Friday 24 December 2021

Happy Christmas for 2021

Basically the last post for 2021 as I am taking over two weeks off till January 10th with my family and try to enjoy Christmas. All that means is a Happy Christmas/Holidays to you all and see you in 2022.



Bye.

Thursday 23 December 2021

Seven predictions from 2021, did I got any of them right?

During my first post of 2021. I did a post on seven racing predictions for 2021, and the post was really a fun post on seven predictions that may happen in 2021. But the main question is did I got any right? lets see:

Number 1, Williams to score at least 25 points in the F1 Constructors' Standings in 2021.
Just like 2020, I got this prediction Wrong. However, the team scored 23 points compared to no points from 2020. So, two points short from the target.



Number 2, A privater LMH/LMP1 team to win this seasons 24 Hours of Le Mans.
No, top privater LMP1 team finished in third place. I got this prediction Wrong.



Number 3, Ferrari to win at least two Grand Prixs in 2021.
Third prediction I got Wrong. Although, Ferrari could have won two Grand Prixs in 2021. Charles Leclerc could have won Monaco and at Silverstone too.



Number 4, Bentley to announce a return to Motorsport via Formula E for the 2021/22 Formula E season, while the Andretti Formula E Team will announce an power-unit partnership with McLaren.
Fourth prediction I got Wrong. Both never came close.





Number 5, Both Red Bull teams will announce a deal to use the Honda Power-Units for the F1 2022 season and beyond renaming them as Mugen-Honda.
Both Red Bull teams will keep the Honda Power-Units for 2022 and behond. But, they will be renamed them as Red Bull. Meaning I got this prediction half-right?





Number 6, Gresini Racing will announce a deal to use Suzuki or Honda bikes for the 2022 MotoGP season onwards.
Fifth prediction I got Wrong. Not on either bike, on a Ducati instead for 2022.



Number 7, Fernando Alonso to score three or more podiums in 2021.
Finally sixth prediction I got Wrong. One podium for Alonso on his return to Formula 1, a third place finish at Qatar.



So basically I got 0.5 out of seven predictions right. More fun predictions in 2022.

Wednesday 22 December 2021

Part 2 of Formula 1 2021 Season Review (Top Formula 1 drivers of 2021 and final thoughts of Formula 1 2021)

Second part of my Formula 1 2021 Season Review, this post will includes my top 12 Formula 1 drivers of 2021. And my final thoughts of Formula 1 2021.



Starting of with My Top Formula 1 drivers of 2021, this is the part who was in my top 12 this season, not in championship order, not in championship order, so his list doesn't includes the likes of Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll or Sebastian Vettel to name a few, its just only opinion folks.

Anyway, here is my list below.

My Top Formula 1 drivers of 2021:

12. George Russell (Williams) - Some strong performances at Imola, Paul Ricard, both Red Bull Ring rounds, Hunganoring and Spa; which include a second place finish at Spa.

11. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) - One race win at Monza in 2021; strong performances at Silverstone, Soshi and Austin.

10. Estiban Ocon (Alpine) - Some impressive performances this season, which includes a Grand Prix win at the Hunganoring, fifth place at Qatar and a fourth place finish at Jeddah.

9. Fernando Alonso (Alpine) - Returning back to Formula 1 after two seasons away, fast and reliable, which include a fourth place finish the Hunganoring and a third at Qatar.

8. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) - One race win at Istanbul in 2021; strong performances at Monza and Sao Paulo.

7. Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) - Some impressive performances this season, consistently fast which includes a Grand Prix win at Baku and a third place finishes at Paul Ricard, Istanbul, Austin and Mexico City.

6. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) - Some impressive performances this season, which includes a fourth place finishes at Zandvoort and Mexico City; and a third place finish at Baku.

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - Consistently fast where the car doesn't deserve, which include Grand Prixs' he should have won this season but due to unreliable car at Monaco and underpowered one at Silverstone.

4. Carlos Sainz, Jr. (Ferrari) - Some impressive performances this season, which include a second at Monaco and a third place finishes at the Hungaroring, Soshi and Yas Marina.

3. Lando Norris (McLaren) - Consistently fast, which include three third place finishes at Imola, Monaco and at the Red Bull Ring II, second place finish at Monza; and should have won in Soshi.

2. Sir Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) - A strong finish to the season with eight Grand Prix wins, just missed out on his eighth Drivers' Championship due to a late Safety Car at Yas Marina, can regain title once again if his late season form continues into 2022.

1.Max Verstappen (Red Bull) -Best driver on the grid this season, with ten Grand Prix wins this season to concluded with his first drivers' championship.

The 2021 season and the world itself has been still effect by the COVID-19 pandemic, with drivers, management and mechanics catching the virus which resulted cancelled Grand Prixs' like Melbourne, Singapore, Montreal and Suzuka to name a few, starting the season in March was an improvement from last season (compare to July in 2020). Once again old tracks returning to Formula 1 at short notice like Imola and Istanbul and new tracks like Qatar and Jeddah making their debut in 2021.

Overall, possibly one of the most exciting seasons I have seen in Formula 1, both titles going down to the last race in a record-braking twenty-two races. Mercedes taking their seventh F1 Constructors' Championship in a row. While Sir Lewis Hamilton was set for his eighth F1 Drivers' title. Until, last lap of the last race of the season when Max Verstappen overtake Hamilton to win the 2021 World Drivers' Championship. Formula 1 2021 will be remembered for the drama and lots of it from the first lap of the season to the very last lap of the season.



Bring on Formula 1 2022 and a safer year. Stay safe everyone.

Tuesday 21 December 2021

Part 1 of Formula 1 2021 Season Review (the teams)

Two parter Formula One season review of the 2021 season. In this post I will review each team of 2021. Which, I will say one sentence that will be positive with each team. And one sentence that will be negative for each team. So starting with Red Bull below.

Red Bull:
+
Eleven wins from Red Bull, which includes a Grand Prix win for Sergio Pérez at Baku; and ten wins for Max Verstappen includes wins at Imola, Monaco, Paul Ricard, both Red Bull Ring rounds, Spa, Zandvoort, Austin, Mexico City and Yas Marina to conclude to win the 2021 F1 Drivers' Championship to win his first F1 World Drivers Championship title and becoming the first Dutch driver to win the Formula One World Championship.
- Verstappen missed out on three race wins at Bahrain (going onto a two stopper instead of one), Barcelona (Hamilton on fresh tyres) and Baku (puncture late on); while Pérez non scored a few times mid-season cost the team the Constructors' Championship for 2021.



Mercedes:
+
An eighth Constructors' Title in a row with includes Nine Grand Prix wins for Sir Lewis Hamilton (eight wins) and Valtteri Bottas (one win).
- Hamilton missing out on wins at Baku, Paul Ricard, the Hungaroring (Mercedes fault) and Yas Marina (Micheal Masi fault) that cost Hamilton the Drivers' Championships this season.



Ferrari:
+
Some great race performances from both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, Jr., which includes second place finishes for Leclerc at Silverstone and Sainz, Jr. at Monaco; only 131 points at this stage last season, 323.5 points this season at this stage to finish third in the Constructors', a much better improvement from Ferrari.
- The team missed out on wins for Leclerc at Monaco (on pole for race, DNS because of a Driveshaft problem that wasn't fixed from qualifying) and at Silverstone (late charge from Hamilton to take the win); the Ferrari Power-Units are still around 15-20bhp less than the Mercedes and Honda Power-Units.



McLaren:
+
Grand Prix win for Daniel Ricciardo at Monza with Lando Norris finishing second in that race, some great race performances from Lando Norris, which include three third places finish for Norris at Imola, Monaco and Red Bull Ring II.
- Lando Norris should have won at Sochi; despite the team scored 275 points compared to 202 points last season the team finihsed only fourth in the Constructors' after winning at Monza, not acceptable from the team like McLaren.



Alpine:
+
Grand Prix win for Esteban Ocon at the Hunganoring, a returning Fernando Alonso making strong performances which includes finishing fourth at the Hunganoring and third place finish at Qatar.
- Fifth in the Constructor's once again with 155 points this season compare to 181 points last season (as Renault); A521 (basically an evaluation of the R.S.19 from 2019) is showing its age, 2022 car needs to be massive improvement if Alpine going to win once again.



Scuderia AlphaTauri:
+
Some impressive performances from Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda this season which include a third place finish for Gasly at Baku, two fourth place finishes at Zandvoort, Mexico City and a fourth place finish for Tsunoda at Yas Marina.
- Despite the team finished sixth in the Constructor's with 142 points (compare to 107 points in 2021), poor performances at Monza, Sochi and Qatar cost the team fifth in the Constructor's this season.



Aston Martin:
+
Second place finish for Sebastian Vettel at Baku and second on the road (later DSQ) at the Hunganoring.
- AMR21 has been poor in qualifying which effect their race results, seventh in the Constructors' with 77 points this season compare to 195 points at this stage last season (as Racing Point), the team need to do better going into the 2022 season.




Williams:
+
Some impressive performances from George Russell this season, which include strong performances at Imola, Paul Ricard, both Red Bull Ring rounds, the Hunganoring, Monza; and a second place finish at Spa; while the team best finish came at the Hunganoring with a seventh place finish for Nicholas Latifi and a eighth place finish for Russell, meaning the team scored for the first time in over two seasons, 23 points compared to 0 points from last season, a much better improvement from Williams.
- Russell should have scored points at Imola, both Red Bull Ring rounds and at Silverstone, the team is heavily relying on Russell to score points looks like Alex Albon will be the bread-winner going into 2022 as Russell is off to Mercedes in 2022; and the death of Team Founder Sir Frank Williams back in late November.



Alfa Romeo:
+
Some impressive performances from Kimi Räikkönen (despite turning 42 back in October) this season which include eighth place finishes at Sochi and Mexico City.
- Despite 13 points this season (only 8 points in 2020), despite the car is eighth best car for most of the season; the team finished ninth in the Constructor's; the team need to do better going into the 2022 season.



Haas:
+
Twelfth place finish for Mick Schumacher at the Hungaroring.
- Where to start, the team scored 0 points compared to 3 point last season (first time as team haven't scored points in a season in their history), concluded with tenth in the Constructors'; VF-21 is basically the VF-20 underneath, the car hasn't been developed since Imola, the team has been focusing on the 2022 car instead, a season to forget for Haas.




In part 2 of Formula 1 2021 Season Review my top 12 Formula 1 drivers of 2021. And my final thoughts of Formula 1 2021.

Monday 20 December 2021

2021 Extreme E Championship Round 5 Recap - Jurassic X-Prix, New Champions!

Review of Round Four of the 2021 Extreme E Championship season was the Jurassic X-Prix at Dorset, United Kingdom.

In Qualifying, Team X44 lead qualifying with the team of Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez.

In the first Semi-Final race that was won by Team X44 with the team of Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez. Second was JBXE with the team of Kevin Hansen and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, they were four tenths of a second behind the leaders in the end. While, third was Veloce Racing with the team of Lance Woolridge and Jamie Chadwick, they were five seconds behind the leaders in the end.

In the second Semi-Final race that was won by Rosberg X Racing with the team of Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor. Second was Acciona/Sainz XE Team with the team of Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz, they were six seconds behind the leaders in the end. While, third was Abt Cupra XE with the team of Mattias Ekström and Jutta Kleinschmidt, they were two and half minutes behind the leaders in the end.

In the Crazy Race that was won by Andretti United Extreme E with the team of Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings. Second was Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing with the team of Sara Price and Kyle LeDuc, they were four tenths of a second behind the leaders in the end. While, third was Hispano-Suiza Xite Energy Team with the team of Oliver Bennett and Christine Giampaoli Zonca, they were ninty-three seconds behind the leaders in the end.

In the Final race, Team X44 took the race win with the team of Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez. Second was JBXE with the team of Kevin Hansen and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, they were three seconds behind the leaders in the end. While, third was Andretti United Extreme E with the team of Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings, they were fifteen seconds behind the leaders in the end.

Finally, Rosberg X Racing with the team of Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor finished in fourth place, was enough for Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor to win his first Drivers' Championship this season by twelve points ahead of title rivals Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez; they were sixteen seconds behind the leaders in the end.



Also, it was enough for the Rosberg X Racing Team to win this seasons Teams' Championship to give the team their first Team's Championship by two wins more(equal on points) ahead of Team X44.

Highlights of the race below, enjoy.



Constructions to both Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor and Rosberg X Racing for winning each championships in Extreme E this season.

Tuesday 14 December 2021

2021 F2, F3 and W-Series Champions news

This post is all about the new 2021 F2, F3 and W-Series Champions.

Oscar Piastri won the Formula 2 championship at last weekends Yas Marina Circuit with two races to spare, Oscar Piastri won this years Formula 2 Championship ahead of both Robert Shwartzman and Guanyu Zhou in the standings. So where going to see Oscar Piastri next season? Already confirmed to be Alpine's F1 Terams reserve driver while doing some mid-season testing with the team.



While at the Sochi Autodrom in late-September, Dennis Hauger won this years Formula 3 Championship with two races to spare, ahead of both Jack Doohan and Clément Novalak in the standings. Dennis Hauger is stepping up-to Formula 2 next season with the Prema Racing team, his is currently a Red Bull Junior driver as-well.



Meanwhile at Austin in late-October, Jamie Chadwick won this years W-Series Championship, ahead of Alice Powell and Emma Kimiläinen in the standings.



So, contractions to the new Champions. Bring on 2022.

Monday 13 December 2021

Nikita Mazepin misses Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Mazepin tests positive for Covid-19

It was confirmed yesterday (12/12/21), that Hass's Nikita Mazepin has tested positive for coronavirus and will misses the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. No one replaces Mazepin for the race



Mazepin is the eighth Formula 1 driver to test positive from the virus after Sergio Pérez, Lance Stroll, Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc (all three had the virus during pre-season) and Kimi Räikkönen.

Mazepin has gone into self-quarantine, along with all his close contacts, as per F1's track-and-trace system.

Nikita Mazepin participated in Saturday qualifying at Yes Marina but news of his positive test was announced early on Sunday morning.

Anyway, get well soon to Nikita Mazepin. Also, stay safe everyone.

2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Review, Max Verstappen 2021 Formula 1 World Champion! Mercedes F1 Constructor Champions of 2021!

Review of the twenty-second and final round of the 2021 F1 season at Yas Marina Circuit on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The race that Lewis Hamilton should have won and the Championship.

Max Verstappen was on pole for Sunday's race ahead of Sir Lewis Hamilton. In the day to night Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Hamilton overtake Verstappen at the start and comfortably lead the race throughout. With Sir Lewis Hamilton set to win and the F1 Drivers' Championship for the eighth time, until the Safety Car was deployed on lap 53 when Nicholas Latifi crashed his Williams at turn 14. Hamilton didn't pit for tyres stayed on his hard tyres while Verstappen pitted for new soft tyres.

During lap 57, race director Michael Masi gave the direction that only the five cars between Hamilton and Verstappen were to unlap themselves, despite three others wasn't unlap. Then on lap 58 when the safety car went in and the final lap at turn 6, Verstappen overtake Hamilton for the lead and for the championship to win this seasons Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for Max Verstappen's tenth race win of the season and enough for Max Verstappen to win his first F1 World Drivers Championship title and becoming the first Dutch driver to win the Formula One World Championship.



In my opinion, I have no problem what Masi done with un-lapping the drivers who where lapped on last but one lap of the race if it was all of them (Ricciardo, Stroll and Mick Schumacher wasn't un-lapped), it didn’t happen making the show too artificial for a Netflix audience. Yet again Mercedes has to take some of the blame the team too, had the change to pit Hamilton for fresh soft tyres during VSC for Giovinazzi went out or Safety Car for Lafiti. Also, don't blame Latifi he had received abuse and death threats from some fans on social media, no fans to me or to Formula 1 if you abuse Lafiti.

While, Sir Lewis Hamilton finished in second place in the Mercedes, Hamilton was two seconds behind Verstappen at the end.

With Sir Lewis Hamilton finish second place was enough for Mercedes to win this seasons F1 Constructors' Championship ahead of Red Bull. Contracts to Mercedes for winning their eighth Constructors' Championship in Formula 1.



Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz, Jr. finished in third place in the other Ferrari to complete the podium, Sainz, Jr. was five seconds behind Verstappen at the end of the fifty-eight lap race.



Highlights of the race below, enjoy.



Rate the Teams and Drivers

Mercedes - 8
Lewis Hamilton - 10 (finished second)
Valtteri Bottas - 6 (finished sixth)

Red Bull Racing - 8
Max Verstappen - 9 (pole, race win, fastest lap)
Sergio Pérez - 8 (DNF, Oil pressure)

McLaren - 6
Daniel Ricciardo - 5 (finished twelfth, lap down)
Lando Norris - 7 (finished seventh)

Aston Martin - 5
Sebastian Vettel - 5 (finished eleventh)
Lance Stroll - 5 (finished thirteenth, lap down)

Alpine - 6
Fernando Alonso - 6 (finished eighth)
Esteban Ocon - 7 (finished ninth)

Ferrari - 7
Charles Leclerc - 6 (finished tenth)
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 8 (finished third)

AlphaTauri - 9
Pierre Gasly - 9 (finished fifth)
Yuki Tsunoda - 10 (finished fourth)

Alfa Romeo - 5
Kimi Räikkönen - 5 (DNF, Brakes)
Antonio Giovinazzi - 5 (DNF, Hydraulics)

Haas - 5
Mick Schumacher - 5 (finished fourteenth, lap down)
Nikita Mazepin - 5 ((DNS, Withdrawn-Illness)

Williams - 5
George Russell - 5 (DNF, Gearbox)
Nicholas Latifi - 5 (DNF, Accident)


Now bring on 2022, for another season of Formula 1. Only three months to go.

Tuesday 7 December 2021

2021 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Predictions

Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit outside of Abu Dhabi for the final round of the 2021 Formula 1 season.

So predictions for the race itself, Lewis Hamilton for the win in the Mercedes and for the F1 Drivers' Championship too. Max Verstappen second in the Red Bull, and third place for Valtteri Bottas in the other Mercedes. Don't forget Sergio Pérez, the McLaren drivers, the Aston Martin drivers, the Alpine drivers, the Ferrari drivers, and Pierre Gasly as-well for a podium place.

Monday 6 December 2021

2021 Bathurst 1000 Review

Review of the Supercars Championship round of the 2021 Bathurst 1000 at the famous Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales.

Walkinshaw Andretti United drivers Chaz Mostert and Lee Holdsworth won the 161 lap race overall in their Holden Commodore ZB. The win was Chaz Mostert's second win around the New South Wales track, while its Lee Holdsworth's first win around the New South Wales track.



Second place was Tickford Racing drivers Cameron Waters and James Moffat in their Ford Mustang GT, they were four seconds behind the leaders at the end. Meanwhile, Erebus Motorsport drivers Brodie Kostecki and David Russell finished in third place in their Holden Commodore ZB, they were six seconds behind the leaders at the end.

2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Review

Review of the twenty-first roound of the 2021 F1 season at Jeddah Corniche Circuit, in the the centre of Jeddah for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Overall, the race itself was entertaining race to watch from start to finish. Sir Lewis Hamilton was on pole for Sunday's race ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen.

At the introductory Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Hamilton took the lead at the start ahead of Bottas and Verstappen. Until lap 10, when Mick Schumacher crashed his Haas at the fast Turn 22 resulting of the safety car, Mercedes pitted their drivers for tyres under the safety car. While, Verstappen opted to stay out, with the red flag coming out on lap 14 to fix the barriers.

When the race restart the race stopped again on lap 15 after a crash between Sergio Pérez and Charles Leclerc, and then for Nikita Mazepin and George Russell. Which result retirement for Perez, Mazepin and Russell.



The race restarted once again on lap 16 without no drama with Verstappen keeping the lead with Hamilton behind him. By lap 37, Hamilton passed Verstappen for the lead at turn 1, with Verstappen out-braking Hamilton which result both drivers going off road for a moment, then on turn 26 both driver collide with each over as Verstappen is instructed to give the place to Hamilton, damaging Hamilton's front wing. Vertappen received a ten-second time penalty for causing the collision with Hamilton and a further five-second time penalty from early on for gaining an advantage.



And then on lap 43, Hamilton took the lead from Verstappen at turn 26 and stayed there to the end to conclude with a race win in this seasons Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for Hamilton's eighth race win of the season.




While, Max Verstappen finished in second place in the Red Bull, Verstappen was twenty-two seconds behind Hamilton at the end.

Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas finished in third place in the other Mercedes to complete the podium pipping Esteban Ocon on the finishing line, Bottas was twenty-seven seconds behind Hamilton at the end of the fifty lap race.

Now with a race to go, Sir Lewis Hamilton Grand Prix win at Jeddah and Max Verstappen only managing a second place finish. The gap in the F1 Drivers' Standings has been reduce from eight points to no points between Max Verstappen and Sir Lewis Hamilton in the standings with a race to go. Which means whoever got the most points in Abu Dhabi will take the Drivers' Championship for either Max Verstappen's first or Hamilton's eighth Drivers' Championship.

While Mercedes still leads F1 Constructors' Standings, the gap is now now improved from five to twenty-eight points with a race to go.

Mercedes could win their eighth Constructors' Championship in Abu Dhabi. Mercedes needs a second place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix no matter what happen to Red Bull's result in Abu Dhabi.

Red Bull could win their fifth constructors' Championship in Abu Dhabi. Red Bull needs to score twenty-nine points more than Mercedes to win the title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Highlights of the race below, enjoy.



Rate the Teams and Drivers

Mercedes - 8
Lewis Hamilton - 10 (pole, race win, fastest lap)
Valtteri Bottas - 7 (finished third)

Red Bull Racing - 7
Max Verstappen - 8 (finished second)
Sergio Pérez - 6 (DNF, Collision with Leclerc)

McLaren - 7
Daniel Ricciardo - 8 (finished fifth)
Lando Norris - 6 (finished tenth)

Aston Martin - 5
Sebastian Vettel - 5 (DNF, Collision damage with Tsunoda)
Lance Stroll - 6 (finished eleventh)

Alpine - 7
Fernando Alonso - 5 (finished thirteenth, lap down)
Esteban Ocon - 10 (finished fourth)

Ferrari - 6
Charles Leclerc - 6 (finished seventh)
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 6 (finished eighth)

AlphaTauri - 6
Pierre Gasly - 7 (finished sixth)
Yuki Tsunoda - 5 (finished fourteenth, lap down)

Alfa Romeo - 7
Kimi Räikkönen - 5 (finished fifteenth, lap down)
Antonio Giovinazzi - 9 (finished ninth)

Haas - 4
Mick Schumacher - 5 (DNF, Accident)
Nikita Mazepin - 3 (DNF, Collision with Russell)

Williams - 5
George Russell - 5 (DNF, Colision with Mazepin)
Nicholas Latifi - 6 (finished twelfth)

Next stop Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi in a weeks time for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for the last round of the 2021 Formula 1 season.

Wednesday 1 December 2021

F1 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Predictions

For the first time in Formula 1 history, Formula 1 hosts the first ever Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at Jeddah Corniche Circuit, in the the centre of Jeddah, for the third night race of the season.

So Predictions for the race, for the win, I predict that, Lewis Hamilton for the win in the Mercedes, Max Verstappen second in the Red Bull, and third place for Valtteri Bottas in the other Mercedes. Don't forget Sergio Pérez, the McLaren drivers, the Aston Martin drivers, the Alpine drivers, the Ferrari drivers, and Pierre Gasly as-well for a podium place.

Monday 29 November 2021

Sir Frank Williams 1942-2021

Sir Frank Williams, the founder of Williams Formula 1 team, Team Principal from its foundation in 1977 until 2020, during which period the team won 9 Constructors' championships and 7 Drivers' championships, has passed away at the age of 79 on Sunday morning (18/11/21), after a long illness. Condolences goes out to the family and friends of Sir Frank Williams.



Started his Formula 1 career as a team owner in 1969, when the team is know as Frank Williams Racing Cars, when he purchased a Brabham Formula One chassis (Brabham BT26A), which include driver Piers Courage finishing second in the teams second race at Monaco.



Before the start of the 1976 season, Canadian oil millionaire Walter Wolf bought 60% of FWRC and the team became Wolf–Williams Racing. By the season ends, Wolf bought 100% of Wolf–Williams Racing and the team became Walter Wolf Racing. Sir Frank Williams left the team altogether, to set up Williams Grand Prix Engineering with Patrick Head in 1977.

By 1979 the team won their first Grand Prix win at Silverstone with Clay Regazzoni. By the 1980 season, the team won their first Drivers' and Constructors' championships with Alan Jones.



Winning the Constructors' championship in 1981 and came close to winning the Drivers' Championship with Carlos Reutemann. Winning the 1982 Drivers' championship with Keke Rosberg.

In March 1986, Sir Frank Williams faced the most serious challenge of his life. While returning to the airport at Nice, France, after pre-season testing at Paul Ricard, he was involved in a road accident that left him paralysed. He did not return to the pit lane for almost a year. Despite the lack of his track-side presence, the Williams team won the Constructors' Championship and came close to winning the Drivers' Championship with Nigel Mansell.

In 1987, the team won the Drivers' and Constructors' championships with Nelson Piquet. In 1992, the team won the Drivers' and Constructors' championships with Nigel Mansell.



In 1993, the team won the Drivers' and Constructors' championships with Alain Prost. Winning the Constructors' championship in 1994 and came close to winning the Drivers' Championship with Damon Hill despite the death of Ayrton Senna at the start of 1994. In 1996, the team won the Drivers' and Constructors' championships with Damon Hill.



In 1997, the team won the Drivers' and Constructors' championships with Jacques Villeneuve for the last time at this period of time.



Despite the declining of the team for the last two decades and almost came close winning both titles in 2003, Sir Frank Williams continue as Team Principal and majority owner of the team till 2020 when he sold the team to a US-based investment group Dorilton Capital and leaving the team after the 2020 Italian Grand Prix.



Gone but not forgotten. His legacy will be there forever.

R.I.P. Sir Frank Williams

Monday 22 November 2021

2021 WRC Round 12 recap - Rally Monza, Sébastien Ogier 2021 World Rally Champion! Toyota 2021 WRC Manufacturers Champions! Yohan Rossel 2021 WRC-3 Champion! Champion!

Recap of the last round of WRC from last weekends Round Twelve of Rally Monza.

Last weekends was the twelfth round of the World Rally Championship at the Rally Monza (18th-21st November), and that was won by Current WRC Champion Sébastien Ogier in his works Toyota Yaris WRC.

It was enough to give Sébastien Ogier the 2021 WRC title, contracts to Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia for winning their eighth WRC drivers title and becoming the second WRC driver to achieve eight WRC drivers' championships.



While, Elfyn Evans finished second in his works Toyota Yaris WRC. Evans was seven seconds behind Ogier at the end of the rally.

With the one-two finish that was enough for Toyota to win the manufacturers' champions for another season for Toyota's fifth WRC Manufacturers title, congrats to Toyota for winnings this years title.



Meanwhile, Dani Sordo finished third in his works Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC, Sordo was twenty-one seconds behind Ogier at the end of the rally.

Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Manufacturer entries competing in cars built to Group R5 specifications), that was won by Hyundai Motorsport N driver Jari Huttunen in his Hyundai i20 N Rally2. Jari Huttunen finished in fourteenth place overall, he was over ten minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.

While in WRC-3 class (Open to privately-entered cars; Group R5, R4, Super 2000 and Group N4 spec cars), that was won by Andrea Crugnola in his own backed Hyundai i20 N Rally2. Andrea Crugnola finished in tenth place overall, he was nine minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.

Meanwhile Yohan Rossel finished eleventh place in his in his own backed Citroën C3 Rally2. Yohan Rossel was oveer ten minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally. With that result, Yohan Rossel was enough to clinched the WRC3 Championship this season in his own backed Citroën C3 Rally2, contracts to Yohan Rossel and co-drivers Benoît Fulcrand, Alexandre Coria and Jacques-Julien Renucci for winning this years WRC3 championship.



And so this years champions, WRC champions: Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, WRC Manufacturers' Champions: Toyota. WRC-2 Champions: Andreas Mikkelsen, WRC-3 Champions: Yohan Rossel. And J-WRC Champions: Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen.

Contractions to the Champions this season.

2021 Qatar Grand Prix Review

Review of the twentieth round of the 2021 F1 season at Losail International Circuit, Lusail, north of Doha for the Qatar Grand Prix.

The race itself was a good race to watch. Sir Lewis Hamilton was on pole for Sunday's race ahead of Max Verstappen. However, a few hours before Verstappen received a five-place grid penalty for failing to respect a double waved yellow flag in Q3 resulting Pierre Gasly on the front row alongside Hamilton.

At the introductory Qatar Grand Prix. Hamilton took the lead at the start and stayed there till the end. For Sir Lewis Hamilton to win this seasons Qatar Grand Prix for Hamilton's seventh race win of the season.



While, Max Verstappen finished in second place in the Red Bull, Verstappen was twenty-six seconds behind Hamilton at the end.



Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso finished in third place in the Alpine to complete the podium, Alonso was fifty-nine seconds behind Hamilton at the end of the fifty-seven lap race.



Now with two races to go, Sir Lewis Hamilton Grand Prix win at Lusail and Max Verstappen only managing a second place finish. Max Verstappen's still leads the F1 Drivers' Standings has been reduce from fourteen points to eight points ahead of Sir Lewis Hamilton in the standings with two races to go.

Max Verstappen could win his first Drivers' Championship in Jeddah. If Verstappen wins the race, with Hamilton no higher than seventh or Verstappen finish second and Hamilton is not in the points at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

While Mercedes still leads F1 Constructors' Standings, the gap is now reduce from eleven to five points from Red Bull who are second in the Constructors' Standings with two races to go.

Mercedes could win their eighth Constructors' Championship in Jeddah. Mercedes needs to score thirty-nine points more than Red Bull to win the title at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Highlights of the race below, enjoy.



Rate the Teams and Drivers

Mercedes - 7
Lewis Hamilton - 10 (pole, race win)
Valtteri Bottas - 5 (DNF, Car damage)

Red Bull Racing - 8
Max Verstappen - 9 (finished second, fastest lap)
Sergio Pérez - 7 (finished fourth)

McLaren - 6
Daniel Ricciardo - 5 (finished twelfth, lap down)
Lando Norris - 8 (finished ninth, lap down)

Aston Martin - 7
Sebastian Vettel - 6 (finished tenth, lap down)
Lance Stroll - 9 (finished sixth)

Alpine - 9
Fernando Alonso - 10 (finished third)
Esteban Ocon - 9 (finished fifth)

Ferrari - 7
Charles Leclerc - 7 (finished eighth)
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 7 (finished seventh)

AlphaTauri - 5
Pierre Gasly - 5 (finished eleventh, lap down)
Yuki Tsunoda - 5 (finished thirteenth, lap down)

Alfa Romeo - 5
Kimi Räikkönen - 5 (finished fourteenth, lap down)
Antonio Giovinazzi - 5 (finished fifteenth, lap down)

Haas - 5
Mick Schumacher - 5 (finished sixteenth, lap down)
Nikita Mazepin - 5 (finished eighteenth, two laps down)

Williams - 5
George Russell - 5 (finished seventeenth, two laps down)
Nicholas Latifi - 5 (DNF, Puncture)


Next stop Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah in two weeks time for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Thursday 18 November 2021

F1 2021 Qatar Grand Prix Predictions

For the first time in Formula 1 history, Formula 1 hosts the first ever Grand Prix in Qatar for the Qatar Grand Prix at Losail International Circuit, Lusail, north of Doha, for the second night race of the season.

So Predictions for the race, for the win, I predict that, Lewis Hamilton for the win in the Mercedes, Max Verstappen second in the Red Bull, and third place for Sergio Pérez in the other Red Bull. Don't forget Valtteri Bottas, the McLaren drivers, the Aston Martin drivers, the Alpine drivers, the Ferrari drivers, and Pierre Gasly as-well for a podium place.

Wednesday 17 November 2021

Confirmed: Guanyu Zhou races with Alfa Romeo Racing Team for 2022

It's been confirmed yesterday (16/11/21), Formula 2 driver Guanyu Zhou will race with the Alfa Romeo Racing team alongside Valtteri Bottas for the 2022 Formula 1 season becoming the first Chinese driver in Formula 1 history and the only rookie driver on the 2022 grid and completing the 2022 grid.



Zhou who is currently Alpine's Academy driver, will step up to Formula 1 with budget rumoured around $30 million.

Zhou will replace of Antonio Giovinazzi, who will race in Formula E next season for Dragon Penske Autosport.



Zhou, currently sits second in FIA Formula 2 Standings with three race wins.

In my opinion, this was no big surprise this news happen, rumoured since September that Zhou was going to get the remaining seat.

Tuesday 16 November 2021

2021 Petit Le Mans Review

As the title says a Petit Le Mans Review of the race at Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia.

Mazda Motorsports team won the race overall and Daytona Prototype international class too of Jonathan Bomarito, Oliver Jarvis and Harry Tincknell in their Mazda RT24-P, Mazda MZ-2.0T 2.0 L Turbo I4.



While, Whelen Engineering Racing team finished in second place in thier Cadillac DPi-V.R, Cadillac 5.5 L V8; the team of Felipe Nasr, Eric Curran and Pipo Derani; they were three seconds behind the leaders. Meanwhile, Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 team finished in third place in their Acura ARX-05, Acura AR35TT 3.5 L Turbo V6; the team of Filipe Albuquerque, Alexander Rossi and Ricky Taylor; they were four seconds behind the leaders.

In LMP2 class (all cars using the Gibson 4.2 L V8 engine), Tower Motorsports by Starworks team of Gabriel Aubry, John Farano and James French in their Oreca 07 won LMP2 class. They finish in sixth place overall and they were three laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.

In LMP3 class (all cars using the Nissan 5.6 L V8 engine), Riley Motorsports team of Scott Andrews, Felipe Fraga and Gar Robinson in their Ligier JS P320 won LMP3 class. They finish in eleventh place overall and they were nineteen laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.

In GT Le Mans Class, WeatherTech Racing team won GT Le Mans Class and finished in thirteenth place overall in their Porsche 911 RSR-19; with the drivers of Matt Campbell, Mathieu Jaminet and Cooper MacNeil; they were twenty laps behind the leaders.

In GT Daytona Class, Heart of Racing Team team won GT Daytona Class and finished in nineteenth place overall in their Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3; with the drivers of Roman de Angelis, Ross Gunn and Ian James; they were thirty-two laps behind the leaders.