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  • Double Podium Joy For Buchan At Thruxton

    National Superstock 1000 championship leader Danny Buchan hailed a weekend in which he came away with a win and a third place. The Morello Kawasaki man said that “tyre preservation was essential” and that race one was all about being “smart”. The 24-year-old also paid tribute to the late Mark Fincham, who lost his life in the same race on Sunday afternoon.

    “Well I think we need to start by stating the tragic loss of Mark Fincham, which was a shock to everyone. His friends, his family and everyone he knew in the paddock will mourn his loss. The results of the weekend don’t really matter in these circumstances as you’re taking in everything that happened”.

    Buchan continued, stating that the racing was “alright” but he would’ve liked to be “a bit higher up” in the second outing.

    “Racing wise it was an alright weekend. A 1st and a 3rd isn’t the end of the world but I’d liked to have been a bit higher up in the second half of the race but it was cut short. I do truly believe that if I had another couple of laps, then I would’ve at least been fighting for the win. I actually got held up by Chrissy Rouse, who got ahead of me but then ruined his tyre so I sat behind him for a lap and then a gap formed to the leaders. I came into the last chicane and got around the outside of Michael Rutter but knew I couldn’t make it around Adam Jenkinson, so I sat in third and took the points. I’m happy with the weekend. The pace was good and although I would’ve liked to be a bit higher up in race two, it was still OK”.

    Buchan also criticised the movement towards blaming Pirelli for tyre issues by other riders.

    “Everyone is blaming Pirelli or this, that and the other but for me it’s about riding smart. I’m not saying Richard Cooper rode worse than me but what I am saying is a lot of people seemed to have chunking tyres. I had some myself, right towards the end of the race and I saved my tyre. It was all about tyre preservation; it was nothing to do with tyres delaminating. We know the surface at Thruxton is abrasive because we’ve been coming here for years and therefore, we know tyres don’t last there. So, what teams should be doing is working on a set-up that allows the tyres to last and not blow apart”.

    The Basildon Bullet also commended his first race performance, saying, “the first race was all about being smart. We knew all weekend that the races were going to be all about tyre conservation and for me, I did that”.

    The former Superstock 1000 champ was also happy to finally win at Thruxton on a bike bike.

    “I’ve never won a race at Thruxton so I was mega happy to win there. I won on the 400s run there but never won there on a proper bike. There’s a 20 point lead in the championship and the tracks that are coming up have been good to me in the past. I enjoy Cadwell, Silverstone and then the Showdown rounds too”.

    Image courtesy of Gareth Davies of Full Factory Photography

  • Why Evergreen Kimi Raikkonen Continues to Stay at Ferrari

    Why Evergreen Kimi Raikkonen Continues to Stay at Ferrari

    Kimi Raikkonen’s last three years at Ferrari have dominated by rumours over whether the team would dump him in favour of a younger charger.

    The Finn’s F1 obituaries have been written plenty of times during his second spell at Maranello as a roster of drivers including Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez have their names linked with Ferrari’s second seat.

    And yet, every year, the publishing of all those obituaries are postponed again.

    Ferrari have always been reluctant to rock the boat with their driver pairings unless a genuine star becomes available.

    Since the change of the millennium 17 years ago, the Scuderia have

    Despite being well behind teammate Vettel, Raikkonen’s relationship with the German has paid dividends for Ferrari –
    GP UNGHERIA F1/2017
    © FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO FERRARI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE) Ferrari Media

    changed their line-up just six times. Raikkonen himself only joined Ferrari at the expiry of a lengthy McLaren contract in 2006.

    So it should come as little surprise should Ferrari announce that they will retain the 2007 World Champion as well as Championship leader Sebastian Vettel for 2018.

    The dynamic between Raikkonen and Vettel is helpful to Ferrari if somewhat unusual in Formula One.

    While Michael Schumacher had a dutiful teammate in Rubens Barrichello during the juggernaut era of 2000-04, the feeling between Raikkonen and team leader Vettel is somewhat more harmonious.

    The 37-year-old is not a demonstrative character and while Monaco and Hungary – where Ferrari lined up behind Vettel to deny and denied Raikkonen victories – proved the Iceman’s fire still burns, he is not a man to hold a grudge and this is a characteristic that Ferrari value.

    Raikkonen has  played the team role well in 2017 GP GRAN BRETAGNA F1/2017
    © FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO FERRARI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE) – Ferrari Media

    Certainly, there would have been more uproar at Mercedes during the tempestuous partnership between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, while the atmosphere is bubbling at Red Bull too.

    Force India’s Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez have shown this season the cost of letting teammate issues fester, losing out in Canada and Azerbaijan.

    Raikkonen is also helped by the fact that aside from Fernando Alonso, there is no obvious replacement available for next year. The Prancing Horse will not look at Alonso, even if the Spaniard now regrets moving to McLaren-Honda.

    Verstappen is locked in a long-term contract at Red Bull while Ricciardo will also remain there until at least the end of next year, and it will be difficult to convince any of the top brass there to part with either driver early.

    It will be similarly difficult to persuade them to release Carlos Sainz either, with the Spaniard likely to remain at Toro Rosso next year despite voicing discontent at recent races.

    The driver market for 2018 has also been kind to the Iceman GP UNGHERIA F1/2017
    © FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO PER FERRARI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE) Ferrari Media

    2018 will also come too soon for the highly rated Charles Leclerc, who has impressed in F2 this season. With Ferrari having tight bonds to both Haas and Sauber, the Monegasque driver is likely to be loaned to Sauber next season.

    This time last year Perez looked a good option for Ferrari, but his everlasting spat with Ocon and the two’s collective penchant for near misses at Force India will likely have put off Sergio Marchionne and Maurizio Arrivabene. Ex-teammate Nico Hulkenberg, previously linked with Ferrari for 2014, signed a long-term contract with Renault at the end of 2016 and will not leave Enstone soon.

    While observers and pundits continue to write about the end for one of Formula One’s unique characters, Raikkonen looks likely to remain at Ferrari for 2018 at least.

    With Vettel also rumoured to be casting longing looks at Mercedes, don’t be surprised if Kimi’s ice cream doesn’t melt away beyond then, either.

  • Fernando Alonso – A little column about the all time greatest

    Fernando Alonso – A little column about the all time greatest

    While the last race weekend on the Hungarian GP showed us again, why Fernando Alonso is still one of the best drivers on the grid, the Spaniard turned 36. A good reason for me  to look at the driver and show what makes him so special.

    I won’t lie: Fernando Alonso is my favourite F1 driver, and maybe some of the things that I’m about to say are not from a neutral point of view.

    But the fact that he is my favourite driver was not always true. I didn’t cheer for him in his championship years, because i didn’t watch F1 (unfortunately) back in those days. So i will start with the time when I started watching F1, and this was at the middle of 2009.

    Ferrari Media

    As a Ferrari fan back in the days of 2009 and 2010, a dream came true when the Spaniard joined the Prancing Horse.

    I remember many people who didn’t like him back in this time. Even many Ferrari fans were very critical about the decision, to take Kimi Räikkönen out and let Alonso drive there.

    But Fernando showed the Tifosi and the world very soon why Ferrari was right to catch him. With the first win on his first race for the Italian team he was was the new star. But I think, with his win in Monza, Italy, in front of all the Tifosi, every Ferrari fan back then starting to cheering for him. He was the new star after Michael Schumacher and until today one of the most popular Ferrari drivers of all time.

    I don’t want to rewrite the whole Ferrari story, because we all know how it’s gone back in then.

    Ferrari Media

    But i want to write something about 2012. For me the 2012 season was a very special one. I don’t know why, but what Alonso did then was magical. Let’s be real: the F2012 was a very poor car at the start of the season. But like today Fernando did  everything possible to keep the title hopes for him and Ferrari alive.

    With the win from nowhere in the rain in Sepang he showed again his brilliant driving skills in difficult conditions. And after Ferrari starting to understand the car and improved it with an massive update at the in-season tests in Mugello before the Spanish GP, Alonso was always there.

    Especially his magic win at the European Grand Prix in Valencia, in front of his home crowd, was just mind blowing. Sure, the win wouldn’t would have been a win without the failures of Vettel’s Red Bull or Grosjean’s Lotus. But whoever saw the race live will know that Alonso’s moves starting from eleventh were brilliant. Overtaking several cars at the start, he moved his way through the field. The win at the end was just amazing and—for me—with Kimi Räikkönen and Michael Schumacher on the podium, it was the best race ever.

    Ferrari Media

    Unfortunately in Hungary, exactly five years ago, Ferrari started to drop back in pace. At this time Alonso lead the Drivers’ Championship by forty points from Mark Webber. The second half of the season after the summer break was a nightmare for every Ferrari fan and fans of the Spanish driver. Two pointless races in Belgium and Japan and a dominant Red Bull/Vettel combination made it possible to turn Alonso’s points lead into nothing.

    We all know the dramatic season final in Sao Paulo 2012: Vettel’s crash on the start, the hope for all the Tifosi and then the disappointment of losing another title within two years.

    We also all know how Alonso and Ferrari fell apart in 2014. And we all know how much worse his partnership with McLaren and Honda went.

    McLaren Media

    But nevertheless, Alonso always showed his skills and his talent, the same as since his first year in F1 with Minardi. The difference between Fernando and the other top drivers on the grid, is the simple fact that he has never had a really poor year coming from him.

    He has always been competitive. With the V10 engines, with the V8 engines and now with the V6 engines; with Michelin, with Bridgestone and with Pirelli tyres. With a bad car or a good car; in an F1 car or on an IndyCar. On a dry or on a wet track. He always shows his skills, and no matter what happens he is always there.

    Andrew Hone/McLaren

    And I think his last three years with McLaren-Honda showed much more of the “human” Alonso.  It reminds me how Michael Schumacher was getting much more popular in his Mercedes years, because he made the best of his situation back in the disappointing years.

    And in the same way, Alonso has showed his patience in the last three years. I don’t know many people who don’t want to see him back on the top. When he came to the autograph session on my first live Grand Prix in Austria few weeks ago, the people went crazy—more than for any other driver.

    For me it was a special moment to see my childhood idol next in front of me and it is still a little bit unreal. But that’s another story.

    I’m more than certain that we will see Fernando Alonso at the top again someday. And I’m also sure that he will stay in Formula 1, fighting like a Samurai who will never surrender. As he said few months ago: he will not turn away from the F1 stage, without being competitive again.

  • Being in a British Superbike ‘Factory’ Supported Team is NOT a Necessity

    Is a big, proven and factory supported team really necessary for success in BSB? Yes, since the start of the season, we’ve seen the likes of Josh Brookes, Peter Hickman and John Hopkins have good rides, likewise Jake Dixon, who continues to impress – but at Thruxton, we saw the more ‘satellite’ bikes lock out the front row in qualifying. Then, when racing got underway, we saw the first ever all ‘satellite’ podium in race one. And that wasn’t because top riders were absent. Shane Byrne finished fourth whilst Leon Haslam could only manage seventh. Luke Mossey was the only notable absentee. It all poses the question: do you really need to be in a top team to succeed.

    This is a very unique situation. MotoGP has seen non-factory winners but not a whole podium. Not for a very long time. World Superbikes had some non-factory talent many years ago but BSB has always allowed the privately run teams who have no association with the factory of their manufacturer to do well. However, in 2017, it is on a pleasingly unprecedented scale.

    Stuart Higgs has been pivotal in this. The rules in BSB are what they are so that everyone can be competitive. In fact, I believe other series need to look to BSB and admire Higgs’ decision to make the rules what they are. Controlled ECU (Motec), controlled tyre supplier (Pirelli), no traction control, limited testing days and limited time allowed to test in relation to meetings have all contributed in enhancing British Superbikes’ status as the toughest and fiercest domestic championship in the world. You also have the ‘one-bike rule’ which keeps costs down and allows the more ‘factory’ teams to not have ridiculous advantages over the lesser, family run, privateer teams. At the end of the day, that is what all this is about. Allowing everyone to compete fairly and giving everyone at least half a chance of success.

    There are still some differences that are hard to regulate. The rider you get on the bike is one of them. Team personnel another. Money does talk in regards to who you employ and to how much testing you want to undertake and how many spare parts you want to buy. However, the technical regulations – thanks to Stuart Higgs’ infinite wisdom – mean that all of the money poured into technicians, engineers and crew chiefs is dialled back on track. After all, there are only so many advantages that can be gained by the amount of spondulix one is willing outlay.

    Josh Brookes said to me at the start of the season that it’s all about getting the right rider on the right bike at the right time. He’s right in saying that himself. Josh knows the Yamaha well but is by no means on the same bike as the McAms riders. The Tag Racing Anvil Yamahas are not connected to the Yamaha factory as much as McAms, if at all. Yet Josh Brookes continues to embarrass them round by round.

    Peter Hickman enhances the point. The thousands that were invested by TAS Racing and B<W Motorrad meant sweet F.A. when Giugliano went AWOL post-Brands. But never mind, because Hickman is gathering points, podiums and wins. You never know, that may have something to do with him being third in the championship and Giugliano begging on his knees at Red Bull Honda in WSBK. Once more, a perfect example of talent outclassing money.

    Once more, Jake Dixon proved that his RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki was just as quick in race trim as the more ‘Factory’ Bournemouth Kawasaki team, beating Luke Mossey in head-to-heads during both races at Knockhill. However, Kawasaki are becoming more friendly with their findings and more and more teams across all domestic championships and classes are enjoying some Kawasaki advice on bike set-up and integration towards the manufacturer.

    All of this success in turn must question the way some series’ are run. You wouldn’t dream of seeing a privateer WSBK team such as Pedercini or even Bertocchi – back in the day – run up front and challenge the leaders. It just simply wouldn’t be allowed by the factory. What British Superbikes is doing is reinventing the manufactural hierarchy. It is screaming out to the world of motorcycling that, ‘it doesn’t have to be a ‘factory’ way or the highway’. If you get some great talent, along with great technical support and mentors, then you can be just as competitive as the ‘factory’ teams. May I remind you of Jake Dixon – he has Glenn Richards, his very successful father Darren and Shane Byrne all giving him support. But is Lee Hardy’s RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki Team the ‘factory’ team? Absolutely not. It just proves that without having huge factory connections that you can be quick with the right people. In fact, with BSB’s unique Showdown system, you can actually be a championship contender.

    Honestly, I think that the wins for Brookes and Hickman will change a lot; they are a turning point in the way that privateer teams are looked at. No longer will you be laughed at if you go to a privateer team. No longer will there be doubts about the quality of machinery in a privateer team, because as Josh Brookes has proven, privateer bikes are winning bikes with the right rider – likewise Peter Hickman.

    You may have some series’ adopting the same or similar regulations to what Higgs has introduced here in Blighty. Suddenly, the Australian, Japanese and MotoAmerica championships are all as productive and competitive as they were in their best years, over two decades ago. Because you get so much variation in winners with independently run teams and manufacturer parity that the talent is bound to be noticed by the world championships.

    At the end of the day, it all boils down to performances on track. What Brookes, Hickman, Dixon and even Hopkins have achieved in 2017 is marvellous. It gives hope to every single team in the paddock that their day will come. Gearlink Kawasaki have already had a top-10 qualifying at Brands Hatch and they are far from the ‘factory’ team. As well as giving hopes to teams, it gives hopes to younger riders that you don’t have to go straight onto a ‘factory’ bike to be a success. British Superbikes is a series that is better than it ever was and we all love seeing the supposed satellite teams give the factories a run for their money. Money talks but talent shouts in BSB and that is exactly how it should be.

    Image courtesy of Gareth Davies of Full Factory Photography

  • Exclusive Bradley Ray Interview: I’m No Different To Anyone Else

    Bradley Ray spoke to me exclusively about what it is like being a top Superbike rider in only his rookie season. With a best result of eighth so far in 2017, the Superbike star spoke about his plans for 2017 before the season and just what it’s like being one of the most popular riders in the paddock, as well as how he has gelled with the Buildbase Suzuki team.

    What was your plan for 2017?

    I said to my team that if we could come away with top 15s at most rounds then I will be happy for the first year. The experience will also be very important to bag, along with developing the bike and learning how it works. Then, we said if we can get inside the top 10 by the end of the year then that’d be great. For me, this was only supposed to be a learning year but now, I feel like we can keep moving forward and be sniffing at podiums by the end of the year. You’ve just got to finish races inside the top 10 now and if an experienced rider passes you, then sit behind them and gain experience. So in race one at Thruxton, I was looking at Leon Haslam’s positioning of the bike in the corners and where he stands it up on exit. I’m not doing massive things wrong – otherwise I wouldn’t be in the top eight – but it’s just about adjusting and refining what we’re already doing.

    How is the Suzuki progressing as we come through the year?

    It’s quite good that I’ve come into Superbike on a brand new bike, because the team don’t know how it’ll work and I don’t know how it’ll feel. That means that there is no expectation or data to compare from another year or team. That has its downs too, as I’m coming to rounds where I’m learning to ride the Superbike and also how to set one up.

    Does being popular phase you at all?

    At the end of the day, I stay grounded. I’m no different to anyone else, it’s just I can ride a bike fast but that’s about it. I started off in the 125cc class back in 2011, looking up to the Superbike riders, thinking ‘I wouldn’t mind being there one day’. I have a lot of time for the fans because without them, I wouldn’t be in the paddock.

    How has adapting to the Superbike been?

    Here at Thruxton, we struggled a bit in the first two Free Practice sessions. I was riding the bike a little bit more like a Supersport bike rather than a Superbike. We looked at the data and pointed out quite a few areas where I am going wrong and I should be standing the bike up a lot earlier, squaring the corner off to get the drive down the straight. That’s a lot better because the Suzuki has some very good power so we best start using it!

    What area do you need to improve on the most?

    Finishing races is important because we need to bring data back to the team. We just need a little bit extra to try and break into the top five. We have to battle really hard too, especially to get into that top three. At Brands, we had some mega pace but just lost out towards the end, so we know we are there or there abouts.

    How have you adapted to being in the Superbike class?

    It’s a step that everyone is going to have to make at some point in their career and it’s a necessary step too. The team said to me that there is no pressure at all when I joined. I come in, learn the bike and the tracks on a Superbike and go from there. The team have been absolutely fantastic. I’ve had a few spills that shouldn’t have happened but they’ve always understood. The team put no pressure on me and I’ve put no pressure on myself either and that has helped because I’ve had no expectations.

    Is it beneficial not being in the ‘factory’ side of the team?

    Yes I think so. It’s nice to come into the satellite team and not have the pressures from the factory. I don’t think the pressure is on Taylor Mackenzie either. There is definitely pressure on Sylvain Guintoli to bring results as he is a WSBK champion. A team doesn’t hire a former WSBK champion to finish below a rookie or be outside the points. He’s not a slow rider but he just needs to find something to get him up the sharper end of things. Being top Suzuki coming into Thruxton definitely helps me for the future.

    How are the team to work with?

    They’re great. They just want what is best for the Suzuki, whether that be me, Sylvain or Taylor as top Suzuki. The team aren’t one-sided and wouldn’t want me to be behind the more ‘factory’ team just to benefit them. The team are supporting me a lot but we all support each other a lot anyway, because we all want what’s best.

    Photo courtesy of Gareth Davies of Full Factory Photography

  • Die Scuderia Ferrari – das erfolgreichste Team in der GP-Geschichte

    Die Scuderia Ferrari – das erfolgreichste Team in der GP-Geschichte

    Ferrari ist das einzigste Team welches in der F1 an allen Weltmeisterschaften seit 1950 teilgenommen hat.

    Das springende Pferd ist mit der Zeit zum wohl ikonischten aller Rennteams im Motorsport – und aller Marken auf der Welt geworden. Die Scuderia ist auch das erfolgreichste Team in der Geschichte des Motorsports und erfüllt damit Enzo Ferraris Traum vom Erfolg im Motorsport. Ferrari hat seither 15 Fahrertitel und 16 Konstrukteurstitel gewonnen – obwohl der letzte bereits neun Jahre her ist.

    Anders als andere Teams startete Ferrari die 1950’er Saison in Monaco und verpasste damit das aller erste offizielle Formel 1 Rennen in Großbritannien, einige Wochen vorher. Die Alfa Romeos von Giuseppe Farina und Juan Manguel Fangio waren die dominante Kraft in diesem Jahr und Farina sollte seinen einzigsten WM Titel in diesem Jahr gewinnen, jedoch zeigte sich Alberto Ascari trotzdem konkurrenzfähig in den Straßen von Monaco. Er belegte am Ende den 2. Platz, während Teamkollege Raymond Sommer auf den 4. Platz kam.

    Ascari, Luigi Villoresi und Sommer fielen daraufhin in der Schweiz aus, nachdem alle drei die Indianapolis 500 ausgelassen haben. Beim Rennen in Belgien fuhr Ascari den 5. Platz ein, während Sommer und Villoresi nach Monaco keinen weiteren Punkt einfuhren. Daraufhin fuhr Ascari nochmals auf dem 2. Platz beim Saisonfinale in Italien.

    Das einzigste andere Ferrari Podium kam dann durch den privat teilnehmenden Peter Whitehead beim vorletzten GP in Frankreich. Ascari gewann am Ende die Weltmeisterschaft mit Ferrari in den Jahren 1952 und 1953, als das Team begann sich in der F1 zu etablieren.

    1950 war kein besonderes Debut, jedoch setzte es die Grundsteine für eines der besten Teams in der Motorsportgeschichte.

     

  • Mid-Season Report, Who will Rule Formula 1?

    Mid-Season Report, Who will Rule Formula 1?

    It’s this time of the season, where the drivers and the crews are taking their summer break and enjoying some days off with their families and friends.

    For the fans, it’s a good point to see how the Formula One teams and drivers performed during the first half of the season. After eleven races Sebastian Vettel is leading in the drivers’ standings (202 pts) followed by the British champion Lewis Hamilton (188 pts), the gap between the two drivers is just 14 points, Mercedes and Ferrari are very close this season, that can be seen from their results and the points that the two teams have collected.

    The Silver Arrows are first, on the constructors’ standings, by 39 points. As it seems the title will be a battle of two teams, but what about the drivers?  Will it be decided only between Vettel and Hamilton?

    There is one driver who seems able to challenge the two champions, he will try to take advantage of their battle and slowly he will try to claim Formula One’s throne. That driver is Valtteri Bottas.

    The Finn is third with 169 points, he is 19 points behind his team-mate and 33 points behind the leader, Sebastian Vettel. Bottas, have finished eight times on the podium and have won two races, his first victory was in Russia and his last one in Austria. It is a great achievement if you consider that it’s his debut season with Mercedes and that he is racing alongside a three-time champion who is fighting for his fourth title.

    London, United Kingdom.
    Wednesday 12 July 2017.
    Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso STR12 Renault.
    World Copyright: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Images
    ref: Digital Image _X4I1034

    Mercedes will face a challenge, Bottas is in a good form, Hamilton is desperately wanting to win this season, after last year’s defeat from his team-mate, now their team has to decide if they will let them race or if they will pull the card of number 1 and number 2 driver.

    Red Bull Racing is far away from the two contenders, the Bulls are currently third, they have scored 184 points and most of these points were scored by Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian has finished five times on the podium and won in Azerbaijan. From the other hand, Daniel’s team-mate, Max Verstappen is not facing, the best moments of his Formula 1 career. The young driver finished third in China, and retired on five of the eleven races. It looks that Red Bull can secure the third place and focus one the following season, their only threat is Force India.

    Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon are doing a good job this season, they have scored 101 points, 72 less of the points which Force India scored in 2016. They both look to be enjoying their season, Perez has finished in the points in nine of the eleven races, whilst Ocon failed to score point/s only in Monaco where he finished 12th.

    Williams is not facing its best season so far, Felipe Massa returned from retirement, in order to give the chance to Bottas to move to Mercedes and try his luck in a better team, was it the right decision? The Brazilian finished sixth in the season premiere in Australia, in Bahrain he also finished in the same position, these were Massa’s two best finishes. Last season at the summer break, Felipe had 38 points, fifteen more points from those that he has now.

    Baku City Circuit, Baku, Azerbaijan.
    Sunday 25 June 2017.
    World Copyright: Zak Mauger/LAT Images
    ref: Digital Image _54I4953

    From the other hand, his team-mate, Lance Stroll crashed or trashed (if you prefer) his Williams with every possible way he could think of. From the pre-season tests the young driver was not looking very “skilful”, his results confirmed that. The Canadian had four retirements in the first four races of the season and one more retirement in Monaco, five DNF in eleven races. He scored his first two points in Canada, where he finished 9th. In Azerbaijan, Lance achieved the unachievable, after a top drive he finished third. That was the only podium for Williams this season.

    Toro Rosso is only two points behind Williams and chasing them for the fifth place in the constructors’ championship. A battle between Williams, Toro Rosso, Haas and Renault is expected for the fifth place. Last season, Williams secured easily the fifth place, but now they are struggling, these four teams are close to each other and all of them have at least one good drive to racing.

    Romain Grosjean finished sixth Austria and scored eight valuable points for Haas, a one man show is a good slogan, which suits, to Renault as Nico Hulkenberg have scored all their points (26) so far. Toro Rosso is in an almost similar situation, Kvyat has scored just four points, whilst Sainz is doing all the hard work. Carlos, finished sixth in Monaco, that was his highest finish and until now he has 56 points, eleven less than Max Verstappen.

    Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada.
    Friday 09 June 2017.
    World Copyright: Andy Hone/LAT Images
    ref: Digital Image _ONY2825

    McLaren, is the team which impressed me the most in the last race before the summer break. Fernando, was ready for his holidays but he had only one obstacle to face, the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Spaniard, finished sixth in Hungary, scored eight points and then he took his yacht and visited Greece.

    Pascal Wehrelin is trying to save Sauber from its disaster, but his results are not enough. Five points for Pascal, he finished eighth in Spain and tenth in Azerbaijan, his team-mate(s) is still trying to figure out if he is racing in Formula One or..

    With nine races to go I am expecting a strong fight between Vettel Hamilton and Bottas, don’t underestimate the Finns!

    Who will rule the Formula 1 Kingdom?

    Have a nice holiday!

    Victor Archakis

    *Twitter: @FP_Passion

  • Analysis: Wehrlein’s future in jeopardy as Sauber exit nears

    Analysis: Wehrlein’s future in jeopardy as Sauber exit nears

    Bounced between backmarker teams, overlooked in the midfield, Pascal Wehrlein has not had the easiest progression in his F1 career. But, if recent reports about the Sauber team are to be believed, the German could already be about to drop off the grid entirely in this year’s round of contract negotiations.

    Sauber F1 Team

    When Sauber confirmed a multi-year extension of its Ferrari engine partnership at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the media wasted no time in speculating what that new agreement could mean for the team’s 2018 driver lineup. And not without good cause, either: Sauber’s new team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed that drivers “will be part of the discussions [with Ferrari]”, whilst Ferrari’s Sergio Marchionne called Sauber “a place to lay the foundations of the Scuderia Ferrari of tomorrow”.

    As suggestions go, they don’t get more ominous than that for Pascal Wehrlein. The German may have scored all of Sauber’s 2017 points so far and be leading a 7-2 qualifying battle against his teammate, but there’s no denying that this renewed Ferrari alliance puts Wehrlein right to the back of the queue for a Sauber seat next year. It’s not just that Ferrari has two protégés ready for F1 debuts in Antonio Giovinazzi and Charles Leclerc—with Sauber set to receive contemporary Ferrari engines again, the last thing the Scuderia wants is for one of those engines to be powering a Mercedes employee.

    That will leave Mercedes with a tough job over the summer, as it tries to find Wehrlein his third new cockpit in as many F1 seasons. But on a grid where opportunities are fast diminishing, could another setback now spell the end of Wehrlein’s still-fledging F1 career?

    Sauber F1 Team

    The problem Wehrlein faces with this year’s market is that all his potential avenues seem to be closing off before he’s even had a chance to explore them. Force India would have usually seemed like a natural berth for a castaway Mercedes junior, but (unless Kimi Räikkönen rejects his inbound Ferrari extension), the Silverstone team has no need to seek a replacement for Sergio Pérez or Esteban Ocon. And, let it not be forgotten, Force India has already turned down Wehrlein’s services once before, on the grounds of his reputed attitude problem.

    There may at least be a vacancy advertised at Mercedes’ other customer team Williams, should Felipe Massa’s deal not be renewed for another year. But here again, Mercedes will be pitching Wehrlein to a team that has already said no before; in part due to Wehrlein’s inexperience, but also because Williams’ title sponsor Martini requires at least one driver over the age of 25 for promotional events (Wehrlein is only 22).

    That leaves Wehrlein with precious few options for 2018. One—and perhaps his only within the F1 paddock—would be to return to where he started, on the bench as Mercedes’ third driver. Other reports have suggested the German might spend the year back in DTM, leading the Mercedes team’s final outing in the series, or perhaps laying the groundwork for Mercedes-Benz’ next venture by joining the Venturi Formula E team.

    But whatever solution Wehrlein’s management finds, his prospects beyond next year look grim, as being frozen out from the 2018 market could make it that much harder to come back in 2019.

    Mercedes-AMG Petronas

    When Wehrlein made his F1 debut last year, he almost certainly would have had one eye on the driver market for 2019, when both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg came to the end of their Mercedes contracts. After finding his feet at Manor and then spending one or two seasons impressing in the midfield with Williams or Force India, Wehrlein would have come through the ranks as the perfect candidate to lead the Silver Arrows’ next lineup.

    But that plan took several blows at the end of 2016, when first the Manor team folded and then Rosberg announced his shock retirement, and Wehrlein, instead of ascending to the fore, was moved sideways into Sauber. Now, with just one year until Hamilton potentially vacates the lead Mercedes cockpit, Wehrlein is facing a step back off the grid altogether.

    A year on the sidelines could be all it takes for Wehrlein to drop off the radar entirely, right when he needs to be on Mercedes’ mind the most. Should Hamilton indeed leave an opening at the Silver Arrows for 2019, Wehrlein’s time out of the F1 spotlight will surely shuffle him down the list of priorities behind Daniel Ricciardo (the Australian’s contract expires next year with Hamilton’s) and Esteban Ocon, who already looks to have leapfrogged Wehrlein in the Mercedes line of succession.

    And, regardless of Wehrlein’s talent behind the wheel, being passed over by the same teams for three seasons in a row will leave a sizeable dent in the young German’s reputation—indeed, in a sport as ruthless as Formula One, it could prove to be a death blow.

    Sauber F1 Team
  • Is Lando Norris a future Formula One star?

    Is Lando Norris a future Formula One star?

    Until recently, Lando Norris was a name relatively unknown outside of junior categories. This is all set to change.

    The seventeen year old is no stranger to success. Bursting onto the scene in 2014, he finished a respectable third in the Ginetta Junior Championship, taking four wins from twenty races. Norris had his first taste of success the following year at the 2015 MSA Formula Championship, where he took the title by sheer consistency. Last year, he enjoyed a similar run of success, dominating the 2016 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 championship as a rookie. It was a strong showing for Norris and a clear indication of his potential as he took six poles and five wins from seven rounds. He commanded the 2016 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC Championship, taking an impressive ten poles and six wins. Norris also won the 2016 Toyota Racing series in a domineering fashion, his closest rival a massive 135 points away.

    Credit: Zak Mauger/LAT Images

    His success last year caught the eye of one of Formula One’s most successful manufacturers. In February 2017, McLaren announced that Norris was joining it’s Young Driver Programme in wake of Stoffel Vandoorne’s graduation into the racing seat. It seemed like a good match. McLaren seemed the perfect choice to nurture Norris’s career through junior categories, having done so with Lewis Hamilton and Stoffel Vandoorne to great success.

    Norris moved into the Formula 3 European Championship with Carlin in 2017. He faced tough competition from the might of Prema, the defending champions and Maximilian Günther, the runner up to Lance Stroll in 2016. Norris’s career in Formula Three got off to a strong start. He secured pole and the win in the opening race at Silverstone. However, in the second race, his Achilles heel became evident. He was slow off the start, hindered by the damp track and lost positions, finishing ninth. Norris’s bad luck with starts continued in the third race of the round and he was unable to challenge Günther and Callum Ilott ahead.

    In Monza, however, he returned to his winning ways, scooping a win and two second place finishes in the three rounds. In Pau, Norris continued to look strong, taking two pole positions. However, he was unable to convert these into race wins. In the second race, he was jumped at the start by Günther and in the third race, he led comfortably, his poor start jinx was seemingly behind him until a front-suspension failure pitched him into the barriers.Again, in Hungary, Norris was plagued by bad starts. He lost positions in the races and only scored one podium finish. At the Norisring, Norris showcased his hunger to win by starting in a lowly fourth and hunting down his rivals to secure his third win in the championship.

    Norris seemed unbeatable at Spa. He snatched two pole positions, taking a light to flag victory in the first race. His demons of a bad start seemed forgotten, even when he came under pressure from Ilott. The second race, however, saw the youngster swamped by his competitors, eventually picking up suspension and bodywork damage that ruled him out of the race. He seemed to put that disappointment behind him in the third race of the round. Starting in fourth, Norris surged through his rivals with ease, seemingly motivated by his failure in race two. He showcased some excellent overtaking manoeuvres, securing his fifth win of the season. Norris’s performance in Monza showed what he was capable of, that he could produce results and he wasn’t afraid of reaching the top.

    Norris tested for McLaren in Hungary earlier this week, collecting the prize for winning the 2016 McLaren Autosport BRDC award. In previous years, familiar names such as Jenson Button and Paul di Resta have won the award, taking place in testing in older machinery. Interestingly, Norris was able to drive the most current car, showing how much faith McLaren already had in the teenager. He did not disappoint either. Norris completed a sensational run in which he closely challenged the two Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen for the top spot. Clocking 91 laps, Norris treated Formula One to a mastershow as he produced a fantastic lap of 1.17.385, just 0.271 seconds off the pace of Vettel’s Ferrari. Norris also proved invaluable to the McLaren team as he gathered valuable aero data, long-run pace and set up adjustments. Éric Boullier in particular, was singing his praises at the end of the test. Norris showed that he could get to grips with the mechanics of a Formula One car and that he was a force to be reckoned with.

    So could we see Norris in Formula One anytime soon? Norris certainly has the potential to be a contender for the McLaren seat in a few years time. Fernando Alonso’s contract is due to expire at the end of this season and seeing Norris’s raw pace and ease with the controls of the McLaren could certainly make him a strong contender to stand alongside Vandoorne. His strength in Formula Three, a series that has produced many F1 drivers in recent years, coupled with his exceptional testing certainly have made McLaren take notice. They seem to be the perfect fit for Norris, being a team with an extensive driver’s academy who have moulded Lewis Hamilton and Kevin Magnussen into F1 drivers, both of whom still compete in the Championship today.

    Norris currently lies in second position in the Formula Three Championship. The strong showings in Formula Three show that Norris has something special. He is performing well in the face of tough competition. Norris is still inconsistent at times, particularly in his race starts but he seems to be overcoming his demons. And as Lance Stroll and Antonio Giovinazzi show, drivers don’t often come into Formula One polished. If Lando Norris does manage to make it into Formula One, he is likely he will be the same to begin with. Fortunately, for Norris, McLaren are a team that are patient and allows their junior drivers to develop at their own pace. This is clear from Vandoorne’s recent performances, blossoming after a shaky start at the wheel of the McLaren.

    Credit: Mark Sutton/LAT Images

    It seems unlikely however, that with Alonso’s departure, that Norris would be filling the vacant seat next year. Although, Norris could potentially acquire enough points for a 2017 FIA Super Licence next season and he would be eligible later this year when he turns 18, McLaren may not want to take on another rookie driver so soon after working to develop Vandoorne’s ability. McLaren may desire a bigger name and a more experienced driver to work alongside the team for the 2018 season, one that could potentially bring in more sponsorship deals. They may bring Jenson Button back for a season and send Norris to Formula Two or another series, in a situation similar to Vandoorne’s, to hone the teenager’s race craft and prepare him for Formula One. His status also depends on how successful the Formula Three season is for him. He needs to showcase his talents and prove to McLaren that he is a winner in all aspects and worthy of taking Alonso’s position away. His status as a British driver, and one that could follow in the footsteps of Lewis Hamilton could certainly improve his prospects of driving for McLaren in later years. Norris is capable of producing results when qualifying doesn’t go well for him and he is experienced at carving his way through the field to reach the top step. It’s a hunger that undoubtedly, would be welcomed in Formula One.

    It still remains to be seen what will happen next year at McLaren. It is dependent on Norris’s results and whether McLaren are ready to take a chance on a driver from Formula Three, as Toro Rosso and Williams did before them. Norris has proved so far that he is a diamond in the rough. He can produce sensational results both in his own series and in F1 testing, and he has the drive and hunger to succeed. The way he conducted himself within the test shows clear maturity and work ethic, factors that are critical to success in Formula One. There are elements of his driving that could be improved, but these can be honed as he continues to develop in his career. If McLaren are willing to shape him into the driver they need, he could well be a commanding force in years to come.

    All images courtesy of McLaren.

  • The Scuderia – the most successful team in Grand Prix history

    The Scuderia – the most successful team in Grand Prix history

    Ferrari are the only team to have competed in Formula One since the championship’s inaugural year back in 1950.

    The Prancing Horse have gone on to become arguably the most iconic racing teams – and brands – in the world. The Scuderia have also become the most successful team in Grand Prix history to fulfil Enzo Ferrari’s dream of Grand Prix success. Ferrari have since won 15 World Drivers’ Championships and 16 World Constructors’ titles, although neither accolade since 2008.

    Unlike other teams, the Scuderia started the 1950 season at the Monaco Grand Prix, missing the first ever Formula One race at the earlier British round weeks before.  The Alfa Romeos of Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio were the dominant force of the year and Farina would go to win his only World Championship later that year, but Alberto Ascari still proved competitive around the streets of Monte Carlo.  He would finish second in Monaco while teammate Raymond Sommer was fourth.

    Ascari, Luigi Villoresi and Sommer would retire in Switzerland after all three missed the Indianapolis 500, while Ascari would net another second place at the season ending Italian Grand Prix at Monza. There would be another points finish before then though as Ascari was fifth in Belgium at the fearsome Spa-Francorchamps circuit, while Sommer and Villoresi were not to trouble the scorers after Monaco.

    The only other Ferrari podium would come courtesy of the privately entered Peter Whitehead at the penultimate French Grand Prix. Ascari would win the World Championship with Ferrari in 1952 and 1953 as the team began to establish themselves on the Formula One scene.

    1950 was not a fairytale debut, but it set the foundations for one of the greatest teams in racing history.