Richard’s F1 Vodcast #01

RichardsF1    Features, Vodcasts    

I’m delighted to introduce the very first Richard’s F1 Vodcast!

I hope you’ll find this a great new way for us to interact, and I’ll use it as a tool to address reader questions and discussion topics. In this video, I cover:

• what is needed for Kaun Chandhok to get back into an F1 cockpit
• the highs and lows from the Belgian Grand Prix
• what’s coming up for Richard’s F1

Above all, I hope you enjoy the vodcast, which can also be viewed via our YouTube channel (to which you can subscribe). I welcome any comments, feedback and suggestions.

Former F1 drivers debate Vettel’s latest gaffe

RichardsF1    Former F1 Figures, Formula 1     David Coulthard, Jenson Button, Marc Gene, Media, Niki Lauda, Sebastian Vettel

Three distinct schools of thought exist with respect to Sebastian Vettel’s early-race collision with Jenson Button at the Belgian Grand Prix, which cost both drivers valuable championship points and could end the title aspirations for both men.

What is particular interesting is the source of the strongest support for the young German: Ferrari test driver Marc Gené!

The former Minardi and Williams racer wrote in his regular column for El Mundo that the drive-through penalty handed out to Vettel by the race stewards “was totally disproportionate” to the offence.

“It is true that he was too aggressive, but for there to be a penalty … he did nothing wrong, it was an incident of the race,” he wrote.

Green light given to more off-season testing

RichardsF1    Formula 1     FOTA, Martin Whitmarsh, Rules

A meeting of Formula 1 team managers at last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix produced one positive result, with an agreement reached for additional winter testing between the end of the 2010 season and the start of the 2011 season.

Germany Auto Motor und Sport has reported that a proposal for 15 days of winter testing – including a 4-day pre-season test at Bahrain – was submitted for consideration.

Outgoing FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh admitted: “We want to make sure that it’s cost effective for the small teams. [Bahrain] hasn’t been quite agreed yet.”

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Bulgaria receives help from Abu Dhabi to join F1 calendar

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Bernie Ecclestone, FIA, Hermann Tilke

Investment from Abu Dhabi could help Bulgaria join the Formula 1 calendar, according to the latest reports.

An economic cooperation agreement was signed between the two states, represented by the Bulgarian economic minister and representatives from the Abu Dhabi state-owned Emirates Associated Business Group.

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Ferrari aims to regain lost ground

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Fernando Alonso, Ferrari

Fernando Alonso has copped a pasting from sections of the Italian press after a pitiful showing at last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, which entered in an embarrassing crash that has seen him trailing the top of the Drivers’ Championship by over 40 points.

After heading the opening practice sessions in wet/dry conditions and putting Ferrari’s latest aero upgrades to good test, the double World Champion qualified a disappointing tenth for the race before being taken out by Rubens Barrichello on the opening lap.

Incredibly emerging from the accident without damage, the team then shot itself in the foot by fitting intermediate tyres when the track was still to dry – and had to change them almost straight away – before the Spaniard went on to chuck his car into the fence late in the race.

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Ford and Renault hot hatches to debut at AIMS

RichardsF1    Motoring     Australian International Motor Show, Ford, Renault

The Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) organisers have confirmed that both the Ford Focus RS and Renault Mégane Sport 250 will be unveiled to the Australian public for the first time during the event.

The Focus RS – which is profiled on our site here – is the latest in a long list of Ford cars to carry the ‘RS’ badge, with it being stylistically reminiscent of the Ford Forcus World Rally Championship campaigner.

Powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine that delivers 224kW of power, it also comes equipped with a limited slip differential, 19-inch alloys and high-performance brakes.

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Mazda unveils Shinari concept car

RichardsF1    Motoring     Mazda

Mazda has shown its hand with its evolving design philosophy by unveiling the Shinari four-door coupe concept car.

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More driver birthdays today!

RichardsF1    Birthdays, Former F1 Figures, Formula 1    

Birthday boys: Alessandro Pesenti-Rossi (left) and Miguel Ángel Guerra (right) both competed in four Grands Prix

Former Grand Prix drivers Alessandro Pesenti-Rossi and Miguel Ángel Guerra are celebrating their birthdays today.

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Book Review: ‘Against The Odds: Jordan’s Drive To Win’

RichardsF1    Books, Reviews    

Against The Odds: Jordan’s Drive To Win, by Maurice Hamilton with Jon Nicholson
Paperback, © 1999 MacMillan, ISBN 0333736559

At the start of the 1998 championship season, the Jordan team set itself the not inauspicious goal of taking its first Grand Prix victory.

Having spent several seasons effectively treading water after their giant-killing debut season in 1991, it all looked so promising. The budget was secured; a top-shelf driver line-up was on the books; confidence was sky-high.

However, the first pre-season test of the car had everyone worried. The car was slow and lacked good handling. Reliability was questionable. Simply getting it through a race distance would be a mighty effort. The task then became about trying to score a point, which even it couldn’t do by the mid-season.

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Ecclestone, Tilke: No panic about Korean GP

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Bernie Ecclestone, Hermann Tilke

With rumours rapidly building that the venue for the Korean Grand Prix won’t be ready in time for its late October debut, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the circuit’s designer Hermann Tilke have both claimed that there are no concerns.

Representatives from some of the teams recently paid a visit to the Yeongyam circuit, where it is suggested they were dismayed amidst observations that the circuit’s asphalt hadn’t even been laid, and nor were the paddock building even close to completion.

Former team boss and current BBC pundit Eddie Jordan told Auto Motor und Sport: “What concerned me most was that in the photos I saw, there were very few people working.”

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