F1 Insight
Formula 1 analysis and race pondering
596 posts
- Teams
Through the Mists of Testing
Off season testing is never a reliable indicator of form but this year's has been even less informative than usual. With rain making a nonsense of the Spanish tests and the Bahrain test introducing sandstorms into the…
- Teams
More Thoughts on USF1
Last week I wrote an article entitled " USF1 - The case for " for Keith Collantine's F1 Fanatic . One of the comments took me to task because I had not really written the case for but had produced a rebuttal to a…
- Misc
Of Holes and Honda Dreams
A few days ago and for no apparent reason, I was reminded of an old Punch cartoon that has stuck with me for over forty years. The cartoon itself is much older than that, dating from the First World War, and it is wry…
- Teams
The Team Formerly Known as Honda
After a winterlong drama of contradictory announcements and rumors, we approach the opening of the season still not knowing the answer to the question: will Honda F1 be on the grid in Melbourne? The latest alleged news…
- Teams
Optimism and USF1
Reaction to the official announcement of USF1 yesterday has varied from complete skepticism to enthusiastic (if cautious) welcoming of the news. Generally, the most supportive comments have come from American sources…
- Teams
The USF1 Announcement
The 24th has dawned and we await the announcement of the American F1 team, USF1, due at midday on SpeedTV. Against all odds (and my prediction), the rumor has firmed up into fact over the last few weeks with Peter…
- Politics
The Real Branson's Pickle
Well, surprise, surprise - Richard Branson has made it pretty clear that he is not going to be buying the Honda F1 team after all. Many are saying that this does not amount to a denial of the possibility but the words…
- Politics
Mateschitz and Mosley's Restaurant
Dietrich Mateschitz seems to be the man of the moment in F1. Not only is he talking a good deal of sense, as in his statement that the teams should own the sport , but he runs a business that is robust enough to have…
- Misc
F1 and the Daytona 500
A few days ago, I watched the NASCAR Sprint Cup Daytona 500 on SpeedTV - yes, the whole thing plus hours of pre-race build up. It was an experience that had me thinking on all sorts of levels and, inevitably, the…
- Drivers
An American Dream
Ollie White has asked the question " Does Danica Deserve An F1 Drive? " on his BlogF1 today. As I mentioned in my comment to the post, this raises all sorts of other considerations (although the direct answer is pretty…
- Teams
More on the Honda Saga
With ten days to go to a somewhat arbitrary deadline, the Honda F1 team is rumored to have ensured its survival for at least the first four races of 2009. Various benefactors, including Bernie Ecclestone, the Honda…
- Misc
As One F1 Fanatic to Another...
One of the most enjoyable things about blogging F1 is the community of like-minded enthusiasts that builds up around the blogs. I have blogged in other areas for many years and know that this is especially so when it…
- Drivers
Toro Rosso Chooses Bourdais
The news that Sebastien Bourdais had been confirmed as a Toro Rosso driver for this year was welcome in many ways. Even a month ago, Bourdais' chances looked slim, with STR apparently interested mainly in driver's…
- Circuits
Doubting Donington
GrandPrix dot com puts in a word in support for the Donington Park GP today, pointing out that most of the doubt regarding Simon Gillett's plan emanates from the media. Other quarters are quite optimistic, apparently,…
- Politics
The FIA, Drivers and Licences
F1 drivers have been criticized in many quarters for their opposition to the FIA's increases in the Super Licence fee for both 2008 and 2009. They are paid millions, runs the argument, so it is hardly appropriate for…
- The Future
Turning the Past into the Future - Part 2
My previous post on this subject produced a flood of thoughts and opinions, many of them extending the scope of the article into areas not looked at yet. A lot of the matters I was going to raise have been chewed over…
- The Future
Turning the Past into the Future - Part 1
It is easy to criticize the efforts of the Max & Bernie show to secure the future of F1 through their changes to the regulations and financial deals - I ought to know, since I have sniped at them continually over the…
- News
F1 and the British Bus Service
Sometimes I wonder whether F1 news is managed by the same people who run the British bus system - you go for days without a news item to get your teeth into and then three come along at once. Today has turned out to be…
- Politics
Stay Calm, Bernie
Bernie Ecclestone is calling for everyone to remain calm as the recession bites hard at F1. Apparently, we are all panic-stricken and need to wait and see how much effect the economic news will have. Now remember, guys…
- Regulations
Weighing the Pros and Cons
Nico Rosberg has been speaking against the unfairness of F1's weight rules , particularly now that KERS has limited even further the engineers' room to manuever. This might be seen as sour grapes from one of the sport's…