F1 FANS MAG ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2013 @F1FANSMAG WWW.THEF1FANSMAGCOM
WE LOOK BACK AT THE CAREER OF OUTGOING FERRARI DRIVER FELIPE MASSA i
Massa - End of a Ferrari Era It was announced on 10th September 2013 (prior to the Singapore Grand Prix weekend) Felipe Massa confirmed the news that he was leaving the Ferrari team at the end of the season. The following day Ferrari announced that Kimi Raikkonen would be rejoining the team to partner Fernando Alonso for the 2014 season, taking over Felipe’s seat. With Massa’s Ferrari career coming to an end, it’s appropriate to look back on his career with the team he has loyally served. Since returning to racing four years ago after experiencing his head injury in Hungary, the F1 paddock and the fans have only seen glimpses of the promise and the peak he showed in 2008 when for a short time he was crowned world champion of the sport. Personally, I believe the peak in performance he showed in 2007 (especially by winning dominantly in Bahrain, Spain and Turkey and loyally yielding victory in Brazil to help ii
Kimi Raikkonen’s title cause when Kimi was firmly established as the team’s number one driver that year), allowed Massa to mature and nurture his talent to briefly become Ferrari’s ‘main man’ the following year and challenge for the Driver’s Championship. In 2008, Massa again won in Bahrain and Turkey (winning Turkey for the third consecutive year). Acting upon his engineer Rob Smedley’s advice regarding Ste Devote, Massa heeded the advice and shone and was rewarded with grip and speed into the corner and took Pole Position ahead of Raikkonen and Hamilton. Massa was driving on a complete different level to what I had seen before. After Monaco, Massa and his confidence in my view was unbeatable for the rest of the year. Felipe outclassed Hamilton through the first two corners of Hungary to take a dominant victory that sadly ended with Massa retiring with engine failure. Felipe bounced back from his the next race with an outstanding Pole Position in Valencia, helped Raikkonen to victory in Spa (but ended up winning the race with Hamilton receiving a penalty and Kimi having a crash) but Singapore for me was a demonstration of Massa’s natural talent and ability for driving. Massa was very impressive during qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix in 2008, the first night race and the very first time all teams and drivers raced on the circuit. Massa was fully iii
engaged in the title fight with Lewis Hamilton, just trailing one point behind him. During the qualifying lap, Felipe despite the understeer within the car and himself pushed himself to the limit way and beyond what was expected and he was rewarded with a fantastic lap to achieve Pole Position and put himself one step further to securing the championship. However, it was not meant to be for him. On track, Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately causing a spin on the circuit .The spin causing a chain reaction on pit stops by all drivers and teams (except for Fernando Alonso) that turned into a fundamental error for Massa and his team caused by the fuel hole still being attached to the car as he left the pit lane. This was where Massa’s chances of becoming the 2008 Formula One World Champion were lost. Ever since the 2008 season, where Felipe and his talent were at his peak, Felipe has never been able to recover this part of his talent again. I am not disputing that Felipe is not talented, because he is. For him to come back after an awful head injury from Hungary in 2009 and to be racing again fully in 2010 takes determination, talent and skill. Which is what Massa showed in his return when he qualified second and finished second behind iv
Fernando Alonso in Bahrain (despite Felipe saving fuel for 22 laps), finishing third in Melbourne and storming through the field from 21st place to 7th place in Malaysia. At the end of the year, Massa was sixth in the Driver’s Championship and was rewarded by Ferrari with a contract extension until the end of the 2012 season. Over the last two years, Felipe has a dip of form (especially in 2011 not scoring any podiums) but consistently scoring points for the team on a regular basis. Felipe’s Ferrari career looked all but over in first half of 2012 but he put in some truly amazing drives that allowed him to keep his Ferrari seat until the end of this season. This season Felipe has had an amazing early start to the season. Felipe managed to out-qualify his team mate in Australia and Malaysia but has not been able to outperform or out score his Ferrari team mate in qualifying or racing this year and leaving Ferrari no choice not to renew his contract for next year. Since Massa joined the team, he has been loyal and humble servant to them. When the team required Felipe, Felipe respected and honoured the wishes made to Kimi Raikkonen firstly when Felipe was his team mate and more recently to Fernando. Felipe being team mate to Fernando over the last v
few years will have also impacted on him. For example, at the 2010 German Grand Prix, Massa was ordered by the Ferrari team to let Fernando ‘by’ because he was ‘quicker’ which Massa did on Lap 49, which led to Ferrari being fined for breaking Sporting Regulations. As a racing driver, I am sure it would have pained Felipe to make way for both Kimi and for Fernando. But he did it for the good of the Ferrari team. The team that gave him his first shot at a competitive drive within the sport, gave him first win in 2006 at the Turkish Grand Prix, gave him the best chance to win be World Champion in 2008 and ultimately become a Ferrari driver for seven years of his Formula One career. Not many drivers achieve the aim of becoming a Ferrari Formula One driver. Felipe Massa did. Not many drivers get seven consecutive years to the team with the most history in the sport. Felipe Massa did. Not many drivers get the chance to fight for the World Championship. Massa did. Felipe Massa should be remembered as the driver that (apart from Lewis Hamilton winning the title in 2008) let his racing talent shine brightly in that same year and was runner up in the Championship, loyally obeying and taking decisions for the Ferrari team without question throughout his career and finally to be remembered for 11 Grand Prix Wins, 15 Pole Positions, 14 Fastest Laps and 36 Podiums that he achieved within the sport. And that is what Felipe Massa should be proud of when he leaves the Ferrari team at the end of the year and it cannot be taken from him.
You can follow me on Twitter at @jonesy_laaa. I also regularly blog about the sport on www.mclarenf1messiah.wordpress.com.
vi
Niki Lauda Niki Lauda is a classic F1
rain-soaked finale in 1976
combination of courage
at Japan’s Mt. Fuji circuit
and calculation. This
where, just weeks after
In both of his careers,
three-time World
his disfiguring crash,
Lauda combined sheer
Champion survived one of Lauda courageously
speed and tremendous
the most shocking,
withdrew while leading
determination with a
dangerous and life
the drivers championship
calculating approach to
hanging crashes ever
points.
racecraft that defied
seen in Formula One only
technology.
comparison. Lauda was
to walk away from a
The second, from 1982
always quick, but
near-certain 4th title in
through 1985, saw Lauda
tempered raw speed with
1976. His triumphant
return as the “grand
a unique knowledge of F1
second career in the
master” of Formula One
engineering and a
mid-1980s with McLaren
to capture another World
dispassionate regard for
saw Lauda as the elder
Championship for
driving only as fast as
statesman of F1 and the
McLaren, become a
necessary to win. He
tutor of young “Professor” mentor to the young Alain
epitomized the racing
Alain Prost.
truism that “to finish first,
Prost in the finer art of
scientific race driving, and one must first finish.” Niki Lauda had two
rally against the advent of
Blessed with a
careers in Formula One.
ground effect F1
meticulously tidy and
The first, from 1971
consistent driving style,
through 1979, included
he always did just enough
two World Champion-
to secure the result he
ships for Ferrari, a
needed and seldom
horrifying accident at the
subjected himself to risks
Nürburgring — in which
he deemed unrealistic.
he nearly died and was a
Add to this the fact that
dministered the Last Rites
he was one of the first F1
of the Catholic Church,
drivers to “buy” a ride in
and the famous
the series and to face vii
and to face legal action after jumping to Ferrari from March (after first signing with BRM) in 1974, and it became clear that Niki Lauda is the true prototype of the modern F1 driver. Indeed, a Ferrari driver hadn’t won the World Championship since John Surtees in 1964 (sound familiar,
Lauda then chose to
Michael Schumacher
devote all his efforts to his Scuderia in 1998-2004,
fans?) and like Schumi
then-fledgling airline,
and now holds a senior
the Austrian helped to
Lauda Air. Like a boxer,
position with the
galvanize the Scuderia
however, Lauda could not
Mercedes AMG Petronas
into fulfilling its potential.
resist the urge to make
team in which he is widely
comeback, and in 1982
credited for persuading
he rejoined Formula One,
Lewis Hamilton to join the
Lauda will always be
second resurgence of
remembered as one of the winning his third GP after most pragmatic, logical returning and the 1984
team for 2013
Grand Prix divers of all
title, over Prost, by the
time. Yet he had an
wafer-thin margin of 1/2
Thanks to
emotional side as well.
point (with Prost taking
After recapturing the F1
seven wins to Lauda’s
title in 1977 with Ferrari
five). Finally giving in to
(beating new teammate
the years, Lauda retired
Carlos Reutemann
for good with 25 GP wins
convincingly on the track,
after the 1985 season.
rather than in the garage) Lauda abruptly quit to join Since retiring once and Bernie Ecclestone’s for all Lauda has emergent Brabham-Alfa
Paul Gawne for this article
successfully founded an
Romeo team. He won
airline served as a two races for Brabham be- consultant to Ferrari and fore, once again retired. Schumacher during the viii
Here are some amazing and iconic F1 pictures from Twitter account @F1Porn. Ayrton Senna in the gravel trap in his McLaren MP4/5, 1989 British Grand Prix
Louis Chiron blasting past the trees at Reims in his Lago-Talbot, 1951 French Grand Prix
ix
Paul Di Resta during practice for the 2013 Korean Grand Prix
Patrick Tambay driving the Mclaren M26 at the 1978 US Grand Prix
x
Jacques Villeneuve in the BAR 004, 2002 Monaco Grand Prix
Jean-Pierre Jarier in his March-Ford, 1973 Argentine Grand Prix
xi
Round 14 of the 2013 Formula One World Championship at Korea’s International circuit in Yeongam 4th- 6th October Circuit statistics Laps: 55 Track length: 5.615 km. DRS Zones: There are two DRS zones this weekend, the first between turns two and three and the second on the pit straight. Lap record: Sebastian Vettel - 1:39.605 - (Red Bull; 2011) 2012 pole: Mark Webber - 1:37.242 Direction: Anti-clockwise
The second of the flyaway races this weekend see’s us move from the streets of Singapore to the unusual anti-clockwise Korean International circuit in Yeongam. The Yeongam circuit has three distinctive sectors, the first full of long straights, the second boasts high-speed corners and the final sector is tight, similar to that of a street circuit. Much like Singapore, the Korean grand prix is relatively new to the F1 calendar with only three races having been held so far with only two men to have ever been crowned victor. These two men are none other than title contender’s Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel. Fernando Alonso won Korea’s inaugural race, as he did in Singapore, in 2010, with Sebastian Vettel winning in 2011, and 2012. In terms of this year’s championship, Fernando Alonso will be hoping to recreate that first win to deprive Sebastian Vettel of all but securing his fourth consecutive title, as he stands with a 60 point lead. However, Korea is an unusual circuit, with the pole sitter never having secured the win and the last person to win from below the first row of the grid being Fernando Alonso himself, who’s starts this year have been unbelievably effective, so all could still be to play for at Yeongam on Sunday. xii
2012 Korean Grand Prix 2012’s race saw the Red Bulls dominate on Saturday and Sunday, with Mark Webber securing pole and Sebastian Vettel taking the win over him on Sunday to secure the championship lead from Fernando Alonso for the first time in the season. The drama of the Korean circuit emerged from the very start with two retirements in the first two laps, as Jenson Button’s McLaren and Nico Roseberg’s Mercedes collided with Kobayashi’s Sauber for which Kobayashi was awarded a drive through penalty and later retired. Meanwhile at the front a four way battle for the lead emerged between Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. Here, however, the fight remained clear of contact as Webber, lost the lead to Sebastian Vettel at turn one, whilst the fast starting Fernando Alonso secured third from Lewis Hamilton as his move down the inside of the Red Bull’s failed. Kimi Raikkonen also attempted to capitalize on the four way battle by going around the outside of Alonso and Hamilton, but ultimately had to settle for fifth. The race did not improve for Lewis Hamilton as tire damage saw him easily passed by Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, then a slow pit stop and a piece of astro-turf attaching itself to the underside of his car in the finals laps saw him finish with only one championship point. Meanwhile Sebastian Vettel managed to control his worrying tire wear to secure the race win and the championship lead. His teammate Mark Webber came home second to secure a Red Bull one-two from the two Ferrari’s. Kimi Raikkonen finished fifth for Lotus boasting his championship standings with Nico Hulkenberg sixth for Force India, Romain Grosjean seventh, Jean-Eric Vergne eighth from teammate Daniel Riccardo and Lewis Hamilton tenth. The race appeared easy for Sebastian Vettel but a multitude of radio messages calling for him to preserve his tires suggested that it was anything but. Tire issues have been relatively low for Red Bull in recent races but could this old issue reappear around Korea’s unusual anti-clockwise circuit and reignite the championship battle? xiii
F1 2013 Classic Edition We take a look at the latest installment of the F1 video games series, F1 2013 F1 2013 Classic Edition is the fourth and inevitably final F1 game on the current generation consoles and I am happy to report that Codemasters have gone out with a bang. With a bundle of new content and technical changes, F1 2013 Classic Edition is the game F1 fans have been waiting for. The 2013 part of the game contains, as you might have guessed, all the cars, drivers, tracks and regulations from the 2013 season. This part of the game is more or less the same as F1 2012. You start off at the Abu Dhabi Young Drivers Test where you complete a number of challenges to unlock teams to start your career with and to get a feel for the game. In this game you can actually skip day one of the test if you have a save file from F1 2012 on your system. Once you complete the test you are thrust into your F1 career. This is the same as usual; beat your team-mate, move up the F1 food chain and fight for championship glory. In session-saves have been added to give you the chance to compete in longer races when you don't have two hours to do so. I would've liked to have seen some new features in the career mode but it is no less fun. Season Challenge makes a return. This is where you fight for the title over a season of ten races consisting of one-shot qualifying sessions and five lap races whilst beating rivals and gaining their seats. A recycled idea that is a bit
xiv
fun if you have twenty minutes or so to kill. Scenario mode replaces champions mode. There are twenty scenarios ranging from finishing ahead of your team-mate in a Marussia to charging your way through the pack to win a race. Each scenario can be played at three difficulty levels; Bronze, Silver and Gold. Even on the Gold difficulty the scenarios aren't hard but are fun nonetheless. Time Trial and Time Attack are the same as all the other games likewise multiplayer and Grand Prix mode. The real changes, in terms of content, comes in the form of F1 Classics. The introduction of classic content has been long awaited but it has been worth it. The classic mode is split into two eras; 80's and 90's. There are five cars from the 80's, six from the 90's and the racenet exclusive 1976 Ferrari 312 T2 driven by Niki Lauda, Clay Regazzoni and Carlos Reutemann (for one round). There are also four classic tracks and seventeen iconic drivers. The classic mode is almost like a game within a game. There is a grand prix mode, scenario mode and multiplayer. The classic cars can be raced on modern tracks and the 2013 cars can race on classic ones. The most enjoyable part about the classic mode is that it is voiced by the legend that is Murray Walker. It may take some people time to adjust to the fact that you can be racing against Damon Hill in a Williams FW12 whilst you are Alain Prost in an FW07B but if you look past the historical anomalies it is a fantastic game mode. At this point you are probably thinking that aside from some extra content nothing has really changed. This is not the case as the devil is in the detail. For starters the game is incredibly pretty. This is thanks to improved lighting. Light now bounces off xv
of your helmet and mirrors as well as peeking its way through trees and fences. Add rain to the game and it becomes possibly the prettiest game ever. The details on the car are smoother and replays stutter less. The mirrors are more useful now. With the cars behind more visible you are less likely to cause any silly accidents. The handling and physics have been given a fine tune. The tyres drop off dramatically, forcing you to use a good tyre strategy and the difference in grip offered
This is game footage, not the actual Sauber C32. I
by the different compounds know, incredible! of Pirelli tyre is more noticeable. You will lose front end grip when you are in the turbulent air of the car ahead of you and it is easier to spin the wheels coming out of corners now, meaning you won't be able to get on the power as early and run away from the AI. The AI are more intelligent and more aggressive. They will look for anyway past and will attempt to block you if you attempt a pass. This means you will be racing harder which is bloody good fun. They are also prone to mistakes which increases the likelihood of a safety car which was a problem in last years game. The sound of the game is fantastic. Each car sounds different and the exhaust noise is more audible this time around. The engine being revved during a pit-stop is more realistic and the noise of the cars around you is a lot louder now too. The turbos pop and the V10's scream. The noise in F1 2013 is wonderful. The game is presented well. The dimly lit hangar style menu from F1 2012 has been replaced by a factory wind tunnel and the classics mode menu is an old style pit garage. The loading screens are filled with official race pictures and the pit-stops are more cinematic. These may seem like small xvi
With the large number of technical changes and the addition of classic content, F1 2013 Classic Edition is Codemasters most complete F1 experience and by far their best.
By Lewis Duncan
xvii
Vettel Victorious in Monza After Spa in Belgium,
final corner, the
of the session was Nico
the Italian Grand Prix is
Parabolica, damaging the
Hulkenburg taking 3rd
another historic race
floor of the car. Although
place, a much needed
that is just embedded in
down in 14th place after
boost for the Sauber
the legacy of Formula 1,
the first run, he tried
team. Vettel took the pole
again, but the pace
position though,
wasn’t there, so having to
something that looked
settle for 12th place,
certain from yesterday
amazingly just behind
afternoon, with Mark
championship rival Kimi
Webber second in the
Raikkonen. The Lotus
sister car. With
didn’t have the qualifying
Hulkenberg 3rd the
pace around Monza with
Ferrari’s came 4th and
Romain Grosjean also
5th.
evoking so many memories. It also brings one of the most dedicated fan bases, the Tifosi who while supporting their beloved Ferrari also bring an incredible atmosphere to the race. Being the
finishing 13th. With sunny days through
fastest circuit on the
In the final part of
practice, race day would
calendar, it also brings
Qualifying, the top 10
bring rain showers around
the fastest race time,
shootout, Ferrari
before the start of the
with the fastest average
continued slipstreaming,
grand prix, including the
speed, a unique chal-
perfecting that method
supporting GP2 race in
lenge for all the teams.
although it was Mark
the morning. A further
Webber who set the ea
light shower descended
The first part of Qualifying
rly pace, with team mate
an hour before race start.
went as normal, with
Vettel just behind. Ferrari
Gutierrez, Bottas, Van der
went out again together
From qualifying, Adrian
Garde, Pic, Bianchi and
for their final run, although
Sutil got a 3 place penalty
Chilton predictably fell at
the experiment didn't
for impeding Lewis
the first hurdle. That
work with Massa too far
Hamilton in the
wasn’t going to be said
ahead of Fernando, so
parabolica. Overnight Red
the second though. In an
much so that Felipe’s final
Bull decide to change 5th,
unusual manor, Lewis
lap was faster than that of
6th and 7th gears on both
Hamilton went wide at the
Fernando. The surprise of
cars, and according to the xviii
rules this can be done
front wing. Nico Hulkenburg
Hamilton had radio
without penalty. Ferrari also
lost a bit of ground falling
problems, the team was
changed the engine in Felipe
down to 5th.
unable to hear him.
penalty for race, but it was
At the second chicane Paul
Fernando Alonso passed
an older engine and the
di Resta hit the back of
Felipe Massa on lap 8 into
newer one cant be used
Romain Grosjean, taking out
the first corner, no fight from
before Brazil.
the front wing and breaking
Felipe, looking like he was
the front suspension, his
more than likely asked to
Everyone was late to the
first retirement in Formula 1
move aside for his team
grid, electing to take a few
on the first lap. Raikkonen
mate.
laps to assess the
though pitted with the bro-
conditions. While most took
ken front wing, and a
Jean-Eric Vergne, Lewis
the intermediate tyre, back
change of tyres.
Hamilton, Jenson Button
Massa’s car, again without a
on the grid drivers were
and Romain Grosjean were
talking about taking the slick
Hamilton had managed to
close together, Button
tyre as the majority of the
get his way into 10th,
managed to get past into
racetrack was dry. The
making up a little ground.
Ascari for P10. Up front Red
threat of rain though still
Fernando Alonso got around
Bull reported that it was
remained.
the outside of Mark Webber
‘being monitored’ on Vettel’s
into the second chicane on
car, but it was not looking
Hamilton started on the hard
lap 3, even without the help
good. It later transpired that
compound tyre, along with
of the DRS, but was
it was the flat spot caused
Raikkonen and Gutierrez,
squeezed, that didn't stop
while breaking and locking
they all had a free choice
him though in a quite
up into the first corner at the
starting outside the top 10.
amazing move. Lewis
start. It didn’t stop him
The Ferraris both a great start, with Massa getting ahead of Webber, however Alonso didn’t and got stuck behind. Kimi got cut off but Perez swooping across in front of him, causing a collision into the chicane with Perez going straight on and Kimi loosing part of his xix
setting the fastest lap, and
maintained the gap at 6
10. He though pitted on lap
maintaining the lead.
seconds to Vettel.
26. Vettel getting up to
Lewis Hamilton had a front
Just before the first pit
lap taking a second on
right puncture and was
stops, the order at the front
Alonso who was yet to pit,
asked to pit by the team.
was Vettel, Alonso, Massa,
and was getting vulnerable
With the radio not working,
Webber, Hulkenberg,
from Mark Webber.
at the end of Lap 12 he
Rosberg, Ricciardo, Perez,
didn’t pit, prompting the
Button and Grosjean. Gros-
The other car not to pit
team to continue to ask him
jean was the first of the
earlier was Rosberg, running
to. A couple of laps later
leading group to pit on lap
second on the road, pitted
and he entered the pits,
21, but a slow stop of 5.1
on lap 27. Alonso did the
deciding to take the medium
seconds pushed him down
same a lap later taking the
tyre. Mark Webber attacked
the order. Button stopped a
hards. A stop time of 2.6
Massa into the first corner
lap later, a quick stop of 3
seconds, slotting in second
on lap 15, but he didn’t get
seconds, and returned just
place ahead of Mark
past.
behind Lewis Hamilton, who
Webber. Webber only just
had just set the fastest lap.
behind Alonso.
smoke coming from the rear,
Ricciardo and Perez pitted
Hamilton on a different
Jean Eric Vergne retired
together on lap 23. Perez
strategy got past his team
after the second chicane –
had a slow stop of 4.5, so
mate Rosberg into the first
engine smoke coming out
Ricciardo retained the
corner.
the rear, looking very much
advantage, returning behind
like an engine failure. It was
Hamilton and Button who
After everyone pitting once
looking like a promising
had got ahead of his
the order was Vettel, Alonso,
weekend for the Toro Rosso
teammate.
Webber, Massa, Raikkonen,
speed though set the fastest
After some noticeable
team, focusing very much on top speed.
Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Massa pitted on lap 25 with Hulkenberg
The first of the scheduled pit
behind, Massa came
stoppers was Charles Pic on
out behind Webber,
lap 18. The Caterhams had
Hulkenberg just got
problems with tyre wear,
out ahead of Bottas
and we’re expected to do
who had yet to pit
two stop. At the front Alonso
running in the top xx
Rosberg, Ricciardo and
Mark Webber started to gain on Hamilton had caught up Kimi
Button on lap 29. Raikkonen
Alonso, close enough to be
by lap 47, with Kimi being told
and Hamilton though would
within the DRS. Quickly
he had no KERS. Lewis
have to pit again after pitting
dampened by the team over the Hamtilon overtook down the
early in the race, the tyres
radio to that he needed to short front straight, but Kimi
not able to last a whole race
shift in turn 2 due to a problem,
managed to keep the position
distance. Kimi pitted again
dropping from the back of
into the first chicane. The same
for his second stop on lap
Alonso slightly. After the pit
happened a lap later, but
31.
stop Hamilton was a second
Hamilton got better drive and
behind Raikkonen, closing on a
got around the outside through
points paying position.
the Curve Grande.
Hamilton on a similar
strategy was still setting fast- Raikkonen got past Gutierrez in est laps. Dicing with traďŹƒc to take P12.
Hamilton a lap later took 10th
Hulkenberg, was very close
from Perez. Next would be
through the second chicane
In the lead Vettel was also
Jenson Button, with him again
and Lesmo’s, before
asked to short shift by his
overtaking down the front
dropping back on the back
team, but for him it was 5th to
straight, an easy pass using the
straight. Raikkonen pitted
6th gear. Lewis Hamilton also
DRS to take 9th. Kimi Raikk-
and returned in 14th behind
got past Gutierrez a lap later on onen got past Perez, getting
the Force India of Adrian
lap 42. Raikkonen battled
close to Button, but was at-
Sutil.
ahead with Sutil as well in the
tacked again going into the
first corner, only just up the
second chicane.
Hamilton though got through
road getting past Sutil quickly
on the inside of the Curve
into the parabolica. With
Grande a lap later. Behind
Hamilton overtaking Sutil on the very close to Grosjean into the
Hamilton on the final lap got
there was a close battle between Ricciardo, Button and Perez for 8th place. On Lap 38 though Grosjean overtook Perez to take 10th into the first chicane. After being really quick, Hamilton stopped a lap later. A great 3.2 second stop to come out behind Kimi Raikkonen in 14th. xxi
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into the first chicane and
tried to make it up in the
ongratulations. We went well
then cut the second chicane,
corners. It’s great to finish on
on both Friday and Saturday,
giving the place back to
the top step. The podium
getting both cars in the top
Grosjean.
here is always very passion-
five, but Red Bull was able to
ate. We are in Italy and when
do better. When Vettel pitted,
Vettel though won the Italian
you walk around outside the
we were still doing green
Grand Prix from Fernando
track, you see Ferrari
sector times and so we
Alonso and Mark Webber in
clothing and merchandise in
opted to lengthen the stint as
3rd. Felipe Massa finished
all the shops starting from
much as possible, at least
4th, with Hulkenberg 5th and
the smallest sizes upwards;
while Webber was not be-
Rosberg 6th. Daniel
it’s part of their DNA, which I
coming a threat. That way,
Ricciardo finished 7th ahead
understand. It was great for
we could have tried to get
of Grosjean and Hamilton
the Tifosi to have Fernando
Vettel on Hard tyres that
with Jenson Button rounding
on the podium today. The
were fresher by a few laps.
out the top 10.
season is going well and
We tried our best and even if
we’re pushing hard, but we
we have to be realistic about
After the race Sebastian
take each race as it comes.
our championship chances,
commented: “It’s fantastic to
We’re looking forward to Sin-
as it’s not an easy task to
win this event again. I just
gapore next, which I want to
close down a 53 point gap in
managed to make turn one! I
finish; I think it’s the toughest
the few remaining races, in
locked the front right and it
race we have all year.”
Formula 1 anything can
just didn’t seem to come
happen and we will believe in
back. I had a big flat spot,
Fernando was also pleased,
our chances all the way to
which I felt straight away and
getting onto the podium in
the finish line in Brazil,
I wasn’t sure if the tyre would
front of the home fans.
always trying to give a
survive, but fortunately I
“Stepping onto the Monza
hundred percent”.
managed to make it round
podium is always a special
and have a strong first stint. I
feeling, as it’s the only one
pushed straight away to get
where you can feel all the
This review was by
a bit of a gap, in case we
love that the fans have for
Ashley James
had to stop early and change
the team and it’s the best
to a two-stop strategy. We
prize at the end of what was
had a gearbox issue and I
an almost perfect weekend.
had to short shift, which
‘Almost’ because our
meant we dropped some
championship rivals won and
time in the straights – but I
we send them our xxiii
Hello my name is Edward Sanchez and I am the producer of an upcoming feature length documentary ‘Trackside’; a film exploring the role of marshals in Motorsport. I have been an avid Motorsport fan for many years and been working on documentaries for a number of years and thought now would be a great time to produce a film on something I am really passionate about. In recent years there has been something of a boom in films focusing on Motorsport. The brilliant 'Senna’ in 2010, 'Rush' came out in cinemas last month, and another documentary looking at the history of F1 called '1'. None of these films really focus on what many believe to be the life and soul of Motorsport: the marshals. I have branded the tag line of ‘Trackside’ with the slightly melodramatic sounding 'No Marshals, No Motorsport', but it is a statement I believe to be true. Without these brave men and women volunteering their time weekend after weekend, through scorching sun and torrential rain, then these races across the country really couldn't happen. A few months ago I began preproduction work that goes into making a documentary. First and foremost is research: lots and lots of research. This ranges from reading magazines, watching videos on YouTube, to listening to old radio interviews. The main driving forces of this film will be the marshals themselves. Whilst this is going to be a film looking at Motorsports, it will have a broad appeal to a wider audience. A documentary I watched recently did this extremely well. I can recommend the film 'Racing Dreams' directed by Marshall Curry. His film he follows the budding racing careers of three young children in the USA who are karting, and aiming for NASCAR. At the beginning of the film you are just wanting to see how their races go, but by the end you really care about these kids and their lives.
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To really kick the film off, it is all about making contact with people and exploiting all their contacts. I sent countless emails off and waited for a few days. The responses slowly started to trickle in. Paul Sutcliffe is the National Membership Secretary at the BMMC (British Motorsport Marshals Club) and got in touch and liked the idea of the film. We met up, and really got the ball rolling. He is putting me in touch with people, setting up shooting dates and genuinely he has been a great help. The main issue surround the production of any sort of film or TV show is, inevitably cost of production. And ‘Trackside’ is no different. I am funding most of the film myself as well as sponsors but also exploring other methods of raising money. I will be utilising a new way of anyone to fund their ideas, it's called Crowd Funding. And I am using the Kickstarter platform. The concept is this, I post my idea on the website, anyone can then donate towards the production costs of the film, and each amount they donate, they receive a different stage of reward. Such as £5 donation gives you access to an exclusive production blog with exclusive video content. £150 is 2 x tickets to the premiere etc. It does then make this film a true people film, it allows members of the public to become part of the production, and get some really great rewards in return. We will be launching our Kickstarter campaign in the next few months, all information will be shown on our website. We are right at the beginning of this journey, and hope that this project sounds interesting to you, if you want to keep up to where we are in this then please visit our website, or follow us on twitter. www.tracksidefilm.com Twitter - @tracksidefilm
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Changes to The FIA's Rule Book Before I go any further I actually agree with the reprimand handed to Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber after Webber hitched a lift back to the pits with Alonso at the end of the Singapore GP. Alonso stopped in an awkward place and Mark running onto the track when there were cars still circulating was a little dangerous. However this reprimand being Webber's third of the season automatically gained him a ten place grid penalty for Korea. A little harsh if you ask me. The FIA in general dish out some pretty hard punishments for very minor things. Romain Grosjean was handed a drive-through penalty for passing Massa off track at the Hungarian GP instead of being asked to give the place back. Drivers are also punished for mistakes made by the team. For example, if the team misjudge how much fuel is put in the car and there is not enough left to produce the required sample then the driver is sent to the back of the grid. It's mad! Thankfully the FIA are adjusting their penalty system for next year. One thing being introduced is a penalty points system. Depending on the offence, a diver will receive a set amount of penalty points. If a driver accumulates twelve penalty points then they will be given a one race ban and five penalty points up on their return to discourage them from future offences. A new time penalty system is being introduced as well to reduce the need for drive-through penalties for minor offences. The FIA can award time penalties which can be taken at a drivers pit-stop. If the driver does not need to pit again then the time penalty is added onto their race time. These changes could not come quick enough. Too many races have been ruined by silly penalties for silly offences but even then drivers are still bound by pretty stringent rules. As well as changes to the penalty system, an actual change to the rules needs to be made. For example, drivers should be allowed to make more than one move when defending their position and drivers should be allowed to get away with the odd bang of the sidepod as long as it is not to violent a move. Although small these amendments to the rules may be, they would at least bring back some of that hard fought, wheel to wheel combat we all love to see. xxvi
Red Bull and Vettel's Booing Problem! I've been considering writing about this for a few weeks now and I've always put myself off, thinking that writing about it just brings more attention, and the over-attention is fuelling the fire. But Although its clear that the booing is not particularly nice, surely it is just a part of modern sport. Go to a premier league football match (Or soccer if you prefer) and you will regularly see rivals being booed, sometimes even supporters booing their own team in cases of a string of disastrous results
F1 Pundit Martin Brundle telling the
or animosity against the manager.
Singapore fans not to boo the
Fans will argue that they pay a premium to go
3-Time World Champion
to an event and are entitled to have an opinion, whether elation and celebration or boredom and disappointment. So why is the booing happening? The main explanation being splurted out by the worlds media is that its the relentless winning machine that is Sebastian Vettel, Winning more weekends than not, most often running around in the lead from the very start leading to a seemingly processional grand prix. Personally I don't buy this excuse. Michael Schumacher won 5 world titles on the trot in a xxvii
Ferrari but was never booed on the podium (Austria 02 aside!) Maybe its because the Ferrari fans are at every track, they have been since day one, they have a history and an unbelievable following. Red Bull are a johnny-come-lately operation that changed from the fun loving party hosting new boys to the clean and clinical operation they are today. They are a serious business, a serious racing team. Gone are the fun days and now it comes down to business, a business they have become very good at. But I'm going to say something slightly controversial....They don't have a lot of fans do they? If you look around a track you will not sea a see of blue. You may see the odd banner / flag supporting the team or drivers but nothing on the following that Ferrari / Mclaren have. Red Bull are perceived in a lot of quarters to have bought success, in buying Newey, standing up against cost controls and going their own way. Having a junior team in which they have been able to gather lots of data, being on tyre performance, driver performance etc. A lot of the way they go about their business smacks of arrogance in the face of sport struggling financially to put 11 teams on the grid. A second excuse points to Vettel's ignorance of team orders in Malaysia, and of course its understandable that a few people might not like that, however its got nothing on parking on the racing line at Monaco to stop other people from having a chance at qualifying. Or shoving a driver off the track to gain the world championship when your car is already damaged beyond repair. So is it worth booing? Simply No. In fact if it were Webber we would have been patting him on the back saying 'Get in mate'.
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Why does Webber not get booed? Ok so Mark is a Red Bull driver, he helped develop the team into what it is today starting before Vettel even had his chance in a Torro Rosso! But he has, since Vettel arrived at least always played the outsider, the guy on the other side of the Austrian / German alliance, the fly in the ointment of the Vettel regime! - and on some levels it is too true, remember the fallout in 2010 with Turkey and the front wing at Silverstone. ("Not bad for a no.2 driver!") - lets be honest, the public love an underdog, and the public sympathise with him. Formula One is a sport. A game. It needs hero's and villains. For a long time Alonso has been the pantomime villain thanks to the controversial past events but things have changed. Almost metronomic success in a team that doesn't have the following / support have led to a new villain of F1. Sebastian Vettel.
Article by Paul Gawne
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Ù
As a Formula One fan here and now in 2013, imagine a driver turns up on the grid who; has good looks, long blonde hair, smoking cigarettes, a reputation for sleeping with the grid girls and air hostess’, living the playboy lifestyle, Speaking their mind, even drug taking prior to a race. Of course, you can’t. Because here in 2013 it would never be allowed! The corporations and the sponsors would never allow that sort of b ehavior to represent their brand. But of course we live in very different times, as has been said, he was ‘racing at a time when the sex was safe and the driving was dangerous’ James Hunt was the outsider who burst on to the Formula One scene in 1973 with the privateer team Hesketh, who
all seemed like a lot of public
called Harvey Postlethwaite
schoolboys out having a
and they went racing in 73.
party and a jolly good time!
No one rated them, although Hunt did finish fourth in the
Hesketh pulled Hunt straight
British GP, which did catch a
from the Formula Three c
few people’s eye.
hampionship, in which the man tipped to be the ‘next
He finished third in the
big thing’ - Roger Williamson,
Dutch Grand Prix, in which
had regularly beaten him. At
Williamson was killed, and
the time he was better
ended his first season by
known by the nickname 'Hunt
chasing Ronnie Peterson
the Shunt' because of his
home in the United States
ability to get caught up in
Grand Prix at Watkins Glen.
accidents and possibly be-
Peterson was recognised as
cause of the punch he threw
the fastest man in racing, yet
that knocked out David
Hunt finished only seconds
Morgan after a crash at
behind him in an inferior car.
Crystal Palace in 1970.
He had arrived.
Although it must be said that Hunt was a very serious
In 1975 he won his first
driver underneath the facade
grand prix, in the
of joking and humour. He was
Netherlands, taking Hesketh's
frequently so psyched up
eponymous car to a
before a race that he would
calculated victory over Niki
wretch before climbing into
Lauda's Ferrari. But it was
the car.
not until Hesketh's team folded at the end of the
Hesketh bought a March
year and Hunt switched to
731G, hired a young designer
McLaren that he had thexxx
he equipment to run at the
decider in Japan - Fuji.
playboy!
front on a regular basis. Hunt appeared to have The 1976 season is the year
On the track he was still a
victory in sewn up after an
that inspired the ‘RUSH’
great racer and scored
amazing drive. Lauda had
movie, which we will discuss
another three wins in 77, but
withdrawn due to the
from they’re onwards the
later on. The season gave us
‘dangerous’ very wet condi-
quality of his car’s got worse
amazing entertainment and
tions and the harrowing
provided an unbelievable
and worse. In 79 he moved
recent memories of his
battle. A true movie story
to Wolf as Postlethwaite had
accident.
designed a new car, but Hunt
line if ever there was one!
no longer had the motivation But in true Hollywood style
After a difficult start to the year Hunt won the Spanish
to compete.
then Hunt sustained a puncture. He pitted and
After the Monaco Grand Prix
GP. Lauda then amassed a
then drove an amazing
string of strong results as
fighting drive to the finish
Hunt struggled. and then, in
with such anger, he went
a bombshell decision, the
He then had a successful
crazy at his team when he
governing body disqualified
career as a commentator
got out at the end of the
Hunt's Spanish triumph on a
joining Murray Walker on
race. He had finished third,
technicality. Hunt won in
the BBC grand prix
giving him the points he
France, but though he
programme, this gave Hunt a
needed for the title, but it
subsequently had his Spanish
platform for him to indulge
took a long time before he
win reinstated, his triumph
his love for being outspoken
could be convinced that he
on home ground at Brands
and controversial.
had indeed won the
Hatch was again annulled on
championship.
a technicality. Then Lauda
he announced his retirement.
Besides his commentaries, he wrote magazine and
was almost killed in Germany.
In his title year James gave
Hunt won that event and, as
newspaper articles, which
many cause for concern, t
Lauda recovered, further
revealed an in depth
urning up with bare feet at
triumphs in the Dutch,
knowledge of the sport,
black-tie events clad only in
Canadian and the US GP’s
which he also passed on to
jeans and a T-shirt that
brought the title within his
young drivers.
usually broadcast an offen-
grasp setting up a title
sive message. He was a real
31 James left behind a legacy,
of the great Formula One of the 70’s. He inspired many and is truly a great world champion. Article by Paul Gawne
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Rush – Every fan’s driven by something It must have been about a year ago. Surely it was a tweet or something. I heard somebody is doing a movie. About Formula One. A real movie. Not a documentary report. About something that really had happened. No fiction. So it began about a year ago. And that waiting for “Rush” to come into the cinemas which seemed to last forever finally ended last Thursday. When I stepped out of the theatre everything appeared a bit different to me. Did the world around move slower all of a sudden or did I just ‘rush’ suddenly? At this very moment, the films haven’t even reached my head. It had to sink in first. It was a bit like Christmas. An event you have to wait for so long for just so it can all happen in just five minutes. You have that great expectations and you are not sure if they have all been satisfied. And then it’s the review that opens to you what a wonderful gift you have been given. The perception came first at night, lying in my bed. It was good. It was very good. It could hardly have been any better. Ron Howard, the director, succeeded in something so many have tried and failed on before. A movie about race drivers. The adaption of fast moving sport cars on a static screen. The implementation of a true story to a Blockbuster without serving stereotype American preferences. Done by somebody who hasn’t even been famous for spending his spare time with watching Grand Prixs. xxxiii
A Story is told in 123 minutes. A true one. And it’s as close to the reality as possible with the help of art, budget and the given resources. The F1 fanatic will quickly find the one or the other mistake but also has to admit that nothing really important has been changed. For the motorsport supporter a well known story has been illustrated. For the amateur it’s a unbelievable incident has been told. And it will be more than difficult for the first one to e xplain to the second one, that the whole thing actually really happened. These words of praise are coming right from my F1 coloured heart. But they are also the result of a heavy debate between my critical heart and my loving heart that happened on my way home from the cinema. The following questions popped into my mind: Hasn’t the back story of that season 1976 been reeled off to quickly? Has the introduction of the main characters held by from the first-person perspective really been the best solution? Was it necessary to use that much swearwords? Hasn’t the bashing scene been a bit to violent? Has the live of James Hunt been told too offensive? Why have those poignant hospital scenes been so long? Wouldn’t it have been enough to show Hunt vomiting once? Has the process of the season been understandable? Have the race scenes been realistic? And finally two significant questions: Who has been the bad boy of the movie? And why is the end of the movie been described as very emotional and crucial?
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It honestly seemed a bit strange to me that the main characters were introducing themselves to the audience and that their way to this season of fate has been told that quickly. But I rapidly realised that another point of view would hardly be possible without appearing too documentary and standoffish. With picking out the main events and quickly coming to the point, they’ve created exactly what the motorsport fan as well as the amateur expected. For the more knowing it wasn’t too romantic and not too far away from the actual storyline and the newbies were informed about the most important information they needed to understand the plot. Hard words, hard guys and a lot of ‘love’ scenes. I don’t think they were just used to satisfy the modern audience which is more open to such things than ever but just because it actually has been like this back then. At times when race drivers have been idols already but still could act like tough guys without immediately being jugged by the wide world of the internet. At times when it was possible to insult your rival in the pit lane, to get into a fight or to have fun with some stewardesses, without being mentioned on twitter. I have to admit that I’m not able to reflect n the whole scenes of Niki Lauda in the hospital. I had to close my eyes sometimes. Absolutely nothing has been embellished there and the spectator is forced to empathise and to realise the whole range of the drama. And to show Hunt while he gets sick before the races is a smart way to look a bit behind the playboy image. To show the complete process of the season would probably have broken the mould. The fan knows what happened anyway and just lies in the wait for the important scenes. Next to me sat my friend who hasn’t got any prior motorsport knowledge. She indeed reported that it was difficult for her to follow the action at some stages. But in the end it all made sense for her. It was very interesting how enthusiastic about the race scenes, about the camera ankles, the screaming engines and the thrill of speed. The funny thing was that while she was sitting up during the race scenes I contrarily leaned back in my seat. And I began to smile. Because it felt familiar. Familiar noises. Familiar environment. That’s my personal c ompliment to the director. xxxv
So if the Movie had stop after Hunt won the Championship it would have been a nice movie. But it became an amazing film because of what happened after that. Stepping out of the cinema I seriously ask myself which character I admire most. That’s usual for watching a movie, sitting in front of the TV or reading a novel, isn’t it? You try to find something from yourself in the main characters to position yourself and after all you always find that fight between the good and the bad guy in a Hollywood Blockbuster, don’t you? But there is no bad guy in ‘Rush’. It isn’t the generous Hunt and neither is it the eager Lauda that gives you any feeling of disfavour in the end. Because fundamentally they have been so similar with the same passion and the same goal. And it is exactly that insight what you wouldn’t reach until the end of the movie told from the perspective of Lauda and highlighted with scenes from their real life. It is exactly that fact that makes the movie so special. That touching story about real legends. I’m not able to tell anything about the movie from a objective point of view. I’m not able to judge if the film will reach international success. I’m only able to report that as a great F1 fan, I went into the cinema with relatively high expectation and stepped out with all of them being fulfilled. Article by Rebecca Friese
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