25-Sep-08: Alonso and Bourdais Dislike Singapore Kerbs
This is F1 Minute and it’s the 25th September 2008.
It’s a simple countdown until Singapore now, as the drivers have spent today preparing for the race on the new circuit. Most will have walked the track at some point, and there have been a couple of concerns.
Bourdais has already expressed his opinion that the chicane at Turn 10 is not a particularly good corner, and the high bumps on the kerbs may cause a problem. Alonso, having walked the track today, agrees, and goes so far as to say that the bumps could end a driver’s race. “It is not the best solution that they could find. We worry that if you miss the chicane or miss the line then you have to go over the kerbs - and then perhaps you damage the chassis or damage the bottom.” The FIA are aware of the situation and apparently race director Charlie Whiting has already inspected the corner.
Elsewhere today, Massa has said that if he won this year’s championship by the points margin taken from Lewis Hamilton in Belgium, essentially winning off track, he still believes he is a worthy champion, having fought a hard season.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
23-Aug-08: Massa Takes Pole for European GP
Welcome to F1 Minute for the 23rd August 2008.
It looked as though we might have had a strange couple of front rows as qualifying kicked off in Valencia today. Kubica led Free Practice 3 in the morning, adding to the list of drivers who are showing well around this new circuit. In qualifying, Vettel led two of the three sessions, and both Toro Rosso cars got into the final qualifying shoot out.
Unfortunately we lost both Honda and both Force India drivers plus Coulthard in the first session, and with the Toro Rosso’s scraping through to Q3 we also saw some big names knocked out in the second. Alonso finished the day in 12th.
However, it was business as usual for the Ferrari and McLaren boys. Hamilton posted a provisional pole, only to be knocked down by Massa. Kubica slipped into third and Raikkonen finished up fourth.
The pole position has actually been moved this morning from it’s orginal position on the left hand side of the grid to the right, after Charlie Whiting observed the practice sessions and decided that was the more favourable line to take.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
11-May-08: Massa Takes Victory in Turkey
This is F1 Minute for the 11th May 2008.
The Turkish Grand Prix played out exactly as Felipe Massa would have hoped, with a lights to flag victory for him. It wasn’t all easy though, as at one point Lewis Hamilton overtook the Ferrari and flew off into the distance. However, Hamilton was running a three stop strategy, due to some problems with the soft tyres. Controversially, Hamilton appears to blame Bridgestone for the problem, whilst Bridgestone appear to be saying it’s something in the way Hamilton drives.
Elsewhere today, the circuit came under scrutiny, as some wild dogs managed to get onto the tarmac during the GP2 race, causing havoc and ending Bruno Senna’s race. Charlie Whiting is writing to the FIA about the security breach at the Istanbul Park Circuit. It’s even more embarrassing because this is the track that Bernie owns.
Back to the race though, there were only three retirements, Fisichella, Nakajima and Bourdais, whilst Massa was joined on the podium by Raikkonen and Hamilton.
That’s all for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
28-Mar-08: FIA Set to Tweak Qualifying Ahead of Bahrain
Hi everyone, this is F1 Minute for the 28th March.
According to Autosport.com, the FIA are set to tweak qualifying just slightly before the Bahrain Grand Prix. The new rules will see a maximum lap time imposed, so that there will be less danger of ridiculously slow in laps. An FIA spokesman has said that the matter is still under discussion but the maximum could be 120% of a normal lap time.
Massimo Rivola is the team manager of Toro Rosso, and he has joined the rising voice of concern about the lack of night running teams will get to do ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. Apparently, Rivola has already spoken to Charlie Whiting about the first Friday practice session being in the daylight. He wants the matter added to the next meeting of the Sporting Working Group.
Finally, the former President of the FIA Jean-Marie Balestre has passed away in France at the age of 86. Max Mosley paid tribute to him saying: “His contribution to motor sport in France and indeed throughout the world has been unique.”
That’s all for this week. Join me on Monday for another F1 Minute.