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F1 Stewards: Please Investigate Incidents During The Race

April 24, 2013 in F1 2013, Rants and discussions

Since the start of the season the majority of incidents have been investigated after the race, which isn’t what fans want. Fans don’t want to sit around and wait for the stewards to reach a decision which may affect the results hours after the chequered flag. 

We all know that Formula 1 has been having issued with telemetry and after four races it still hasn’t been fixed, which is nothing short of embarrassing considering the money and technical expertise and knowledge wandering around in the paddock.

Faulty telemetry means that drivers have to rely on team radio and trackside Marshalls to tell them when they can and cannot use DRS, when there’s a yellow flag or they need to move aside for a faster driver. This of course is what resulted in a few of the drivers being called into the Stewards Office for a spanking after the Chinese Grand Prix where some of them used DRS during a yellow flag zone.

The telemetry issues may also mean that the stewards are lacking information, but given the fantastic and extensive TV coverage which shows absolutely everything, surely that can answer a question and help the stewards reach a decision during the race where the majority of incidents are concerned?
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Italian newspaper claims Alonso was at loggerheads with Ferrari at Indian Grand Prix

October 30, 2012 in DRS, F1, Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, FIA, Formula 1, Grand Prixs, Indian Grand Prix, Teams & Drivers

By Ryan Bayona (Fernando Alonso) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0) or CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsWith the grid swiftly moving on to the middle east for this weekend’s Abu Dhabi grand prix, there has been little time for the teams to celebrate, make excuses or to lick wounds in the wake of the Indian grand prix. This is understandable; it’s a new event demanding a new start and a clear focus.

One team which you would expect to be licking their wounds more than most is Ferrari. Their main man Fernando Alonso fell further behind in the title race, seemingly powerless to stop the charging bull that is Sebastian Vettel. The pressure put on Ferrari as a result of sunday’s (and previous) grand prix has been massive. When you have one of the largest car groups in the world as a parent company (Fiat), a reputation as a premium sports and F1 car maker to protect, and a passionate country behind you, this pressure is entirely comprehensible. That pressure almost became too much this weekend.

That is, at least, according to Italian newspaper La stampa. Read the rest of this entry →

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Indian GP qualifying: It all feels very last year…

October 27, 2012 in Bruno Senna, Caterham, F1, Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, FIA, Force India, Formula 1, Grand Prixs, HRT, Jenson Button, Kamui Kobayashi, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, Lotus, Mark Webber, Marussia, McLaren, Mercedes, Michael Schumacher, Narain Karthikeyan, Nico Hulkenberg, Pastor Maldonado, Paul di Resta, Red Bull Racing, Romain Grosjean, Sauber, Sebastian Vettel, Sergio Perez, Teams & Drivers, Toro Rosso, Williams

After this morning’s qualifying session for the Indian Grand Prix, most fans would be forgiven for thinking that they had been transported back in time. Just as in Korea and Japan, Red Bull dominated in a fashion reminiscent to 2011, securing another 1-2 result and confirming that, in qualifying trim at least, they are indeed in a league of their own.

Unlike Korea, it was Sebastian Vettel who took top spot, with Webber following closely behind. Their commanding performance crushed McLaren and, most importantly for the drivers championship, Ferrari, who could only manage 3-4 and 5-6 respectively. The result will be of particular concern for Fernando Alonso in fifth, who has three cars between him and Vettel. Read the rest of this entry →

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RIP Sid Watkins

September 12, 2012 in F1

News has broken this evening that Sid Watkins has passed away, terrible news, my thoughts are with his friends and family.

Sid was an inspirational man who did great things to improve the safety of Formula 1.

He leaves behind hundreds of thousands of fans and drivers worldwide who are truly grateful for the great work he did to improve the safety of the sport we know and love. Thank you Sid.

RIP Sid Watkins.

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My Thoughts on Shortening the Length of Races.

September 11, 2012 in F1, Rants and discussions

The other day, Ferrari President, Luca di Montezemolo said that he thought races should be shortened. Don’t worry though, he wasn’t just saying this for no good reason, oh no, he was thinking about the concentration of young people.  

Luca di Montezemolo said  “Looking at young people, the races are too long,”, he then added that the sport needed to do something to “Improve the show of Formula One.”

To me, ‘improving the show of Formula One’ is code for adding devices that make racing artificial, the racing should speak for itself.  “I don’t think it’s good to race in July and August at two o’clock in the afternoon, when the people are at the sea and on vacation.

Why time and concentration aren’t an issue. 

I began watching Formula 1 at the age of 3 or 4, and if you were to ask my Mom about it, she’d tell you it was great because she could just sit me in front of the TV and I wouldn’t move for an hour an a half. I can honestly say I’ve never thought a race was too long and I’ve never heard an F1 fan say ‘You know what, it was a great race, but it was just too long’.

Races, on average (Canada 2011 as an exception) are about 90 minutes long, the same length as a football match and plenty of young people manage to sit there for an hour and a half and watch football quite happily. Read the rest of this entry →

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Jenson Button Takes First Pole For McLaren.

September 1, 2012 in Belgian Grand Prix, F1

What better way to return from the summer break than the Belgian Grand Prix? A real fan favourite.

Heading into Qualifying, Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg knew they had their work cut out for them as both had been given a five place grid penalty for gearbox changes.

Q1

Charles Pic was first out in Q1 and set an uncompetitive first lap time of 1:53.493 and it wasn’t long until Sergio Perez put in a competitive lap time, 1:49.642.

Most of the front runners seemed happy to sit in their garages for the first half of the session and let the rest of the pack have a play out on track. Read the rest of this entry →

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Got An Experience To Share?

July 29, 2012 in F1

As we head into what most Formula 1 fans will describe as an agonising four week wait until the Belgian Grand Prix I want to fill the gap with your stories.

What I want is four guest blog posts about your experience at a Grand Prix. Tell me about your entire weekend or one part which really stood out for you.

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been to one Grand Prix or 101. Leave a comment on here , on the Niawm Facebook Page or drop me an email on niawmf1@yahoo.co.uk and tell me you’re interested and you’re good to go.

It’s first come first serve, so the first four to get in touch will have a date allocated and their blog posted.

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Stewards, Penalties and Racing Incidents – Formula 1 of the Modern Day.

July 2, 2012 in European Grand Prix

James – Official Merchandise

How can the Penalty system be improved In Formula 1, and is there actually the term “racing incident” left in the sport?

These are possibly two questions on the tips of everyone’s lips following the last couple of years in Formula 1, and it was something only compounded further after the most recent European Grand Prix.

It is no secret that the dynamic of racing has taken a different turn, stewards have seen a huge increase in the influence they have on the action that happens on track and most fans feel this is having a negative effect on the racing itself. Read the rest of this entry →

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Does Monaco Still Have A Place In Modern Day Formula 1?

May 30, 2012 in F1, F1 2012, Monaco Grand Prix

The Monaco Grand Prix is the jewel in the crown of the Formula 1 calendar. For four days every year, the rich and famous from the world over descend upon Monaco to watch 24 beautiful cars race around the tight streets of Monaco.

To the viewer sat at home watching the 78 lap race, it’s not considered the most exciting race of the year, which has left some Formula 1 fans questioning whether Monaco still has a place in modern day Formula 1.

For the viewers.

Despite seeing so many people moaning about the race, when I asked for people to submit their thoughts, no one entered a reason as to why the race doesn’t belong in modern day Formula 1.

Overtaking round the streets of Monaco is notoriously difficult, since at least half the fun in Formula 1 is watching drivers try to overtake, it’s not the most interesting race on the calendar, though I certainly don’t think it’s boring. (I personally would argue that the ‘European’ Grand Prix, held in Valencia is the most boring track on the calendar.)

Eenfish’s statement shows that even without overtaking, the race still provides a real thrill for the fans watching at home.

At the race.

Monaco offers fans the opportunity to sit mere feet away from the cars as they speed past them, doing their best to avoid contact with the barriers. Read the rest of this entry →

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Monaco Grand Prix: Yay & Nay.

May 28, 2012 in F1 2012, Monaco Grand Prix, Yay and Nay


As we all headed back to work and school this morning, the glitz and glamour of the Monaco Grand Prix already seemed a long time ago, with many of is wishing ‘it could be Formula 1 everyday’. But wait! It doesn’t have to end there!

Let’s take a look into our Yay’s and Nay’s of the stunning street race held in the principality of Monaco.

Yay:

Mark Webber: Mark Webber inherited pole position from Michael Schumacher, who had a 5 place grid drop for the race. Webber drove fantastically and I couldn’t think of a more worthy winner.  He also made history by becoming the sixth different winner in six races.

Well done Mark! Keep up the good work.

Felipe Massa: Felipe Massa’s sudden improved form over the weekend pleased everyone, aside from Fernando Alonso perhaps. Many fans were watching the race hoping to hear “Felipe is faster than you”, sadly it didn’t happen.

 samanthasstash “Massa doing so well – our Felipe is back :) Splendid!”

The rain saga: The ‘will it/won’t it’ rain saga was killing me.  One minute rain was 5 minutes away, then 30 minutes away and then no rain at all. It was really interesting to watch the drivers try to make their tyres last until the rain began to fall. Sadly for them, the rain never came and they suddenly began dashing into the pits.  Read the rest of this entry →

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