Regular visitors to The Lowdown Blog know what my Power Rankings are all about. New visitors may be slightly confused. Well, it’s only going to get worse from here. Every Wednesday, I’ll post my rankings of the drivers in Formula One. The rankings will be based on their how they’re running this season (or in testing for this first race), past performance at the upcoming track, the performance of the car and other intangibles that affect their performance (see Favre, Brett). It’s more of a prospective list than a restrospective list. Anyway, here is your first round of Formula One power rankings. Continue reading
F1 2011
F1 2011 Season Preview: Predictions
It’s time for the third and final part of our Formula One season preview. With the examination of the teams, drivers, and new rules out of the way, it’s time to put all of the information we have together for predictions for the 2011 season. Of course, the combination of the new rules and testing times is not necessarily an accurate portrayal of who’s fast which makes predicting the season a difficult proposition. However, as we like to say around here: We’re ambitious but rubbish. Continue reading
F1 2011 Season Preview: The Rules
Welcome to part two of our 2011 Formula One World Championship season preview. Today, we look at the new rules that have been implemented this season. In the continuous search to lower costs, level the playing field and increase the quality of races, the FIA have put into place several new rules for this season. Last year’s rules seemed to shakes things up enough to keep the whole season interesting. Will this year’s new rules make the racing better still? Continue reading
F1 2011 Season Preview: The Drivers and Teams
It’s that time of year again race fans. We’re days away from the V8 engines of the Formula One World Championship firing up in anger for the first time in 2011. Last season was a whole new game. Three new teams took to the track which brought the car count increase to 24 for the first time since 1997. All twelve teams return for 2011 which is an improvement over 1997 when there were 24 cars for only the opening race of the season. So to start our look at the 2011 F1 season, we look at the 12 teams that will be in the field and the drivers piloting the cars. Continue reading
Formula One: 2011 Barcelona Test 2 Recap
With the Bahrain Grand Prix cancelled because of political unrest, pre-season testing was extended for Formula One. All 12 teams were in attendance for the final test which was once again held at the Circuit de Catalunya, host to the Spanish Grand Prix. Not surprisingly, Red Bull and Ferrari were the fastest looking cars once again. However, a few more teams laid down some times to show that they wouldn’t be pushovers either. Continue reading
Formula One: 2011 Barcelona Test Recap
For the second straight test, the teams were overshadowed by off-track F1 news. This week’s testing played second fiddle to debate over the postponement of the Bahrain Grand Prix because of protests in the country. On-track, however, testing was a battle between Red Bull and Ferrari as last season’s two top teams look set to cement their place at the top of the standings. Continue reading
Formula One: 2011 Jerez Test Recap
The second week of F1 testing ahead of the 2011 season started on a somber note after Robert Kubica’s accident the weekend prior in a rally in Italy. All the teams carried get well soon messages on their cars. Three different drivers ran the Lotus Renault GP R31 in testing and one even topped the time sheet during the third day’s running. This week’s testing saw many more names atop the daily time sheets than last week’s. Continue reading
Formula One: 2011 Valencia Test Recap
The first day of February brought an end to the moratorium on Formula One testing. All twelves teams took to the track for the first group test of the season. Not all team ran their 2011 car or even their most up to date aerodynamic packages but there are a few takeaways from the first test fo the 2011 season. Continue reading
Formula One: Pirelli Tires Test
For the first time in 19 years, Pirelli tires took to the track on a Formula One race car. Just days after the final race of the season, most of the stars of F1 were back testing to get a head start on the 2011 season. Like it was toward the end of the season, Ferrari was the dominant car in this season as the Scuderia had the fastest car on each of the two days of the test. However, hot on their heels was World Champion Sebastian Vettel. Continue reading
Provisional 2011 Formula One Schedule Announced
Yesterday, the FIA announced their provisional schedule for the 2011 Formula One World Championship. The season is being lengthened by one race to 20 Grands Prix because of the addition of the Indian Grand Prix. The rest of the events from this year’s calendar return, though some of their dates have been shuffled. Continue reading
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