Alpine F1

Today's race has officially put Massa into serious contention for the Formula 1 title. My feeling is that Massa is approaching the races a bit more conservatively, he is fighting for wins on tracks where he is super confident like Bahrain and Turkey while utilising caution on the others.

As long as he keeps his head down and picks up as many possible points, it will help him build his confidence and then he can unleash it all towards the end of the year with simpler tracks like Fuji, China, Italy and Brazil. He will definitely not have the edge on the more technical tracks like Monaco and Magny, as he will find Kimi ahead of him on most of those circuits.

It is important to note that Massa's engineer Smedly made a statement that Massa is championship material. While I don't doubt Massa's capability, it's his unpredictable and at times rugged driving style that makes me unsure whether he will achieve his goal. However, after Smedly started working with Massa, he has shown an increase in his patience and a more strategic approach towards his races. I think this change of approach will bring out the best in Massa.

Speaking of change of approach, what Hamilton did was exactly that. After the last four races, it was evident that the Mclarens are using up the soft compounds much faster than the hard options. So while the difference in speed between the maccas and the scarlets cars is significant on the soft tyres, on the hard tyres the gap is quite small.

Hamilton displayed just that by running most of his stints on the hard option. The consistent drive also made him more confident while attacking Massa. The question remains, how much of the gap remains now? We won't find out unless the cars are out on the same tyre over a conventional 20-lap stint.

As development progresses, the biggest losers seem to be the BMW's. Red Bull and Renault are both climbing at a fast rate, however today Hiedfield was found racing in the midfield with the Red Bulls and Renaults. The team made a brilliant start at the beginning of the season, but since then, their rate of progress seems to be eroding.

Finally all of us located in North America, watch the itv commentary on the TSN. I find the commentators, especially James Allen a bit obnoxious in the way he keeps rambling about Lewis the moment his car is on the screen. James, I understand your love for him, but it's almost becoming the "love you never had."

At the same time, I don't understand why James has to be so negative about Massa. Maybe it's the British way of declaring patriotism, downing others and glorifying your mediocre countrymen, at times for no reason.

All in all, the championship is even more interesting this year. The loss of traction control should make Monaco full of surprises. I could only ask for some rain to spice things up. 

Felipe Massa looked red hot as he secured yet another Turkish Grand Prix pole. He produced a 1:27.617 as he looks to win the Grand Prix for a third year in a row.

The Mclarens took 2nd and 3rd positions on the grid, with Heikki Kovalainen outqualifying Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton for a strange reason went for hard tyres on his final sprint. He explained later that the car felt better on the hard tyres.

Defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen lines up 4th, behind the McLarens, with Robert Kubica in 5th as the BMW's looked slightly off the pace this weekend.

Nick Hieldfeld lines up 9th, behind the Red Bull of Mark Webber (6th), Jarno Trulli's Toyota (7th) and Fernando Alonso's Renault (8th), with David Coulthard rounding up the top 10.

The Hondas of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello line up 13th and 12th in Barrichello's record breaking 257th Grand Prix.

Here are my predictions for the race:

Felipe Massa - Pole Position - Looks in deadly form right now. I expect him to waltz away to a hat-trick of Turkish victories unless he has some sort of technical glitch. Expected finish: 1st

Heikki Kovalainen - 2nd Place - looks to have the edge over Hamilton this weekend.Should have a solid race but may fall prey to Raikkonen's Ferrari. Expected finish : 3rd/4th

Lewis Hamilton - 3rd Place - In front of his world championship rival Raikkonen is good enoguh for Lewis. He needs a good finish today. I expect him to achieve a good podium in the race, maybe even challenge the much faster Massa. Expected finish: 2nd/3rd/4th

Kimi Raikkonen - 4th Place - Looks slightly slower than Massa this weekend. I expect him to be as fast as ever though. Should have a good battle with the McLarens. Expected finish: 2nd/3rd/4th

Promises to be fun! 

From the moment Kimi- Matias Räikkönen drove his Sauber- Petronas C20 into sixth place at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix you couldn't help but wonder what the future held for the young Fin. The sense of anticipation from the motorsport world could have only been further fueled upon hearing it was only his 24th career race. The motorsport world was truely at his feet and it wasn't long until he signed for Ron Dennis and the legandery Mclaren team.

Räikkönen enjoyed limited sucess at Mclaren, consistantly showing speed and race winning potential only to be hindered by a series of bad luck and engine problems. That did however not stop him for mounting a serious challenge to Michael Schumacher in 2003 and Fernando Alonso in 2005. Had he been blessed with a more reliable car it is easy to speculate what could have been for arguably one of the most exciting talents the sport has ever seen.

Although not beeing the type of person to break into a Shakesperian soliloquy his raw speed and a fearless sense of bravery won him fans the world over, stories of his drunken antics during his personal certainly suggest that he is very much alike the drivers of old. The type with genuine character but an unrivaled ability to drive a car, fast.

In 2007 Kimi Räikkönen was finally given the chance to show what he could do with a reliable car and has certainly not looked back. Despite trailing in the rankings for much of last season he got himself in first place when it truely mattered winning six races, more than anyone else and most importantly the world championship. He has since worked his way into a mould of perfection, with strong performances in Malaysia, Bahrain and Spain. Two victories in four races certainly prove this. But can anyone touch him?

The two Mclarens, although fast, do not seem able to match the Ferrari's straight line speed. BMW are closing in on Ferrari but are not yet ready to mount a challenge for race victory leaving team mate Felipe Massa as his only genuine threat, for the time being at least. Massa was dominant in Bahrain, after he sluggish start to the season he needed to be, but for all his experience in racing Ferrari's he often seems too erratic and is prone to make mistakes. Is he consistant enough to mount a challenge to the ice man? With all due respect, probably not.

Arguably the one man who could genuinely challenge him, beside the two Mclaren drivers, is Fernando Alonso however he is somewhat comprimised by driving in a distinctively inferior Renault. For 2008 at least.

Taking into account this the forecast for the 2008 season seems likely to contain many more Räikkönen victories, but as many people would argue. . . it's about time the Flying Fin was on top!

Nelson Piquet Jr the son of 3 times world champion Nelson Piquet has landed himself a racing seat in one of the most opportunistic fashion.

When Flavio Briatore was on the prowl for sponsors so he could finance the return of Fernando Alonso to the regie; he got himself in more than he was asking for, the world's richest man "slim" agreed to sponsor the Renault squad for Mr Alonso's symbolic 46 million dollar salary symbolic because it is 1 million above Kimi Raikkonen's record salary with Ferrari;

 in any respect "slim" would agree to lay the cash at one condition and that was for a south American driver to fill in to no:2 driver alongside Alonso. In other words Fisichella can pack his bags and find himself becoming Vijay Mallya's new right hand not like his personal right hand but his racing man to lead the force india team!! anyways Nelsinho was in for a treat thanks to Alonso's return he has made the jump from test driver known because daddy was 3 times world champion to no:2 racer. Impressive; but more to the point considering his dire beginnings piling DNF upon DNF the young Brazilian's rise to F1 may have been precipitated in the great scheme of things.

Alternatively Briatore could have fast forwarded Romain Grosjean (this year GP2 champion) to partner Fernando Alonso, however considering el Nano (ALonso)'s reputation with newcomers GP2 champion (ie Lewis Hamilton 2007) then it's fair to say Flavio was not in the mood for a repeat meltdown especially when you go from strength to strength to secure a record breaking salary for your top man.

More to the point Piquet's appointment as no:2 driver for the French Squad means Alonso is in the clear to lead the team; but also it leaves the door open for Romain Grosjean to replace David Coulthard in 2009 because let's face it DC is on verge of retiring and if not Barrichello will and that could spark some very interesting developments in the Driver market;

Furthermore Grosjean seems to have more potential than Piquet, for a) he is a French national contracted with a French team I mean come on!!! and b) he is a GP2 champion the very feeder championship that brought names such as Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen, Timo Glock, Robert Kubica and the likes so Grosjean here is your chance to shine!!!

 In the meantime I cannot see Piquet Jr catching up to level, he is just not ready yet, I hope I will be proven wrong as the championship unfolds but I would not rule out him getting replaced in the mid season as pressure is fast mounting for the young Brazilian to deliver for a team that looks to regain its past glories!!! 

Today, Super Aguri has left Formula One adding another team to the graveyard of has-beens.

Started in 2006 on former Formula One driver Aguri Suzuki's dream, Super Aguri barely made it to the season opener in Bahrain with the bad combination of a 2006-spec Honda engine and a four-year old Arrows chassis. Under drivers Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide, the latter retired due to a mechanical failure while the former finished four laps adrift of the leader. It was a humble start for Aguri.

Aguri raced all season with the smallest budget in the paddock. Their fortunes slowly turned around that season by setting small goals and releasing an updated car at the German Grand Prix, and they ended it with a top-ten finish, courtesy of Takuma Sato, in the season-closer in Brazil.

A highly spirited first run, with Aguri Suzuki praising his team on every little achievement they had. They were the little team that could.

When the 2007 season came about, Super Aguri, using the previous year's Honda chassis, improved even more. Takuma Sato, in Spain, took the team's first ever point and the most memorable event was Sato again, passing Fernando Alonso in the much faster McLaren-Mercedes for position at the chaotic 2007 Canadian Grand Prix. Along with that pass and many other events, Super Aguri took three points from that race, and it seemed to be the beginning of something great.

The rest of 2007 didn't see any other points finishes, but leading their backer, Honda, for most of the season certainly boosted morale in the team. It was there that their budget troubles were starting to show.

2008 began with the hopes of a financial backer. Firstly, the backer came in the form of the Magma Group, using money from Dubai, but that collapsed shortly thereafter. However, the team's spirits were not dampened. After the team's transporters were parked outside the gates to the circuit in Turkey, Aguri Suzuki tried, in futility, to get a deal working with Weigl.

That was not successful, and it is here that we are gathered to honour a fallen team. Take a moment to remember the Super Best Friends, a team with a lot of spirit, which is a must in Formula One, but not enough money.

R.I.P. Super Aguri

2006-2008

I

It is a bone of contention now, and has been perhaps for a long time in Formula One. There is not enough overtaking taking place. I've never heard genuine fans complain about this aspect of Formula One, except perhaps during the 2002 season when, perhaps, the people saying it had a point.

However, the question of improving overtaking is a difficult one. On all levels there are problems to consider, and 2009 will see drastic changes to the grip and aerodynamics of Formula One cars by the FIA to improve overtaking.

The question is: What's wrong with the state of play now? If we go back and think of races we remember certain aspects of them all. For instance, we remember that blowout of Nigel Mansell's in Adelaide, we remember that horrendous incident at the beginning of the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, and we remember the endless displays of dominance in 2002 of Ferrari and Michael Schumacher. But do we not also remember The 2003 British Grand Prix?

With it's endless overtaking and wheel to wheel battles? Or the pass last season on Felipe Massa by Fernando Alonso? Or, (and we all knew it was coming) THAT move by Mika Hakkinen in the 2000 Belgian Grand Prix? We do, and it is because overtaking in Formula One is so noticeably difficult that we as fans and the drivers themselves feel the satisfaction of having performed them and seen them.

The truth is, Formula One is a difficult sport, it is the top of the motor racing tree and to make certain things easier such as overtaking is not what the sport needs. The measures taken to decrease aerodynamic efficiency will also not necessarily increase overtaking. And the idea to ban tire warmers for 2009 is frankly, another hair brain scheme from the FIA which I feel may lead to disaster.

Overtaking is the bread and butter of racing and it should be difficult to perform in the most advanced cars in the racing world.

We've seen over the years, whatever the era, it is far from impossible if a driver is determined.

Hello, and welcome, to the first edition of the Slipstream. Inside the 'stream this week are my predictions for who will become the 2008 World Champion(s).

For starters, I would like to comment on what has been an interesting season and an interesting couple of years in the world of Formula-One racing.

Ever since Fernando Alonso took the checkered flag and ended the reign of seven-time World Champion, Michael Schumacher, the eyes of more than a few fans were clouded with doubt about the Spaniard's true pace, and also his true skill in the cockpit.

Questions such as "Did Fernando Win? or Did Kimi Lose?" dogged his first world title win. Alonso's second world-title win came down to the wire in Brazil. A valiant effort by Michael Schumacher towards the end of the season brought a title fight that many thought would not be repeated for at least a few years; all of us were dead wrong about that.

The buzz word in American politics for 2008 is change, but for 2007, change was in the air across the F1 paddock. Double world-champion Fernando Alonso was paired up with rookie Lewis Hamilton. Kimi Raikkonen joined Michael Schumacher's protoge', Felipe Massa, at Ferrari. Robert Kubica teamed-up alongside Nick Heidfeld at BMW Sauber, to spearhead the German/Swiss team's first full-effort after the transition year of 2006.

A lot of questions followed the teams across the world as they tested and plugged away at development. Needless to say, from Melbourne in March to Sao Paulo, and all stops in between, the fans of F1 were given a season to remember, and a fight to the absolute finish amongst three top drivers. A headline from Autosport's preview of the final race summed up F1 in three short but very sweet lines, "3 Heroes, 2 Titles, 1 Race".

2008 started off with much of the same kinetic energy that coursed through the veins of the paddock through much of 2007. New drivers, and even a new team (Force India F1), walked in the Albert Park sunshine as traction control, engine braking, and other driver aids were removed under the new FIA technical regulations.

Alonso's return to Renault, and the apparent lack of pace with the R28, along with the paring with Nelson Piquet Jr., son of three time world champion, Nelson Piquet, raised many doubts about the Spainard, and his legacy as a double world-champion was being brought into question. Kimi Raikkonen was set to defend his world title from the presumptive challenger, Lewis Hamilton, now the No. 1 driver at Vodaphone McLaren Mercedes.

Waiting in the wings to shed its "best of the rest" title, is BMW/Sauber, a team that has demonstrated impressive pace in short sprints, but still lacks the straight-line speed to compete with McLaren and Ferrari for the top step on the podium...for now.

Predictions for the 2008 season are as plentiful as there are flags and bullhorns at a Grand Prix, so I will raise my flag and sound my bullhorn with the following prediction.

2008 World Driver Champion: Kimi Raikkonen 

The Iceman's pace has never been doubted, even from his early days at the Ferrari-engined Sauber Petronas team back in 2001. He has been able to demonstrate, a few times this year and many times last year, that he is able to work his way through the grid and set his goals very well.

Unlike his teammate and Lewis Hamilton, who have both demonstrated difficulty in winning when not from the front or second row of the grid, Kimi's second world-title will not be won in the dramatic fashion of his first, but in a academic and calculated matter, perhaps one or two races before the end of the season.

Now that he has a solid car under him, and the lack of driver aids has leveled the playing field somewhat, it is easy to predict the Iceman to hoist the world driver's championship over his head in Sao Paulo on November 2nd, 2008.   

World Constructor's Champion: BMW Sauber

The Hwinli-based team has fielded two very impressive drivers this year, and their ability to collect maximum points each and every race augments the design, cunning, and tactical prowess of team boss, Dr.Mario Thiessen.

The pole at Bahrain sent a message right to the factories at Woking and Maranello that BMW has arrived, and in grand fashion. It will be through their ability to run the field and, with a little help from the DNFs of Felipe Massa and other top drivers, that BMW Sauber, once regulated to being an engine provider for Williams and Brabham, will secure itself in Formula One for many years to come.

With these predictions, you, the reader can hold me to them through the whole season. As a disclaimer, I amm, and have been, a fan of Fernando Alonso for many years, and I am sorry in advance for any bias I may hold for or against him. Thank you for reading, and I hope to hear feedback in the weeks to come as the Slipstream crosses many forms of motorsport.

A couple of months ago, I posted the following title topic on Kimi Raikkonen's Facebook page: "Kimi's next teammate."

At the time, Felipe Massa was surviving a second DNF in as many races, sparking speculations on the likelihood of the Italian outfit keeping the Brazilian hotshot within the team.

Most people in this discussion were split up between Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, although names such as Nico Rosberg and Nick Heidfeld did pop through.

Now it is clear that Fernando Alonso would not be able to bond with a driver of his own caliber, i.e. Kimi Raikkonen.

Also Montezemolo himself depicted the arrival of Alonso as a damaging move (whilst Raikkonen is No. 1 driver,  a key factor to remember, and I shall examine that later in this article).

On the other hand, Sebastien Vettel would be an ideal pick, considering his potential and his willingness to shadow the Iceman as part of the learning curve of a traditional aspiring talent.

Compare this to Lewis Hamilton, who went straight for it last year. Vettel would prove a valuable asset: expandable, flexible and willing to play the part the prance horse, i.e. wait in the background and don't mess with Raikka.

However, the reality of Formula 1 racing is not that straightforward, following comments from Ferrari executives on a possible Alonso move to the Reds.

Ross Brawn of Honda made a very interesting analysis of the whole debacle. He reckons that whilst speculation on Kimi Raikkonen's early retirement plans may not actually materialise this year or the next, it is true that the Iceman will not attempt to carry on like David Coulthard has done.

This is adding further momentum to Alonso's cause. The question we need to ask ourselves is not whether would Alonso and Raikkonen get along in the same team, but how much longer does the Kimster plan on to stay in F1?

If he does move on next year, which would be a disastrous loss for the sport, then who would Ferrari's pick be?

To that extent, considering the Scuderia is the best team in the paddock by a mile pacewise, surely a driver of Alonso's caliber would fit the bill.

Hamilton could request a switch to Ferrari but his loyalty to McLaren Mercedes in the form of a contract extension for the next five years makes him unlikely. Vettel is far from ready to take on such responsibility.

Nick Heidfeld could be an idea, but why switch to Ferrari when you're driving a BMW, the only team capable to taking on the pecking order?

Nico Rosberg and Timo Glock do have potential and enough experience in Formula 1 to advocate their candidacy with the Italian outfit.

When it's all said and done, would anyone at Ferrari relish the chance of hosting a double world champion as their first driver if Raikkonen was to leave?

My answer: not in a million years!

Approaching the age of 27, Fernando Alonso is in his prime.

Yet, the former world champion finds himself in, by his standards, uncompetitive machinery. He is proving his worth, however, forging commendable results in unlikely circumstances, just as he managed driving for Minardi in 2001.

With Ferrari, McLaren, and BMW so dominant at the top, it seems that only a substantial slice (or several!) of luck or those three teams robbing each other of valuable points will see Fernando finish any higher than ‘best of the rest’ this season.

In addition, the greater the gap between Renault and Ferrari this season, the harder it will be for Renault to even maintain such a gap next season.

However, there is hope. The relative performance of teams is set to be equalised somewhat (in theory) in time for the 2009 season.

New aerodynamics regulations and the fact that tyres will have to be ‘slick’ (smooth) should make the cars rely more on mechanical grip, making overtaking and close racing a greater possibility.

As all the teams adjust to these significant rule changes, Renault will begin 2009 on more of a level playing field. All this is perhaps irrelevant, however, should Alonso choose to leave Renault, if he has the option…

Alonso has demonstrated negative traits in the past, most dramatically with his handling of competitive teammates, and not just most famously whilst at Mclaren with Lewis Hamilton.

When he believed Fisichella held him up in Montreal in 2005, he ranted and raved to the team over the radio, before proceeding to lose concentration and then control, breaking his suspension in the process.

He has always believed himself to be more important than his team. Some teams may not have him for such attitudes.

The undeniable quality of Fernando’s driving should dictate that he will be able to haul himself into title contention eventually, even staying with the Renault team, perhaps reconstructing Ferrari around him like Michael Schumacher did.

He must be careful, however, that he doesn’t run out of years in the process should he commit to an uncertain long-term future there.

Looking at the hard facts, Fernando Alonso is a double world champion, the man who ended Michael Schumacher’s dominance, and the most successful driver currently on the grid.

It would take an unfortunate series of events to prevent Alonso from at least challenging for the title again before the end of his career.

With teams and drivers more closely matched than has been the case for a while, it will be difficult for Fernando, even if he does manage to produce a fully competitive season again, to rise to the top of the pile again.

However, his levels of ability and determination dictate he will not remain in the doldrums forever. Be it as soon as 2009, or later, he will indubitably be in the fray once more.

The Formula 1 season is well underway. The beautiful venues, the varying challenges at each track, the people behind the scenes and in the limelight, the cars and the teams, and of course the F1 pilots themselves. But let's take a look at a new trend that affects the technical make-up of the sport that strikes me as special.

What I have in mind is the “team-lead pilot” relationship that is blossoming in a few teams nowadays and the way this is changing the face of Formula 1.

Of late, the F1 pilot is getting increasingly involved in technical activities, which were out-of-bounds for a racer until a few years ago when Michael Schumacher started the trend with Ferrari. As far as my memory takes me, Michael was the first racer to be directly involved in the technical development of the car.

Of course these things are never revealed to their fullest extent, but it is a safe extrapolation to make considering the fact that Ferrari continue to employ Michael for his services as a technical adviser and a tester despite having two very able pilots in their fold. Similarly, Dave Coulthard has been instrumental in giving direction to Red Bull Racing since their entry into Formula 1. Now it seems Alonso is being entrusted with a similar role at Renault F1.

The combination of Fernando and Flavio Briatore took Renault to F1 championship glory in 2006 and judging by the alacrity Alonso and Flavio generated on the former’s homecoming only means all is well. The strength of the Flavio - Fernando combine is already showing with Renault matching pace with the Ferrari’s after a drab start to the season.

This trend augurs well for the sport with a lot of teams looking at people who aren’t just thoroughbred racers but who can fit the multi-role required of them by the teams. This translates to the fact that teams nowadays are looking at technically creative race-winners, a formidable combination to have at the head of any F1 team.

It is almost evident then that the relationship between a pilot and his team is symbiotic and both parties want it to flourish for as long as possible. This explains why some pilots stay at their teams for such a long time, because they enjoy it and so does the team.

The above trend only augurs well for the sport as well as for the automotive industry as the stress is now primarily on the technical development rather than on a mere win in a race. This new view of Formula 1 centering its’ attention towards its’ original intended direction of enhancing technology in automotive’s is more than welcome. Three cheers to F1 Technology and its’ true champions!