It was confirmed on Monday (10/1/22), Maserati will enter Formula E for the ninth season of the category in 2022/23.
The arrival of the legendary Maserati Trident on the grid will mark its return to single seater competition for the first time in more than 60 years (since 1957 when Fanigo won his last F1 title in the 250F). It will make history as the first Italian brand to compete in Formula E.
Overall, its the right time for Maserati to jump into Formula E with their electric technology. After the recent news that Audi, BMW (both already left) and Mercedes (at the end of the 2021/22 season) leaving the series. With Maserati entering the championship is encouraging news for the champonship going into 2022.
The first post of 2022. With Honda (sort of) once again out of Formula 1 for the start of 2022, after winning the Drivers' Championship with Max Verstappen in the Honda powered Red Bull in 2021. This post will be Top Six Honda F1 race cars that have been in Formula 1! revisited.
Starting with Number 6:
Number 6: 1987 Lotus 99T
Story: Lotus 99T was designed by Gérard Ducarouge and the first Formula 1 and Lotus chassis to be fitted with electronic active suspension. Also, the Lotus 99T had the Honda 1.5 litre V6 turbo engine underneath, which produce over 1000 bhp in qualifying and around 790 bhp in race pace. The Lotus 99T took to Lotus to third in the Constructors' standings in 1987 and took two wins for Ayrton Senna at Monaco, Detroit and the final Grand prix win for Team Lotus.
Number 5: 2021 Red Bull RB16B
Story: The Red Bull RB16B was designed by Adrian Newey, Pierre Waché and Rob Marshall. The Red Bull RB16B had the Honda 1.6 litre V6 turbo hybrid power-unit underneath. The Red Bull RB16B took eleven Grand Prix wins' during 2021, one for Sergio Pérez and ten for Max Verstappen and the Drivers' title for Max Verstappen in 2021. While Red Bull finished second in the Constructors' standings in 2021 for Honda last season in Formula 1 for now.
Number 4: 1991-92 McLaren MP4/6 and MP4/6B
Story: The McLaren MP4/6 was designed by Neil Oatley. The McLaren MP4/6 had the all new Honda 3.5 litre V12. The McLaren MP4/6 took eight Grand Prix wins in 1991, seven for Ayrton Senna and one for Gerhard Berger. Also, McLaren MP4/6 took the 1991 constructors' title for McLaren in 1991 and the drivers' title for Ayrton Senna in 1991, and Ayrton Senna's last of his drivers' titles as-well. The MP4/6 would go down as the last Formula One car to win a World Championship using a manual transmission or a V12 engine.
Number 3: 1989-90 McLaren MP4/5 and MP4/5B
Story: The McLaren MP4/5 was designed by Gordon Murray, Steve Nichols and Neil Oatley. And it's the first of the non turbo Honda F1 cars, the MP4/5 had the Honda 3.5 litre V10 producing around 680 bhp. The McLaren MP4/5 took two constructor titles' in 1989 and 1990 and two drivers titles' with Alain Prost in 1989, and with Ayrton Senna in 1990. Sixteen Grand Prix wins in those two seasons, four for Alain Prost and twelve for Ayrton Senna and controversy in-between those two drivers.
Number 2: 1986-87 Williams FW11 and FW11B
Story: The Williams FW11 was designed by Patrick Head and Frank Dernie for the 1986 and 87 F1 seasons. The FW11 had the Honda 1.5 litre V6 turbo engine underneath, which produce over 1000 bhp in qualifying and around 790 bhp in race pace. The Williams FW11 took two F1 Constructor titles' in 1986 and 1987 and a F1 drivers' title for Nelson Piquet as-well. The Williams FW11 took eighteen Grand Prix wins' in those two season. Seven wins' for Nelson Piquet and eleven wins' for Nigel Mansell.
Number 1: 1988 McLaren MP4/4
Story: The McLaren MP4/4 will be possibly the best McLaren car that have been created from the team and possibly the most dominant racing car in Formula 1 history. The McLaren MP4/4 was design by both Steve Nichols and Gordon Murray. The McLaren MP4/4 has the famous Honda 1.5 litre V6 turbo engine underneath the McLaren MP4/4, the last of the turbos in Formula 1 (until next season that is) which produce over 1000 bhp in qualifying and around 790 bhp in race pace. Which, McLaren took fifteen victories from sixteen races in 1988, eight for Ayrton Senna and seven for Alain Prost, including ten 1-2 finishes, fifteen Poles which Senna took thirteen poles that season. Finally gives McLaren the Constructors Championship in 1998 and Ayrton Senna to the Drivers Championship in 1988 as-well.
The 1988 McLaren MP4/4 is the best Honda F1 race car ever!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
