With any luck, Formula One is on for a thrilling race weekend to put behind it a week of nonsense and politics. The 2010 Canadian Grand Prix was one of the biggest highlights of last season. The race was an extraordinary mix of strategy and raw pace – helped by disintegrating Bridgestone tyres. It set… [Read more…]
June 7, 2011
Formula One’s hand wringing over whether to race in Bahrain in 2011 is moving from frustrating and disappointing to the downright farcical. After spending months talking up the prospects of rescheduling the race, talking about how the people running Bahrain are “all nice people”, Bernie Ecclestone has (£) today told the The Times he is… [Read more…]
June 3, 2011
Formula One will return to Bahrain in October despite months of protests and brutal repression in the Gulf State. Following the lifting of a state of emergency earlier this this week, the FiA’s World Motorsport Council (WMSC) agreed unanimously to place the Bahrain Grand Prix back on the calendar for October 30, pushing the inaugural… [Read more…]
May 22, 2011
For reasons which continue to baffle me, efforts continue to reschedule the Bahrain Grand Prix with the current proposals imagine India being bumped to December 4. Logistically, having Bahrain on October 30 is seen as a straightforward link to Abu Dhabi and I’m sure that’s true. But why the insistence on having the race at… [Read more…]
March 3, 2011
The Bahrain Grand Prix will not be held in the summer break but could be slotted in at end of the season, between Abu Dhabi and Brazil, Bernie Ecclestone has said today. Ecclestone is insisting if the Middle Eastern nation is peaceful, he will “find a way” to fit the race in. This could mean… [Read more…]
February 21, 2011
Cancelling the Bahrain Grand Prix was the right decision but it was a call Bernie Ecclestone should have made himself last week. Passing the buck to the Crown Prince may well have the been the financially sound decision. But it was clear from the outset Formula One had no business taking its circus into the… [Read more…]
February 20, 2011
Bernie Ecclestone has told BBC Sport the decision on whether the Bahrain Grand Prix goes ahead will be left to the Crown Prince. Ecclestone reportedly said: “[Crown Prince Salman ibn Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa] will know whether it’s safe for us to be there. I’ve no idea. I’m not there, so I don’t know. “We won’t… [Read more…]
February 17, 2011
Speculation is growing fast that the first Grand Prix of the 2011 season in Bahrain may have to be called off because of political unrest. Tonight, tanks are on the streets of the capital and reports suggest anywhere between five and 11 people have been killed after live ammunition was fired at demonstrators. The GP2… [Read more…]
March 14, 2010
Sebastian Vettel had victory stolen from him by a cracked exhaust in a low-key start to the 2010 Formula One season in Bahrain. The German had the season’s opening Grand Prix in the palm of his hand before the problem took about three seconds a lap out of his pace late on, letting Alonso, Massa… [Read more…]
March 14, 2010
The first race of 2010 is finally here and it should be a corker, with an unexpected grid, fancied cars a little out of position, a fundamental regulation change and Michael Schumacher on the grid for the first time in three years. McLaren have admitted their car is neither as quick as it should be… [Read more…]
March 14, 2010
With just a few hours till lights out in Bahrain, a few bits and pieces overnight – most significantly Ferrari are changing the engine in Felipe Massa’s car. The team said on its Twitter page @InsideFerrari: “Not the best start of the day. We are going to replace Felipe’s engine but just for precaution. The… [Read more…]
March 13, 2010
Red Bull have set the pace in Bahrain at the first qualifying session of the new 2010 season, Sebastian Vettel taking the pole with a blistering lap of 1.54.101. Christian Horner’s outfit sprung a surprise, with many expecting Fernando Alonso to put his new Ferrari on pole in the first low-fuel qualifying for years. But… [Read more…]
March 13, 2010
This has been an idea for weeks now: start a blog about Formula One, pour out my musings on the world’s most exclusive sport and simply try my hand at a new form of writing. In real life I’m a news reporter on a local paper. I’ve never written about sport (we’ll find out I… [Read more…]
June 10, 2011
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