Month: February 2016

Of all the new 2016 Grand Prix cars launched, I think this is the most beautiful. What do you think ?

So, 21 races….. is that just too many ?

Here’s the full schedule – all the great “old school” classic races are there, plus a new race in Azerbaijan.

Also, here’s an unusual but admittedly out of date picture – are they really this big headed though ?

Australian Grand Prix

Melbourne, March 18-20

Bahrain Grand Prix

Sakhir, April 1-3

Chinese Grand Prix

Shanghai, 15-17 April

Russian Grand Prix

Sochi, April 29-May 1

Spanish Grand Prix

Barcelona, 13-15 May

Monaco Grand Prix

Monte Carlo, 26, 28-29 May

Canadian Grand Prix

Montreal, 10-12 June

Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Baku, 17-19 June

Austrian Grand Prix

Spielberg, 1-3 July

British Grand Prix

Silverstone, 8-10 July

Hungarian Grand Prix

Budapest, 22-24 July

German Grand Prix

Hockenheim, 29-31 July

Belgian Grand Prix

Spa-Francorchamps, 26-28 August

Italian Grand Prix

Monza, 2-4 September

Singapore Grand Prix

Singapore, 16-18 September

Malaysian Grand Prix

Kuala Lumpur, 30 September – 2 October

Japanese Grand Prix

Suzuka, 7-9 October

United States Grand Prix

Austin, 21-23 October

Mexican Grand Prix

Mexico City, 28-30 October

Brazilian Grand Prix

Sao Paulo, 11-13 November

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Yas Marina, 25-27 November

One of his many crashes – at Shanghai.

So – “Crashtor” Maldonado has lost his drive with Lotus, now owned by Renault – because his sponsorship money didn’t come through, underlining popular belief that he was only in F1 because of the sponsorship he brought with him.

This  funding was from the Venezualen oil company, PDVSA, reputed to be around $50m a year……This was initially arranged by the Venezualen president, Hugo Chavez, since deceased.

Falling oil prices and the significant effect on the Venezualen economy resulted in the $50m annual sponsorship payment being several weeks late, resulting in the termination of his contract.

Fortunately, highly rated hot prospect Kevin Magnussen, son of the very popular 1970’s driver Jan Magnussen, was waiting in the wings and was in pole position to take the seat.

Kevin Magnussen, who came 2nd on his F1 debut with Mclaren

Unfortunately for good old Crashtor, which interestingly comes up as “Crasher” on the predictive inputting here – how apt ! (laughing here) – he is known mainly for incessantly crashing (the clue is in the nickname) together with his regular cash and grid penalties etc, rather than his 2012 Spanish GP win (his only one)

 

He’s lucky really, as he has walked away from F1 pretty much unscathed, whereas if he had been competing 30, 20 or even 10 years ago I might have been writing a warmly affectionate obituary for him here…..

Pastor, considering his future…..

At least he had a go I guess ! – Anyone with the “F1 dream” with connections like that would have taken an opportunity as significant as that, just as Pastor did…….