F1 Insiders Est. 2012
Coming into the Singapore Grand Prix in 2011 the title was a fight between Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber (Red Bull), Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button (McLaren) and Fernando Alonso (Ferrari). Well, mathematically anyway. Such was Vettel’s dominance in the 2011 season that he could wrap the title up in Singapore if results went his way. … Read more
The first Singapore Grand Prix was to be the first night race in Formula One history around a tight street circuit with plenty of barriers and walls to collect errant drivers. So who could be surprised by a crash causing a safety car? Nelson Piquet’s Renault duly obliged on lap 14, and in amazingly fortuitous … Read more
Controversy, team orders, near fatal collisions, a seat in a red car this driver has almost had it all, the one thing that has eluded this experienced and mature driver is a world championship.
The 2008 campaign was the closest he got. The title was all his, until the last two corners in the Formula One season. Glock slowed down, letting Hamilton passed onto a world championship title. Some commentors called it the biggest fix in the history of sport, Glock denied all suggestions. One thing is for sure watching Massa’s father and the Ferrari pit crew celebrating with 20 seconds of the race left, gave you goosebumps, and the change of expression as the realisation hit home that the celebrations were premature was some of the hardest sporting TV broadcast.
Similarly to this year the 2008 season would see two teams lead the way, Lewis Hamilton leading the charge for the Mercedes powered McLaren team with a young Finn in a supporting role (Heikki Kovalainen). Ferrari would have a young gun in Felipe Massa lead the charge with Kimi Raikkonen close but not quite able to … Read more
The vacancy void created by Rosberg has presented an intriguing change of direction for F1. Fans of Sportscars and one of their better known broadcasters (Graham Goodwin) have rather ironically called F1 ‘their feeder series’ over the years but Mark Webber tweeted a valid possibility for Williams should Bottas leave for Mercedes. Bottas to Merc huh.Williams, Leave FM to … Read more
As we all know Felipe Massa will end his Formula One career, as a driver, after the grand prix in Abu Dhabi. But now Rob Smedley has confessed to wanting to slow things down for himself too. Smedley and Massa have been dancing the Formula One tango for ten years now. They first got … Read more
Note from the Ed: This is a sample of the Author’s circuit profile guide, the most complete available on the net 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix – Misery for Massa as Hamilton is Champion Is it really 8 years ago already? Coming into the final race of the 2008 season, McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton seemed to have … Read more
One of F1’s worst kept secrets is due to be confirmed this morning at 11am when Williams F1 will confirm Stroll to replace Massa for 2017. Lance Stroll, son of the Canadian Billionaire Lawrence Stroll is expected to become team mate to Bottas for the coming 2017 season. The announcement has been delayed due to his … Read more
On this day in F1 – 12th October 2008 Accusations and recriminations at the Japanese Grand Prix where Lewis Hamilton accused Felipe Massa of deliberately crashing into him as the pair clashed for fifth place on the second lap. The incident put Hamilton to the back of the field, cut his lead in the drivers’ … Read more
Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne has said it will be a “tragedy” if his team’s Formula One title drought extends to 10 years. Kimi Räikkönen was the last driver to win the championship as a Ferrari driver after he outscored the then duelling McLaren duo of Hamilton and Alonso at the concluding race in Brazil in … Read more
