Overtaking in F1 is a hotly-debated subject – particularly the view that we haven’t seen much of it this year. That isn’t necessarily the case. The video above compiles a selection of the best passes of 2009 – and there were more besides that don’t feature on there. But which driver made the best overtaking … Continue reading What was the best pass of 2009? (Video)
Month: December 2009 articles archive
F1 links: Williams chases Icelandic debt
Posted onIceland’s Glitnir ‘owes’ £10m to F1 team Williams (Daily Telegraph) "After the Icelandic banking sector collapsed last year, Glitnir bank was taken over by the Icelandic government and Williams has not received sponsorship payments since." F1 Race of the Noughties (Motor Sport Musings) Dank puts the case for the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix – which … Continue reading F1 links: Williams chases Icelandic debt
Petronas to be Mercedes title sponsor
Posted onFormer BMW and Sauber sponsor Petronas will switch its backing to Mercedes next year. The team’s official title will be the Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team.
The future of F1 Fanatic
Posted onI started F1 Fanatic at the beginning of 2005 as a hobby. At the time I never thought that within a few years it would grow into a site visited by around 200,000 people per month. But in the past few months I have felt increasingly frustrated that I don’t have enough time to do … Continue reading The future of F1 Fanatic
Briatore wields harpoon in Bernie’s card
Posted onBernie Ecclestone is not above making a wry joke with his annual Christmas cards and this year is no exception. His cartoon card features the team bosses waving goodbye to Max Mosley. Meanwhile Flavio Briatore – depicted aboard a pirate rowboat – takes aim at his yacht with a harpoon.
Button fails to improve on Top Gear lap
Posted onJenson Button failed to improve his best lap time around the Top Gear track. He set a 1’44.9 lap in the Suzuki Liana – two-tenths of a second slower than his previous effort. The track was wet whereas it had been dry for his first attempt. But his 2010 team mate Lewis Hamilton had previously … Continue reading Button fails to improve on Top Gear lap
Rome ‘has F1 race deal’ – Gazzetta
Posted onItaly’s Gazzetta dello Sport claims a deal is in place for F1 to race on the streets of Rome. It reports race organiser Maurizio Flammini has done a deal with Bernie Ecclestone. Earlier this year it emerged the venue was seeking an F1 race for 2012. A race deal for 2012 would be consistent with … Continue reading Rome ‘has F1 race deal’ – Gazzetta
£120K Cruden Hexatech racing simulator is the ultimate gift for an F1 fan
Posted onStill not sure what to buy for the F1 fan in your life? How about a full size professional racing simulator as used by F1 teams? The Cruden Hexatech promises the most convincing racing experience money can buy with realistic G-Force simulation and steering feedback. It comes with software to simulate fast lap shoot-outs, 24-hour … Continue reading £120K Cruden Hexatech racing simulator is the ultimate gift for an F1 fan
Lewis Hamilton’s last-lap championship win voted best F1 race of the 2000s
Posted onThe heart-stopping conclusion to the 2008 F1 championship – which saw Lewis Hamilton snatch the title away from Felipe Massa at the last gasp – has been voted the best F1 races of the last ten years by F1 Fanatic readers. The 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix garnered more than 40% of the votes cast. Second … Continue reading Lewis Hamilton’s last-lap championship win voted best F1 race of the 2000s
Jenson Button on Top Gear tonight
Posted onUpdate: Button fails to improve on Top Gear lap Jenson Button returns to BBC’s Top Gear tonight for the first time since winning the world championship. And it’s clear from the pictures from the show he faces a ribbing about finishing runner-up in the Sports Personality of the Year awards last week. He last appeared … Continue reading Jenson Button on Top Gear tonight
Montezemolo explains Alonso-Raikkonen switch, denies Santander link (Video)
Posted onAs well as dropping big fat hints about Michael Schumacher moving to Mercedes, Luca di Montezemolo has also responded to claims about his choice of driver line-up for 2010. He denied bring Fernando Alonso on board purely to keep new sponsor Spanish bank Santander happy: The role of Santander? Certainly, they are happy, but it … Continue reading Montezemolo explains Alonso-Raikkonen switch, denies Santander link (Video)
Luca di Montezemolo expects Michael Schumacher to join Mercedes
Posted onFerrari boss Luca di Montezemolo has given the strongest indication yet that Michael Schumacher may make a return to F1 with Mercedes next year. He said: It seems he has a twin brother, identical in every way, who seems to have it in his head to go and race in Formula 1 with Mercedes. I … Continue reading Luca di Montezemolo expects Michael Schumacher to join Mercedes
Plans for joint F1 teams launch falter
Posted onThe F1 teams’ plans to hold a joint launch at the end of January are beginning to fall apart. Tentative plans had been put in place for a single launch attended by all the F1 teams next month in Valencia, ahead of the first main test of 2010 at the nearby circuit. That is now … Continue reading Plans for joint F1 teams launch falter
F1 links: Mosley-Briatore row continues
Posted onMax Mosley statement (PDF, Autosport) “By persuading The Guardian to publish sensationalist extract from his Court submissions without any mention of the other side of the story, Britaore succeeded in using that newspaper to distract attention from his key role in one of the worst and most dangerous examples of deliberate cheating in the history … Continue reading F1 links: Mosley-Briatore row continues
Prodrive miss another chance to enter F1
Posted onRenault’s successful sale of a stake in its team to Genii Capital, to keep its team in F1, is very welcome news. But Genii were not the only company bidding to take over the team’s operation: another was David Richards’ Prodrive team. Not for the first time in recent years his attempt to acquire an … Continue reading Prodrive miss another chance to enter F1
Kamui Kobayashi joins Sauber for 2010
Posted onKamui Kobayashi will stay in F1 after being signed by Peter Sauber’s team for 2010. The Japanese driver’s F1 career was in doubt after Toyota, who backed his career for many years and gave him his F1 break, pulled out of the sport.
14 reasons to love the refuelling ban
Comment
Posted onThe F1 Sporting Working Group has been asked to come up with new ideas to “improve the show” in F1 in 2010. But the best decision to improve the show was taken this time last year. After 16 years, refuelling during the race is finally being banned. This will make F1 more exciting, easier to … Continue reading 14 reasons to love the refuelling ban
Massa completes F2007 test
F1 pictures
Posted onFelipe Massa had a final fling in a Ferrari today in what must surely be the last F1 action of 2009. He polished off another 60 laps in an F2007, concluding his two days in action at Mugello. The pictures below show how much his eye injury has healed – afterwards he talked about having … Continue reading Massa completes F2007 test
Renault keeps team in F1 for 2010 (and Red Bull will keep using their engines)
2010 F1 season
Posted onRenault has confirmed its F1 team will remain in the sport in 2010.
Updated 2010 F1 rules include new testing, engine and safety car regulations
Posted onThe FIA has published an updated version of the 2010 F1 sporting regulations. It adds many of the changes announced earlier such as the new ten-place points system and refuelling ban, as well as a few other small-but significant changes. The testing restrictions will be even tighter in 2010 and drivers who perform mutliple engine … Continue reading Updated 2010 F1 rules include new testing, engine and safety car regulations