It Ain't Over Till It's Over

The Orient had it all this week, Formula E in Hong Kong and F1 in Japan. As interesting as Formula E is F1 is still the pinnacle. There was some good dicing in Formula E and given that Nelson Piquet led from pole with his team mate acting as rear gunner it's quite something that he finished out of the points. Reigning Champ Buemi came through to win but Di Grassi was quite amazing coming back to finish second after pitting with a broken wing.

Formula E is interesting and healthy but all the talk this weekend will be about Nico Rosberg's faultless performance in Suzuka. We think of Hamilton as being blisteringly quick in qualifying but Rosberg snatched pole position by the slimmest of margins at the last moment and its not his first pole position at Suzuka either. It was his first win there however, one of several circuits he's won at this year for the first time. He really is driving like a champion.

Rosberg and Hamilton have been rivals right from their youth, right through the climb to F1. Hamilton now has three world championships, Rosberg none. Psychologically next year will be interesting. If Rosberg wins will he soar, much like Hakkinen did, after for a while at least, being apparently under Coulthard's heel? If Hamilton pulls it back at the last will Rosberg be crushed?

It's my opinion that Rosberg has been driving like a champion this year, if he wins it will be on merit, despite Hamilton's engine failures. For one of the most privileged men on the planet Hamilton can be more than a little petulant, with the media and sometimes with his team too.

Nico is now 33 points ahead in the championship and second in the last four races would see him crowned, a strong position, but racing is unpredictable. A non points finish for Nico and a win for Lewis would open it right up again. Given technical failures do happen, tyres do puncture, accidents do happen and drivers can be caught up in someone else's calamity nothing is certain till the mathematics say so.

What the mathematics do confirm is that Mercedes are again constructors champions and that only a Mercedes driver can win the championship, Ricciardo can no longer overtake Rosberg, only Hamilton could do that, so for Mercedes both championships are effectively won. Many congratulations.

If you missed the race Hamilton started on the damp side, spun the wheels and dropped to eighth position. His fight back took him to third, not second as young gun Verstappen hung on dramatically in the closing laps. He defended hard and Hamilton had to take to the escape road at his last overtaking opportunity. Hamilton complained Verstappen had moved under braking, ie too late a move to be legal, but the stewards took no action.

As someone who likes to see racing and NOT courtroom dramas I kind of approve, but if there are rules they have to be applied equally all the time. My own view is there are too many rules, but that's another matter.

Both Ferrari drivers drove great races, but Vettel lost track position due to Ferrari strategists getting it wrong yet again, a previous post refers to that weakness. Vettel made a couple of nice overtakes on Ricciardo and Perez and Raikkonen on Hulkenberg lap 6 I think, but expecting Vettel to overtake Hamilton just because he had softs at the end was asking too much. The Mercedes is a superior car and the Ferrari just couldn't do it in the dirty air.

Vettel may not have got a podium anyway, although he always has at Suzuka. Ferrari need to work harder on strategy, they have such a great team in so many other ways. Honda really disappointed at their own track and Williams appeared to be out of the hunt too, slipping further behind force India in the constructors championship and ultimately if they don't pull it back in financial terms.

Interestingly there were no safety cars, no virtual safety cars and all twenty two cars finished. There may be big performance gaps between teams and it would be nice to see things get closer, but the professionalism displayed was top notch from almost everyone.

Car nut?

Cut It Out Lewis

A little behind with my blogging due to other commitments, but last weekend saw the Malaysian Grand Prix. Congratulations to Jolyon Palmer on scoring his first world championship point for Renault. Lets hope Renault keep him and raise their game, the Renault engine in the Red Bull shows there must be plenty more to come from Renault, as indeed does their past history.

Of course Renault wouldn't have scored that point if Vettel had lasted and Hamilton come to that. No one likes to see a world championship contender taken out by someone who isn't a contender this year. Vettel seems to be making rookie mistakes, naturally the start is a place where you can make up places, but a little circumspection is required, you can't win the race at the first corner but you sure can lose it, as my own performance at Daytona Bike week years ago taught me - the hard way.

Interesting that Kvyat was demoted from Red Bull after Vettel threw a wobbly about a relative rookie making a rookie mistake, that was unfair and Vettel, no rookie, has no excuse.

Rosberg's drive back through the field, thank goodness he survived to do so, shows that he's driving like a champion this season. I was sorry, as a big Raikkonen fan, to see the collision with Kimi but any suggestion that Nico isn't a racer can be categorically laid to rest now, it was actually an inspired and unexpected move from a man  who could have stayed behind Kimi, wrecked his tyres and his race for a second time.

The penalty given to Nico by the stewards was a big mistake I believe. Derek Warwick who I was also a fan of once was the driver's steward, I wonder what his view was, but I don't think it's a one man decision. Be that as it may F1 has been too predictable a high speed procession for too long and that decision was anti racing. It says wait until you can use DRS and no dicing. It's a nonsense.

Without that ten seconds, although unlikely, it's possible Nico could have taken the race to the Red Bulls, after that decision, no point trying. Bureaucrats eh!

It's true that Hamilton has had virtually all the engine problems Mercedes have experienced this season, but until now, not in races and his questioning of Mercedes smacks of a spoiled silly schoolboy. He should be careful. Lightening fast he undoubtedly is but character is important too and understanding. It's in the nature of random events to NOT be spread around evenly, accusing, even hinting at malpractice in his team is not going to endear him. Either to team, or to genuine fans.

I paid to go racing, cars and motorcycles, but by the time I'd made enough money it was too late really, there have been world champions crowned around the age I started. Millions of people would love just to drive an F1 car once, or even a Formula 3 car come to that. Not everyone has parents who will pay for karting and get you on the way at an early age.

Birth is a lottery I thank my lucky stars I wasn't born in Kosovo or Aleppo or a hundred other war torn places. Hamilton has led a charmed life by any measure, private jet, glamour, wealth, cars, you name it. He hasn't even driven an uncompetitive F1 car yet, ever. Any whingeing from any F1 driver is a bloody disgrace actually, cut the crap Lewis. And if Nico wins don't sulk.

Gifts for car and race enthusiasts

Car, Bike, Bike, Car, Or How About Both!

Anyone remember Carl Fogarty, Britain's World Superbike hero and national icon? Well there are three Brits in the top three places of the World Superbike Championship right now and I wonder how many people who aren't dyed in the wool bike racing fans can name them.

They are Jonathon Rea, the reigning champion, and currently leading the championship in his title defence, multiple race winner Tom Sykes and Chaz Davies, the champion in 2011, currently lying third. You can and should watch highlights on ITV, or better get along to a race. Magny Cours is next and it's just over the channel in France.

World Superbikes are supported by Supersport races and Superstock races, of course they are race tuned, but they're really pretty close to the bikes you can buy, especially the latter class. You can't buy an F1 car so easily and the racing's not so close these days in F1 either. Don't give up on the cars, but if you haven't watched bike racing, then perhaps you should.

Malcolm Snook former racer of cars and bikes.

Don't Panic Get A Strategy

I watched British Superbike Racing from Oulton Park recently and the F1 from Singapore. Thrills and spills in Superbikes resulting from close racing and dicing. Most of the excitement in F1, (single seater racing cars were my first love by the way) comes these days from whether the gap is getting bigger or smaller.

Rosberg was peerless, winning the two hundredth Grand Prix he has taken part in. It seems he must be the winningist driver not to have won the championship, but he is looking like a champion right now. He's won three races on the trot since the summer break, all, and I think this is significant, at places where he has never won before.

Being British I should support Lewis, but I have to say I like Nico's personality and if he wins it on merit then I wish him the very best.

I've long been a Kimi fan and when he was in front of Lewis on yellow sidewall tyres I expected him to go to the end. Ferrari knew they'd made a mistake when they radioed him in the pits exit telling him he could do it, hoping he would cover for their error. The ultrasofts just weren't that much of an advantage, certainly not against a Mercedes. Kimi had been on red hot form all weekend and a podium was thrown away.

The pieces fell into place for Vettel, last to fifth and doubtless Ferrari managers will point to that to hide their embarrassment, but they need a strategist of the calibre of Ross Brawn and they need him soon. I'd like to offer my services but......

Motor Racing Gifts

Boys On Bikes Or Boys In Cars?

Moto GP is in rude good health. I worked for Yamaha in the Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan era, which was also a golden age with Rainey on a Yamaha, Schwantz on a Suzuki and Doohan on a Honda all very closely matched and the advantage varying circuit to circuit, race to race.

In recent years Ducati have blown hot and cold and Suzuki were almost reduced to also rans, but no more, with eight winners from eight races and four manufacturers at the cutting edge, Moto GP is providing far better racing than F1 and a one hundred thousand strong crowd at Misano were not disappointed. Moto GP2 and 3 were great races too.

Compare Formula One's one team monopoly with eight winners from eight races, four manufacturers and no artificial overtaking aids. Real racing, fast, brave and thrilling. Cars were my first love but......

Congratulations to Dani Pedrosa on a stunning race, along with thousands of Italians I was hoping to see Rossi win, I'd love him to take one more championship, but Dani was amazing, I believe he's won one race at least every season he's been in the senior category and this weekend ended his longest drought of podium finishes. Brilliant.

I wonder if the new owners of F1 can bring back mechanical grip, close racing and a fairer share of the money, which just might make it a sport again.

Gifts for Bikers

BORING – NOT MY BLOG – THE RACE

Some of the pre-race news wasn't boring in Monza but the race was highly predictable after the first corner and entirely predictable come the last third. It's a great shame. Monza is one of the world's top three race tracks in my opinion with a fabulous history and the Italians are passionate about their racing. We and they deserve better.

In 1971 Peter Gethin won by a nose over the line, from the great Ronnie Peterson but there were effectively five cars in the group he led over the finish. There were four different marques in the top five and five in the top six! We've seen nothing quite like it since and we never will again if things stay as they are.

Eddie Jordan's pre-race revelation that F1 is about to change hands was the most exciting thing that happened all weekend, but what will actually transpire remains to be seen. Then we had the news that McLaren are to dispense with the services of Jenson Button, for next year, but keep him on as reserve driver with an option for 2018.

It may be, as the ever diplomatic Button says, that he will relish the break and that he wants to do other things. However, he has previously said that F1 is his life. I used to race Formula Fords and I can remember thinking once, on a long straight on the Brands GP circuit, 'relish this now because you won't always be able to do it'. When it became financially impossible to carry on racing it hurt me deeply. I fear that we've seen the last of Jenson and that he may come to regret what he's agreed to.

The people at McLaren may want to secure Stoffel Vandoorne, but they don't want a driver of Jenson's calibre going to another top team, because he's the complete article right now. Alonso, who many F1 watchers still consider the best driver in F1 has described Jenson as the most complete team mate he's ever raced with.

Other F1 watchers rave about Lewis Hamilton, but when Lewis and Jenson were team mates Jenson scored more points, if Nico could say that he'd be the world champion. I'd have liked to see Jenson go to Williams and Claire Williams says she'd have loved to sign him. He has to be in a top car though, well, Renault is a works team with a stellar history, they're in some difficulty right now, but we hear all the effort is going into next years car built to the new rules. Those situations often turn things around. Wouldn't do Renault sales in the UK any harm to have two British drivers.

Ron Dennis claims that with Honda, McLaren will once again dominate, but it's hard to see on current form. We've seen that Jenson can be ruthless on track and peerless in the wet, that he understands tyres and set up and race strategy, possibly better than anyone else, but no one is perfect. Jenson is possibly too much of a gentleman off the track, but that is a reason why sponsors adore him and that's yet another reason for Ron to keep him dangling. Sad and probably cynical.

Once Lewis fluffed the start a Rosberg win was simply down to reliability and keeping out of trouble and Rosberg is nothing if not competent. That Lewis would get past the Ferraris was predictable on relative performance, the only real question was whether Ricciardo would pass Bottas given the Williams straight line speed. I thought he would, Red Bull got the tyre strategy dead right, Ricciardo released his electrical energy at just the right moment and didn't hesitate and so he did. He came from too far back some would say, but no lock up, superb control and he got the result he might not have got had he been patient.

There was some racing down the order, Jenson was pushed out more or less at the start by a Sauber and came from last to twelfth in a car which is improved but is still far from truly competitive, if that doesn't underline his on-track calibre I don't know what does. Come backs, even if they happen, often end in tears, Jenson should have stayed by hook or by crook.

The British Motorcycle Grand Prix was far from boring. Congratulations to Maverick Vinales on his first win and to British hero Cal Crutchlow who finished second, just 0.583secs ahead of Italy's Valentino Rossi, the seven-time champion and 2015 Silverstone victor. Crutchlow won his first Moto GP recently in the Czech Republic. Moto GP is a lot healthier than F1!

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A Messy Return

The summer break is over and F1 got down to business again. maybe some of the drivers had forgotten a few things whilst on holiday as we saw some real rookie mistakes and remember by the time you get to F1 you are not a rookie racer.

Alonso made a comment about the unpredictability of penalties, I think he's right and I think it spoils the racing although Hamilton seems to have played his get out of jail free card and his season is right back on track despite a fifty five place grid penalty in a twenty two car race. You have to wonder at the brains behind the sport!

I thought Ferrari had made a mistake putting Raikkonen back out a lap down, I'd have been tempted to save engine and gearbox given the penalties on offer for technical failures or shunts but safety cars and the red flag brought both Ferraris strongly back into play and a damage limiting double points finish, even if it wasn't worthy of their qualifying pace.

The mistakes began at the first corner, a place where you cannot win the race but you can sure as hell lose it as both Ferraris and one Red Bull were reminded. The only one blameless was Raikkonen. Its hard to feel sorry for a millionaire Ferrari driver, but, having out qualified Vettel he was in the best position he's been for a while and he goes well at Spa.

Its true that Max was not sliding, but he was up on the kerbs in a panic (my opinion) to make up for his tardy take off in front of a huge number of his fans. Vettel was more at fault BUT Max put himself in harms way. Vettel could not have known he was there, BUT he too should know better than to squeeze his own teammate, especially at such an early stage with little to gain and much to lose. The innocent paid the price as well as the guilty.

I'm a fan of Wehrlein and the heroic efforts of Manor, but I'm also a big fan of Button. Alonso admitted Button's the most complete team mate he's ever had and yet one always suspects that teams don't recognise his value fully. In a post accident interview Wehrlein talked about his 'bad luck'. Sorry mate, that wasn't luck, when you're behind people dicing anything can happen, you rear end the guy in front then you're not being sufficiently circumspect.

I imagine a gearbox failure is a gearbox failure even if someone has rear ended you, so I hope the damage to the McLaren is light and doesn't lead to a gearbox change, that would be injustice heaped on injustice.

One cannot comment on Spa without mention of the Magnussen crash. The car seemed to go light at the crest, well, that's physics, but why it was more twitchy on that particular lap is unclear. One has to suspect too much driver input, Raikkonen ran wide there but kept it pointing the right way. If it was driver error, as i suspect, luckily Magnussen will learn from it. In the 1970s he would not have had the opportunity to benefit.

If it was a car problem it will probably be discovered and corrected, at least the car protected him superbly despite the head restraint flying off in the huge impact. After that there was the safety car and then the red flag, by which time Raikkonen had unlapped himself, which led to a modest recompense come the end of the day.

That Mercedes still enjoy a huge advantage was underlined by Hamilton making it to the podium. Red Bull's Ricciardo did a great job and they look closer, but not enough to keep Mercedes honest, let alone race them. Ferrari may have closed the gap to Red Bull given Kimi's qualifying performance. I hope so and wish the prancing horse well next week in Monza. Maybe all the drivers will have their race heads back on by then! Messy and a predictable winner.

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