Sasha's F1 GP update - 24 May 2009

The Jenni Button show continued through the streets of Monaco yesterday. Brawn Gp’s Button scored his 5th victory out of 6 races this season with an emphatic and disciplined drive through the narrow streets of the principality. His teammate Rubens Barrichello finished second to score the teams 3rd one two this season. Déjà Vu back to 2004 when Ferrari had a similar run. I think Brawn could well re-write the history books this season. They are so strong, so reliable and their drivers know how to do the job. It is immense.

The expected challenge from Red Bull Racing failed to materialise and the best of the rest was actually Ferrari who scored their best result this season. Kimi finished 3rd and Massa fourth for a much needed boost for the Italian marque.

World Champion Lewis Hamilton had a nightmare weekend when he crashed during Qualifying and had to start at the back of the field. Despite a light fuel load, Hamilton could not do anything around the streets of Monaco and also tapped Nick Heidfeld’s BMW during the race. It is the second race in a row that the leading car has lapped the World Champion. Talk is that Lewis is looking for a PR guru to boost his wailing image.

The rest of the point scorers were Red Bull’s Mark Webber, William’s Nico Rosberg, Renault’s Fernando Alonso and a much needed boost for the under pressure Sebastien Bourdais for Toro Rosso.

Although the Monaco GP can be processional due to the nature of the circuit, it still is the most important race on the calendar and the one race that every driver wants to win. Jenson Button is a winner in Monaco now and the title must surely be within his grasp. Just to give you an idea of the Brawn Gp’s performance and reliability. This race saw Jenson Button use the same Mercedes engine for the third race in a row without any problems at all. The drivers are limited to 8 engines for the season. Brawn are only on their 2nd engine. BMW in contrast have used 5 engines already for Robert Kubica.

This week is crunch time for the teams and the FIa to iron out their differences. Late last night, FOTA sent a letter to the FIA’s Max Moseley requesting that next year's regulations be scrapped if the teams are to commit their future to the sport. It is a complicated situation but I am confident that a compromise will be found..perhaps not by the end of this week though.

So, F1 continues and in two weeks the teams will race in Istanbul around one of the most exciting new circuits on the calendar. Can anyone even challenge the Brawn’s let alone beat them... I doubt it but they will give it their all in effort.

Sasha's F1 GP update - 10 May 2009

I love F1 because people can be so fickle. Let me explain. As recently as 5 years ago if Ferrari won 4 out of 5 races the world criticised the sport, the FIa, the rules, the Pope, the whoever they could.... now 5 years on another teams has won 4 out of the first 5 and the world is quiet..Isn’t it peculiar?

What a turn around this season has become. Nowhere can you find names like Ferrari, Renault, Toyota, and McLaren competing for wins in the most prestigious of motorsports. It’s about Brawn GP and Red bull racing. Who, what....and I think it is not bad for the sport however there must a load of people who listen to their sports reports on Mondays and wonder who and what these teams are. We are like that; we like to identify with something. If you say Toyota you can understand what it is but if you say Brawn it doesn’t really mean much unless you have an interest in the sport. Just a reference point, Brawn GP has 68 points, McLaren 13 and Ferrari 6th. Ferrari has won 9 out of the 10 past Constructors titles

Yesterday’s Spanish GP saw Ross Brawn weave his magic and change strategies to allow Jenson to leapfrog his teammate and score more points in a bid to claim the title. Ross Brawn knows what it takes to win and he will guide his team that way until he feels no one can catch them. Rubens Barrichello will not take it lying down but he will create problems if he doesn’t toe the line; however he has to be quicker than Jenson which won’t be easy. The one great thing for Jenson Button is his consistency. He has not made one mistake and is driving well within himself. I don’t even think that Brawn have shown their full potential as yet.

Having said all that, Brawn GP are completely dominating F1. RBR may be the next best team but they are going to have win at least another 3 races to even get close to being on an even keel with Brawn.

There were some surprises and some disappointments this weekend. Toyota and McLaren were disappointing but the encouraging thing for the tifosi was that Ferrari seem to have made a major step forward but they need to solve their reliability problems and they need more petrol....

So, all bets off. Button will be WC. A bit disappointing to have to announce it after only 5 races but it seems that way. I wonder how man of Schumacher’s records he will break as well

Sasha's F1 GP update - 28 April 2009

Taking nothing away from Jenson Button’s excellent drive and victory in Bahrain, I am still wondering how Toyota as well as Sebastien Vettel lost the race!

I say this because Toyota had the front row locked out and Vettel who was 3rd had the heaviest fuel load after qualifying.

Well, it is this simple. Toyota mucked up badly. They chose the wrong tyres for the middle stint of the race. It is that simple. Note to Toyota: use the quickest tyres for the MAJORITY of the race and not the other way around.

For Vettel it was a little more complicated. He didn’t get the ideal track position after the start and had to play a long waiting game which thwarted his progress.

For the rest it was a pretty ordinary race which should have been a cracker but Toyota messed it up to be honest.

The first “normal” race of the season and without a doubt it must be said that the Brawn GP cars have a significant advantage over the rest of the field. What must worry the rest of the teams is that in two weeks time Brawn will introduce their FIRST updates on their car. I would be concerned if I were the other teams.

The Bahrain GP saw Button extend his lead in the championship and you have to believe that both he and the team are now seriously thinking about this championship. For Barrichello he might already have to fulfil a role he plays so well, that being second.

Button made a crucial pass on Hamilton at the end of the first lap after Hamilton bulleted off the line at the start with the help of KERS. This set him up for the race. The Toyota pair were well in the lead but the wrong strategy saw them fall behind although Trulli finished a great 3rd but it SHOULD have been a win. Trulli also managed his first ever fastest lap of the race.

Vettel was held up behind Lewis Hamilton and his race was marginalised after an average start. Hamilton did his best and showed his class finishing a great 4th. I expect McLaren to strongly improve over the next 2 races however it all depends what kind of penalty they receive on Wed at the WMSC meeting. I predict a slap on the wrists and a little fine. Although nothing is little in F1.

Rubens Barrichello fought back bravely and finished 5th with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen scoring his first points and the first points for Ferrari this season. Ferrari is struggling with everything but it is mainly their Aero package which doesn’t give them enough grip in the corners. This then spills over and ruins their tyres. Perhaps they will improve in Spain but I don’t expect anything too dramatic to be honest.

Glock fought back hard but only managed to finish 7th. Alonso drove hard and nearly fainted after the race. His 8th place and one point is not enough for him or Renault and they too have a mountain to climb.

The disappointment of the race has to be the performance of BMW. What has gone wrong? Even though both drivers had problems early on, watching them during the race showed that their race pace was below what we have come to expect from this team.

One last thing: what race were Jonathan Legard and Martin Brundle watching? The commentary was so off the pace. These guys are meant to keep us informed about how the race is panning out? I was in the studio with Gary and Vic and we were screaming at the TV because the two BBc’ers were getting it completely wrong. Maybe I am just too much of a perfectionist when it comes to F1 but I believe the average F1 punter could have been better informed about what was going on during the race.

I will let you know what happens on Wed with McLaren and of course any other major F1 news.

Bring on Europe and the Spanish GP.

Take care

Ciao Ciao

Formula 1 2009

Few Formula One seasons have been quite so keenly anticipated as this one. Major changes to the regulations, aimed at enhancing the show by promoting more overtaking opportunities while at the same time reducing costs, have given everyone a dramatic new set of challenges.

The most significant changes relate to aerodynamics, with smaller rear wings and wider front wings which, for the first time since 1969, may be adjusted by the driver, twice per lap. This is a direct result of intensive research done last year by Formula One’s Overtaking Working Group’s into ways of generating passing opportunities.

Thus the scene is set for another gripping season in which so much will remain unpredictable until the first few races have been run. And which will welcome yet another exciting new venue when the finale is held at the bespoke Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, on November 1. Who will be crowned world champion by then is anyone’s guess..