The statement issued by the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association criticising Max Mosley’s demand for them to pay more money for their superlicences has been derided by some as an unwise move. The thinking being that no-one is going to stick up of for superstars earning millions of dollars complaining about a comparatively small increase in … Continue reading Drivers expose holes in FIA budget
formula one articles archive
Max Mosley and the art of distraction
Posted onSteven Roy reckons the fuss over ‘medals’ is just a big distraction: I have come to the conclusion that it is a grand deception. There is a technique in business where you take a small problem and make it a big problem. Then solve the big problem using the extra resources you have been given … Continue reading Max Mosley and the art of distraction
Red Bull RB5 sneak preview in video
Posted onRed Bull’s RB5 won’t be launched until Monday but a video released today hints at what we can expect from their 2009 F1 car.
The rise and fall of F1 driver numbers, 1980-2009 (F1 in numbers)
Posted onWith The Team Formerly Known As Honda looking increasingly unlikely to appear at the 2009 Australian Grand Prix, the 2009 F1 season could begin with the fewest starters in more than three decades.
How Hermann Tilke conquered the F1 calendar, 1996-2009 (Video)
2009 F1 season
Posted onHas Hermann Tilke ruined the F1 calendar? Let’s take a look at what he’s done for F1 track design in the last 14 years.
Mosley and teams set to clash again
Posted onToday brought new evidence of an impending and potentially massive clash between the FIA and the Formula 1 teams over costs. While FOTA is already talking about relaxing the restrictions on testing in 2009, Max Mosley is pushing for massive cuts to drastically reduce the cost of competition to around ?óÔÇÜ?¼50m. And rumours claim he’s … Continue reading Mosley and teams set to clash again
F1 links: More cost cutting
Posted onFOTA progress continues this week “FOTA also began preliminary discussions about the results of a major market research campaign it has commissioned to find out what fans want to see in F1. Although the full findings from the document are not yet believed to have been delivered, initial results are now being looked at to … Continue reading F1 links: More cost cutting
Is the FIA’s take on medals irrelevant? Clive thinks not – here’s why
Posted onGuest writer Clive of F1 Insight takes another look at the FIA’s take on Bernie Ecclestone’s contentious ‘medals’ plan. To be fair to the FIA, their list of what would have happened in the past if a medals system had been in place is relevant because it is, at least, an attempt to test the … Continue reading Is the FIA’s take on medals irrelevant? Clive thinks not – here’s why
How do the 2009 F1 cars compare to other single-seater racing cars?
Posted onThe 2009-style F1 cars have got a lukewarm reaction from fans – less than half of F1 Fanatic readers thought they looked good when we did a poll on it last week. To get to the heart of what’s gone wrong with F1 car aesthetics I thought we should compare them to top single-seaters from … Continue reading How do the 2009 F1 cars compare to other single-seater racing cars?
French site claims Bourdais to sign this week
Posted onFrench website Toile F1 claims to have ‘exclusive’ information that Sebastien Bourdais will sign for Toro Rosso this week. If you can read French, check the original article out here. Thanks to Paul for the tip! Read more: 2009 F1 drivers and teams
Sebastian Vettel’s WSR debut (Video)
Posted onHere’s some video I found of Sebastian Vettel, one year before he made his F1 race debut. Vettel, who was racing in the F3 Euroseries at the time, got a chance to enter the World Series by Renault race at Misano in Italy. As the video shows, it worked out rather well for him.
Formula 1’s lost nations: New Zealand
Posted onLast world champion: Denny Hulme, 1967 Last Grand Prix winner: Denny Hulme, McLaren, Buenos Aires, 1974 Last Grand Prix starter: Mike Thackwell, RAM, Montreal, 1984 Last Grand Prix: None held Only eight drivers from New Zealand have ever started Grands Prix. But they include a world champion, the founder of one of the great F1 … Continue reading Formula 1’s lost nations: New Zealand
F1 links: Donington Park funding concern
Posted onBritish Grand Prix still awaiting green light Concern over Donington Park’s funding. Teddy Mayer 1935-2009 “Edward Everett “Teddy” Mayer died at his home in England on Friday, at the age of 73. He is survived by a son, Tim, and a daughter, Anne” anotherf1podcast A new F1 podcast. Button facing the end of his Formula … Continue reading F1 links: Donington Park funding concern
2008 Formula 1 race statistics – and those quiz answers in full…
Posted onCongratulations to Steffen, who was not only the first person to correctly identify all of the 2008 F1 season lap charts, but he also corrected one of them as well… All the finished lap charts in full are below – including Steffen’s correction of course!
Top 10 F1 Fanatic posts – January 2009
Posted onIt’s been all about car launches this month with Ferrari, McLaren, Toyota, Renault BMW and Williams pulling the covers off their 2009 challengers. And so it’s been a gigantically busy month on F1 Fanatic with over 380% more visitors and traffic than this time last year. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to have a … Continue reading Top 10 F1 Fanatic posts – January 2009
F1 links: Brabhams and the BBC
Posted onSpeaking of the BT49… “I consider the Brabham BT49 to be better than any Lotus ever produced. Nothing before or since has been so pure, elegant and satisfying to the eye as the BT49.” Clive reacting to a comment on F1 Fanatic. The Top Formula One Driver on Facebook “And how do Nascar drivers compare? … Continue reading F1 links: Brabhams and the BBC
Formula 1’s lost nations: Austria
Posted onLast world champion: Niki Lauda, 1984 Last Grand Prix winner: Gerhard Berger, Hockenheimring, Benetton-Renault, 1997 Last Grand Prix starter: Alexander Wurz, Shanghai, Williams, 2007 Last Grand Prix: A1-Ring, 2003 Austria is the only European country on this list. It has had championship winners and dozens of Grands Prix, but no race and active driver today.
The FIA ?óÔé¼?£analysis?óÔé¼Ôäó of Ecclestone?óÔé¼Ôäós medals proposal is flawed and irrelevant
Posted onBernie Ecclestone?óÔé¼Ôäós plan to replace the F1 points system with the awarding of ?óÔé¼?£medals?óÔé¼Ôäó for winners has been widely received as a bad idea. Today the FIA waded into the argument by publishing some research. Their effort shows much the same lack of care and consideration that Ecclestone put his idea forward with. Titled ?óÔé¼?ôThe … Continue reading The FIA ?óÔé¼?£analysis?óÔé¼Ôäó of Ecclestone?óÔé¼Ôäós medals proposal is flawed and irrelevant
Will slicks put brakes under more stress?
Posted onOne aspect of the 2009 rules I’m trying to get my ahead is how the return to slick tyres and the introduction of KERS might affect brakes. If my shaky grasp if F1 technology is right, I reckon brakes will have a seriously hard time in 2009. Check my working below.
Formula 1?óÔé¼Ôäós lost nations: South Africa
Posted onLast world champion: Jody Scheckter, Ferrari, 1979 Last Grand Prix winner: Jody Scheckter, Ferrari, Monza, 1979 Last Grand Prix starter: Jody Scheckter, Ferrari, Watkins Glen, 1980 Last Grand Prix: Kyalami, 1993 South Africa was a Grand Prix host for many years. But its only driver to attain Grand Prix success was Jody Scheckter – the … Continue reading Formula 1?óÔé¼Ôäós lost nations: South Africa