Saturday 30 June 2012

F1: Ecclestone - No Fear Of Hockenheim Arrest

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone could face bribery charges...

Source: http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-bernie-ecclestone-no-fear-of-hockenheim-arrest/

Roberto Bussinello Jenson Button Tommy Byrne

Eric Boullier: “Kimi took all the opportunities that he could”

Lotus has logged strong podium finishes in 2012, but a first win continues to elude the Enstone team. In Valencia Romain Grosjean was behind Fernando Alonso and potentially in a position to challenge the Ferrari when he retired with an … Continue reading

Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/06/28/eric-boullier-kimi-took-all-the-opportunities-that-he-could/

Adolf Brudes Martin Brundle Gianmaria Bruni

Stefano Domenicali: “We know that things can change very quickly”

Not surprisingly Stefano Domenicali was full of praise for Fernando Alonso after the European GP, but as ever the Ferrari boss cautioned that the team should keep its feet on the ground. Domenicali said was delighted with the way Alonso … Continue reading

Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2012/06/25/stefano-domenicali-we-know-that-things-can-change-very-quickly/

Pedro Matos Chaves Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever

Formula One Goes High Definition

This week FOM, the Formula One Management company run by Bernie Ecclestone, has announced it will be providing native High Definition Formula One coverage for the very first time.  This heralds the entrance of the sport into the super clear broadcast territory. High Definition television has been available for some time now in the United [...]

Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/formula-one-goes-high-definition/

Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen

Red Bull under the spotlight


Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel celebrate with Red Bull boss Christian Horner on the podium © Getty Images
Sections of the international media have questioned Red Bull's strategic approach to the world championship. After Sebastian Vettel won the Brazilian Grand Prix from the team's points leader Mark Webber at Interlagos, Der Spiegel noted: "Red Bull gives (Fernando) Alonso wings". Not switching the places means that Spaniard Alonso can take his Ferrari to just second place this weekend in Abu Dhabi and be champion, whereas the alternative strategy would have set up Webber for a straight fight. "It is not easy for Webber to drive in a team that considers him a burden to be up against Vettel," said La Gazzetta dello Sport. Tuttosport noted that it seems "the Austrian team would be happier to lose than to see Webber beat Vettel". "No team orders at Red Bull. Another own goal," headlined La Repubblica. Joan Villadelprat wrote in his El Pais column: "Had Red Bull opted for Webber a few races ago, the Australian would probably now be champion." Red Bull, however, is unrepentant. Team owner Dietrich Mateschitz told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper that "second under proper conditions can often be more valuable than a first". But there is a feeling that the team is not simply giving up the fight for the drivers' title. One columnist in Brazil's Globo wondered if Vettel's radio message in Abu Dhabi might sound something like 'So ... Mark is faster than you'. "I'm always in favour of leaving the fight on the track with equal chances for both sides," said Rubens Barrichello. "But I wonder if they would do that if the situation was in reverse. “Mark has done a great job this year and he has been told by his team what position he is in," said Lewis Hamilton. "Against adversity he has kept at it. I want to see Mark win." Webber believes that, if a strategy is deployed, it will only be on the "last lap" of the season this weekend. "Sebastian is part of a team," said Niki Lauda, who believes Webber should be backed fully by Red Bull. "If he does anything it should be helping Webber and not just on the last lap." Webber is quoted by Bild newspaper: "It makes sense. Otherwise it would mean that Ferrari's team orders would have paid off for Fernando." Red Bull team boss Christian Horner hints that sense will ultimately prevail. "We have already given too many presents to Fernando this year," he is quoted by Autosprint.

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/red_bull_under_the_spotlight.php

Pedro Diniz Duke Dinsmore Frank Dochnal

Marussia Virgin Racing Launch Their 2011 Car

Marussia Virgin Racing have launched their car to take on the 2011 world championship in a lavish London ceremony. The Marussia name now preceeds Virgin following a major tie up with the Russian sportscar manufacturer and the team at the end of 2010.  It has led to the new car being designated as the MVR-02. [...]

Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/marussia-virgin-racing-launch-their-2011-car/

JeanPierre Beltoise Olivier Beretta Allen Berg

Formula One video games: Arcade to Computer - 1980s

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/I9umTzmdgwE/formula-one-video-games-arcade-to.html

Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever Andrea Chiesa

Alonso the new favourite


Fernando Alonso is the new favourite for the title © Getty Images
Fernando Alonso is the new favourite to win the Formula One drivers’ title, said David Coulthard in his column for The Telegraph.
“He is the man with the momentum and, on the same basis that I backed Mark Webber to win the title before Korea, is now my favourite to claim the world title in Abu Dhabi on Nov 14. “When the cars are so evenly-matched you have to back the man in possession. Especially when that man is a two-time world champion and arguably the finest driver of his generation.”
The Mirror’s Byron Young drew comparisons between Alonso and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher as the Spaniard bids to become the sport’s youngest ever triple world champion.
“Like Schumacher, Alonso accepts no opposition within his team. Ultimately he fell out with McLaren over their refusal in 2007 to bring Lewis Hamilton to heel. “He returned to Renault on condition he was No.1, only to be at the centre of the Singapore cheat scandal - engineered to hand him victory. “The Spaniard has always denied involvement but at the German GP in July he was brazen enough to radio Ferrari to rein in team-mate Felipe Massa so he could start the winning streak that has taken him to the brink of history.”

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/10/alonso_the_new_favourite_1.php

Manny Ayulo Luca Badoer Giancarlo Baghetti

Robert Kubica Hospitalised Following Rally Accident

UPDATE ON KUBICA’s CONDITION:  http://wp.me/p3uiu-11K Renault Lotus F1 driver Robert Kubica has been airlifted to hospital following a car accident while competing on a rally. The incident, described as a high speed accident, left the Pole injured and he had to be airlifted to hospital.  His co-driver Jakub Gerber was uninjured in the incident. While [...]

Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/robert-kubica-hospitalised-following-rally-accident/

Kurt Ahrens Jr Christijan Albers Michele Alboreto

Chequers for Salvadori...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/4d8T2tO5Xt4/chequers-for-salvadori.html

Alberto Colombo Erik Comas Franco Comotti

Vettel will get faster and faster... but will he be able to overtake?

Source: http://www.metrof1.com/blogs/metrof1/2011/10/vettel-will-get-faster-and-faster-but-will-he-be-able-to-overtake.html

John Cannon Eitel Cantoni Bill Cantrell

Hamilton decision-making under the microscope


Lewis Hamilton has come in for criticism © Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton’s decision-making ability has come into question after he crashed into the side of Felipe Massa on lap one, causing his early retirement from the Italian Grand Prix. This incident has raised questions about his temperament and ability to bounce back. Kevin Garside of the Daily Telegraph questions how much we should really be expecting from Hamilton. “Perhaps this is how it must be with Hamilton, an instinctive racer compelled to chase the impossible through gaps that don’t exist. He took the best part of an hour to compose himself before walking out into the sun to face the cameras. This was Hamilton’s third DNF of the season but the first of his own making. Occasions like this are perhaps reminders to us not to expect too much. “On the days when Hamilton’s insane alliance of guts, skill and derring-do appear capable of delivering the world it is easy to forget he is only 25, an age when it is all too common for boys to believe themselves men.” Byron Young of the Mirror also pulls no punches about Hamilton’s performance and was heavily critical of the manoeuvre which meant he left the weekend pointless. “To say that his dive down the outside at Della Roggia chicane was optimistic would be generous. Mystifying, definitely, with so much at stake. So often Hamilton has made them stick but yesterday the outcome was all too predictable.”

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/09/hamilton_decisionmaking_under_1.php

Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler

Friday 29 June 2012

hey guys im new

whats up every body. im new to this web site ive been building for quite a while since a kid. i have lots of pics and builds i have alot of time on my hands when i dont race nitro rc i have plastic and cement waiting. hope you like my builds my pics r not the best as in the from a crappy camera but ill do the best i can thanks guys

Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/1022523.aspx

Sebastien Bourdais Thierry Boutsen Johnny Boyd

Alonso richest among current F1 Drivers - Forbes List

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/X7hSxEa19ck/alonso-richest-among-current-f1-drivers.html

Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels Edgar Barth

F1: What’s the ‘Dealio with So many loose Drain covers?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/i7i5fypi2Iw/f1-whats-dealio-with-so-many-loose.html

Philippe Adams Walt Ader Kurt Adolff

Team orders in spotlight again


Will Christian Horner regret not utilising team orders in Brazil? © Getty Images
Michael Spearman of The Sun, says that the £65,000 fine Ferrari received for breaching the team orders ban in Germany will seem like loose change if Fernando Alonso wins the drivers’ title in Abu Dhabi.
“The extra seven points Alonso collected when Ferrari ordered Felipe Massa to move over for him in Germany earlier in the season are now looking even more crucial. “And the £65,000 fine they picked up for ruthlessly breaking the rules will seem loose change if Alonso clinches the title in his first year with the Maranello team. “Red Bull could have switched the result yesterday given their crushing dominance and still celebrated their first constructors' championship just five years after coming into the sport. “That would also have given Webber an extra seven points, leaving him just one behind Alonso.”
The Guardian’s Paul Weaver says that if Fernando Alonso does take the drivers’ title in Abu Dhabi, Ferrari owes a debt of gratitude to Red Bull for their decision not to employ team orders in Brazil.
“If Alonso does take the title next week it would not be inappropriate were he and Ferrari to send a few gallons of champagne to Red Bull's headquarters in Milton Keynes. “While Red Bull should be heartily applauded for the championship they did win today their apparent acceptance that Ferrari might carry off the more glamorous prize continues to baffle Formula One and its globetrotting supporters. “Their refusal to make life easy for Webber, who has led for much of the season and is still seven points ahead of Vettel, means that whatever happens in the desert next week Alonso, the only driver who was capable of taking the championship in the race today, only has to secure second place to guarantee his third world title.”
The Independent’s David Tremayne is also of the opinion that Red Bull may regret not using team orders in Brazil.
“Had Red Bull elected to adopt team orders and let Webber win – something that the governing body allows when championships are at stake – Webber would have left Brazil with 245 points – just one point off the lead. For some that was confirmation of his suggestion that Vettel is the team's favoured driver – which generated an angry call from team owner Dietrich Mateschitz in Austria and was much denied by team principal, Christian Horner. “And it sets up a situation where, if the result is repeated next weekend, as is likely, Vettel and Webber will tie on 256, five behind Alonso.”
The Mirror’s Byron Young has put Lewis Hamilton’s fading title chances down to an inferior McLaren machine and he admits the 2008 World Champion now needs a miracle.
“Sebastian Vettel's victory sends the world title fight to a four-way showdown for the first time in the sport's history. “Hamilton goes there as part of that story with a 24-point deficit to Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, but with just 25 on offer in the final round in six days' time it would take more than a miracle. “Driving an outclassed McLaren he slugged it out against superior machinery and stiff odds to finish fourth.”

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/team_orders_in_spotlight_again_1.php

Louis Chiron Joie Chitwood Bob Christie

Campaign launched to save Team Lotus


© Save Team Lotus
One side of the Lotus naming dispute has been put forward on a new and in-depth webpage called www.saveteamlotus.com. The basic background is that the Lotus Racing F1 team had its naming rights revoked for next season by Group Lotus and, in order to keep racing under the Lotus name, bought the Team Lotus brand off David Hunt, who had owned it since the original team’s last race in 1994. Group Lotus has now taken Lotus Racing to court to try and stop it using the historic name in Formula One next year. The issue has been a source of constant confusion for many fans and the new webpage offers a breakdown of David Hunt’s and Team Lotus’ side of the argument.

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/campaign_launched_to_save_team_1.php

Mauro Baldi Bobby Ball Marcel Balsa

Audi R18 e-tron quattro makes History at 24 Hours of Le Mans

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/l_2vFpM1WOo/audi-r18-e-tron-quattro-makes-history.html

Tommy Byrne Giulio Cabianca Phil Cade

McLaren claim pit stop record | F1 Fanatic round-up

McLaren claim pit stop record is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

In the round-up: McLaren set 'fastest ever pit stop' • Just three teams for Silverstone test • 2012 development rate "fierce"

McLaren claim pit stop record is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/jzHnNgOQoyo/

Alberto Colombo Erik Comas Franco Comotti

Vettel set for titles aplenty


© Daily Telegraph
Tom Cary says in his column in the Daily Telegraph that the man dubbed ‘Baby Schumi’ has plenty of time to match or even surpass his compatriot’s record haul of seven world titles after he cinched his first in the Abu Dhabi night.
“Here, after all, is a young man, already dubbed ‘Baby Schumi’ by Germany’s tabloid press, winning the first of what will presumably be multiple world championships, and all at the tender age of 23. Plenty of time yet to match Schumacher's incredible haul of seven world titles. And yet, their phenomenal ability to drive racing cars apart, there is little similarity between the two men. “There are still lingering doubts over his racing ability but with such blistering qualifying pace he is nearly always leading from the front anyway. Vettel is set for multiple world championships. Just don’t call him Baby Schumi.”
The Guardian’s Paul Weaver says it was difficult to begrudge Vettel his moment of glory after he won the first of what will be many world titles. He also looks back at some of the season’s highlights.
“An amazing Formula One season produced its final twist here on Sunday when Sebastian Vettel, who had never led the title race, won his first world championship. It is difficult to begrudge him his glory, for he had more poles (10) than any other driver and shared the most wins (five) with Fernando Alonso. There will be red faces as well as red cars and overalls at Ferrari, though, for deciding to bring their man in when they did, only to see him re-emerge into heavy traffic. “Among the highlights, and every race felt like a highlight after the bore-start in Bahrain, there was that wonderful beginning to his McLaren career by Jenson Button, who won two of his first four races, even though he couldn't keep up the pace, especially in qualifying. “Hamilton once again drove his heart out, and outperformed a car that looked a little too ordinary at times. He was superb in Montreal. Then there was Webber, the Anglophile Aussie who was the favourite among most neutrals to win the title. There was that spectacular crash when he ran into the back of Heikki Kovalainen and the most famous of his four wins, at Silverstone, when he said to his team at the end of the race: 'Not bad for a No2 driver.' “But in the end there was only one German who mattered. It was the remarkable Vettel. This will be the first of a clutch of championships for him.”
The Independent’s David Tremayne focuses on the plight of the other title contenders, writing it is easier to feel more sorry for one than the other.
“It was impossible not to feel for both Webber and Alonso. Yet while a frustrated Alonso gestured at Petrov after the race, the Australian, predictably, refused to complain about his pitstop timing. “A world championship seemed an inevitable part of Sebastian Vettel's future, but it came a little sooner than most expected, after his recent tribulations. You wouldn't bet against several more, and if that record-breaking streak continues, perhaps even Schumacher's achievements will be overshadowed.”
And the Mirror’s Byron Young elaborates further on the petulant behaviour of Fernando Alonso on his slowing down lap after his title dreams ended behind the Renault of Vitaly Petrov.
“Fernando Alonso was hurled into more controversy last night for a wild gesture at the former Lada racer who cost him the title. But the Spaniard brushed off accusations he gave Russian Vitaly Petrov the finger for ruining his title hopes by blocking him for 40 laps as they duelled over sixth place. "The Ferrari ace was caught on television cruising alongside the Renault driver on the slowing down lap and gesticulating from the cockpit. Petrov was unrepentant: "What was I supposed to do? Just get out of his way, pull to the side? I don't think that is how we race. It was important for the team for me to get points."

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/vettel_set_for_titles_aplenty_1.php

John Cordts David Coulthard Piers Courage

A London GP… How about one on Mars?

It is no great surprise that on the morning after the sentencing in Germany of Dr Gerhard Gribkowsky to a lengthy prison term for accepting a bribe in the sale process of the Formula One group – and the obvious questions that arise from that verdict – there is a story in the English newspapers, [...]

Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/a-london-gp-how-about-one-on-mars/

Raul Boesel Menato Boffa Bob Bondurant

Dario races onto Late Night show...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/clrEEIVzZVE/dario-races-onto-late-night-show.html

David Brabham Gary Brabham Jack Brabham†

Will Mercedes offer Schumacher a new contract?

There was a certain inevitability, given the history of Michael Schumacher's career, about the fact that his first podium finish since his comeback involved a degree of controversy.

In Valencia, Schumacher drove the latest in a series of strong races to finally deliver on the potential he has shown with Mercedes more or less since the start of the year.

In the end, the controversy was much ado about nothing - the man who is notorious for pushing the boundaries of acceptability did nothing wrong.

Red Bull's Mark Webber reported to his team that Schumacher had his DRS overtaking aid, which boosts straight-line speed, open as they passed waved yellow caution flags late in the race.

The rules say a driver must slow down significantly for yellow flags; Schumacher did - case closed.

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.


His third in the European Grand Prix has been a long time coming. It was Schumacher's first podium finish since the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix, when he was driving for Ferrari, but it should arguably have happened already this season, by far his strongest since his comeback at the start of 2010 after three years in retirement.

In 2010 and 2011, Schumacher struggled compared to team-mate Nico Rosberg.

In the first year of his comeback, Schumacher was nowhere near him; by the second half of last year the two were evenly matched in races, but the younger man out-qualified the veteran 15-4 over the whole season.

This season, finally, has been different. On performance, there has been virtually nothing to choose between them in qualifying or races.

Each has scored a pole position - although Schumacher lost his in Monaco to a grid penalty - and only a dreadful reliability record on the seven-time champion's car has stopped him scoring many more points than he has.

While Rosberg has completed every lap, Schumacher has finished only three races and of his five retirements only one has been his fault.

So where might a podium have come based on his performances prior to this one?

Schumacher was running third in Australia when he retired, but he would probably have finished fifth there. His tyre degradation was too severe to challenge Lewis Hamilton's McLaren or hold off the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Webber, who filled the three places behind winner Jenson Button.

Mercedes think Schumacher would have gone on to finish second to a dominant Rosberg in China had he not retired immediately after his pit stop because a front wheel had not been fitted correctly.

But other teams believe the two McLarens would have beaten Schumacher and possibly the Red Bulls, too.

His pole lap in Monaco was particularly impressive and that would almost certainly have been converted into at least a podium finish. But first there was a five-place grid penalty for causing a crash in Spain, and then he retired from the race with a fuel-pressure failure.

When it finally came, the podium finish owed something to the unusual circumstances of the race and a lot to Hamilton being taken out by Williams's Pastor Maldonado. But it would be hard to argue Schumacher didn't deserve it on the balance of the year.

When he announced his comeback, he said he wanted to win another world title. But as soon as it became obvious from early in 2010 that he was going to struggle, he has always maintained that getting back on to the pace would be a long-term matter.

No-one expected it to take as long as it has. But perhaps that is to underestimate how much he lost in his three years away, his age - he is now 43 - and the incredible depth of talent in today's field.

Schumacher is still some way short of the driver he once was, a man who could consistently dance on a limit beyond that of anyone else.

But taking this season on average, there is now virtually nothing to choose on pace between him and Rosberg - the one exception being China, where the younger man had the best part of half a second on his team-mate.

That, though, puts Mercedes in an intensely awkward position and facing a very difficult decision - because Schumacher's contract runs out at the end of this year.

The problem is, good as Rosberg is, few outside Mercedes believe he is a match for the three towering talents of this generation - Fernando Alonso, Hamilton and Vettel.

Yet this is a team with aspirations to win the world title and some would argue they are putting themselves at an automatic disadvantage with their current driver line-up.

So do they offer Schumacher another contract on the basis of his improved performance, continue to benefit from the undoubted marketing benefits of his presence in the team as a driver and hope they can build a car that is better than a Red Bull, a McLaren and a Ferrari? Or do they go for someone else?

They are known to be interested in Hamilton, the only one of the big three who is potentially available to take his place.

But Hamilton may well not be available - he seems more likely to either stick with McLaren or to try to persuade Red Bull they should take him on given the reasonable possibility they could lose Vettel to Ferrari at the end of next year.

Yet how long can Mercedes expect Schumacher - who will be 44 next January - to be able to continue at this level?

In which case, should they gamble on a younger man who may represent the future, someone like the increasingly impressive Paul di Resta, for example, who just happens to be a Mercedes protege?

What would you do?

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/06/schumacher_finally_makes_his_r.html

Bob Bondurant Felice Bonetto Jo Bonnier

Banker jailed in Ecclestone bribe case | F1 Fanatic round-up

Banker jailed in Ecclestone bribe case is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

In the round-up: Ecclestone was "driving force" in payments to jailed Gribkowsky • Ecclestone tells paper he'll back London Grand Prix

Banker jailed in Ecclestone bribe case is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/YtFaDm2SPfo/

Lucien Bianchi Gino Bianco Hans Binder

Thursday 28 June 2012

A London GP… How about one on Mars?

It is no great surprise that on the morning after the sentencing in Germany of Dr Gerhard Gribkowsky to a lengthy prison term for accepting a bribe in the sale process of the Formula One group – and the obvious questions that arise from that verdict – there is a story in the English newspapers, [...]

Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/a-london-gp-how-about-one-on-mars/

Philippe Alliot Cliff Allison Fernando Alonso

Will Mercedes offer Schumacher a new contract?

There was a certain inevitability, given the history of Michael Schumacher's career, about the fact that his first podium finish since his comeback involved a degree of controversy.

In Valencia, Schumacher drove the latest in a series of strong races to finally deliver on the potential he has shown with Mercedes more or less since the start of the year.

In the end, the controversy was much ado about nothing - the man who is notorious for pushing the boundaries of acceptability did nothing wrong.

Red Bull's Mark Webber reported to his team that Schumacher had his DRS overtaking aid, which boosts straight-line speed, open as they passed waved yellow caution flags late in the race.

The rules say a driver must slow down significantly for yellow flags; Schumacher did - case closed.

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.


His third in the European Grand Prix has been a long time coming. It was Schumacher's first podium finish since the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix, when he was driving for Ferrari, but it should arguably have happened already this season, by far his strongest since his comeback at the start of 2010 after three years in retirement.

In 2010 and 2011, Schumacher struggled compared to team-mate Nico Rosberg.

In the first year of his comeback, Schumacher was nowhere near him; by the second half of last year the two were evenly matched in races, but the younger man out-qualified the veteran 15-4 over the whole season.

This season, finally, has been different. On performance, there has been virtually nothing to choose between them in qualifying or races.

Each has scored a pole position - although Schumacher lost his in Monaco to a grid penalty - and only a dreadful reliability record on the seven-time champion's car has stopped him scoring many more points than he has.

While Rosberg has completed every lap, Schumacher has finished only three races and of his five retirements only one has been his fault.

So where might a podium have come based on his performances prior to this one?

Schumacher was running third in Australia when he retired, but he would probably have finished fifth there. His tyre degradation was too severe to challenge Lewis Hamilton's McLaren or hold off the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Webber, who filled the three places behind winner Jenson Button.

Mercedes think Schumacher would have gone on to finish second to a dominant Rosberg in China had he not retired immediately after his pit stop because a front wheel had not been fitted correctly.

But other teams believe the two McLarens would have beaten Schumacher and possibly the Red Bulls, too.

His pole lap in Monaco was particularly impressive and that would almost certainly have been converted into at least a podium finish. But first there was a five-place grid penalty for causing a crash in Spain, and then he retired from the race with a fuel-pressure failure.

When it finally came, the podium finish owed something to the unusual circumstances of the race and a lot to Hamilton being taken out by Williams's Pastor Maldonado. But it would be hard to argue Schumacher didn't deserve it on the balance of the year.

When he announced his comeback, he said he wanted to win another world title. But as soon as it became obvious from early in 2010 that he was going to struggle, he has always maintained that getting back on to the pace would be a long-term matter.

No-one expected it to take as long as it has. But perhaps that is to underestimate how much he lost in his three years away, his age - he is now 43 - and the incredible depth of talent in today's field.

Schumacher is still some way short of the driver he once was, a man who could consistently dance on a limit beyond that of anyone else.

But taking this season on average, there is now virtually nothing to choose on pace between him and Rosberg - the one exception being China, where the younger man had the best part of half a second on his team-mate.

That, though, puts Mercedes in an intensely awkward position and facing a very difficult decision - because Schumacher's contract runs out at the end of this year.

The problem is, good as Rosberg is, few outside Mercedes believe he is a match for the three towering talents of this generation - Fernando Alonso, Hamilton and Vettel.

Yet this is a team with aspirations to win the world title and some would argue they are putting themselves at an automatic disadvantage with their current driver line-up.

So do they offer Schumacher another contract on the basis of his improved performance, continue to benefit from the undoubted marketing benefits of his presence in the team as a driver and hope they can build a car that is better than a Red Bull, a McLaren and a Ferrari? Or do they go for someone else?

They are known to be interested in Hamilton, the only one of the big three who is potentially available to take his place.

But Hamilton may well not be available - he seems more likely to either stick with McLaren or to try to persuade Red Bull they should take him on given the reasonable possibility they could lose Vettel to Ferrari at the end of next year.

Yet how long can Mercedes expect Schumacher - who will be 44 next January - to be able to continue at this level?

In which case, should they gamble on a younger man who may represent the future, someone like the increasingly impressive Paul di Resta, for example, who just happens to be a Mercedes protege?

What would you do?

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/06/schumacher_finally_makes_his_r.html

Chris Amon Bob Anderson Conny Andersson

Millionaire man Maldonado answers critics

At the Circuit de Catalunya

The smile on Pastor Maldonado's face dropped in the immediate aftermath of the frightening fire that broke out in the Williams garage after the Spanish Grand Prix, but it soon came back again once he was told nobody had been seriously hurt. You can bet it will stay for quite some time.

Maldonado started this season as a man who owed his place in Formula 1 to the millions provided to his Williams team by the Venezuelan government.

After yet another bizarre and unexpected twist in this most unpredictable of seasons, he leaves Barcelona as a grand prix winner and talking about a possible championship challenge.

Maldonado drove a superb race at the Circuit de Catalunya, mature and controlled in a way of which few in the paddock believed him capable.

He came into F1 with a reputation for being quick but fiery and a bit accident-prone. In his first season last year he fitted the mould.

This season started in the same way - Williams's upturn in form had him battling with some unfamiliar rivals close to the front. But he started the season wrecking what would have been a strong points finish in the first race of the season when he crashed chasing Ferrari's Fernando Alonso for fifth place on the final lap.

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Since then, though, Maldonado has turned a corner with some strong performances. But no-one - not even Williams - expected what happened in Spain.

The Mugello test before this race went well, and Williams knew they had improved their car. They thought they had made a step forward, Friday practice confirmed it, but not in their wildest dreams did they imagine they would qualify on the front row.

Second place, half a second behind Lewis Hamilton, was impressive enough, but it became pole position after the McLaren driver's penalty and, despite losing the lead to Alonso at the start, Maldonado always looked in contention for victory.

Alonso is the most formidable of rivals, but Maldonado kept him in sight in the first and second stints, before Williams succeeded in 'undercutting' the Ferrari at the second stops.

Ferrari almost certainly made a mistake in leaving the Spaniard out for two laps before his stop - nearly all of which he spent behind Marussia's Charles Pic, who was subsequently penalised for not letting Alonso by.

But Maldonado's pace on his first lap out of the pits suggested he might well have taken the lead anyway.

The pressure never relented, though. After the final stops, Alonso came back at Maldonado, but the Williams driver raced like a veteran and always looked in control of the situation.

The win does not change the reality of why Maldonado has his drive - but it certainly proves beyond all doubt that he deserves his place in F1, even if one inevitably has to wonder what the Williams would be capable of with Alonso or Hamilton behind the wheel.

To his credit, Maldonado does not seek to hide the financial support he is given, nor the fact that he is basically a state-sponsored driver who has the personal backing of his President, Hugo Chavez. In fact, he embraces it.

"I'm very lucky to have a country behind me, pushing so hard, to see me here in Formula 1 and especially to be here, between these guys," he said in the post-race news conference, as he sat between Alonso and another world champion, Kimi Raikkonen.

"I'm pretty happy for Venezuela, I'm happy for Williams as well. They did a wonderful job to give me a great car for this race. We are getting better and better, race after race."

There has been no magic in Williams's revival this year after several seasons in which they seemed to be inexorable decline.

There have been changes at the top of the engineering team, and a focus on fixing obvious, major operational and technical problems.

"We made big changes in the factory," Maldonado said. "We have new staff in some of the departments and completely changed the approach to building the car.
"I need to say that this year's car has great performance, great potential to become even stronger than it is and, for sure, this is great for motivation, to motivate the team, the factory, to keep pushing like that. I think this is the way. We are motivated and we need to keep pushing."

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Whether Williams can maintain this form remains an open question - but the same goes for every other team in this incredibly topsy-turvy season.

There have been five different winners from five different teams in the first five races. It is the first time that has happened since 1983, when Williams were reigning world champions and were also, incidentally, the fifth winner.

Monaco could easily provide the sixth winner in six races, as Raikkonen's Lotus team also seem on the verge of a victory.

The 1983 season eventually settled down into a title fight between three teams. This one may well go the same way, but you wouldn't count on it right now.

The new tyres created by Pirelli this year have left all the teams scratching their heads.

One weekend you can be winning, the next you can be nowhere and not know why, as world champions Red Bull found out in Spain, following Sebastian Vettel's victory in Bahrain last time out.

As Alonso put it after the race: "We were 57 seconds behind Vettel in Bahrain, and we were lapping (his team-mate Mark) Webber here. No one understands probably. Not us either."

There is a recognition throughout the sport that this unpredictability is adding to the superficial appeal of F1, especially as the years of Michael Schumacher's domination with Ferrari are not so very long ago.

Nevertheless, there is also a growing sense of unease - largely unspoken publicly until now, apart from Schumacher's comments after Bahrain - that it's somehow not quite real.

The tyres, some feel, are introducing too much of a random element that demeans the sport in some ways. That F1, whisper it, may have gone too far the other way.

Fun, though, isn't it?

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/05/maldonados_maiden_victory_over.html

Eddie Cheever Andrea Chiesa Ettore Chimeri

Red Bull under the spotlight


Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel celebrate with Red Bull boss Christian Horner on the podium © Getty Images
Sections of the international media have questioned Red Bull's strategic approach to the world championship. After Sebastian Vettel won the Brazilian Grand Prix from the team's points leader Mark Webber at Interlagos, Der Spiegel noted: "Red Bull gives (Fernando) Alonso wings". Not switching the places means that Spaniard Alonso can take his Ferrari to just second place this weekend in Abu Dhabi and be champion, whereas the alternative strategy would have set up Webber for a straight fight. "It is not easy for Webber to drive in a team that considers him a burden to be up against Vettel," said La Gazzetta dello Sport. Tuttosport noted that it seems "the Austrian team would be happier to lose than to see Webber beat Vettel". "No team orders at Red Bull. Another own goal," headlined La Repubblica. Joan Villadelprat wrote in his El Pais column: "Had Red Bull opted for Webber a few races ago, the Australian would probably now be champion." Red Bull, however, is unrepentant. Team owner Dietrich Mateschitz told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper that "second under proper conditions can often be more valuable than a first". But there is a feeling that the team is not simply giving up the fight for the drivers' title. One columnist in Brazil's Globo wondered if Vettel's radio message in Abu Dhabi might sound something like 'So ... Mark is faster than you'. "I'm always in favour of leaving the fight on the track with equal chances for both sides," said Rubens Barrichello. "But I wonder if they would do that if the situation was in reverse. “Mark has done a great job this year and he has been told by his team what position he is in," said Lewis Hamilton. "Against adversity he has kept at it. I want to see Mark win." Webber believes that, if a strategy is deployed, it will only be on the "last lap" of the season this weekend. "Sebastian is part of a team," said Niki Lauda, who believes Webber should be backed fully by Red Bull. "If he does anything it should be helping Webber and not just on the last lap." Webber is quoted by Bild newspaper: "It makes sense. Otherwise it would mean that Ferrari's team orders would have paid off for Fernando." Red Bull team boss Christian Horner hints that sense will ultimately prevail. "We have already given too many presents to Fernando this year," he is quoted by Autosprint.

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/red_bull_under_the_spotlight.php

Luiz Bueno Ian Burgess Luciano Burti

Video: Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale vs Helicopter

A few days ago, we brought you a very cool video showing the Lamborghini Aventador battling it out with an F16 Fighting Falcon. Today, it’s time for another video just like that one, the supercar is a Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale and it’s facing a helicopter in the snow.

This video was shot at the beginning of 2012 while filming for Lamborghini Magazine issue No. 10 at the Transfagarasan road, where TopGear also shot a video back in 2009.

Watch the video and let us know which type of vehicle impressed you the most: the Gallardo or the helicopter? The Gallardo is powered by a V10 engine that delivers a total of 570 HP and a peak torque 398 lbs-ft at 6500 rpm. The supercar can hit a top speed of 198 mph and sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds.

Video: Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale vs Helicopter originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 28 June 2012 02:00 EST.

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Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/video-lamborghini-gallardo-super-trofeo-stradale-vs-helicopter-ar131389.html

Thierry Boutsen Johnny Boyd David Brabham

Formula One Goes High Definition

This week FOM, the Formula One Management company run by Bernie Ecclestone, has announced it will be providing native High Definition Formula One coverage for the very first time.  This heralds the entrance of the sport into the super clear broadcast territory. High Definition television has been available for some time now in the United [...]

Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/formula-one-goes-high-definition/

Jimmy Bryan Clemar Bucci Ronnie Bucknum

Golf & Motor Racing… Who Would Have Thought It?

You may think that Golf and Motor racing are worlds apart, but prepare to witness the two merge in one fantastic clip. Former racer, now BBC F1 pundit, David Coulthard gets behind the wheel of Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster with the aim of catching the furthest golf shot in a motor vehicle. With the help [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/crukRiX16qs/golf-motor-racing-a-match-made-in-heaven

Elie Bayol Don Beauman Karl Gunther Bechem

Chopped & Channeld '32 Ford 3-Window Coupe

Hi Everyone,

This '32 Ford Coupe was built as my part of a project by an informal group of modelers who get together at a friends house about 10 times a year. The theme for this years project was "resin" (at least the body), so I used a Replicas and Miniatures "chopped" 3-Window Coupe and channeled it over a Replicas resin frame. It incorporates most of the suspension from a Revell '32 Ford kit and the engine from the Revell '41 Willys with some parts box pieces. The grill shell is an AMT piece which I sectioned to match the cowl height. The wheels and tires are from the parts box and I believe the rear tires are American Satco units. The paint is just Testors enamel spray can gloss black and clear, polished with an LMG polishing kit and Novus #'s 1 and 2. The flame decals are from the Revell '32 Ford Sedan kit and the small flames on the air scoop are from the Revell '49 Mercury. I hope you all like it and ALL comments, "pro and con", are welcomed. 

Barry Fadden

 

Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/1021960.aspx

Lucien Bianchi Gino Bianco Hans Binder

Two Tintop accidents: One survives - One doesn’t...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/YpCQinAzt7Y/two-tintop-accidents-one-survives-one.html

Bob Christie Johnny Claes David Clapham

The Sochi Olympic Stadium could be the scene of the 2014 F1 Russian GP

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/t_rdc58bLdI/sochi-olympic-stadium-could-be-scene-of.html

Pedro Matos Chaves Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever

Kimi's back!

Source: http://www.metrof1.com/blogs/metrof1/2011/11/kimis-back.html

Julian Bailey Mauro Baldi Bobby Ball

Vote for your European GP Driver of the Weekend | 2012 European Grand Prix

Vote for your European GP Driver of the Weekend is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Compare all the drivers' performances and vote for who you think was the best driver of the European Grand Prix weekend.

Vote for your European GP Driver of the Weekend is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/IEJFvXCqmeI/

Tony Brise Chris Bristow Peter Broeker

Wednesday 27 June 2012

BMW M3 Coupe Guerrilla by Cam Shaft


German tuner, Cam Shaft, recently got their hands on a BMW M3 Coupe and true to their reputation as tuners extraordinaire, they gave the German sports car a little identity modification.

In the end, the M3 Coupe Guerrilla was born.

Starting with a matte space-gray metallic foil called a Platinum Wrapping Film, Cam Shaft took the task of reinventing the M3’s sporty looks. In addition to the foliation work, which by the way cost €2,500 ($3,100), Cam Shaft also installed a new front apron from Racing Dynamics, a new stainless steel exhaust system from Akrapovic, sills from Hamann, KW coil overs, and a new set of 19" BBS-Le Mans rims. Inside, Cam Shaft treated the M3 Coupe’s interior with a number of new carbon fiber components and aluminum pedals.

There doesn’t appear to be any performance modifications given to the M3 Coupe Guerrilla, but even in standard form, it still carries an impressive 4.0-liter V8 engine that produces 420 horsepower.

BMW M3 Coupe Guerrilla by Cam Shaft originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 27 June 2012 16:00 EST.

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Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/bmw/2012-bmw-m3-coupe-guerrilla-by-cam-shaft-ar131553.html

Peter Collins Bernard Collomb Alberto Colombo

'70 Challenger drag car wip

Its revells '70 challenger T/A kit. I scratch built a full funny car cage and yes i know that for what it is a funny car cage is complete overkill but im thinking about buying a ross gibson 815 hemi for it so that would fit in with the theme of the build i also scratch built a tach and kirkey style racing seat now i need to order some seat belt material and a photoetched cam style harness. anyways the paint is testors one coat lacquer purplelicious with 2 coats of clear and polished with Meguiar's cleaner wax.

Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/1022313.aspx

Bill Aston Richard Attwood Manny Ayulo