KIMI!!!!

Justin:

Kimi and Lotus have announced he will be continuing into 2013, as was mush suspected.

Great news I say as its fantastic having Kimi back racing with us, providing his short but rather amusing interviews too.

You'd have to class his comeback as a massive success. Whilst he hasnt won a race just yet, he is a clear third in the title race..the best of the rest behind Vettel and Alonso.

Here's a picture to remind us all of what The Iceman will have in store for us next year...Black, Gold, Ice...going super fast!

(pic not taken by me!)

The Indian GP saw lots of overtaking action. The first lap shennanigans involving Alonso, Button and Hamilton reminded us all of why we love F1, and certainly showed the guys further down the field that you can race wheel to wheel at 200mph without taking each other off.

The Mclarens were fighting amongst themselves and Alonso nabbed a double tow with an astonishing closing speed. He took them both only to see them both go around each side of him out of the next corner.

Fantastic racing.

Elsewhere, Vettel flew into the distance. Webber had Kers problems which helped Alonso nab second. Still, the guy has no right being second in a world where the Bulls are clearly the fastest car by a mile now.

The title fight goes to Abu Dhabi this coming weekend where Alonso really does need a win quickly. Either that, or he needs Lewis and JB to get amongst the top couple of positions to get Seb off the top spot.

Plenty of great racing elsewhere in the field this weekend. Bruno Senna, Maldonado and the Saubers were all over each other. Senna had a great race - very much needed considering he has no contract for next year as yet.

Thats 7 in a row for me now since June..Title winning form!!!....co-blogger, are you out there??

Driver market silly season

Justin:

Race Reviews:

With my esteemed co-blogger seemingly lost in action, I return for my sixth straight blog.

Japan and Korea have now passed, with Vettel winning both. With Alonso being nerfed out in Japan and Belgium, his 40 odd point lead has now been wiped out in a handful of races - Vettel now leads by 6.

With Hamilton coming 10th in Japan, it's rather safe to say the title race is on - Alonso vs Vettel over 4 races now.

Though one does have to ask, will it be much of a competition?

For me, and many others, Alonso has been the best driver this year. General consensus is Hamilton has been there or there abouts too.

The Ferrari has been fast, but never the absolute fastest - Alonso has got 2 of his 3 wins in the wet, and both his poles.

The Red Bull's and Mclarens have been the fastest cars this year, but both have been unreliable at times whereas Ferrari have not had one mechanical failure or retirement (with Alonso).

Since Singapore Red Bull have seemingly come on leaps and bounds in development and overtaken Mclaren.

Vettel now has 3 wins on the spin as we head to India in two weeks. Ferrari backs are truly against the wall here and they must come out fighting with big upgrades. Race pace wasnt too far off the Red Bull's in Korea, but they need to nab a pole here or there to make races a bit easier.

Driver market

Lewis is going to Mercedes next year for a three year project. It seems he has had enough of Mclaren, and they dont seem too unhappy at him leaving.

On one hand, ok he might be fed up with his car having reliability issues in the last 3 races...

But....a big but....he claims he wants to win titles and races...Mclaren always provide a car that can do one and at least challenge for the other. So why move at all? (coughs...money and sponsorship freedom).

Mclaren keep all the driver winners trophies....that is a moo point at Merc for a year or two for sure!

One could speculate that JB's arrival and equal footing with Lewis has almost pushed him into moving. Mclaren no longer being the cosy, Lewis-centric home it used to be.

Over the three years they have been team-mates, they have pretty much the same amount of wins and points. JB had the upper hand early on in 2010, winning 2 of his first 4 races. Lewis then rolled him over from halfway onwards. 2011...JB's best driving ever? Hamilton had a mare year, JB drove his best ever season. This year has seen Lewis generally nudging ahead again.

But, JB has essentially made the team his own and kicked Lewis out. Take that critics who said he was "going into the lions den!"

Oh, and Lewis tweeting that JB didnt respect him for "unfollowing" him...what a cock! (JB had never followed him and had told the press this same thing a few days before!).

• Hulkenberg confirmed at Sauber for 2013
• Perez confirmed at Mclaren
• A number of drivers in running for second Force India seat alongside Di Resta, including Sutil.
• Sauber seat vacated by Perez likely to go to their young Mexican test driver.
• Massa set to be confirmed at Ferrari for 2013
• Lotus and Red Bull unchanged
• oh...did I mention the rumours swirling about Vettel to Ferrari for 2014??

 For those interested to know, my good friend Gavin took a pic of Kimi in the Belgium pits...this pic is now framed above my shitter.....he was having a shit didnt you know?

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19939863

Belgian Grand Prix + Beer + Best mates = Awesome!

Justin:

There is plenty to cover since we last blogged before the Belgian Grand Prix. As I thought it would be a while until my esteemed co-blogger blogged, I decided to sort it myself. No bother, I have plenty to say and plenty to cover.

Belgian Grand Prix

Spa is majestic, mysterious, beautiful...as poetic as an F1 track can get. The 3 of us knew it was one of the oldest F1 tracks in the world, along with Silverstone, Monza and Monaco. The drivers regularly name Spa as their out and out fave track, with the ridiculous Eau Rouge/ Radillon as their fave corner.

We knew we were off to a special, historic place. Nothing prepares you for the beatufy and majesty of the place.

When it's raining, a mist descends, throwing us back to the days of danger as the drivers hurtle round in the spray. The track weaves through the Ardennes forest and as you approach you cannot see the cars, but only hear them as the deep, dark, lush trees come alive with the noise of the beasts.

The race itself was a great one with lots of crazy battles and overtakes. I was a bit gutted about Alonso going off in the first corner, but hey. JB claimed a fantastic win to ignite his title hopes once again.

Words will never do the place and my feelings for it justice.

Monza

Great win for Lewis, gutting for JB. Vettel also retired - another alternator failure. Webber had another fairly lacklustre race and Alonso returned to the podium.

Singapore

After a gearbox failure saw Hamilton fail to finish, at 52 points behind Alonso now, you'd have to say his title chances are fading. We all know though, that it can turn around in an instant at the next race. Alonso retires and Lewis wins, then he is back in the game.

The problem is of course is that, Belgium aside when he was punted, Alonso has finished every race in the points, with 3 wins and 8 podiums this year. The Ferrari isnt the fastest car, but it is the most reliable car.

I'm almost getting annoyed by people who speculate that IF Lewis had finished here or hadnt broken down there then he'd be in the title race lead.

Well....in F1, to finish first..first you have to finish.

It now looks like Vettel vs Alonso for the title race me thinks.

I have to say that JB is the classiest guy on the grid by a mile, if what Whitmarsh said was true about JB coming to him regarding the possibility of helping Lewis if needs be.

There could be a similar situation at Red Bull soon as Webber is 61 points off the top spot after yet another average race in Singapore.

My driver of the day in Singapore was probably Di Resta, with Massa a close second.

Overtake of the race...Massa and his do or die on Senna - fantastic!

To Japan we go. Ferrari need to bring upgrades that actually work. Mclaren need to finish the race (if they do there is a high chance they will win). Red Bull need to get Vettel a haircut.

Hungary? Nah....SPA...BABY...SPA!

Justin:

Neither I nor my esteemed colleague blogged about Hungary. It was a fairly dull race lets be honest, with a few fun moments.

I'm still reeling from the BBC announcing Alonso at number ten in their all time greats list. Really? Below Vettel? Ok fools!

As my co-blogger pointed out, the most exciting bit of Hungary was the "next race....SPA" bit at the end of the show.

Heres a pic of what we hope we might see, or similar.

Outstanding Fernando!

Justin:

His second pole in the wet in the space of two weeks. Talk about on the ragged edge. Nobody improved their times, then Fernando went even faster (helped by the masterstroke of driver/team strategy by coming in for fresh wets)!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/18940100

What a fantastic race we were treated to in Germany!

Off the line, we had Schumi really challenging Vettel, which was fantastic to see. I think this year has proved beyond any doubt that the old bastard still has it. I for one hope he signs again for next season. Schumi and Vettel into and out of the hairpin on lap one....now that's racing!!!!

We had three world champions battling for the lead throughout the whole race, never more than a few seconds apart...and another two world champions running in 4th and 5th for a fair while.

Kimi....Kimi! Some absolutely stonking overtakes from "The Iceman"....proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has lost none of his racecraft. Lap 5...Kimi and DiResta side by side....spine tingling balls out racing by both men. Beautiful to watch!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/18947728
I think Kimi definately had his regulation shit before this race.

Carnage on lap one, causing a puncture for Lewis...in turn causing him to un-lap himself from Vettel later on to get out of Button's way! Brilliant.

Proving that form is temporary, but class is permenant....a great drive by JB from 6th to 2nd (naughty Sebastian...clearly passing off the track!). It's great to see Jenson back on the podium where he truly belongs.

There were absolutely shed loads of on track overtakes...usually involving Force India's, Saubers and either Kimi or JB or Schumi....brilliant stuff!

Off the back of his win at Silverstone, Mark Webber had an oddly flat race, but still got some valuable points.

Lap 42....JB taking Vettel....its why we all love F1...

So, Alonso has finished every race this year in the points. The Ferrari started off the year a second and a half off pole in Melbourne and was around the 5th/6th best car until a few races in, when they moved up to perhaps the 4th best car...

It's those early points collections along with the win in Malaysia, when Alonso clearly outdrove the bucket of shit he was driving. Now Ferrari still dont have the (outright) fastest car, but they are right up there with Red Bull and Mclaren now and in Alonso they have THE form man on the grid. Then again, you could say when is he off form?

Even last year in the totally rubbish Ferrari, he managed a win and consistently scored good points underneath the reign of Vettel and the much faster JB.

22 career poles, 30 race wins...only Mansell, Senna, Prost and Schumi are ahead on wins. The way he is going, I'd imagine he'll pass Nige this year no probs.

The guy just does not stop...relentless and absolute skill and determination.

Alonso is now 34 points ahead of nearest rival Webber. As I said in my last blog, it's looking increasingly likely that the two chaps in the fastest car are the only challengers to the fastest driver in probably the third fastest car.

22 consecutive races in the points is a stat in itself.

My co-blogger and I pondered where Alonso may come in the BBC all time greats list....it was compiled at the start of this year...but I'd imagine Alonso would be higher than Vettel (Vettel may have dominated last year but Alonso shone in what was a rather poor car - as he did for the first few races this year).

So...Senna, Fangio, Schumi, Prost, Clarke, Stewart....Alonso? I dunno...would Lauda be before him? Probably not for me.

Anyone else finding the podium interviews a tad odd?

Niki Lauda was firmly rebuked by Alonso with a "I don't do politics" hehehe.

On the Mark

Justin:

Mark Webber drove beautifully at Silverstone at the weekend. It looked like an Alonso victory for a while, until the last stint where Webber had kept in touch for most of the race and really floored it on the harder tyres as Alonso's softs fell away slightly.

It was a bit of a dull race, with moments of genius including Alonso and Hamilton racing wheel to wheel swapping overtakes for a lap early on, and indeed featuring Alonso and Webber late on in the race when Webber made his decisive move.

Webber has confirmed for 2013 with Red Bull - sensible choice by both parties...logical choice. With that, the driver market silly season has almost ceased before it has begun. Had Webber gone to Ferrari, the seats would have started spinning non-stop. Now though, Lewis has few options other than to stay where he is. Massa is improving in form and I think Ferrari would find it difficult to get rid of a man who has been in the team for years. Schumi at Mercedes is the only question mark....would Lewis be any better off there if Schumi retires? No, is my answer.

The title race is increasingly looking like Alonso vs Red Bull, with Lewis falling away 37 points off the lead.

JB is something like 79 points off top spot now....what a difference a year makes in F1 fortunes.

Valencia??....boring race??

Justin:

Lets start with this f1 funny! 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81QPQE0qJQc 
My esteemed colleague and I just had an hour long chat on the phone about Valencia, the F1 season to date, our live event coming up, countdown to Belgium and many other things in between.

The European GP served up a dramatic, overtaking ladden race from start to finish. It just goes to show that F1 really is IF spelt backwards!

IF Seb hadnt have broken down, nobody would have caught him as I'd imagine he would have scampered off into the distance again after the safety car, such was the speed he was showing in quali and throughout the race. Let's not forget he was four tenths quicker than second placed Lewis on the grid. Amazing when you think that at one point at the end of Q2 the red car of Alonso was 11th and just two tenths off pole!

Poor Roman Grosjean suffered a similar fate to Seb a few laps after being taken with force by Fernando Alonso. Lets face it, it wont take me long to get onto just what a stonking drive his was.

After qualifying he said he'd be aiming for fifth or sixth and would probably lose out heavily to Hamilton and Vettel in the title race. A few balls out overtakes later coupled with yet another Mclaren pit fuck up (compare this to Ferrari doing the quickest stops constantly throughout the year) and Vettel retiring, then you have an emotional home win for the guy that never ever gives up. He is always there, lurking in the podium spots ready to pounce. Consistently fast and one of the all time greats. End of.

What a fantasic scene it was when he parked up in front of the grandstands and soaked up the atmosphere with the marshalls and his adoring public.

He was on the podium with two former Ferrari champions in Kimi and Michael. Well done Schumi!

Fair play to Mark, from 19th to 4th - beautiful drive there mate!

Maldonado took out Lewis with a lap to go - oooppps. I still don't think Lewis was totally blameless really as, ok, you say Pastor was coming off the track back into Lewis, but did Lewis not ease him off the track in the first place?

Still, the title race is, to me anyway, looking like the top four of Alonso, Webber, Hamilton and Vettel to duke it out for the rest of the year now. Next in fifth is Rosberg and I don't see him picking up big points anytime soon.

Poor old JB - just what is going on with him? Perhaps the Mclaren is rather difficult to drive all of a sudden and Lewis can just drive around these issues?

Elsewhere, "I Was Having a Blog" has yet another of our popular live events coming up in Stonehouse for the British GP weekend - which I personally cannot wait for!

Just three GP's...Britain, Germany and Hungary...then....we're off to Spa baby....SPA!!!!!!!!!!

Our Nige was voted number 13 in the BBC all time greatest driver list....just who is next? More importantly, who is next in our F1 Hero series?

To sign off I have to leave you all with this - amongst all the bloody hillarious stuff here, Mark Webber at 1 minute 22 seconds...he loves those arms on the chair!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuIiQ8wfyMQ