F1 Madness

Latest

  • F1 2014 Rule Changes: Double Points For Season Finale

    F1 2014 Rule Changes: Double Points For Season Finale

    The points tally for the season ending Abu Dhabi grand prix in 2014 will be doubled.

    The decision to double the points tally at the 2014 season finale was taken by the F1 Strategy Group and Formula One Commission at a meeting in Paris.  An FIA statement said that the change had been agreed “in order to maximise focus on the championship until the end of the campaign”.

    The specialised points system will apply to both the driver’s and constructor’s world championships. This means that the winner of the 2014 Abu Dhabi GP will be awarded 50 points, second place will receive 36 and so throughout the top ten points paying positions.

    The move has been met with great scepticism and comment that Formula 1 is becoming to ‘gimmicky.’

  • F1 2014 Rule Changes: Drivers To Get Permanent Numbers

    F1 2014 Rule Changes: Drivers To Get Permanent Numbers

    A plan to give Formula 1 drivers’ permanent numbers throughout their racing careers has been announced following the latest Strategy Group meeting. The reasoning behind the push for permanent numbers is that it is better for marketing purposes to attach a driver to a certain number rather than it changing on a yearly basis.

    The three points of discussion at the Strategy Group meeting will involve how the numbers are allocated, whether the numbers will appear on a driver’s Superlicense and if the drivers will be allowed to choose their own numbers. In addition to being asked to consider permanent numbers for drivers the Strategy Group will also be asked to deliberate the possibility of displaying large numbers and drivers’ names on cars. However, teams have opposed this proposal in the past as it could intrude on valuable sponsorship space.

    The introduction of permanent numbers will be similar to the system used in MotoGP and Superbikes, where riders retain numbers for an entire career, such as Valentino Rossi’s iconic number 46. Preference will be given to the world champion, in this case Sebastian Vettel, to use #1. The remaining drivers will have the option, in championship order, to select numbers ranging between #2 and #99.

     

  • FIA announces major changes to 2014 regulations

    FIA announces major changes to 2014 regulations

    The FIA has announced some major changes to the regulations of the sport including Double points at the final race of the season; Permanent driver numbers; A 5 second penalty for minor infringements and a cost cap in 2015.

    Double Points to be awarded at Final Race

    In a rather controversial move, the FIA announced that double drivers’ and constructor’s points will be awarded at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. The change means that 50 points will be allocated to the winner of the final round of 2014, rather than the usual 25.

    The FIA have stated that the change was immediately applicable and would “maximise focus on the championship until the end of the campaign”.

    There is little doubt that this could most certainly carry the championship through to the final round – if this change had been implemented in previous years, Kimi Raikkonen would have been champion in 2003 instead of Michael Schumacher, and Felipe Massa would have beaten Lewis Hamilton in 2008. Fernando Alonso would have been the 2012 champion instead of Sebastian Vettel.

    Permanent Driver Numbers

    In a less controversial move, a unanimous agreement was given during a meeting of the F1 Strategy Group and the Formula One Commission in Paris on Monday, to introduce permanent driver numbers.

    “Drivers will be asked to choose their race number, between 2 and 99, for the duration of their career in the FIA Formula One World Championship,” said the FIA statement. “Number 1 will be reserved for the current World Champion, should he choose to use it.”

    Should more than one driver chose the same number, priority will be given to the driver who finished highest in the previous year’s championship.

    Five Second Penalty

    The principle of a five-second penalty for minor infringements was also accepted for the 2014 season. Teams will still meet to discuss how it should be applied before the penalty system is implemented at the start of the season.

    Global Cost Cap for 2015

    The principle of a global cost cap has been adopted and the limit will be applied from January 2015.

    A working group will be established within the coming days comprising of the FIA, representatives of the Commercial Rights Holder and Team representatives. The objective of this working group will be to have regulations approved by the end of June 2014.

    Pirelli December tyre test

    The FIA has also approved the Pirelli tyre test which will be staged next week in Bahrain. Six teams have agreed to take part – Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, Force India and Toro Rosso.

    Immediate Effect

    The FIA stated that these “changes are immediately applicable, given the mandate assigned to the FIA President at the last World Motor Sport Council meeting, held on 4 December in Paris”.

     

     

     

     

  • Hamba Kahle Madiba

    madiba2

    “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can awaken hope where there was previously only despair.” – Nelson Mandela.

    Rest in Peace Madiba, and thank you.

  • Ecclestone says Raikkonen was the star driver of 2013

    Ecclestone says Raikkonen was the star driver of 2013

    F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has come out singing the praises of Finnish Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen in a foreword to his Official 2013 F1 Season Review.

    Raikkonen took victory in the opening race this year in Australia, took eight podium finishes and battled his way to finish fifth in the World Drivers’ Championship with 183 points on the board, despite missing the final two races of the season in order to have back surgery.

    “This year I suppose I have to call Kimi the star driver, with the equipment he had,” he said of Raikkonen. “I think he was motivated on hope that he was going to get paid.”

    Raikkonen with his no-nonsense, “Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing” attitude is a favourite amongst F1 fans but as Ecclestone says, he’s a good racer too and a great character to have in the sport, “He’s a good guy to have in a team, good for us, good for the team. He’s super, he’s a racer.”

    After a tumultuous time at Lotus, including not being paid a salary for racing for the team, Raikkonen is heading for Ferrari next season where he will race alongside Fernando Alonso.
  • Martin Brundle expecting “total calamity” for F1 in 2014

    Martin Brundle expecting “total calamity” for F1 in 2014

    Formula One driver turned commentator Martin Brundle has warned that F1 will experience “total calamity” in the early part of the 2014 season.

    F1 will adopt new 1.6-litre turbo-charged engines next year, while teams will also need to make greater use of energy recovery systems.

    “I’m expecting total calamity in the early stages of 2014 and it remains to be seen if that’s entertaining or confusing, but I have no doubt that these brilliant engineers and designers will master the issues sooner than later” Brundle wrote in his Sky Sports F1 column.
    He did however agree with Jenson Button that certain revisions in the new 2014 regulations and technical changes like those to aerodynamics could dent Red Bull’s supremacy and make for a more level playing field.
    Button recently said that he’s expecting the 2014 cars to be more difficult to drive due to increased torque and less downforce, something he doesn’t seem to excited about but he expressed his views that we should be looking at a more level playing field next season.
    “I agree with Jenson Button, big changes can only hurt Red Bull given they have such an advantage, but no doubt the usual suspects with the biggest resource will get there first. I’m hoping that we won’t have a three-tier Ferrari – Renault – Mercedes championship in whichever order for both power and efficiency, but it’s possible,” Brundle wrote.
    Brundle added that teams have a lot of work ahead of them saying, “I’ve asked my trusted sources in the paddock and they just roll their eyes and throw their arms up in the air. There’s a huge amount of work to do in a very short space of time.”
    The Briton seemed most concerned about a crisis in the sport around the current financial state some teams are finding themselves in. He added that, “The midfield driver market should settle down in the next week or so,” just prior to the confirmations that Pastor Maldonado will move to Lotus in 2014 and Nico Hulkenberg will head to Force India.

    Brundle added, “I’ve never seen anything like it frankly, and it doesn’t bode well when the only team – Lotus – to consistently take the fight to Red Bull can’t afford to chose its own driver line-up and take the best available.”“My alarm bells are going off for the general health of F1 and it needs urgent action, if not then a crisis, before it’s back on track,” Brundle said in closing.

    Photo Credit: By greenmashup (Martin Brundle) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
  • FIA confirms 2014 F1 Calendar

    FIA confirms 2014 F1 Calendar

    The FIA has confirmed the 2014 F1 Calendar.

    There will be 19 races in the 2014 F1 season with the proposed races in New Jersey and Mexico being dropped and the Korean Grand Prix also not featuring on the 2014 F1 Calendar. The Indian Grand Prix has also been dropped from the calendar.

    The Austrian Grand Prix will make a come back in 2014 at the Red Bull Ring after not featuring on the F1 calendar since 2003

    Abu Dhabi will play host to the final grand prix on the calendar, an honor that was previously held by the Brazilian Grand Prix.

    Below is the complete schedule for the 2014 Formula 1 World Championship

    2014_F1Calendar

  • A message from Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg for his fans

    A message from Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg for his fans

    Gather around Nico Hulkenberg and Sahara Force India Fans! Here is a special little video message from 2014 Sahara Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg. Hulkenberg agreed to a multi-year contract with the team and will be joining them when Formula One returns next year.

  • Q&A with Mark Webber – on motorsport, adventure and life after Formula One

    Q&A with Mark Webber – on motorsport, adventure and life after Formula One

    One would think it would be very difficult to fill the void for drivers who leave the fast-paced life of Formula One, but true to character it seems that won’t be the case for Mark Webber.

    Following his final F1 race in Brazil, the 37-year-old Australian looks ahead to the next chapter of his racing career.

    Q: How does it feel to leave the F1 paddock?
    Mark Webber:     It’ll be a relief in some ways for that chapter to be finally over. F1 has been my environment for so long now but it’s time for a new challenge which I’m looking forward to. I’m not planning to revisit the F1 paddock too soon but on the two or three occasions I might do each year, I’m sure it’ll be in a more relaxed frame of mind.

    Q: How do you feel about the next chapter of your racing career?
    Mark Webber:     I’m very excited about it. The first year will be different of course, different schedule, different type of racing, different people but at this time of my career it’s a perfect balance between adrenaline and working hard with a fantastic brand such as Porsche.

    Q: Outside of F1, one of your big passions has been adventure and fitness – will you be doing some more of that?
    Mark Webber:     Well, the Tasmania Challenge is where I really got into adventure and fitness back in 2003. That’s still going strong and this year’s race starts on Wednesday. I won’t be there this time, because of team commitments but adventure is a key part of what I am and so I hope we can continue to grow that event, and maybe others, in the future.

    Q: How involved have you been with this year’s event?
    Mark Webber:     I always like to keep tabs on how plans are developing through the year and I’ve talked over the course with the event guys down there. It takes a route around North Western Tasmania and sounds awesome so I’m gutted I won’t be able to give it a go. It’s a beautiful part of Tasmania and I’m actually very jealous of the guys who are going to get to race out there!

    Q: The Challenge has been the main driver for your Foundation – what plans do you have for that in future?
    Mark Webber:     So far we’ve raised over AUD$1.5m through the five Challenges we’ve run so far. In the last few years we’ve been supporting the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal and children’s charity Whitelion, and the funds have helped both charities make some real progress.

    Q: You are also mentoring young New Zealand racer Mitch Evans – who incidentally is going to be competing in the Challenge this year. How do you think he’ll do?
    Mark Webber:     In the Challenge, or in his career? I think he’ll have a good time in the Challenge, but I’ve warned him it’s pretty tough. To race in GP2, though, you have to be pretty fit so he should do ok. In terms of his future, we’ll have to see but he’s going the right way about things and he’s knocking on the F1 door now. Next year could be a pretty big year for him.

    Q: How intense will your racing calendar be now, and how much time will you get to do more adventure stuff?
    Mark Webber:     I don’t know how the first year will go out so it’s a case of wait and see. But, I do have an eye on a few events which I don’t have the motivation to do just yet but I’m sure I will once I have more time on my hand! I’m looking forward to not having to rush to do things and trying to squeeze them in between my race schedule, and having the opportunity to do some great things with people I enjoy spending time with in the adventure racing arena.

    Q: And finally, what will you miss about F1?
    Mark Webber:     Driving the cars at some of the world’s most amazing circuits and the level of precision involved. But of course I’ll be looking to take a lot of that with me to Porsche.

     

  • Hulkenberg Returns to Force India for 2014

    Hulkenberg Returns to Force India for 2014

    Nico Hulkenberg has been confirmed at Force India for the 2014 season on a multi year deal.

    Hulkenberg raced with the Silverstone based team in the 2011 and 2012 season and now returns to Force India after a season at Sauber. The announcement comes just a few days after Lotus announced that Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado will drive for them in 2014. Hulkenberg was the front runner for the Lotus team, but after the Quantum deal that was on the verge of being completed didn’t materialize, Lotus had to go with Maldonado and the money that he brings in.

    “I am happy to come back to Sahara Force India. The team is aiming high for next year and I believe that the experience I have gained over the years will help us achieve those goals,” said Hulkenberg.

    “I genuinely believe we can have a competitive package in 2014. I’ve heard a lot of positive things about the Mercedes engine as well, so I think there is a lot to be excited about for next year.”

    “I know this team and I can see their determination; it’s a great bunch of people and we all share the same hunger for success.”

    Force India Team Principal, Vijay Mallya expressed his delight at having Hulkenberg back at Force India.

    “Having Nico in our line-up is a real statement of intent and a huge boost for everyone associated with the team. We have high hopes and expectations for 2014 and by signing Nico we have put ourselves in the best position to achieve those objectives and enjoy what could be our most competitive season yet,” said Mallya

    Force India are still to confirm who their second driver will be. Many people are saying that Sergio Perez is a strong contender for that seat. Kudos to Vijay Mallya for taking on a driver who is clearly a good driver and not choosing a driver based on how much money he is able to bring to a team.