We’ve reached the penultimate round of the 2012 Formula One World Championship and the championship battle has another twist in store. Formula One is returning to America on the brand new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Sebastian Vettel combined luck and speed to stay on top of the World Drivers’ Championship but Fernando Alonso’s race pace showed he shouldn’t be counted out yet. Who has the upper hand with a maximum of 50 points still on the board? Continue reading
Formula One
Formula One: 2012 Abu Dhabi Young Drivers’ Test Recap
The final of this season’s three Young Drivers tests was held at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi last week. As you may recall, Young Drivers tests were held earlier in the year at Silverstone and Magny Cours. The remaining six teams to not put their prospective future drivers through their paces stayed in Abu Dhabi after the Grand Prix to hold the final in-season test of 2012. Continue reading
F1 Abu Dhabi GP: A Bit of Luck and A Bit of Skill
After being disqualified from qualifying and starting from the pit lane, it appeared as though Sebastian Vettel would see his lead in the World Drivers’ Championship shrink, if not disappear altogether. However, the speed of the Red Bull combined with some luck with the safety car mitigated the damage.
Fernando Alonso was able to shrink the lead but didn’t take the win. Kimi Raikkonen benefited from a great start and a little bit of luck to win his first race since returning to Formula One. Continue reading
F1 Power Rankings: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
There are only three races to go in the 2012 Formula One World Championship but there are only two drivers still in the hunt for the World Drivers’ Championship. It’s a straight shootout between Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso. The German driver has the advantage in both the points and in out right speed from his car. Can Alonso catch him? I examine that and more in this week’s Formula One Power Rankings. Continue reading
F1 Indian GP: Four In A Row
The season started with seven different race winners from the first seven races. The narrative has changed slightly as the last four races have been won by one man. Sebastian Vettel picked up his fourth-straight race win after leading every lap of the race from pole. Elsewhere, there was a news update on next season’s Grand Prix of America and more developments in the 2013 driver market. Continue reading
F1 Power Rankings: Indian Grand Prix
The 2012 Formula One World Championship returns to India for the second with a new points leader for the first time since June. Fernando Alonso took the World Drivers’ Championship lead at the European Grand Prix but Sebastian Vettel left Korea with the Championship lead for the first time since the Spanish Grand Prix. Will momentum be on Vettel’s side over the last four races or can Alonso mount a comeback? I start answering that question in this week’s Power Rankings. Continue reading
F1 Korean GP: Looking For A Three-Peat
In the two races since the European portion of the season ended, Sebastian Vettel has dominated proceedings. So it wasn’t much of a surprise that Vettel took his third-straight race victory. His win and Alonso’s third place finish has given the twice-defending champion the lead in the World Drivers’ Championship. Meanwhile, some interesting news broke in the paddock about Force India owner Vijay Mallya and Formula One got a new TV partner in America. Continue reading
F1 Power Rankings: Korean Grand Prix
In less than 15 seconds of last week’s Japanese Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso’s championship lead was cut from 29 points to 4 over Sebastian Vettel. With Vettel having the superior car, it seems that Alonso will need more luck than skill to have a shot at the World Drivers’ Championship. Has anyone ever suggested that a championship is out of reach for a driver despite still leading the points? Anyway, it’s time for this week’s edition of the Formula One Power Rankings. And, yes, there is a driver who is interested in dancing Gangnam Style. Continue reading
F1 Japanese GP: And This Changes Everything
We all figured that the battle for the World Drivers’ Championship would be tight as Alonso fought to keep his slower Ferrari F2012 ahead of Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull RB8. However, things change quickly in Formula One. Vettel won the race and scored maximum points while Alonso failed to finish. The result is a four point Alonso lead. Elsewhere in Formula One, the silly season picture was clarified as most seats for the 2013 season were filled and there has been quite a bit of news about current and prospective future F1 venues. Continue reading
F1 Power Rankings: Japanese Grand Prix
Last week was a hell of a lot more interesting that the Singapore Grand Prix that preceded it. The music has suddenly stopped and the seats in F1’s annual game of musical chairs are quickly filling up now that Lewis Hamilton signed with Mercedes and Sergio Perez moved to McLaren. Will the switch mean McLaren won’t back Lewis title chase? I examine that and more in this week’s Power Rankings. Continue reading
The Lowdown 