BlogF1

Please note:

Whilst BlogF1 is live, the site is still under construction.

You are more than welcome to comment on the posts made so far, or indeed any part of the site. But please bear in mind the site is still some time off being complete.

Many thanks,

Ollie.

Update: February 24th is when I will add various bits of extra bobs that will enable the site to really go live to the masses. Keep watching this space…

Pedro De La Rosa, McLaren Mercedes‘ experienced test driver and former Formula One racer, today became the first man to drive the new 2006 challenger - the MP4-21.

McLaren’s new F1 car lapped the Barcelona circuit in 1m 18.252s, only beaten by Gary Paffett (also testing for McLaren) and and the flying Jacques Villeneuve in his new BMW Sauber F1.06. Although Villeneuve managed to lap a second faster than De La Rosa, the Spaniard was reported to be very pleased with the car, and only a minor oil leak prevented him from further running in the afternoon.
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ITV-F1 is reporting that Silverstone is increasing its capacity for this years British Grand Prix.

As well as extending several grandstands around the Formula One circuit, they intend to build a new seating stand on the outside of Club corner. This will be along side the existing facilities and will help boost the circuits profile and increase capacity (and income, presumably). Silverstone has often come under rap from high-level Formula One critiques for being old and antiquated.

Hopefully this is the first step in many to help rejuvenate the home of British motorsport.

As I posted a couple of days ago, Damon Hill has gone on record as saying, “The essence of the sport has been diluted.” Speaking to F1 Racing and reported on ITV’s Formula One site, it is said that Damon feels corporate ethos emphasised by manufacturer control in F1 has robbed the sport of many of its values and appeal.
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Damon Hill, 1996 F1 World Champion speaking in a recent interview.

I’m not going to plagiarise ITV-F1.com or F1 Racing magazine, but the source story is on ITV’s website, and F1 Racing hits the news-stands later this month. Generally speaking, Damon has given his views on Formula One to the aforementioned publication, and he appears not to mince his words, saying how he feels that the sport has become too corporate and sanitised.
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And presumably, it is starting at approximately $24m!

There have been a lot of rumours flying around Formula One at the moment regarding the future of seven-times World Champion Michael Schumacher. Obviously, Schumacher is a key player in the drivers market, and with his Ferrari contract up for renewal at the end of this season; it would appear he is sitting in the commander’s chair.
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Only a little over two months from the start of the 2006 Formula One season, I thought I would publish the proposed calendar and give my predictions for the upcoming year.

March 12th - Bahrain, Sakhir
March 19th - Malaysia, Sepang
April 2nd - Australia, Melbourne
April 23rd - San Marino, Imola
May 7th - Europe, Nurburgring
May 14th - Spain, Catalunya
May 28th - Monaco, Monte Carlo
June 11th - Great Britain, Silverstone
June 25th - Canada, Montreal
July 2nd - United States, Indiapolis
July 16th - France, Magny Cours
July 30th - Germany, Hockenheimring
August 6th - Hungary, Hungaroring
August 27th - Turkey, Istanbul
September 10th - Italy, Monza
CANCELLED: September 17th - Belgium, Spa Francorchamps
October 1st - China, Shanghai
October 8th - Japan, Suzuka
October 22nd - Brazil, Interlagos

And the team listing is:

Renault - Fernando Alonso, Giancarlo Fisichella
McLaren - Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo Montoya
Ferrari - Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa
Toyota - Jarno Trulli, Ralf Schumacher
Williams - Mark Webber, Nico Rosberg
Honda Racing - Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello
Red Bull Racing - David Coulthard, Christian Klien
BMW Sauber - Nick Heifeld, Jacques Villeneuve
Midland F1 - Christijan Albers, Tiago Monteiro
Scuderia Torre Rosso - Vitantonio Liuzzi, Scott Speed
Super Aguri - Takuma Sato, Yuji Ide

With a pumped up Ferrari trying to reclaim their top spot, and McLaren hoping to continue their progress, it should be fun watching Renault defending their crown. And with Midland, Red Bull Jnr and BMW all new to the game, 2006 looks to be a belter of a season.

Prediction - Raikkonen to win the Drivers Title, Ferrari to win the Constructors Title. Renault will do well, but it won’t be enough to stop McLaren. Red Bull Snr will continue their progress, and Toyota should win a race. Midland will flop, and BMW will have a very difficult first season. They will almost certainly drop Villeneuve by the end of the year, and Montoya will lose in the race to remain at McLaren. Unless - that is - Kimi is being sized up for a red racing suit to replace Schumacher Snr?

Inside Track race previews and F1 Rewind videos courtesy of the awesome team at Sidepodcast.com. Continue Reading…

What do I really think of Formula One?

I remember when I first watched a Grand Prix. It was the Hungarian race at the
Hungaroring in 1995. It was towards the end of the season, and everyone was hyped at the Schumacher vs. Hill battle. I can remember Hill putting a classic move on Schumacher going into the slow chicane, and thinking, “Wow! Why has it taken me this long to discover F1?”.
I remember a little about the Pacific Grand Prix, held at Aida in Japan. This was the race where I noted all the drivers and teams from Murray Walker’s commentary. I can remember trying to spell some of the foreign drivers’ names - Takachiho Inoue, Domenico Schiattarella, Massimiliano Papis etc…
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The Search For David Coulthard. Continue Reading…