Today, the FIA’s F1 Commission formally announced the new schedule for 2010 which includes the return of the Canadian Grand Prix and the first ever Korean Grand Prix. With next season’s grid expanding to 26 cars with the inclusion of four new teams, the F1 Commission also introduced a brand new points system for the 2010 season. The new schedule, points system and analysis after the jump. Continue reading
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F1 Off-Season Fallout: Back To The Future
The 1970s is informally referred to as the kit car era of Formula One. That was a time where most of the grid was running the Cosworth DFV V8 and a Heyland transaxle (gearbox, differential, and drive axle all in one). Only BRM and Ferrari weren’t running that combination in their cars. Over thirty years after the end of the kit car era, it looks as though we could be heading straight back to that. With the recent withdrawals of Honda, BMW, and Toyota, and the rumoured withdrawal of Renault, we could be headed back to kit car era. Continue reading
F1 Abu Dhabi GP: All’s Well That Ends Well
It was both a last and a first yesterday at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. It was the last race of the 2009 Formula One season but it was the first race at the Yas Marina Circuit and the first F1 race that started in daylight and ended at night. The adventure into the dusk and desert of the United Arab Emirates was about the only drama heading into this race. It wasn’t helped by Sebastian Vettel walking away for his fourth win of the season in a largely dominant victory. Continue reading
Formula One 2010 Schedule Announced
Slightly lost amid the World Motor Sports Council hearing about the Renault Crashgate, the FIA announced the 2010 Formula One schedule. As has been rumoured for several months, the Canadian Grand Prix will be on the schedule. Despite being left off the previously released provisional schedule, the South Korean Grand Prix is listed on this version of the 2010 calendar. There will be a total of 19 races in 2010 starting in mid-March and running through to mid-November. The full schedule and analysis after the jump. Continue reading
Formula 1: Renault Given Two Year Suspended Ban
The latest in a series of controversial events that have damaged the reputation of Formula One appears to have come to an end. Earlier today, the World Motor Sport Council found Renault guilty of charges of race fixing. That didn’t come as a surprise because Renault did not contest the charges brought against them. What did come as a surprise was the punishment (or lack there of) that Renault was given. The team was given a suspended two year ban. Continue reading
Chase For The F1 Championship
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has been pushing hard to get a medal system implemented to determine the winner of the F1 World Championship. His proposed system has the driver winning the most race being named the champion. His proposal comes despite the fact that the last two seasons have seen the title decided in the final race of the year and by a single point each time. The points system changed back in 2003 to keep the championship race alive for longer. This system works but what if Bernie still wants to make a change? What if he was to borrow an American idea? Continue reading
Nelson Piquet Statement About Crash-Gate Leaks
The problems for Renault F1 seem to be far more serious than anyone might have first thought. As I had first predicted after the Belgian Grand Prix, it was Nelson Piquet Jr. who informed the FIA that Renault told him to crash to put Fernando Alonso in a position to win. In a four page statement made to the FIA, Piquet gave details of a pre-race meeting between himself, Flavio Briatore (Renault team principal), and Pat Symonds (director of engineering) that outlined their plan for the race. Piquet’s full statement and analysis after the jump. Continue reading
F1 Belgian GP: Forza Ferrari and Fisichella
Spa is known for having exciting and unpredictable racing but no one could have possibly imagined that a Force India would sit on the pole for the Belgian Grand Prix. I doubt anyone would have thought that Giancarlo Fisichella would have taken his Force India and pushed race winner Kimi Raikkonen for the whole race, as well. But that’s what happened in a finish that was even crazier than last year’s dry and wet battle between Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton. Continue reading
Rumored 2010 Formula One Schedule Leaked
A draft version of the 2010 Formula One calendar has been circulating the paddock area at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. The schedule confirms what Bernie Ecclestone told a Swiss newspaper that the Canadian Grand Prix will be returning to F1. The 2010 F1 season will be 18 races long running from mid-March to the beginning of November. Continue reading
F1 European GP: The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men
It all started so well for the McLaren-Mercedes team at the European Grand Prix. They locked out the front row and would have KERS to guarantee them the lead on a track that is notoriously hard to pass. However, the race results showed a mix of misfortune, mistakes, and strategy rather than just the qualifying results. In the end, it was Rubens Barrichello using a mix of strategy and taking advantage of mistakes to pick up his first win in five years. The race did show the continued improvement of McLaren and Ferrari. And, of course, there is all the silly season news and rumours that are kicking about with drivers trying desperately to find a ride for next season. Continue reading
The Lowdown 