Testing continues today with eight F1 teams in action at Jerez. Yesterday a spate of red flags and brief rain show hindered the teams’ testing efforts – will things go more smoothly today?
Nelson Piquet articles archive
2009 F1 testing: March 1st (Pictures)
Posted onToday saw all eight of the 2009-specification F1 cars launched so far on track together for the first time at Jerez in Spain. Sebastian Vettel was comfortably fastest in the Red Bull, over 1.3s quicker than Felipe Massa’s Ferrari.
F1 drivers’ superlicence dispute over
Posted onThe dispute over F1 drivers’ superlicences has come to an end as the drivers have agreed to pay their fees. Max Mosley had demanded the drivers pay an new fee for 2008 which would increase the FIA’s income from superlicences in that year from ?óÔÇÜ?¼330,000 (£293,000) to ?óÔÇÜ?¼1.5m (£1.33m). After initially refusing to pay it … Continue reading F1 drivers’ superlicence dispute over
Alonso and Piquet Jnr confirmed at Renault for 2009
Posted onFernando Alonso has committed his future to Renault, ending speculation over a possible move to Ferrari.
1988 Brazilian Grand Prix flashback
Posted onWhen McLaren turned up at the first race of 1988 with scarcely any testing miles on its new car, few expected the MP4/4s to dominated the season the way they did. But at the Brazilian Grand Prix hopes of a closely-fought season were wrecked as McLaren dominated. Guest writer Andrew Tsvyk tells the story. This … Continue reading 1988 Brazilian Grand Prix flashback
Japanese GP history 1976-1990 (Video)
Posted onThe F1 history class is back so sit up straight and pay attention – here’s Professor Journeyer with the first instalment of a three-part video guide to the Japanese Grand Prix. The Japanese Grand Prix can be best described in two words: championship showdown. Sure, some circuits may be more challenging, some may have better … Continue reading Japanese GP history 1976-1990 (Video)
Lucas di Grassi poised to take Renault seat off Nelson Piquet Jnr for 2009
Posted onNew rumours on the 2009 F1 driver market suggest Nelson Piquet Jnr will be dropped by Renault at the end of the year. But Brazilian F1 fans need not despair as Piquet’s countryman Lucas di Grassi is being lined up to replace him. Renault is offering Piquet to Toro Rosso according to Autosport – might … Continue reading Lucas di Grassi poised to take Renault seat off Nelson Piquet Jnr for 2009
Hamilton joins Senna, Prost, Schumacher and others who had F1 wins confiscated
Posted onLewis Hamilton will have to hand over his Belgian Grand Prix winner’s trophy to Felipe Massa (appeal pending). It will be small comfort to him that plenty of other drivers have had wins taken off them in the past. Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher and others have lost race wins after the chequered flag. More encouragingly … Continue reading Hamilton joins Senna, Prost, Schumacher and others who had F1 wins confiscated
100 F1 race winners part 7: 1977-1982
Posted onJackie Stewart’s record of 27 victories stood for 14 years until Alain Prost surpassed his mark. The French driver would go on to win four championships and 51 races. Two other champions of the eighties covered in this part of the guide to F1 race winners are Alan Jones and Nelson Piquet. Jones won their … Continue reading 100 F1 race winners part 7: 1977-1982
Last-lap losers (p2/2)
Posted onYesterday we looked at four races that ended with the leader losing the race on the last lap – this after Felipe Massa came within three laps of winning the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend. Here are four more tales of woe involving Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Mika Hakkinen and Kimi Raikkonen.
Nelson Piquet Jnr: the driver debates
Posted onWe had a lot to discuss about Nelson Piquet Jnr last week when a lucky safety car call gave him the opportunity to transform what had been a dismal season in a single race. So how has that second place changed our view of a driver who had been struggling in the first part of … Continue reading Nelson Piquet Jnr: the driver debates
Nelson Piquet Jnr: was he lucky or good?
Posted onNelson Piquet Jnr has not had the best of seasons so far. I picked him as the worst driver of the year so far when I ranked them all after the British Grand Prix and few of you seemed to disagree. Today he gave Renault their first podium finish of the year. But how much … Continue reading Nelson Piquet Jnr: was he lucky or good?
CART drivers who raced in F1: From Andretti to Zanardi part 7
IndyCar
Posted onNelson Piquet and Bobby Rahal are two of the most successful drivers in F1 and Champ Car respectively. Read more about them here plus the driver who started just one race in each category.
Pressure piles on Piquet
Posted onNelson Piquet Jnr is only in the fifth Grand Prix weekend of his career but his performance must be starting to ring alarm bells at Renault. His 20th on the grid at Melbourne and subsequent crash was not taken as cause for alarm within the team. But add his spin and crash at the Circuit … Continue reading Pressure piles on Piquet
Webber: Piquet & Nakajima are no use
Posted onMark Webber has given an amusingly frank assessment of F1 rookies Nelson Piquet Jnr and Kazuki Nakajima. Asked how well his Red Bull team would fare compared to Renault and Williams he replied: We have two drivers. Williams and Renault have only one. We must extract the full potential from the current car as quickly … Continue reading Webber: Piquet & Nakajima are no use
2008: Renault
Posted onRenault are one of the most fascinating propositions of 2008 for me. As Felipe Massa said yesterday, many expect them to struggle again in 2008: If you have to take on Alonso it’s better that he’s driving for the French team than McLaren because it seems to me that Renault aren’t at the same level … Continue reading 2008: Renault
Video: Lewis Hamilton vs Nelson Piquet Jnr vs Timo Glock
Posted onLewis Hamilton will be joined in F1 this year by rookie Nelson Piquet Jnr and Formula 1 returnee Timo Glock. These three drivers were the central characters in the epic GP2 title battle of 2006. Hamilton came out on top – but Piquet and Glock made him work hard for it and together the three … Continue reading Video: Lewis Hamilton vs Nelson Piquet Jnr vs Timo Glock
Which ‘blatantly illegal car’ won a championship?
Posted onI’ve long enjoyed Nigel Roebuck’s writings on Formula 1 and I’ll miss my weekly dose of the ‘Fifth Column’ and ‘Ask Nigel’ when he departs Autosport for Motor Sport next year. His final ‘Ask Nigels’ have been especially entertaining but this startling claim really caught my eye: Anyone in the paddock, for example, will tell … Continue reading Which ‘blatantly illegal car’ won a championship?
Speeding Hamilton joins Fisichella, Button, Montoya…
Posted onLewis Hamilton has had some unwanted negative publicity after being caught speeding in France. Although I can’t condone speeding, nor can I say ‘I’m holier than thou’ – I picked up a ticket of my own this year. Ironically enough I was returning from the Goodwood Festival of Speed at the time… Hamilton is not … Continue reading Speeding Hamilton joins Fisichella, Button, Montoya…