F1 Insight
Formula 1 analysis and race pondering
596 posts
- Races
China - Qualifying and Weighty Thoughts
Everyone must know by now that the Red Bull boys and Alonso beat the Brawns to the front of the grid in Shanghai , so there would be little point in my adding to the excitement and surprise. It was a great qualifying…
- Races
China - Practice, Tires and Strategy
After all the politics and speculation this week, it was good to sit up late for the first two practice sessions of the Chinese GP. There is nothing like action on the track for reminding one of what the sport is really…
- Opinion
Ron Dennis and Blogging
A while back I wrote a post defending bloggers against what I chose to see as criticism of them from Joe Saward. Since then I have quietly followed Joe's blog, noting its gradual transformation into a regurgitation of…
- Regulations
Double Diffusers All Round
For whatever reason, the Court of Appeal has decided that the double diffusers are legal and so Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams will continue to have a slight advantage in the races until the other teams design their own…
- Politics
Waiting on the World Motor Sport Council
The F1 world holds its breath as it awaits the WMSC's ruling on the double diffuser controversy, due tomorrow. All other news disappears, unless you count the story that Jenson Button and Richard Branson nearly resorted…
- Drivers
When I Grow Up I Want to Be...
Everything has gone quiet in the world of F1 over the last few days (I have said all I want to about McLaren and the WMSC for the moment) and I am left scraping for a post. There is always history to mine for something…
- Drivers
What Makes an F1 Driver?
Way back in the sixties, I remember reading of a study that set out to establish what was different about F1 drivers. It seems that, in spite of subjecting the drivers to every test they could think of, the scientists…
- Politics
McLaren, the WMSC and Mercedes
With the not-unexpected announcement that the WMSC have called McLaren to account for their behavior in the Melbourne stewards meeting, to be heard on April 29, speculation erupts as to how stiff a penalty will be…
- Regulations
Dr Mario's Mistake
I really need a day off. But I have to take issue with Dr Mario Theissen over his statements regarding the double diffuser and BMW's protest against it in Malaysia. Nick Heidfeld battling with Lewis Hamilton in the rain…
- Teams
Quo Vadis, Ferrari?
I had to look it up to be certain of its meaning (I was right as it turned out); "quo vadis" is Latin and means "Where are you going?" It seemed somehow appropriate when considering the fortunes of the great Italian…
- Races
Half a Malaysian Grand Prix
Funnily enough, I don't mind the occasional race being shortened by torrential rain or some other disaster; as long as none of my guys are disadvantaged by it, of course. And Heidfeld's superbly timed second place in…
- Technical
Pressing the Button on KERS
Qualifying in Sepang confirmed what we were beginning to suspect - the quickest cars are the Brawns, the Toyotas and the Red Bulls, probably in that order. The Ferraris threatened briefly in testing but then faded when…
- Politics
Learning the Lessons of McLaren
Once again McLaren has been dumped in the mud by an employee - Dave Ryan's suspension , followed by Whitmarsh's apology for the lie told to the stewards hearing in Melbourne, inevitably brings to mind Coughlan's…
- Politics
Nice Weather We're Having...
A rather nice photo of Adrian Sutil in the Force India VJM02 You think I am going to write about the Hamilton and McLaren disqualification, don't you? Oh no, not me - I may never say anything more about it and I…
- Teams
Whatever Happened to Loyalty?
I think it was on one of F1 Fanatic 's recent posts that readers were asked to state which team they were supporting this year. I dutifully ticked the box for BMW and then had a look to see how the poll was going. And…
- Races
Twilight in Sepang
With only a week between the first two races this season, thoughts are already turning to Sepang and the possibility of the order changing on so different a track from Melbourne. The "twilight" race has not been…
- Regulations
Toyota and the FIA
There has been much talk of the Toyota appeal against the penalty handed out to Trulli for overtaking under the yellow flags in Melbourne. It seems that the version of events I assumed in my post yesterday was correct -…
- Races
Thoughts on the Melbourne GP, 2009
The good thing about GPs that keep you up until 4:00am in the morning is that they force the blogger to sleep on all that has happened before committing pen to paper. As a result, in the damp morning after I have read…
- Races
Qualifying in Australia
Now that the dust has settled, the grid been decided and then altered with the Toyotas and Hamilton sent to the back, and the Williams protest against Ferrari and Red Bull been withdrawn, we can begin to take a long…
- Races
Friday Practice Sessions, Melbourne
The moral of the story is: be careful what you wish for. Sure, it is great to see Nico Rosberg and Williams leading the times and refreshing to watch the forgotten drivers suddenly vying for the top eight places, but…