F1 Insight
Formula 1 analysis and race pondering
596 posts
- Technical
The Spread of Wheel Covers
You can't hold a good engineer down. In spite of the increasingly tight limits imposed by F1 technical regulations, the innovations continue to appear. Latest is McLaren's extension to the wheel covers that are…
- Teams
Today in Jerez
Conflicting stories emereged today from the BMW camp regarding the potential of the F1.08. Nick Heidfeld seemed disappointed that the car is still not on the pace of the Ferraris and McLarens, although it has improved…
- Teams
A Ferrari Tour de Force
Fame at last. Sidepodcast has mentioned a post of mine in their latest podcast . Now I just need to work on the fortune bit. Raikkonen in Bahrain Joking aside, the podcast is their usual excellent round-up of the week's…
- Politics
Force India and Arbitration
I see that Force India is continuing with the arbitration regarding customer cars in the shape of the Toro Rosso and Super Aguri teams. This action was begun at the beginning of last year and one wonders whether it will…
- Technical
Cleaning the Aerodynamics
I have seen a lot of dicussion of Adrian Newey's extension to the Red Bull RB4's airbox into a fin that almost reaches the rear wing. Theories suggesting what aerodynamic advantage might be gained are legion but I think…
- Circuits
Bernie's Biggest Blunder
Amidst all the bits and pieces of F1 news this week, Force India's unveiling of their new livery, another possible buyer for Super Aguri and Kimi revelling in the speed of the Ferrari F108, GrandPrix dot com has the…
- Misc
Advertising and the F1 Blog
F1 Linksheaven has a post at the moment complaining at the number of F1 blogs that contain advertising, particularly the dancing, flashing variety. While I agree that the proliferation of advertising on the net becomes…
- Regulations
Where the Money Goes...
PitPass has an article today that explains why Ferrari are the only team not to welcome the FIA's suggestion of budget capping, rather than restriction on wind tunnels and other forms of testing. Apparently, Ferrari's…
- The Future
Viewing the Future
There were two big stories over the weekend, both of which I am going to ignore. The first, the disgusting display of xenophobia put on by the Spanish crowd at Barcelona, has been debated elsewhere and there is general…
- Drivers
The Gilles Factor
A few years ago, I was standing in line at a McDonald's in Oklahoma when the guy behind me started a brief conversation. Noting my Green Bay Packers cap, he said, "A Packers fan, huh?" Being English, I am not used to…
- Circuits
Nakajima's Crash
Amongst the news emanating from today's testing at Barcelona was a report that Williams had temporarily halted their test while they traced the cause of an accident suffered by Kazuki Nakajima. The driver was unhurt but…
- Teams
Equal Opportunities at McLaren
There has been endless argument over McLaren's equal treatment for drivers policy, some disbelieving it entirely, others pointing out that perfect equality is impossible, yet others considering it inferior to the…
- Cars
Hopes for the Honda
Honda have revealed their new livery for 2008 and, to be kind, it is not quite as bad as last year's. The Earth Dream concept is retained but now the globe has shrunk to become just a blue and green circle over the…
- News
First Trends in Testing
Okay, testing is a poor indicator of likely form in the season to come but there were some interesting pointers that emerged in Valencia this week. It looks as if McLaren and Ferrari are still the cars to beat, although…
- Teams
BMW Horns in on the Big Time
In testing at Valencia this week, BMW has surprised everyone with a strange antler arrangement sprouting from the nose of their new car, the F1.08. This reminds one instantly of the two towers that appeared in the same…
- Technical
Gordon Murray's Bright Idea
In looking at the new F1 cars for the 2008 season, two areas stand out as receiving a great deal of attention from the designers: the front wing components and the radiator intakes. We are told that the cars get ever…
- Misc
Stepney Reveals More
In an interview with Sky Sports, Nigel Stepney has been handing out the hints again. One grows a little tired of his references to inside knowledge that is never revealed. We are all aware that he knows more than is on…
- Misc
The Sound of Formula One
Every once in a while I get fed up with being responsible, sober and serious. As an old hippy, I have a right to lament the passing of heady days when the word "alternative" referred to lifestyle rather than fuel. And…
- Politics
The FIA, Budgets and Engines
The flurry of announcements from the FIA regarding future rule changes is quite interesting beyond the bare proposals included. Budget capping is to be introduced from 2009 and the engine freeze will now be for five…
- Regulations
Alternative Fuels and F1
Formula1Sport reports today that the European Union (EU) wants F1 to become a lot cleaner in its energy use and that the FIA are happy with that suggestion . "Malcolm" has replied with a comment so pertinent that I copy…