The Top Five...Street Tracks

As a sport that prides itself on being the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula One provides vastly differing challenges to both the drivers and teams. Just one of these variables are the tracks. In 2011, there are three street tracks on the roster - read on to see if any made my top five...


5. Adelaide
The track that held 11 Australian Grands Prix between 1985 and 1995 comes in at number five. This track witnessed some historic moments in its history - including Nigel Mansell's explosive tyre and the 1994 title decider. Despite its relatively simple layout including public roads and a horse-racing course, it holds a special place in the hearts of many F1 fans, particularly those from Australia. One F1 fan, 'Doance', sums up the track in two sentences: "It went through parklands and into the city. And it was a special event." So special in fact, that many F1 fans want to see it back on the F1 calendar.

Ayrton Senna was one of the many fans of the Adelaide Street Circuit

4. Detroit

It must have been only a matter of time before F1 held a race in 'motor city' itself, Detroit. A city with a famous skyline, it first held an F1 race in 1982. It was popular with fans and drivers alike for being just that little bit unique - its narrow track and close walls resulting in lots of retirements - only five drivers finished the 1984 event, with one of those a lap down. This meant that only four drivers were on the lead lap after just over 160 miles of sunny race action. Detroit still holds some races to this day, but it remains to be seen whether Formula One will ever return to the pavements of Motown. With the addition of Austin from next year, this sadly looks increasingly unlikely.

3. Monaco

Ask anyone to name an F1 track and chances are they'll say Monaco. The cars have long since outgrown the tiny principality's twisty streets, but that doesn't stop the drivers rocketing round an at an average speed of around 100mph - slow for a Grand Prix circuit, but practically unheard of in the slow, wealthy life of a Monegasque resident. The circuit has held many memorable races on its five different variations over the years - the first was held in 1929 by a close friend of the Royal Family, and Prince Albert loves the event - he awards the winner's trophy each year. The track is just over one and a quarter minutes of unbridled terror - let's watch Jenson Button's 2009 pole lap:

2. Montjuich Park

This circuit is widely regarded by Formula One buffs as one of the greatest circuits of all time. That it only held four Grands Prix is somewhat of a travesty, but a fatal accident at the final race meant that Formula One could not continue at the track draped over a mountain in Catalonia, Spain. In fact the speeds were so high here and so dangerous, it was here that wings were first banned in F1, those devices which have become so vital to a car's performance today.

1. Albert Park

Maybe a somewhat controversial choice, but Albert Park has seen some of the best racing in recent years and is a firm favourite with many of the drivers. Although not immediately famous among non-F1 fans (unlike the notoriety held by Monaco and Silverstone), the track has also become well-known due to its feature on F1 racing games, upon which it has become one of the most popular tracks to drive. To make this all the more special, Albert Park is actually a public park for most of the year, teeming with wildlife. If looked up on Google Streetview, you can see that the main straight is used for parking, and much of the last part of the lap takes place in cycle lanes! If indeed the track is lost from the roster, as Bernie Ecclestone keeps making clear, I'm sure it will not only be a loss for the local residents and Australia, but for the sport as a whole. In years to come I'm sure we will look back on this track as one of the best of the contemporary age. Farewell, Albert Park.

The lake around which the Albert Park track runs

A notable mention to both Ned Flanders and Nik for mentioning AVUS, a German track run almost exclusively on German motorway and flanked at both ends by hairpins. The banking at one end of the track had no safety barrier - meaning cars could be launched off at even the smallest mistake, a recipe for disaster. More happily, the track is now an important part of the German Autobahn network.

Now its over to you. What do you think about my choices and what are yours? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

This article is based on a thread started on the F1Fanatic Forum.Be sure to check back there for ThatF1Blog article news and thanks to everyone who took part (sadly I couldn't mention everyone in this article).

Was Shanghai a sign of what's to come in 2011?

Well, I don't think you need me to tell you that last weekend's Chinese Grand Prix was an absolute corker. Whether it was one of the best Grands Prix we've ever seen is subject to debate, but it was certainly one of the greatest from recent times. But can we expect the same from the remaining 16 races in 2011?


In short, and it's a bit of a cop-out, it's almost impossible to tell. Just three or four short seasons ago we could have quite easily predicted the final championship positions. But that's a luxury that 2011 doesn't permit us. With the new DRS, the return of KERS and tyres which last about as long as chewing gum, the first three races were some of the most exciting from the last few seasons. The main question to ask which will influence the rest of the season is that which asks if Red Bull can continue their dominating form. Sebastian Vettel has taken pole at all three races so far, and has won two races - a win rate of 66.6% which, if carried through the season, means he'll win 12 0r 13 of the 19 races. If Shanghai was anything to go by, that's unlikely. That's because McLaren, after a dismal month of testing, arrived at Australia and were the second fastest team. Come Malaysia, they were even closer to the Red Bulls - Hamilton only one tenth off of the weltmeister. And then...well, we all know what happened in China.

Could we see the silver cars at the front even more for the rest of 2011?

But who will be able to carry their early season form through into the European season? There's no denying that the RB7 is fast. It's not quite the class of the field like its predecessor, but it's certainly no Minardi. It looks unlikely that it won't be fast come Turkey. However, McLaren's development team have recently worked for every penny of their (deservedly large) salary. Their car was one of the slowest in pre-season testing and now it's already racked up a win on merit alone. The pace of their development does not look to be slowing - if anything, expect them to be even faster in Istanbul Park, where they took a one-two last year. And then there's a notable mention for the next three teams; Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari. Ross Brawn revealed that the W02 had chronic overheating problems, which they hope to fix for Turkey, with their aerodynamic fixes coming in Barcelona. With Nico Rosberg leading a chunk of the last Grand Prix, a win in the European part of the season is not out of the question. Renault have also looked fast, and their cars really have flown - (I'm looking at you, Vitaly Petrov). Renault were one of the fastest developing teams last year, and they don't look to be standing still this year either. And then there's Ferrari - Luca di Montezemelo is expecting great things from his red cars for the rest of the year. Let's hope Fernando Alonso and a rejuvenated Felipe Massa can deliver in Turkey. Let the three week break commence!

Image (c) Pirelli, F1Fanatic

Are McLaren in serious trouble? (The 2011 Formbook)

The previous two years of Formula One testing were notoriously difficult to read - and 2011 has by no means bucked the trend. Some teams decided to start with their 2010 cars, others used their new cars straight out of the box and one team haven't even tested at all (I'm looking at you, HRT). But I've tried my best to analyse the four tests so far to try and predict the running order come Melbourne in exactly two weeks time.

McLaren look to be entering another of their 'cold' years

1. Red Bull
Last season's RB6 was so fast, you could be excused for thinking that Adrian Newey has had the Winter to relax - no such fun. The new RB7 again looks the class of the field, and worryingly for the other teams it looks like Red Bull's reliability bugs have been sorted - the new car has racked up a total of 6124.87km, only second to Ferrari.


2. Ferrari
Whilst Ferrari have had some trouble naming the F150 F150th Italia F150° Italia, there does not seem to be too much to worry about on the pace front. Whilst many commentators originally accused the Scuderia of being conservative with their design approach, the new car, named in honour of the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, has quietly posted times near the top of the timesheets at every test so far with only one reliability scare so far in Felipe Massa's fire at the first test. Since then, however, the most experienced team in F1 has travelled an astonishing 6984.76km in 2011. This number is even more impressive when you realise it is almost 860km more than their closest rivals. Very worrying indeed.


3. Renault
I had some trouble choosing between the team formerly known as Renault and Mercedes for third spot. The R31 broke cover at the first test in Valencia and almost immediately people started to ponder where its exhausts were. Did it even have any?! However, further inspection showed that the exhaust were blowing gas out of the sidepods, under the car to allow for better downforce. Only time will tell to see whether other teams feel this is the right direction to go. However, after Kubica's all-too-well documented rally crash in February, the sport now focuses on the steady super sub Heidfeld and his hot-head team-mate Petrov. What will we be talking about come November? How the team won all those races against the odds? Or what a wasted opportunity? Let's wait and see.


4. Mercedes
As mentioned above, splitting the R31 and W02 was a very difficult task indeed. However, I chose to go with my gut feeling and place the black-and-gold car higher on merit. That said, Mercedes' drivers are much more reliable and slightly faster. I look forward to seeing the quick Nico Rosberg picking up podiums and maybe even a win or two during the year. Mercedes also deserve a shout-out for having the best looking car by far this year. Just wow.


5. Williams
A controversial choice, maybe, but the Grove-based outfit look quite quick this year. The retro liveried FW33 has a very small 'coke bottle zone' which, in layman's terms, will make it go faster. With the arrival of Pastor Maldonado from GP2 and a flotation on the stock market, the team's financial future looks to be relatively secure, and in Rubens Barrichello's hands the car has a very experienced driver. I have no doubt the team will be better than 2010, but how high will they go? I am confident that they are looking at their most successful season in a long time.


6. McLaren
Yes, you read that right. The team that supplied the 2008 Formula One World Champion, two wins in 2009 and five in 2010 seem to have hit a bum note for 2011. Not only has their car covered the least mileage of all the 2011 cars, its pace seems to leave it in the midfield. Hamilton said yesterday: "Yesterday I looked at the times and everyone was in the 1’21s and I can’t get into the 1’21s." If that isn't worrying enough, the guys from Woking are also worried about the reliability of their new steed. Is it too futuristic for its own good? And will McLaren repeat their feat of 2009 and score a couple of wins later on in the year? Only time will tell.


7. Sauber
Peter Sauber's second name translates from German as 'clean'. This Swiss team definitely know how to run a professional racing team and sometimes they can go unnoticed, under the radar. Japan's Kamui Kobayashi rarely fails to disappoint with his flare for overtaking, and offers a nice contrast to the methodical ex-sports car manufacturer. The arrival of Sergio Perez has also brought the team some much needed sponsorship, but the team is surely focusing on returning to the heights they enjoyed with BMW in 2007 and 2008.


8. Toro Rosso
For the first time since the team's previous identity as Minardi in 2005, the team has enjoyed a stable driver partnership in Buemi and Alguersuari. Their 2011 car, the STR6 is the second to be made entirely by the team themselves and is the fifth highest machine in mileage covered, with 5351.89km to its name so far. It has also surprised many by popping up the timesheets every now and again. I predict them to be faster than last year, and the main talking point will be for how long Buemi can protect his seat from the devastatingly fast Daniel Ricciardo, the team's new test driver.


9. Lotus
2010's undisputed best rookie team are now looking for better things in 2011. With a Renault engine and Red Bull rear end at their disposal, ninth place in the championship at the very least is theirs for the taking. They have almost certainly leap-frogged Force India, and will be concentrating on the heels of the next big name, Toro Rosso. If they manage to take on Toro Rosso and win this year, they will almost certainly earn more credit and possibly even more parts from Red Bull - a team that now looks to be fuelling the race for eight an ninth in the constructor's championship. Furthermore, I don't see Jarno Trulli lasting beyond this year and the question towards the end of the season will be that of who will replace him in the green and yellow car.


10. Force India
After finishing seventh in the championship in 2010 (their best ever result) Force India must have been looking to improve even further this year. However, it appears they have taken their eyes off the ball somewhat. A car described by some as a dog, it has still managed just a whisker less than 900 laps so far. The young Paul di Resta will be one to watch this year, and I can't see Adrian Sutil sticking around for another year at the back of the field - he'll probably move on after this year. Oh well, at least they'll be good at Spa!


11. Virgin
With new title sponsorship in the shape of Russian sports car manufacturer Marussia, Richard Branson has probably reduced the volume of money he is pouring into the team formally known as Manor Grand Prix. With a 2011 livery that Midland would be proud of, the Yorkshire team will be hoping for an increase in pace this season. However, hoping isn't always enough. Whilst battling for most of the first half of last year with Lotus, they lost sight of their opponents come the second half of the year. And into the mix a new driver by the name of Jerome D'Ambrosio, I cannot see Virgin following Lotus to points any time soon.


12. HRT
Not a lot to say here, really. The lovable Spanish squad endured a torrid 2010 and many, myself included, couldn't realistically see them making it to testing at all. Whilst the F111 hasn't ever even turned a wheel in anger, its appearance in Barcelona on Friday has shown that it does actually exist. 2011 will be another difficult year for the team, with two drivers that have never driven a race for the team before.


Image (c) Sutton Images


All mileage data retrieved from F1Fanatic here.

Heidfeld Confirmed; Bahrain Cancelled; Williams Livery Revealed

Heidfeld Confirmed
After weeks of speculation, Nick Heidfeld was confirmed as Renault's super-sub in place of the injured Robert Kubica on 16th February. Personally, I feel it was probably the best decision to make for Eric Boullier - Renault team manager - as Heidfeld is recognised in the paddock as a steady but consistent and experienced hand. And with Petrov as a second driver, consistency is what Boullier needs...

Heidfeld has been welcomed at Renault

Of course, the length of Heidfeld's tenure all depends on how speedy Kubica's recovery is, and with him being moved out of intensive care recently, it looks like he may be in the car for a race or two at the latter end of the season if all goes to plan. However, if the Renault is really as fast as the testing stopwatch says it is, Heidfeld might have other things on his mind towards the end of the season, like winning races...

2011 Bahrain Grand Prix Cancelled

It came as no surprise the other day when the Crown Prince of Bahrain officially announced that the island state could no longer safely hold it's Grand Prix, the first of the season. It remains to be seen whether Bahrain will be able to slot back into the calendar at a later date, but with the second half of the year choc-a-bloc, it looks increasingly unlikely.

Bahrain may have to take a sabbatical from F1 in 2011

However, one thing is for sure: the 2011 Formula One World Championship will get underway in Melbourne on the 27th March, just like old times...

Williams unveil livery for FW33

With all the teams unveiling their 2011 challengers (although HRT's effort has only been seen in rendered form) the last big launch date took place on Thursday - the launch of the official livery in which drivers Rubens Barrichello and Pastor Maldonado will stake their claim to points and, if the team are to be believed, possibly even a race win or two.

A quiet revolution in F1 car design? 

Sam Michael, Williams' technical director, explained that the team had worked especially hard on their 'tight rear end' (even Michael himself sniggered at that one) which will contain their KERS , a package capable of providing a boost equal to about 80hp. The livery itself is a throwback to the Rothmans liveries of the 1990s, made famous by Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve's championships. So that's three retro liveries on the grid this season: Williams, Renault and Team Lotus' - if only McLaren went back to the Marlboro years...


You can find more pictures of the FW33 on F1Fanatic here.






I do not own any of the copyright to any of the images on this page and they are all used with full recognition of their respective owners.

Heidfeld to replace Kubica?

The team formally known as Renault are testing Nick Heidfeld at Jerez today, followed by the young Bruno Senna tomorrow in order to evaluate who will stand in for the injured Robert Kubica. However, the way I see it, speed will only be a small factor in the test - Renault need a team leader that they did have in Kubica and won't have in Petrov or Senna if he takes the drive. However, the best bet would have been Heidfeld and Senna - although this isn't possibly because of a certain pay driver.

Kubica and Heidfeld know each other well since their BMW days

Heidfeld can help develop a car with his experience - another aspect that Senna can't really bring to the team. However, 2010 did damage Bruno's reputation - he must be fast, that Ross Brawn considered taking him for a seat at his team in 2009. On that occasion, ironically, he was turned down because of a more experienced driver. Bad luck.

Image (c) AP