News On F1

Formula 1 Store
F1 Tours, Tickets, Gear
F1 Books
& Biographies

Also Attractions & Concerts

Bernie has killed the British Grand Prix


F1 Merchandise
blank.gif (809 bytes)
blank.gif (809 bytes)
Main Page
Formula 1 News
2015 F1 Schedule
2015 F1 Line-up
2014 F1 Results
F1 Teams
F1 Drivers
NewsOnF1 Mobile
10 'n' Pole
Register - Submit
F1 Regulations
The Forums
Live F1 Coverage
Time & Weather
Motorsport Shop
UK - USA
Motorsport Calendar

F1 Merchandise UK
F1 Merchandise USA

F1 Tours
F1 Tickets
F1 Diecast
F1 Videos
F1 Games
F1 Trivia
NewsOnF1 on Twitter
MotoGP Tickets
Past Formula 1 Seasons
2013 F1 Results
2012 F1 Results
2011 F1 Results
2010 F1 Results
2009 F1 Results
2008 F1 Results
2007 F1 Results
2006 F1 Results
2005 F1 Results
2004 F1 Results
2003 F1 Results

2002 F1 Results

2001 F1 Results

2000 F1 Results

1999 F1 Results

1998 F1 Results

1997 F1 Results
Links
2010 World Cup
Translate
Search
Contact Us
About
Archives
Your Say
Diagnosis & Prognosis
By the Heretic
Controversy Corner
The Real Race
By the Quali-flyer
F1 Testing
F1 Team Reports
8 'n' Pole
2006 World Cup

Download the NewsOnF1.com
toolbar
powered by Alexa

Other Issues
Reader's Comments

Bernie has killed the British Grand Prix by pricing it out of the marketplace. He, of course, denies all blame, using the excuse that it is market forces. He, according to him, is just a shopkeeper. His line goes that it can't be put on his head "If you go to a shop and can't afford to buy it is is not the shopkeepers fault".

Bernie the shopkeeper - that only applies when you're not the only shop in town and you aren't charging usurious prices.

You do have to sympathise with poor Bernie though, he's under attack from all sides. With the value of FOM falling like a stone, the shareholder Banks suing him for the loss of value of their stakehold, F1 imploding on itself and the rapid decline in his mental faculties he's probably not even aware of the fact that he still has an obscene amount of wealth.

There probably isn't much to say about the latest 'silly season' moves. Driver movements will not be finalised until the Button drama is played out and that is when we will know what the 2005 line-up will look like. Until then we have no surprises with the last few races. Trulli will get some practice in a Toyota and JV will get a chance to prove that Sauber's money has been spent wisely (or not).

China is a superb venue and looks to be a fairly challenging circuit although it does not seem to provide the same overtaking possibilities as Bahrain. I really don't understand why they put the bumps on the track coming into what promised to be a decent overtaking area though.

The racing in China was quite exciting, it's a bit unusual these days to be half way through a race without being able to pick the finishing order up front. Rubens won the race on merit, Jenson scored his podium on his strategy and Kimi lost the middle step because his strategists got it wrong. Those three all deserved their results.

Michael strung all his stuff-up's together and had his worst result in memory (mine anyway). He deserved his result too, despite the fact that he probably would have got into the points without the puncture. It did seem to me however that there was a little more to some of Michael's woes than met the eye. I believe that he was fighting a software glitch in the traction control, drivers of his calibre might spin once in an unforced error over a race weekend - not twice.

Williams had a sort of Michael experience as well. JPM moved up to 5th from 10th but that result flattered his effort. Ralf managed to destroy his credibility (not that he had much to start with) after walking away from the car in the pits. Sure he got a puncture and had to crawl back to the pits after his meeting with Coulthard but he failed to alert the crew to his problem and then just gave up when they weren't ready for him. Racers don't do that. There were minor placings still up for grabs and the car could have finished.

JV performed right up to my expectations! He managed to lose out on the start despite having the best launch control in the business (gee that's right - Renault don't have launch control do they?) then went round and round till the race finished. It was to me a wholly forgettable experience and I believe that it will be the lofty standard he will maintain until he's retired again. Some saw him as the saviour who would return Renault to second place in the championship, injecting much excitement into the process. I see him as being the saviour of BAR coming into the last 2 rounds. Alonso performed credibly in China but it simply isn't a Renault friendly circuit.

In Japan we will see a strong performance from BAR with both Button and Sato pushing for ascendency at a track that Sato seems to like. Perhaps it's just the home ground advantage though. Either way I believe they will be fighting hard with Raikkonen (if his car survives and his strategists let him) for the third step on the podium. Alonso will push hard to prove that he's better than the old man beside him but the Renault won't have what it takes to catch the Hondas at home.

The top two steps? They will be red cars, but I doubt that will please the powers that be at Toyota. Michael has had his run of failures - his ego won't let that continue, look for him to put his stamp on Suzuka.

The rest don't matter, despite the close positioning for a few minor places in the championship.

The Quali-flyer

Other Issues
The Real Race Archive

Want to comment on this article ? We'd love to hear from you. Fill in the form below.

(only your first name and last initial will appear under your comments)

Name:

Email address: (a valid email address is required)

Country:

Comments:


 

Reader's comments:


Join 8 'n' Pole and see how your predictions stack up against the others. Register NOW! 

Loading

Back To Top

F1 Tickets
Spanish F1 GP
Canadian F1 GP
British F1 GP
European F1 GP (Valencia)
Belgian F1 GP
Italian F1 GP
United States F1 GP
Abu Dhabi F1 GP
VIP F1 Paddock Club Tickets
MotoGP Tickets
Netherlands MotoGP
Catalunya MotoGP
Portuguese MotoGP
Valencia MotoGP
MotoGP VIP Village Tickets
more Motorsport Tours & Holidays
Australian F1 Grand Prix Tour package
Clipsal 500 Adelaide package
 


Official 2006 F1 Season Review

Autocourse 2006 Annual

F1 World Championship Yearbook 2006

Formula 1 Technical Analysis: 2005 New

The Great Encyclopedia of Formula 1: 2007 Edition New

The Official Tribute To Ayrton Senna
1960 To 1994

The Science of
F1 Design

Motorsport Magazines

Formula 1 Titles

Race Driving Titles

Race Car Design Titles

Click Here for Ferrari F1 Model Cars (Diecast)
Ferrari F1 Model Cars (Diecast)
Also Ferrari Road Car Models

Click Here for Williams F1 Model Cars (Diecast)
Williams F1 Model Cars (Diecast)
Also BMW Road Car Models

Formula 1 Model Cars (Diecast)