Archive for the ‘Formula 1’ Category

Mercedes’ shareholder wants to quit F1

Ingo Speich, a fund manager from the Daimler shareholder Union Investment, has called on Mercedes to quit Formula One. According to Speich the three-pointed star has lost ground to its closest rivals Audi and BMW, “Mercedes is no longer the measure of all things in the premium sector,” he told Die Presse. Speich aired his [...]

Bahrain GP: “We’re all hoping the FIA calls it off”

An unnamed F1 team principal has said the teams don’t want to race in Bahrain later this month. The Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled for 22 April, the weekend after the Chinese GP. The unidentified team boss told The Guardian: “I feel very uncomfortable about going to Bahrain. If I’m brutally frank, the only way [...]

Honouring Gilles Villeneuve

Gilles Villeneuve would be 62 if he were still alive today. He was just 32 when he died, succumbing to injuries sustained during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder. Given the reverence with which he is remembered, Villeneuve Sr had a modest F1 record. Just 67 race starts and six wins. Incredibly [...]

Pressure to postpone Bahrain race increases

Ongoing protests calling for the cancellation of the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix have made the FIA sit up and take notice. An FIA spokesperson has said the organisation is keeping a close eye on events in the troubled Kingdom. “We are in daily touch with the highest authorities, the main European embassies and of course [...]

Argentina preparing for F1 return in 2013

The coastal city of Mar del Plata in Argentina, about 400km south of Buenos Aires, is preparing to host an F1 Grand Prix next year. It’s expected the race will slot into the void left by Korea which is set to be scrapped from the 2013 calendar amid financial concerns. Speaking to Italy’s Autosprint magazine, [...]

Genii terminates Lotus F1 sponsorship deal

The seemingly ongoing saga of the Lotus name in Formula One has been sent down a new path following news the Genii Capital-owned F1 team has terminated its sponsorship agreement with Group Lotus. Back in January owner of Group Lotus, Proton, underwent a significant change in structure after the Malaysian Government sold its 42.7% stake [...]

Red Bullies

Following the Sebastian Vettel v Narain Karthikeyan hissy fits we were intrigued to learn that Red Bull Racing have up the ante a little. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has revealed they have sent a warning to Marussia and HRT. “We have told our team manager to talk to both Marussia and HRT about getting [...]

If in doubt, flat out!

We thank Motorsport Retro for bringing our attention to this video of much loved Colin McRae at the wheel of the Jordan 196 F1 car (it’s actually a really nice looking car too). McRae was at the peak of his powers at the time, coming off his 1995 WRC title win and seemed to enjoy [...]

Reports of protest death in Bahrain ahead of Grand Prix

Sadly we bring news of more trouble in Bahrain, less than three weeks from its scheduled return to the Formula One calendar. UK newspaper The Telegraph reports of a youth being killed by Bahraini police after being shot in the leg while protesting in the Shia village of Salmabad. While ESPN F1 says the fatal [...]

Aussie Chris Hemsworth to play James Hunt

Chris Hemsworth, former Australian soapie star and Thor leading man, will play James Hunt in Ron Howard’s F1 movie Rush. From a physical likeness point of view it’s not a bad match. Let’s hope he does the loveable rogue character of James Hunt well. It’d be a great role to play, that’s for sure! German [...]

2012 Malaysian GP: Post-race press conference

The transcript from the official post-race press conference at the Malaysian Grand Prix can be read after the break, with thanks to the FIA. Fernando Alonso now leads the drivers’ championship from Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. McLaren heads the constructors’ race from Red Bull and Ferrari. [Pic: Ferrari]

Fernando Alonso wins 2012 Malaysian GP

Fernando Alonso has put a miserable winter behind him and the Ferrari team to win a rain-affected Malaysian Grand Prix. More amazingly it was a race that probably should have been won by the car in second place, the Sauber of Sergio Perez. That’s right Perez finished second! Lewis Hamilton, who led the early stages [...]

2012 Malaysian GP: Qualifying report

Two races, two pole positions. That’s Lewis Hamilton’s record for McLaren so far in 2012 after he set the fastest time (1:36.219) in qualifying tonight at the Malaysian Grand Prix. Proving the McLarens are the team to beat in quali Jenson Button (1:36.368) locked out the front row for the Woking-based team. And in his [...]