Marussia Winter – F1 Car Building Tilt Shift Time-Lapse from Kai Clear on Vimeo.
Constructing a Formula 1 car is not an easy task. It takes hundreds of man-hours to construct and deliver two cars to races at around the world. Marussia F1 team provided this awesome time-lapse video building one of their cars prior to winter testing. It’s a bit long, but still very interesting.
I always love these time lapse videos though. Pretty crazy to see all of these people running around.
I feel that Sauber F1 create some of the best Formula 1 demonstration videos around. The team does a stellar job providing awesome drama around the build-up to the 2013 season and to the new Sauber C32.
I think that Sauber is going to be one of the surprise dark horses in the 2013 season. Just look at those sidepods! (#nerdgasm) I cannot wait for the racing to start this weekend!
Williams F1 have finally launched the FW35 at the Barcelona test today. I posted launch videos of all of the other 11 teams earlier in the month, so it wouldn’t be fair to exclude Williams. Check it out.
With Micheal Schumacher deciding to make his second and final retirement from Formula 1 this year, I thought that it would be nice to review his driving technique when he was at his peak.
Personally, I’ve always questioned if Micheal Schumacher could hold his own during the 2010- 2012 seasons. However, it’s been really enlightening to see the rise and fall of the hubris of Schumacher as he spent time racing in an uncompetitive car, while others were winning races.
However, when he was at his best, he was quite the peddler. Take a look at this video.
*****
Twitter just reminded me that I had posted this video on another site that I was running a while back, and then I realized ‘facepalm’, that fellow |StartingGrid| readers who are interested in Formula 1 would be interested in this too.
Even though Caterham F1 have not scored a point yet in their three years in Formula 1, they are one of my favorite teams because how they provide these social media nuggets to their fans.
One of the benefits to us fans is, because Caterham is running at the back of the field, they aren’t as concerned that rival teams will be trying to steal their technical ideas so they can share these things with us.
This one is a great technical video, which explains how a Formula 1 suspension system basically works. Take a look at the Caterham F1 Youtube Playlist when you get a chance. It’s filled with awesome videos like this.
This weekend, Lotus held an event at the newly opened Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX to celebrate the sport’s return to the United States this November. Up until now, the only images that we were able to see of the track were from the Codemaster’s F1 2012 game.
Thankfully, Jerome D’ambrosio was nice enough to show everyone around. 
I’m so looking forward to the November race. It’s going to be mega.
With the introduction of popular social media tools like Twitter, people stay connected better than ever before. Through your social network, people are able to share life experiences anywhere around the world. People gather in these online communities when they find something or someone that they find to be interesting.
As its impact has become more mainstream, more people are reaching out on a social media platform of some sort. They are people who are looking for some sort of engagement.
In real life, no one likes being talked at. They like being talked to. They like feeling that they are part of the conversation, rather than just being forced to observe one at a distance. Social media works the same way. When fans feel like they are a direct part of the experience, the more they want to engage with it and bring more people to experience it too.
With all that being said, why don’t more racing drivers engage more directly with their fans? In a world where finding sponsorship dollars is harder every day, you would assume that racing drivers would do whatever it took to engage more with people in order to prove to sponsors that they are a person with large market appeal?
Surprisingly, that doesn’t happen.
One thing that isn’t really captured well when we watch Formula One on television is the sheer volume of noise that a F1 car can put out. I’ve heard one F1 car up close, and the noise was earth-shattering. I can’t help but wonder what twenty-four of them together sound like.
However, this guy just traveled to Singapore to watch the F1 Grand Prix. Problem is…he might not get any sleep before the actual race starts.
You all by now may have heard about the atrocious start to this past weekend’s F1 race held at Spa. Here is Fernando Alonso’s replay of the event, as his entire life flashes before his eyes.
Image credit: Hooniverse via Dan Sabol. Excellent work Dan!
Check out this video done by F1 driver turned broadcaster, Martin Brundle.
Have you ever wanted to know what a Formula 1 driver is doing on that opening lap before the start of a Grand Prix? It’s amazing how much activity is done on the single lap.
Dear Sky Sports,
If you’re going to talk about the FIA, please make sure that you spell the name correctly. *facepalm* (Check out from 0:18 – 0:42). I guess that’s what happens when you stream way too much F1 footage 24/7.
What happens when you slice a Formula 1 car up the middle?
You learn a hell of alot. Sauber F1 Team has taken the last two years to slice one of their older Formula 1 cars into a cutaway model, as an instructional tool to teach people more about how a Formula 1 car works.
Watch. Learn. Discuss.
Today, the new short-film featuring Sebastian Vettel and Infiniti was just released. It was a martial arts film, called ‘Drive of the Dragon’ featuring Celina Jade.
Funny short, if nothing else. I swear that he’s just training to develop his ‘finger poke of death!’ move for during race weekends, and definitely more exciting than Mark’s Canberra Milk commercials…
Nico Rosberg infuriated Fernando Alonso during the Bahrain GP weekend by nearly squeezing him off the track, claiming it as a defensive move. Alonso spent the following week, making a comment to the press about how driver conduct in Formula 1 needs to improve. A fact that personally, I think holds water.
At least when concerning driver conduct, I generally agree with Alonso’s. (I’ve never thought that I would be one to agree with a comment that came from Alonso in the past!) Although my personal impression of Alonso has changed over the last few years, I knew eventually someone would make a jab- reference to one of Fernando’s ‘less than polite’ past actions. You don’t become a two-time world champion by just being nice all the time.
Who would have thought that the burn would have come from Sebastian Vettel! Check out this video during today’s FIA press conference, and Vettel’s wicked Alonso impression.
Check out the video before it gets tagged.
Follow Alonso on Twitter- @alo_oficial. You know you want to. His introduction to Twitter has been completely awesome. I wish more people engaged with their fans like he does.
I’d suggest that you just take a minute to close the door, turn up the speakers and enjoy the audio of this 2011 Pirelli test. Beautiful sounds coming from that Toyota Formula 1 car.
Although none of us had ever met him, most of us who write for this blog love Aryton Senna. |StartingGrid| has written several articles about him, including a very special one which features photos from the San Marino Grand Prix taken by one of readers on that tragic day of May 1st, 1994.
Out of respect, I had planned to write an entire article about Senna. However, posts of that kind can be found all throughout the internet. I decided that today would be better spent in quiet reflection. Not only about the passing of Aryton Senna, but how we spend the rest of our time on this planet.
What does any of that have to with Ayrton Senna? Senna was a man who not only chased after his dreams. He spent his life pushing himself to become better, stronger and faster. His single-minded focus, belief and dedication moved generations of people throughout the world, and changed our perceptions about what one person could accomplish.
That impact should be respected and never forgotten. We should all strive to reach such greatness. Even if we fail to make it, those who do will be more successful than those who fail to try. So with those thoughts in mind today, take a moment to remember Senna.
Now, what will you do next?
This was always one of my favorite ‘instructional’ videos about overtaking in Formula 1. Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell have been tag-teaming together in motorsport for a long while, so it was only fitting that they were featured in this video.
Of course, some of the things covered here are semi-negated with the introduction of DRS. But thankfully, we still have GP2 to watch if we want to see more pure overtaking moves going right/wrong. (I kid, I kid.)
Proof that the Australians know how to have a great time.
No…just no.
Cannot wait to see the entire thing this week!
I love rear three-quarters shots of cars. Doesn’t matter what it is.
A bit older video, but a nice watch. (Attention, it is a bit long…)
With the recent Daytona 50 postponed and delayed by rainfall, I got to wondering about how rain tires provided such wet-weather excitement. Interesting watching Brundle driving rain tires on a dry track, just to show the extreme tire wear that can happen once the track dries up.
However, I still think that rain tires on a superspeedway would be a terrible idea…
Now having had a few weeks to get used to the ‘crooked duckbills’ of current 2012 cars, I’m starting be able to look past the aesthetic and get pumped for the season again.
Followers know what a massive fan I am of Lotus Racing/Team Lotus/Caterham, and my hopes that the team make a massive step into the mid-field in 2012. With the recent news that Vitaly Petrov is replacing Italian wine-lover Jarno Trulli, I’m expecting to see a seriously spirited fight to the teams ahead.
Something about the underdog that really gets me excited to see some racing…
Check out this video from the passenger seat of an #F1 double seater. Formula 1 cars can push 3.5G on the driver through corners, and nearly 5G under the brakes.
Having strong neck muscles is key for a successful racing driver. Otherwise, you look like this guy…
You’re making it hard for me not to like you…
Today Mclaren launched their 2012 contender, the MP4-27. The hope is that the Woking-based squad can get a jump on the development race early on in 2012, rather than having to play catch up.
I’m sure that the team get tired of hearing the words ‘runner-up’, when they have winning infused in their DNA.
I’m not going to post about a bunch of launch pictures, because you can find them all over the internet today. I’m really rooting for Mclaren this year (as I do every year), because I’m really tired of seeing the Sebastian Vettel finger at the end of grand prix!
Come on, Macca! (I’m going to look for more detailed pictures later in the day, and hopefully try to have a more detailed discussion about this car.)
So Caterham F1 (formerly Team Lotus) decided to release images of their 2012 F1 contender in the pages of F1 Magazine, tomorrow morning. (Which is also my birthday, btw)
However some subscribers received their editions a day early, so Caterham decided to leak a photo to the public early as well. Initial attention is drawn to that odd hump on the front nose, which I’ve been told is one of the results of the new 2012 aero regulations around the height of the nose relative to the ground.
I’m excited to see actual images of this car on track during winter testing. I’ll leave my opinions on the design until then.
What do you think?
I don’t know about you, but I’m super excited to hear about Kimi Räikkönen’s return to Formula 1, racing for Lotus (formerly Lotus-Renault GP).
Check out the expression on Kimi’s face. Do you think that he’s excited about his Formula 1 return? How could you not be?
Formula 1 team principals are one of the un-sung leaders of the sport. To be successful in motorsport, they have to be a ‘jack-of-all-trades.’
Consummate business people, experienced in their field and passionate about winning, a team principal is as competitive about winning just as much as their drivers are.
Who are some of your favorite racing team bosses? I’ve been a fan of Christian Horner, since his Formula 3000 days. Martin Whitmarsh and Ross Brawn are also in my top three.
What about outside of Formula 1? What team bosses do you like? Penske? Ganassi?
Normally these BBCs interviews go down pretty quick. Despite a terrible car, nearly zero points, and a contract with Williams F1 running out, Rubens is still a sunny light in the darkest storm.
This man is a legend, and I’m wishing him the best in 2012.
“Leader, racer and winner.” – Christian Horner is an inspiring figure.
A former race driver, Christian then moved to become the super successful team owner of Arden F3 team, and now team principal for Red Bull Racing. Christian is a character who has found his calling.
An amazing people manager, an enthusiast of motorsport, politician and competitive as all hell.
His young age belies his experience and personal tenacity. Horner is a leader whose skills as personally, as a professional, that I aim to emulate. Christian stays engaged with all areas of the business.
He works closely with his drivers, engineers, mechanics and support team to make sure to get the maximum of everyone that he works with. That’s the sign of a skilled leader.
His aim is always nothing short of victory, and that is something to be respected as a motorsport enthusiast and as a business person.
Team Lotus is one of my favorite teams in Formula 1 at the moment. In 2010, they entered into Formula 1 as a newcomer. Now in 2011, they have taken some of the fight to the slower of the midfield teams from time to time.
This year, Team Lotus has also achieved another unique feat as they have been labeled as a ‘Column One’ team. In order to be labeled as Column One, a team has to score at least tenth place in the constructor standings two years in a row. Team Lotus, soon to be Caterham F1, now will receive a larger share of the commercial earnings under the Concorde Agreement.
It’s a significant achievement for sure. Next year, they will have KERS and revised aerodynamics and the expectation is that next year the team WILL be fighting for points.
In 2014, the engine formula for Formula 1 is changing to a 1.6 liter V6 turbo format. With the re-introduction of turbochargers in Formula 1, I wanted highlight the era in the early 1980s when turbochargers first entered the sport.
Pundits have been concerned that in 2014, the sound of the new turbo-charged engines will ruin the sound of Formula 1. Listen to the engines in this video. I honestly I don’t think we have anything to worry about!
The video is quite long, so I’ve found it split into two parts. Part 1 will be featured today, and Part 2 tomorrow.
Enjoy!
Well wonder no more! Apologies the lack of audio in these videos, but this is a good time to turn on some quality music while you visually tour the Sauber F1 factory.
With the re-introduction of Willem Toet returning to his old role as Sauber’s head of aerodynamics, I thought this was a fitting post.
Enjoy!
With Formula 1 heading to Monza, the sport enters the holy ground of Scuderia Ferrari. I’ve been following the ‘Scuderia Ferrari Racing News’ for the later-half of this season, and I’ve found these videos to help give Formula 1 fans something to think about prior to each race.
Also it’s nice to see Scuderia Ferrari prepare some sort of media for their fans, since they don’t allow their drivers to engage in social media directly.
With the Italian GP coming up, Ferrari is redoubling their efforts to bring the F150th Italia to another surprise win, much like in 2010.
The Mclaren F1 was initially designed to be a road-car only. Thankfully, Mclaren loves to win too much to leave things as they are. Therefore in 1995, they designed the Mclaren F1 GTR race car to compete at LeMans.
Next to the Mclaren F1 LM, this car is one of my favorites. (Check out the pictures and videos below.)
Editors Note: If the gallery thumbnail photos are appearing weird, WordPress is having a problem with their servers. The images appear fine once you click on them, and hopefully the issue will be sorted soon.
For readers of Autosport, you know this question. But it’s not the whole story. You might say that Lola had some of the worst F1 cars to date, but when did you ever decide to build a racing car on a £2 million budget?
Lola did, and it was okay. I will go into every bit of detail regarding the Lola Formula One Team that applied for entry in the 2010 FiA Formula One World Championship – an offer that the FiA refused.
I love listening to Jackie Stewart providing commentary. His smooth eloquence entrances you, and his searing reviews make you sit up and take notice. A while back, I featured Stewart’s review of one of the Williams 89′ Formula 1 Car.
If you have a minute, compare this video to the review of the Williams.
Ferrari’s 2011 Formula 1 campaign has been less than stellar. The F150th Italia has been lacking downforce, doing poorly on low-fuel and lacking pace on harder compound tires. Ferrari has been discussing the point of throwing away the chase of the 2011 title and put the attention onto 2012.
Scuderia Ferrari has released an interview with Ferrari technical staff, discussing what perspective will be for the next few races.
I personally waited a few days to post about this, as some of my friends had not seen the Formula 1 Grand Prix when it was live. (So most people should already know this…)
Jenson Button brought together a mega drive this weekend in Canada, surviving torrential rain, a red flag period, six pit stops, being sent down to 21st place and two crashes on the way (one with his teammate) to come through with a victory.
Button fell into the Zone, and came through with a masterclass and inspiring drive from the worst conditions. He was able to push the championship leader, Sebastian Vettel into a mistake on the final lap, coming through with the victory. Click on the title to view the video below, to see what a drive from a true champion looks like.
Continue reading
With the initial failures of the Williams FW33, Sam Michael took the brunt of the blame for the reason that the radical designs on the car were unsuccessful. Michael turned in his resignation for the end of the 2011 year.
He is one of the youngest technical directors in the sport, however I don’t think that has anything to do with Williams’ current trouble. I wanted to feature a video about him and his role at Williams, so people understand the challenges that a technical director of a racing team has to manage.
Michael may have been thrown under the bus by Williams F1, but that does not mean that he is not a total capable engineer.
Ferrari has been on my radar in F1, since the F150 Italia has been such a struggling duck. Here is another video of the Scuderia Racing News for Montreal. Has Ferrari figured out how to run the car on the hard tire? Have all of the staffing changes shows to yield a big payout?
I hope that the Scuderia bring a big showing to Canada.
Again, another week where I’m bogged down. However, videos are important. So enjoy.
Another epic Antti video- I’ve just been too busy to post full articles, but enjoy this clip until I have some bandwidth.
Team Lotus has got to be one of my favorite teams in Formula One at the moment. Mostly because the team just screams the word ‘underdog’, from every pore. Tony Fernandes and his team at Team Lotus have gone above and beyond in their attempt to establish a presence as a solid Formula 1 Team.
Now they have done one more and entered into the road car realm. Yesterday, it was announced that Team Lotus F1 had purchased Caterham cars. The goal is to bring F1 technology to the road through developing new ideas which will reflect in the new models of Caterham. (Pictures after the jump)
We’ve been talking about how complicated Formula One steering wheels have been made since the days of Senna and Prost. However, we just found a video that really explains how complicated the 2011 steering wheels are. Nico’s says it best when they ran out of space to put some buttons on the front, so they had to put some buttons on the back! Insane.
Check out the video after the jump Continue reading
