It was announced yesterday (24/2/16) that Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, has confirmed that a live knockout-style qualifying system is due to be introduced to the sport, potentially for the 2016 season.
It emerged following the latest meetings of the F1 Strategy Group and F1 Commission in Geneva on Tuesday (23/6/16) that a revised qualifying format had been discussed.
Under the new qualifying system, the format of having Q1, Q2 and Q3 will be retained, but the elimination process will be modified.
In Q1, seven drivers will be knocked out one-by-one, and again in Q2, leaving eight for Q3, with six gradually eliminated before two go head-to-head for pole position.
Proposals were unanimously accepted by the F1 Commission.
Planned F1 elimination process:
Q1:
16 minutes
After 7 minutes, slowest driver eliminated
Slowest driver eliminated every 90 seconds thereafter until the chequered flag
7 drivers eliminated, 15 drivers go into Q2
Q2:
15 minutes
After 6 minutes, slowest driver eliminated
Slowest driver eliminated every 90 seconds thereafter until the chequered flag
7 drivers eliminated, 8 drivers go into Q3
Q3:
14 minutes
After 5 minutes, slowest driver eliminated
Slowest driver eliminated every 90 seconds thereafter until the chequered flag
2 drivers left in final 90 seconds
Final eliminations in each session will occur at the chequered flag, not when the time is up.
And so here is my opinion on this, if it ain't broken don't fix it. I wouldn't be surprise it was a Bernie Ecclestone idea, I personally believe it going to make qualifying like a video game and making the new qualifying overly complicated and trivial to the natural viewer let alone to a die hard fan of the sport.
An idea what #F1 qualifying will be like this season. Qualifying is not the problem, it's the races are the problem. pic.twitter.com/Od6IH520Dd
As the previous qualifying concept from 2006 onwards has worked and has been sometimes the most exciting part of the weekend as the qualifying is not the problem, it's the races that are the problem.
The main issue for me is the failure of the F1 Strategy Group, personally I would fire everyone who is in that F1 Strategy Group because they have not address any actual problems like following other cars to help overtaking, reducing cost of an Formula 1 power-unit for smaller F1 teams, reducing costs for teams and instead distracting themselves with answers to questions people were not evening asking. Remember mid-2014 when they thought introducing standing re-starts following a safety-car periods was a good idea and would excited the sport, thankfully that rule got rejected.
My final thought this is, the fans and drivers alike don't like or concussed with the new qualifying concept at all, why change qualifying at all and fix the other problems that need fixing.
With Formula 1 2016 season approaching fast, last season was one of McLaren worst seasons in Grand Prix history with just 27 points and ninth in the constructor standings. So this post is the top six worst McLaren F1 cars ever! revisited.
Starting with number 6:
Number 6: 2013 McLaren MP4-28
Story: McLaren MP4-24 was designed by Paddy Lowe, the McLaren MP4-28 had the 2.4 litre Mercedes-Benz V8 engine underneath. The McLaren MP4-28 did not managed a single podiums in 2013 the first time for McLaren since 1980, with best results with just one fourth place finish for Jenson Button at the Brazilian Grand Prix. McLaren MP4-28 only took 122 points in that season and fifth in the constructor standings in 2013, so the McLaren MP4-28 was a reliable car just a slow car.
Number 5: 1996 McLaren MP4/11
Story: McLaren MP4/11 was designed by Neil Oatley, the McLaren MP4/11 had the 3 litre Mercedes-Benz V10 engine underneath. The McLaren MP4/11 only managed 6 podiums in 1996, which includes a second place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix with David Coulthard behind the wheel. To give McLaren only 49 points and fourth place in the constructors standings in 1996. The McLaren MP4/11 wasn't a fast car, but the MP4/11 was a reliable car nonetheless.
Number 4: 1979/1980 McLaren M29
Story: McLaren M29 was designed by designed by Gordon Coppuck, the McLaren M29 had the 3 litre Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine underneath. To give McLaren only 7 points in 1979 to give them 15 points (the other points came from the old McLaren M28) and seventh place in the constructors standings in 1979. While in 1980 season the M29 took McLaren to ninth place in the constructors standings and only 11 points. The car wasn't fast, didn't qualified a few times in that period and finally a very unreliable race car as-well despite it had Patrick Tambay, John Watson and Alain Prost behind the wheel.
Number 3: 1994 McLaren MP4/9
Story: McLaren MP4/9 was designed by Neil Oatley, the McLaren MP4/9 had the 3.5 litre Peugeot V10 engine underneath. The McLaren MP4/9 only managed 8 podiums in 1994, which includes two second place finishes one each for Mika Häkkinen at the Belgian Grand Prix and at the Monaco Grand Prix with Martin Brundle. McLaren MP4/9 only took 42 points and finished in fourth in the constructor standings in 1994, so the McLaren MP4/9 wasn't that fast than previous McLarens', and very unreliable as-well.
Number 2: 1995 McLaren MP4/10
Story: McLaren MP4/10 was designed by Neil Oatley, the McLaren MP4/10 had the 3 litre Mercedes-Benz V10 engine underneath. The McLaren MP4/10 only managed two second place finishes for Mika Häkkinen in 1995 at the Italian and Japanese Grand Prix.
But the McLaren MP4/10 did cause Nigel Mansell to quit from Formula 1 altogether as he was unable to fit properly in the narrow cockpit, and he was forced to miss the first two races of the season whilst a wider monocoque was built. His racing return lasted just two further Grands Prix before he left altogether, disgusted with the car's poor performance. So the McLaren MP4/10 only took 30 points and finished in fourth in the constructor standings in 1995, the McLaren MP4/10 wasn't a fast McLaren at all and was much more of very unreliable McLaren then the previous McLaren MP4/9.
Number 1: 2013 McLaren MP4-30
Story: McLaren MP4-30 was designed by Neil Oatley and Doug Tim Goss, the McLaren MP4-30 had the 1.6 litre Honda V6 power-unit underneath. The McLaren MP4-30 best results with just one fifth place finish for Fernando Alonso at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The McLaren MP4-30 only took 27 points that season, the McLaren MP4-30 took McLaren to their worse finish since 1980 with a ninth place in the constructors standings. Due to new power unit from Honda which was underpowered and unreliable, even Alonso compared the power unit to a GP2 engine on Honda's home Grand Prix at Suzuka
The McLaren MP4-30 wasn't a fast McLaren at all nor reliable as-well to give the 2015 McLaren MP4-30 the worst McLaren F1 car ever!
It's been confirmed yesterday (18/02/16), Rio Haryanto will race with Manor Racing for the 2016 Formula 1 season.
Haryanto will be the first Formula 1 driver come from Indonesia. Haryanto will bring in sponsorship from Indonesian government, which include sponsorship from Indonesian oil and gas company Pertamina with an overall budget up to £10 million to the team.
Rio Haryanto, who spent 2015 in the GP2 Series finishing in fourth in standings, taking three wins. Will be Pascal Wehrlein's team-mate at Manor this season replacing Will Stevens, Roberto Merhi, and Alexander Rossi from last season.
Haryanto has previous raced for the Manor squad in the GP3 Series back in 2010 and 2011 and also tested for the Grand Prix team in 2010 (under the Virgin name), 2012 (under Marussia name) and 2015.
Now with both drivers are now confirmed at Manor Racing for the start of the F1 season. All twenty-two drivers are ready for start the grid in Melbourne in four weeks time.
Recap of the last round of WRC from this weekends Round 2 of Rally Sweden.
This weekends was the second round of the World Rally Championship at the Rally Sweden (11th-14th February) that was won by current WRC champion Sébastien Ogier in the works Volkswagen Polo R WRC. While, Hayden Paddon finished second in the works Hyundai i20 WRC, Paddon was 30 seconds behind Ogier at the end. Meanwhile, M-Sport World Rally Team rally driver Mads Østberg finished third in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC, Østberg was 55 seconds behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Group R5, R4, Super 2000 and Group N4 spec cars), that was won by M-Sport World Rally Team rally driver Elfyn Evans in his Ford Fiesta R5. Elfyn Evans finished in ninth place overall, he was over 5 minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
While in WRC-3 class (Group R1, R2 and R3 cars) that was won by Saintéloc Junior Team driver Michel Fabre in his Citroën DS3 R3T. Michel Fabre finished in thrity-fifth place overall, he was 42 minutes behind Ogier at the end of the rally.
Highlights of the rally bellow, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Three of the 2016 WRC season for Rally Mexico in three weeks time.
It's been confirmed yesterday (10/02/16), 2015 DTM champion and current Mercedes reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein will race with Manor Racing for the 2016 Formula 1 season.
Wehrlein, who has spent 2015 as a reserve driver with Mercedes and Force India. While, winning the 2015 DTM Drivers' championship for Mercedes-Benz, is stepping up to a race seat with Manor Racing with the backing of Mercedes believed to be worth around £5 million and access to Mercedes' wind tunnel facility in Brackley.
Good News to see Pascal Wehrlein stepping up to a full F1 drive at Manor next season the drive reward by Mercedes for winning last seasons DTM Drivers' championship similar to Paul di Resta did in 2011 when he won the 2010 DTM Drivers' championship and then 2011 stepping up to Formula 1 with Force India.
Meanwhile, no word yet who will be Pascal Wehrlein team-mate, with either Alexander Rossi, Rio Haryanto or Will Stevens taking the final seat at Manor this season.
With recent news that Pastor Maldonado losing his seat at Renault for the coming season after Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA failed to make contracted payments to the team. With Maldonado bringing in to a team believe to be over £30 million a year.
So this means a top six successful pay drivers in Formula 1's modern era. With the only rules that any driver from the last 20 years, any pay drivers must score points in his F1 career, does not include any current F1 drivers, excludes engine manufactures paying for a drive for the team such as Kazuki Nakajima driving for Williams between 2007 to 2009 paid by Toyota for example, or any Red Bull drivers as-well.
Starting with Number 6:
Number 6: Christijan Albers
Story: Started his F1 career at Minardi in 2005 bringing in sponsorship from Holland. Albers best result in F1 with a fourth place finish in the 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis. Then moved over to Midland (formerly Jordan and currently Force India) team for 2006 and staying with the team for 2007 under the Spyker name. However that didn't last long in the middle of the 2007 season he was released from his Spyker contract, due to a lack of sponsorship money. Overall, Albers completed 46 Grand Prixs' with two teams and scoring only 4 points in his F1 career.
Number 5: Narain Karthikeyan
Story: Started his F1 career at Jordan in 2005 bringing in sponsorship from India via Tata and becoming India's first ever F1 driver. Karthikeyan best result in F1 was a fourth place finish in the 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis. Karthikeyan moved to Williams in 2006 and 2007 as a test-driver. Then after taking some time away from Formula 1, which includes a few seasons racing in A1GP with Team India. Karthikeyan return to Formula 1 with the HRT team for two seasons before the team close to finish off Karthikeyan F1 career. Overall, Karthikeyan completed 48 Grand Prixs' with two teams and scoring only 5 points in his F1 career.
Number 4: Pedro Diniz
Story: Started his F1 career with Forti in 1995 bringing in sponsorship from Brazil which included sponsorship from his family and Parmalat from Italy. Then moving to Ligier in 1996. Then moving again to Arrows in 1997 and 1998 taking his best results with two fifth place finishes at the 1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix and the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix sometimes outperforming his 1997 team-mate 1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill. Then moving to Sauber in 1999 and 2000 includes outperforming his 1999 team-mate Juan Alesi. Then in 2001 Diniz retire from Formula 1 and purchased a 40 percent stake of the Prost team for $10 million and took a management role within the team before leaving the team at the end of the 2001 season. Overall, Diniz completed 98 Grand Prixs' with four teams and scoring only 10 points in his F1 career.
Number 3: Vitaly Petrov
Story: Started his F1 career at Renault in 2010 bringing in sponsorship from Russia via Lada and becoming Russia's first ever F1 driver. Petrov best result in F1 was a third place finish in the 2011 Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne. Then moved to Caterham F1 team for 2012 with a reduce budget from Russia. Then having no budget for 2013, Petrov lost his drive for Caterham finishing off his Formula 1 career. Overall, Petrov completed 58 Grand Prixs' with two teams and scoring 64 points in his F1 career.
Number 2: Pastor Maldonado
Story: Started his F1 career at Williams in 2011 bringing in sponsorship from Venezuela via state oil company PDVSA and becoming Venezuelan's first ever F1 driver. Maldonado best result in F1 was a Grand Prix win at the 2012 Spainish Grand Prix at Barcelona becoming Venezuelan's first ever Grand Prix winner. Then, Maldonado moved to Lotus for 2014. With the team owned by Renault, Maldonado's long-time backer Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA, failed to make contracted payments to the team, due to global oil prices have plummeted which has effect Maldonado's home nation Venezuela which effectively lost his drive finishing his Formula 1 career for now. Overall, Maldonado completed 96 Grand Prixs' with two teams and scoring 76 points, a pole position and a Grand Prix win in his F1 career.
Number 1: Adrian Sutil Story: Started his F1 career at Spyker in 2007 bringing in sponsorship from Germany via Medion, staying with the team for 2008 under the Force India name. Sutil best result in F1 was a fourth place finish in the 2009 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Despite missing out the 2012 F1 season via personal issues, Sutil stayed with the team till 2013. Then swapping over to Sauber in 2014 where he stayed for one season before losing his drive for 2015 finishing off his Formula 1 career. Overall, Sutil completed 128 Grand Prixs' with two teams and scoring 124 points in his F1 career.
Meaning Adrian Sutil is the most successful pay driver in Formula 1's modern era.
Review of Round Four of the 2015-16 Formula E season held at the Puerto Madero Street Circuit in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The race was won by DS Virgin Racing Formula E Team driver Sam Bird in his Spark-Citroën. Second was Renault e.Dams driver Sebastien Buemi in his Spark-Renault, he was seven tenths of a second behind Bird in the end. Meanwhile, third was ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport driver Lucas di Grassi in his Spark-Abt Sportsline, he was eight seconds behind Bird in the end.
Highlights of the race bellow, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Five of the 2015-16 Formula E season at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for the Mexico City ePrix in five weeks time.
Former Manor F1 Team Principal John Booth and Manor F1 Sporting Director Graeme Lowdon have announced they are entering the 2016 World Endurance Championship which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in the LMP2 class, under the Manor name.
Manor will field an Oreca 05 chassis in next year's World Endurance Championship, powered by the Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 engine the team confirmed yesterday (5/12/16).
Also, confirmed they have signed Tor Graves as its first driver who have previously race for the team back in his Formula 3 days with the other drivers sign at a later date.
It was announced this morning (3/2/16) Renault has signed former McLaren driver Kevin Magnussen as one of their drivers for the 2016 season, following Pastor Maldonado's exit on Monday.
Maldonado was retained by Lotus for the upcoming campaign prior to Renault's takeover of the team and the French company initially intended to keep him alongside Jolyon Palmer.
However, Maldonado's long-time backer Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA, failed to make contracted payments to the team, due to global oil prices have plummeted which has effect Maldonado's home nation Venezuela. Means the former Grand Prix winner was forced to relinquish his drive for the team this coming season to Magnussen.
Magnussen raced for McLaren in 2014 and finished eleventh in the standings, which included a debut podium finish in finishing second place at that seasons Australian Grand Prix. But, was dropped back to a reserve driver role for the 2015 season as the team opted to retain Jenson Button to partner the returning Fernando Alonso.
Magnussen had hoped to reclaim a McLaren race seat for 2016 season. However, both Button and Alonso are retain for 2016. With Magnussen wanted to race next year, McLaren had no option to let Magnussen go and leave Magnussen to find a drive for 2016.
In my opinion, this is not a big surprise this news has happen been heavily rumoured for a few weeks now. I do believe his the right choice for the team in short notice. He did a great job at McLaren in 2014, which include a fantastic job finishing in second place finish in his debut race at Melbourne, and he was as fast in some races as his much experience team-mate Jenson Button. Just, bad luck for him to lose his job at McLaren for 2015 to two World Champions at the team. I do believe he deserved another chance in Formula 1 with the talent his got and with a great chance with a team like Renault.
It was also announced today, current GP3 series champion Esteban Ocon has joined the team as reserve driver for the 2016 season. He will likely take part in some Formula 1 free practice sessions and will attend all races and tests throughout the season.
Also, announced by Renault they have signed ART Grand Prix boss Frédéric Vasseur as its new Racing Director ahead of the team comeback as a full works Formula 1 team in 2016.
Vassuer has helped guide the career of several current Formula 1 drivers, with Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Nico Hülkenberg, and Valtteri Bottas to name a few that won GP2 and GP3 titles at ART in the last decade.
With Kevin Magnussen as their new driver, Esteban Ocon as their reserve driver and a driver for the future too. And Frédéric Vasseur as their new team boss at Renault things are slightly looking up for the team in 2016 despite it will be more of a developing year for Reanult.
It was confirmed yesterday (1/2/16) by Pastor Maldonado that he has lost his seat at Renault for the coming season, and will not be on the grid, with Kevin Magnussen set to be named as his replacement on Wednesday.
Maldonado joined Lotus from Williams for the 2014 season and was confirmed to race alongside Lotus test-driver Jolyon Palmer before Renault completed its takeover of the team in early December of last year.
However, Maldonado's long-time backer Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA, failed to make contracted payments to the team, due to global oil prices have plummeted which has effect Maldonado's home nation Venezuela. With Maldonado posted on twitter confirming his exit.
"Today, with the utmost humility, I inform you that I will not be on the starting grid for the 2016 season,"
In my opinion, this is not a big surprise this news happen. It has been strongly rumoured since last week with Maldonado will lose his drive due to economical problems in Venezuela, which was out of Maldonado control.
Meanwhile former Mclaren driver Kevin Magnussen is set to be named as Maldonado replacement on Wednesday. Magnussen made his Formula 1 debut with McLaren in 2014, which included a debut podium finish in finishing second place at that seasons Australian Grand Prix. But, was dropped back to a reserve driver role for the 2015 season as the team opted to retain Jenson Button to partner the returning Fernando Alonso.
Magnussen had hoped to reclaim a McLaren race seat for 2016 season. However, both Button and Alonso are retain for 2016. With Magnussen wanted to race next year, McLaren had no option to let Magnussen go and leave Magnussen to find a drive for 2016.
This is the end for Pastor Maldonaldo in Formula 1? he only scored 76 points from his five seasons in Formula 1 which is poor to compare other drivers in that period despite winning a Grand Prix, but that's been nearly four years ago now. Unless he brings in sponsorship to a team, that is the end for Pastor Maldonaldo for Formula 1.
As the title says a Rolex 24 at Daytona Review of the race. Review of Round one of the 2016 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season at Daytona and the first round of the North American Endurance Cup.
Tequila Patrón ESM team won the race overall and Prototype class too of Ed Brown, Johannes van Overbeek, Scott Sharp, and Pipo Derani in their Ligier JS P2, Honda HR35TT 3.5 L V6 Turbo.
While, Wayne Taylor Racing team finished in second place in their Coyote Corvette, Chevrolet 5.5L V8; the team of Jordan Taylor, Ricky Taylor, Max Angelelli and Rubens Barrichello; they were over twenty-six seconds behind the leaders. Meanwhile, VisitFlorida.com Racing team finished in third place in their Coyote Corvette, Chevrolet 5.5L V8; the team of Marc Goossens, Ryan Dalziel, and Ryan Hunter-Reay; they were eighty-seven seconds behind the leaders.
In GT Le Mans Class, Corvette Racing team won GT Le Mans Class and finished in seventh place overall in their Chevrolet Corvette C7.R; with the drivers of Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Marcel Fässler; they were 14 laps behind the leaders.
In GT Daytona Class, Magnus Racing team won GT Daytona Class and finished in fourteenth place overall in their Audi R8 LMS; with the drivers of Andy Lally, John Potter, Marco Seefried and René Rast; they were 33 laps behind the leaders.
In Prototype Challenge Class (all teams using Oreca FLM09 race car), JDC/Miller Motorsports team won Prototype Challenge Class and finished in eighteennth place overall; with the drivers of Mikhail Goikhberg, Chris Miller, Kenton Koch and Stephen Simpson; they were 34 laps behind the leaders.
Next Stop Twelve Hours of Sebring in six weeks time for round two of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
