tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5688182895567414072024-03-19T00:53:13.092-07:00Forever F1Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.comBlogger316125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-4265845235917459052023-01-17T14:35:00.006-08:002023-01-17T14:40:13.540-08:005 Most & Least Expensive F1 Circuits<p>While you're probably aware it costs an arm & a leg to race at any one of F1's 23 active circuits, some are more generous when coaxing the FIA into signing long-term deals. Over the past decade, the average fee a circuit pays to be on the F1 calendar has steadily risen. As you'll see on this list, it pays to be grandfathered into F1. </p><p><br /></p><p>Most Expensive:</p><p><br /></p><p>#5. $45M - Bahrain </p><p>#3. $50M - Russia </p><p>#3. $50M - China</p><p>#2. $55M - Saudi Arabia</p><p>#1. $55M - Qatar</p><p><br /></p><p>Least Expensive:</p><p><br /></p><p>#5. $25M - Mexico </p><p>#4. $22M - Belgium</p><p>#3. $22M - France </p><p>#2. $20M - Italy </p><p>#1. $15M - Monaco </p><p><br /></p><p>*Ties Broken On Length of Contract When Possible</p><p><br /></p><p>If you'd like to host a race in F1 for less than the median of $32.1M/Year, odds are you'll want your circuit to be in Europe or South America. After thoroughly crunching the numbers, which you can access <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-afhg_ZPzFLpD_vI_JTlRCsIodVhD7PRCzW3Adp47TA/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>, a few interesting statistics emerged. </p><p><br /></p><p>Regionally speaking, the Middle East has both the lowest average time in F1 (9.3) years, but the highest average cost ($40M). This not only speaks to the rising value of hosting an F1 race, but the way F1 venues are chosen. Covid-19 skewed statistics due to circuits like Turkey or Portugal making unexpected appearances, but considering the majority of currently-active contracts were signed before 2019, the numbers accurately reflect value at the time of signing. </p><p><br /></p><p>South America & Oceania are too small of regions (1 race each) to have any impact on drawing assumptions. However, between Europe, Asia, & North America, there are a few tidbits long-time fans may not expect. </p><p><br /></p><p>Asia has the longest-tenured circuit average of 27.5. A figure which is higher than Europe by 3 years. </p><p><br /></p><p>North America has the lowest average cost for an F1 race at $26.7M. The only region below North America is South America at $25M. </p><p><br /></p><p>After completing the data set, there are countless comparisons and relationships to dive into. I highly recommend spending a minute or two cruising to find what interests you the most. I've attached the spreadsheet below:</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-afhg_ZPzFLpD_vI_JTlRCsIodVhD7PRCzW3Adp47TA/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><b>Spreadsheet Link</b></a></h3><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-29062614518071127822022-12-29T10:12:00.002-08:002022-12-29T10:12:38.389-08:00Michael Schumacher: In Video<p>In honor of the unfortunate anniversary of Michael Schumacher's ninth year fighting through his unfortunate accident skiing, I wanted to add something to hopefully bring some legitimacy to his legacy, especially for those unfamiliar with his greatness. </p><p><br /></p><p>Of course, it would be impossible to summarize his elevate place in F1's history in a few videos, but it wouldn't hurt to refresh at any chance available. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>1. Michael Schumacher Takes His Final Pole (2012)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RhemGJgwdpM" width="320" youtube-src-id="RhemGJgwdpM"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Though many considered Schumacher's tenure with Mercedes lacking, his final pole at Monaco showed he maintained every bit of that competitive spirit. Though he would eventually drop back to sixth on the grid with a penalty sustained at the previous Grand Prix, the lap that shook the world differentiates Schumacher from the rest. <br /><p><br /></p><p>2. Schumacher Wins His 7th Championship (2004)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GUNv76khL0E" width="320" youtube-src-id="GUNv76khL0E"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The Ferrari we know today wouldn't exist without Schumacher's leadership. The Tifosi were coming off a 15 year drought when the German arrived in their side of the paddock. Within a few short years, the already 2-time World Championship erased any memories of that drought with 5 consecutive titles, to this day the longest run of consecutive titles ever. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>3. Schumacher Debuts At Belgium (1991)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zbGwOYFumn0" width="320" youtube-src-id="zbGwOYFumn0"></iframe></div><br /><p>As bizarre as the circumstances were for his debut, Schumacher made an instantaneous impact. Qualifying 7th in a backmarker Jordan, he immediately caught the eye of then team owner Eddie Jordan. A fight for his signature ensued that eventually lead to him arriving at Benneton. The clothing manufacturer sponsored team would allow him to reach the first two of his 7 titles. </p><p><br /></p><p>4. Schumacher Achieves The Impossible In The Rain (1996)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i4wBUeZ5Hjc" width="320" youtube-src-id="i4wBUeZ5Hjc"></iframe></div><br />Following a deluge in Spain, Schumacher exercised his otherworldly ability to drive in the rain by winning what many consider to be the best race of his career. The whole concept of wet-weather specialists being the difference between good and great drivers started with Clark & Senna, but was solidified by Schumacher. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>5. Schumacher Finishes His Career On A High (2012)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C6wMnohclM8" width="320" youtube-src-id="C6wMnohclM8"></iframe></div><br /><p>Though his first retirement wouldn't be his last, the always passionate Brazilian crowd gave Schumacher the well-deserved send-off in his final race. Schumacher's accident would occur less than 2 years later, but his F1 memories were only filled with admiration. </p><p><br /></p><p>Obviously, it's impossible to summarize a career like Schumacher's in a few videos. But with the benefit of 10 minutes to spare, absorbing the unique history of Germany's most successful driver could make all of us appreciate greatness in the sport just a bit more. </p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-30911112479804888182022-12-27T09:23:00.004-08:002022-12-27T09:23:24.711-08:005 Wonderkid Drivers To Watch Out For <p>Happy Holidays everyone. As we look forward to a new year, let's also turn our eyes towards a new generation of F1 talent. </p><p><br /></p><p>You may have heard of the Oscar Piastris and Logan Sargents of the world, but how familiar are you with your favorite teams' new starlet? Take a stroll down this top five to find out. </p><p><br /></p><p>5. McLaren, Ugo Ugochukwu</p><p><br /></p><p>McLaren fans will be ecstatic to know that not only does their team have a wonderkid in the wings, he's an American talent as well. Ugochukwu was snapped up by the Papayas after a crowning FIA OKJ European Championship season (basically karting championship of Europe). The now 14-year old has the entire gauntlet of Formulas ahead of him, but provided he receives positive marks during his current season in British F4, Ugochukwu is the driver every McLaren fan should have their eye on. </p><p><br /></p><p>4. Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli </p><p><br /></p><p>No need to spare the best for last here. Mercedes' young starlet has claimed the title in all but one of the seasons of car racing he's competed in. Even there, in the UAE F4 championship he finished 8th while only participating in 8 out of the 20 races. Italian, only 16, and signed to one of the premier drivers' academies on the grid, the sky is truly the limit for this F1-bound prospect. </p><p><br /></p><p>3. Alpine, Victor Martins</p><p><br /></p><p>Though France were unable to claim World Cup glory for a second time this year, Alpine's French understudy reached the top of the podium twice in F3. His consistent run at the top of the grid landed him the title, and a fast-track into F2. Outclassing rivals such as Ferrari Academy Driver Arthur Leclerc, fellow Alpine junior Caio Collet, and overall fast man Ollie Bearman on his way to glory. Following in the steps of Oscar Piastri at Alpine seems like a nightmare waiting to happen, but if he's able to sign a contract elsewhere he's likely to make it into the world's premier Formula. </p><p><br /></p><p>2. Red Bull, Jak Crawford </p><p><br /></p><p>Red Bull's junior team is known for two things: ruthlessness and success. When it comes to volume, no team has ever produced the number of current F1 drivers that Helmut Marko's team have. This process of growth, testing, and distribution helps RBR keep hold of the best talents in the sport. Fans of Horner, Verstappen and/or Perez will be most excited about this young American though. Crawford has had a quiet, but consistent rise throughout his junior formula career. The Charloette native turns out for Prema, widely considered to be the best team in both F3 & F2. With a little more experience under his belt, the ultimate aim for next season is a title, and a berth into F2. </p><p><br /></p><p>1. Ferrari, Arthur Leclerc</p><p><br /></p><p>Charles' brother is forging his own path up the ranks. Since signing with the Ferrari Drivers Academy in 2020, he has gone from Formula E, to F3, to F2 in the same number of years. With his brothers' genetics both in look and in speed, it's only a matter of time before he reaches the pinnacle. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZV0Tyhq7sUNu4iVorJ-vPRsDo1TUocqIymk3_p3VQf5ZRsUwWQm2WrQCmpAeOlW2fL_nrrpxbOgv9_gAjMdew_eCRiJtQMyuydNPm9jQbo_tGj8FdSEzkfRjE_v_-UaeyS21wzW5Dw2d-nZz7V8-DmYrmiCgMq9yCc5fFY5bMlM0WJDRh02fBN7_t/s1600/arthur-leclerc-smiles-f1-logo-behind-planetf1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZV0Tyhq7sUNu4iVorJ-vPRsDo1TUocqIymk3_p3VQf5ZRsUwWQm2WrQCmpAeOlW2fL_nrrpxbOgv9_gAjMdew_eCRiJtQMyuydNPm9jQbo_tGj8FdSEzkfRjE_v_-UaeyS21wzW5Dw2d-nZz7V8-DmYrmiCgMq9yCc5fFY5bMlM0WJDRh02fBN7_t/w400-h225/arthur-leclerc-smiles-f1-logo-behind-planetf1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-38785829480717599082022-11-19T13:27:00.000-08:002022-11-19T13:27:03.637-08:00Driver Power Rankings 2022 (Complete)<p>After a successful year of post-Covid racing, its always worth looking back and seeing how each driver on the field has performed this year. </p><p><br /></p><p>Prior to Abu Dhabi, here's a list of each driver's season and relative position:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Max Verstappen (Champion, 13 race wins, 7 poles)</p><p>It's been the year everyone expected from Verstappen. With a record for most wins in a season in-hand, there's little to no debate he has been this year's top performer. </p><p>2. George Russell (1 win, 1 pole)</p><p>Despite a lack of true "achievements", Russell's 2022 campaign has been severely underrated. In a year that, especially for the first leg had an extreme lack of consistency, Russell's streak of top 5 finishes continued to push him much further up the field than even his 7-time World Champion teammate Hamilton was able to achieve. It has been a breakout year, and a signal of championship potential for the 24 year old Briton. </p><p>3. Lando Norris </p><p>There aren't many instances where a team capable of scoring 148 points pre-Abu Dhabi has such a large gap between drivers. That said, Norris has put forth the performance of his career so far with an unforgettable 2022 campaign. Due to the lack of podium finishes, most of his highlights aren't often posted online or shown on the TV streams, but he continues to impress and make the case for the best driver not at a top 3 team currently. </p><p>4. Charles Leclerc (2 wins, 9 poles)</p><p>Despite a near title challenge, the Monagasque has been poor across the course of the season. A lack of defensive skill, and the unfortunate relationship between himself and his team has contributed to a season of "what-ifs". It's hard to quantify a drivers skill in building relationships and maintaining a team morale, but it's necessary, and a requirement for any #1 driver. These soft skills have held Leclerc back, and will continue to do so, even if Ferrari change their leadership structure. </p><p>5. Carlos Sainz (2 wins, 1 pole)</p><p>Sainz, A.K.A. Mr. Consistency has lived up to his name this year. Despite being consistently bested by his more experienced Ferrari teammate Leclerc through the beginning of the season, their more recent performances have been nearly identical. His constant lack of phase-ability, and optimistic demeanor has showed on track in the form of a successful campaign within touching distance of his far-favored teammate. </p><p>6. Lewis Hamilton </p><p>2021 was a watershed year for a variety of reasons. As is now becoming more clear, one of those key reasons is that Hamilton is succumbing to the creep of age. Now 37, he's entering the twilight years of his career. Despite showing he has the talent to continue competing at the front, he's unlikely to dominate in the ways his early thirties and late twenties showed. </p><p>7. Fernando Alonso</p><p>Once again, achievements take a back seat to the eye-test this year for Alonso. A near pole performance in Melbourne sticks out among a long list of potential stand-outs reduce to mere "what-ifs" by accidents. That being said, his ability to far exceed expectations and still maintain points-pace with his teammate despite abhorrent luck has been something worth celebrating. </p><p>8. Valterri Bottas </p><p>The end of the year for Alfa Romeo has been embarrassingly quiet. They've failed to reach a position above 9th for the last 12 races. That said, their points are coming from a single source. After escaping the shadow of the second 7-time world champion in F1 history. Bottas was seemingly on track to display his transcendent talent. While he's certainly been better than his car would seemingly allow, his move to Alfa Romeo now seems less likely to bear competitive fruit. </p><p>9. Sergio Perez (2 wins, 1 pole)</p><p>This year has been another where the beginning of the year is the highlight for Perez. Whether its internal Red Bull decisions to prioritize their #1 car as they have been accused of for more than a decade now, or just track fits/setup differences, Perez has done enough to continue at Red Bull. If Red Bull were more willing to challenge Verstappen with their second driver choices, it would be exciting from a fans' perspective to see them chase Norris or Leclerc. That said, Perez is likely to continue in his supporting role for at least another year. </p><p>10. Kevin Magnussen (1 Pole)</p><p>Haas consistently makes their seasons work through a series of major highlights. Despite a pole producing only a single point from Sprint racing, their 5th place start with Magnussen has carried about a third of their points across the season. Ultimately, Magnussen has been the one to carry the brunt of the team's points needs across the year. That Pirelli Pole trophy will no doubt be displayed front and center at the factory. </p><p>11. Pierre Gasly </p><p>Though it feels harsh to say Gasly had a sub-par season, the truth is that the second half of the year has displayed a lot of his apathy towards his current team. Since announcing his move to Alpine, his performances have all but dwindled into mediocrity. Still a leg up on his teammate, this year has been proof of longevity enough to secure him the move he's been seeking for the past three years. </p><div>12. Sebastian Vettel</div><p>No one will be happy to see Vettel leave the sport next year. From setting the record for fastest penalty since joining the sport with Sauber to 4 titles to eventually becoming the father-like figure for around half the grid, Vettel has truly run the F1 gambit. His swan-song will no doubt be an example of his ability to turn it on when needed, but overall its been a calm, consistent season worthy of a mid-pack rating. </p><p>13. Alexander Albon</p><p>It's infinitely more difficult to rate someone when their car is so far behind that it hasn't really been highlighted on the TV streams for most of the second half of the season. Racing the entirety of a grand prix minus one lap on hard will go down as the best moment of the year for Albon's side of the garage. 4 points only mean enough to secure Williams the ability to boast a points-scoring season, but no team has suffered to the degree the Dorliton Capital outfit has this year. </p><p>14. Esteban Ocon </p><p>Another year of consistency makes Ocon an infinitely marketable drivers to teams. Had he been somehow dropped from the team, I'm confident Williams, Haas, and potentially even Aston Martin would have been happy to employ him. Nevertheless, the three year deal he's currently on shows exactly the value he's bringing to the team. </p><p>15. Yuki Tsunoda</p><p>Tsunoda's bubbly personality always makes him a tough target to criticize, but the reality is, he's been far behind his teammate yet again. De Vries looks to be an even tougher customer next year, but with AlphaTauri's new status as a sister team as opposed to a purely developmental outfit means his experience outweighs his outright pace as they attempt to build the team into a self-sustaining venture.</p><p>16. Zhou Guanyu</p><p>Rookie seasons are toughest when you're alone in the process. The only rookie on the grid this year had a strong start with a top 10 finish, and since then has been quiet. His sponsorship money means his performances are largely irrelevant, but with Audi moving in with a war chest reportedly, he'll have to improve dramatically to maintain his seat beyond the current Alfa Romeo sponsorship regime. </p><p>17. Mick Schumacher</p><p>Schumacher's name is the most positive part of his career in F1 so far. In all honesty, for those that followed his winning F2 season know he was truly fortunate to beat Illot. That information becomes more relevant as you examine his body of work in F1. Beating Mazepin has given him zero credibility with Steiner, and the outcome is a lack of a seat for next season. </p><p>18. Lance Stroll </p><p>The constant replays of late moves into breaking zones have really tainted what could have been the quietest year of Stroll's career. His status as team-owners son will always bring a lack of legitimacy to his current drive, but getting in the way of other drivers' seasons only continues to reduce his already shaky reputation.</p><p>19. Daniel Ricciardo</p><p>Unfortunately, it's hard to imagine a team being enthusiastic to pick up McLaren's leftovers the season after next. His personality, while popular, is also a hit-or-miss circumstance for teams. Imagining the outgoing personality with Mercedes or Ferrari's more measured approach seems like an incompatible fit. Ideally, he'll find his future position matches his potential for stardom, as his attempts at World Titles are frankly over. </p><p>20. Nicholas Latifi </p><p>It seems redundant to talk poorly about the driver at the back of the grid for three years straight, but it's impossible to ignore the races where he finishes 30+ seconds behind even the next driver. There's no real telling where he'll land next, but the title of pay-driver never felt more fitting than when describing his career. </p><p><br /></p><p>Those are the Power Rankings for the drivers across the 2022 season. Let me know what you think!</p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-5981398856636965622022-11-08T18:08:00.002-08:002022-11-08T18:15:12.506-08:005 Biggest Contracts In F1 History <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4OQnKIdRJj125wPK673I0i--pyNxEroFjnzGpyD_NqCfbfr-ZFNJmmEUNmDH1wfpiC9sZxOYLL1jxhGrZR-gbcQdGCP0an9kzP9wPIWzW4qoUu87Y6jxJ7iZEUljRhHs2qa4x6dAqVy2Qzu4trVQCM8FofNCFKyxE9KfaVDVZhIJ4J8ElzjVBrmO/s608/Hamilton-v-Verstappen-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="608" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4OQnKIdRJj125wPK673I0i--pyNxEroFjnzGpyD_NqCfbfr-ZFNJmmEUNmDH1wfpiC9sZxOYLL1jxhGrZR-gbcQdGCP0an9kzP9wPIWzW4qoUu87Y6jxJ7iZEUljRhHs2qa4x6dAqVy2Qzu4trVQCM8FofNCFKyxE9KfaVDVZhIJ4J8ElzjVBrmO/w400-h251/Hamilton-v-Verstappen-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">5. Max Verstappen</p><p><br /></p><p>The youngest driver on this list seems destined to smash all other records, but for now, Verstappen's current deal keeps him at fifth all-time. After securing his second title in 2022, his £73 Million deal looks to actually be extraordinarily team-friendly. Nevertheless, it's the fifth biggest deal of all time, and has the dual World Champion with the team until 2027. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">4. Sebastian Vettel </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>As far as the top 5 deals of all time go, it's quite easy to place this one as the least successful. Though the 2017 and 18 seasons looked initially promising for the Tifosi, Vettel's ill-fated mistake in Germany in 2019 was an accurate reflection of how his time at Ferrari went. Despite mostly dominating his long-standing Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen, his reign coincided with the most dominant car/driver combination in Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. Ultimately, his race wins will be fondly remembered, but his time was likely not worth the astounding £81 Million deal. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">3. Michael Schumacher</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>His £91 Million deal technically puts him at number one considering inflation, but for the sake of raw accuracy, its worth mentioning how his deal still puts him third all time. Given how far his reputation precedes him, its safe to say he returned more than the value of his contract and then some. His contract almost got Ferrari his son as a driver as well. Alas, it was not meant to be. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">2. Lewis Hamilton</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>The British 7-time World Champion was a shoe-in for this list. Following a tumultuous time with McLaren, his move to Mercedes has already become the greatest team-switch in F1 history. 6 titles, 7 constructors titles, and an enduring legacy makes his £103 Million deal look like smart business by Toto Wolff and Daimler. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">1. Kimi Raikkonen </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>Did you expect the Ice Man to be at the top of this list? I certainly didn't. That being said, Ferrari's last WDC made history with his £113 Millon(!) contract. For a driver without the reputation of a Hamilton or a Schumacher, its exceptional that he was able to sign a deal this massive. Maybe that's why he always seemed so nonchalant... </p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-45315519862780806232022-06-23T07:37:00.005-07:002022-11-05T22:58:00.757-07:00Must-Achieve Goals For Each F1 Team<div style="text-align: center;"><u>Red Bull - Secure The Cars' Strengths</u></div><div><br /></div><div>Every dominant champion is met with eventual derision from the F1 fanbase. Boos often come globally after a driver has reached 3 successive World Championships. If this were the only penalty, no team would fear consistent success. That being said, the FIA are aware of how this impacts their bottom line. Fans like variance, and as a result, the FIA are confident with their swift directives to repeal and ban any advantages a team might have. Red Bull will need to be conscientious of their progression as to not but too much into an easily ban-able advantage.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Ferrari - Improve Internal Communication</u></div><div><br /></div><div>The rightful meme of the season has been the lack of coordination between Ferrari's pit wall and their all-star driver, Charles Leclerc. Without their confidence, his would-have-been maiden championship evaporated before his dismayed fans' eyes. Every team that rises from midfield mediocrity into the title picture experiences some form of institutional growing pains. Despite that, the Ferrari logo looms heavy in the garage, and Italian fans worldwide are expectant of a more successful 2023 campaign. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Mercedes - Advance The Engine</u></div><div><b> </b></div><div>The forgotten piece of the Mercedes puzzle has been the lack of relative power. Their engine is by far the least successful of the four options currently on the grid. Not only for themselves, but for their bottom line, its going to be important to improve their product. </div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Alpine - Improve The Internal Infrastructure</u></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Alpine/Renault have peddled at the top of the midfield for years. Following the disappointing realization that this cycle isn't the championship window they expected, its time for the French outfit to show their intent to potential drivers.</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>McLaren - Keep The Peace</u></div><div><br /></div><div>Piastri and Norris are both equally hungry for success. This lineup has the potential to blow up, and without the leadership necessary to keep the team focused, it could be a drama-filled year for the team. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Alfa Romeo - Invest In The Future</u></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>There's an unlikely opportunity within the next 3 years for Sauber. They're mostly secured for the long-term, but still need to fill in their obligations to their current sponsors. If there's anything they'll want, its to begin their next era with the best car under their supervision. Securing funds from Zhou's lucrative sponsorship deals is a great place to start. I'd be surprised if the team doesn't improve on the personnel side with 3 years to prepare for a brand new run at the top 3.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>AlphaTauri - Restructure For Independence </u></div><div><br /></div><div>The sudden change in leadership at Red Bull has rightfully signaled a potential change at AlphaTauri. Since their inception in 2008, Red Bull's junior outfit has benefitted from extremely low expectations. After reviewing their balance sheets, it's clear the most important goal has been breaking even. Now, without the guarantee of a permanent backer, the team is forced to recon with a future requiring new revenue streams. Sponsorship, leadership, and facilities will be on the shopping list going forwards. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Aston Martin - Up For Grabs</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The objectives for Aston Martin are unclear for the moment. Following the acquisition, the public statements made by Stroll as the leader of his investment conglomerate were directed at gaining attention for a title-challenging outfit. A season removed from those goals, its apparent that the team is lacking the necessary components for a title challenge. The last time a customer team was able to compete for a title was 2014, and the last time a customer team with a competitive manufacturing team on the grid competed for a title was 2010. Either they'll be eager to add the Audi engine to their cars, or they'll have to fork over the financial might to truly match what Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari are capable of. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Haas - Establish A Sponsorship Relationship</u></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Haas have been in survival mode since their initial foray into the sport. As a fan, their constant inability to gain traction financially has been frustrating. There are a number of exciting potential entrants who would be more likely to produce entertaining racing. Nevertheless, whatever value their internal drama has provided, their constant middling form means there are few racing goals that seem appropriate to set for them. More likely than not, the objective is simply getting out of a purely sustaining financial state, and setting their sights on long-term success determinants such as an academy team. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Williams - Continue to Scout For Talent</u></div><div><br /></div><div>Despite the guarded optimism regarding Williams' future following the acquisition by world renowned investment firm Dorilton Capital, the team's performances have consistently mirrored the season before. Without the talent of George Russell behind the wheel, and even with the heroics of Albon's return to F1, the team are looking for a new driver to improve their overall results. American Logan Sargeant has been on pole for a while now, and his credentials are sorely lacking in all-star potential. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-46405940664948075822022-06-15T19:46:00.005-07:002022-11-08T18:13:38.107-08:00Preventing Injury In Motorsport<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEf4df4CrAbnJVkMKTfC4Hotr-qdisaa-0f7mrYOsuGTsztc1ZtaUgZK9An2YJd76USvtJ5LCsk1IUbhcAzJ_2RGGRBPKKqpwOVZggV9zr2S6Xgsc-u25AvarykqvQs1M7BDP16Lr2ctn3hvoKbaFhPKGQBTqBmtVJ49QgGEyyEIo6b0ZR3J3ynnR/s2048/09surfacing-racing-matthewfox-superJumbo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEf4df4CrAbnJVkMKTfC4Hotr-qdisaa-0f7mrYOsuGTsztc1ZtaUgZK9An2YJd76USvtJ5LCsk1IUbhcAzJ_2RGGRBPKKqpwOVZggV9zr2S6Xgsc-u25AvarykqvQs1M7BDP16Lr2ctn3hvoKbaFhPKGQBTqBmtVJ49QgGEyyEIo6b0ZR3J3ynnR/w400-h266/09surfacing-racing-matthewfox-superJumbo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Motorsports, as much as any other sport save golf, comes under the unfair criticism of being an 'unathletic' activity. To those uninitiated with the experience of maneuvering their way around an asphalt speedway, it would appear the act of driving is more reminiscent of a Sunday stroll to the mall, rather than a constant test of concentration and physical endurance. It's a frustrating conversation to have. Yet, if you've been around long enough, you'll be able to remember this exact exchange. </p><p>Unlike other more traditional ball sports however, motorsports injuries run the gambit from invisible 'micro-concussions' to full on train-wreck-esque accidents. The unpredictability of motorsport make it the world's premier content-creator for catastrophic accident videos across the web. It seems unlikely then, for a sport as visually dangerous as drunk driving or an unforeseen construction accident to be as 'child-friendly' as it is. Most parents of racing drivers recount the internal horror story of seeing their child race for the first few years of their careers. Many continue to experience this same, 'racer's parent' paranoia into their sons and daughters' adult years. </p><p>When it comes to the drive to compete, no one could expect an 8 year old to carefully review rules and regulations as they relate to engineering terms more suited for at least a high school algebra class. The interest is simply in the undeniable adrenaline rush of a day out on track. As supervisors, adults, and overall responsible actors for the safety of racing's next generation, it ought be a more common conversation.</p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-79754965980013297262022-06-07T20:47:00.002-07:002022-11-08T18:14:06.986-08:00Heroes And Villians Are Relative <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fC5h9ZLJRTzHZLIoZwd32nQlRZZTntJ_vS8mL1GMmNAjcuX6iFGc-omNJBg9_68wi8KDXF8OXLJ5P24yKJfiKdrxcS4qer6IH2F7P3C6c0h_-2yym4VHzXT3f3H_rDGbrvVXqwAN0h1zslIp1bdxBZFDBp9FIDU_1Fu2fh6AXzj7Pk9UpKxaobqz/s750/max-jos-verstappen-2019-getty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="750" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fC5h9ZLJRTzHZLIoZwd32nQlRZZTntJ_vS8mL1GMmNAjcuX6iFGc-omNJBg9_68wi8KDXF8OXLJ5P24yKJfiKdrxcS4qer6IH2F7P3C6c0h_-2yym4VHzXT3f3H_rDGbrvVXqwAN0h1zslIp1bdxBZFDBp9FIDU_1Fu2fh6AXzj7Pk9UpKxaobqz/w400-h268/max-jos-verstappen-2019-getty.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Max Verstappen isn't evil. He's not the worst person you'll see on TV. He's an incredible racing driver. However, the coverage of his ascent misses a key different between him and his former title rival, Lewis Hamilton. He is the son of an F1 driver. Born in Belgium, growing up next to Monegasque descendants. what most people miss is that there is more to like about someone making it from nothing than someone rising from the top to reach a level they barely started any lower than. </p><p><br /></p><p>Comparisons to American sports are helpful because of how much access we have to the lives of those athletes. American sports media is a 24-hour, internet fueled, thunderstorm. If you're caught underneath it chances are you're aware of its every move. Athletes in the U.s. are also often some of the most underprivileged people in our society. Some are the sons and daughters of former players, but others come from a truly deprived beginning to reach their goals. There likely has never been a more economically successful turnaround than LeBron James. His background brought him from sleeping in his mom's car to becoming the first active NBA player to breach the 1 billion dollar net-worth threshold. Though that in itself it's a milestone to b e longed for, it exemplifies the nature of how a young boy from an adverse situation becomes the 'King' of the United States' third most popular sport. </p><p><br /></p><p>Chances are, if you're reading this, you're far from a billionaire. In all honesty, most of us cannot conceptualize the idea of 'one billion'. Moreover, we've all likely made moves that have taken us away from our own maximum earning potential. Whether its taking care of a dying loved one, or simply pursuing a passion for the arts, there have been divergent points where we as people stop thinking about cash and starting thinking about what we want. Truly, the story of the rags-to-riches athlete is valuable insofar as it shows us the unlikely spark of two scenarios meeting. That is, someone followed their passion, and it somehow resulted in a massive financial outcome as well. In the words of former NBA champion Dennis Rodman, "I'd play basketball for free, they just pay me to deal with the b*llshit."</p><p><br /></p><p>None of us are Formula 1 drivers. From the age of zero, most of us never stood a chance, but when someone, like Esteban Ocon or Lewis Hamilton breaches that barrier, it's worth being a fan of that. There's a propensity for jealousy when someone achieves a goal we feel like we might have done ourselves, but in reality there's no more uplifting storyline. </p><p><br /></p><p>The current media landscape surrounding F1 is obviously a whirlwind of trying to make a sport that meets once a week seem fast-paced and attention grabbing. It's hard work to be a journalist. That being said, it reduces our capability to really understand what is happening in the sport. Why are these drivers so important? Who are they? If anything, the so-called Twitch boys were so significant because it showed a part of living as an F1 driver that wasn't hectic. It was human, and people love it. </p><p><br /></p><p>Ultimately then, with the benefit of a zoomed-out perspective, it's worth noting that the man who 'won' the World Championship last year represents very few of us. None of us choose where we are born, but to celebrate the achievements of Max verstappen on the same plane as someone like Lewis is missing the point entirely. The paths they took could not be more divergent. Verstappen began the son of a millionaire F1 driver. He was entered into top-level leagues at a young age and raced alongside Monagasque title rival Charles Leclerc. </p><p><br /></p><p>Do not miss the forest for the trees. There are bigger reasons to support Ocon than Norris or Verstappen. The intent isn't to remove the joy of F1, but to see what really happens behind the curtains. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-26097998732454048952022-06-05T11:53:00.003-07:002022-06-05T22:07:25.695-07:00Whether You Know It Or Not, Sir Lewis Hamilton Is Your Favorite Driver<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmy58HsYQGpPaXLVV3_3INLBuzddbmW-SIcGZSCorMsyJsuMS98c-WHQhpEX8RyRmM8M7e6ehlLNeWlZi-vlj7fmqb2LCmU4aGpinFRlZHsv2QQ0Jl3iUloVzDIqM9erhIDqHhShRaIgcuf7aNbzCJsjqPW76vJr4AWtd8tfFfqWdHP3aKvuiPZ1oE/s870/Untitled-design-2020-06-02T201402.809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="870" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmy58HsYQGpPaXLVV3_3INLBuzddbmW-SIcGZSCorMsyJsuMS98c-WHQhpEX8RyRmM8M7e6ehlLNeWlZi-vlj7fmqb2LCmU4aGpinFRlZHsv2QQ0Jl3iUloVzDIqM9erhIDqHhShRaIgcuf7aNbzCJsjqPW76vJr4AWtd8tfFfqWdHP3aKvuiPZ1oE/w400-h216/Untitled-design-2020-06-02T201402.809.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p>They say a flower is beautiful because it doesn't last. I'd say a flower is beautiful because it's unexpected. In fields and fields of grass and trees there are rarely flowers. It's as if it were a gift delivered precisely in case anyone would evolve long enough to admire it. It is the incentive for living built into our natural world. </p><p><br /></p><p>When it comes to sports, our perception of them is built on flowers. It's the striking, the colorful, and the unexpected. While it might take and entire lifetime to live through a couple hundred of these flowers, they are the verbal conversations that allow us legitimacy when talking about our own experiences with sports. Not a single NBA fan will ever forget the 2016 NBA finals, and no fan of F1 will ever forget Michael Schumacher crossing the line in Suzuka in 2004. These are permanent memories. </p><p><br /></p><p>However, flowers have their sizes. Their shapes, their colors and their unique aromas. They are not always upright, and some are much taller than others. In certain cases, especially in the US, flowers grow so tall that we commemorate them. We put badges on them such as 'national holidays' or award ceremonies with their names on it. Those are flowers that transcend sports. The kind of wildlife indigenous more to the history books than the ESPN highlights channel. Sometimes its not about the vehicle, the ball, or the shot made; it's about the conversation surrounding it. These snapshots of human progress encapsulated in a highly dramatized, irregular set of actions. </p><p><br /></p><p>For any fan of F1, this moment in time is one of those. It needs no flagging, it's at an absolute fever pitch. The collision of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the 2020 marches for Black Lives Matter indicate an intersection etched into a history severely lacking in the sort of flowers that become landmarks. For 76 years F1 has been a haven for the white and wealthy. Its name synonymous with the post-WW2 death built of the backs of dead working-class soldiers. The mere image of rich white men racing through Monte Carlo just 5 years after the utter destruction of Europe and East and South East Asia is a memorable stain on the very idea of the top level of motorsport. To suggest F1 has a problem with racism is to suggest that a farmer with a field of wheat may suspect a horde of locusts to come charging every couple of years. Inevitable. </p><p><br /></p><p>When you watch compliations of F1's greatest moments and see Senna, Schumacher, Mansell, Hunt. Lauda etc. at the top of the podium it's easy to become enamored with the idea that this sport truly pulls for all of humanity. Ever since stories of John Henry outpacing the woodcutting machine, human beings have long wished to out-compete machines. Though obviously the driver and car work in tandem, the most memorable moments come from when the vehicle fails and the man prevails. Senna's Lotus stuck in 6th gear at Interlagos, Sir Lewis Hamilton reaching the finish on three wheels at Silverstone in 2020, or even the death defying nature of lapping a Formula One car before the 1990s. The baseline conversation behind the pursuit of motorsports is: 'how far can machine push man before man can no longer reply'. And so far, it has been so good. With the benefit of clearly guiding regulations, human beings have naturally reached their summit. They have as always come out on top. Doing the previously impossible year in and year out. Every innovation, every outstanding drive, every inch further than the rest of the field shows that humans are still at the top of their game. </p><p><br /></p><p>And so, much like sports such as the UFC, or professional track and field there are subconscious elements to F1 that make it an attractive prospect to anyone who might see themselves behind that visor. It's supposed to be reflective. Despite the lack of a face during the race however, there are interviews, media appearances, podium celebrations and those dampen the idea of a universal human condition. The ultimate struggle for F1 is inherent in its history. It's a sport for the uber-wealthy. It's an insular community. It is, in a sense, rigged. Much like the intersection between capitalism and race, F1 appears to see itself above that. Claiming solely to be a sport of numbers, when in reality it's a sport of dollars and privilege. So many drivers have come and gone, and to the chagrin of fans there are entire categories of drivers banished from conversations of true talent and greatness. These are stains on the competitive integrity of the sport. Drivers such as Roberto Mehri, Rio Haryanto, Nicholas Latifi, or Sergey Sirotkin. People with talent lesser than the demands of the sport, and yet accepted among the rest as equals. To anyone's aspirational eye this is simply unacceptable. But when one takes a wider look at things it seems obvious that the difference between these two are much smaller than the difference between your average road driving teenager and someone like Lando Norris. Norris, now 22, grew up the son of a billionaire. His father awarded him infinite amounts of time at the local track, top of the line equipment, and more strikingly, the peace of mind to pursue his passion without any fear of failure. </p><p><br /></p><p>One might notice the impurity with which he now competes in front of fans. Fan pages spring up and cheer on his every move. People argue for his competitive and career success, and when he finished near the top of the field it is noticed and catalogued away as a validation of his integral human qualities. Then again, how many of us when put in that same position would have arrived at the same outcome. From an outside perspective, it lowers the magical factors when you realize that an F1 career is cash and confidence. There are some willing to overlook this, but when it comes to comparison, there really aren't any worth mentioning. A single year in Norris' title winning World Karting Championship kart would've run you on average $400,000. It's worth an entire house in most of America to send your child through one year of competitive go-karting at the highest level. There's no argument when it comes to performance and privilege. The latter will always push you further down the track. </p><p><br /></p><p>The idea that F1 is a human-driven sport begins to fall apart as soon as you realize the real price of getting there. But not only that, when you only allow a very specific minority into a sport, you create a fundamental in-group. In this case, it's the same people who run your country clubs, manage the portfolios of the biggest investors in the world, and those that own the ships that move your goods. It's the billionaires already swimming in a tempestuous cyclone of wealth. To disrupt this flow is simple insurmountable. It is climbing Mount Everest with a fork and knife instead of an ice pick and an oxygen mask. Then, if after all that, what if I were to tell you the story of one young man. </p><p><br /></p><p>This young boy grew up with divorced parents without the financial means to send their child to private school. This family worked three jobs to set their child up with a kart capable of going around a track. And his genius showed at a young age. He drove RC cars faster than adults. He went to events as frequently as anyone else. He was truly a genius in his class. This man grew up and was noticed by the biggest driver academy in the world at that time. Nurtured by a man who had won more championships than any other boss in his field. He grew up racing and never stopped. Though he's certainly not the everyman, he's an example of what F1's premise is meant to be. </p><p><br /></p><p>Sir Lewis Hamilton knows what it's like to be excluded. From a young age, racial abuse flew from paddocks around his local tracks. People were unhappy to see their bubble broken. A young boy with brown skin and a single father had never been able to make it through the rank and file numbers of white middle-class families. There was a fence there by a different name. And yet, this shy, quiet, young boy climbed it through merit alone. </p><p><br /></p><p>At the end of Sir Lewis Hamilton's career there must be a signpost put up indicating to any new fan that something happened for the past 14 years that has never happened before. This man took the shadow of a post-WW2 wealth boom built of the backs of his own ancestors and used it as a platform to become the most successful driver in the history of the world. That is the kind of story movies would be scared to tell. It's magnanimous, it's triumphant, and most of all it's likely to not happen again while the people alive to read this are still alive. Sir Lewis Hamilton is an expression of the guilt that F1 has been trying to stifle for years. It's a tear in a seemingly unbreakable set of armor. A glitch in the Matrix, and a reminder that athletics are simply a prism through which we can attempt to understand our own lives. If you aren't a fan of Sir Lewis Hamilton look again, because you should, will, and eventually might see yourself in his eyes. This is bigger than F1. It's bigger than sport. </p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-79742773263584062512022-05-08T20:23:00.004-07:002022-05-08T20:23:54.903-07:00How To Make F1 More Accessible<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseji8uEASBDyfGTTs4nu2ZCiSuhtIle0bh9r-Gnup8p3rGQO7PiO2BJR82pQcVYsWt833r_V6BXmVHDuh7_uwPNLj2WzQ2nLrRM6h0QQCbGn5QM3rq2skIsJOf3a1rlDQymSP3GGHLwVzb1ERJQwK6y64Wtb1pe1msxuoBIT0lT5GK5A7euuwXIbD/s2318/pexels-thiago-giardini-5818475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2318" data-original-width="2318" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseji8uEASBDyfGTTs4nu2ZCiSuhtIle0bh9r-Gnup8p3rGQO7PiO2BJR82pQcVYsWt833r_V6BXmVHDuh7_uwPNLj2WzQ2nLrRM6h0QQCbGn5QM3rq2skIsJOf3a1rlDQymSP3GGHLwVzb1ERJQwK6y64Wtb1pe1msxuoBIT0lT5GK5A7euuwXIbD/w400-h400/pexels-thiago-giardini-5818475.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>$2300 average. It's what you'll pay to seat yourself for three days at the Miami Grand Prix circuit. Indycar tickets will run you $100, Nascar half that. F1's image as a global sport always came with an asterix. While 70% of the world makes less than $25,000 a year, ticket prices have risen. Nowhere more than at its newest circuits. As F1 reckons with its complicit place in sports-washing and its evidently white heritage, it must also eventually address its pricey cost to entry. </p><p><br /></p><p>In order to place this in an understandable context, let's compare F1 to a young Americans journey through sports during their lives. For most younger adults, sports are an accessible medium. In the United States, athletics are mandatory, and even without that, kids of all ages seek out after school programs to participate in their favorite sports. So much so that even beyond professional leagues there are three competitive sports levels in college, intra-collegiate scrimmaging teams, and of course recreational leagues as well. At their most impactful, sporting events are community-building gatherings. They serve as a means to creating that inclusive potential. </p><p><br /></p><p>If there's a racetrack anywhere near your home, you know this. Motorsports of all the sports I have tried has the most tightly wound community. At the end of the day, motorsports in the United States are a niche endeavor. If I had a dollar for every time I'd heard one of my friends ask me the difference between 'bumper cars' and go-karting I'd have enough dollars for a couple of rounds on a kart. Due to that heritage of only involving the most passionate individuals, it truly feels as if anyone at any given track could become a life-long friend. The location itself holds a fertile quality for those budding connections.</p><p><br /></p><p>Often overlooked are the millions of potential fans of such a sport. IndyCar never makes it on TV over the NFL, NBA or otherwise. Nor does NASCAR, and until recently F1 wouldn't even suffice for the ABC network's main sports channels. Without now defunct mecca of American motorsports Speed TV broadcasting the eventful 2011 Singaporean Grand Prix, this blog would have never come about. It's a privilege to be conscious f motorsports from a young age. Yet, I imagine my middle school classmates whose eyes lit up at the idea that they could become drivers at just 12 or thirteen. There's an inescapable language of freedom associated with motorsports. Having total control over your trajectory. It's addicting. </p><p><br /></p><p>Nevertheless the barriers to actually attending one of these races persist. Screenshots circulating Reddit show a >$40 markup on earbuds at the race. Assuming you have your own, that ticket price will be enough of a barrier on its own. Overall its a sporting event most American families will only be able to reasonable afford once a year, and at the cost of their other hobbies. If it were me, I'd find it in the budget to go one ever four to five years, but no more. That's coming from someone who has been writing about the sport he loves for over a decade now. In countries with lower wages, ticket prices still remain unobtainable. Flashy photographs of Sheiks and models bring an appeal to the sport that only people interested in that lifestyle would be transfixed by. In other words, the FIA jingles its premier form of motorsport like a set of diamond earrings. See, but don't touch. </p><p><br /></p><p>Ultimately, the point of this article is to give you a sense of how sacred the act of motorsport is. If it were me I'd put a track near every town over 40,000 people. It's an activity I've enjoyed with my brother, girlfriends, father, and many more regardless of their age or experience levels. In order to see more fans come through the gate, make those gates turn just a little easier. </p><p><br /></p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-12768545889704946982022-05-04T09:02:00.002-07:002022-05-04T09:02:21.143-07:00Future Destinations for an F1 Grand Prix<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLYYU6xJJwoJAuXIFp2L9riAyeyNk3xNGlsA6xYtT0Dwo7GrdZOMLe5jlVCZZNpcfwuQq4n4QoVPp2U6f_BPWVvXK3ZlE1q2YN2J24EyX7VrvriHIYEnxbMfLZfzmm5uUIAmWQDzr-ZuVOPEtf6PYlfEP1k5aPgAQTL-cO6GtV3W5yEnHUYcR-IoH/s6250/globe-3411506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4167" data-original-width="6250" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLYYU6xJJwoJAuXIFp2L9riAyeyNk3xNGlsA6xYtT0Dwo7GrdZOMLe5jlVCZZNpcfwuQq4n4QoVPp2U6f_BPWVvXK3ZlE1q2YN2J24EyX7VrvriHIYEnxbMfLZfzmm5uUIAmWQDzr-ZuVOPEtf6PYlfEP1k5aPgAQTL-cO6GtV3W5yEnHUYcR-IoH/w400-h266/globe-3411506.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>1. New York City </p><p><br /></p><p>The bright lights and expensive cars that already roam the streets of New York are no stranger to the roar of an F1 car. In fact, Red Bull pulls their drives over to the big city at least once every year for promotional reasons. Despite the fact that New York is one of the most expensive urban land markets on the planet, series like Formula E have carved out areas for their choosing. Ideally an accessible track just west of the Hudson would place an extra 21 million fans within reach of a Formula 1 race. The United States currently enjoys two full-time Grand Prix contract and is expected to add a third in 2023 with Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the inclusion of this race still matters to the expansion of Formula 1. Accessibility is a huge problem when it comes to racing in the United States. Series like Nascar stay confined to one area of the country to ensure their fans can make it to their races, and IndyCar likewise will basically skip out n swathes of the country where there are not enough people to support races. New York is over 500 miles away from Florida, and more than twice that to both Las Vegas and Texas. Imagine if English fans were required to fly to Morocco for their nearest Grand Prix. That problem will continue no matter what, but for the sake of increased interest in the United States adding a New York City Grand Prix would massively increase the functional reach of the sport.</p><p><br /></p><p>2. New Dehli</p><p><br /></p><p>Despite F1's first Indian owner showering his investment in controversy, the fervent support he received from his home country was never short of amazing. The world's second most populous country delivered three races at the Buddh International Circuit just a few miles outside of New Dehli, and the loss of Force India has isolated those existing fans. For the sake of reigniting interest, and rewarding those long-term fan, India deserves a renewal of their contract. The track itself isn't the most popular. Tilke designed it in preparation for 2011. After three consecutive dominating performances by then champion Sebastian Vettel, the track became famous for being one of the original "Tilkedromes". A term used to criticize tracks created by racetrack designer Herman Tilke, and a descriptor of circuits lacking distinctive corner designs. A return to the circuit with F1 under the new management of Liberty media would likely see some changes implemented, the long 'S' combinations would likely either morph into DRS zones or be removed completely, and the long straight followed by a hairpin neither extended or accentuated by a sharper first corner. F1's footprint in India is large, and to neglect this portion of the globe is leaving a large contingent of fans without their favorite sport.</p><p><br /></p><p>3. Johannesburg</p><p><br /></p><p>There have been frequent and audible calls to re-introduce a Grand Prix in the continent of Africa for some time. Lewis Hamilton recently himself came out to re-introduce the idea among discussions of the race in Saudi Arabia. There are two potential candidate circuits that have at least a grade 2 rating by the FIA. A circuit needs a grade 1 rating to host an F1 circuit, and tracks are graded from 1-6. Grade 2 tracks are commonly seen in endurance racing, IndyCar in the United States, or Formula E for street circuits. Below that, Grade 3 will host autocross and some Formula E races, and Grade six is comprised entirely of rally courses. The Kylami circuit in South Africa meets the requirements for length and layout, but would need improvements to its safety and spectator infrastructure. These improvements are easily made in cases such as the Circuit of the Americas in preparation for the 2012 race, but nevertheless take time. There would likely be between 2-3 years of preparation before a race could take place at the Kylami International Circuit. The second Grade 2 track in the continent is Morocco's Marrakech street circuit. The general layout of this track would require significant altercations before any F1 team would ever dream of taking part in a Grand Prix there. This barrier is not impossible to cross, but may well disqualify Morocco from any immediate Grand Prix consideration.</p><p><br /></p><p>4. Buenos Aires </p><p><br /></p><p>Of all the countries that spring to mind when considering F1 Driver Champions, Argentina has yet to truly penetrate the mainstream. You could be forgiven for forgetting that Argentina's one and only world champion, Juan Miguel Fangio scored his five championships all the way back in the 1950s, and long before F1 was the spectacle it is now. Brazil, England, and Germany are all permanently enshrined in the F1 cannon as the gold standard of Formula 1 drivers' nationalities, and sitting right underneath them is Argentina. It's been 24 years since the last Grand Prix in the nation, and despite their international circuit dropping to a Grade 2 specification, its been rumored an attempt was made a decade ago to reinstate the race onto the calendar. For all its practically ancient history in the sport, Argentina deserves what tracks like Belgium and Monaco currently enjoy. A landmark event celebrating and reminding fans of its illustrious history. When the rumored F1 rotational calendar of historic tracks comes into effect, there is the argument that below the Nurburgring and Brands Hatch, the Autodromo Termas de Río Hondo deserves equal placement among those tracks. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-14015733729391255662022-03-18T07:24:00.003-07:002022-03-18T07:26:04.373-07:003 Reasons To Absolutely Watch The 2022 F1 Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6ybVOhrIxF0RXwovjCfx2bpTZU5BS5oKOTR-qUFypQCs2owTXTBdyIYqwVd2TVBvJ82qs6RYO0b6vMUE-lOovS9p_w4Bc10MVVjm5BhaWspIaDOZsBv_l4JAyRgyHEmZdzvAUZBGEbgr-AGnhqLZS3A3HZSIQMu5H3xkO3XMjj855e15Mg3p17Uvu=s1920" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6ybVOhrIxF0RXwovjCfx2bpTZU5BS5oKOTR-qUFypQCs2owTXTBdyIYqwVd2TVBvJ82qs6RYO0b6vMUE-lOovS9p_w4Bc10MVVjm5BhaWspIaDOZsBv_l4JAyRgyHEmZdzvAUZBGEbgr-AGnhqLZS3A3HZSIQMu5H3xkO3XMjj855e15Mg3p17Uvu=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p>1. Verstappen Vs. Hamilton Pt. 2 </p><p><br /></p><p>There haven't been any more blockbuster seasons than 2021. When the grandkids grow old enough to ask, anyone from our era will be spouting the same story of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. "<i>We went motor-racing, </i>and "N<i>o, Michael, that's not right," </i>will forever be relics of the collective F1 memory. No matter if Mercedes is poor to start the year, there's no-one who truly believes they won't be in the mix by the end of the year. </p><p><br /></p><p>2. Red At The Front </p><p><br /></p><p>There are people roaming the Earth at age 15 that have never seen a Ferrari world title. Enzo would never have let that slide, and 2022 will be the year he can rest safely. Ferrari finally look like the team their history tells you they are. Leclerc vs. Sainz already sounds like a rivalry we'll be watching in movie form in thirty years.</p><p><br /></p><p>3. Regulation Lottery </p><p><br /></p><p>For the minnows of F1, regulations changes are the breeding ground of future sharks. Peter Sauber's team, Frank Williams' team, and Gene Haas' team all look like winners in this new era. Whatever happens at the front, someone is coming home 100s of millions of dollars richer. That alone makes F1 the most watchable sport in the world.</p><p><br /></p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-80975670263042937862022-03-17T11:07:00.000-07:002022-03-17T11:07:13.145-07:00F1 Game 2020 Tips and Tricks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWUYjukppSC2T6I4zcxAU3Tq2s95zc7eyqgtN9os7rureSi6zNXnucaHoY5htIjM3cu9VTtw0Qrdwtr5VpCHNZjTtAES6OkqHMcL0Zf1d_tW0OdO29VztrJOOT-ZHe9ZLNizQ4_3986oI-SQczXS1EWlPnCg6x9Qhh98p6gowuYkcfh5sr1BrGKnVg=s318" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="318" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWUYjukppSC2T6I4zcxAU3Tq2s95zc7eyqgtN9os7rureSi6zNXnucaHoY5htIjM3cu9VTtw0Qrdwtr5VpCHNZjTtAES6OkqHMcL0Zf1d_tW0OdO29VztrJOOT-ZHe9ZLNizQ4_3986oI-SQczXS1EWlPnCg6x9Qhh98p6gowuYkcfh5sr1BrGKnVg=w400-h199" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Okay, this is late. That being said, I know many of us are slow to change, so if this is you, you've come to the right place. </p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>General Driving:</b></h2><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Lean Fuel At The Start:</u></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Do you know when you burn the most fuel in an F1 ace? It's actually before the first corner. When you rev your engine before the start, you burn an immense amount of fuel. Just turning your fuel mode down before a race will save you almost half a lap of mix 3. Don't be a gas-guzzler before you're driving. </p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Don't Focus On The Road Right In Front Of You:</u></b></p><p><br /></p><p>F1 drivers never look at where they're going. They're always focused one step ahead. Us normal mortals ten to focus right in front of our wing. To improve your driving, focus on where you want the car t go. Much like your career goals, you always gotta be looking one step ahead. </p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Lean Fuel In The Pit Lane</u></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Do you know where you burn the second most amount of fuel? That's right, in the pit lane. Once your limiter is on, you're burning excess fuel at a rate of knots. Lower your consumption by turning down your fuel mix right before you enter the pits. It'll smell better for your engineers too. </p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Never Accelerate On Kerbs:</u></b></p><p><br /></p><p>If it isn't gray, don't hit that accelerator. The easiest way to turn your fun F1 gaming session into a Nikita Mazepin simulator is to accelerate on the white and red stuff. Hey, they just painted it, leave it alone!</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>Career Mode:</b></h2><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Front Wing > Rear Wing</u></b></div><p><br /></p><p>Especially if you're driving with a wheel or non-controller, the lack of understeer will help you significantly more than oversteer. For those unacquainted, that just means the front of the car is more stable than the back. If you're not using auto-upgrades, consider the front your best friend.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Consider Upcoming Tracks:</u></b></p><p><br /></p><p>In real life, F1 does a decent job of putting similar tracks together. Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi in 2021 were both renowned for their exceptionally long straights. In the F1 game, the stretch that includes Monaco and Baku is when you should consider focusing your aerodynamic upgrades. Try not to focus on your engine too much early on, or it'll be harder to turn the corners here. </p><p><br /></p><p><u><b>Look Up Setups:</b></u></p><p><br /></p><p>Not all of us are double F1-esports champion Brandon Leigh. For all other 7 billion of us, setups online are an excellent way to gain more speed without having to be the greatest driver of all time. I personally recommend <a href="https://realsport101.com/f1/f1-2020-australia-setup-guide-hotlap-stability-tyre-wear-career-mode-gameplay-stable-hamilton-bottas-mercedes-australia-albert-park-melbourne/">Real Sport</a>, and they have a dedicated article for every track. </p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>Miscellaneous:</b></h2><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Be Careful With Your Older Cars:</u></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Classic cars in F1 are every F1 fans dream. But far from that dream is the immense bill of binning them into the wall. To avoid this, remember that manual shift cars need much more time to get onto the throttle. Never expect older cars to handle like the modern miracles of science we know today. </p><p><br /></p><p><u><b>F2 Cars Are Easier To Overtake With:</b></u></p><p><u><b><br /></b></u></p><p>When overtaking in F1 2020, you do have to be careful not to find yourself facing the oncoming field at 140 kph. To avid spinning, you should just drive F2 cars. In the F1 2020 game F2 cars are much less prone to spinning if you tap wheels, so go for those dive bombs! As long as it isn't me on the other side of that lobby...</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-55463253818880860152022-03-15T08:38:00.002-07:002022-03-15T08:38:12.778-07:00F1 Drivers That Should Look to Move By The End of 2022<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-PEEevtiKOSeyoG-wEgmnD9XmCKUP66k3Hr5G-9DmYjLXF4rFQRjLDsO8trGP8B1Ia8W-7xe7L_sFZbfiCsKSknejMe4WQTtoagQgn84F7W4Hl8vxYqTGS3wVIf-GAQfI9pnmAM_xGzM64NcnxOowojGkdOCOOpAcex2XKgeCgfPH0UsCm_clMNXA=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-PEEevtiKOSeyoG-wEgmnD9XmCKUP66k3Hr5G-9DmYjLXF4rFQRjLDsO8trGP8B1Ia8W-7xe7L_sFZbfiCsKSknejMe4WQTtoagQgn84F7W4Hl8vxYqTGS3wVIf-GAQfI9pnmAM_xGzM64NcnxOowojGkdOCOOpAcex2XKgeCgfPH0UsCm_clMNXA=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Across the grid there are some drivers for whom, 2022 is a make-or-break year. According to how this one goes, here are four drivers who should be looking to change teams.</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Yuki Tsunoda</p><p><br /></p><p>Though his stock has fallen harder than the price of HRT merchandise, Tsunoda is and will be one of the most talented youth in the sport next year. Though his maiden drive through the calendar did not overwhelm spectators, the understanding that his development is hindered by comparisons to his teammate remains essential. Tsunoda's run to third in the championship behind Mick Schumacher and Callum Illot remains and undeniable promise of his untapped potential. </p><p><br /></p><p>His final six races included two podiums and a win, and if that weren't enough, he outscored eventual champion Mick Schumacher and his rival Illot. this unpredictable jolt in form earned him the praise of Helmut Marko as "the best junior in years". Ironically, Gasly would put hm in his place, but when a driver shows the ability to take control of a run of races, there's always the understanding that it can be done again. Tsunoda was streaky throughout 2021. Bahrain showed promise and points, but immediately after he struggled. Once the final four races came around he eventually began out-qualifying Gasly. Whether Tsuonda can succeed in a sport where consistency is so heavily praised is unlikely. However, there are drivers the sport wishes it could have back. Vandoorne, De Vries, etc. Tsuonda will join that list if he isn't in a different car for 2022.</p><p><br /></p><p>2/3 Sebastian Vettel & Fernando Alonso</p><p><br /></p><p>I'm grouping these together because of how similar their situations are. Former champions in need of one last shot at the title. As comforting as it is to beat their younger teammates, the lack of competitiveness means they run the risk of burning out before they're able to make another run at the spotlight. Without a doubt two of the top three drivers of the 2010s deserve better, and we'd all hope for a more fitting send off. </p><p><br /></p><p>As to where that lies, it appears as if Vettel's unlikely return to Red Bull is his best chance. Ferrari's bridges are burned, and Mercedes are able to pick from almost any driver. 2023 is going to be the last chance for Seb to return to the top step of the podium.</p><p><br /></p><p>For Alonso, as meme-worthy as 'El Plan' turned out to be, the Spaniard's optimism seems to have dwindled. On the precipice of another lost year in F1, Alonso truly only has 1-2 more years left. According to Alpine's internal data, Alonso is still fast enough to consider himself one of the top drivers in the sport. However, he's also a very loyal driver. He's only ever driven for three teams, and when he swaps he always ends up at one of them (McLaren, Renault/Alpine, Ferrari). However, with Ricciardo's contract ending the year after 2022, it's possible that's his next target. Moreover than Vettel, Alonso seems determined to try his hand at another world championship. Only time will tell if he gets his opportunity.</p><p><br /></p><p>3. Sergio Perez</p><p><br /></p><p>There's little fanfare for the retired non-champions of F1, but if there ever comes a time to change that, Perez ought to be one of the first in the line. Since 2011 there has been a near perpetual amount of praise coming his way. No matter the era or team, the Mexican driver continues to wow casual and hardcore fans alike. Now that he's had his opportunity with a top-2 team it is looking as if this is likely his swan song. However, it doesn't have to be. Perez looks like a driver with incredible race-craft, and as always continues to be one of the most consistent drivers ever. Any team in the midfield benefits from a 2nd driver like Perez. Williams once Latifi departs looks to be a major candidate for his signature, or Haas if Mick Schumacher leaves for Ferrari. Either way, it'd be a shame losing him from the sport if he doesn't find another renewal for 2023. </p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-16085656457264921212022-03-12T16:16:00.005-08:002022-03-12T16:16:26.889-08:00Andrea Kimi Antonelli: The One To Tell Your Friends About <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiF31KqEeNdGdJvr_ttqgV_ljRWzgtRkjIjOy0d5dwJZsvLpmbqjvv9qVvXtW1fnPU2cVTaO3DjHqtencJ-hEoO4wSG3e9aS1tnFpIuQdyY6Ci6JbVy6yNVjhxL8hYx7ifbMyTCtcnJVAOZx_QtM71TQz6bicEkEFcJgrVTIvUYkxZKz5Jd4HDuUTXH=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiF31KqEeNdGdJvr_ttqgV_ljRWzgtRkjIjOy0d5dwJZsvLpmbqjvv9qVvXtW1fnPU2cVTaO3DjHqtencJ-hEoO4wSG3e9aS1tnFpIuQdyY6Ci6JbVy6yNVjhxL8hYx7ifbMyTCtcnJVAOZx_QtM71TQz6bicEkEFcJgrVTIvUYkxZKz5Jd4HDuUTXH=w400-h267" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>When it comes to sports, nothing feels better than being right. Whether it's a $10 bet on the Rams to win the super bowl, or betting the house on Albon to take home the 2022 championship. Without bragging rights, sports becomes a lot less fun. That being said, there is a free bet currently working its way up to F1, and if you haven't met yet, let me introduce you to Andrea Kimi Antonelli. </p><p><br /></p><p>When you think 'driver academy', not a soul outside of Toto and Susie Wolff immediately thinks of their own team. Mercedes are a world-title winning outfit. They are as focused on young driver talent as Alpine are in painting their car purple. However, in recent years their efforts to retain and promote from within have strengthened. Going from just two drivers in 2019 to seven today. If i were anyone other than Frederik Cesti however, I wouldn't be holding my breath. </p><p><br /></p><p>Thee is a clear jewel in the Mercedes talent stable. A young wild-haired Italian named Kimi. Cool. Kimi, or Andrea, began competitive karting just a few seasons ago (he's just 13 by the way). That being said, while part of the program, he has racked up more karting titles than every other Mercedes junior put together. Not bad. Most notably, he picked up the trophy for the 2020 WSK karting championship. A title held by Charles Leclerc two years prior. To compare Kimi is honestly a disservice. </p><p><br /></p><p>As great as talents coming into F1 have been in recent years, drivers like Hamilton and Vettel are once in a generation talents. Bets are non-refundable, but this is one of those flash-in-the-pan moments. To put it into context, Andrea entered cars in 2021. In the 2022 F4 UAE series, the supporting younger brother of Asian F2, Andrea lit up the competition. He won both of his first two races, and stood on the podium in <b>five out of the seven races he finished</b>. Without Googling it, you might picture his immediate success as comparable to that of an F1 2022 career mode driver. </p><p><br /></p><p>Andrea moves into a more formidable season during the racing year proper, and that's going to be the newest indication of his talent. However, much like Hamilton at thirteen, it's rarer than people imagine to know when a driver is this good. Without injury or terrible luck, Andrea is the youngest man on the planet sure to be an F1 driver. Not to pile on the pressure, but he's truly showing flashes of the brilliance not shown many times before. </p><p><br /></p><p>Mercedes are almost ironically, the premier driver academy when it comes to taking care of their drivers. Red Bull are know as the two-years test runners who will expel a driver without a fraction of the experience as other academies. Alpine have a laughable track record when it comes to promotion, and McLaren are an as-needed promoter. Mercedes on the other hand have had all three of their drivers make it to F1. Even Pascal Wherlein, who currently turns out for Porche in FE, got a three-season long career in the sport. Not many others can say that. </p><p><br /></p><p>Nothing is better than being the one with the proverbial crown on your head, but the next few years will shape how Andrea Kimi Antonelli's career shakes out. Regardless of whether he makes it sooner or later though, his career is one of the most exciting in junior formulas. Just remember, bets are non-refundable. </p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-14232742439637479142022-02-21T07:10:00.000-08:002022-02-21T07:10:04.054-08:00Which of The New Cars Looks the Fastest?<p>As inspirational as the team's media production teams make their reveals look, the truth is: there's only one feature that matters. How fast does their cars traverse the 22-race calendar? Looking at the cars now, it's impossible to say for sure, but we do have an idea of which teams are innovating, and which aren't.</p><p><br /></p><p>First things first:</p><p><br /></p><p>Engines decide speed. In the turbo-hybrid era there were two kinds of teams. Those with Mercedes engines, and those without. Despite Red Bull winning 4 straight in a Renault-powered reliability nightmare, it took them to get the second best engine on the grid to have a shot in 2021. If we analyze the cars in front of us, we'll see which are hindered, and which are helped. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4B57GtBIii6R2vCFQS9AS5IQyCK37nFG6z61Lk_yhlQRx0uCBlRRYFS9Wt8BLaIBwwBQUJKm00dexGfKSGU3JZL386HmjQ4rgviZZhuxSBBVBf4-90SGs5kpEsSHJBnfyV6hCl2DWWK5AwoeiOdBduy2dkwPHJfiSuR-BwtvU634dLh9Bu793oXM1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4B57GtBIii6R2vCFQS9AS5IQyCK37nFG6z61Lk_yhlQRx0uCBlRRYFS9Wt8BLaIBwwBQUJKm00dexGfKSGU3JZL386HmjQ4rgviZZhuxSBBVBf4-90SGs5kpEsSHJBnfyV6hCl2DWWK5AwoeiOdBduy2dkwPHJfiSuR-BwtvU634dLh9Bu793oXM1" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aston's non-environmentally friendly green machine</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Our first analysis heads towards James Bond's supermarket shopper. Aston Martin became the first truly revealed car. That fact alone is a bit surprising, since competitors like Mercedes and Ferrari have intentionally obscured elements of their vehicle. Truthfully, it still feels like Aston is in a rebuild. No major aero changes mean it's practically the team Vijay Mallya brought to the 2019 F1 season with a new team principal. <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm8JJCEXUgwdN4sIAXue0a_n0gARaDwijMihcrVwnRFUwuc56wwI3uke3L5FtXB-_54Rt2RZmUaka_f-VK-p9Dmzw58ougKVcacjlg587gZXzPipQ_RfxGKqXlAfapytMeomAF3VTujWadivtVtf6Jq9j2C-dGHtgqn0-GAulTC-BMLf2FZVyB78VD=s1200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm8JJCEXUgwdN4sIAXue0a_n0gARaDwijMihcrVwnRFUwuc56wwI3uke3L5FtXB-_54Rt2RZmUaka_f-VK-p9Dmzw58ougKVcacjlg587gZXzPipQ_RfxGKqXlAfapytMeomAF3VTujWadivtVtf6Jq9j2C-dGHtgqn0-GAulTC-BMLf2FZVyB78VD=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aston's signature gills are pictured</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The car holds two major design elements. The first being the easily-noted fins on the side-pods. "Gills", or aerodynamic flaps protruding from the side-pods, are used the same way you'd expect a rear wing to operate. They create downforce across the engine cover on the car. They also add a cooling element. Interestingly, this feature only exists on the Aston and the Ferrari so far. However, there's clear reason to believe Ferrari have done theirs better. Without starting an intro to aerodynamics course, the simply explanation is that Ferrari's gills are structured to create a vortex prior to the air reaching the rear wing. This means the force of the air will hit the rear wing unobstructed. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggdB9HJJqtD3dRVsKID3cInQVOtnWYjdbY3gpl-qkRQ9H3jAnjSqGF7rJgmMbgxU7de6iwfE_37x8G5p8dOPfeocVoXVRLHBclGGXfZ7h8LB0vwRp1Id5DnwXxaGKAhNEzK-7vQHp3fr3RbNkncEhvF-XvPwP4sGFyzEI4xFwcmZajjSAyyD3H17nd=s1200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggdB9HJJqtD3dRVsKID3cInQVOtnWYjdbY3gpl-qkRQ9H3jAnjSqGF7rJgmMbgxU7de6iwfE_37x8G5p8dOPfeocVoXVRLHBclGGXfZ7h8LB0vwRp1Id5DnwXxaGKAhNEzK-7vQHp3fr3RbNkncEhvF-XvPwP4sGFyzEI4xFwcmZajjSAyyD3H17nd=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferrari's coke bottle exhaust also mimics Coke bottles color-wise</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Interestingly on the Aston however, the directionality of the airflow is less secure. It is attached to an area where air surely flows, but is often obstructed. This may be an indication of a wider Mercedes engine, but Mercedes themselves have a much tighter package. (ahem.) Speaking of which, the coke bottle exhaust is the next critical feature to a rapid 2022 F1 car.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjD3pOi-SU6P4010xHUBCquQPliTa_jCQjx_h7RIEmF5eBYyzvd6bmeQk0nSvv0_kqLGPTBq17qSXYEnuVIR-paibHV7RPdlOcBUQB_-De_8S8SCZ6CGsfSjfJTtCz6_KgePFhv_Nx45HDRUas-Qk3k5YVlbDJYKUtO_iG49k3eGAdHxi7N7lLUiSWh=s275" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjD3pOi-SU6P4010xHUBCquQPliTa_jCQjx_h7RIEmF5eBYyzvd6bmeQk0nSvv0_kqLGPTBq17qSXYEnuVIR-paibHV7RPdlOcBUQB_-De_8S8SCZ6CGsfSjfJTtCz6_KgePFhv_Nx45HDRUas-Qk3k5YVlbDJYKUtO_iG49k3eGAdHxi7N7lLUiSWh" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mercedes' incredibly slim vehicle maximizes airflow towards the rear wing.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>Interestingly enough, the very first ForeverF1 article centered around this very component. In simplest terms, the exhaust you see above helps limit air flowing away from the rear wing. Every ounce of pressure applied to that wing will incrementally increase cornering speeds, and as such it's a net gain both with and without DRS. </div><div><br /></div><div>Given the universality of this technique, I'd venture to say any car not running it is in serious trouble. There's examples of innovation like Brawn's 2009 double diffuser, but there's more often cars like Lotus' 2014 front nosecone design. Chances are, if 8/10 kids in the class got the same answer, yours is wrong. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgalRkcHXAa6hnxKWHNy_EKtxL5YZZ4dPepktuS6Li4wdTIZAWZ5eTtZIPHJvb2E_15RMZ2VOX8POeraY8SgQXhWtWMC9p__R32VXa7rONiynmfx_hJRj13fmFAR4d-v6DeS23KAATTJZNNZ2ylbm_wxDDyRzagdfiZjTkJS7_r8-VOrlnjvlXdyGZF=s275" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgalRkcHXAa6hnxKWHNy_EKtxL5YZZ4dPepktuS6Li4wdTIZAWZ5eTtZIPHJvb2E_15RMZ2VOX8POeraY8SgQXhWtWMC9p__R32VXa7rONiynmfx_hJRj13fmFAR4d-v6DeS23KAATTJZNNZ2ylbm_wxDDyRzagdfiZjTkJS7_r8-VOrlnjvlXdyGZF" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lotus'... peculiar front end design</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Long story short, there are some indications the field isn't totally turning on its head next year. Haas' design is far from Ferrari's, which does indicate a one will fly, and one will fall scenario. Given the complexity of Ferrari's ideas however, and the noticeably less compact Haas vehicle, it is likely that the team in crimson comes out on top. Without knowledge of the engines or internals, it's basically impossible to guess where the cars will line up, but, without any other information. Here's a way-too-early prediction for how the field looks:</div><div><br /></div><div>(S means the highest ranked, and each tier below that is considered less quick)</div><div><br /></div><div>S:</div><div><br /></div><div>Ferrari</div><div>Mercedes</div><div><br /></div><div>A: </div><div>McLaren</div><div><br /></div><div>B: </div><div>Aston Martin</div><div>Williams</div><div><br /></div><div>C: </div><div>AlphaTauri</div><div>Haas</div><div><br /></div><div>The order looks somewhat shaken up, and of course, we'll only know when we know. But if you'd like to tell your friends you know what's going to happen, this might be your only hope. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-42271708035241681212021-12-23T22:58:00.003-08:002021-12-24T21:26:31.929-08:00F1 2021's Final Decision Was a Long Time Coming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuMfVSiyr-vmFr07Ftw5ZgNGUtpDRkcQi_zCK9VcEt1sCN3MO9_n9cORoNGnIbq6rhngS5aa1hlMEqxxg5LweawhZCMBURhJIfN4DySnvfhA-oLlTXcXlWOGvpfeGPuyVDwV3qIZbCFl-wzIzlGRdwDywEA4Dp2PXX315K_qg8JI1FC_1UIhjuD7Yq=s311" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="311" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuMfVSiyr-vmFr07Ftw5ZgNGUtpDRkcQi_zCK9VcEt1sCN3MO9_n9cORoNGnIbq6rhngS5aa1hlMEqxxg5LweawhZCMBURhJIfN4DySnvfhA-oLlTXcXlWOGvpfeGPuyVDwV3qIZbCFl-wzIzlGRdwDywEA4Dp2PXX315K_qg8JI1FC_1UIhjuD7Yq=w400-h208" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Abu Dhabi's final decision has become the subject of much debate among fans. Not least due to its totally outcome over the course of the season. If that car stays out one lap longer, Lewis Hamilton breaks the only record he is yet to achieve. However, the decision Michael Masi made on Sunday transcends so called "motor racing". It's an indication of a changing sport. </p><p><br /></p><p>COVID-19</p><p><br /></p><p>This story starts in Australia. It begins with an awkward press conference. Called in front of thousands o outraged fans. The words 'coronavirus pandemic' still roll awkwardly off of the tongues of the presiding track owners. Bewildered, F1 media reports to the world that the fastest show on earth is now cancelled. Fast forward through a few months of definite uncertainty, and a streaming service called Netflix releases a show. It's called drive to survive, and it focuses on the dramatic aspects of Formula 1. The clips of the actual racing are scarce, but in the absence of other content, many new eyes either glaze over to it or pick up the remote and desperately attempt to find something new. Either way, Formula 1 becomes the truly North American sport it had alway been trying to be. Netflix users from the 18-25 year old demographic soak up the personalized, humanistic take on what is to often a sport of numbers. There are no mechanics in Drive To Survive; no on track analysis. The only mention of race strategy only occurs after the highly replayed footage of a major accident. Audiences are fed Tom Cruise's version of what a Formula 1 race might be like. But for all the lack of realism one thing can be assured. Once F1 got going again in Austria, there were a legion of new fans interested to see what hyper-realistic drama show would come forth. </p><p><br /></p><p>Liberty Media</p><p><br /></p><p>F1 had always been an old boys' game. from the 1950s all the best drivers were actually in their mid thirties. over time that age declined, but all of those behind the scenes retained their characteristically grey hairs. That was, until eccentric billionaire and awful political commentator Bernie Ecclestone decided to give up the reigns. In his place came an investment consortium operating as liberty media. Upon recognition that this was in fact an American company, Europeans immediately groaned. As one fan aptly put it: "The road for F1, I think, has never been more clouded. New owners at a time when nobody seems to agree on the best way to broadcast F1 or what the best formula is; at a time when viewing figures, attendance and competition are low; at a time of new regulations and new teams (Haas/Renault/Honda kinda)." Credit: u/threxd. Despite the conflict of tradition, some immediate changes were instituted. Po-race highlights began popping up online. teams became more human. Twitter managers became fan interaction ringleaders. F1 had finally transcended into the digital age. </p><p><br /></p><p>Content </p><p><br /></p><p>F1 is a game. It's a sport, and like every other piece of media, it competes. It competes with every other program on tv at 5 pm on a Sunday. Whether it's the late afternoon news, or another game show. F1 is a product. Out of the money used to purchase F1, one could have executed the Louisana purchase over 10 times. (for European viewers the Louisiana purchase transferred ownership over many of the modern day midwestern states from France to the United States. It estimated cost in 2021 is around $375 Million). With investment comes obligation. Liberty stood tall throughout a successful but ultimately wildly predictable 2020 season. Their inaction over regulations had seen the championship nary make it near the last three races since taking over in 2016. Title fights are the lifeblood of the sport. For a new fan, understanding the intricacies of a battle for third place in a team sport without real teammates makes little to know intuitive sense. Every sport wishes their championships to be as hotly contested as possible. Liberty didn't need the 2021 season to be perfect, but if the pandemic hadn't hit, they would've needed a lot less. In 2021 they announced a planned sale of the ownership rights of F1 to Disney for a reported 8 billion dollars. The sale comes as a confirmation of what ought have been obvious. F1's new owners were not seeing the return on investment necessary to continue funding the project. This undoubtedly was spurred on by the pandemic. However, plans were made, and plans well made are often well executed. </p><p><br /></p><p>Pre-season</p><p><br /></p><p>Liberty are pretty confident when it came to forging their own path. Ecclestone's ignorance to modern internet fanaticism had hindered growth across the world's most lucrative platform. the blueprints laid by liberty media opened up a whole new event. F1 fans became sponsors. Social media interactions became selling points, and the sport that started out as a gentlemen's club, had become a truly open and accessible world. Before the season, Liberty Media had lost a whopping $386 million dollars due to the pandemic. A loss like that is simply unsustainable. ownership groups operate off of large debt commitments as it is, and the liquidity issue was no doubt in their minds as the season rolled around. In short, had they not found a buyer, they would've needed the 2021 season to be a smash hit. this is where the old finally became the new. Eccleston's final gift to F1's new owners came from 2012. In 2012, F1 targeted the blown diffuser system in an attempt to massively slow down the dominant Red Bull cars. 2011 had seen unprecedented domination from a team and a single driver. 2012 became many now older fan's favorite season. It was a recipe for a possible perfect concoction. Liberty media headed to the drawing board, and came up with a plan. 'We need to target Mercedes' unique aerodynamic structure.' And so they did. They simplified the design of the cars' floor. this small change had massive reverberations. Cars that relied less on this intricate airflow became immediately more valuable. Their years of data and experience with simpler floor designs helped them skirt the majority of the issues associated with testing out new parts. That being said, there were two losers. One, a massively wealth conglomerate owned by a Canadian billionaire. The other, was Mercedes. For their part, Mercedes were never a likely candidate to fail. As the story goes, Mercedes show up to the first pre-season test unaware of the sort of catastrophe the rule change had wrought on them. In a few short days, the world was made more than aware. Mercedes drove like amateurs, completing the least number of laps of any team during the first preseason test in Jerez. Liberty media had done exactly what they wanted. Despite their best efforts to keep things entertaining, they had just become the biggest leaders in F1's newest era. </p><p><br /></p><p>The Season</p><p><br /></p><p>Liberty Media can only do so much to influence as season. Mercedes aerodynamics department were equipped with the tools necessary to achieve at least what they did this season. But for liberty there was no other way. Over the course of the year, and narrative appeared. there was this young upstart. He was fiery, raw, and relatable for the Netflix driven-new audiences. he was finally in the title shot, and was hoping to dethrone a 6 time consecutive champion. Netflix's room of writer immediately pounced on this narrative. they wrote it into last seasons script, and now they just had to make it a reality. The season created the drama the world wanted to see, but the narrative wasn't complete. red bull had faltered during the final stretches. It was an exciting show for long-time fans, but for those new to the sport it could have been catastrophic. As the headlines would read: "Hamilton wins the title for record 8th time." Fans of the NBA were frustrated by seeing the same two teams in the finals for three years in a row. MLB fans tired of the Yankees' repeated 3 year dynasties. All of those pale in comparison to the 8 straight years of winning Hamilton's next title would've brought forth. F1 needs to modernize. The quicker they can change the sport, the better. It had to happen. </p><p><br /></p><p>All of this, the money, the pressure, the new fans, and the internet lead to one thing. Lap 56 at Abu Dhabi. Michael Masi and his team of FIA-sanctioned race directors have to make a choice. Do we satisfy long-time fans of the sport? Do we uphold the dry regularity of regulations? Or do we invest in the future, and secure ourselves the windfall necessary to call this investment a success.</p><p><br /></p><p>The rest, is history...</p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-17336402248897702872021-10-10T08:23:00.003-07:002021-10-10T12:30:30.559-07:00One Goal Each Team Must Accomplish for 2022<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlTMuFkfc9HaAG8HtoIU-mL0Vkd7PgYV9FfDoM9t9FbBNtTQxNQ6EfaXIJbOCcZFjSs1DEGlCc8XqM7wRxQNs1bCrFG2iBV3h3m5CYTsC5JTML3IHoMehtVOwvXha7G8_QyHhN7_I3uU/s1200/ogi-f1-car.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlTMuFkfc9HaAG8HtoIU-mL0Vkd7PgYV9FfDoM9t9FbBNtTQxNQ6EfaXIJbOCcZFjSs1DEGlCc8XqM7wRxQNs1bCrFG2iBV3h3m5CYTsC5JTML3IHoMehtVOwvXha7G8_QyHhN7_I3uU/s16000/ogi-f1-car.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The F1 Car Template For 2022</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Mercedes </b></p><p style="text-align: center;">"Poach Red Bull Engineers"</p><p><br /></p><p>How do you improve on perfection? Mercedes are tasked with doing so going into 2022. One place they could start is by poaching some engineers from their arch-rivals. The only part of the car you could argue lacks an advantage is their engine. Red Bull making the switch to engine manufacturer provides Mercedes with the perfect opportunity at sabotage. There will never be a more important time for them to offer contracts to Red Bull's performance engineers. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Bull </b></p><p style="text-align: center;">"Promote From Within"</p><p><br /></p><p>The perpetual chink in the Red Bull armor has always been teamwork. No other team struggles with the challenge of running two cars in the sport like they have. Checo's a great example of this. His best season ever has been immediately followed by his worst. Common sense dictates that they should look elsewhere for 2023 and beyond. Gasly has demonstrated more than enough talent to warrant a second opportunity. Saving face will only get you so far. The opportunity at Red Bull remains the only leverage they have for keeping him on the team. Red Bull would be wise to consider that Max will not always be the best driver on the grid. That will only become more important the further down the grid they slide. Red Bull's best bet for a successful 2022 season will be their best driver lineup possible.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>McLaren </b></p><p style="text-align: center;">"Cover Their Weaknesses"</p><p><br /></p><p>Riccardo is an aging star who might never regain the form that won him his seven prior races. His win this year only stands out among a series of disappointing results. McLaren likely favor Lando's car going forwards. The team has progressed consistently up the gird for the past 5 years. It feels like only a matter of time before they return to the championship hunt. Once they're back it's going to take the full effort of both cars to compete with Red Bull and Mercedes. Having a reliable experienced driver ready to take over is key to winning a championship. Consider how Mercedes were able to use Bottas immediately after Rosberg left. Many drivers are signed to other academies which makes it difficult for them to sign with McLaren right away. The team could do themselves a favor by signing an experienced reserve in case of emergency.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Ferrari</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"> "Calm The Storm"</p><p><br /></p><p>Rumors floating around Maranello suggests there is tension between Mattia Binotto and Charles Leclerc. This is not good. Both of these figures seem set to lead the team going forwards. Sainz is a reliable backup who will help them win championships if they are in the race for the title. Displeasing Leclerc runs the risk of him hopping ship to a title contender. The greatest asset of the early 200s Ferrari teams was harmony. The inseparable bond Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher led to the era of domination that we're now familiar with. Recently McLaren have proved the theory that synergy is key for success. Ferrari needs to execute with all masts pointing in the same direction.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Aston Martin</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">"Grow The Brand"</p><p><br /></p><p>Not every team is made to be a champion. Aston Martin are unlikely to challenge for the title in the near future. Their heavy investments into these past two years will place them at a disadvantage compared to their future-focused counterparts. Stroll bought the team for two reasons. Firstly to keep his son in the sport. Secondly to profit off of the brand of Aston Martin. Aston Martin as a brand still maintains a lot of its naturally gifted 'cool factor'. James Bond being the primary culprit to that end. Aston Martin are ultimately an investment. Sauber and Haas are examples of true racing teams. Aston Martin has been bought by a consortium of investors looking to make a profit. They will continue to scrape the top of the midfield until their full array of improvements are completed.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Alpine </b></p><p style="text-align: center;">"Buy Some Engines"</p><p><br /></p><p>The pride behind the Alpine name is evident. Their entire reason for being in the sport is connected to Renault's identity. The company is owned in part by the State of France. This means they have a special responsibility to be independent. But being independent doesn't win races. The fact that they have zero customer teams indicates how little other teams value their engines. Even though their materials are probably the cheapest. Hiring a Red Bull team to help them implement those engines would do wonders for their bottom line. That change alone would likely save them upwards of 100 million Euros a season. Making big changes like this are best done when the regulations change. There will never be an easier time to implement an engine change. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>AlphaTauri </b></p><p style="text-align: center;">"Find New Talent"</p><p><br /></p><p>AlphaTaru are a weird team. It's the only team on the grid without championship aspirations. They are always meant to be behind their senior team. The introduction of the cost cap has meant great things for them. Red Bull are now able to use the money they've saved as new investment for their sister team. The one aspect they are lacking in is drivers. Their role as the stepping stone for juniors has been questionable in recent years. returnees like Gasly and Kyvat have slowed the pipeline of young talent into the sport. They need to ensure that they keep moving in drivers though. Gasly is sure to leave soon if he's not offered a seat at Red Bull. Having two drivers underperforming at once would be disastrous for their season. They need to sign new juniors as soon as possible. More experience will always benefit the team's bottom line.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Alfa Romeo </b></p><p style="text-align: center;">"Balance The Books"</p><p><br /></p><p>Alfa Romeo Sauber were once a proud home to drivers like Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel. Their recent financial downturn has since forced them to hold onto sponsor-backed drivers for much longer then they probably would like. They need to return to the days of signing young drivers like Perez and Hulkenburg. This model produced great results for their racing division. Dropping Alfa Romeo as a sponsor would likely get them there. Rumors suggest this could happen as soon as next year. Being owned by Andretti will allow them to access the entire IndyCar pool of drivers. There could be no better ownership deal for them. Hopefully they can return to their midfield-beating ways. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Williams </b></p><p style="text-align: center;">"Be On Mercedes' Good Side"</p><p><br /></p><p>Williams' aspirations might be different for 2022. Their legendary name obviously deserves to be at the top of their sport. Dorlinton's investment must have been a gigantic sigh of relief for all the engineers. This reality means they still need time to build new facilities. 2022 won't be their year. Neither will it be theirs until likely 2025 and beyond. Until then they could benefit from continuing their relationship with Mercedes. They made a bold move by signing a Red Bull Junior driver for 2022. This won't have made Toto Wolff happy. This will ostracize them from that key relationship. They ought to get more involved with signing Mercedes' young drivers. Frederik Vesti being the next in line. We all know how well that worked the last time. No one will suffer from extra help from the 7-time consecutive World Champions. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Haas</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">"Shuffle The Deck"</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The five years that Gene Haas' team have spent in F1 have been tumultuous. A surprise 5th place constructor's finish 3 years ago marks the only time they've finished above eighth in the constructor's championship. The legacy of the team so far has only been keeping their heads above water. They ultimately also signed the deal to stay on with F1 for a presumed five more years. It's unlikely however that they'll make it that far. The next few years need to be focused on growth. Five years with only one finish above eighth isn't good enough. Their strategy of total neglect to 2021 is bold. But there needs to be changes. Everyone from Steiner down should be looked at. In the best case they'll still have Mick for one more full season. Finishing 10th in the first year of the new regulations would be the financial nail in the coffin. The team is already practically owned by the Mazepin family. </p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-66251184712723965282021-07-28T09:16:00.004-07:002022-01-12T11:38:24.160-08:00Red Bull's Reaction Proves Once and For-All That It Is Max Verstappen's Team<p>In the aftermath of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's first lap crash, both Helmut Marko and Christian Horner came out with some pretty outrageous statements. Horner suggested great drivers know better than to try to overtake into Copse (more on that later). His fellow team owner, Helmut Marko suggested that Hamilton be removed from the subsequent race entirely. Not only are those interpretations totally out of the rules of the sport, but it doesn't remotely match the reactions for crashes from former drivers. </p><p><br /></p><p>If you were around to remember it, Mark Webber's 2010 sky-high accident was one of the most spectacular the sport has ever seen. </p><p><br /></p><p>Here's the video in case you haven't seen it:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_IebMKoX1EA" width="320" youtube-src-id="_IebMKoX1EA"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>What did Horner say following this massive shunt for his driver. Here's an excerpt:</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"At that point of time, all you can really think about is your driver's safety. Both drivers ended up having reasonably-sized accidents, Mark's being the far more spectacular. We were just relieved to see him get out of the car unaided and without injury, and it's testimony to the regulations, to the design of the car, to the strength of the car, that he's managed to be sitting in a grand prix car this weekend.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"I think it's wrong to place fault at Heikki. Mark was in a situation where he knew he had to pass and I think that the closing speed at that point was just so phenomenal, <b>it just took him completely by surprise. It was one of those things, but there's no point of Tony and I getting excited about it, just relief that certainly our driver was okay."</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Full Quote: <a href="https://www.crash.net/f1/news/161440/1/horner-ive-told-heikki-to-fit-brake-lights">Horner's Comments Post-Webber Crash</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">When it comes to comparisons, that last sentence sticks out like a sore thumb. Beyond the fact that Webber could have been seriously injured in that full-frontal flip, his concern for Heikki's role shows a sober reflection totally absent in his adjudication of the Verstappen crash. </p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Red Bull has long been accused of favoring drivers. It's a concern they've largely held tightly since 2011. But when it comes to Verstappen, they'll got extra lengths to keep him happy. It's obvious that the knowledge that Verstappen would be angry fully convinced Horner and Marko to push for his side of the story. Their reactions mirrored more of his perspective than what they'd both been known for over the past 12 years. (Since Red Bull has had a World Championship caliber car)</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">There's more to it than that. Mercedes and Red Bull are locked in a battle at the front for their first world championship in what would be seven years. They're not as dominant as they once were. Every point counts. But you do have to wonder, if it were Perez who crashed, and Max at the rear of the points-paying positions. How differently would their reactions be?</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Finally, here's some much-missed out on clips of Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull, and Max Verstappen both involved in high-profile overtakes into Copse:</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">2018 British Grand Prix:</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://youtu.be/_HkmYvKVx58?t=269">Link to Max Verstappen/Kimi Raikkonen in 2018</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_HkmYvKVx58" width="320" youtube-src-id="_HkmYvKVx58"></iframe></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">2017 British Grand Prix:</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="text-align: justify;" /><a href="ttps://youtu.be/t0WHNqwDjXc?t=228" style="text-align: justify;">Link to Daniel Ricciardo/Kevin Magnussen in 2017</a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t0WHNqwDjXc" width="320" youtube-src-id="t0WHNqwDjXc"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Just to highlight how drivers of all teams have consistently overtaken here:</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">2018 British Grand Prix:</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://youtu.be/_HkmYvKVx58?t=54" style="text-align: justify;">Here's Kimi Doing It In 2018</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_HkmYvKVx58" width="320" youtube-src-id="_HkmYvKVx58"></iframe></div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Horner's comments were widely reported on as being explicitly critical of trying a move there. </p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://twitter.com/phortonf1/status/1416765177572306946?lang=en">Phillip Horton's Reporting on the Subject</a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Overall, it seems this incident has further exposed Red Bull's desire to keep Verstappen happy. It seems more likely as he enters his first ever title fight, that this attitude around his protection will only increase. Further information will be included in future articles. </p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Thank you for reading!</i></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-21129091903054788442021-07-04T14:32:00.005-07:002021-07-04T14:32:28.450-07:00Top Four Drivers of the Austrian Grand Prix<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyalcpZGp6YcsE39-oVOqVr_6hOLA8JjxSJTPPi_Z5PGlyRqC5A5xHWA06XlKOuHQIhQG8XzFzDjUDcZk6bMQZ9eRyssrm8bqgOWSna8e6zMxUetIxBM_1EXpPp_j7pAXteAbMX2dp8c/s2048/Austrian_Flag.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyalcpZGp6YcsE39-oVOqVr_6hOLA8JjxSJTPPi_Z5PGlyRqC5A5xHWA06XlKOuHQIhQG8XzFzDjUDcZk6bMQZ9eRyssrm8bqgOWSna8e6zMxUetIxBM_1EXpPp_j7pAXteAbMX2dp8c/w400-h300/Austrian_Flag.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Fernando Alonso</p><p><br /></p><p>Alonso coming back might be the death nail for Ocon's career. I know he's just signed the three year deal, but <i>come on</i>. With the massive gap in qualifying maintaining itself into Ocon's very short race today, it does beg the question. Why not go for Gasly next season? Only the bosses at Alpine know the reality, but I'd be curious to know if they ever had those talks before deciding. Either way, a big drive through to the point for the old man gets him another berth on this pseudo-top four listing.</p><p><br /></p><p>George Russell</p><p><br /></p><p>Russell is going to have one of the most imbalanced careers of all time. That is, if Mercedes continue to dominate the way they have for the past 7-8 years, then his non-points scoring finishes are going to be so far in the past. He really is the real deal, and he manages to tell us that in a new way every weekend. Mercedes will pick him up for 2022, and all will be well for him.</p><p><br /></p><p>Daniel Ricciardo</p><p><br /></p><p>Danny Ricc is unfortunately getting older. Once he joined Red Bull, it seemed like his window for a championship was open. Now, five or so years later, it seems like it's closing. He's a talented guy with a bubbly personality, but the speed compared to Lando has just not been there. it's sad to see him struggle so much on Saturdays, but who knows, maybe next year he'll be ready to adjust to this new environment.</p><p><br /></p><p>Valterri Bottas</p><p><br /></p><p>Due to his previous omissions from this list, I feel like Bottas deserves an especial noticing on this list. It's been potentially the worst season for a Mercedes driver since Michael in 2013 for Bottas. He's further back in the standings than the person who gets first in this list (spoilers), and his relative pace to Hamilton has always been a leg behind. Granted, Hamilton is one of only 2-ever 7-time world champions, but it doesn't excuse him being behind the actually curve of the car's potential. Nevertheless, this sounded more negative than positive, but his drive today makes him worthy of a top four presence. </p><p><br /></p><p>Lando Norris </p><p><br /></p><p>This kid is golden. When he entered the sport, many compared him to a young Stoffel Vandoorne. Three seasons in and we can see that his talent far surpasses the former. He is a goliath when it comes to consistency, and it's going to be hard to keep him from winning races soon. </p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-76167794744195418392021-06-27T19:25:00.003-07:002021-06-27T19:25:41.153-07:00Top Four Drivers of the Styrian Grand Prix<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3is_E_cKSgknRyrDoFyxRcuJjEa0waESc8Ac6iCVf3J0SUpD7mbqX6fPmtXv4W-U7RrChyW4QZZYY771qIcl6FMHb49sgCBm21V3gli8RQKp85CC1Ag4ih8P0N7ve6YeAeucrtIzN7Wk/s890/2517.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="890" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3is_E_cKSgknRyrDoFyxRcuJjEa0waESc8Ac6iCVf3J0SUpD7mbqX6fPmtXv4W-U7RrChyW4QZZYY771qIcl6FMHb49sgCBm21V3gli8RQKp85CC1Ag4ih8P0N7ve6YeAeucrtIzN7Wk/w400-h240/2517.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Honorable mention: Kimi Raikkonen</p><p><br /></p><p>I haven't included Kimi in my top four series so far, and that just feels outright wrong. Today the Iceman put on a great performance. His rapid ascent through the field secured himself the highest non-points paying position someone can have. Maybe next time.</p><p><br /></p><p>4th: Fernando Alonso</p><p><br /></p><p>From one former champ to another, both well-aged drivers put in a stint on this Sunday. Their collective ability to rebuke overtakes and ascend up the field is what got them to where they are today. And it really showed. Once again, it's his performance compared to Ocon that gains him this prestigious award. Keep it up Alonso.</p><p><br /></p><p>3rd: Carlos Sainz</p><p><br /></p><p>Two Spanish drivers feature today. His intense ability to produce race-craft no matter where he starts on the field puts this man in our top three. While Leclerc had an absolute stinker of a first lap (and will not feature due to that contact), Sainz was quietly charging his way up the field. A seemingly anonymous 6th position is no more than he deserves, however. </p><p><br /></p><p>2nd: Lando Norris</p><p><br /></p><p>This young kid has got a bright future ahead of him. His incredible consistency showed its head again. 7/8 top 5 finishes is something Hamilton should be expecting, not this former McLaren Junior. Nevertheless, he's looking like a star in the making.</p><p><br /></p><p>1st Max Verstappen</p><p><br /></p><p>We usually don't give driver of the day top the race winners, but i counts even better when you outdo your teammate. Max was flawless today, and even despite having Hamilton in his rearview mirrors for most of the day, Verstappen was absolutely mauling it. His celebration will go down in F1 history, and if he keeps this up, so will the rest of his season. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcDj2UZAhqaGfeP30rExOf7mhQun1j9QAcIykUrBpoerhqYMlxnirMjiiQaWD2E_U6QsXcb64u6gplqDtdkCnNDcaC9q9ZHmGmLTwxueouKB751o6o2dhLBYysGEQvf873EPCV-LsOns/s1100/210627104606-03-max-verstappen-styrian-grand-prix-super-tease.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcDj2UZAhqaGfeP30rExOf7mhQun1j9QAcIykUrBpoerhqYMlxnirMjiiQaWD2E_U6QsXcb64u6gplqDtdkCnNDcaC9q9ZHmGmLTwxueouKB751o6o2dhLBYysGEQvf873EPCV-LsOns/s320/210627104606-03-max-verstappen-styrian-grand-prix-super-tease.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>FF1 Championship:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Lando Norris - 83 (+17)</p><p>2. Max Verstappen - 83 (+21)</p><p>3. Pierre Gasly - 67 </p><p>4. Lewis Hamilton - 55 </p><p>5. Sebastian Vettel - 34 </p><p>6. Charles Leclerc - 32 </p><p>7. Sergio Perez - 30 </p><p>7. Daniel Ricciardo - 30 </p><p>7.Carlos Sainz - 17 (+13)</p><p -="" 22="" 4.="" gasly="" p="" pierre=""></p><p>10. Esteban Ocon - 26 </p><p>11. Fernando Alonso - 25 (+11)</p><p>12. George Russell 18 </p><p>13. Antonio Giovinazzi - 11 </p><p>14. Mick Schumacher - 7 </p><p>14. Lance Stroll - 7 </p><p>14. Yuki Tsunoda - 7 </p><p>14. Kimi Raikonnen - 7 (+7)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-12659074475088544672021-06-24T21:31:00.004-07:002021-06-24T21:31:58.192-07:003 Ways Mercedes Will Try to Regain the Title<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1UHBsr6xEH3Vj66iIyHVUduspnxcfyNaaHDKnerptERVebQFBf6pDlc6bOwOgoCiHdTng7-sCX1RBeJ-BeZuleIcsNAnGhsYSVCtiozq5J01s_Z9inuLmaSnEfY8wua8HTD5k0B6BDg/s275/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1UHBsr6xEH3Vj66iIyHVUduspnxcfyNaaHDKnerptERVebQFBf6pDlc6bOwOgoCiHdTng7-sCX1RBeJ-BeZuleIcsNAnGhsYSVCtiozq5J01s_Z9inuLmaSnEfY8wua8HTD5k0B6BDg/w400-h266/download.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>1. Data</p><p><br /></p><p>It seems like a really long time ago, but remember when Mercedes finished last in the number of laps during testing? There's no way, only eight races in that they've fully recovered. Whether they will ever get there is up for debate, but you have to wonder if that won't play a part as we get into the second half of this season.</p><p><br /></p><p>2. Speedy Tracks</p><p><br /></p><p>Unfortunately for the Silver Arrows, their engine seems to lag behind the Hondas. Once that happens, it's really hard to claw back into it. However, Mercedes have been strongest at tracks with higher-speed corners. Spain and Portugal in particular stand out. If they can string together wins during the elongated high-speed section of the calendar (Belgium, Monza), then they can reasonably hope their title hopes will survive to Abu Dhabi. </p><p><br /></p><p>3. Driver Swaps</p><p><br /></p><p>If all else fails, bring in George. Thinking back to Sakhir 2020, there was never a moment where George Russell wasn't ready. Session after session, his confidence grew. By the time the race had begun, it seemed almost inevitable he'd win it. Fate had other ideas, but it doesn't discredit the immediate value that George Russel would contribute to an ailing Mercedes. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-4262670947839782232021-06-23T22:23:00.003-07:002021-06-23T22:23:25.109-07:005 Junior Drivers You Should Know About<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uHekYzrSMvU-rXes0WpJ1LBkvfd5fAGg9F5-7sjjigWDv4yowUsl8XPzFVMBkPWwpRxvXg1mSRRZy11DcQne0-CtlBJsbhegfEJUUZb4rOF8Cyg_xj8oYv_romh1AUebiriBClM3LLk/s1024/flicko.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uHekYzrSMvU-rXes0WpJ1LBkvfd5fAGg9F5-7sjjigWDv4yowUsl8XPzFVMBkPWwpRxvXg1mSRRZy11DcQne0-CtlBJsbhegfEJUUZb4rOF8Cyg_xj8oYv_romh1AUebiriBClM3LLk/w400-h300/flicko.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>5. Dennis Hauger</p><p><br /></p><p>F3 is a dogfight. Often the best drivers can't even manage to win it (Max Verstappen). This year's no exception. The man currently on top is Dennis Hauger. The Norwegian Red Bull Junior has been consistent through two races. When Red Bull wants someone in F1, they get it. Don't let Hauger go too far out of your vision. </p><p><br /></p><p>4. Juan Manuel Correa</p><p><br /></p><p>On a bit of a somber note, Correa's story is one of tragedy. Directly involved in the crash that killed Anthoine Hubert (R.I.P.), Correa spent the past year and change recovering. After making it through that personal test, he made it back on track this weekend. The young American still has heaps of talent, and no on with a hear could help but to root him on for the rest of the season.</p><p><br /></p><p>3. Oscar Piastri</p><p><br /></p><p>Piastri is like what the ideal junior career looks like. Champion in F3, champion in Formula Renault, and now inches from leading the F2 field. This guy knows consistency lie nobody else. On any given weekend he can go from front to back. His race results this year have been astounding. Nothing short of deserving an F1 seat. He will be worried to hear that Ocon's signed a new 3-year deal, as Piastri himself is an Alpine junior. However, you can't keep a talent like his down for too long. Let's have a smaller team go for it!</p><p><br /></p><p>2. Frederik Vesti </p><p><br /></p><p>Mercedes is quiet when it comes to signing up-and-coming drivers. Their two F1 prospects, Russell and Ocon, were the only ones on their books for a while. This past off-season however, they dipped back into the pocketbooks, and signed Danish upstart Frederik Vesti. They must have seen something special in him. At 19, he's now driving for ART in F3. He's not old enough yet to have heaps of pressure put on him, but we'll see if he can live up to Mercedes' idea of his potential. </p><p><br /></p><p>1. Juju Noda</p><p><br /></p><p>This is no doubt a name you've heard before. Noda broke the net when she set a Japanese la-record at the age of 11. Her father, the former F1 racing driver Hideki Noda, has moved her over to the U.S. for the 2021 U.S. F4 championship. Nevertheless, she raced in ADAC F4 this past race, and won it all. Despite this, a collision during the race disqualified her later on. Nonetheless, the now 14-year-old is still someone to watch for. </p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-78658078687524407802021-06-20T18:45:00.003-07:002021-06-20T18:47:40.759-07:00Top Four Drivers of the French Grand Prix<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTb6PnmjILOJyvgSct1qUg0NU6V5RGCRKwPIng4ZPGd9ORbUa-3atmvTQX6pCRFIf_B6Gzl6DIzlwDzRnYLduRQWJHh74NX9MkwZXmecWO4ZdFdBzjwC7AWWDMF9SMWcubZRIz_lIumk/s976/allez+les+blues%2521.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTb6PnmjILOJyvgSct1qUg0NU6V5RGCRKwPIng4ZPGd9ORbUa-3atmvTQX6pCRFIf_B6Gzl6DIzlwDzRnYLduRQWJHh74NX9MkwZXmecWO4ZdFdBzjwC7AWWDMF9SMWcubZRIz_lIumk/w400-h225/allez+les+blues%2521.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Huzzah! Instead of another boring french grand prix ( :( ), we got a great one! ( :D ) Check out our analysis below for more insight into what went down:</p><p><br /></p><p>Honorable mention: Fernando Alonso</p><p><br /></p><p>The vet looked like a kid out there today. In a good way. He drove with speed and a grace only he could muster. It seemed like for every time he dropped back, he was right back in it. Home Grand Prixs are super important for sponsorship and team support, so there couldn't be a better way to repay his team than to get them some points in France.</p><p><br /></p><p>4. George Russell</p><p><br /></p><p>Tucked beneath the high-flying action at the front, George Russell managed a season-high 12th place finish. For those unaware of the placement rules regarding teams with 0 points, it's decided on best finish. As a result, Williams overtakes Haas in the championship. It's not like they're winning the championship or anything. But hey, every dollar counts!</p><p><br /></p><p>3. Daniel Ricciardo</p><p><br /></p><p>The Australian hunk looked like himself out there. It's been a while since we've seen him at the front, but it takes real grit to adjust to a new scenario. It's too early to say if he's quite made it yet, but if history is any indication, he should be there soon.</p><p><br /></p><p>2. MaxVerstappen</p><p><br /></p><p>The whole team deserves a first-place birth here on this list. As the winning driver, Max truly showed he's coming into his own as championship-leader. At 23, he's the same age as Vettel was when he won his first title. If it is written in the stars, Verstappen is up there connecting the dots. Truly a lights-out performance.</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Lando Norris </p><p><br /></p><p>Points for consistency + an absolutely stellar job of overtaking lands young Norris another berth within these top fours. At this stage, it's almost frustrating to not see him in a better car. McLaren have come a very long way since the days of Alonso (part 2), but there's even better days ahead if Lando Norris keeps riving as well as he has. </p><p><br /></p><p>Forever F1 Championship:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Pierre Gasly - 67 </p><p>2. Lando Norris - 66 (+21)</p><p>3. Max Verstappen - 62 (+17)</p><p>4. Lewis Hamilton - 55 </p><p>5. Sebastian Vettel - 34 </p><p>6. Charles Leclerc - 32 </p><p>7. Sergio Perez - 30 </p><p>7. Daniel Ricciardo - 30 (+13)</p><p -="" 22="" 4.="" gasly="" p="" pierre=""></p><p>9. Esteban Ocon - 26 </p><p>10. George Russell 18 (+11)</p><p>11. Carlos Sainz - 17 </p><p>12. Fernando Alonso - 14 (+7)</p><p>13. Antonio Giovinazzi - 11 </p><p>14. Mick Schumacher - 7 </p><p>14. Lance Stroll - 7 </p><p>14. Yuki Tsunoda - 7 </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Drivers yet to score:</p><p><br /></p><p>Valterri Bottas</p><p>Nicolas Latifi</p><p>Nikita Mazepin</p><p>Kimi Raikkonen</p><p><br /></p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-568818289556741407.post-81553906610796756312021-06-19T13:23:00.013-07:002021-06-19T13:27:24.277-07:00What to Watch for At the 2021 French GP<p> 1. Rain</p><p><br /></p><p>We all love when it happens. It can turn any (boring) circuit into an absolute barnstormer. This week it look like we're going to be graced. As you can see below, Weather.com predicts a monstrously high 83 percent chance of rain. That, on top of a whole day's worth of rain, is going to make for some very slippery conditions. The second any one of those F1 wheels touches the blue tarmac, it's game-over for whoever is in the cockpit. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGbAm4d0Wvsro4hYgzf1ycOGH9_lNN2jS-Z2Z_yVbNIPHLuL0NDL-82u0sxxQnxEhKoPLSN5hpbvco4Ur7brQETPFOWYfMEVraJVpYOqtAgI2_oCA3aeSUZ7MRqmC-jtabT90tfyeeRQ/s1314/Screenshot+at+Jun+19+16-11-41.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1314" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGbAm4d0Wvsro4hYgzf1ycOGH9_lNN2jS-Z2Z_yVbNIPHLuL0NDL-82u0sxxQnxEhKoPLSN5hpbvco4Ur7brQETPFOWYfMEVraJVpYOqtAgI2_oCA3aeSUZ7MRqmC-jtabT90tfyeeRQ/w400-h217/Screenshot+at+Jun+19+16-11-41.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p>2. Turn One</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NDCyQehALuJvEas4b2F9UmqrPmIVjLFtggAF8opt6KuwaOqapATVGylicwPNdDqvroKMBR9hTTrm9JTMUBxff512rF3RQrInUXyf8c45nVcFWWl3MEX3MXh8gSJFMLsosQl6YTbmLUk/s997/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="997" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NDCyQehALuJvEas4b2F9UmqrPmIVjLFtggAF8opt6KuwaOqapATVGylicwPNdDqvroKMBR9hTTrm9JTMUBxff512rF3RQrInUXyf8c45nVcFWWl3MEX3MXh8gSJFMLsosQl6YTbmLUk/w400-h225/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p>Of all the corners on the circuit, the most exciting by far is turn one on lap one. With the Mercedes tightly fitted in-between the Red Bull it's going to produce the slinky effect like none other. Verstappen's in the best spot for tomorrow, both safety and speed-wise. Even if it doesn't end up being the front-runners who collide, 2018 showed us the tension that increases as they go into T1. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>3. Pierre Gasly</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWsA0aJ-owo-BineLW5H8HzZfpimvBcrpO_qJUPlvjQ7CSR6tAVc1MmCsnLwU1BWdapjpR-JI7sHUGgN41mtRR2N9wY_3CcGwg3D-YXgrmkmEriQZ43R1lGzKATf7jlh4hvV2MYz7aUk/s1200/pierre-gasly-alphatauri-1st-po.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWsA0aJ-owo-BineLW5H8HzZfpimvBcrpO_qJUPlvjQ7CSR6tAVc1MmCsnLwU1BWdapjpR-JI7sHUGgN41mtRR2N9wY_3CcGwg3D-YXgrmkmEriQZ43R1lGzKATf7jlh4hvV2MYz7aUk/w400-h266/pierre-gasly-alphatauri-1st-po.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>If I were 6th-placed Gasly, I'd be salivating at the potential of tomorrow. The top four are all in contest with each other, and if a droplet of rain hits that surface, you never know who could be standing on the top step of that podium. At home, in the rain, it couldn't have been written any better. </p><p><br /></p>Samuel Melcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042077481311243757noreply@blogger.com083330 Le Castellet, France43.203551 5.77675514.893317163821152 -29.379495 71.513784836178843 40.933005