Life In The 'Not So Fast' Lane

Formula One has reinvented itself this winter as new regulations have turned the sport upside down. With many of the team's party tricks taken away from them this season, cars were always set to be markedly slower. However, with harder tyre compounds and heavier weight slowing the cars down yet further, Jenson Button has suggested that this seasons cars could be close to their GP2 counterparts. This estimation might not be far from the truth, all things considered.

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Image Credit: p_c_w (via flickr)

Jerez Test: Day 2

After less than 100 laps were completed yesterday, Wednesday at Jerez were far more productive for the majority of the teams. After a light shower just prior to the start of running, Pirelli decided that this morning would be the ideal opportunity to schedule wet weather running and so the circuit was soaked and the wet tyres emerged from their blankets. On a dry surface, the afternoon saw most teams jump into their programme, with Nico Rosberg recording 97 laps for the day, despite missing the entire morning as the team looked to investigate the technical issues which halted their running yesterday. Meanwhile, it was a dismal day for Caterham, Toro Rosso and Red Bull as the Renault powertrain is coming under scrutiny...

Check out Sky Sports F1's gallery featuring the best images of the day...

McLaren MP4-29 Unveiling

Sleek, silver and shocking, the new McLaren MP4-29 has certainly divided opinion. The car features the most radical nose design yet - the 'anteater' extension which was noticeable on the Williams is supported by two vertical spars on either side. It is certainly a peculiar design which will take some getting used to. Meanwhile, the main talking point of the day was Martin Whitmarsh's absence from the launch, with McLaren Managing Director, Jonathan Neale, taking the reigns. With Eric Boullier turning his back on Lotus this morning, it seems as though he could be on his way to McLaren. Coincidences are decidedly rare in Formula One...

The MP4-29 features one of the most radical nose designs we are likely to see
(c) McLaren Mercedes

2013 Team Reviews: McLaren

The 2013 Team Review series has run into 2014 and there is still plenty more to come. Today it is McLaren who are up for examination after a year of disappointment and despair for the team as they suffered their first season without a podium finish since 1980. Despite the best efforts of Jenson Button and Sergio Perez, the season was condemned to failure from the start as McLaren were yet another team to take the wrong approach to what should have been an evolutionary winter.

Honda Consider McLaren Drivers

With McLaren reuniting with Honda for 2015, anticipation grows as fans hope to see a triumphant return to the glory days which the partnership enjoyed throughout the 1980's and 90's. It was an iconic period for the team, which brought dominant success with seven titles claimed in just eight years, as the likes of Senna, Prost and Lauda etched their way into McLaren folk-law. Honda have stated their ambitions, while they have not considered their preferred driver line-up for 2015 just yet.

Podiums Planned For McLaren

When the MP4-28 was unveiled back at the end of January, it seemed unthinkable that McLaren could face such a dreadful season. With just 65 points after eleven races, 2013 marks McLaren's worst season since 1980, as they currently sit a precarious P5 in the standings, with Force India only marginally behind. However, Martin Whitmarsh has stated his intentions and objectives for the team in the closing stages of the campaign and that is to score podiums. On recent form, that may not be out of the question.

Belgian Grand Prix: Weekend Preview

With the Summer Shutdown officially over, Formula One returns to action this weekend, as the tour arrives at the challenging Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. The historic 4.32 mile track has played host to classic races and unforgettable moments over the years. In recent memory, the circuit marked Micheal Schumacher's sublime debut in 1990, as well as the German's first career victory in 1992. Who could forget the chaotic start to proceedings in 1998, where the race was red flagged in the wake of a colossal twelve car pile up. Spa is a place where unpredictability thrives, whether it be the weather or the outcome, we are always perched on the edge of our seat.

Progress Possible For McLaren

Following a turbulent start to the season, McLaren have steadily been developing the MP4-28. Ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix the team are looking to make further progress, yet Jenson Button has downplayed his teams chances of a podium this weekend, despite the circuit being a happy hunting ground for McLaren in past seasons.

Bahrain Grand Prix: Weekend Preview

Incredible to think that this weekend marks the fourth race of what has been an enthralling 2013 season so far. Since Australia, the action has had everyone on the edge of their seat, with the first three Grand Prix's resulting in three different winners. The championship standings reflect the tight competition between all of the teams up and down the grid. With intense rivalry's up and down the grid, there is plenty to play for in Bahrain this weekend.

Perez Needs To "Toughen Up"

Following a less than impressive start, Sergio Perez has now been criticized by his Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh, who suggests that the Mexican needs to toughen up in order to succeed. The youngster has not been exuding confidence of late after a series of lackluster performances have seen him gather two solitary points with his new team. The "young diamond" has hardly experienced a glittering start to his McLaren career.

Sergio is certainly not exuding confidence at this current moment and has been significantly outperformed by teammate Jenson Button. While the Brit has the influential advantage of experience on his side, Perez will have hoped to be closer to Button at this early stage of the season.

Gillan Doubts McLaren Progress

Over the past few weeks, Martin Whitmarsh has been exceedingly positive in regards to McLaren's development of the lackluster MP4-28. However, former Williams Chief Engineer Mark Gillan, believes that McLaren will be unable to find a quick fix for their downforce issues.

McLaren Anticipate Progress

Despite a turbulent start to the new season, McLaren proved that the MP4-28 had potential in Sepang, as Jenson Button challenged the Mercedes before a pit-stop calamity put pay to his progress. Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh states that the team are striving for further development ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.

2012 - A Year In Review

2012 was an incredible year of sport, and Formula One played its part. The longest season ever brought 20 spectacular races, each filled with excitement, drama, and controversy. Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso took the title fight to Brazil; a race with enough action to fill an entire season, let alone 90 minutes. Vettel briefly lost the title, then recaptured it, completing a stunning comeback drive, reminiscent of Schumacher's Brazilian heroics of 2006. A stunning race, encapsulated a stunning year.

Brazilian Grand Prix: Race Analysis

Sebastian Vettel has today joined the exclusive club of triple world champions, taking the 2012 title in spectacular, and dramatic circumstances. Fernando Alonso performed admirably, climbing to 2nd, while Jenson Button ended the season in the fashion with which he started it, taking the victory. It was a race, which many have described, as one of the best ever.
An unbelievable season ended with a spectacular 71 laps, which had everyone on the edge of their seats. Drama, controversy, accident, this race had everything. Jenson Button's victory will be one which many will fail to remember, and was one which may well have fallen to his teammate, before an unfortunate collision with Hulkenburg, saw the Brit retire. Nico had driven an immense race, where he was able to keep pace with the McLaren's and at times, exceed that. After he and Button remained on the slicks well into the race, they managed to construct a 40 second lead, prior to the first safety car. Subsequently, Hamilton returned to the fight, and took the lead after Nico made a rare error. This was then followed by a more costly one.
Hulkenburg attempted the overtake into turn 1, which required him to move onto the damp line. Kovalainen ahead, meant that the Force India had nowhere to go, and a resultant snap of oversteer meant that he collided with Hamilton, breaking the McLaren's left frond suspension, and pull rods. It was game over for Lewis, in his final race for McLaren. A disappointing end to what has been one of Lewis' greatest seasons. Hulkenburg eventually recovered to 5th, after his car miraculously survived the accident unscathed. The German received a drive through penalty for the incident, which was perhaps slightly harsh. The team later suggested that the Caterham blocked Nico's escape route, which he would have otherwise taken in order to avoid the collision. The path was then cleared for Button to claim a 'simple' victory, and his third of a difficult 2012. An excellent way to enter 2013, the season when he becomes McLaren team leader.
As a result of the incident, Fernando momentarily found himself in a position, sufficient for taking the title. Sebastian was still in the process of recovering after a dreadful lap 1 crash almost saw his championship hopes go up in smoke. Vettel was ironically closed down by Mark Webber into turn 1, meaning that he was forced to liftoff throttle much early, to make the tight apex. As he tuned into 4, Bruno Senna was at the apex of the corner, and Vettel failed to acknowledge this. Subsequently, he spun and collected Bruno Senna and Sergio Perez. Incredibly, whilst the Sauber and Williams suffered terminal damage, the Red Bull escaped relatively in-tact. Some minor floor damage meant that drag was increased, yet other then that, Vettel's car survived the tribulations of lap 1. This was in part, a result of incredible precision and skill sown by Sebastian. When spun, he reversed down the hill instinctively to aid the oncoming cars in avoiding his stricken RB8. Watching the traffic, he was still able to think rationally and committed to a move which may have saved his season.
The moment defined Vettel's race. In circumstances when the German may have cracked, he maintained composure, and knew exactly what was needed to win. He was unfazed; whatever his fellow competitors threw at him, he emerged well. Even nature was unable to halt his recovery through the field. A race which may well have ended on lap 1, was saved by an incredible performance. Sebastian Vettel has proved his doubters wrong.
"It was an incredible race, everything that could have happened to make it more difficult for us today, happened!" said a clearly-exhausted Vettel, F1's ninth, and youngest, triple World Champion. "To win a third title, especially here where one of my heroes Ayrton Senna was from, it's difficult to put into words. I was crying in the car but my radio wasn't working, so I'm maybe happy for that!" 
Christian Horner had faced many issues during the race on the pit wall. The constant threat of rain had kept the engineers guessing, while midway through the race, Sebastian lost contact with his team after an issue with his microphone. Subsequently, when Vettel stopped, the team were unsure of the tyres that he required. The Intermediates were not ready at the time, and Vettel lost around 15 seconds. Fortunately, the communication issues did not hamper the team too much, yet it certainly added to the tension. "It was such an eventful start and Sebastian Vettel got turned around at the start," the Red Bull team boss told the BBC.
"Then the rain came and the radio stopped working and we couldn't really communicate with him. But he stuck at it and he has driven with such determination this year. Congratulations to Fernando Alonso too, he has been brilliant this year. That is what makes this Championship so worthy because he has been up against the best."
Further down the grid, Caterham were also the big winners from Sunday, having acheived 10th place in the constructors. The position was stolen from the clutches of Marussia, after Petrov passed Pic to claim the all important P12. The triumph has earned the team around $10 million, and may have saved Heikki Kovalainen's future in F1, due to the demand for driver sponsorship being less prominent at the team. Many would suggest that since Petrov secured the place for the team, the spare seat should be offered to him. Tony Fernandes will no doubt have the final say.
This however, will always be remembered as Vettel's day. He battled against all the obstacles which hampered his progress, and drove with maturity and determination. He was adamant that the 2012 title would be his, and let nothing stand in his path. His third title in as many years, means that he now has to be classed among the greats.