For years F1 fans asked this question: “Who will finally beat Michael Schumacher?” Finally the answer came: Fernando Alonso. The 2006 season was unquestionably the high point of Fernando Alonso’s career. With a car that, on balance, no more than matched Schumacher’s Ferrari over the year, he beat the seven-times champion at his own game. … Continue reading Fernando Alonso: the driver debates
Month: July 2008 articles archive
Max Mosley wins News of the World case
Posted onMax Mosley has won £60,000 compensation in his case against the News of the World for invasion of privacy. However the FIA President failed in his bid to extract exemplary punitive damages from the newspaper.
The Ben Evans column: Perfect day
Posted onSunday was one of those rare occasions when it was almost impossible to find fault with motorsport. F1 produced its best dry weather race for some time (even if the safety car helped) and the US Moto GP was the best the series has produced for some years.
Sharing the British Grand Prix – nice idea but not economically sound
Posted onThe moving of the British Grand Prix from Silverstone to Donington Park in 2010 was discussed in Parliament yesterday. Mark Lancaster, MP for North East Milton Keynes, had this to say: Although I realise that this is not a matter directly for the Government, the Minister concerned has recently had meetings with Bernie Ecclestone. All … Continue reading Sharing the British Grand Prix – nice idea but not economically sound
Win “Life behind Lewis” DVDs
Posted onHere’s an exclusive competition for F1 Fanatic readers to win one of five “Life behind Lewis” DVDs in an exclusive competition. Simply email your answer to the question below to be in with a chance of winning. You can read a review of “Life behind Lewis” here.
Pat Symonds: exclusive interview
Posted onPat Symonds, executive director of engineering at Renault, was at the British Motor Show yesterday and I managed to get a brief five minute one-to-one chat with him. He shared his thoughts on Fernando Alonso’s return to the team, Nelson Piquet Jnr’s drive to a surprise second at Hockenheim last weekend, and the team’s technical … Continue reading Pat Symonds: exclusive interview
KERS causing problems for F1 teams
Posted onThe new-for-2009 Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) are starting to make their first appearances on F1 test machinery. However two teams have run into early problems with the devices. First Red Bull suffered a fire at their factory while working on the systems. And today a BMW mechanic got an electric shock while testing the … Continue reading KERS causing problems for F1 teams
Grand Prix Legends hit out at state of F1
Posted onAnyone who’s shopped for F1 clothing, a model Formula 1 car or some other kind of memorabilia will likely have heard of Grand Prix Legends. Their adverts have been running on this site for some time. Their new catalogue dropped through my letter box today and I was surprised to see they’d given over five … Continue reading Grand Prix Legends hit out at state of F1
F1 blogs & more: Mansell comeback?
Posted onA round up of highlights from F1 blogs and other sites including: Is Nigel Mansell about to make another comeback to international motor sport? How would the 1994 season have ended if Ayrton Senna hadn’t been killed? And why is Ralf Schumacher struggling so badly in the DTM?
“Life Behind Lewis” (DVD)
Posted onThe tidal wave of books and DVDs on Lewis Hamilton that burst forth last year has eased to a trickle. Now one of the better efforts at a documentary about Britain’s most unavoidable F1 star has made it onto DVD. But although Hamilton’s name and face are plastered across the front of the package, the … Continue reading “Life Behind Lewis” (DVD)
McLaren’s technical innovations have put the MP4/23 ahead of the pack
Posted onMcLaren have made a clear step forward in performance in the last two races and Ferrari have struggled to compete. What has made McLaren so competitive all of a sudden? Like every other team they constantly develop their car through the season but three particular changes seem to have made a significant different: a new … Continue reading McLaren’s technical innovations have put the MP4/23 ahead of the pack
2008 German GP Facts & Stats
Posted onThe 2008 German Grand Prix saw the youngest ever podium. Plus Kimi Raikkonen failed to match the record for most consecutive fastest lap, while Nick Heidfeld goes after the record of most consecutive finishes. More stats and facts from the German Grand Prix below.
Ryan Briscoe takes second win of 2008 at Mid-Ohio (Indy Car)
Posted onRyan Briscoe won for Penske at Mid-Ohio in a hectic race that started on a wet track. Briscoe started second alongside Helio Castroneves but dropped back early on as Justin Wilson and Scott Dixon passed him. But with a few laps the drivers were switxhing to slick tyres and the two that changed earliest – … Continue reading Ryan Briscoe takes second win of 2008 at Mid-Ohio (Indy Car)
Hamilton wins despite strategy blunder
2008 German Grand Prix review
Posted onLewis Hamilton was dominating the German Grand Prix until a safety car appearance threw his race into disarray.
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?
Timo Glock crashes but is unhurt (video)
Posted onTimo Glock escaped this major crash in the German Grand Prix without serious injury: Glock lost control of his car on lap 36 after an apparent right-rear suspension failure. It happened at the exit of the final corner, where drivers have been running wide all weekend.
Championship positions after the German German Prix
Posted onLewis Hamilton takes a four-point lead in the drivers’ championship with his win in the German Grand Prix. Felipe Massa is second ahead of team mate Kimi Raikkonen. Ferrari remain the team to beat in the constructors’ championship but McLaren have closed to within four points of second-placed BMW. And the battle for fourth place … Continue reading Championship positions after the German German Prix
Rate the race: German Grand Prix
Posted onPantano wins after Grosjean penalised; Chandhok takes sprint win (GP2)
Posted onRomain Grosjean drove an excellent race at the Hockenheimring to beat Giorgio Pantano to the chequered flag. Grosjean followed Pantano closesly throughout the race and took advantage of a heavy shower late in the race to overtake the championship leader. But on the following lap he overtook the lapped Marko Asmer under a yellow flag. … Continue reading Pantano wins after Grosjean penalised; Chandhok takes sprint win (GP2)
German GP: thoughts on the start
Posted onMcLaren’s strong qualifying positions puts them in the perfect place to take control of the German Grand Prix. What can Ferrari do to stop them? Here are some thoughts on how the first corner might play out.