Please Help.

I am struggling to understand why HRT are having such a terrible time. Last year they scrapped into the season at the last minute and now they have had a year to work out the kinks, they are just the same! HRT's 2011 contender, the F111 never made it to testing. Parts of it made it to Spain but for reasons I don't understand, other parts were held up in customs ruining any chance of testing the car during a test that had replaced the cancelled Bahrain GP.

Fast forward to Friday practice at the Australian GP and once again, HRT are without a working car. Finally, with 10 minutes left of Practice 2, a lone HRT makes it out for an installation lap before backing into the garage.

Someone please explain to me, after a year in F1, why HRT are struggling to put a car out on track? I seriously don't understand. Anyone?

I write this post just as P3 is starting and they still have one car in pieces. Qualifying starts in 3 hours. Will they get on track and go fast enough to qualify with the 107% rule in play this season?

Austin City Limits Part II

The F1 track for the US GP is coming along quickly. Here is some ariel video from The Austin Grand Prix site.

Exclusive: First Aerial Video of Austin Track Construction from The Austin Grand Prix on Vimeo.

Webber Drives Into Melbourne

Just like many visitors, Red Bull's Mark Webber took the bridge into Melbourne when he arrived into Australia this week. Think he had a bit of trouble getting his caravan hitched to the back of his car.


NOTE: Sounds annoyingly missing in parts.

Who Narrates The Best? You Decide.

Last Monday I posted a video in the article KERS And The Rear Wing. A Red Bull Introduction. Sebastian Vettel narrated a video introducing the fans to kinetic recovery and the adjustable wing. Found out this morning Red Bull like to give equal time to both its drivers to adress the different fan bases across the world when I came across the same video starring Mark Webber. I'll put them both up. Watch them and then tell me who you think narrates the video the best.


Mark's video.


Seb's video.

Why So Hard On Tyres?

Replacing Bridgestone as sole tyre supplier for F1 this year is Pirelli, the famous Italian tyre company who has been making tyres for as long as there have been cars. Their history includes almost two decades of supplying F1 tyres through the 50's and the 80's.

When signed on for the 2011 season, Pirelli were asked to do one thing, make the race more exciting. So they did. The Pirelli F1 tyre degrades faster than a Michelin at Indianapolis! It's been suggested that 2011 could bring about cars making 4 pit stops for tyres and open up strategies as interesting as the once seen during the refuelling era.

Remember back, not too long ago, when F1 cars would refuel mid-race? Fuel loads became a major part of performance and strategy as every team tried to out do each other to the finish line. Re-fueling was banned after a series of pit lane fires. F1 needed a way to replace that excitement and the solution became surprisingly obvious, tyres!

So why are the teams, most notably Ferrari, upset with the Pirelli tyre? Well replacing refuelling strategies with tyre strategies isn't as straight forward as it sounds. Cars and their drivers play a huge role in the life of the tyre. Some drivers are kind on their tyre while others push them hard. A perfect example of this, and the team to watch as a gauge of driver awareness of tyres is Mclaren. 2009 World Champion, Jenson Button, is ultra-neat on his tyres. He drives clean and keeps all his wheels in contact with the road while not losing lap time. A skill worth millions in F1. His team mate, 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, is rough and aggressive. If Hamilton gets half a look at a passing manoeuvre he will try it, this is a habit that could cost him with the new tyres. Having these two champions, with two so different driving styles, will give a great indication of reliability when it comes to the Pirelli.

Ferrari fans should be nervous. Yes, Ferrari does complain about every slight change to the regulations like a spoilt child use to getting their own way but this time it may be more systemic. Is the 2011 Ferrari hard on its tyres? Are the drivers worried their rough, give it everything, driving style will ruin their chances for points? My money is on yes but, like everything a week before the first race, time will tell.

KERS And The Rear Wing. A Red Bull Introduction

Red Bull have described KERS and the adjustable rear wing in this short video. Nice introduction for new fans.

Breaking News: Vettel Signed To Red Bull Till 2014

Just announced, Sebastian Vettel is signed to Red Bull till the end of the 2014 season. Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motorsport advisor stated that it was a mutual decision; "Both sides wanted to continue the partnership, so it was no big issue."

The announcement ends the speculation that Ferrari and Mercedes were knocking at Vettel's door looking for his services at the end of his Red Bull contract.

No word on Mark Webber's future with the team but approximately 50 upper and middle management jobs have also been secured to maintain the formula that has brought Red Bull its current success.

Will Toro Rosso Play With The Mad Hatter in 2011?

Toro Rosso has never gone more than 2 seasons without a change to their driver line up so, with more pressure to perform, will Toro Rosso change its line up mid season?

Torro Rosso have spent the majority of Winter testing at the top of the time sheets, gaining a lot of attention. Last year, as last of the 'older teams', Toro Rosso have to make forward steps to ensure they aren't passed by the up and coming teams, notably Lotus.

They may be all smiles at the moment but Sébastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari will need to score points to keep themselves in F1 as Red Bulls next Sebastian Vettel-exque driver, 21 year old Aussie Daniel Ricciardo is eagerly waiting at the back of the pits for his chance to driver the car in anger.

Both the Toro Rosso drivers are young but have more than a years experience in F1. Alguersuari replaced the under performing Sébastien Bourdais who, before driving for Toro Rosso, made his names as one of the most successful American champ car drivers in history winning four championships in a row. Obviously, Toro Rosso have no respect for experience.

So will Daniel Ricciardo make his debut this year? Only time will tell but, if Toro Rosso fail to win points, it's highly likely it will be time to go for at least one of the drivers.

Of course there is still a chance Ricciardo could make his debut in the Red Bull. Mark Webber is only under contract till the end of 2011 and it may make the perfect pairing of Vettel and Ricciardo for Red Bull in 2012. Then there is always a chance Webber could try to ride another bike and have to miss a few races with injury.

Pérez-a-Hamilton?

Sergio Pérez set the fastest time on day 3 of testing in Barcelona with a 1m21.761s, breaking the Red Bull dominance seen through testing so far. Questions are now being asked, where did that come from?

It's a little known fact that Perez, the 21 year old driver from Mexico, looks up to 2008 F1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton. The year Hamilton joined the F1 paddock and almost won the championship, Pérez won the British Formula Three National Series. Obviously spurred on by then British national hero Hamilton, Pérez continued pushing his career to the pinnacle, F1.

In 2010, Red Bull dominated the front row of the grid. So impossible it was to beat the team that in Canada, Hamilton tried drastic measures to grab poll. Hamilton went out with not enough fuel to make it back to the pits, creating a spectacle and images that will never be forgotten by F1 fans. Hamilton got out of his car and tried to push it home. No grid penalty was given to McLaren and Hamilton's gamble paid off, poll!

What Hamilton didn't know when he cheated for that poll was half a year later, a rookie mexican would be using the same tactic to put his Sauber at the top of the time sheet, ahead of McLaren, in an attempt to make a name for himself and attract sponsors for his team. Be careful who your roll models are Sergio.

Re-live Canada 2010 with this video, on board Hamiltons Mclaren, staring Lewis and a few marshals.

Big Things for Crack F1

The start of the F1 season is only two weeks away and I'm as excited as a kid on Christmas!

Coming up next week Crack F1 has an interview with 'Little' Mark Webber about life at Red Bull and his goals for 2011. It will be an interview you can't miss!!!

From the 8th of April look out for daily reports from Sepang, Malaysia as Michael Brennan brings us all the action from the Malaysian GP. Don't forget to follow him as Elphinkiller on Twitter to get up to the second details.

As always, get your F1 news and snark on Twitter from Crack F1.

Oh, the girl? That's Bernie Ecclestone's daughter, Tamara, posing for a PETA poster a few years ago. Enjoy.

Breaking News: HRT Sign Liuzzi

Hispania Racing Team has confirmed that Tonio Liuzzi will fill it's number 2 seat and the final available seat left for the 2011 season.

Liuzzi made the statement; "I am really happy to have signed this agreement with Hispania Racing."

"I never lost hope to be in Formula 1 as I knew I have the experience and the right attributes for a young and ambitious team. I face a new challenge now and this excites me. I also face a lot of hard work in guiding Hispania Racing through the development of our new car.

"I am extremely grateful to Jose Ramon Carabante and to Colin Kolles for giving me such an opportunity."

Get Well Soon Robert!

Teams and drivers send their love and respect to Robert Kubica via video taken during testing in Barcelona.

Force India Enter the Silly Season

F1 Team Force India are trying their hand at marketing through social media in the lead up to the first GP in just under 3 weeks. Yesterday they injected some fun into their Twitter account, @clubforce. They asked followers to come up with the craziest rules are regulations for F1 with two winners chosen for some Force India prizes. Force India say they will run this competition every Monday in the lead up to the Melbourne GP.






Here are Crack F1's attempts to win a prize;

• Tracks that have loops and upside down sections show the downforce the cars produce.
• Every 5 laps the driver stops on the finish line, runs around his car once and gets back in before continuing.
• The grid made up from reverse qualifying. HRT on poll every race!
• HRT, Virgin and Lotus all get a 7 lap head start.
• After every 5 laps all the cars stop and the drivers vote 1 team out of the race.
• Before every race, teams get 3 hrs to build their car out of junk yard scrap.
• Replace steering wheels with Playstation controllers.
• Qualifying is set by a 1 lap foot race around the track for the drivers.
• Poll is determined by a rock, paper, scissors tournament.
• Mini are now the only supplier of F1 engines.
• Williams supercharge Frank Williams wheelchair and enter it as their car.
• The Canadian GP will now be on a frozen lake.
• F1 and F2 will now compete in the same race.
• No more safety cars, regardless of dangers on track.
• Poll will be determined by cars driving at each other with jousting sticks.
• Qualifying will now be 23 sessions. 1 car eliminated each session.
• The crowd will be given laser pointers to try and blind the drivers with.
• Compulsory pit stop after every 3 laps. Mandatory toilet break every 5 stops.
• Cars will be limited to 35 miles per hr on track so the spectators can see them better.
• 2012 season will be run with 1982 spec cars.
• New drivers will be made to change their name to a famous driver from the past so F1 can relive the glory days.
• Poll will be decided by a swimwear contest for the drivers.
• Germans will be forced to move to other race series so other countries can have a go at F1.
• Mark Webber will be made to use a swear jar. The proceeds funding the Aussie GP for the next 5 years.
• Adrian Newly will be forced to design cars with a blindfold on.
• Trulli will be told he can't blame others for his mistakes for a whole year.
• Mclaren will actually put a 'Jenson Button' in Hamiltons car. It will help preserve his tyres.
• Brazil will be made to put their race on at 9am for European TV viewers.

As you can see I threw out a lot of ideas trying to win this prize and have been rewarded by being a finalist with the 'Jenson Button' tweet.

Do you have a favourite among those crazy ideas for F1?

Melbourne GP gets Appy

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation have been working overtime marketing the 2011 Melbourne GP. Their latest weapon is the Australian GP App for iPhone.

The App is gorgeous. They have clearly had some great designers working in this project. I'm disappointed that the developer is listed as the AGPC just because I would like to send some acknowledgement their way.

The entire list of events are very quick and accessible and everything can be added into a planner so you don't miss any of your favourite action across the huge 4 day event.

Race results are also very quickly accessed for the two main events, the F1 and the Aussie V8 Supercars. I'm sure the results will be added in a timely fashion after the sessions. My only complaint, and maybe this will be addressed later, it that the other events are missing from the results page. I wouldn't hurt to add the Carrera Cup, Formula 5000 and even the Celebrity Challenge results to the app.

The Maps section is very helpful when finding the usual attractions or just for running to the loo. They have chosen to use Google Map for this instead of making their own map so it does miss a couple of things I would like to see, especially for first time visitors to the GP.The map could use the addition of places to cross over the track and also an overlay of the track itself instead of the roads it sits on. For those new to the Melbourne GP the track basically follows this route; starts Aughtie Drive, Albert Park Drive, Lakeside Drive, Ross Gregory Drive and back on Aughtie Drive.

There are links to help you get to the track with the app quite seamlessly connecting with the iPhones built in maps, old photos are stuck in the App for an added bonus and the News section flawlessly feeds Twitter from @ausgrandprix.

Overall this App covers just about all the bases and does it stunningly. Yes there are a few missing items I would like to see but with the GP just under 3 weeks away, maybe we will see an update. If I was to give it a score I'll steal Apples rating system and give it 4 and a half stars out of 5.

Check out the Melbourne GP iPhone App at Apple

Bernie Ecclestone Reads Crack F1!

Way back in January, Crack F1 suggested a few ideas to make F1 more exciting in the article, Does F1 Need More Excitement?. One idea was to wet the track during the race creating an artificial downpour and, with any luck, some excitement. Imagine our surprise when F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone suggested the same idea this week when being asked about his thoughts on the new adjustable wings making F1 more exciting.

Bernie said, "Look at the races we have now. Overtaking is almost impossible because in the dry there is only one line good for maximum speed because of the rubber on the track. You have a completely different picture when it is wet. We always had the most exciting races in the wet so let's think of making rain…"

"There are race tracks that you can make artificially wet and it would be easy to have such systems at a number of tracks. Why not let it 'rain' in the middle of a race? For 20 minutes or the last ten laps? Maybe with a two-minute warning ahead of it. Suspense would be guaranteed and it would be the same for all."

If this wasn't enough to make us raise an eyebrow or two at Crack F1, F1 tyre supplier, Pirelli, backed Bernie's suggestion. Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery stated in an interview with Autosport magazine, "From a tyre makers' point of view, there is no difficulty in making suitable tyres. We have seen great races in the past when you have had an extra variable like the weather, so why not?"

"At the end of the day you want people to watch what you are offering," he said. "F1 ultimately competes for entertainment space with other sports - so people need to see something that is interesting.

"From that point of view, an artificial wet race would add to the show - and you want something people will watch."

We are seriously blown away by seeing our idea being taken seriously which makes us ask, what other Crack F1 ideas will be talked about around the F1 Paddock? Please, please, please let it be the Mario Kart weapons!