming it could have been avoided if Max Mosley’s budget cap had been introduced. Meanwhile Ferrari blamed “those who managed Formula 1 over … Continue reading Is the FIA to blame for teams leaving?
Silverstone given until tomorrow to accept Ecclestone’s ?é?ú370m offer
Posted onBernie Ecclestone has told Silverstone it has until tomorrow to accept his offer to host the British Grand Prix in 2010. Silverstone has been left to pick up the pieces after Ecclestone’s attempt to take the race from them and give it to Donington Park failed. Just as it did when he tried to do … Continue reading Silverstone given until tomorrow to accept Ecclestone’s ?é?ú370m offer
F1 links: Gordon Murray designs electric car
Posted onF1 designer unveils electric car (BBC) "An electric car created by ex-McLaren Formula One designer Gordon Murray has been unveiled." Q & A with Mike Gascoyne (Autosport) "We [Lotus] are looking for two drivers with experience. We are not looking for pay drivers or new drivers. We think that is very important for the team. … Continue reading F1 links: Gordon Murray designs electric car
SaloolaS is the 2009 F1 Fanatic Predictions Champion
Posted onSaloolaS has beaten competition from over 1,000 F1 Fanatic readers to become the first ever F1 Fanatic Predictions Champion. A final score of 270 points means SaloolaS is the 2009 champion with 20 points more than closest runner-up, Dank.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix facts and stats
Posted onRed Bull completed their strong end to the season with a third consecutive win at Abu Dhabi. But for the likes of Fernando Alonso and Kazuki Nakajima their final races with their teams didn’t go according to plan. Read on for the facts and stats from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures
F1 pictures
Posted onYou could accuse the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix of being just style over substance – but the style was certainly grand. Still when you look into the stands on some of these pictures you have to wonder why so many of the 50,000 seats they sold were empty. Here’s a gallery of spectacular pictures from … Continue reading 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures
Bridgestone to make surprise F1 exit
Posted onF1’s exclusive tyre supplier Bridgestone has made a surprise announcement it will quit the sport at the end of the 2010 season. This means F1 will have a new tyre supplier from 2011, but there’s no indication yet the FIA may allow the resumption of the ‘tyre war’ by letting in more than one supplier.
Kobayashi’s great drive and the Grosjean question (Abu Dhabi GP analysis)
Posted onHow did Kamui Kobayashi gain half-a-dozen places and get ahead of his team mate to finish sixth in his second race? And was Romain Grosjean’s race really as bad as it looked? The analysis of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take a look at the answers to these questions.