It’s back to Europe for the summer stretch of the Formula One World Championship. The European Grand Prix held around the streets of the harbour of Valencia is the fourth-to-last race before the annual summer break. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the worst races on the calendar. But with the KERS and double DRS zones, maybe there’s hope for this race. And hope is all 23 drivers in the field are clinging to if they think they can beat Sebastian Vettel. Continue reading
Power Rankings
F1 Power Rankings: Canadian Grand Prix
It’s time for my favourite race of the Formula One World Championship. The F1 circus makes its only stop of the season in North America this weekend for the Canadian Grand Prix. This is largely homerism but the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is one of today’s great Grand Prix circuits. Regardless of the fact that it’s part street circuit and part dedicated race track, it always produces an exciting and unpredictable event. Maybe that’s what some folks need to knock Sebastian Vettel off the top step of the podium. Continue reading
F1 Power Rankings: Monaco Grand Prix
We’re only six races into the season and still six months from the season finale but we’ve reached the biggest race of the 2011 Formula One World Championship. The Monaco Grand Prix is the most prestigious race on the calendar and one that every driver wants to win. Four of the top five drivers in this year’s championship have won on the streets of the principality. The one man who hasn’t is the man who has dominated 2011 so far. Continue reading
F1 Power Rankings: Spanish Grand Prix
This weekend, we reach the quarter-way mark of the season. The Spanish Grand Prix is the fifth of the currently scheduled 19 races this season. This weekend is likely to play out as a battle between the Red Bulls as Vettel attempts to win his fourth of five races while Webber tries to continue his steady improvement this season. Continue reading
F1 Power Rankings: Turkish Grand Prix
After the now traditional three-week spring break, the stars of the Formula One World Championship are ready to kick-off the European portion of the season with the Turkish Grand Prix. So far this season, one driver has dominated the World Drivers’ Championship but he saw a new contender to his crown rise up in China thanks to tire strategy. So who do I tip as the favourite this weekend: The Champion or the Challenger? Find out in this week’s Formula One Power Rankings. Continue reading
F1 Power Rankings: Chinese Grand Prix
It’s the second half of our first back-to-back race weekend of this still young 2011 Formula One World Championship season. In the first two races, we’ve seen Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel dominate by scoring two wins and two poles. In fact, Vettel has been so dominant that a win at the Chinese GP would give him five straight dating back to last season. With that level of dominance, can anyone match Vettel’s pace this weekend? Continue reading
F1 Power Rankings: Malaysian Grand Prix
One race into the nineteen race 2011 Formula One World Championship and I don’t think that the picture is any clearer. Some of the expect frontrunners were slow off the mark in Australia. Some of the midpack teams, like Sauber and Toro Rosso, had surprising runs which could have them thinking points in every race. So who looks good heading into this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix? This week’s Power Rankings takes a stab at it. Continue reading
NHL Power Rankings: Week 26
A week and a half is all we have left in the NHL regular season so we come to the final NHL Power Ranking of the 2010-11 season on The Lowdown Blog. It’s been a long run that has trailed off as of late but that’s what happens when life gets in the way. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have all 30 NHL teams ranked from top to bottom for you once again. We have a new team atop the rankings this week and it really shouldn’t surprise anyone. Continue reading
NHL Power Rankings: Week 25
Another week, another dose of the NHL Power Rankings. With two and a half weeks left in the season, the Western Conference playoff picture is just as cloudy as ever. But there’s still the stand out Vancouver Canucks atop the standings. However, leading the Presidents’ Trophy chase won’t get them on top of the Power Rankings. Continue reading
F1 Power Rankings: Australian Grand Prix Edition
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
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