Original article by BlogF1.

Caption Contest: #102

The sixth car to come from Red Bull Racing is once again designed by legendary aerodynamicist, Adrian Newey. Mr Newey has penned some of the sport’s greatest cars, helping Williams and McLaren to find championship winning success. While the Briton may be known for his uncompromising attention to detail and performance, it is these factors that make his cars so fast and efficient. The momentum may have taken a while to get going at Red Bull, but now Newey has found his groove, there can be little doubt that this will continue.

The RB6 was launched with little fanfare at the Jerez circuit in Spain, like so many others being unveiled ahead of a group test. Following the success of the previous RB5 chassis, the world’s media were particularly interested in seeing what would come of the 2009 successor. In fact, most of the grid was looking to see what would come of the new car, with so many teams adopting similar ideas that were incorporated into the RB5.

The front section has followed the traits of many others, with a higher nose that suggests, along with the stability in the rules, that the teams are clawing back much of the downforce that had been lost last year. The raised nose helps make the front section appear slimmer and narrower, more pronounced in the new Virgin VR-01, although perhaps helped visually by the colour scheme used.

The nose rises to the suspension mounts before falling slightly towards the cockpit, again something a few other teams have adopted. Of course, the dip on the top of the monocoque is present, partially down to the mounts that attach to the chassis at the same point, although made more extreme by Newey presumably for aerodynamic gain. The highly-sculptured sidepods flow rearwards over the engine cover which, like for the past few years, incorporates a shark-fin which helps with stability under braking. The car, unlike the RB5 one year ago, features a double-diffuser from the offset.

Red Bull Racing have retained both their drivers for 2010, an obvious move considering how well they both performed in 2009. This puts the squad at an immediate advantage over Ferrari (who have replaced Kimi Raikkonen with Fernando Alonso), McLaren (who have replaced Heikki Kovalainen with Jenson Button) and Mercedes (formerly Brawn, who have replaced both drivers). Maintaining this consistency between campaigns will help the car’s development as both drivers will have intimate knowledge of how the RB5 performed and also of how the designers and engineers work.

This year will be important for Red Bull Racing as they have to continue their momentum and challenge for the titles. 2009 saw some controversy over the rules which initially hampered their efforts, but with little changes over the winter, Horner’s team need to hit the ground running and stamp their new-found authority over their rivals.

Red Bull Racing’s car designation system refers to the initials of the parent team name and parent company, Red Bull, and an incremental numbering system that for 2010, has reached 6. Hence, RB6.

Original article by BlogF1.

Meet The Cars: Red Bull Racing RB6

In a press release issued following the hearing at the FIA headquarters in Paris, the governing body stated the following with regards to the former RenaultF1 boss…

As regards Mr. Briatore, the World Motor Sport Council declares that, for an unlimited period, the FIA does not intend to sanction any International Event, Championship, Cup, Trophy, Challenge or Series involving Mr. Briatore in any capacity whatsoever, or grant any license to any Team or other entity engaging Mr. Briatore in any capacity whatsoever. It also hereby instructs all officials present at FIA-sanctioned events not to permit Mr. Briatore access to any areas under the FIA’s jurisdiction. Furthermore, it does not intend to renew any Superlicence granted to any driver who is associated (through a management contract or otherwise) with Mr. Briatore, or any entity or individual associated with Mr. Briatore. In determining that such instructions should be applicable for an unlimited period, the World Motor Sport Council has had regard not only to the severity of the breach in which Mr. Briatore was complicit but also to his actions in continuing to deny his participation in the breach despite all the evidence. FIA Press Release.

The key line there is that the FIA do not intend to allow anyone associated with Flavio Briatore to have their super license renewed. As far as I can tell, Mark Webber and Heikki Kovalainen are still managed by the flamboyant Italian. If Webber and Kovalainen are still on Briatore’s books, they better find alternative management pretty soon if they wish to continue racing in FIA-governed events.

A similar punishment has been dealt to Pat Symonds, the former head of engineering at Renault who resigned along with Briatore last week. The only difference between the sentences are that Symond’s is for a period of five years, while Briatore’s remains unlimited.

Original article by BlogF1.

No More Super Licenses For Briatore-Managed Drivers

As the lights went out in Hungary and the race got underway, Kimi Raikkonen was making use of his KERS device and was thundering up the field. The Finnish pilot squeezed Sebastian Vettel over to the right and the German Red Bull driver believes contact was made. After the first corner, Vettel radioed his team to say that he thought there was damage to the front wing, but it turned out to be more serious. The front-left suspension on the RB5 had been broken, and at about the mid-point of the race, it gave way. Vettel was forced to retire his car.

Despite this though, the stewards, who were investigating the incident, said that it was just a racing incident and that no punishment would be handed out.

However, Renault have been given a very harsh penalty following the incident that saw Fernando Alonso’s wheel come off mid-lap. The team, Piquet inclusive, will not race in Valencia in a months time. Although it is rumoured that Piquet will not be racing for Renault again anyway, penalty or no penalty. Further information on the Renault suspension can be read in this post.

Also, Red Bull have been reprimanded for the second race in succession. In Germany, Vettel was released early following a pitstop and the Milton Keynes squad were given a slap on the wrists. And again in Hungary this time, Mark Webber was released into the path of Kimi Raikkonen following a bodged pitstop that almost saw the fuel man get dragged to the floor. Webber thought he had been given the indication to go, but in fact the fuel nozzle was still attached to the RB5. Webber quickly backtracked his motions and stopped, but now under pressure, the team released him without checking the fast lane again and Webber was forced to back out of the throttle to avoid colliding with the Ferrari.

Scuderia Toro Rosso’s Sebastien buemi, who was enjoying a great weekend starting in P10, has not only finished in last place and been beaten by his rookie team mate, but has also received a fine for €1800 for speeding in the pitlane.

All in all, it was quite the Hungarian Grand Prix. Renault are out for one race, Raikkonen got away with being a bit boisterous at the start and Red Bull are treading on a very thin line with regards to pitstops.

• The live race notes can be viewed here: Hungary 2009: Live Race Notes
• The race result can be viewed here: Hungary 2009: Race Result
• The race report can be viewed here: Hungary 2009: Lewis Hamilton Returns McLaren To Top With Victory
• The pitstop and tyre strategies can be viewed here: Hungary 2009: Pitstop & Tyre Strategies
• The fantasy racers round-up can be viewed here: Hungary 2009: Fantasy Racers Update
• The Renault penalty post can be viewed here: Hungary 2009: Renault Have Been Suspended From The European Grand Prix

Original article by BlogF1.

Hungary 2009: Penalty Updates

Mark Webber has raced with Red Bull since 2007, and was initially partnered with David Coulthard. However, his relationship with the team actually pre-dates the team in its current guise, as Webber drove for Jaguar in 2003 and 2004. When Ford decided to pull the plug on their Formula One operation, Dietrich Mateschitz stepped in and purchased the squad, renaming it inline with his energy drink company, Red Bull.

Since joining Red Bull, Webber has suffered frustration after frustration as each year, the car appeared to have pace, but ultimately proved to be unreliable. However, with the shake-up in regulations for 2009, Adrian Newey and the team at Red Bull Technologies have developed a great car that appears to be holding together over race distances. Initially, Sebastian Vettel seemed to get the upper-hand on Webber, but a dominant win despite receiving a drive-thru penalty proved that Webber has talent, and when given a decent car, can get the job done.

[Mark] has continued to show huge commitment and determination this season, especially following his bike accident at the end of last year.

His recent results show he is on the form of his life – most notably with his recent win at the German GP – and he has the motivation to deliver at the highest level. It was therefore a straightforward decision to extend the relationship. Christian Horner.

I’m extremely happy that Red Bull and I have been able to agree to race together again next year.

Even in the leaner and tougher years at the start of my relationship with the team, I’ve always enjoyed working with them, so now to go through this purple patch, which we hope will continue for a good while to come, makes the work even more enjoyable.

We’ve got a very exciting finish to this year’s championship, but I’m also looking forward to helping to develop and race the RB6 in the 2010 world championship. Mark Webber.

Red Bull have stated that they are allowing their drivers to race each other at the moment, and as most pilots have stated in the build up to this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, the next few races could be critical in the fight for the championships. Both Red Bull Racing and Brawn are determined to do well, but as history has pointed out on a few occasions, drivers who have their following season confirmed usually drive well in the proceeding races to the announcement.

Mark Webber is currently 1.5 points behind his team mate and 22.5 behind championship leader Jenson Button.

Original article by BlogF1.

Red Bull Racing Retain Mark Webber For 2010

The weather in Germany, in particular just over the Nurburgring, has been a little cold this weekend, meaning Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello have been suffering slightly. It is known that the BGP 001 doesn’t do so well when the track is cold, as the tyres do not heat up as well and as quickly as some others. Some others includes their only real rivals for the championships this season, Red Bull Racing.

The first stint of qualifying, the opening twenty minutes which sees the bottom five knocked-out, proved interesting just as Martin Bundle anticipated in his commentary. Mark Webber was looking handy from the word go, but the real surprise was Lewis Hamilton, Adrian Sutil and of course, the clouds hanging overhead.

Most drivers went out and put a banker lap in, but after a few minutes it was clear a little rain had started to fall. The camera lenses dotted around the circuit were showing signs of water drops and as the cars toured the track, they were clearly slipping at certain points. Because of the slightly adverse and changeable conditions, the drivers were struggling slightly to judge the grip levels.

Two men who most certainly didn’t have too much trouble with the green track though were Lewis Hamilton, who popped in a P4 lap before being relegated to P5 by Sebastian Vettel, and Fernando Alonso, who was on course for P1 until he came across a recovering Timo Glock. The German having just had a small excursion had backed off considerably, much to Alonso’s surprise as he came up on the gear box of the Toyota. Alonso set a P2 lap, which was impressive, but cleary showed his frustration at Glock with a waving arm.

As the drizzle fell in the final few moments, the session was completed a little earlier than expected (in terms of competitive lap times), and both Scuderia Toro Rossos, Glock, Giancarlo Fisichella and Robert Kubica returned to their garages, their qualifying session over with.

The second run of the afternoon also proved interesting, as the rain got a little heavier. Everybody went out early to ensure they got a lap on dry tyres in before the track became too wet for the soft rubber. However, even on the first tour it was too much for some. Kazuki Nakajima was the first to find himself spinning around, and it wasn’t long before others were skating around the escape roads to avoid the gravel traps they were heading towards.

Everybody aborted their first laps with the sole exception of Mark Webber, who insisted on continuing on the dry tyres. Needless to say, he ended up aborting that lap after he tip-toed around the Nurburgring. Everybody switched to the intermediate compound, and Lewis Hamilton was the first to prove his pace again, going fastest straight away. Adrian Sutil, loving the wet conditions also did well early on, setting a P2 lap behind the McLaren driver.

These positions didn’t last long though, as Alonso went fastest, promptly followed by Nick Heidfeld before Mark Webber popped in a lap 3.3s faster than anyone else for the session. Again, Webber’s time at the top didn’t last too long either, as Rubens Barrichello was seen touring the track on dry tyres. The timing of Barrichello’s change couldn’t have been any better, and the Brazilians first hot turn of the Nurburgring saw him go comfortably fastest. The lap would stand for the rest of Q2.

According to Ted Kravitz, the BBC’s pitlane reporter, Kazuki Nakajima and Sebastian Vettel almost collided in the pitlane. Apparently, the pair shared some rubber, but they were able to continue. This was not sighted by the cameras showing the live feed, but would be a talking point after qualifying.

The third and final session of the afternoon was perhaps the least exciting in terms of track action, but equally so, was exciting because of that one lap from Mark Webber. Most waited in their garages for the first couple of minutes, assessing the conditions and hoping it will dry out a little. Only the Brawns ventured out, causing some cinfusion on the pit-car radio.

The final run of laps saw Mark Webber pop in the pole lap, followed by the Brawns who simply couldn’t match it. Perhaps most satisfying for Webber though was the fact that his team mate couldn’t match it either, and so the Australian claimed his first ever pole position, ahead of Barrichello, Button and Vettel, Hamilton and Kovalainen.

For the race, one needs to look out for Hamilton, starting in P5 and with a KERS-enabled car. Obviously the Brawns will be hoping to sneak pass the leading Red Bull, but Button’s starts haven’t been electric this season. Adrian Sutil is hoping to keep his position, ahead of both Ferrari pilots in P7, and Nelson Piquet will be reveling in the fact he has out-qualified his team mate Fernando Alonso; a rare occasion but given the conditions, credit to the young Brazilian.

Original article by BlogF1.

Germany 2009: Mark Webber Blitzes His Way To Maiden Pole

I think it would be unfair on Hamilton to say that ever since he was promoted into Formula One by the McLaren team, controversy has followed him around, as much of what has happened to his team is by no means entirely his fault. The issues facing the team in 2007 when McLaren were found to have confidential Ferrari data in their possession had very little to do with Hamilton and more to do with those running the Woking-based team. Again in 2009, the FIA have made it clear that they feel Hamilton was put in “an impossible situation” in Melbourne.

However, while Lewis isn’t to blame for all the headlines that seem to only do damage to McLaren and the sport, I feel that the current world champion is being overshadowed in the efforts of appearing friendly and engaging with those people who keep the sport alive; the fans. As a world champion, extra pressure is placed on you by the sport and race promoters to speak highly of Formula One, involve yourself in more interviews and generally become a puppet at the end of the strings being clutched by Bernie Ecclestone. And it isn’t just Hamilton who struggles with this.

Kimi Raikkonen is another driver who is often seen to be stand-offish. When interviewed in the post-race press conferences, Raikkonen almost refuses to show emotion, he will rarely acknowledge those sitting with him and will fail to add that extra 10% that would make the difference between merely answering the questions and coming across as enthusiastic.

In Shanghai last week, BBC commentator Martin Brundle described Raikkonen as rude and inconsiderate of his team after the Finn appeared to not want anything more to do with the race following the early stoppage. Raikkonen was shown changed out of his overalls and wandering around the garage eating an ice cream while his team were on the grid getting wet. The image and associated words that were broadcast around the world are perhaps not what the image of the sport needs. Humorous it certainly was, but for a respected commentator and former racer to describe another driver as essentially not bothering to continue, well…

However, now that the front of the grid has been shaken up and some new faces are gracing the podium and post-race press conferences, it almost feels as though Formula One has been given some fresh air and the breeze has blown all the corporate cobwebs away. Gone are the standard script-read and monotonous phrases and in are the jovial and engaging comments from the new order. Jenson Button, now enjoying greater success, appears relaxed and actually speaks to the cameras and to the audience behind them, all over the world. Mark Webber is comfortable in teasing his team mate and even Timo Glock was all-smiles after his podium finish in Malaysia.

The interviews FOM and FIA insist upon are so much more welcoming thanks to those now being interviewed. To see a driver actually smiling after winning a race is pleasant, and hear him voice that emotion is even better. As Lou mentioned to me last night on Identi.ca, it’s like they actually want to be there. And that makes all the difference.

So while I understand that it is far from easy for the Hamiltons and the Raikkonens to always appear joyous and enthused, I am pleased that Brawn, Red Bull and Toyota have managed to change the scenery. How long it lasts is anyone’s guess, but for now, I might just have to start watching the press conferences again.

Original article by BlogF1.

Blowing Away The Corporate Cobwebs

Adrian Sutil was just trying to move out of the way although it appeared he left it a little late, citing some confusion in an interview with the BBC shortly after he had returned to the paddock. The young German driver visited Mark Webber in his motorhome to apologise, but that would have done little to console the Australian who came to Bahrain off the back of his best result in his Formula One career.

I just tried to stay in my position to get a clear start to the lap. It was a misunderstanding and I apologised to Mark after the end of the session. Adrian Sutil.

The Red Bull RB5 has decent pace as shown by Webber’s team mate Sebastian Vettel. Sebastian managed to qualify third for tomorrow’s race and had Webber not been impeded, he almost certainly would have made it through to the final qualifying session. Instead, Red Bull will now have a difficult time in working out how to give Mark a decent strategy so that he can improve his position in the race.

Although Webber initially qualified in P19, Sutil’s demotion of three grid slots means that the Australian has been promoted to P18 while Sutil will start the race in P19.

Original article by BlogF1.

Bahrain 2009: Adrian Sutil Receives Three Grid Slot Penalty

The earthquake, that measured 6.3 moment magnitude, struck in central Italy in the region called Abruzzo twelve days ago. The strongest of the following aftershocks measured 5.3 magnitude. 294 people lost their lives and over a thousand were injured in Italy’s strongest earthquake in 30 years. Around 40,000 people were made homeless in only a few moments of the ground trembling.

Formula One drivers have donated memorabilia to be auctioned in order to raise funds for those affected by the earthquake, and some drivers will participate in charity events as well. The sport has two Italian drivers at the moment, Giancarlo Fisichella who originally comes from Rome, and Jarno Trulli, who was raised in Pescara, Abruzzo. At the time of the earthquake, Trulli was aboard a plane travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Frankfurt, but thankfully he was informed after landing in Europe that his family was not affected; Pescara being nearer the coast and away from the epi-centre.

Sebastien Buemi of Scuderia Toro Rosso with the words Vicini All’Abruzzo on the side of his car. Crudely translated by myself means friends/neighbours of Abruzzo.

Jarno Trulli has established a website where people can make donations to a fund to help those affected by the earthquake. The site is called Abruzzo nel Cuore, which translated means Abruzzo in the heart. The Italian teams of Ferrari and Scuderia Toro Rosso and Trulli’s Toyota carry tributes on their cars and race-suits for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.

Original article by BlogF1.

Drivers & Teams Support Abruzzo Earthquake Victims

Original article by BlogF1.

Caption Contest: #85

One thing is for certain, Red Bull need to start showing some consistency in races, and carry this throughout a season. The RB4 chassis was certainly acceptable, and the Renault engine was fairly reliable, even if it was a little under-powered initially/apparently. Thus far, the RB5 looks to be okay as well, and the French engine manufacturer continues its relationship with RBR. Renault also intend to run KERS in the factory team at Australia, which could bode well for Red Bull who will surely get the device in following races assuming all goes to plan.

In testing, the car has looked like a fairly sturdy machine, occasionally setting good pace. The team appeared to struggle in the final group sessions, but it was in Barcelona and Jerez that all the teams had good and bad days. As a group though, Red Bull and STR have put in some good mileage during the winter, and even Mark Webber showed little sign of hesitancy after climbing back into the car in February after breaking his leg in November.

Sebastian Vettel really showed up Red Bull last year with his win in Monza. Although the photos showed team owner Dietrich Mateschitz smiling and applauding, underneath was likely painted with a different story, one of anguish no doubt; the better funded and generally faster team had been embarrassed by a young rookie. Of course, owning both teams allows staff to be moved easily between the two operations, and Red Bull have done well in promoting Vettel.

Despite his youth and wirey frame, Vettel is a great racer and his maturity in Italy when all around him drivers were spinning was impressive. It is perhaps too much to expect a repeat performance in 2009, but Vettel is a driver Red Bull will want to keep hold of. If Red Bull can start producing better cars, then surely it is Vettel who would be ideal at taking the squad into the future with greater successes.

Partnering Vettel is Mark Webber, the older, wiser and more experienced driver of the team. Mark had some great races last year, and really showed the car wasn’t all that bad when it worked. However, a few knocks and a few reliability issues made it hard for the team and driver to score with regularity, and this is where the consistency needs to be improved upon – Red Bull and Webber need to start scoring consistently.

The inter-team battle between Webber and Vettel will also be fascinating to watch unfold. Both drivers appear to get along, but I can see some fantastic battles emerging from the two as the season progresses.

I would love to say that Red Bull will improve this year, but aside from reclaiming their position ahead of Scuderia Toro Rosso, I cannot see much else happening. It would seem that Toyota have improved, Renault are claiming they can win, McLaren will be okay and Ferrari will likely continue their pace at the top, along with a closely following BMW. In fact, while Red Bull could gain a place from STR, they could then lose it to Brawn if the BGP 001 is as good as many think it is.

Previous Red Bull Racing Previews

• F12008 Red Bull Racing Preview
• F12007 Red Bull Racing Preview
• F12006 Red Bull Racing Preview

Original article by BlogF1.

F12009: Red Bull Racing Preview

Original article by BlogF1.

Caption Contest: #81

Following his accident, Mark Webber was well looked after, of course. As soon as he came off his bike pre-planned procedures were put in place and the Australian was rushed to hospital without question or hesitation. And being a sportsperson who needs his legs, the only real option for Mark was to have a pin inserted. This speeds up the recovery process as the bone is forced together; waiting for the bone to heal naturally would take too long and would have likely put Webber out of action for the start of the 2009 season.

Undoubtedly, Mark relaxed over the Christmas period but it wouldn’t have been long before he was in the swimming pool, in the gym and being tortured by a physiotherapist. Clearly though, the hard work has paid off and Webber drove the new RB5 car earlier in the week at a test session in Spain. The lap times set by the no-nonsense racer were competitive from the off.

Webber’s break is the first in a few years for a competing Formula One driver, the last time it happened being in 1999. Back then, the driver being carted off to hospital was none other than world champion Michael Schumacher. A rear brake failure on the first lap of the British Grand Prix resulted in the Ferrari pilot charging into the tyre barrier at Stowe. I believe the quote from Schumacher went something like: “As soon as I impacted the tyres, I knew there was something seriously wrong. It didn’t hurt very much though.”

Schumacher’s recovery process for a broken leg took about the same as Webber’s, and like his fellow-sportsman, Michael too had metal placed in him. The German driver missed six races but returned with a point to prove; Michael took pole position in both the remaining races of the season, and finished second in each. Arguably, Schumacher could have won in Malaysia, but the team player dutifully allowed his team mate Eddie Irvine to finish ahead knowing he was still in the hunt for the world championship.

Two years before Schumacher’s accident, Olivier Panis had a fairly horrific crash at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada. On the back part of the track where the armco-lined tarmac gently weaves between the over hanging trees, Panis suffered a double impact in his Prost. A hard whack on the right side of the track sent his car over to the left for second blow. The result of this incident left the French driver receiving medical attention at the side of the track for quite some time. In fact, it is the only race I have actually witnessed being stopped early (I believe).

Olivier’s accident resulted in both his legs being broken, but intense physio meant the Prost driver only missed seven races of the year, the recovery time being about 14 weeks. Upon his return at the Luxembourg Grand Prix, Panis (like many others) had a point to prove. And in fact, it was a point he won, finishing in sixth which at the time earned one point in the championship. The French driver was only 0.5s shy of fifth and drove a pretty competitive race.

These drivers are lucky to an extent though – they all raced (and still do) at a time when safety is considered paramount in such a dangerous sport. Although some things cannot be made safer for a driver hitting 180mph, the advances in medical knowledge have helped them all. The pins inserted in Panis, Schumacher and Webber have sped up their recoveries and the tailored physio they all went through improved the strength of their broken limb more than at any time previously…

In 1969, world champion Graham Hill was competing in the United States Grand Prix in a Lotus 49B. Considered a fragile, but ultimately quick car, Hill had used it to his advantage in 1968 to take the title. But a year later, when the car was dated and less competitive, Hill’s career would be dealt a bitter blow. It was during the Watkins Glen event that Hill spun his Lotus. This meant the double world champion had to get out of the car and push-start it. Not being able to refasten his own belts, the Briton decided to just get on with the race.

However, Hill’s Lotus had a puncture – likely to have been caused by the spin – and Hill signalled his wish to come into the pits to have the tyre replaced. Graham never made it back around that lap, as the tyre let go at the end of the straight and sent the Lotus somersaulting into the embankment. Hill was thrown from the car and suffered broken legs as a result.

Thankfully for Hill, the accident happened at the penultimate race of the year and thus only one race was missed. Upon his return to testing prior to the 1970 season, Hill struggled to get in and out of the car on his own and was said to be in pain as he drove around the circuits. However, with grit and determination, Graham competed in the first race of the year in South Africa and scored a point. Unfortunately though, Hill was never truly the same after his accident. The Briton failed to win again, perhaps due to his injuries and perhaps also due to the cars he piloted not being as competitive.

When thinking about racing drivers who have suffered broken limbs though, one name stands out above all others. In fact, it was this driver that prompted me to write about the accidents and recoveries of Formula One drivers today because the stories behind this name are quite simply astonishing. The driver is Tazio Nuvolari, and the Italian raced before Formula One became the organised sport that is today.

Nuvolari raced in the pre-War era, a time when an accident often meant a fatality as well. Safety was almost unheard of and the bravery and courage (or perhaps stupidity) of the drivers back then was legendary. And if any one man deserves to be catergorised as a legend, Nuvolari is at the top of the list. Coming off his motorcycle and crashing his car more times than people care to remember, Tazio went down in history for two things; his injuries, but most importantly, his outright skill despite the injuries.

The Tales Of Tazio

In 1925 and enjoying success as a motorcycle racer, Nuvolari was invited by Alfa Romeo for a trial in one of their Grand Prix cars at Monza. Ever impressed with all things fast, Nuvolari agreed. However, after just a few laps of driving the P2 car, Tazio crashed and was taken to hospital. The doctors ordered Nuvolari to take a month off to allow the lacerations on his back to heal. This didn’t wash with the Italian though, and heavily bandaged up, Nuvolari competed in the Nations Grand Prix at Monza less than a week later on his motorcycle. It is reported he had to be tied to the bike as his legs were also injured in the car accident.

He won the race.

The following year reports of Nuvolari’s death reportedly hit a German evening newspaper following a sizable accident on his Bianchi 350 motorcycle at the Solitude Circuit near Stuttgart. A concerned telegram had also been sent to Rome and it wasn’t until people saw the Italian traveling home the day after the race that they finally believed he had survived and was relatively unhurt.

By the early ’30s, Nuvolari had made the switch to race cars and was setting the world alight with his skill and bravery. At the Le Mans 24 Hour he and Raymond Sommer competed in an Alfa Romeo. The pair had been doing well until the fuel tank developed a leak. The drivers were forced to continually pit to have chewing gum reapplied to cover the hole. Despite this though, they won and Tazio broke the lap record nine times.

In 1934 and while competing in a race in Northern Italy, Nuvolari crashed his car while taking avoidance action to dodge a stricken Carlo Felice Trossi. The accident resulted in a broken leg for Tazio, and the Italian was ordered to rest up in hospital. Fortunately for us, that wasn’t Nuvolari’s style. Four weeks after his accident, Tazio decided that he was done with being bored and entered himself in the AVUS-Rennen. With one of his legs still in plaster, Tazio’s Maserati was adapted to allow him to operate all three pedals with his other foot. Understandably, Nuvolari suffered from cramps during the high-speed race and he finished fifth. Unbelievably, the Italian took part in the race in the first place.

Tazio would race again that year, but although his leg was soon out of the plaster, it was still causing the Italian considerably amounts of pain. Of course, the show went on though, and Nuvolari continued racing.

Two years later in 1936, Nuvolari suffered one of his bigger accidents – yes, believe it or not his injuries thus far aren’t that bad in comparison – while practicing for the Tripoli Grand Prix. It is alleged that Tazio damaged some of his ribs and may have even damaged some vertebrae. Despite this though, Nuvolari was strapped up in bandages and went out to contest the race the following day. If the stories of his damaged vertebrae are true, then Nuvolari can be considered one of the luckiest drivers ever, for he appeared to suffer no further ill-effects after he healed from the accident.

During practice for the 1938 Pau Grand Prix, Nuvolari’s Alfa suffered a split fuel tank and the car caught on fire. The ensuing accident left Nuvolari with minor bruising and burns to his face, arms and legs. Finally, the Italian was shocked enough to take a break from racing. Annoyed at the shoddy workmanship of the car, Tazio walked away from the Alfa team and travelled to America. He returned to racing with Auto Union a few months later, but World War II soon interrupted motor sport.

After the Second World War had ended in 1945, Nuvolari was 53 years old. Still wanting to compete though, the Italian entered a few races. Towards the end of 1945 Tazio was hit in the face by fuel during an event and this, along with general exposure during his career, lead to severe asthma. It did not lead to Nuvolari’s retirement though, despite the doctors orders. In 1946, Nuvolari contested the Milan Grand Prix while driving one-handed. His other was holding a blood-stained handkerchief to his mouth.

The man was simply unstoppable.

Tazio Nuvolari would eventually survive motor racing, which in fairness is a somewhat incredibly achievement in itself. Furthermore, Nuvolari would go down in history is one of the greatest drivers to have ever graced the tarmac of a racing circuit. He won when he shouldn’t have, even upsetting the Third Reich at times, but continued despite injuries and the personal tragedies of losing both his sons when they were still very young. Tazio died in 1953 at the age of 60 following a deterioration in health and eventually, a stroke.

Drivers continue to injure themselves, either as a result of their passion or as a result of training or moving too quickly in an elevator. But what marks a racing driver out from many other sportspeople is their determination to return to competition as quickly as possible. Racing drivers rarely just quit. Many have died in competition, some reach an age when they feel they cannot keep up anymore and gracefully call it a day. Injury though is just a minor inconvenience in the relentless pursuit of going that little bit faster.

Original article by BlogF1.

You’ll Race Still Quicker On The Highways Of Heaven

Today saw the return of Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber. The Australian has been laid up for most of the winter while his broken leg heals. However, just 12 or so weeks since his cycling accident in Tasmania, Webber was back behind the wheel of a Formula One car. It seems his time spent concentrating on his leg hasn’t deterred the Australian and Mark finished the day in third after 83 laps.

I’m very relieved of course. It has been a tough few months for me, but I’ve had good people around me and the team have been fantastic as well.

There were a lot of questions asked going into today. But I answered some questions for myself and it turned out to be okay. Mark Webber.

Sebastien Buemi set the fastest lap again, although the Swiss pilot was driving a modified 2008 chassis while the other four drivers on the track were all in 2009 cars. Buemi was the busiest man of the day though, racking up an impressive 143 laps before calling it a day. Sebastien concentrated on learning about how the team worked through a race weekend and the squad simulated a qualifying session and race distance.

This has been a useful couple of days for me, running in wet and dry conditions. Even though we are still in the ‘08 car, I have learned a lot in terms of how we operate over a race weekend, as we simulated a qualifying session and the race. Sebastien Buemi.

Heikki Kovalainen was in the cockpit for McLaren and the Finn was the fastest of the 2009 cars on track. Although the MP4-24 was carrying a modified rear wing as the Woking-based team are apparently waiting for a new high-downforce version of the new slim wing. It is expected that Lewis Hamilton will drive the car tomorrow.

Kazuki Nakajima took over from Nico Hulkenberg today and got his first proper drive in the new FW31 car around Jerez. Like with Buemi, Nakajima focused on a race race simulation as well as gathering data about the new slick tyres. Nelson Piquet Jr. continued evaluating the new R29 for Renault, and once again propped up the timing sheet at the bottom. Fernando Alonso will be driving the Renault on Thursday.

Meanwhile in Bahrain…

Things didn’t go quite as well as planned in Bahrain though. The morning started off better than the day previous, with little sign of fog threatening to curtail running as it did on Tuesday. However, shortly after 9.30am, the track officials decided to close the circuit due to a sandstorm blowing over. Felipe Massa managed the fastest lap of the day after completing just 17 laps, followed by Robert Kubica and then Timo Glock.

Earlier in the year, Ferrari had changed their minds about testing in Portugal due to rain being forecast. The team switched to their own test circuit in Italy and tested in private. However, while Portugal received mostly dry weather, Northern Italy was deluged under heavy rain. Once again, it would appear as though Ferrari have been caught out by the forces of nature.

Jerez Test Day Two Results Table		Lap Time Fastest Time Set	Laps Set Number Laps Set
1.	Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso	1m17.591s	143 Laps
2.	Heikki Kovalainen McLaren	1m20.799s	110 Laps
3.	Mark Webber Red Bull Racing	1m21.321s	83 Laps
4.	Kazuki Nakajima Williams	1m21.451s	125 Laps
5.	Nelson Piquet Jr. Renault	1m21.908s	49 Laps
Bahrain Test Day Two Results Table
1.	Felipe Massa Ferrari	1m33.639s	17 Laps
2.	Robert Kubica BMW	1m34.398s	22 Laps
3.	Timo Glock Toyota	1m34.902s	14 Laps

Original article by BlogF1.

Jerez & Bahrain Tests Day Two: Webber Returns & Sand Stops Play

The car looks sleek and follows the new regulations of narrow rear wing and low, wide front wing. The nose appears quite high, unlike the Ferrari and McLaren counterparts, but like Ferrari the team have opted to put the mirrors out wide, connecting them to the sidepod rather than the monocoque. Last season, Red Bull famously debuted the famous shark fin cover, although the launch vehicle seen today didn’t have one. Toyota have tested one though, so Red Bull may still have that part waiting in the wings.

With a dark livery the car actually looks reasonably attractive and will hopefully bring Red Bull Racing closer to the front of the grid. The squad will be eventually be using Renault’s KERS system, although the development across all teams in this area seems to have slowed a little. But after a fairly unimpressive 2008 campaign, the Milton Keynes based team will need every advantage they can get to close the gap to the front runners.

Images © Red Bull Racing.

Original article by BlogF1.

Launches 2009: Red Bull Racing Unveil The RB5

Being a fit and healthy athlete, the pace of Webber’s recovery isn’t really a surprise, and looking back over the years at other accidents which have caused injury to Formula One drivers, Mark is no exception. In 1999, Michael Schumacher impacted the tyre barrier at the Stowe corner at Silverstone. The German world champion sustained a break similar to Webber’s and was forced to sit out part of the season. However, despite receiving such an injury, Schumacher only missed six races and returned for the final two rounds of the championship. Michael took second place in each, and impressively claimed pole position in both.

Back in 1997, Oliver Panis endured a big accident at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Driving down the gentle curve on back part of the circuit between the armco barriers, Panis’s Prost hit the wall on the right before moving over to the left for a second impact. Both of Olivier’s legs were broken and the race was red flagged after the drivers had decided they no longer wanted to drive by the scene with Panis receiving trackside medical attention. Seven races later, Olivier was sitting in his Prost on the grid for the Luxembourg Grand Prix (held at the Nurburgring). Panis qualified eleventh and finished sixth.

Not all injuries were so quick to heal, and perhaps it is a sign of the times when you look further back in history and realise that some drivers didn’t recover as well from damaged limbs. At the 1969 US Grand Prix, Graham Hill sustained two breaks in his legs while driving the often described fragile Lotus 49B. To Hill’s advantage, the US event was the penultimate race of the year and so the Briton only missed one race. However, Hill’s recovery didn’t go so well and when Graham was seen testing the new Lotus 49C, he was clearly in discomfort and needed help getting into and out of the car. Hill never really raced the same again, perhaps in part due to the lack of confidence from those around him, and also in part to the damage he had done to his legs.

However, Webber will have received the very best medical care while he was recovering over Christmas, and the Australian seems determined to get back in the car as soon as possible. The new Red Bull RB5 will be launched on February 9th at Jerez (weather permitting, I presume), and Webber is upbeat and determined not to let this setback inflict on his season.

I’m going to have a crack at driving the car on 11th February, and then we’ll see how that goes. If it goes really well, I’ll be back in on 13th February. Then I’ve got three more tests – Jerez, Valencia and then our last test in Barcelona, with all the teams together – before we go off to Australia.

I’m going alright now. We’re coming out of the back part of the worst of it, and hopefully I won’t be on the crutches too much longer. Can start to test the muscle and the soft tissue in the back of the leg a little bit more when I get more confidence to walk on the leg.

It won’t affect how I drive my car. It affects my conditioning – I need a little bit more preparation, but by the time I get to Melbourne I should be in really good nick again. Mark Webber.

For the upcoming test later in the week, it is presumed that team mate Sebastian Vettel will drive, with the possibility of Scuderia Toro Rosso driver and former Red Bull tester Sebastien Buemi sitting in for Webber in the second chassis.

Original article by BlogF1.

Mark Webber Announces Return Date

If anyone else has been to a grand prix or event where you’ve been able to capture a Formula One driver or personality that you think might be funny/strange enough for a caption, feel free to email them to ollie [at] blogf1.co.uk*. If you do submit a photo, be sure to give a name whom copyright should belong to and any information behind the picture (who/what/where…).

With thanks to Pink Peril for the Mark the Jim Carrey of F1 Webber image. Pink Peril often writes for F1-Pitlane, a collaboration-blog of many site owners and commenters from the F1-blogosphere.

*Or submit link to Flickr (or similar) page, but if ownership of image cannot be proved, the picture will not be used. [/disclaimer]

Original article by BlogF1.

Caption Contest: #73

Formula One pilots are among the best athletes in the world, enduring physical pressures like no other when they compete in a race. They are fit, healthy and very strong. But when they place themselves in situations with increased risk of injury, are they toying with their careers unnecessarily? Geoff Donahue, the director of the 2008 Tasmania Challenge has today admitted that Mark’s future involvement will be carefully considered.

Of course, there is danger all around each and every one of us, but increasing the likelihood of injury just seems a little silly, even if it is for charity. Often, drivers will have something in their contract which prohibits the pursuit of overly dangerous activities, but Webber’s obligations are apparently a little more relaxed.

Juan Pablo Montoya once famously suffered a tennis-related injury in 2005 and despite speculation at the time, the Colombian driver resolutely denied his shoulder injury was the result of coming off his motorcycle. However the injury was inflicted though, Montoya was forced to sit out two races. When Montoya returned to the cockpit in Spain he wasn’t entirely healed and paddock-insiders have since stated that Juan Pablo’s arm was often immobile after races.

Nick Heidfeld has also felt the brunt of cycling accident when he was recovering from a testing accident in 2005. While out cycling he collided with a motorbike which further added to his healing process. Heidfeld was scheduled to return to racing for the remaining three grands prix, but was ultimately forced to sit out the rest of the season.

Earlier in the year, Jenson Button laid down a challenge to eventual championship winner and fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton. Upon hearing about Button’s exploits in triathlons, Hamilton was impressed, but also convinced of his own fitness. Button suggested that the two compete in the same triathlon to settle the argument, and Lewis agreed. However, a few hours later Hamilton’s manager and father pulled his son from the challenge, stating that Lewis has to concentrate on the Formula One campaign.

Was Anthony Hamilton right to stop his son from competing? Is Webber doing the best thing by competing in the Pure Tasmania Challenge? Is Kimi Raikkonen really allowed to go snowboarding during the season? I guess drivers will always pursue a challenge to further their fitness and enjoyment of sport. Part of what they do during the off-season is to keep them in trim form, and there are always going to be inherent dangers in any sporting activity.

I hope Red Bull Racing do not restrict Mark Webber’s contract, preventing him from competing in sports away from the racetrack – it is a decision Mark has to make himself. But what do you think? Is it really sensible to compete when the risks of broken bones and other injuries significantly increases? Or should drivers be allowed to do whatever they want, knowing themselves what the risks and consequences are?

Further Reading

• Coulthard Gently Jabs Webber
• Button Does Well In Triathlon
• Why Hamilton Should Do The Triathlon With Button
• Mark Webber Sustains Broken Leg

Original article by BlogF1.

Should Drivers Compete In Potentially Dangerous Events?

The surgery is complete, a pin inserted and the recovery begins. Mark’s in good spirits. The broken leg is the injury, and beyond that, he’s in really good shape. He has a little bit of a graze on his left forearm, but he has had full scans and everything else is clear.

He’ll be in hospital for at least three days, for sure under a week. I was speaking to him before the operation, and he was already thinking about his rehabilitation. I suspect that as soon as Mark is able to fly, they will be keen to get him back to Europe. They will have people working out his rehab programme now with a view to getting him up and going as soon as possible. Geoff Donohue, Pure Tasmania Challenge Event Director.

Mark’s injury will see him out of action until early in the new year, although having a pin joining the broken bone will undoubtedly accelerate the healing process. Webber will not compete in the Race Of Champions in December either.

While it looks like he’s out of the winter testing programme, we fully expect Mark to make the starting grid in Melbourne next March.

Mark has said he’s relieved to know the driver of the motor vehicle was uninjured and expressed his thanks to the many well wishes from family, friends and supporters.Red Bull Racing Statement.

It isn’t the first time this year that Webber has been involved in a cycling accident, the Red Bull driver having to administer first aid in the hills around Monaco prior to the grand prix in May after a fellow rider struck a car. Although Mark wasn’t hurt in that accident, it does suggest that maybe two-wheeled and four-wheeled sports don’t always go well together.

Original article by BlogF1.

Mark Webber Sustains Broken Leg In Cycling Accident

Original article by BlogF1.

Caption Contest: #64

Image Copyright © GEPA, Andreas Reichart.

Original article by BlogF1.

Caption Contest: #62

Original article by BlogF1.

Caption Contest: #59

The team now believe that the cause of the gearbox problem may have been due to static electricity produced by a tram traveling under that particular part of the circuit at the time of the problem. Webber was in fifth gear, but the moog valve (that controls the gear selection) had been triggered into selecting seventh. Webber pulled into the pits, despite having a great race until that point, and vacated his car.

At Turn 13 the gearbox selected two gears at once. The moog valve controlling the gearshift had been triggered into changing to seventh while he was still in fifth. Yet after interrogating the software we can see that it at no time was allowing for this. We can see a momentary electrical surge at the precise moment, which seems to have triggered the moog valve.

It was exactly what [Scuderia Toro Rosso] suffered from with Bourdais in Friday practice, at exactly the same place. A tram line runs beneath the track at that corner and it seems as if static from a passing tram at the very moment Mark was in the corner passed through the ground. Christian Horner.

The thing is, Mr. Horner, is that there are another 16 (non-Red Bull) drivers on track racing around all weekend, and presumably the trams were running throughout this period. So why weren’t other squads affected as well? Why was there not a spate of electrical surges with others teams, causing their ‘boxes to jump around the cogs without reason? It would appear that while this was Webber’s first race-ending mechanical failure of the year, the Red Bull gearbox is still a little delicate in some circumstances.

Original article by BlogF1.

Static Electricity From Trams: Possibly The Oddest Excuse For A Race Retirement, Ever

Image Copyright © GEPA/Franz Pammer.

Original article by BlogF1.

Caption Contest: #56

Image Copyright © GEPA/Mathias Kniepeiss.

Original article by BlogF1.

Caption Contest: #55

The last time a Briton won at Silverstone was in 2000, that year the race went to David Coulthard. Hamilton has now become the eleventh (twelfth if you rightly include Tony Brooks) British winner of the British Grand Prix and it was the McLaren driver’s seventh victory in Formula One; the team’s 159th.

It is definitely and by far the best victory I’ve ever had. It was one of the toughest races I have ever done. I was thinking out there if I win it it will be the best race I have ever done, not just because of the home crowd.

On the last laps I could see the crowd starting standing up, and I was praying, praying ‘just finish’. You can imagine the emotions going on inside and I wanted to get it around. Lewis Hamilton.

Nick Heidfeld has been suffering in qualifying lately and the German driver has been complaining of temperature problems with his Bridgestone tyres. However, yesterday Heidfeld put his BMW in fifth and today he brought it home in second, consoling the team after team mate Robert Kubica retired.

It was a good race. I am happy with second place because today it was the best I could achieve. Qualifying went well and in the race we did everything right. Obviously it was crucial to make the right tyre decisions.

At the first stop we were wondering if we should stay with the used set of inters, but luckily we then decided on new tyres. We were expecting a small shower, but when I drove down Hanger Straight and saw a black wall in front of me I thought I should expect more than that.

The most difficult moments in the race were when cars were overtaking me who had been lapped, but were just on better tyres for the conditions at that time. There was so much water and I couldn’t see where it was lying. Once before Abbey I almost spun, but just managed to keep the car on the track. Nick Heidfeld.

Rubens Barrichello gave Honda something to shout about as the most experienced driver in Formula One finished in third after starting the race in sixteenth. Barrichello drove a mature and outstanding race and for me, is the driver of the day. While Lewis won, he had the car underneath him to do just that, Rubens has a dog under him – his qualifying position proving that. But the Brazilian drove superbly in the difficult conditions and fully-deserves his podium.

I never lost the belief I have in me with the speed and everything. It was obviously a lucky day and it seemed to happen to me. I love the wet weather conditions but it was a perfect race.

We had a minor problem on the pitstop. I thought I had the fuel already but they didn’t let me go. But that was a minor problem because it was the right decision for us to take extreme wet tyres.

I was passing people from inside to outside, it was just magic. So I thought that was a good decision because I went off at Club and nearly hit the wall. It was Club and Abbey that were the most difficult ones. I said I am coming in and coming in for the extremes.

I have this great feeling, it is like I am young. I am smiling to the problems and I am working more. I love the sport, I love the speed and I cannot live without it. Rubens Barrichello.

Ross Brawn, Honda’s team principal, paid tribute to Barrichello’s drive as well, praising his driver and remembering the times they spent at Ferrari together.

Rubens had a great race. He really pushed when he had to, and the middle of the race was fantastic. It was a bit like old days. The team did a great job as well. Some great calls during the race and we had the right tyres at the right time.

We had a problem with the fuel rig which really probably cost us second place, so that’s frustrating, but we shouldn’t be too greedy. Ross Brawn.

David Coulthard, competing in his final British Grand Prix, lasted all of about two minutes. The Red Bull made contact with the Scuderia Toro Rosso and both slid off onto the the grass. It wasn’t Coulthard’s finest moment from his 15 year career, but the Scot put his hand up, accepted blame and apologised.

I’m extremely disappointed and sorry for the team. I’ve taken out two Red Bull cars so that’s obviously the worst case scenario. You have to take your opportunities when they come in a race like this and I thought I saw a gap. Unfortunately it turned out it was a bad decision.

The visibility was incredibly bad as you can imagine. I was very close to Sebastian after Abbey, as he had a wobble coming out of there. There was a clear gap down the inside, but unfortunately it was closing as I made the move.

I’m sorry for him that we made contact and went into the gravel, I’m sorry for Red Bull too, as it was two cars out in one hit. I’m extremely disappointed for this to happen at my last British Grand Prix. David Coulthard.

Coulthard’s team mate, Mark Webber, had a better weekend, the Australian qualifying on the front row. However, his race was almost over sooner than David’s after Webber spun on the opening lap, undoing all his hard work from Saturday. Even though Webber would go on to drive a very well-managed race and reclaim many of the lost positions, it so easily could have been much, much better.

Unfortunately I dropped it on the entrance to Becketts on the first la. I was quite close to Kimi [Raikkonen] and just got on the white line. I lost the car on the exit and had to let the field go past, so it was clear to spin back round.

After that it was about making the right call for the right conditions. It was a difficult day to go car racing and it just didn’t go our way today. The guys did a good job all week and it’s a shame we couldn’t convert our good qualifying performance. Mark Webber.

Fernando Alonso was upbeat after the race, despite losing out for being on the worn tyres rather than getting a new set at the pit stop. The decision cost the Spaniard a lot of time and he may have even lost a podium because of it. However, the conditions at Silverstone were difficult and Alonso was just happy to have added a few points towards his campaign.

Like every time it rains, anything can happen and that was the case. There were times when you had the right tyre and others when you had the wrong one and you had to keep the others at bay and try to stay on track because you knew it would be a good result.

It’s not bad. It’s a good feeling. Sixth position is three points that are good for the drivers’ and the constructors’ championships. We missed a chance because Barrichello finished on the podium and maybe we could have been there, but it’s okay. Fernando Alonso.

On the final lap Kazuki Nakajima lost seventh place to Jarno Trulli, but despite this and all his spins, the Japanese driver still managed to collect one point for Williams after a weekend the team will want to very quickly move on from.

It was good to score a point again, but it was a shame to lose seventh place to Jarno on the last lap. His tyres were in a better condition than mine, though, and he was just a bit quicker than me in the final laps when the track was drying out.

It was enjoyable out there today, although a little hard to control the car in the opening and closing stages. The team made a really good decision to put me on the extreme wets at just the right time and so I was able to manage the car well in such wet conditions. Kazuki Nakajima.

Original article by BlogF1.

Silverstone 2008: Post-Race Quotes

2009 will be Webber’s third year at Red Bull and while the team haven’t announced the second driver yet, many are expecting it to be Sebastian Vettel. It is interesting that the team have only given Mark one extra year, but in today’s climate and the appeal of running a younger driver who posseses talent but not the price-tag of an older star, it is perhaps only to be expected.

It was pretty easy. Coming here last year I settled in quickly… We have consistently performed. It’s an ambitious environment and we can be proud of our season so far. Mark Webber.

So far Mark has enjoyed a relatively consistent season with the RB4, scoring points in six of the eight races thus far. While Coulthard captured a podium in Canada, Mark leads his more experienced team mate with a total of 18 points to Coulthard’s 6.

Original article by BlogF1.

Mark Webber Receives One-Year Extension To His Red Bull Contract

Heikki was following the Williams of Kazuki Nakajima at the time of the infringement on an out-lap and Mark Webber lost a fair amount of time following the slow moving McLaren in his Red Bull. This penalty means Kovalainen has been knocked back to tenth on the grid with Hamilton starting in thirteenth.

With thanks to Axis of Oversteer. To see the full video please visit this post on the Axis of Oversteer website.

Original article by BlogF1.

Heikki Kovalainen Gets Five Grid Place Penalty

The triathlon is often regarded as one of the toughest events to do as an athlete, combining a 1500 metre swim, a 43km cycle ride and finishing with a 10km run. On Sunday, Button finished 117th out of 1700 participants and said he was “chuffed to bits” with the result.

I’m absolutely chuffed to bits. I was hoping to break 2 hours 30 minutes so I am very happy with my result and really enjoyed it. It was a fantastic experience. I was in agony on the run after pushing hard on the bike, but the crowds were a great support. Jenson Button.

Button isn’t the only driver to use other disciplines to further his fitness and strength, Mark Webber being well-known for organizing his Tasmania Challenge each year during the off-season. Set in the grueling countryside of Tasmania, Webber combines canoeing with cycling and hiking and asks for sports-people the world over to form teams and take part. Webber’s challenge raises a lot of money for many charities and offers athletes from a variety of sports to try something a little different.

Alex Zanardi also takes a keen interest in sports outside of motor racing, the Italian recently took part in the New York Marathon on a hand bike. Zanardi lost both his legs in an accident in 2001, but took part in the 26-mile trek on an adapted wheelchair/bike alongside abled-body competitor Heikki Kovalainen who ran the distance in just over 3.5 hours.

Original article by BlogF1.

Button Does Well In Windsor Triathlon

Denton suffered injuries to his arm, which caused Webber concern as he attempted to stem the bleeding at the scene on the incident. An ambulance was called and Mark also informed members of his team in case they were able to help out. Denton was rushed to hospital and needed 90 stitches in one arm and one leg. Mark is said to have spoken about the accident to British broadcaster ITV, so UK viewers should expect something in Saturday’s qualifying build-up.

This accident reminded me of Nick Heidfeld’s incident in 2005. While recovering from a testing accident, Heidfeld went out for a bike ride and was struck by a motorcycle, further delaying his recovery and return to Formula One racing. Jenson Button has also suffered injury on a bike as well, although his injury was more related to pride than anything else, the Honda driver not doing very well in last year’s Goodwood Hillclimb ride. Perhaps drivers should just stay on four wheels, rather than attempt two.

Original article by BlogF1.

F1 Drivers Should Stick To Four Wheels