Rediscover Formula One

Do you think you can predict the outcome of F1 races better than the so called pros ? , If that’s the case head on over to Lenovo’s Race to Finish contest and predict the top 10 drivers in the finishing order of the remaining races and stand to win awesome F1  goodies from Lenovo including laptops and other Vodafone McLaren Merchandise.

To start winning all you have to do is head on over to the website and register yourself. After registering you will be asked to choose the top ten drivers and that’s it.

If you score high then you get to take home the prizes. I am playing too

Contest Ends 15-November-2010 !

Register for the Race To Finish contest here

Thanks to them we will also be holding a giveaway for some cool Vodafone McLaren Mercedes sometime in the future. Stay Tuned for that !

Most people had predicted it would be young Lewis Hamilton who would threaten Michael’s legacy of records in formula one, but Fernando Alonso is the one who is knocking on the door.

The surprising win at the first ever Korean Grand Prix meant that the Spaniard inched closer to his 3rd World Championship title, a feat which the German Schumacher had achieved at the age of 31.

More Praise : Meanwhile Gerhard Berger claimed that Fernando Alonso is in the same league as Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna.

“There are sometimes those special drivers: Ayrton Senna was one, Michael Schumacher was one, and Alonso is one” said the Austrian champion

Meanwhile Berger also cast a shadow on the sportmanship of Red Bull driver Mark Webber who in this youtube video seems to be gunning for Fernando Alonso after his car developed a snag.

‘He could have braked and stopped the car against the wall, but he did not do so. He took out Nico Rosberg, but he was the wrong driver. I think he would have preferred to have taken out Alonso or Hamilton’. Berger said

In a style which almost reminds us of compatriot Mika Hakkinen’s exit from formula one , Kimi Raikkonen too has hinted he doesn’t want to get back into a formula one car. The Finn had joined the World Rally championship after leaving formula one last year.

When asked about his return to formula one, he said :

“I would have the opportunity to go to F1, but I think I’ve seen off that career.”

Now that is going to leave a lot of fans unhappy and disappointed. The statement shows that he is least bit enthusiastic about F1.

It was being rumoured that he would join Renault for the 2011 formula one season. Earlier he has raced with McLaren Mercedes and the Ferrari F1 team. Ferrari had last year released him 1 year prior to the expiry of his contract.

Ferrari today announced that Felipe Massa’s contract has been extended till the end of the 2012 formula one season. the Brazillian has been with the team for 10 seasons now. He ofcourse was ecstatic about the renewal.

Official Press Release from Ferrari follows :

Maranello, 9 June 2010 – Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro announces that it has extended its contract with Felipe Massa, who will now drive for the team until the end of the 2012 racing season.

Felipe has been with the Scuderia since 2001. To date, he has competed in 69 Grands Prix for the team: he has taken eleven wins, 30 podium placings, 51 points finishes, fifteen pole positions and twelve fastest race laps, scoring a total of 360 championship points.

“I am happy to be given the opportunity to drive for Ferrari for a further two seasons,” said Felipe.

“Throughout my entire Formula 1 career, I have always raced with an engine made in Maranello and it is a matter of pride for me to be able to continue working with a team that I regard as a second family.”

“Felipe has been part of Ferrari for almost a decade and together with us, he has grown as a driver and as a man, going through some very difficult times as well as giving us moments of great happiness,” commented Stefano Domenicali. “We wanted to show proof of stability for the future, believing in the worth of a driver pairing that is without equal in terms of talent, speed and its ability to work together for the good of the team.”

Photo : Ferrari SPA

The Ferrari F1 team is all set to achieve an important milestone at this weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix to be held at Istanbul. It will be the Marranello based team’s 800th Grand Prix. To commemorate the occasion the F1 cars will have special 800 races logo somewhere where the Marlboro used to be and the subsequent barcodes and the subsequent white blocks instead of the barcodes. Its a big day for the team that is also the most successful team in formula one (credit to Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn and Jean Todt).

The Ferrari F1 team is also the oldest still surviving formula one team with a history that goes back to 1948 (1st formula one race in 1950). Here are some stats from Wikipedia :

Races competed till now :
799

Constructors’ Championships
16 (1961, 1964, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008)

Drivers’ Championships
15 (1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007)

Race victories
211

Pole positions
203

Fastest laps
220

Meanwhile Ferrari’s chairman was also happy at the occasion.

“Eight-hundred Formula One Grands Prix represents a milestone in the life of Ferrari, which fills us with satisfaction and pride,” chairman Luca di Montezemolo was quoted  in an interview

“I want to share our delight in this achievement with all the drivers who have driven our cars in the world championship, and with our fans. It is nice to look back and see what we have done together, aware we are part of a story that is without equal and is ongoing.”

Meanwhile we have the photos of the special livery (not a huge change) including its design phase, Fernando Alonso needs a shave.

Photos : Ferrari SPA media