F1 Madness

Tag: f1

  • 2013 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix Free Practice 2 Report

    The preparations for Sunday’s Singapore grand prix kicked off today with three hours of free practice around the floodlit Marina Bay circuit.

    The first free practice session was topped by the 2009 winner of the Singapore GP, Lewis Hamilton. However, free practice two is where Sebastian Vettel stamped his, and Red Bull’s authority, quite ominously.

    The three-time reigning world champion dominated the timing sheets for the majority of the session. Vettel not only set a time six tenths of a second quicker than teammate Mark Webber but more stunningly a full second faster than the Mercedes duo of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. Vettel’s closest rival in the world championship fight, Fernando Alonso, managed the 6th quickest time.

    An initial flurry of activity had the entire field out on the red walled supersoft tyres simulating a qualifying run. The difference between the two compounds ranged from eight tenths of a second up to 1.4 seconds in the case of Mark Webber. Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen was the only driver who elected not to run a quali sim instead focusing on the set-up and long run pace of the E21.

    A few minor excursions included both Mark Webber and Felipe Massa kissing the wall towards the end of the lap. Both these driver’s escaped without damage to their cars but Pastor Maldonado wasn’t as lucky. The Williams driver spent the majority of the session sliding his car around perilously close to the barriers; unfortunately for the Venezuelan it was one slide too many as he lost his front wing after skidding into the barriers. In his defence, the Williams looked a right handful  from the moment it left the pitlane. Romain Grosjean reported to his team that he had “hit something” and that he had lost the brakes.

    As the session settled in so the driver’s got on with the task of evaluating their long run pace. The differing fuel loads in the various cars is privileged information but irrespective of this knowledge the Red Bull looked on rails around the Marina Bay circuit. More importantly, was Vettel’s ability to set metronomically consistent lap times.

    It’s early days yet in this race weekend but Red Bull again look the odds on favourite to feature prominently. Nevertheless, some of the best qualifying laps that has been seen this season has come from Lewis Hamilton. The Brit may yet find something overnight and should be a good bet for a front row starting position if not a stolen pole.

    FP2Sing

  • Broadcast Times for the 2013 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix

    Broadcast Times for the 2013 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix

    Formula 1 heads to Silverstone this weekend for the British Grand Prix. This high speed circuit will be very challenging for some teams. It’s also an opportunity to see which teams are ahead in terms of pace.

    Here are the broadcast times for the weekend

     

    Free Practice 1: Friday 11:00

    Free Practice 2: Friday 15:00

    Free Practice 3: Saturday 11:00

    Qualifying: Saturday 14:00

    Race: Sunday 1400

     

    As always you can catch our live commentary of qualifying and the race. Keep an eye on our Twitter account, @F1_Madness, for updates and breaking news.

  • Weather Report for the 2013 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix

    Round 08 of the F1 season sees us going to the home of Formula 1, Silverstone. One of the oldest tracks on the F1 calendar.

    The weather for Friday is cloudy with a chance of rain. This could mean that we will have a wet FP1 and FP2. For qualifying and the race the weather will clear up and it should remain dry, unless the forecast changes dramatically

     

    Silverstone_Weather

  • Beloved F1 commentator, Murray Walker, diagnosed with cancer

    Beloved F1 commentator, Murray Walker, diagnosed with cancer

    Everyone’s favourite F1 commentator and the voice of Formula One for more than 30 years, Murray Walker, revealed last night that he has been diagnosed with a form of lymphatic system cancer.

    The cancer was diagnosed during routine blood testing while he was undergoing treatment for a fall last month which broke his pelvis.

    But being Murray Walker, the 89 year old remains up beat and told BBC Sport that he was hopeful as the cancer has been caught very early.

    “They’ve caught it incredibly early. It’s treatable, the doctors say my condition is mild and I’m very hopeful,” Walker said.

    Walker, whose voice and energetic commentary has become synonymous with Formula One  over the years is apparently more concerned about having to cancel his plans to attend the Silverstone F1 Grand Prix at the end of June. F1 journalist, Maurice Hamilton who broke the news on Twitter last night, also jokingly tweeted, “Despite having to face chemo, Murray is more concerned about having to miss Silverstone and Goodwood. Typical!”

    Murray Walker became involved in GP racing in 1949 and worked as a Formula One commentator and journalist from 1978 until his retirement following the US Grand Prix in 2001. Numerous websites featuring Murray’s ‘Walkerisms’ can be found across the Internet and he has become a much loved and adored Formula One stalwart.

    Our thoughts are with Murray as he faces chemotherapy for the next few weeks and we wish him well on his road to recovery.

    What are your favourite memories of Murray Walker and his F1 commentary? Leave them in the comments section below.

  • Mercedes would offer Robert Kubica an F1 test

    Mercedes would offer Robert Kubica an F1 test

    Mercedes has said that it would be willing to give Robert Kubica a Formula One test as soon as the Polish driver is ready to make a return to single-seaters.

    Until now, the German Formula One team has declined to comment on reports that Kubica has been testing in Mercedes’ sophisticated F1 simulator at Brackley.

    But Kubica himself confirmed the reports, prompting chief executive Toto Wolff to admit that the former BMW and Renault driver is currently “helping” the Mercedes Formula One team.

    Wolff told the BBC, “If there’s any chance of getting him back in a DTM touring car or F1 cockpit, we’d love to do it.”

    “Any team would love to have a Robert Kubica.”

    Wolff did however clarify that Kubica’s main focus is still rallying. “He is somebody I have known for 10 years but it’s absolutely his call how he wants to help us and his main focus is rallying,” he said.

    Mercedes say they'd love to give Robert Kubica an F1 testIn January, Kubica tested a Mercedes DTM car at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo in his first taste of a high-performance track car since injuring his right arm in a near-fatal crash during a rally in 2011. He is currently taking part in the European Rally Championship and WRC2, but Kubica himself said that he believed he could still make a return to Formula One as soon as he regains movement in his wrist.

    Wolff said that it is up to Kubica to let him know when he would like to test.

    “This is where he wants to be successful and what he wants to do in the future.”

    Kubica last took part in a Formula One Grand Prix back in 2010 with the Renault team. He has worked very hard on his recovery since then and many an F1 fan has expressed their hopes of seeing him return.

     

  • Dr. Helmut Marko calls for further tyre changes

    Dr. Helmut Marko calls for further tyre changes

    Red Bull Racing advisor, Dr Helmut Marko, has reiterated his dissatisfaction with the current F1 tyre situation and has called for further tyre changes from Pirelli.

    Despite ongoing pressure from Red Bull and other teams, Pirelli has stood their ground and announced that they will only be making a minor tweak to the ‘hard’ compound tyre for next month’s Spanish Grand Prix, and beyond.

    Marko told a group of journalists at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, “We want a tyre that does not restrict our potential.”

    “It should be that you are able to get the maximum out of your car. Currently it is a compromise, the car has to be adjusted to minimise pit-stops.”

    Marko went on to argue that the Pirelli tyres are punishing the best of the cars on the grid – like Red Bull’s RB9.

    He went on to say that the team had two top drivers, “which is not cheap.”

    “To tell your drivers that they are not allowed to drive some corners properly is not easy,” he added. “This distorts competition.”

    Despite their complaints, Red Bull hold a 16 point lead in the Constructors’ World Championship – ahead of their nearest rivals, the Lotus F1 team.

    Photo: By Morio (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

     

     

  • Formula One Fuel Systems

    Renault F1 explains the intricacies of the formula one car's fuel systemThe 2013 Formula One season is the last season in which we’ll see the use of the V8 engine formula.

    Renault – the engine makers behind the Red Bull, Lotus, Williams and Caterham F1 teams discuss their RS27 engine’s intricate fuel system with in this very interesting article.

    It is a very interesting, in-depth look at how a Formula One car’s fuel system works, and is most definitely worth a read.

    Click here to read the article.

     

     

     

     

  • Formula 1: Sauber F1 Team Cutaway Insights – Episode 4: Airhorn

    Formula 1: Sauber F1 Team Cutaway Insights – Episode 4: Airhorn

  • Pit Stop Feature by Williams F1 Team – Part 1 with Dickie Stanford, Race Team Manager

    Pit Stop Feature by Williams F1 Team – Part 1 with Dickie Stanford, Race Team Manager

    Dickie Stanford, Race Team Manager of the Williams F1 Team talks about the pressures of an F1 pit stop, including how he used to hate it and how the whole world is watching …

     

  • One step closer to Formula One night race in Bangkok

    Bangkok night race on the cardsA night race around the streets of Bangkok is one step closer to becoming a reality after the government approved circuit plans for a Grand Prix of Thailand in 2015.

    The proposed circuit is 5.995km in length and will be based around the Royal Thai Naval Dockyard. The starting grid will be on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Plans for floating grandstands which will allow spectators to enjoy close-up action despite being so close to the water, are also under discussion.

    Officials are keen to use the race to showcase the city and the route would include tourist attractions like the Grand Palace, Temple of Dawn and the Victory Monument.

    Kanokphand Chulakasem, Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand told the Bangkok Post, “As the starting and finishing point would be on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, we may be able to build the main stands in the river. It would also be convenient for transportation of equipment. Only a small group of residents would be affected by the proposed route.”

    Photo:By Alter (Own work) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons