Tuesday, January 17, 2017

WHO GOES WHERE 2017


On a day which sees Sauber, Williams and Mercedes all confirm their 2017 line-ups, the grid is finally falling into place.
DriverNatTeamComment
HamiltonGBRMercedes AMG Petronas F1 TeamConfirmed
BottasFINMercedes AMG Petronas F1 TeamConfirmed
RicciardoAUSRed Bull RacingConfirmed
VerstappenNEDRed Bull RacingConfirmed
VettelGERScuderia FerrariConfirmed
RaikkonenFINScuderia FerrariConfirmed
PerezMESahara Force India F1 TeamConfirmed
OconFRASahara Force India F1 TeamConfirmed
MassaBRZWilliams Martini RacingConfirmed
StrollCANWilliams Martini RacingConfirmed
AlonsoESPMcLaren HondaConfirmed
VandoorneBELMcLaren HondaConfirmed
SainzESPScuderia Toro RossoConfirmed
KvyatRUSScuderia Toro RossoConfirmed
GrosjeanFRAHaas F1 TeamConfirmed
MagnussenDENHaas F1 TeamConfirmed
HulkenbergGERRenault Sport Formula One TeamConfirmed
PalmerGBRRenault Sport Formula One TeamConfirmed
EricssonSWESauber F1 TeamConfirmed
WehrleinGERSauber F1 TeamConfirmed
Manor Racing Team
Manor Racing Team
Whether manor will make it to the grid or not will have to depend on sponsors. The blame is squarely on Bernie. Thanks Bernie. Keep it up.

F1 2016 IN NUMBERS

A look back at the 2016 F1 season in numbers with Pirelli. I know some of it is unnecessary but it's interesting that they keep track of so many things.

"This has been an incredible season both on and off the track," says Pirelli Motorsport Director, Paul Hembery, as the Italian manufacturer reflects on the busiest F1 season ever. "So here are a few facts and figures as a souvenir of a year that will go down in history.

"Pirelli has introduced a brand new compound - the ultrasoft - and also new regulations that allowed teams to use three compounds during each race, selected in advance. This extra tactical intrigue proved to be a highlight of the year, enhancing the show still further.

"We also had the final season of tyres with a deliberately high level of degradation, as from next year we adopt a new philosophy in line with the latest direction for the sport.

"At the same time as completing this season, we were testing for the next one: both using prototypes in 2016 dimensions, and then, from August, prototypes in 2017 size on adapted mule cars over 24 cumulative test days. As a result of that, and the biggest calendar ever featured in the sport, we completed a longer distance, at higher levels of performance, than has ever been seen before in the history of Formula 1."

TYRES

Total number of tyres supplied in 2016: 42,792
Of these, 38,112 were supplied for race weekends and 4,680 for testing
Of the 42,792 tyres, 28,188 were slicks and 14,604 were rain or intermediate tyres
Total number of tyres used during race weekends: 15,652, of which 13,844 were slick tyres and 1,808 were rain or intermediates
Total number of tyres that were recycled: all
Maximum number of kilometres driven on each compound (excluding tests):
Hard: 759 km (Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull)
Medium: 3,597 km (Valtteri Bottas, Williams)
Soft: 6,566 km (Sergio Perez, Force India)
Supersoft: 4,598 km (Valtteri Bottas, Williams)
Ultrasoft: 2,052 km (Nico Rosberg, Mercedes)
Intermediate: 444 km (Jenson Button, McLaren)
Wet: 523km (Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes)

PIT STOPS

Total number of pit stops: 933, of which 4 drive-throughs and one was a stop and go)
This makes an average of 44.4 per race, and 2.01 per driver in each race
Most pit stops in a race: 66 at the Chinese Grand Prix
Fewest pit stops in a race: 26 in Russia

OVERTAKING

Total number of overtaking manoeuvres during the season: 866 (*), with an average of 41.2 per race
Highest number of overtaking manoeuvres at a dry race: 128 in China (**)
Highest number of overtaking manoeuvres at a wet race: 64 in Brazil
Fewest number of overtaking manoeuvres at a dry race: 10 in Hungary
Driver with the most overtaking manoeuvres during the year: Max Verstappen, 78 (**)
Driver with the most overtaking manoeuvres at a single race: 18, Lewis Hamilton in China
Driver who has been overtaken least: Sebastian Vettel, one time (by Max Verstappen at the Brazilian Grand Prix, 66th lap, 5th position)

Driver who made up most places on the opening lap: Fernando Alonso, who gained 41 positions on the opening lap

Team that carried out most overtaking: Red Bull, 136 moves (**) - 61 by Daniel Ricciardo, 60 by Max Verstappen, 15 by Daniil Kvyat

Team that has been overtaken least: Mercedes, seven times (Nico Rosberg four, Lewis Hamilton three)

(*) How overtaking moves are calculated: an overtaking manoeuvre is counted as one that takes place during complete flying laps (so not on the opening lap) and is then maintained all the way to the lap's finish line. Position changes due to major mechanical problems or lapping/unlapping are not counted.
(**) It's the highest value since 1983 (the first year since when data is available)

CIRCUITS AND RACING

Longest race of the season: Brazil, three hours, one minute and 01,335 seconds
Shortest race of the year: Italy, one hour, 17 minutes and 28,089 seconds
Fastest race of the year: Italy, winner's average speed (Nico Rosberg), 237.558 kph
Highest speed reached by a Pirelli P Zero Formula One tyre during a grand prix: 372.5 km/h, Valtteri Bottas in Mexico (*)
Highest number of fastest laps: Lewis Hamilton, 15 (3 in races and 12 in qualifying)
Highest number of laps led: 566 (Lewis Hamilton)

(*) New record in an official F1 session (previous: 370,1 kph, Kimi Raikkonen at the Italian Grand Prix, 2005)

2017 WIDER TYRE TESTS

Number of prototypes tested: 96
Tyres' width: +25%
Teams involved in Pirelli's testing programme: 3 (Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull)
Drivers involved: 11, of which 4 Ferrari, 4 Red Bull and 3 Mercedes
Days of testing: 24
Laps: 2,613
Total of kilometres: 12,148 km
Circuits: 5 (Abu Dhabi, Barcelona, Fiorano, Mugello, Paul Ricard)

Kilometres Tested With Wider Tyres

Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes): 3,248
Pierre Gasly (Red Bull): 2,494
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari): 2,228
Sébastien Buemi (Red Bull): 1,190
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari): 1,054
Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 517
Esteban Gutiérrez (Ferrari): 480
Antonio Fuoco (Ferrari): 478
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes): 209
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull): 200
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes): 50

PIRELLI IN F1

Races: 320
Wins: 161
Pole positions: 164
Podiums: 490
Fastest laps: 168
Driver titles: 11
Team titles: 6

Number of drivers (including third drivers and young drivers) who have driven a Pirelli-equipped Formula One car since 2010: 102

Kilometres driven by all the P Zero compounds throughout 2016 (including tests, practice, qualifying and races): 384,705 km (excluding prototype tyres)

By compound, it works out as: Hard 14,236; Medium 99,447; Soft 133,988; Supersoft 86,014; Ultrasoft 31,647; Intermediate 8,278; Wet 11,095

Distance covered in testing during 2016 (excluding race weekends): 61,772 km, of which over 12,000 km with 2017 Wider Tyres

Distance covered in races in 2016: 123,534 km

Number of fastest laps (in qualifying and races) set by the world champion in 2016: 14 (six in races and eight in qualifying)

Lowest average speed at which a dry race has been won in 2016: 159.992 kph (Nico Rosberg, Singapore Grand Prix)

Lowest asphalt temperatures recorded during a race (on Sunday): 15°C in Canada
Lowest asphalt temperatures recorded during a race weekend: 13°C in Mexico.
Highest asphalt temperatures recorded during a race (on Sunday): 59°C in Malaysia
Highest asphalt temperatures recorded during a race weekend: 61°C, again in Malaysia
Lowest ambient temperatures recorded during a race (on Sunday): 11°C in Canada
Lowest ambient temperatures recorded during a race weekend: 11°C in Canada
Highest ambient temperatures recorded during a race (on Sunday): 37°C in Malaysia
Highest ambient temperatures recorded during a race weekend: 37°C in Malaysia

PIRELLI TEAM AND ITS GUESTS

Pirelli team members who travel to each race: 60 (on average)
Nationalities represented within the Pirelli Formula One team: 9
Different languages spoken by team members: 10
Press releases written by Pirelli Formula One Team: 234
Infographics: 210
Tweets sent by @PirelliSport account via Twitter: 2,100
Pirelli notebooks distributed throughout the season inside the paddock: 2,550
Guests: 5,600
Pirelli podium caps sold: 15,000

PIRELLI HOSPITALITY IN 2016

Meals served within Pirelli's hospitality unit (including tests): 15,600
Litres of water drunk in Pirelli's hospitality during the year: 10,200
Kilograms of pasta cooked by Pirelli's chef: 900
Pizzas cooked by Pirelli's chef: 420
Number of different dessert recipes prepared at Pirelli's Hospitality unit: 50
Desserts eaten at Pirelli's hospitality: 7,500
Coffees served at Pirelli's: almost 30,000
Litres of olive oil used during the year: 500

If you enjoyed this posting, please do share it with your network so more people can enjoy it as well. Also, check out my

Formula 1 inspired designs at my online shops:

1. Lewis Hamilton Collection (fixed designs) is my fixed design shop on Redbubble where most of the phone cases are and many other products.
Link - http://www.redbubble.com/people/akhnsx/shop

2. Hamilton Tees (fixed designs) is my online shop where you can get my Lewis Hamilton inspired designs printed on many different types of t-shirts and hoodies.
Link - http://shop.spreadshirt.com/hamiltontees/

3. Lewis Hamilton T-Shirt (design your own) is a designer shop where you can get the same designs on many more products - not just t-shirts but trousers, baby bibs, mugs, phone cases, whatever is available. You can adjust the size and location of the designs, add text and customize it exactly as you see fit.
Link - http://lewishamiltontshirt.spreadshirt.com/

Support Lewis this season by owning this collection. Thank you for your support. May Lewis win his fourth world title in 2017. We win and lose together. Go Lewis!

Here is a sample.


Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Nico Rosberg’s Shock Retirement Leaves Mercedes Looking For Lewis Hamilton’s New Rival/Teammate

Hey everybody. We're back with another guest post by Joshua Madisson.

The news had barely got around the world that Nico Rosberg had won the Formula 1 World Championship, before it was revealed he had also announced his retirement. This came just five days after lifting the trophy. He is leaving at the highest possible point in a career and said in his statement "I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right,". But this leaves not only F1 without one of its stars, but also Lewis Hamilton needing a new teammate.

Rosberg is only 31, but has been racing for 25 of those years. He is the second big name to retire after Jenson Button who also called it time. Button was honoured by the University of Bath this week for his services to the sport and contribution to British racing. Unlike when Button won his F1 Championship with Brawn, Rosberg is not going to try and add to his collection.

The German’s experience is quite extensive considering his young age. He has raced in 206 Grand Prix’s winning 23 times and making 57 podiums. His debut came in 2006 and his rise to become F1 Champion is second longest wait after Nigel Mansell’s 12 years. Racing ran in the blood for Rosberg. His father is an F1 Champ himself, Keke Rosberg from Finland. With this win, Nico matches what his father achieved.  Still despite these facts there is no denying his decision is still a shock. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said the news took him "completely by surprise". “This is a brave decision by Nico and a testament to the strength of his character," he added. "The clarity of his judgement meant I accepted his decision straight away when he told me”.

This acceptance comes from an inside knowledge on how difficult it is to maintain the levels needed to be a top driver. Something even Lewis Hamilton admitted. The pressures of the last few races showed for Rosberg and the contemplation of having to do it all again and beat Hamilton makes Rosberg’s decision a lot easier. He has new family commitments too, something Hamilton does not, and having emulated his father he does not have much left to prove. Formula 1 Tips expert Luke Michaels, of Bookmakers TV says “As soon as driving becomes a job and not a passion, the harder it is to do the work necessary to be the best.”

Despite everyone’s calm acceptance Rosberg’s decision leaves the Mercedes team in a bind to find a new driver. Fernando Alonso is the current leader in the rumours, but it will likely be difficult to prize him away from McLaren. They can promote Pascal Wehlein, but he could be used as a makeweight with any other constructors in a driver swap deal. Valtteri Bottas is another who could be perfect as team boss Toto Wolff has had experience working with him before.

Whoever it is does not seem to bother our Lewis Hamilton "I've never needed a team-mate to be able to push me," he said. "The better the driver, the better it is for me when I finish ahead of them. You need someone with good values coming in and representing the team in a positive way, good work ethic and consistency, obviously, so we can those win constructors' championships. So, in terms of challenging for constructors' titles, which is obviously the team's first goal, we need to make sure we have someone equally as consistent as what we had before."

If you enjoyed this posting, please do share it with your network so more people can enjoy it as well. Also, check out my Formula 1 inspired designs at my online shops:

1. Lewis Hamilton Collection (fixed designs) is my fixed design shop on Redbubble where most of the phone cases are and many other products.
Link - http://www.redbubble.com/people/akhnsx/shop

2. Hamilton Tees (fixed designs) is my online shop where you can get my Lewis Hamilton inspired designs printed on many different types of t-shirts and hoodies.
Link - http://shop.spreadshirt.com/hamiltontees/

3. Lewis Hamilton T-Shirt (design your own) is a designer shop where you can get the same designs on many more products - not just t-shirts but trousers, baby bibs, mugs, phone cases, whatever is available. You can adjust the size and location of the designs, add text and customize it exactly as you see fit.
Link - http://lewishamiltontshirt.spreadshirt.com/

Support Lewis this season by owning this collection. Thank you for your support. May Lewis win his fourth world title in 2017. We win and lose together. Go Lewis!

Here is a sample.



Wednesday, December 7, 2016

FIA ISSUES 2017 F1 ENTRY LIST

The FIA has issued the 2017 F1 entry list... with just four seats still to be filled. No surprises that the most noticeable gap is that where everyone expected to see world champion Nico Rosberg’s name alongside Lewis Hamilton, the German having opted to retire just days after securing the title.

Sauber has one vacant seat alongside Marcus Ericsson, while Manor still has two vacancies. Though previously linked with both Sauber and Manor, Pascal Wehrlein is now looking a little further up the grid, hoping that Toto Wolff will give him the ultimate Christmas present.

Despite using Renault engines, Red Bull will continue as Red Bull-Tag Heuer, the deal having been extended through to 2018. Sister team Toro Rosso, which switches back to Renault from Ferrari next year, is also expected to re-badge its power units though there is currently no idea as to whose name might adorn the French engines.

Rookies Stoffel Vandoorne and Lance Stroll will race with the numbers 2 and 18, respectively, though the Belgian raced with the number 47 in Bahrain earlier this year.

No.DriverNatTeamCar
44HamiltonGBRMercedes AMG Petronas F1 TeamMercedes
TBCMercedes AMG Petronas F1 TeamMercedes
3RicciardoAUSRed Bull RacingRed Bull-Tag Heuer
33VerstappenNEDRed Bull RacingRed Bull-Tag Heuer
5VettelGERScuderia FerrariFerrari
7RaikkonenFINScuderia FerrariFerrari
11PerezMESahara Force India F1 TeamForce India-Mercedes
31OconFRASahara Force India F1 TeamForce India-Mercedes
77BottasFINWilliams Martini RacingWilliams-Mercedes
18StrollCANWilliams Martini RacingWilliams-Mercedes
14AlonsoESPMcLaren HondaMcLaren-Honda
2VandoorneBELMcLaren HondaMcLaren-Honda
55SainzESPScuderia Toro RossoToro Rosso-Renault
26KvyatRUSScuderia Toro RossoToro Rosso-Renault
8GrosjeanFRAHaas F1 TeamHaas-Ferrari
20MagnussenDENHaas F1 TeamHaas-Ferrari
27HulkenbergGERRenault Sport Formula One TeamRenault
30PalmerGBRRenault Sport Formula One TeamRenault
9EricssonSWESauber F1 TeamSauber-Ferrari
TBCSauber F1 TeamSauber-Ferrari
TBCManor Racing TeamMRT-Mercedes
TBCManor Racing TeamMRT-Mercedes
If you enjoyed this posting, please do share it with your network so more people can enjoy it as well. Also, check out my Formula 1 inspired designs at my online shops:

1. Hamilton Tees (fixed designs) is my online shop where you can get my Lewis Hamilton inspired designs printed on many different types of t-shirts and hoodies.
Link - http://shop.spreadshirt.com/hamiltontees/

2. Lewis Hamilton T-Shirt (design your own) is a designer shop where you can get the same designs on many more products - not just t-shirts but trousers, baby bibs, mugs, phone cases, whatever is available. You can adjust the size and location of the designs, add text and customize it exactly as you see fit.
Link - http://lewishamiltontshirt.spreadshirt.com/

3. Lewis Hamilton Collection (fixed designs) is my fixed design shop on Redbubble where most of the phone cases are and many other products.
Link - http://www.redbubble.com/people/akhnsx/shop

Support Lewis this season by owning this collection. Thank you for your support. May Lewis win his fourth world title in 2016. We win and lose together. Go Lewis!

Here is a sample.