Grand Prix Previews articles archive

The Scuderia hammered the opposition in Indianapolis, Magny-Cours and Hockenheim. Now they are bearing down upon the Hungaroring with every indication that they will continue the red-wash. Their chief opponents, Renault, have just one ray of hope to cling to: they will be able to use their mass damper system that had been banned before … Continue reading Hungarian Grand Prix 2006 Preview

Michael Schumacher is putting on a championship charge but he’s running out of time – there’s only seven races to go. He needs to do more than just beat Fernando Alonso to first place – he needs his Renault rival to drop some serious points. But fortune is on his side – Bridgestone have a … Continue reading German Grand Prix 2006 Preview

Are Ferrari fighting back or was the US Grand Prix a one-off? That’s the question on everyone’s minds entering round 11 of the 2006 season, the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours. Renault will be determined to fight back at their home circuit where Fernando Alonso won convincingly last year. But the reigning champion was beaten … Continue reading French Grand Prix 2006 Preview

Last year the Canadian Grand Prix opened up the championship battle – runaway leader Fernando Alonso failed to score and his closest rival Kimi Raikkonen claimed maximum points. What Michael Schumacher would give to do the same to reduce Alonso’s advantage this weekend. Following the Indianapolis 2005 debacle, all eyes are on the F1 circus … Continue reading Canadian Grand Prix 2006 Preview

If the pitstop battles of the last two rounds have failed to excite you, don’t expect any better at the Spanish Grand Prix. Last year the Barcelona round set up the championship battle as Kimi Raikkonen won from Fernando Alonso. Raikkonen will need a similar result this year if he is to have any hope … Continue reading Spanish Grand Prix 2006 Preview

Spaniard vs. Finn. German vs. Columbian. The Regie vs. the Scuderia. This is international sport Formula One-style and it will grace the Melbourne paddock a little later than usual this year because the city has been holding the Commonwealth Games. For those not up to speed on athletics, the Commonwealth Games is basically the Olympics, … Continue reading Australian Grand Prix Preview

Formula One enters the second round of 2006 off the back of a fantastic race in Bahrain – will we get another cracker at the Sepang International Circuit? There are plenty of questions awaiting answers after the first round – the most pressing of which being whether McLaren-Mercedes have the speed and reliability for Kimi … Continue reading Malaysian Grand Prix Preview

The most packed Grand Prix season ever finally draws to a close in Shanghai this weekend. After a successful inaugural race in 2004 the Hermann Tilke-designed venue gets the coveted end-of-season slot – but the jury’s still out on the circuit. Yes, it’s a colossal venue. Yes, the facilities are outrageously good. Yes, the ?âÔÇÜ£200m … Continue reading Chinese Grand Prix 2005 Preview

The 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

At Monza the sense of history oozes from the very tarmac. The Italian Grand Prix has been a late-season fixture since the very first Formula One World Championship and is synonymous with the thousands of Ferrari-adoring tifosi who mob the circuit every year. Last year these late races were of little importance to the championship … Continue reading Italian Grand Prix 2005 Preview

A first-time visit to a brand new circuit in a country never before visited by Formula One is always exciting. The timing of the inaugural Turkish Grand prix is perfect as the championship battle is finely poised and the outcome of the race for the three protagonists could be critical. The teams may benefit from … Continue reading Turkish Grand Prix 2005 Preview

France was not quite the reputation recovery exercise that F1 might have hoped for. Alright, nothing went wrong, but the race was rigidly dull at best. We can surely hope for better at F1’s spiritual home, Silverstone. Fast, flowing, dramatic and challenging – Silverstone is one of the best circuits in modern Formula One, a … Continue reading British Grand Prix 2005 Preview

2005 sees the sixth running of the United States Grand Prix on the Indianapolis ‘infield’ circuit and, for the first time in this period, the field of drivers will include an American. But will F1’s brave new rules win over the notoriously indifferent American audience? F1 has had a rough time in America. Although for … Continue reading United States Grand Prix 2005 Preview

So what was the big story after Monaco? The near-collapse of Renault? That stunning pass by Nick Heidfeld? Juan Pablo Montoya’s remarkable drive from 16th to 4th? Or just Kimi Raikkonen’s maiden win in the glamorous principality? If you answered, “none of the above,” then congratulations, because you kept in mind the British press’s negative … Continue reading European Grand Prix 2005 Preview

There is an air of expectation as the F1 circus heads to Monaco. Runaway championship leader Fernando Alonso is starting to look vulnerable against the might of McLaren, and he may face similarly strong opposition from Italian Monaco specialists Jarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fisichella. Kimi Raikkonen’s devastating pace sealed his Spanish Grand Prix win with … Continue reading Monaco Grand Prix 2005 Preview