Wednesday, September 17, 2014

2014 Singapore Grand Prix preview



OK guys it's F1 time again! This weekend the Formula One series will continue at Marina Bay, Singapore.

This place was the first ever in Formula One history to host a night race back in 2008 and it has been a classic from the start. We have seen night races in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi also after that. In Abu Dhabi they start the race in daylight though. I've been there twice and it's great! The atmosphere is Singapore is pretty much the same I guess only the air isn't as dry compared to Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

Last year I wrote a little about crashgate etc. so if you are interested what I wrote about that then check this link: 

http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2013/09/2013-singapore-grand-prix-preview.html


If we try to remember what happened last year in Singapore it was this:

- People started to realize that Sebastian Vettel would win his fourth title in 2013
- Mark Webber had problems with his Red Bull again and retired on the the 60th lap out of 61.
- Fernando Alonso gave Mark Webber a ride on his Ferrari and they were penalized for this.
- Kimi Räikkönen's backpains started here but he managed to get up to 3rd from 13th place without KERS.

This time I believe we will see more fighting between the two Mers and also between the Red Bulls so keep an eye on those two as well!

Fernando Alonso has also been good here with a little help in 2008 and without help too (last year for example). He should do pretty good if you ask me.

Kimi Räikkönen was phenomenal last year with Lotus so maybe we shall see some good driving from him too. On the other hand I think his Lotus last year was much better than his Ferrari now. The F14-T is an embarrassment for the Ferrari name.

Felipe Massa took his first podium for Williams in the last race so I think his motivation is right up there where it belongs. On the other hand Valtteri Bottas is probably even hungrier to beat him. This track is not that good for Williams though.

And now it's time for my predictions:

Pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

Race:

  1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
  2. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
  3. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull

Fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

Surprise: Pastor Maldonado will have his best result for Lotus if he manages to finish the race.

Post your own predictions to our F1-4-LIFE PREDICTORS LEAGUE!




The rules:

POINTS:  1st - 3  2nd - 5  3rd - 10 

HOW IT WORKS: the aim of the game is simply predict who comes where in the race (top3). A total of 18 points can be won on a race day. If you get winner and and 3rd place right but 2nd wrong you get 13 points same if you get 1 correct. eg. 2nd you get 5 points. If a driver wins the race and you said he would come 2nd or 3rd no points would be awarded. Same if he came in another position, and you predicted that wrong. A table will be posted up every race weekend. The point scoring system will change once the cars become more competitive. Everyone will say a merc 1,2 so it won't be close or fun. 

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PREDICTIONS: send an email to f14lifeblog@gmail.com or message the Facebook page to submit your predictions. You have until lights out to make them. If you submit them when the race has started they won't count. So be quick! like the Mercedes. 

THE PRIZE: the winner of the league will win themselves a admin place on the F1 4 LIFE page along side JT, AE, MW & MH. If you don't want to be an admin you are welcome to participate anyway. We may also come up with some other prize if it helps. 

That's it for today and if you want to send me feedback then email me: f14lifeblog@gmail.com

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Vital Statistics - the Singapore Grand Prix


Did you know that Fernando Alonso has missed out on the podium just once in six editions of the Singapore Grand Prix? Or that Sebastian Vettel has led nearly half of the laps that have taken place on the Marina Bay Street Circuit? Ahead of this weekend’s 2014 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, we present all the need-to-know facts, stats and trivia…

Circuit: Marina Bay Street Circuit

Circuit length: 5.065 km

Number of corners: 23 (9 right, 14 left)

DRS zones: 2

Race laps: 61

Race distance: 308.828 km

2014 tyre compounds: supersoft, soft

Circuit lap record: 1m 48.574s - Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 2013

First world championship Grand Prix in Singapore: 2008 (won by Fernando Alonso, Renault)

Number of races: 6

Number of races at Singapore with at least one safety-car appearance: 6 (there has been at least one safety car in every Grand Prix run at Marina Bay) 

Longest race: 2012 (2h 00m 26.1s)

Shortest race: 2009 (1h 56m 06.3s)

Last year's pole position: 1m 42.841s, Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull

Last year's podium: 1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), 2 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), 3 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)

Most appearances (current field): 6 - Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button; 4 - Kimi Raikkonen; 3 - Daniel Ricciardo, Romain Grosjean, Pastor Maldonado, Kamui Kobayashi, Sergio Perez, Nico Hulkenberg

Most Singapore Grand Prix wins (driver): 3 - Sebastian Vettel; 2 - Fernando Alonso; 1 - Lewis Hamilton

Most Singapore Grand Prix wins (constructor): 3 - Red Bull; 1 - Renault, McLaren, Ferrari

Most Singapore Grand Prix wins (engine manufacturer): 4 - Renault; 1 - Mercedes, Ferrari

Most Singapore Grand Prix pole positions (driver): 2 - Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel; 1 - Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso

Most Singapore Grand Prix pole positions (constructor): 2 - Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull

Most Singapore Grand Prix pole positions (engine manufacturer): 2 - Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault

Number of wins from pole: 4 from 6 races (66 percent)

Lowest winning grid position: 15th (Fernando Alonso, Renault, 2008)

Laps led (current field): 159 - Sebastian Vettel; 93 - Fernando Alonso; 76 - Lewis Hamilton; 17 - Felipe Massa; 11 - Nico Rosberg; 3 - Jenson Button

Most podium places (current field): 5 - Fernando Alonso; 4 - Sebastian Vettel; 2 - Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button; 1 - Nico Rosberg, Kimi Raikkonen

Percentage of 2014 season complete: 68 percent

Maximum number of world championship points still available to a single driver: 175

Significant running sequences going into this weekend: Ferrari - 80 consecutive races in the points - the longest run in F1 history; Daniel Ricciardo - 11 consecutive points finishes; Nico Rosberg - has led at least one lap for nine consecutive races

Fascinating fact: Singapore has more corners - 23 - than any other circuit on the 2014 calendar. It is also one of the most demanding to drive - not only do drivers have to make an average of 80 gear changes per lap, but due to the heat and humidity, drivers can lose up to 3kg of fluid during the race

Potential record breakers: Mercedes have scored seven one-two finishes this year. They need four more over the remaining six races to tie McLaren's 1988 record for the most one-twos in a season, and four more to eclipse it.

Turbo history: If a Ferrari-powered car wins the race it'll be the first Ferrari turbo win since the 1988 Italian Grand Prix.


(source: f1.com)

Monday, September 15, 2014

Sunday, September 14, 2014

John Surtees - AUTOSPORT International 2011


I just found this a few minutes ago and I will watch it right now! You do the same if you are interested.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Pirelli reveal tyre choices for Suzuka and Sochi


Formula One tyre suppliers Pirelli have confirmed the tyre compounds that they will take to Japan and Russia.

The Italian company will bring the two hardest compounds in their range to Suzuka - the orange-marked hard and white-marked medium - in order to cope with the high speeds, fast corners and abrasiveness of the Japanese circuit.

The choice for the brand-new Sochi circuit in Russia was much more complex, as there has not yet been any representative running on the track. 

However, using simulation data, Pirelli engineers have calculated that the most suitable compounds to take are the white-marked mediums and yellow-marked softs as this combination is capable of covering a wide range of conditions.

The choices for the final three races of the year will be announced after the 2014 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix.

At a glance - tyre compounds for 2014:
Australia - soft, medium
Malaysia - medium, hard
Bahrain - soft, medium
China - soft, medium
Spain - medium, hard
Monaco - supersoft, soft
Canada - supersoft, soft
Austria - supersoft, soft
Great Britain - medium, hard
Germany - supersoft, soft
Hungary - soft, medium
Belgium - soft, medium
Italy - medium, hard

Singapore - supersoft, soft
Japan - medium, hard
Russia - soft, medium


(source: f1.com)

Friday, September 12, 2014

FIA confirms 20-race calendar for 2015


Formula One racing’s governing body, the FIA, has published the calendar for the 2015 world championship following a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council in Beijing on Thursday.

It features 20 rounds, including the return of Mexico in November. The Mexican race will take place at the same venue which staged the country’s last Grand Prix in 1992 - Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

The expanded calendar means the 2015 season will finish one week later than in 2014, with the Abu Dhabi finale taking place on the final weekend in November.

The 2015 calendar in full:

15/03 Australia
29/03 Malaysia
05/04 Bahrain
19/04 China
10/05 Spain
24/05 Monaco
07/06 Canada
21/06 Austria
05/07 Britain
19/07 Germany
26/07 Hungary
23/08 Belgium
06/09 Italy
20/09 Singapore
27/09 Japan
11/10 Russia
25/10 USA
01/11 Mexico
15/11 Brazil
29/11 Abu Dhabi

(source: f1.com)