New season’s cars not as easy to drive as they look, the verdict is still out on the shark fins while Christian Horner says move to social media is instant successConsensus was reached by F1 drivers regarding what a physical challenge handling the new cars represents. The word “beast” was bandied about with abandon by several and to their credit they were using it positively and revelling in the task of having to properly manhandle their drives around the Circuit de Catalunya.Mechanical grip was up, as was downforce, as had been the plan for the new regulations, and the resultant grip led to cornering speeds and g-force increases that are a new experience for almost all of the current crop...
Interlagos provided an overdue reminder of how F1 used to be but the chances of a repeat in Abu Dhabi for the grand prix season’s finale are slim at bestAs they peered anxiously through the spray and narrowly avoided rivals bouncing off the barriers at 170mph, the current crop of Formula One drivers proved their worth in São Paulo last Sunday. Heavy rain turned the Brazilian Grand Prix into a proper race, full of the kind of excitement and unpredictability that have been virtually banished from modern Formula One.If only F1 were like that all the time. Or even half the time. Instead the circus pitches up in Abu Dhabi next week with the world drivers’ championship still in the...
The momentum has changed in Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s race for the drivers’ title, Ferrari and Vettel get lucky, while safety is again a problem that needs sorting after Sunday’s near-miss on the trackDespite having seen his early-season championship lead of 43 points turned to a 19-point deficit before Spa, then two points after Monza and now an eight-point lead again with his third win on the trot, Nico Rosberg remains absolutely steadfast in his refusal to be drawn into considering whether the title finally has his name on it this year. His weekend, bar biffing the barriers after locking up on ageing tyres in first practice, could not have gone better, his 200th grand prix yielding a first...