Posts Tagged ‘ F1 Guide ’

European Grand Prix

• Posted in European GP . European Grand Prix

The European Grand Prix reappeared on the F1 calendar in mid 1980s and is a regular event since 1999.

Its current home is Valencia, Spain. This modern Spanish city will host the European Grand Prix until 2014.

Michael Schumacher has won Grand Prix of Europe 6 times – 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006. Fernando Alonso is second in the all time winners ranking with just 2 wins – 2005, 2007.

Valencia made its first appearance on the Formula 1 calendar in 2008 and it proved to be a great event.

Sun, sea and racing – what a combination for a European Grand Prix!

Although it is regarded as a street circuit, the German architect Hermann Tilke was again involved. He designed roads, which were exclusively build for the race, plus the infrastructural buildings for the circuit.

From fans’ point of view, this must be one of the most enjoyable races on the calendar. From the Valencia Airport, Manesis, you can just jump on the Metro and go straight to the beach and conveniently that is where the European Grand Prix circuit is located.

Valencia is simply a fantastic city, well worth the visit.

Singapore Grand Prix

• Posted in Singapore GP . Singapore Grand Prix

Undoubtedly, the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix will go down in history as the first ever night race.

It is definitely a spectators’ race rather than driver’s one. All tickets for the 2008 race were sold out and the same thing is expected for 2009. It is also great for the European fans who will watch the race on TV at a normal time and don’t have to stay up all night.

The drivers however are not to pleased. From their prospective the event could be described as hot, humid and bumpy. Very, very bumpy!

Allegedly, it requires twice the amount of energy to complete a lap on the Marina Bay Street Circuit, than a lap on the circuit in Monaco. The kerbs and the pit entry had to be modified ahead of the race, as they were causing a lot of problems.

Brazilian Grand Prix

• Posted in Brazilian GP . Brazilian Grand Prix . F1 News

The Brazilian Grand Prix, this is where young champions are crowned! First, Alonso became the youngest World Champion in 2005, but Hamilton went one better in 2008, in a dramatic race decided on the very last corner. Still, the home fans were applauding an emotional Felipe Masa, who won the race but lost the World Title.

Brazilians love Formula 1 and they love seeing their countrymen win at Interlagos. So far they have not been disappointed.

5 Brazilian drivers have won the event 9 times in total – Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna and Felipe Massa, all have two wins each, with Carlos Pace, whose name the circuit carries today – Autódromo José Carlos Pace, with one win in 1975.

Recent Brazilian Grand Prix winners:

2008 Felipe Massa Ferrari
2007 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari
2006 Felipe Massa Ferrari
2005 Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes
2004 Juan Pablo Montoya Williams-BMW

Turkish Grand Prix

• Posted in Turkish GP . Turkish Grand Prix

After the Turkish Grand Prix appeared on the Formula 1 calendar in 2005, a race won by Kimi Raikkonen, there has be only one driver who has dominated this event admirably – Felipe Massa.

If he wins again in 2009, they may well call it the Massa Grand Prix, not the Turkish Grand Prix!

The circuit itself is one of the many new born children of the famous German engineer Hermann Tilke. Unlike the other circuits created by him, Istanbul Park Circuit has somehow incorporated features from some of the older and more famous circuits like Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and Autódromo José Carlos Pace.

It has received mixed reviews though, Bernie Ecclestone labelled it the best circuit in the world in 2005, but some drivers did not spare their criticism about the track and in particular Turn 8, which has caused problems to some of them.