My Motorsport Blog

As a F1 fan I am never nervous before the start of a Grand Prix because it is time the beer and snacks are seen to and my domain (the lounge and TV) secured against intrusion. I must add that this Sunday was no exception but I did feel a tinge of nerves (and no beer) and a wish for the Brawn GP Team to finish on the podium. Just to prove all the “Experts” wrong. You see I hoped for one of the new Brawn GP cars to cross the line in any of the first three places. I did hope that the Fairy Tale (not tail) would come true and Brawn GP takes 1st and 2nd.

This wish was shattered when Rubens Barrichello had such a bad start and then used his new car in a destruction derby on the first lap. To my amazement the car did not disintegrate as expected but kept going and did quite well. With confidence regained I had another glimmer hope but in the dying stages of the race Robert Kubica with his BMW became a threat and I did think a second or third place would be the end result for Jenson Button . But then Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel decided to have a little business meeting on the track while discussing the second position that they were contesting.

Not wishing others harm but I did have a smile. Rubens and the other Brawn GP car inherited second place. The lottery escaped me but the Fairy Tale ended as this writer had hoped.

On the 4th July 1954 Mercedes-Benz returned to Formula One racing with a one-two win at the French Grand Prix with the Mercedes -Benz W196. Since 1954 no other team achieved this but on the 29th March 2009 Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello repeated history and a new team with a new car had a one-two finish in a Formula One Grand Prix.

Now just for some fun are you a F1 driver…..check your reaction times against what Shell recons it should be. After that, can you refuel your car like this?

The 3rd March 2009 is fast approaching and this would be the day when the doors at Brackley could finally close for the Honda F1 Team. In the meantime talks with Honda and Richard Branson’s Virgin Group over a possible buy-out continue and yet we have USF1 to make some sort of an announcement on its plans by the 23rd March 2009. I do not see them joining the F1 fraternity soon and believe it would be a non starter even if it would be in 2010.

Also in doubt would be the continued sponsorship from Petrobras, the Brazilian petrochemical company which has supported Honda in recent years and whom have indicated that they would not support a privately owned team. I do not think the current economical climate is a issue for Petrobras so could it be the proposed owners?

However, would the Honda F1 team be on track for the opening round of the 2009 Formula 1 World Championship in Australia if a sale is agreed? They certainly spent time developing this car to the end of 2008 and beyond, then another question would be, who would be their drivers?

Jenson Button has certainly played a major part in the development but would he be the right driver to take the team forward and will Bruno Senna cope in F1 if given the chance. If Virgin do succeed in the buy-out I would like to see young Senna in the drivers seat and maybe another from the GP2 series like Lucas di Grassi or even Romain Grosjean. Let’s get the youngsters to stir the pot in the F1 world. That is if they can afford the Formula One Super Licence fees which bring me to another subject.

Formula One licence

How many have paid their fees? ……..All of them would be the answer to the question because they would not be allowed to participate since fees had to be paid by the 1st November 2008 with some exceptions.

Now I have to be careful on how I say this but since Max happens to be on a European crusade to ensure the sanctity of his privacy and on the one in a million chance that he reads this blog only a man of complacency and great arrogance with a total indifference to others in a world outside of his own can make a statement to the effect

 ”A driver who does not want, or cannot afford to pay for, a F1 super licence, has many alternatives,” Mosley said. “Apart from Formula One, there are a large number of series and championships where a professional racing driver can earn a good, sometimes very good, living.

“Way to go Max!!!!!! I wonder if a “NEWS PAPER EDITOR” might not do a better job than you as “Ill Presidente” of the FIA