Category: Formula 1

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Webber wins British GP

Mark Webber, winner, 2010 British GP

Mark Webber has won his third Grand Prix of the 2010 Formula One season at Silverstone this evening. Webber started from second on the grid, behind his Red Bull Racing teammate Sebastian Vettel, but was able to edge ahead of Vettel into the first corner.

Through the next series of corners Vettel ran wide and picked up a puncture after minor contact with Lewis Hamilton. This setback which sent Vettel to the back of the field. From there it was a masterful race from Webber who maintained the lead for the rest of the race.

Lewis Hamilton finished second and was able to pressure the Australian in the in the first part of the race when both drivers were on the softer compound tyres. Hamilton came into change tyres before Webber, but Red Bull Racing got Webber in and out safely on the next lap and back out ahead of Hamilton. Once on the harder prime tyres Webber was supreme and the only way Hamilton could close the gap was thanks to a safety car period to clear some debris from the track.

After the restart Webber once again pulled away and established a comfortable lead. As the race drew to an inevitable end Webber slowed his pace and coasted to victory just 1.3 seconds ahead of Hamilton. Nico Rosberg finished in third place. Vettel, for his misfortune at the start of the race, managed to make the most of the safety car period to fight back into the points finishing in seventh position.

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Ferrari Formula 1

Scuderia Ferrari unveil new racing logo

Ferrari F1 logo

The Ferrari F1 team unveiled a new logo at Silverstone yesterday. The image above is the one made available from the Ferrari media portal. You’d reckon they’d take a bit more time to prepare something a bit better than a happy snap of a logo glued to a wall. Perhaps they’re too busy trying to work out how to keep up with Red Bulls and McLarens. To be fair, the new logo won’t be implemented until the 2011 season.

Anyway, back to the new branding, Stefano Domenicali explains why the team revealed the new logo ahead of the British Grand Prix, “We chose Silverstone because it was here in 1951 that Ferrari took its first Formula 1 win with Jose Froilan Gonzalez.

“Although revealed today, the new logo will make its debut next season, starting in January and will be visible on all elements of the racing department; the cars, team kit, driver race suits and all initiatives linked to the Ferrari Driver Academy, so that the new design will be linked to all future Ferrari’s racing activities.”

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Silverstone

Mark Webber

It’s Mark Webber’s turn to tell us all about the new Silverstone layout today. He’s a bit excited about racing in England, too. It’s the home race for Red Bull Racing, there’s very passionate fans and, best of all, Mark gets to snuggle under his own doona at night.

Actually, on that point, I think I heard the other day that Webber is the only current F1 driver who lives in the UK. All the rest are living it Playboy mansion style on the continent I guess. Still, you can’t expect a kid from Struggle Town to be attracted by the bright lights of Monaco. That’s simply a place you go to win races.

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Formula 1

A look at the new Silverstone GP circuit

Silverstone - New Grand Prix Circuit

With the British Grand Prix now just a few days away, it’s a good time to take a look at the revised Silverstone layout. Those familiar with the old layout will immediately notice the infield section from Abbey through to Brooklands is new. Other than that the bulk of the course is unchanged, save for a minor rework at Club Corner.

Overtaking opportunities should present themselves into Village and the Loop. Late braking into Brooklands might also offer chances of drivers to claim track position.

There’s a couple of videos available after the break featuring Martin Brundle’s thoughts on the new layout. They’re well worth a look and, if anything, will heighten your expectations for this weekend’s action. Watching F1 cars scythe through the Maggott-Becketts-Chapel section is one the highlights of the year and I get the feeling the new Abbey-Farm series might be just as spectacular.

The map above has been adapted from a PDF made available for download from the official Silverstone website, so make sure you check that out, as well.

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Formula 1 McLaren Motor Shows

Bruno Senna’s home movie

McLaren MP4-8

The video below features some in-car footage of Bruno Senna driving a McLaren MP4/8 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed over the weekend. Truth be told it’s a pretty crappy clip, filmed on a mobile phone. But, when you stop to think about it, how many times do you see amateur in-car footage filmed from inside a Formula One car like this. That alone, makes this clip very, very cool!

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Formula 1 News Red Bull Racing

London calling

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing, London, 2010

Red Bull Racing and Mark Webber stunned London commuters early yesterday morning when they took to the streets in a Formula One car. The 6am stunt was part of promotions building up to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on 11 July.

Speaking after his morning commute in the 2009 RB5 racecar Webber said, “Obviously, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity – it’s not every day you get to see the sights of London from an F1 car. This year has once again thrown up some interesting rule changes so any practice the team can get is going to make a difference, no matter where it is.”

I wonder, is a Formula One car exempt from the London congestion charge?

You can see a couple of videos after the jump showing Mark mixing it up with London’s early morning traffic. An interview with Webber is also available on the Red Bull website.

[Source: Red Bull Racing]

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Ferrari Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

2010 European Grand Prix in pictures

2010 European GP

The European Grand Prix: Mark flipped out, Vettel won the race, the McLarens continued their challenge, Kobayashi dared to dream and Ferrari is still sulking inside the whaaaambulance drowning in their own tears. Meanwhile, news has just come in reporting the Mercedes GP duo have finally crossed the line. That pretty much sums up Valencia for 2010.

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Formula 1 McLaren

Fantasy garage

McLaren F1 fantasy garage

This latest video from McLaren provides goosebumps on the one hand, and is nauseating on the other. The banter between Lewis and Jenson is bearable; if only the section between 1:12 and 1:15 could be edited out, then this clip would be way more powerful.

It’s okay, we get it, McLaren is sponsored by Vodafone. There is no need to stuff things up by reminding us of that fact in such a way. But, we’re posting the clip, so I guess you could say the technique has worked.

Aside from that, some great memories come flooding back thanks to this video. Check it out below and see what you think. There’s an extra special treat if you do.

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Formula 1 Lotus Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber’s spectacular crash at the European GP

Mark Webber's crash at European GP

BREAKING NEWS: Mark Webber has crashed out of the European Grand Prix at Valencia after a spectacular incident with the Lotus of Heikki Kovalainen. The contact with Kovalainen happened on lap 9 of the 57 lap race. Importantly, both drivers walked away with no injuries and have been released from the trackside medical centre.

After a poor start from second on the grid Webber had dropped back to ninth place by the second lap. Webber’s Red Bull team brought him in for an early pit stop in a bid to escape traffic; the Valencia track is notoriously difficult to pass.

Webber’s bad day continued with a less than perfect pit stop after the crew had problems changing his front left wheel. However, things were about to get much worse. After rejoining the race Webber found himself fighting with Kovalainen for track position. The Finn swerved to defend his place and the rapidly closing Webber was left with nowhere to go except up. And up, and up!

Webber’s car flipped and landed on its roof before crashing into a tyre barrier at high speed. It was an incident reminiscent of Webber’s crash during practice at Le Mans in 1999.

After the break you can see a series of screen grabs of the incident, including the view from Mark’s in-car camera. There’s an animation showing the incident, as well as footage from Webber’s Le Mans crash.

UPDATE: Webber’s teammate Sebastien Vettel won the race ahead of the McLaren duo of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. A full race image gallery will be online in the next 24 hours.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Valencia

Mark Webber

Mark Webber is back to tell us all about the nice weather and the relaxed racegoers he expects to find at the European Grand Prix this weekend. He also manages to find the time to take us on a virtual tour of the Valencia track.

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Formula 1 McLaren

Team building

Jenson & Lewis build F1 car

Vodafone UK’s latest video promotion sees McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton build a Formula One car. Obvious pranks and comments are made; it’s still a bit of a giggle and shows, despite the common belief, the team at McLaren actually have a sense of humour.

Check the clip after the jump.

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Ferrari Formula 1 Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

2010 Canadian Grand Prix in pictures

2010 Canadian Grand Prix

The 2010 Canadian Formula One Grand Prix saw a second consecutive one-two victory for the McLaren team. Lewis Hamilton started from pole and, despite a margin of just over two seconds from second placed Jenson Button, he won the race in reasonable comfort in the end. That doesn’t tell the whole story, though.

After qualifying on the soft “option” tyres it was expected Hamilton would come under pressure from the two Red Bull Racing cars, with both Webber and Vettel on the harder, more durable “prime” tyres. As it was Webber was penalised five grid places after having a gearbox change following qualifying.

But the real story of the race was the rate at which the tyres wore across the board. The prime tyres wore out quickly, as expected. However, the prime tyres also wore much quicker than predicted which meant most teams made two pitstops for a second set of prime tyres.

With no mechanical failures or accident carnage at the head of the field it was a reasonably close and exciting race. In the end, Hamilton won the day ahead of teammate Jenson Button and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.

Hamilton now leads the drivers standings on 109 points. Button is in second (106pts) and after relinquishing his title lead Mark Webber is close behind in third place (103pts). McLaren maintain their lead in the constructors race with 215 points ahead of Red Bull (193pts) and Ferrari (161pts).

Over 60 photos from Montreal are all yours after the jump and simply click on the pics you like to load a 2000px super image.

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