Jump to content

Search the Community

Showing results for tags 'formula 1'.



More search options

  • Search By Tags

    Type tags separated by commas.
  • Search By Author

Content Type


Categories

  • Articles
    • Forum Integration
    • Frontpage
  • Pages
  • Miscellaneous
    • Databases
    • Templates
    • Media

Forums

  • Cars
    • General Car Discussion
    • Tips and Resources
  • Aftermarket
    • Accessories
    • Performance and Tuning
    • Cosmetics
    • Maintenance & Repairs
    • Detailing
    • Tyres and Rims
    • In-Car-Entertainment
  • Car Brands
    • Japanese Talk
    • Conti Talk
    • Korean Talk
    • American Talk
    • Malaysian Talk
    • China Talk
  • General
    • Electric Cars
    • Motorsports
    • Meetups
    • Complaints
  • Sponsors
  • Non-Car Related
    • Lite & EZ
    • Makan Corner
    • Travel & Road Trips
    • Football Channel
    • Property Buzz
    • Investment & Financial Matters
  • MCF Forum Related
    • Official Announcements
    • Feedback & Suggestions
    • FAQ & Help
    • Testing

Blogs

  • MyAutoBlog

Find results in...

Find results that contain...


Date Created

  • Start

    End


Last Updated

  • Start

    End


Filter by number of...

Joined

  • Start

    End


Group


  1. Formula 1 will race in Miami this week in what will be the first of 2 F1 races in the United States this season. Formula 1 has grown tremendously in the United States and in 2020 we will see 3 races on the calendar with the addition of Las Vegas. Some fans think 3 races in the states is too much, and we should prioritise other race tracks and expand to other countries. Some don't like the race track, or the fake marina which has been set up. In this video i'll explain why Miami gets so much hate and criticism, but also why you should definitely give it a chance. Enjoy!
  2. Source: https://www.gearpatrol.com/cars/a38402676/formula-1-18-inch-wheels/ Pirelli is one of the biggest names in tires. Pirelli tires feature prominently in our best all-terrain and best-winter tire buying guides; Pirelli makes the stock treads for everything from the Pagani Huayra supercar to the Rivian R1T pickup. Sure, Pirelli doesn't produce the world's premier restaurant guide or sponsor the pre-eminent non-rigid airship, butut even if you know nothing about tires, you may have heard the name Pirelli because of one factor: their sponsorship of Formula 1. Whoever wins the F1 title in 2022 will do so on Pirelli tires, and sport a Pirelli hat on the podium. And it's Pirelli that will spearhead one of the sport's biggest historical changes for the 2022 season. Formula 1 is abandoning its 13-inch wheels — the standard for decades — for 18-inch ones. Moving to bigger wheels is not a change that teams, in particular, were itching to make. The lower profile tires force designers to rethink not just suspensions but almost every other part of the car. But there are some compelling reasons Pirelli and F1 have decided to go that route. The new wheels are important for branding F1 and Pirelli sell the sport as the pinnacle of automotive performance. But for that to work, that performance has to resonate with the broader automotive world. Pirelli got involved with F1 to sell its tires, and the sport has increased its profile, particularly in the eastern part of the world. The new 18-inch wheels look far more like the performance tires they sell than the dated 13-inch wheels with chunky tires and a potbellied sidewall. Not looking dated is also important for Formula 1. For Mario Isola, Pirelli Motorsport's head of F1 and car racing, shifting to 18-inch wheels is also part of a comprehensive effort to update the sport's image. "Why the change? I believe it’s part of the process that Liberty Media started a few years ago to give an image to Formula 1 – a more modern image," Isola said. The new wheels help Pirelli develop road tires Pirelli argues that F1 is not just a banding gambit, it's vital to their testing and development for their road tires. Knowledge learned at the extreme limits in Formula 1 trickles down into their consumer product, and moving to 18 inches — far closer in shape to the tire they would sell for a Ferrari — makes that testing even more valuable. "Racing at this level pushes innovation," Pirelli's R&D head Piero Misani said. "And what we can experiment in the world of racing is immediately transferred." Formula 1 helps Pirelli in a few key areas. One is developing tires for electric cars. EVs are heavier than combustion cars, F1 cars are not — but the extreme downforce they generate can replicate the increased load heavy EVs put on tires. "The downforces coming from Formula 1 are by far the highest you could have in any car competition," Misani said. "What in Formula 1 is downforce is, in the electric vehicle extra weight. High load capacity. But the mechanism is the same." F1 is particularly important for testing materials when constructing a tire. The most advanced polymers and grip-enhancing resins often get their start in F1 before ending up in road cars. Pirelli also learns a great deal for its tires when it comes to rain performance. One of the reasons F1 cars can go racing in the wet (most of the time) is they displace an incredible amount of water with a limited tread profile. F1 has also dramatically enhanced Pirelli's development process, as the sport uses some of the world's most advanced virtualization technology. Virtual tire development that started in racing is now critical to Pirelli development with OEM manufacturers. And it leads to better tires. "With virtualization you have a clear understanding of the change you made and the effect you get," Misani said. "You become faster, cheaper — but also cleverer." The new wheels may make F1 racing better...potentially Pirelli believes its new 2022 tires will address many of the drivers' complaints about the current tires — inconsistency and overheating. This should create an environment to help the drivers — not the tires — be the center of attention. "Tires next year will be more consistent," Isola said. "We tried to design a new family of compounds with a different concept, with less overheating, with a wider working range. The potential risk is that we have the majority of the races on one stop because of the characteristics of the tire." But Isola says that less tire-strategy-dominating races would not necessarily be a bad thing. "This doesn’t mean that races will be boring or worse because of that," Isola said. "If we have action on track and drivers that are pushing and they overtake each other, that is good for the show. So this is exactly what we want to see. It is not that two-stop or one-stop is making the race better or worse." One note of caution Isola offers is that the new 18-inch wheels have not been tested on the 2022 cars yet — because those cars don't yet exist. Much of the testing was performed on retrofitted 2019 cars. So we won't know the true characteristics until they officially get on track.
  3. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.formula-1-announce-seven-year-singapore-grand-prix-extension.rhAyCx0iHLvIIWaC7F7Iz.html F1 will therefore continue to visit the city of Singapore from 2022 to 2028 inclusive, after a multi-year extension was agreed between Singapore GP Pte Ltd (SGP), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and Formula 1. Although it's been two years since the Singapore Grand Prix, first held in 2008, has taken place – due to the global pandemic – the event will return in 2022 as part of this 23-race season. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- F1 VTL? Set up the F1 Village as a quarantine zone lol. Visitors cannot leave the F1 Village and locals have to check themselves into the F1 Village for the entire weekend too and quarantine themselves thereafter for the next seven days. Lol. TADA. My masterplan.
  4. Source: https://www.gearpatrol.com/cars/a38402676/formula-1-18-inch-tires/ Pirelli is one of the biggest names in tires. Pirelli tires feature prominently in our best all-terrain and best-winter tire buying guides; Pirelli makes the stock treads for everything from the Pagani Huayra supercar to the Rivian R1T pickup. Sure, Pirelli doesn't produce the world's premier restaurant guide or sponsor the pre-eminent non-rigid airship, butut even if you know nothing about tires, you may have heard the name Pirelli because of one factor: their sponsorship of Formula 1. As of this story's writing, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are battling for the F1 title over the final races. But whoever wins will do so on Pirelli tires, and sport a Pirelli hat on the podium. And it's Pirelli that will spearhead one of the sport's biggest historical changes for the 2022 season. Formula 1 is abandoning its 13-inch wheels — the standard for decades — for 18-inch ones. Moving to bigger wheels is not a change that teams, in particular, were itching to make. The lower profile tires force designers to rethink not just suspensions but almost every other part of the car. But there are some compelling reasons Pirelli and F1 have decided to go that route. The new wheels are important for branding F1 and Pirelli sell the sport as the pinnacle of automotive performance. But for that to work, that performance has to resonate with the broader automotive world. Pirelli got involved with F1 to sell its tires, and the sport has increased its profile, particularly in the eastern part of the world. The new 18-inch wheels look far more like the performance tires they sell than the dated 13-inch wheels with chunky tires and a potbellied sidewall. Not looking dated is also important for Formula 1. For Mario Isola, Pirelli Motorsport's head of F1 and car racing, shifting to 18-inch wheels is also part of a comprehensive effort to update the sport's image. "Why the change? I believe it’s part of the process that Liberty Media started a few years ago to give an image to Formula 1 – a more modern image," Isola said. The new wheels help Pirelli develop road tires Pirelli argues that F1 is not just a banding gambit, it's vital to their testing and development for their road tires. Knowledge learned at the extreme limits in Formula 1 trickles down into their consumer product, and moving to 18 inches — far closer in shape to the tire they would sell for a Ferrari — makes that testing even more valuable. "Racing at this level pushes innovation," Pirelli's R&D head Piero Misani said. "And what we can experiment in the world of racing is immediately transferred." Formula 1 helps Pirelli in a few key areas. One is developing tires for electric cars. EVs are heavier than combustion cars, F1 cars are not — but the extreme downforce they generate can replicate the increased load heavy EVs put on tires. "The downforces coming from Formula 1 are by far the highest you could have in any car competition," Misani said. "What in Formula 1 is downforce is, in the electric vehicle extra weight. High load capacity. But the mechanism is the same." F1 is particularly important for testing materials when constructing a tire. The most advanced polymers and grip-enhancing resins often get their start in F1 before ending up in road cars. Pirelli also learns a great deal for its tires when it comes to rain performance. One of the reasons F1 cars can go racing in the wet (most of the time) is they displace an incredible amount of water with a limited tread profile. F1 has also dramatically enhanced Pirelli's development process, as the sport uses some of the world's most advanced virtualization technology. Virtual tire development that started in racing is now critical to Pirelli development with OEM manufacturers. And it leads to better tires. "With virtualization you have a clear understanding of the change you made and the effect you get," Misani said. "You become faster, cheaper — but also cleverer." The new wheels may make F1 racing better...potentially Pirelli believes its new 2022 tires will address many of the drivers' complaints about the current tires — inconsistency and overheating. This should create an environment to help the drivers — not the tires — be the center of attention. "Tires next year will be more consistent," Isola said. "We tried to design a new family of compounds with a different concept, with less overheating, with a wider working range. The potential risk is that we have the majority of the races on one stop because of the characteristics of the tire." But Isola says that less tire-strategy-dominating races would not necessarily be a bad thing. "This doesn’t mean that races will be boring or worse because of that," Isola said. "If we have action on track and drivers that are pushing and they overtake each other, that is good for the show. So this is exactly what we want to see. It is not that two-stop or one-stop is making the race better or worse." One note of caution Isola offers is that the new 18-inch wheels have not been tested on the 2022 cars yet — because those cars don't yet exist. Much of the testing was performed on retrofitted 2019 cars. So we won't know the true characteristics until they officially get on track.
  5. From 18 September 2019 to 24 September 2019, a series of highway closures in the Marina Centre district will be held to promote the establishment and dismantling of race infrastructure. The 12th edition of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix will take place from Sept 20 to 22. The road closures will take effect at 12.01 am on Sep 18 to facilitate the set-up of race infrastructure, and will go on until 5.30 am on Sept 24. Affected roads will be progressively re-opened after the race to enable earlier traffic access, added LTA. During this period, road corridors will be open at selected hours: Those driving can access the Marina Centre area via a single lane along Raffles Boulevard via Nicoll Highway or Temasek Boulevard (except for buses and vehicles with W, X and Y plates) from 12 am to 1 pm on Sep 21 and 22. Taxis will be able to use the single-lane access at all times, except when the race is on. Traffic wardens will be on-site to direct traffic and assist the public, while directional signs will also be put up in the area. Car parks at the nearby Suntec City, Millenia Walk and Marina Square will remain open. MRT HOURS EXTENDED ON RACE DAYS MRT operating hours will be extended on race days (Sep 20 to 22), LTA said. Select feeder buses services will also be extended to match the last train services. Free shuttle buses will be available between Lavender MRT station and Gate 1 of the circuit park on race days. These will run from 2.30pm to 12.30am on Sep 20 and 21, and from 3.30pm and 12.45am on Sep 22.
  6. Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has a go in the new Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R at Goodwood. Interestingly, he chooses to go sideways up the hill. We have no idea why he did so but instead of going flat out on the hillclimb, Ricciardo choses to go sliding with the handbrake at relatively low speeds. We are sure he is having fun and we are also pretty sure the rear tyres is going to have a few flat spots after this peculiar run. As for the car, it is the current record holder at the Nurburgring for the fastest production front-wheel drive car and compared to the Megane R.S. Trophy, the Trophy-R is 130kg lighter and with 296bhp, the car will complete the century sprint in 5.4 seconds. It tops out at 262km/h and is only available with a six-speed manual gearbox.
  7. Mick Schumacher, son of multiple Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher, got his first taste of a Formula 1 car recently at the Bahrain International Circuit. As reported by BBC Sport, the 20-year old Schumacher drove Ferrari’s 2019 car, the SF90, throughout the day and set the second fastest lap, being beaten only by Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen. He did a total of 56 laps and set a best time of 1 minute 29.976 seconds on the softest and fastest tires available. In comparison, he was 2.11 seconds slower than Charles Leclerc's pole position time on Saturday. “I really enjoyed today. It felt like home in the garage from the very first moment with a lot of people that know me since I was very young. “The SF90 is incredible because of the power it has, but it is also smooth to drive, and that’s why I enjoyed myself so much. I was impressed by the braking power an F1 car has. It seemed to me you could brake later and later and the car would have made the turn anyway.” Schumacher also made his Formula Two debut at the same circuit over the weekend and got to drive Alfa Romeo’s 2019 car during the third day of Bahrain testing.
  8. no more AMDL grid girls ... you took away the orgasmistic V8 sound and now the girls too ... what-the-fish ... pretty sure will flip prata later let's call a spade a spade big neh neh + long legs + sports car = perfect formula it's not a disrespect to girl ... it's a RESPECT ... guys knee went soft ... lol
  9. For just over S$2 million, you can have Nick Heidfeld's 2006 BMW Sauber F1 which comes standard with a working 2.4-litre V8 race engine. Sold by Dubizzle Dubai, the Formula 1 car is reported to be in mint condition. While the price might be very steep as a weekend track toy, you can be pretty sure no one would turn up in a similar car at any track day.
  10. FW37 Look a little like the MP4-29. Ugly. This VJM08 is a beauty. Nose does look like last year Caterham's facelift version.
  11. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/30336569 And they will use the 7-speed DSG in the F1 cars, just to prove that there is nothing wrong with the GB and what a marketing campaign it will be! Once and for all wipe out the myth about the reliability issues of the DSG. I'm so proud to be driving a VW !!
  12. As most of you might have heard, Michael Schumacher is no longer in a coma and has left the French hospital where he had been receiving treatment after being involved in a skiing accident last year. “Michael has left the CHU Grenoble to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma anymore,” said a statement from spokeswoman Sabina Kehm. The former Formula One world champion has now been admitted to the University Hospital of Lausanne in western Switzerland. “He is here, he arrived this morning,” Darcy Christen, spokesman for the hospital said. Mr Christen declined to say what unit Schumacher, who lives with his family in a town between Lausanne and Geneva, he was being treated in, citing medical secrecy and family privacy. The former Formula One world champion was placed in an induced coma after undergoing two separate operations to remove blood clots from his brain following the accident on December 29th. The German, who won a record 91 Grand Prix victories and left motor racing last year after a disappointing three-year comeback, hit his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in the French Alps resort of Meribel. “For the future we ask for understanding that his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye,” the brief statement said of Schumacher, who turned 45 earlier this year. Schumacher initially required surgery to remove a haematoma from his brain, but despite its success, he was kept in a coma under sedation. Official reports after the initial frenzy surrounding Schumacher’s status have been few and far between, prompting a number of scare stories regarding his future. Prior to today the last update on Schumacher’s condition had been in early April, when a statement was released saying Schumacher was showing “moments of consciousness”. The time in between without any further statement, however, had again raised questions as to whether Schumacher would ever make a complete recovery. Those doubts will continue to remain, with no other information provided with regards to his health. Schumacher’s family, however, have again offered their sincere gratitude to all those who have played a part in the process over the past five and a half months. The statement added: “His family would like to explicitly thank all his treating doctors, nurses and therapists in Grenoble, as well as the first aiders at the place of the accident, who did an excellent job in those first months. “The family also wishes to thank all the people who have sent Michael all the many good wishes. We are sure it helped him. Agencies
  13. While we all know that this year's Formula One 1.6-litre V6 Turbo power units have been criticised for being too soft in terms of volume, some people prefer the quieter and more defined engine note. However, it seems that the FIA, F1's governing body, has decided that the cars need more noise. And Mercedes is possibly the first one with a solution - a flared 'megaphone' exhaust. Sadly, early reports indicate that the new exhaust does not make much of a difference to the volume of the engine.
  14. The Formula One Singapore Grand Prix is set to soar to new heights, with Singapore Airlines (SIA) coming on board as its new title sponsor. In an announcement made at its Training Centre along Upper Changi Road East on Tuesday morning, the national carrier confirmed the two-year naming rights deal that will run through the 2015 race. Said Singapore Airlines CEO Mr Goh Choon Phong: "We are thrilled to be taking up the title sponsorship of one of the most exciting races on the F1 calendar, and we are especially pleased to be doing so in the lead up to Singapore's 50th birthday next year. "Singapore Airlines has always supported the development of both sports and tourism. Through our involvement with the world's first F1 night race we will be able to enhance both for the benefit of Singaporeans and visitors alike." Added Formula One Group CEO Mr Bernie Ecclestone: "We are very happy to have Singapore Airlines join the Formula One family by becoming the title sponsor of the extremely popular Formula One Singapore Grand Prix... and demonstrates Singapore's forward thinking, an attribute Singapore Airlines has always achieved." The deal sees SIA take over naming rights of the sport's first night race from SingTel. Since its inaugural 2008 edition, the Singapore Grand Prix has come under the title sponsorship of the local telco, who paid a reported US$10 million (S$12.47 million) each year for the privilege. Singapore forks out approximately $150 million to host each edition of the race - 40 per cent of which is borne by organiser Singapore GP, while the Government co-funds the remaining 60 per cent. In return, the Republic earns an average of $150 million in incremental tourism receipts annually. This year's race - the seventh under the lights of the Marina Bay Street Circuit - will be held from Sept 19-21.
  15. A manager for Michael Schumacher has revealed some good news about the condition of the injured Formula One legend, saying in a statement that Schumacher has started showing some moments of consciousness. "Michael is making progress on his way," Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm said in the statement. "He shows moments of consciousness and awakening." Kehm added that Schumacher's family remain confident but are hesitant to disclose further details due to privacy and to ensure the medical team can work in full calmness. The latest statement is the second morsel of positive news to emerge since Schumacher’s tragic skiing accident at a French resort on December 29, 2013, where the winner of seven F1 titles sustained serious injury to the right side of his head after falling and hitting a rock. Last month, Schumacher’s family released a statement saying they saw “small, encouraging signs.” Schumacher, 45, is being treated at Grenoble University Hospital Center in France where he was put in an induced coma soon after his fall and had surgery performed to treat haemorrhaging in his brain caused by the impact of his head on the rock. Some of the clots were inoperable because they were too deeply embedded in his brain tissue. Doctors started the waking process in late January, a process that they say can take a long time and is ongoing at present.
  16. Pulling away from a flawless start, pole sitter Lewis Hamilton had a Vettel-esque lights to flag race after leading the silver arrows team for a one-two finish. He crossed the dance of the chequered flags ahead of team mate Nico Rosberg, by 17.3 seconds. The result is the first one-two finish for the German team - since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix - where Juan Manuel Fangio finished ahead of Piero Taruffi by just 0.7seconds in Monza almost 60 years ago. The win comes after Hamilton suffered the past nine races without a podium - one of his worst dry spells since he entered the sport at the start of 2007. And the win is a turnaround after Hamilton retired at the Australian Grand Prix two weeks ago due to a misfiring engine. Trailing behind Nico Rosberg was quadruple champion Sebastian Vettel who brought the sole Red Bull home to a third place - although 25 seconds slower than the race winner. Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen brought the prancing horses to fourth and 12th respectively, as the latter suffered a puncture after McLaren rookie, Kevin Magnussen, ran into the back of Raikkonen's rear-right tyre. This resulted in the Iceman making a slow journey back to the pits. For his actions, Magnussen was slapped with a five-second stop-and-go penalty and eventually finished in ninth. Nico Hulkenberg and Jenson Button secured fifth and sixth respectively for Force India and McLaren. The Williams duo of Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas crossed the line with an impressive seventh and eighth, while Toro Rosso's, Daniil Kvyat, grabbed the last point-scoring position. Out of 22 cars only 15 finished as seven cars - including Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull - retired from the race. Sergio Perez was the first, as he failed to start - citing a gearbox issue.
  17. The 1st time Formula 1 race was held in Singapore in 2008, everyone was talking about, there a big hype about it, but i wasn't really a huge fan back then, also, the tickets were quite pricey and so i thought its okay that i gave it a miss and saved the hundreds of dollars. But on the last day of the race, when i was driving home from dinner in town, for the 1st time in my life i heard the engine sounds of the F1 cars! It gave me goosebumps even though the sounds were quite faint from Orchard road. So i decided to drive somewhere nearer to the track to get a closer 'listen'. I stopped somewhere near Clark Quey and just listened to the crazy loud engine noise, it was really exciting even though i couldn't see anything at all. That moment triggered me to make sure i went to race the following year, and i have been going to every race ever since. The 1st time my wife and i actually went to the race, i was extremely excited because finally, i can add an image to the insane engine sounds i heard. Sitting in the front section of the grandstand, the sound was almost unbearable even with earplugs on! My wife couldn't take the volume and covered her ears with her hands throughout the race, on top of wearing earplugs. I enjoyed myself a hell lot and instantly became an F1 fan. Now, you can tell how disappointing it is watching the video(below). The scene is the front straight of the Albert Park Circuit at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, and what you see on track on either side of the gentleman wearing the orange hat is a Mercedes AMG Petronas being followed by a Lotus. The first major clue, as should be obvious by the nose of the Mercedes, is that this scene was captured last year. The other major clue in the photo is the gentleman in the orange hat: he's wearing earmuffs to silence the noise. We count at least four people wearing them, and that's before the camera pans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS4Dh_EAfJI The organizers of the Australian Grand Prix are threatening to sue because of a "lack of sexiness," and F1 impresario Bernie Ecclestone has declared he was "horrified by the lack of [noise]." This video compares last year's 2.4-liter V8 cars on the first lap at Albert Park with the new turbo V6 cars on the first lap this year. You can compare the sounds and the number of earmuffs in this short clip.
  18. Deeq

    Check out Red Bull

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFHmYFlbFn8 F1 rules changes have been part of Red Bull’s problems, Infiniti Red Bull Racing has released an impressive video presenting this year's most important regulation changes in Formula 1, it seems the team is as prepared as any in the open-wheel paddock. Red Bull's 2014 drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel summarize the changes the RB10 had to go through following the new regulation modifications, starting out with the smaller 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 engine revving up to 15,000 rpm and matched to an eight-speed gearbox. The car comes with a new advanced energy recovery system (ERS) that has two motor generator units while the battery pack stores ten times more energy offering a total boost of 33 seconds per lap and enabling a 160 bhp double boost which should facilitate more overtakes. Other changes include a 20 percent downforce reduction due to the lower and narrower front wing, a flatter rear wing flap which opens up further, different nose and rear wing, along with the elimination of the exhaust blown diffuser and beam wing. For this year teams will only have five engines to use throughout the season as opposed to 2013 when they had eight. Lastly, the fuel tank's capacity has been reduced by 30 percent to 140 liters. The 2014 Formula 1 season kicks off this weekend at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia.
  19. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MRwCWQRx7EYou might call it the "Vettel Rule": victory donuts are now legal in Formula 1. After winning a race, the victor can do a donut to celebrate their winning. In fact, the winning driver can now do an in-car celebration of just about any sort. Stopping on track, picking up the flag, or just about any other creative celebration is now legal--so long as it doesn't endanger fans or officials, "call into question the legality" of the car, or delay the podium ceremony. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEJpLVhsijY The new exception to the rules after a race are likely attributable directly to Sebastian Vettel's antics last year. After winning the Indian Grand Prix at Buddh International Circuit last year, Vettel celebrated with a big cloud of donuts. Then he was fined a bit over S$40,000. But then Vettel, joined by his teammate Mark Webber, did donuts after finishing 1-2 at Abu Dhabi--essentially flipping the bird at the FIA's fines. That left the FIA with the choice of looking like irrelevant, party poopers, or amending the regulations to allow some reasonable demonstrations of the joy of winning. We're glad they finally came around. Lets hope we get to see some F1 donuts in Singapore this year.
  20. SGCM_editorial

    Pay to Play

    We all need heroes. People we look up to for inspiration and motivation. Humans that we place on pedestals to be admired and maybe even emulated. Die-hard Formula One enthusiasts are no different. They would like to believe that their favourite drivers got into the sport purely because of God-given talent, or steely determination and hard work that have paid off. Unfortunately, as long as we have been faithfully following the sport, this has never been the case. Don’t get me wrong– many of the famous racers who have made their mark in F1 earned their FIA Super Licence (the qualification needed to race) because they were faster than the other hopefuls around a racetrack. But the astronomical cost of running anF1 team means outfit that want to remain in the sport have to rely on whatever financial sources are available. And these include drivers who bring large amounts of sponsorship dollars with them. Many pundits have equated F1 to the ultimate carnival ride. It beats the best roller coaster in the world, and all younger for the ride of your life is a huge bank account (preferably with a minimum of eight digits) – and some driving ability. Of the 24 racers who competed at last year’s F1 World Championship, six are “pay drivers”. These lucky pilots secured their places purely because they poured millions into the coffers of their respective teams. In comparison, Force India’s Adrian Sutil was the only pay driver back in 2008. While F1 remains highly profitable for its rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone, the teams aren’t recession-proof. Top outfits such as Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes can call upon the enormous wealth of their carmaker “parents” but poorer constructors, lower down the standings have to rely on whatever monies they can obtain. Hence, drivers are being asked to pay for their seats with substantial sponsorship deals. Sitting atop 2012’s list of pay drivers is Pastor Maldonado. The Venezuelans worth an estimated $88 million to Williams. Most of this comes from his country’s national oil company, PDVSA. It’s worth noting that Maldonado is a good buddy of Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez. As they say, having friends in high places comes with benefits. Maldonado’s teammate Bruno Senna might share his surname with his supertalented uncle Ayrton, but even such aniconic association would most probably not have secured the Brazilian a seat if not for the $23.5m in sponsorship he brought to the table. Most of this came from billionaire countryman Eike Batista– the chairman of Brazilian oil and gas conglomerate EBX Group. It’s no wonder there wasn’t room at Williams for Rubens Barrichello, the driver who has competed in the most Grand Prix races. Italian Jarno Trulli is another veteran that lost his seat the same way. Caterham brought in Vitaly Petrov as his replacement. Petrov, who is backed by a few wealthy Russian corporations including petrochemical giant Sibur, is rumoured to have paid almost $24m to the Malaysian-owned team. As for the remaining three pay drivers, Sauber was a willing recipient of the bag of Mexican gold (courtesy of telecommunications company Telex) Sergio Perez was hauling around, while closer to the bottom of the paddock, HRTtook in Narain Karthikeyan and CharlesPic bought his way into Marussia. Both added roughly $10m each to the treasure chests of their respective teams. It is worth noting that Pic’s sponsorship came by way of his well-heeled mother. She runs a transport business and owns an estimated 6, 000 trucks in France. “If I was just a pay driver, I would never have taken my first podium at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix,” said Petrov during an interview. The Russian also fi nished the 2009 GP2 Series in second position overall. Maldonado went one better in 2010, securing the drivers’ crown, while Pic finished fourth in 2011. They are talented to some degree, but it was ultimately money that spoke the loudest when they negotiated with the teams. So, will there be more pay drivers in F1? Otmar Szafnauer, chief operating officer of Force India said that teams have no choice but to look at various options, depending on their financial well-being. “It’s all about a trade-off. If you have the money, you can sign the best driver. But if you don’t, a pay driver with a lot of sponsorship money, which can then be used to improve the performance of therace cars, is no bad thing. All teams want to scale the drivers’ and constructors ’standings – and sometimes, they can do it better with a driver who brings money than with one that comes without any sponsors,” said Szafnauer. Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, said: “Financially, it’s tough for everyone. But I feel that we should be given more credit for the way we have been investing in young drivers. Danie Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne from our sister outfi t Toro Rosso would never have raced in Formula Three without our help. I am happy that other teams see the merits in our philosophy (of grooming young racers). Ferrari has a drivers ‘academy, while McLaren have been devoting time and money in some young karters. And it has worked wonders for the latter with Lewis (Hamilton). “But there are difficult times ahead, and we must still look at more ways to make it more affordable for all teams – particularly those that are towards the rear of the grid. “ There’s always the worry that if the shortage of money becomes too acute, it might pave the way for more pay drivers to enter the sport. And this will lead to a decline in racing standards. Despite this, not all pay drivers are hopeless. Three-time world champ Niki Lauda started his F1 career with March in 1972 by bringing huge sack of money to the British outfit. He did so again when he joined BRM the following year. Even the most successful F1 driver of all time, Michael Schumacher, entered his first Grand Prix (with Jordan) only after the German’s sponsors, Mercedes-Benz, paid the team what was rumoured to be around $200,000. Indeed, pay drivers can become legends. This article was written by Tony Tan, freelance writer for Torque.
  21. Along with the controversial decision to award double points for the final race of the season, the FIA announced last month that Formula One drivers would be allowed to choose permanent numbers that can be carried over from season to season. Previously, the numbers changed based on finishing position during the previous year. The new system allows the reigning world champion to wear number one, if he chooses, while the rest of the field can choose a number from 2 to 99. Now, we have the list of numbers each driver has chosen. First and foremost, Sebastian Vettel will wear number one next season, although the four-time champion will race under number five if someone ever manages to unseat him from the top of the F1 hierarchy. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, meanwhile, will carry number 44 to the track, while Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari will wear 14 and seven, respectively. Jenson Button and his McLaren will be number 22. See the full list of numbers below. Red Bull 1. Sebastian Vettel (will use number five when not reigning champion) 3. Daniel Ricciardo Mercedes 44. Lewis Hamilton 6. Nico Rosberg Ferrari 14. Fernando Alonso 7. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus 8. Romain Grosjean 13. Pastor Maldonado McLaren 22. Jenson Button 20. Kevin Magnussen Force India 27. Nico Hulkenberg 11. Sergio Perez Sauber 99. Adrian Sutil 21. Esteban Gutierrez Toro Rosso 25. Jean Eric Vergne 26. Daniel Kvyat Williams 19. Felipe Massa 77. Valtteri Bottas Marussia 17. Jules Bianchi TBC Max Chilton Caterham Both drivers to be confirmed
  22. Some racing series are easier to understand than others, but to put it mildly, F1 is about as technically complex as rocket science. With 500 members of each team spending millions upon millions each year to gain an advantage. But if you thought you had managed to wrap your head around the way things work, think again, because the series is undergoing a major overhaul of its technical regulations for the 2014 season. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkVGl9bD9T0 Of course, the biggest change is a switch from naturally aspirated 2.4-liter V8 engines to turbocharged 1.6-liter V6 powerplants, but that's not the sum total of the shift. The cars' hybrid component are set to play a bigger role, the aerodynamic regulations are changing, as are the exhaust system limitations and a whole mess of other details. It's enough to make your head spin at 20,000 rpm. Fortunately the BBC has put together this handy little video interviewing the experts and breaking down the changes into layman's terms that even we can understand. Watch the handy three-and-a-half-minute video primer below to get yourself up to speed on next year's F1 regulations.
  23. Five months ago, Honda confirmed that it would be returning to F1 and it would pair up with old partner, McLaren. Now, you may start to recall Senna, Prost and that MP4/4 (above) which near dominated in 1988. Well, let's look at the impressive McLaren/Honda stat attack: between them, they had 80 GP starts, registered 53 pole positions, 44 victories, set 30 fastest laps and scored eight world championships (four drivers’ titles, four constructors’ titles). Nice. http://dai.ly/x12i4qr Quite recently, the Internet was all fired up over Honda’s simply excellent video recreating Senna’s 1989 Suzuka GP at night, using telemetry from the race and lots of lights to make something a bit spine-tingling. Anyway, Honda has just released a clip of its forthcoming Formula One engine, which is still being developed for the 2015 season where Honda will participate under a joint project with McLaren. The video below (audio only - no pun intended) is what the new turbo V6 will sound like. Have a listen, do you like it? http://dai.ly/x167tbo
  24. Reigning F1 world champion, Sebastian Vettel, won a gripping Japanese Grand Prix to edge closer to his fourth drivers’ title. It might be the usual repeated tale, but this time, the triple world champion, had to put in a minuscule amount of effort to earn the highest spot on the podium on Sunday. At the dance of the chequered flags, Vettel crossed the line ahead of his team mate, a decent 7.13 seconds at the end of the 53 laps. Lotus F1 Team's, Romain Grosjean, filled the last podium slot, securing a podium lock out for Renault in succession. This is the fourth time this season, after Bahrain, Germany and Korea earlier this month, the podium was locked out by Renault power courtesy of Infiniti Red Bull Racing and Lotus Renault. It is the first time in 17 years that Renault has secured two consecutive perfect podiums. With Kimi Raikkonen bringing the second Lotus past the chequered flag in fifth, four of the top five positions were filled by Renault-powered cars – with Alonso’s Ferrari crashing the party. Additionally, Mark Webber’s pole position on Saturday took Renault’s total number of poles in the FIA Formula One World Championship to 209, a new record for the most pole positions held by an engine manufacturer beating Ferrari’s record of 208. "It has been an exceptional two races for Renaultsport F1, with a new record in pole positions set by an engine manufacturer and then another 1-2-3 result today for the second race in succession. We’ll make it our aim in the coming races to maximise the points across all our partners and to finish the season - and the end of the V8 era - on a high. We broke one record this weekend but it would be good to set the bar even higher now!" said Remi Taffin, Renaultsport F1 Head of Track Operations. With four races remaining, Red Bull has dominated the 2013 season after earning 445 points - a massive 148 points ahead of Ferrari and 158 points ahead of Mercedes. In the drivers’ title race, Alonso at 207 points is 90 points away from the young German and the Spaniard has to miraculously win every single race from hereafter to win his third title. With the drivers' championship pretty much sealed, the constructor's championship is lives - for second and third placing that is - between Ferrari, Mercedes and Lotus Renault. Formula One entertainment returns in India, on the 27th of October, where the battle will - without a doubt - reach its climax.
×
×
  • Create New...