F1 Insight
Formula 1 analysis and race pondering
596 posts
- Misc
A Few Snippets
After wading through my previous rather heavy and controversial posts, I thought everyone deserved something a little more light-hearted today. Many of my commenters send me links to stories they found interesting and…
- Races
From Pinnacle to Debacle - Fuji GP
I do not know about you but I am getting heartily sick of the stewards ruining perfectly good races. The cry is for some consistency in their decisions but this misses the obvious point, so clearly demonstrated by…
- Drivers
Another Look at Lewis Hamilton
As readers of this blog will know, I backed Heidfeld to win this year's championship. I say that because I do not want to be accused of being a Hamilton groupie, the inevitable chorus from the Hamilton bashers whenever…
- The Future
Get Your Pessimism Here
Practice for the Japanese GP proved only that the McLarens and Ferraris are closely matched, as expected. Timo Glock's surprising fastest lap in the second session was most likely a PR exercise achieved on very low…
- Opinion
Bridgestone Turns Eco-Warrior
Most of the sites have carefully avoided mention of Bridgestone's "green tires" to be used during the Japanese GP in Fuji. I can understand why such an item should be lost when there are momentous things like the loss…
- Circuits
Bernie Cuts the Canadian GP
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Bernie quietly ditches the Canadian GP. The race is absent from the 2009 calendar put out by the FIA today - and that is all we are told. It is surely indicative of how little the governing…
- Teams
No Change at BMW
BMW Sauber has now announced that it will be retaining the services of both Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld for 2009. This is an eminently sensible decision, typical of the level heads that guide the team, and it…
- The Future
Formula One Eyes NASCAR
It is somewhat ironic that, at the moment F1 finds itself without a USGP, the debate on the future of the sport turns heavily on the success of America's premier motor racing format, NASCAR. In the States, NASCAR's…
- The Future
The Importance of F1 Blogging
I have always felt that, once an art form starts examining itself, it is on the way down the plughole; art must involve itself with the world and only gets out the mirror when it has nothing left to say. Take a look at…
- The Future
Martin Whitmarsh Turns Impresario
For a long time, I have believed that F1 should be run by the teams rather than a bunch of failed lawyers and stuffed shirts calling themselves the FIA. Now it seems that I was wrong. The FIA has asked the newly-formed…
- Teams
Luca Against the World
It gives me a warm feeling inside to see at least part of F1 returning to the good old days. To read Luca di Montezemolo's recent comments to Gazzetta dello Sport takes me back to the days when the entire world was at…
- Races
Singapore GP - Fate Evens the Score
This year is turning out to be the season of the stewards. In the often-chaotic Singapore GP, their influence once again affected the result but this time in less obvious ways than at Spa. Consider, for instance, how…
- Races
Singapore GP - Saturday Qualifying
We never did get to see how well Alonso would go after such a promising practice; his engine died in Q2 and the Spaniard was left frustrated in 15th position. The F1 gods can be very cruel at times. Felipe Massa…
- Races
Singapore GP - Friday Practice
After the Friday practice sessions, it looks as if the race will be the usual battle between Ferrari and McLaren. Hamilton was quickest in the first session and was second after an all-out effort by Alonso grabbed the…
- Races
Expectations of the Singapore GP
Now that we have negotiated the political and legal furore of the last couple of days, we can look ahead to this weekend's Singapore GP. It is the second new circuit of the season, a street circuit and much anticipated…
- Politics
The Appeal Ruled Inadmissible
At least the FIA is consistent. It has made it clear that the rules and conventions of F1 are meaningless and will be interpreted and changed as and when the FIA see fit to do so. The decision of the FIA Appeal Court to…
- Regulations
The Lawyers Debate
The big talking point today is McLaren's case at the FIA Court of Appeal. Although we will not hear the verdict until tomorrow, apparently, some news has filtered through already. Lewis Hamilton Perhaps the most…
- Drivers
In Praise of Nick Heidfeld
Over at F1 Fanatic , Keith Collantine has been running a poll to find the best driver in the wet . All the usual culprits are mentioned and debated, the eternal war between the Alonso and Hamilton camps re-ignited, the…
- Politics
Mosley's Latest Nonsense
I read often of how intelligent a man is Max Mosley and I have to admit that he seems endlessly capable of surprising us without even a glance at his private life. He is a lawyer, we are told, as though this…
- Regulations
Defining the Unwritten Rules
Keith Collantine has written an excellent article on the unwritten rules of F1 . He includes an occasion previous to Hamilton's penalty at Spa where the stewards "clarified" a rule after the event - de la…