F1 FS

Lewis Loses Licence to Drive

2007-12-18T15:55:00.000Z

Lewis Loses Licence to Drive

"Formula One McLaren driver, Lewis Hamilton, has been banned from driving for a month."

formula1, f1, sport, motorsport

Alonso goes back to the future

2007-12-11T23:04:00.000Z

Alonso leaves McLaren and goes back to Renault.
Not that I care, but to set the record straight, anyone know how much he's getting paid or how long his contract is for? The reports seem somewhat varied. ;)

...and where's Kovalainen going? Toyota or McLaren?

formula1, f1, sport, motorsport

Spanish test times - 2009 slicks

2007-12-08T18:01:00.000Z

"BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica was the fastest man in action on Thursday at Jerez during the third day of testing at the Spanish circuit. Kubica clocked a best time of 1m 19.157s - almost two-tenths of a second quicker than the McLaren of Wednesday’s fastest runner Lewis Hamilton.

Kubica was testing for the first time on non-grooved tyres, as Bridgestone continued to evaluate slicks ahead of their possible return in 2009. The Polish driver was joined for a second day by team mate Nick Heidfeld who finished tenth quickest in the times. ...."

Full story and list of driver test times @ fomula1.com

formula1, f1, sport, motorsport

Bridgestone Report Internet Scam

2007-12-08T17:46:00.001Z

Bridgestone warning about an internet scam:

Bridgestone have become aware of a prize draw scam using the identity of Bridgestone UK. We can state categorically that this is not the activity of Bridgestone UK, Bridgestone Corporation or any of it's subsidiaries. If you have been targeted by this scam and wish to contact us please e-mail: ukcontactcentre@bridgestone.eu.
Bridgestone

formula1,f1,sport,motorsport

Renault escape penalty

2007-12-07T18:56:00.000Z

Renault have received an early Christmas present as they escape any penalty for possessing confidential McLaren technical details.
Full story @ ITV.com

formula1, f1, sport, motorsport

Regazzoni killed in road accident

2006-12-15T17:50:00.000Z

BBC | Motorsport | Formula One: "Former Grand Prix driver Gianclaudio 'Clay' Regazzoni has been killed in a road accident.

The Italian Ansa news agency said the 67-year-old Swiss, a former Ferrari driver, was killed in a collision with a lorry on a motorway near Parma.

Regazzoni won five of his 132 Grands Prix in an 11-year career, which ended when he was paralysed from the waist down in a crash at Long Beach in 1980.

Regazzoni spent five years at Ferrari and was second in the '74 championship."

[please follow the above link for full story]

Q and A With FIA President Max Mosley and Professor Burkhard G�schel

2006-11-28T12:41:00.000Z

Max Mosley: "If there is anything wrong with F1 from the point of view of TV figures, audience and that sort of thing, it hasn’t come from the discussions about regulations. It has come from other matters.
...I wouldn’t accept that the FIA and manufacturer discussions over the past five years have damaged F1. I don’t think the public takes too much notice. They are much more interested in whether Alonso did or did not impede Massa and things of that kind." Q and A With FIA President Max Mosley and Professor Burkhard G�schel

I often wonder, in these cynical days, just how high powered jobs are filled and have concluded that the primary qualification required is a total inability to empathise with "real" people.

Technorati Tags: formula 1, f1, motorsport, sport

Alex Zanardi back on the track

2006-11-26T14:41:00.000Z

Independent Online: "'I was a bit too big for the cockpit of this car, so we cut something off my legs and made me a little bit shorter. I told the guys it was a much faster job than adjusting the pedals.'"

Alex Zanardi drove a few laps in a racing car for the first time since the horrific accident which resulted in the loss of his legs.

The BMW Sauber had been specially adapted with hand controls.

Montoya moves to NASCAR - anyone else?

2006-07-15T16:00:00.000+01:00

jpmontoya :: "Juan Pablo is an exciting driver and immensely likeable character who will undoubtedly make a successful transition to the NASCAR scene," said Ron Dennis, CEO and Chairman of the McLaren Group. "We have agreed that with so many things happening in Juan Pablo's life right now, he should take some time out of the car and prepare professionally and personally for the future."

Sounds like a great idea. After another boring qualifying session today [yes ... I fell asleep ... again!!] I think I might join him.

So they tinker with the qualifying to help it along a bit but its far too little and far too late. It's screwed guys. Completely screwed!

To make matters worse we have to watch [UK TV, ... the television coverage doesn't half suck these days] Max Mosley and yet another inane interview. The sport seems to be without effective management at the moment. If the teams won't agree on things [engines], make them agree. Stop this pussyfooting around! Like it or lump it! This is an audience participation sport. If you don't have the audience you won't get the sponsorship. Fix it! It doesn't work!

Technorati Tags: f1, formula1, motorsport, NASCAR, sport

FIA Formula One survey

2006-06-25T23:16:00.000+01:00

FIA are conducting the biggest online survey ever. Take a look. Have your say!

Boring F1 + dire ITV coverage = lacklustre entertainment,
Looks like this blog will continue to be kind of quiet and mirror the F1 boredom.

Le Mans 24 hour

2006-06-18T23:32:00.001+01:00

BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Audi claim historic Le Mans win

"Emanuele Pirro, Frank Biela and Marco Werner made history by becoming the first drivers to win the Le Mans 24-hour race in a diesel-powered car.

The Audi R10 Diesel completed a record 380 laps of the La Sarthe circuit, with Pirro at the wheel for the finish.

French trio Sebastien Loeb, Eric Helary and Franck Montagny took second in the Pescarolo Judd No 17, four laps adrift.

Scotsman Allan McNish was third in the other Audi, which came in 13 laps down after suffering mechanical problems."

Technorati Tags: sport, F1, motorsport, motor racing, Audi

Monaco Grand Prix Result 2006

2006-05-28T15:31:00.000+01:00

1. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault
2. Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) McLaren-Mercedes
3. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Ferrari
4. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda
5. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari
6. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault
7. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1 lap
8. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 1 lap
10. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1 lap
11. Jenson Button (GB) Honda 1 lap
12. Christijan Albers (Ned) Midland-Toyota 1 lap
13. Scott Speed (US) Toro Rosso-Cosworth 1 lap
14. Jacques Villeneuve (Can) BMW Sauber 1 lap
15. Tiago Monteiro (Por) Midland-Toyota 2 laps
16. Franck Montagny (Fra) Super Aguri-Honda 3 laps
17 (R) Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 5 laps
Retired Christian Klien (Aut) RedBull-Ferrari 56 laps completed
Retired Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Cosworth 51 laps completed
Retired Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 50 laps
Retired Mark Webber (Aus) Williams-Cosworth 48 laps
Retired Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda 46 laps

Technorati Tags: f1, formula 1, motorsport, sport

Monaco Grand Prix in pictures

2006-05-28T09:38:00.000+01:00

BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Photo Galleries | Monaco GP in pictures

There are some great pictures of the Monaco Grand Prix over at BBC Sport.
Take a look.

Technorati Tags: f1, formula 1, motorsport, sport

Schumacher removed from pole

2006-05-27T23:54:00.000+01:00

BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | Schumacher stripped of pole spot

Michael Schumacher has been stripped of pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix and will have to start from the back of the grid in Sunday's race.

The Ferrari driver controversially beat Renault's Fernando Alonso to pole position in qualifying on Saturday.

Stewards claim that Michael Schumacher deliberately hampered other drivers and prevented successful completion of flying laps which might have ousted him from top spot. Although Schumacher denies it, it appears the growing consensus in the pit lane is that he took a dive and committed the motor racing equivalent of a professional foul... the swine!! ;)

Technorati Tags: formula 1, f1, motorsport, sport

Monaco Grand Prix Grid Positions

2006-05-27T15:33:00.000+01:00

1. Michael Schumacher Germany Ferrari
2. Fernando Alonso Spain Renault
3. Mark Webber Australia Williams
4. Kimi Raikkonen Finland McLaren
5. Giancarlo Fisichella Italy Renault
6. Juan Pablo Montoya Colombia McLaren
7. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Honda
8. Jarno Trulli Italy Toyota
9. David Coulthard Britain Red Bull
10. Jarno Trulli Italy Toyota
11. Ralf Schumacher Germany Toyota
12. Christian Klien Austria Red Bull
13. Vitantonio Liuzzi Italy Toro Rosso
14. Jenson Button Britain Honda
15. Jacques Villeneuve Canada BMW
16. Nick Heidfeld Germany BMW
17. Christijan Albers Holland Midland F1
18. Tiago Monteiro Portugal Midland F1
19. Scott Speed USA Toro Rosso
20. Takuma Sato Japan Super Aguri
21. Franck Montagny France Super Aguri
22. Felipe Massa Brazil Ferrari (crashed out in 1st qualifying)
Tags: formula1 f1 sport motorsport

F1 Drivers Championship - 2006

2006-05-14T16:20:00.000+01:00

Drivers' Standings

1 Fernando Alonso Spanish Renault 54

2 Michael Schumacher German Ferrari 39

3 Kimi Räikkönen Finnish McLaren-Mercedes 27

4 Giancarlo Fisichella Italian Renault 24

5 Felipe Massa Brazilian Ferrari 20

6 Jenson Button British Honda 16

7 Juan Pablo Montoya Colombian McLaren-Mercedes 15

8 Rubens Barrichello Brazilian Honda 8

9 Ralf Schumacher German Toyota 7

10 Nick Heidfeld German Sauber-BMW 6

10= Mark Webber Australian Williams-Cosworth 6

10= Jacques Villeneuve Canadian Sauber-BMW 6

13 Nico Rosberg German Williams-Cosworth 4

14 David Coulthard British RBR-Ferrari 1

14= Christian Klien Austrian RBR-Ferrari 1

Tags: formula1 f1 sport motorsport football

Fernando Alonso wins in front of home crowd

2006-05-14T16:13:00.000+01:00

1. ALONSO Renault
2. M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari
3. FISICHELLA Renault
4. MASSA Ferrari
5. RAIKKONEN McLaren
6. BUTTON Honda
7. BARRICHELLO Honda
8. HEIDFELD BMW
9. WEBBER Williams
10. TRULLI Toyota
11. ROSBERG Williams
12. VILLENEUVE BMW
13. KLIEN Red Bull
14. COULTHARD Red Bull
15. LIUZZI Toro Rosso
16. MONTEIRO Midland
17. SATO Super Aguri
R. ALBERS Midland
R. SPEED Toro Rosso
R. R.SCHUMACHER Toyota
R. MONTOYA McLaren
R. MONTAGNY Super Aguri

formula1 f1 sport motorsport

Fernando Alonso on pole in Spain

2006-05-13T15:03:00.000+01:00

I must admit that I missed most of qualifying today preferring instead to watch the football match between Japan and Scotland. The final score was 0-0 which meant that Scotland could claim the Kirin Cup. It wasn't a particularly inspiring match and I don't particularly enjoy football but the days of never missing Formula One qualifying, no matter where in the world I am, seem to be almost at end.

I did catch the last 15 minutes though. while wondering how many newly planted trees would be required to offset the "top ten shoot out", aka the "monotonous fossil fuel burn off".

The last few minutes pepped me up a bit though as Alonso drove an incredible pole winning lap which left Michael Schumacher the consolation of third place behind Giancarlo Fisichella. Massa drove fourth fastest with Rubens Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher fifth and sixth.

I have to dash ... the Scottish Cup Final - Hearts v Gretna - is about to kick-off.

Tags: formula1 f1 sport motorsport football

Circuit de Catalunya - Alonso tribute

2006-05-12T16:32:00.000+01:00

"Motor-sports lovers inundated the Circuit de Catalunya on the eve of the 50th Spanish Formula One Grand Prix. 32,000 fans filled the pit lane in the classical Thursday’s pit walkabout that allows race goers to take a close look at the cars, as they are being set up and pampered by the mechanics.

Fernando Alonso was the star of the day: the Circuit de Catalunya paid tribute to him with a memorial plaque that he presented himself at Champions’ Avenue, next to the plaques with the mythical names of Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell or Mick Doohan. The Spanish driver admitted that “fans will be an extra gear for me in this race” and he even threw his cap and sunglasses to the public."

Go to Circuit de Catalunya and have a wander around the circuit web site.

Tags: formula1 f1 sport motorsport

Coulthard's 200th Formula One start

2006-05-12T16:25:00.000+01:00

Good luck to David Coulthard who starts his 200th Grand Prix this weekend in Spain.

"Scotland's David Coulthard will join an elite F1 club this weekend in Spain when he starts his 200th grand prix.

The 35-year-old Red Bull Racing driver has won 13 races, had 12 pole positions and 60 podium finishes since 1994.

He was runner-up in the 2001 drivers' championship and has scored 500 points - more than any other British driver and fourth on F1's all-time list.

'I don't feel any different today to when I did my first grand prix. I love it, I love the buzz,' Coulthard said." Link - BBC SPORT

Tags: formula1 f1 sport motorsport

ITV's dire F1 coverage

2006-05-08T09:18:00.000+01:00

Bring back Jim Rosenthal and Tony Jardine!

What's going on with ITV's F1 coverage? It's dire! Steve Rider has the personality of a wet blanket and dialogue to go with it (his Ecclestone interview was embarassing - ask the right questions, man, instead of lying on your back in mutual tummy tickling!!. And Mark Blundell ... what?? One minute it's like listening to a toddler who has just learned to speak and is having trouble with his consonants, the next it's like listening to a really bad football 'pundit' with a truck load of cliches in tow. Talk about wooden tops!

The one saving grace is Martin Brundle and his starting grid walkabout. And James Allen's commentary easily outclasses the two 'frontmen'.

Ted Kravitz and Louise Goodman would make a better twosome than Rider and Blundell. In fact, I'd rather watch George and Zippy!

If ITV want to keep their viewers they really need to have a major re-think - sooner rather than later.

Tags: formula1 f1 sport motorsport

Schumacher senior wins European Grand Prix

2006-05-08T08:55:00.000+01:00

1. M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1h35m58.765s
2. ALONSO Renault +3.8s
3. MASSA Ferrari +4.4s
4. RAIKKONEN McLaren +4.9s
5. BARRICHELLO Honda +1m12.9s
6. FISICHELLA Renault +1m14.1s
7. ROSBERG Williams +1m14.6s
8. VILLENEUVE BMW +1m29.4s
9. TRULLI Toyota +1 lap
10. HEIDFELD BMW +1 lap
11. SPEED Toro Rosso +1 lap
12. MONTEIRO Midland +1 lap
13. ALBERS Midland +1 lap
R. R.SCHUMACHER Toyota +8 laps
R. MONTOYA McLaren +8 laps
R. SATO Super Aguri +15 laps
R. MONTAGNY Super Aguri +31 laps
R. BUTTON Honda +32 laps
R. KLIEN Red Bull +32 laps
R. WEBBER Williams +48 laps
R. COULTHARD Red Bull +58 laps
R. LIUZZI Toro Rosso +60 lap

Tags: formula1 f1 sport motorsport

Alonso on pole at European Grand Prix

2006-05-06T16:57:00.000+01:00

European Grand Prix Starting Grid

1. ALONSO Renault
2. M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari
3. MASSA Ferrari
4. BARRICHELLO Honda
5. RAIKKONEN McLaren
6. BUTTON Honda
7. TRULLI Toyota
8. VILLENEUVE BMW Sauber
9. MONTOYA McLaren
10. WEBBER Williams
11. R.SCHUMACHER Toyota
12. ROSBERG Williams
13. FISICHELLA Renault
14. COULTHARD Red Bull
15. HEIDFELD BMW Sauber
16. LIUZZI Toro Rosso
17. KLIEN Red Bull
18. ALBERS MF1
19. SPEED Toro Rosso
20. MONTEIRO MF1
21. SATO Super Aguri
22. MONTAGNY Super Aguri

Tags: formula1 f1 sport motorsport

Drivers want qualifying changes

2006-05-06T10:52:00.000+01:00

I said that. Change the damn qualifying. It's boring as hell at the moment.

BBC SPORT: "F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said changes could be made if teams agreed unanimously with the proposals.

'We could have these 10 drivers going out one at a time for a single flying lap like last year,' he said.

'If all the teams agree, it can be done from the next Grand Prix.'

Scotland's David Coulthard, in his role as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, will represent the drivers in the meeting."

OK, do it!! Don't talk about it! Do it!!

Tags: formula1 f1 sport motorsport

Alonso keeps pace with Schumacher

2006-05-06T10:16:00.000+01:00

"Fernando Alonso renewed his rivalry with Michael Schumacher as they swapped fastest times in Friday's free practice sessions for the European Grand Prix.

Ferrari's Schumacher was the quickest race driver in first practice at the Nurburgring circuit, but world champion Alonso hit back in the afternoon.

The Renault star narrowly pipped him by 0.040 seconds, though Schumacher remained the day's fastest race driver." BBC

Tags: formula1 f1 sport motorsport