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Famed for smoking, drinking and a charming personality, James Hunt first came to Formula One in 1973 and by 1976 was crowned world champion. However, despite winning seven races up until the end of his glorious ‘76 season, Hunt hadn’t managed to capture the British fan’s hearts at home by winning the UK race. In fact, prior to his victory at Silverstone in 1977, Hunt’s best result on home soil was fourth, claimed first in his maiden season and again two years later. Continue Reading

Lewis Hamilton took the reins of the McLaren for the final day of testing at Silverstone today, the Briton going comfortably fastest ahead of Timo Glock in the Toyota. Glock did well to finish in second, the German had a coming-together with David Coulthard on Hangar Straight. However, finishing in second completes a very good test for the Cologne-based team and they are in a buoyant mood prior to the British Grand Prix next weekend. Continue Reading

The second day of the Silverstone test has wrapped up and despite the odd shower, most teams had a reasonably productive day. Heikki Kovalainen went fastest in the McLaren MP4-23 and edged out the improved Toyota of Jarno Trulli. With test driver Kamui Kobayashi going fourth yesterday it would seem that Trulli and Glock’s recent results were not flashes in the pans, but actual improvement. Jarno was focused on set up work for the British Grand Prix and covered 95 laps. Continue Reading

In the final stages of the French Grand Prix, Heikki Kovlainen was chasing down Jarno Trulli and was all over the gear box of the Toyota. Going through the fast sequence of corners in the middle of the lap, Kovalainen made his move and drew alongside the Italian. However, Trulli squeezed Heikki right over to the left and it looked as though they may have touched wheels. Trulli said they didn’t but it came very, very close. Kovalainen was forced to get out of the throttle to prevent himself from flying off the road. Continue Reading

On the opening lap of the French Grand Prix, McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton made a move on the Scuderia Toro Rosso driver Sebastian Vettel and passed on the left at high speed. For Lewis though, his speed was too much for the amount of tarmac left and he ran over the green run-off area. From the TV angle, it looked as though Lewis had completely passed Vettel but the incident was deemed to have been Hamilton gaining a place unfairly. Thus, Lewis received a drive-thru penalty. Was it a just and fair penalty? Continue Reading

Heikki Kovalainen as added to McLaren’s woe by getting himself a penalty to move him closer to his team mate on the grid. Two weeks ago Lewis Hamilton was given a ten-place demotion for France, and now Heikki has collected a five-place demotion for blocking Mark Webber during qualifying. To say the Woking team are going to have their work cut out tomorrow is a bit of an understatement. Continue Reading

As if the retirement of Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen in a race where BMW won wasn’t enough to open up the title campaign, the McLaren driver has been hit with a ten grid-slot penalty for his part in the accident that took himself and the Finn out of the grand prix yesterday. The accident saw Hamilton hit the back of Raikkonen has the Ferrari waited at the end of the pitlane alongside eventual race winner Robert Kubica. Also charged was Nico Rosberg, who moments later clipped the back of the McLaren. Continue Reading

Lewis Hamilton has retired from the Canadian Grand Prix after hitting the rear of Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari during the first safety car period of the race. On lap 16 the safety car was thrown out on track to allow marshals to clear the stricken Force India of Adrian Sutil off the track. As soon as the pitlane opened, most of the grid poured in. However, the exit of the pitlane was not open as Robert Kubica and Kimi Raikkonen left their garages side by side. Continue Reading

Judging by the comments and from watching the qualifying in my hotel room, the grid-deciding for the Canadian Grand Prix was certainly exciting. Sebastian Vettel couldn’t take part following an accident which rendered his Scuderia Toro Rosso undriveable for the afternoon, and then his team mate suffered a problem with his gear box in this morning’s warm-up. Although Sebastien Bourdais has been given a five grid-slot penalty, news sites on the internet are undecided if he will start in 19th or 20th. Continue Reading

In 2007, McLaren were thrown out of the Formula One Constructors Championship, and as per Bernie Ecclestone’s ruling, they should be placed at the bottom end of the pitlane for the following season. The winners of the constructors - in this case, Ferrari - were placed at the opposite end in the first garage for 2008. However, it was announced just prior to the Australian Grand Prix that a deal had been struck and McLaren were in garage five. Until Max Mosley intervened, that is, and McLaren were returned to the end for the Bahrain race. But now it seems, they’re back. Continue Reading