It has been a long three week vacation, but Formula 1 is back this week as we visit Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix. Nico Rosberg put Mercedes AMG on the top step last season, but the team doubts they can follow up the performance (I agree). Here are how the teams look after the Malaysian Grand Prix. 1) Red Bull – Say what you want about the events that happened a few weeks ago in Malaysia, but the fact is Red Bull’s form is on par with their high…
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Formula 1 – Post Australia Team Power Rankings
Not a lot changed amongst the top three teams after the Australian Grand Prix. While Lotus struck first blood, Ferrari had a strong team showing with Alonso and a resurgent Felipe Massa. Red Bull also performed well during the course of the weekend with tire struggles hampering their ability to take advantage of their 1-2 start. Williams had a primarily disappointing weekend. While Valtteri Bottas finished his first ever Formula 1 race, Pastor Maldonado looked like a rookie and complained all weekend about how the car was junk. Marussia surprised…
Read MoreFormula 1 – FP2 Notes; Vettel Sweeps Practice
Sebastian Vettel stormed to P1 in both practice sessions from Albert Park as the 2013 Formula 1 season kicks off. Vettel’s Red Bull was the class of the field as he and the team picked up where they left off at the end of last season. There was a lot of interesting data collected as the super soft tire compound took center stage. The new Pirelli rubber was due to be faster by approximately a second, but suffered an extremely short life with times dropping almost immediately. The real surprise…
Read MoreFormula 1 – Caterham Unchained Episode 3
Formula 1 – Preseason Team Power Rankings
Welcome to the 2013 Formula 1 season! Well…sorta I suppose. Cars are not on the grid in Australia, but we are through launches and only a few weeks from the opening round of the 2013 campaign. We have had two testing sessions occur with one left in Barcelona. Testing is never a really good way to tell anything, so we will launch the first power rankings of the season anyway. I will break them up into team and driver’s rankings separately as a driver performance does not always match the…
Read MoreF1 – Caterham Unchained Episode 2
F1 – How Much is Enough?
There is no offseason for Bernie Ecclestone and his constant running at the mouth. With news that HRT is all but done heading into 2013, Bernie has made some statements in regards to the number of teams involved. Ecclestone would rather there be 10 teams on the grid versus 11. “It’s just that 10 is easier to handle, for the promoters, for transport,” he said. “We’d rather have 10, so long as we don’t lose Ferrari.” – Bernie Ecclestone comments from BBC F1 The news of HRT folding up shop…
Read MoreF1 – Wild One in Malaysia
The Formula 1 World Championship was at it again this week from the awesome Sepang Circuit in Malaysia. One thing about this race is the weather often times is a factor like it was this weekend. What we also saw this weekend was something nobody could have really predicted with Fernando Alonso taking the win for Scuderia Ferrari. The F2012 is truly a pig in every department. It looks hideous and has just as many problems with handling and other on track performances. However, with Alonso at the helm it…
Read MoreF1 Soap Box – Car Launch Edition
Caterham Launch Caterham is the only team so far to unveil their 2012 challenger. They appear to be taking some design cues from Red Bull with their engine cowling, which isn’t too unexpected since RBR were indomitable last year and since Caterham is using RBR’s KERS system and gearbox. What immediately stands out is Caterham’s solution to the FIA’s new regulations on the nose. First, the nose had to be higher this year, also there are regulations calling for different heights for the top surface of the nose and the…
Read MoreF1 – The Lotus Feud Is Over
We all knew that the battle between Group Lotus, PLC, and Tony Fernandez had been resolved, but here is the official press release for your enjoyment. JOINT PRESS RELEASE Group Lotus Plc and PROTON Holdings Berhad 1Malaysia Racing Team, Caterham Cars and Tony Fernandes Proton, Group Lotus, 1Malaysia Racing Team and its owner Tony Fernandes are delighted to announce that the legal dispute in the English Courts relating to the “LOTUS” and “TEAM LOTUS” brands has now ended amicably with the parties agreeing settlement terms earlier this month. The terms…
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