When Formula 1 is on the TV – I’m there.  I even have a VPN which allows me to connect to the UK and watch PRACTICE Live on the BBC.  Trust me, I love this sport.

The last year and this have been brilliant, great racing, close championship – a real leap forward for the sport.

I’m unashamedly a fan of Mark Webber – it’s the Australian way.  Tonight’s German GP was always going to be a stretch for him, a poor first corner on his flying lap meant he could do no better than 4th on the Grid.

A reluctant embrace from Massa toward Alonso at race end

So, what of the race.  Well, it was destroyed by Ferrari.

The race started with Sebastian Vettel getting bogged down off the line (ie: not getting a great start).  He immediately turned right, pushed Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari toward the wall, and in his haste he let Felipe Massa run fast around the outside and take the lead – he led for some 60 odd laps.  Behind him was his team-mate Alonso. Continue Reading

I watched with complete frustration last night, the 2010 Turkish F1 GP.  Like 90% of people, I left frustrated by Sebastian Vettel and his pig headed antics which forced himself out of the race, and Mark back to 3rd.  (the other 10% perhaps think Mark was at fault).

This morning, reading James Allen’s analysis of events (http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2010/05/so-is-vettel-the-favoured-son-at-red-bull/) I realise there is much more at play here.

Why was Mark not allowed the same fuel mix at that time, the mix which gave Seb such pace?  Why didn’t Mark’s engineer tell him about this (did the engineer even know!)

Why does Red Bull favour Seb?  Long term planning?, he’s young after all.

Whatever you think, that race was taken from Mark last night, and Mark is an easily frustrated guy.  With his contract for next year unsure, expect this to be the reason it won’t be settled any time soon.

Neither Mark nor Red Bull will want to negotiate with this hanging over their heads.  But rest assured, Mark will now be looking at other drives for 2011 with wide open eyes…

Have a look at this image/music slideshow from the genius’ at Red Bull Racing…. Captures all the atmosphere from Monoco

Fans of Motorsport in Australia, and particularly in Sydney will have fond memories of Oran Park Raceway out there on the Northern Road at Narellan, I know I certainly do.

Well, as we know by now, its time as a racing venue is over, and it now heads the way of Amaroo up at Annangrove with housing set to take over.

For me, i look at Amaroo and think – Really – Was this necessary?  It’s out in the North West and frankly it seems like all that was lost for around a dozen homes.  If Oran Park is to feel like a better ‘loss’ i’d like to see a complete community built on the site!

Anyway – I was sent some photos this week which will make those memories fade even quicker – Sadly, the one missing is one of the Yokohama Bridge, an Iconic part of Australian Motorsport – I wonder what has happened to it?

Oran Park 'Raceway' - The Main Straight - Almost Ripped up

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The F1 season begins soon – and the unveiling of the cars begins in earnest this week.

Great to see the Silver Arrow back in F1 as a single entity

Mercedes GP Car 2010

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I love cars, and I own a 3 series BMW.  But for years – how BAD has the 5 series looked?

7 is great, and aspirational, but the 5 is just shocking.

Well, over at WORLD CAR FANS they’ve got some ‘leaked’ photos of the new 5 Series.

I say ‘leaked’ because clearly, this is a staged leak, ahead of a more formal announcement.

All I can say is – GREAT, FINALLY, a good looking 5 series.  Looks a lot like a scaled down 7 rather than a scaled up 3.  Most of all, those damned ugly headlights from the more recent models is gone.

Bring on the final pics soon.

TL

I read with interest/concern in the Tele the story about the crash in America of the one of the $1.6million Bugatti Veyron’s.

The driver claims he dropped his mobile phone and then looked up and was alerted/distracted by a bird and swerved off crashing into a lake.

Whatever the story, its a LOT of money sunk…

Here’s a video, taken by a couple of blokes simply driving along a parallel highway admiring the car..

Wow.. that’s one epic fail.

I didn’t notice a bird flying anywhere near the car though…. hmmmm..