Category: Motor Sport

The World of F1 Bids Farewell To The “Prof”


On September 12th, at the age of 84, Sid Watkins, the world-renowned neurosurgeon has died after suffering a heart attack.

The world of motor sport and in particular  Formula One bids farewell to the former medical delegate.

Watkins was the on-track surgeon for 26 years from 1978 through to 2004, with his crusade to improve medical facilities in Formula One helping to dramatically cut the number of deaths and serious injuries in the sport
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-2202554/Sid-Watkins-dies-tributes-pour-F1-surgeon.html#ixzz26MdVppLI

Following Watkins retirement Max Mosley said

Professor Watkins has made a unique contribution to improving the standards of safety and medical intervention throughout motor sport.

Many drivers probably owe their lives to the Prof, both to his efforts as a first responder on the circuits and to the improvements that he instigated. Amongst those he helped to save are Gerhard Berger, Martin Donnelly, Érik Comas, Mika Häkkinen, Rubens Barrichello and Karl Wendlinger.

Watkins was married with six children and my thoughts are with his family.

Spa – Terrifying Crash


We witnessed today what for Formula 1 must have been one of the most terrifying crashes of the sport.

Todays chaos was, seemingly initiated by GrosJean who cut across the circuit at the start of the race. This action resulted in him squeezing then colliding with Hamilton who had nowhere to go. From that point on Grosjean’s Lotus became air borne, took off and crashed across Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari. Sergio Perez in a Sauber was also taken out in the carnage. We have to be thankful that all came out of this with perhaps just some serious bruises. A tribute to the safety that is built into these cars.

I have no doubt that Grosjean is solely responsible for an avoidable incident that not only spoilt the race aspirations of Hamilton and Alonso but also caused unnecessary risk to life and limb in what is already a dangerous sport. I believe that he should receive some kind of censure from the race officials and the FIA.

You can view the incident at the following link:

BBC Sport – Formula 1 – Spectacular crash causes chaos at Belgian GP.

Sam Bird and Nick Yelloly hoping home soil boosts Formula Renault 3.5 title hopes – Formula Renault 3.5 news by Josh Bell at AUTOSPORT.com


Nice article here by Josh Bell who is doing a stint at Autosport.

Sam Bird and Nick Yelloly hoping home soil boosts Formula Renault 3.5 title hopes – Formula Renault 3.5 news – AUTOSPORT.com.

Sunday Stress


Will need to break out the Tamazapam tomorrow.

Formula 1 at Silverstone with Button and Hamilton and Tennis at Wimbledon with Murray in the final, both on tomorrow afternoon.

So many Brit sportsman to support. I’m not sure I’ll be able to stand the stress levels. Good job I have some nails to bite.

Congratulations Pastor / Happy Birthday Frank


Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado drove a mature race to win the Spanish Grand Prix

and deliver Sir Frank Williams his best ever birthday present.

Even though it is only Maldonado’s second season in F1, he managed to maintain his composure, despite being placed under immense pressure from Alonso during the final stages of the race.

He gets my vote for “Man of the Race”

Now he needs to carry the momentum forward to the next race which is the

Monaco Grand Prix

Hamilton Punishment Harsh


A team member had put an insufficient quantity of fuel into the car, thereby resulting in the car having to be stopped on the circuit in order to be able to provide the required amount for sampling purposes

The Stewards determine that this is a breach of Article 6.6.2 of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations and the Competitor is accordingly excluded from the results of the Qualifying Session. The Competitor is however allowed to start the race from the back of the grid.

To be relegated from Pole Position to last on the grid is too harsh a punishment.

On the one hand it is a team sport but crucially once the car is on the track it becomes a solo sport. The team prepared Hamiltons car but it was Hamiltons driving that got him to pole.

When considering the punishment for transgressing the rules the stewards would have to balance the punishment which is applied to both the team and the driver.

In this instance I believe the punishment should have been a 2 or 3 position penalty.

Back of the grid is too harsh !!!

Quote Of The Day – So Far


At todays Spanish Grand Prix, during his regular grid walk, Martin Brundle asked ” Who do you think will win the race ?”

To which Bernie Ecclestone replied “I think it will be very hard for these guys at the back to pass the guys at the front”

Nico Rosberg claims well deserved win in Chinese F1


Rosberg drove perfectly from the beginning to the end of what turned into the best race of the season. I know that it’s only early days but Wow.

If the rest of the season carries on in this manner we are in for one heck of a ride.

Congratulations to Nico, Jenson & Lewis

So, next stop Bahrain. The decision to go ahead with this venue is questionable at best but I hope that it goes ahead and is trouble-free.

Malaysian F1 – Podium


Look at the faces. 1st and 2nd place holders Alonso and Perez are beaming away. What is wrong with Hamilton. He has a podium position. I know its not what should have been but come on Lewis crack a smile.

Sergio Perez has done so well today and it shows on his face. There will be one hell of a party tonight.

Hamilton has left the podium while Perez and Alonso are still out celebrating, what is that all about