Fernando Alonso has become the youngest ever Formula 1 world drivers champion at the age of 24.
Month: September 2005 articles archive
A1GP: Brazil to the max at Brands Hatch
Posted onNelson Piquet Jnr won both A1GP rounds at the series’ inaugural double-header at Brands Hatch. He also set fastest race lap to give the Brazilian team a maximum haul of 21 points after two rounds. Although the first ‘sprint’ race did not live up to the hype of close racing and lots of overtaking, the … Continue reading A1GP: Brazil to the max at Brands Hatch
Brazilian Grand Prix 2005 Media Review
Posted onBefore launching into this week’s media review, let us pause briefly to reflect on the magnitude of Fernando Alonso’s achievement: the youngest F1 champion ever, at just 24 years old, and the first from his country. A shame so few newspapers also paused to do him adequate justice. Unsurprisingly, the divide between the quality Formula … Continue reading Brazilian Grand Prix 2005 Media Review
Japanese Grand Prix 2005 Preview
Posted onThe Japanese Grand Prix may not decide the drivers’ championship this year, but it has done on many past occasions. Even without the thrill of the showdown the challenging Suzuka circuit is an exceptional venue, which is more than can be said for its rumoured replacement in Fuji. Fernando Alonso may be on a post-championship … Continue reading Japanese Grand Prix 2005 Preview
Alonso claims title with third behind McLarens
2005 Brazilian Grand Prix review
Posted onFernando Alonso became the F1’s youngest ever drivers’ champion by scoring his 13th podium in 17 races at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Interlagos.
2005: Highs and lows
Posted onIt was a topsy-turvy season, when political unrest spilled out onto the race tracks, teams were bought and sold like stocks and shares, and the form book was turned on its head. We recall the moments that made 2005 – for the right and wrong reasons. Lows The United States Grand Prix Reams and reams … Continue reading 2005: Highs and lows
2006 Driver line-up latest
Posted onWith Jenson Button confirmed at BAR for next year, the 2006 driver market has almost completely fallen into shape. The next major slot to be filled is the second Williams-Cosworth seat alongisde Mark Webber. Williams third driver Antonio Pizzonia is hotly tipped, although his poor working relationship with Webber at Jaguar in 2003 and recent … Continue reading 2006 Driver line-up latest
Has FIA-AMD alliance scuppered McLaren & Toyota Intel deals?
Posted onAndrew Murray-Watson in the Sunday Telegraph wrote yesterday that McLaren’s remoured USD$50m deal with Intel has been thrown into jeapordy by the FIA’s recently announced ‘strategic partnership’ with Intel rival AMD (article). A similar, smaller deal between Toyota and Intel may also now be off the table. McLaren and Toyota, as non-tobacco teams, may already … Continue reading Has FIA-AMD alliance scuppered McLaren & Toyota Intel deals?
BAR in Button buy-out
Posted onBAR have bought Jenson Button out of his 2006 Williams contract for an undisclosed sum and signed him to a mutli-year contract worth ?âÔÇÜ£10m according to Autosport (subscription required). The news has immediate and dramatic ramifications for the 2006 driver market: BAR have one of the strongest line-ups for 2006 with Jenson Button and Rubens … Continue reading BAR in Button buy-out
British Motorsport shocked by death of Park
Posted onThe British motorsport community has been shocked by the death of World Rally Championship co-driver Michael Park, partner to Estonian Peugeot driver Markko Martin. Park was killed on the third day of the British round of the WRC. Park’s death is the first fatality for a WRC competitor since 1993. Formula One’s last driver death … Continue reading British Motorsport shocked by death of Park
A1Fanatic.co.uk launched
Posted onF1Fanatic have launched sister site A1Fanatic for fans of the new A1 Grand Prix single seater series. Billed as “The World Cup of Motorsport”, A1GP starts a 12-race season at Brands Hatch on September 25th and rns mainly throughout the F1 off-season. Drivers will represent their countries and 23 nations are already signed up including … Continue reading A1Fanatic.co.uk launched
F1Fanatic Issue #28 now available
Posted onIssue 28 of F1Fanatic is now available, featuring: Brazilian Grand Prix preview: Can Alonso wrap up the championship at Interlagos? Feature: Points mean prizes. How the points system has shaped the championship battle Editorial: Countdown to A1. The all-new A1 Grand Prix series is almost upon us For all this and more visit: www.f1fanatic.co.uk
Points mean prizes
Posted onIt is virtually assured that Fernando Alonso will be the 2005 champion – if not at Brazil then in a couple of weeks’ time. He deserves it because, while he has not been the fastest driver in the class of 2005, he has been the most consistent finisher at the front end of the field. … Continue reading Points mean prizes
Countdown to A1
Posted onIn 1950 the Formula One World Championship was invented. And we looked upon it and we saw that it was good. And then we asked, ?â?ó?óÔÇÜ?¼?àÔÇ£but what shall we do during the winter??â?ó?óÔÇÜ?¼?é?Ø Happily, in 2005, it seems we finally have an answer. The A1 Grand Prix series – the ?â?ó?óÔÇÜ?¼?àÔÇ£World Cup of Motorsport?â?ó?óÔÇÜ?¼?é?Ø – … Continue reading Countdown to A1
Brazilian Grand Prix 2005 Preview
Posted onThe World Championship has never been decided in Brazil before, but there is a high chance that Fernando Alonso will become the youngest ever World Driver’s Champion at Interlagos this weekend. Fittingly, he is set to eclipse the record of Brazilian twice-champion Emerson Fittipaldi. Third place will be good enough for Alonso, even if Raikkonen … Continue reading Brazilian Grand Prix 2005 Preview
Bye-bye for pay drivers?
Posted onThe purchase of the Minardi team by Red Bull is bad news for wealthy journeymen hoping to use their capacious wallets to sneak their way into Formula One by the back door, writes Alan Baldwin of Reuters (subscription required). On the face of it this may seem like cause for cheer. If Formula One is … Continue reading Bye-bye for pay drivers?
HP drop Williams-BMW
Posted onWilliams have lost major sponsor Hewlett Packard after the technology firm cut nearly 1,000 jobs in the UK. The prior loss of engine partner BMW is believed to be the major factor, although HP’s press release does not explicitly state it. Williams had drawn acclaim for building a roster of respectable blue-chip advertisers, having decided … Continue reading HP drop Williams-BMW
Liuzzi stays on the bench
Formula 1
Posted onRed Bull’s purchase of Minardi has ended Vitantonio Liuzzi’s F1 racing for this season, and their peculiar ‘driver swap’ arrangement. Christian Klien will remain in the second RB1 for the last three rounds of the year as they try to hold off BAR for sixth in the constructor’s championship. Liuzzi is expected to get a … Continue reading Liuzzi stays on the bench
Belgian Grand Prix 2005 Media Review
Posted onTo an F1 fan, a wet race at Spa is about as good as it gets. But Fleet Street are still in love with the cricket, and ITV’s coverage was just plain awful. All eyes are on The Guardian this week with its much-vaunted launch to a new not-quite-tabloid, not-quite-broadsheet Berliner format. F1 gets an … Continue reading Belgian Grand Prix 2005 Media Review
Wet and wild
Posted onIn a world where a spot of rain brings tennis or the cricket to a halt, it is amazing that racing continues in all conditions. Today’s Belgian Grand Prix was a shining example of the perils of wet weather and changing track conditions as the drivers grappled with a slowly drying track. From club racers … Continue reading Wet and wild