Village Cinemas have confirmed with an AUSmotive reader that Senna is currently scheduled to premiere on their screens on Thursday 11 August. Previous word from Manish Pandey, the film’s writer, advised the documentary would debut in Australia on Thursday 21 July.
The note from Village indicates the dates are set by the distributor, and if we hear anything new we’ll share it with you as soon as we can.
[Thanks to David for the tip]
Today, May the first, is the anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death. Yesterday, it was Roland Ratzenberger’s anniversary. He also lost his life at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. That was 17 years ago and, thankfully, no further lives have been lost in Formula One since that devastating weekend.
Consider the impact those deaths had on the sport and the subsequent safety measures that have affected virtually all categories of motor racing hence. The now widespread use of the HANS device is perhaps the best example.
Now, imagine an era when, in F1 alone, multiple fatalaties were witnessed virtually every year. Then the impact was left on the families and friends of those who died; talk of improving safety was for chickens.
In a little over six months the Formula One calendar will see the first ever Indian Grand Prix. The world’s latest F1 track is located 25km out of New Delhi in the Buddh district. No surprise, then, to learn the new facility has been named the Buddh International Circuit.
The new racetrack is the latest to roll out from Tilke GmbH and features 16 turns over 5.141km. Expected average speed is a shade over 210km/h and the predicted lap time is around 1 minute 27 seconds.
After the break you can see Karun Chandok preview the Indian track in a clip produced late last year for circuit owners, Jaypee Sports International.
UPDATE 17 October: Click HERE for a new preview of the the Buddh International Circuit from Red Bull Racing and Mark Webber.
Great news for Robert Kubica with confirmation he has been released from hospital a few days ahead of schedule. He continues to recover well following his rally accident in February and will now spend a few days at his home in Monaco before heading to Italy to enter the next stage of his rehabilitation.
In a recent interview on the Lotus Renault GP website Kubica shared news of his progress revealing, “The mobility of my hand is limited but this is pretty normal in this kind of situation, because the connected arm muscles are still very weak due to the long period of immobility. Things are definitely improving day by day.”
[Source: Lotus Renault GP]
Here’s one story sure to make motorsport fans sit up and take notice, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation is understood to be leading a consortium that is interested in buying the controlling rights for Formula One.
It’s very early stages and the word comes from someone close to the News Corp group. Although, when asked for an official comment News Corp has kept quiet. So has Bernie Ecclestone, the sport’s current leading man.
Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, currently involved with the Sauber F1 team through his Telmex company, is also understood be on side with the News Corp consortium. Hmm, could be interesting times ahead, watch this space.
[Source: Reuters UK]
Still buzzing after the excitement of the Chinese Grand Prix? We reckon Lewis Hamilton probably is after he managed break the grip Sebastian Vettel was starting to force on the 2011 Formula One season.
Here’s 90 pics to help you relive all the action.
Jenson Button took centre stage yesterday in one of the more bizarre incidents in Formula One history. Well, actually, what he took was Sebastian Vettel’s parking spot when the two drivers came in to pit during the Chinese Grand Prix.
As world champion constructor Red Bull Racing has the first garage in pit lane. McLaren, Button’s team, has the next garage down. So, when Button and Vettel raced into pitlane mechanics, from both teams were out waiting for their drivers. Button charged straight into the Red Bull spot, paused a little, was frantically waved on by Red Bull’s lollipop man, and then moved ahead to his McLaren bay a few metres ahead. Vettel seemed unfazed and the Red Bull team reacted with precision by sending out their man ahead of Button.
So, did Button simply make a rookie error? Was it a devious ploy to distract his rival team? Or has Button (not so) secretly revealed his wish to drive for Red Bull Racing?
While you can, check out the clip after the break.
[Pic: twitpic via @keithdaltons]
Lewis Hamilton has finally broken the early season dominance of Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing to post a first race win for McLaren at today’s Chinese Grand Prix. It was a race for the ages thanks to a mix of tyre strategies that kept everyone guessing right to the chequered flag.
Vettel ran a two-stop strategy and despite a poor start where he lost track position to both McLarens he looked set for a third race win to start the 2011 Formula One season. The young German held his lead following the final round of stops for drivers opting for a three-stop strategy. However, the much talked about tyre degradation finally had an impact and allowed Hamilton to use his fresher tyres to dramatically cut Vettel’s lead. Ultimately, Vettel could not match Hamilton’s late race pace and had to settle for second.
Meanwhile, Mark Webber also ended the race in spectacular fashion taking his RB7 from a lowly 18th on the starting grid to claim what must be one of his most satisfactory podiums in his long F1 career. Webber began his race on the harder tyres and had made few inroads when he came in for the first of his three planned pit stops. With completely fresh soft tyres at his disposal for the rest of the race his prospects began to improve and it was the Australian’s final stint that stole the show.
Webber carved through the field lapping up to two seconds per lap faster than those ahead. Fourth place looked to be his most likely result. However, after despatching Nico Rosberg the third placed McLaren of Jenson Button was looking vulnerable. And so it proved with Webber passing Button on the second last lap.
The race was also notable for there being only one retirement; Jaime Alguersuari had a wheel fall off shortly after his first tyre change. In fact, the field of 23 race finishers set a new F1 record. Also making waves in the first round of stops was race-leader Jenson Button who stopped one pit garage early at the Red Bull team, only to be waved on to his rightful spot one spot further down pit lane.
A complete list of race results can be seen HERE. The full transcript from the post-race press conference featuring the first three drivers can be read after the break.
[Pic: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes]
Sebastian Vettel can do no wrong, it would seem, as he claimed a third pole position for the year with alarming ease. His Red Bull Racing teammate, Mark Webber, can do nothing right. Meanwhile, McLaren pair Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton are left to fight over Vettel’s scraps.
The 2010 world champion saved his best for Q3 in China yesterday and posted a time of 1:33.706. Jenson Button, in second, was over seven tenths further back with a best lap of 1:34.421. That was just enough to keep him ahead of Hamilton, who could only manage 1:34.463, despite running one extra quick lap in the final session.
Webber, still plagued by failing KERS issues, did not make it past Q1 and will start the race from 18th on the grid. Webber and Red Bull chose to run the first quali session using only the hard tyres. The team felt they had enough pace to get through and conserve the softs, which are around one second per lap quicker around the Shanghai circuit.
A full list of qualifying results can be seen HERE. The full post-qualifying press conference transcript is available after the break.
[Pic: Red Bull Racing/Getty Images]
UPDATE: Autosport has a good article with Mark Webber discussing his woes so far this weekend.
Already the 2011 Formula One season is looking like it could be a Sebastian Vettel procession. Thankfully, there’s still another 17 races to go; with any luck someone else will get a look in very soon. This weekend in China, perhaps?
Until then, here’s 78 images from the Malaysian Grand Prix to keep you busy.
Another commanding display when it mattered most has seen Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) claim his second Grand Prix victory of the year in Malaysia today. Most pundits wouldn’t have been surprised by first place, but seeing Jenson Button (McLaren) and Nick Heidfeld (Renault) take the minor placing probably raised a few eyebrows.
The Red Bull cars were again affected by their troublesome KERS. For Mark Webber, the frustration emerged immediately when his KERS failed on his way to the grid. Subsequently he made a poor start and was mid-pack after the first few corners. That he managed to climb his way back to fourth place should be commended.
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) and Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) have been slugged with a 20 second penalty after the race by stewards as a result of an incident between the pair early in the race. Alonso was lucky enough that the penalty did not affect his sixth placing. However, Hamilton has moved from seventh back to eighth, promoting Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber).
The full transcript from the post-race press conference featuring the first three drivers across the line can be read after the break.
[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) has nailed his third pole position in a row. The young German finished qualifying at the Sepang circuit with a best time of 1:34.870, one tenth faster than Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) who’s quickest lap was 1:34.974.
Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing) could only manage the third fastest lap (1:35.179), despite regularly heading the time sheets during practice.
Crucially for Vettel and Webber they will start the race on the right side of the track. Previously pole position in Malaysia has been on the left side and has been changed at the request of the drivers who think the switch will offer better grip at the start.
The full transcript from the post-quali press conference can be read after the break.
[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]