The world slowly creeps up on you sometimes. It doesn’t feel like very long ago that Lewis Hamilton took his second win of the season in Montreal, but it’s F1 time again. This week, the Grand Prix comes from Valencia – it’s the Grand Prix of Europe. Ferrari are bringing a major upgrade to their exhaust system, whilst Red Bull will simply be trying to put some more points on the board after a couple of problematic races. McLaren will be happy, having won comfortably last time out, and taking pole, whilst Mercedes will be hoping Michael Schumacher can put in a better performance than in Canada. Before going on to my predictions for this weekend, I should just lament Alonso’s fantastic performance in Canada, taking third place. Had it not been for that, I would have taken a clean sweep of first, second and third, in the correct order. Never mind, it’ll come… but still, it was a fantastic performance for Ferrari as they had looked to have slipped back significantly in the last few races. So, in a slight break with tradition, I shall name my top three and then explain why… (more…)

I am beginning to sense a pattern in this year’s races. I make a prediction. The prediction is, on the whole, bang on the money. Then, with about a third of the race left to go, it falls apart. Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, I’m looking squarely at you. (more…)

Since I am away in Oslo this weekend, I shall get my Grand Prix preview out of the way nice and early. The season is hotting up nicely, though it is also looking ominous for anyone not driving a Red Bull. So far this season, Red Bull have taken pole position in all six races (three voles each for Vettel and Webber), have taken the fastest lap in three races (two to one in Webber’s favour) and have won three races too (also two to one in Webber’s favour). Although neither driver has taken the hat-trick of pole, fastest lap and race win in the same race, the team have taken the hat-trick twice, including at the last race in Monaco, and Mark Webber has won both the last two races – Spain and Monaco – which happen to represent the most diametrically opposed circuit types on the Formula One circuit. So, if you’re not in a Red Bull, the message is clear – pray it breaks down. (more…)

Unfortunately, with the General Election held in the same week as the Spanish Grand Prix, I forgot to preview the Grand Prix. However, with the Monaco Grand Prix this week, you can now sit down to the treat of a dual review and preview. (more…)

After the thrills and spills of Australia last weekend, it’s Malaysia – and Sepang – this weekend. Going in to the weekend, it seems hard not to pick the Red Bulls to be the pace setters, though many are wondering if they will manage to finish the race. Eyes will also be on Michael Schumacher as he looks to beat his team-mate at the third attempt, though Nico Rosberg, who has impressed so far this season, will have other ideas. (more…)

The Bahrain Grand Prix wasn’t the most exciting race ever seen, and many felt that, given the rule changes, the Australian Grand Prix needed to produce some good racing. True to form, it did. It produced the usual Melbourne crashes, some changeable conditions throwing things wide open, and people on different pit strategies, resulting in a Grand Prix that even by Melbourne’s standards will be remembered for a while. (more…)

It is less than two weeks since the opening of the 2010 F1 season, but I struggle to remember anything memorable from it. It was the dullest race in recent memory, with only the USGP from 2005 competing. It was, perhaps, inevitable given the hype before the season started – but all the same, it was abysmal. According to the Guardian, even Lewis Hamilton’s mum was bored. It must have been bad. (more…)

I realise this review has been a while in coming. For once, it’s not because I haven’t got round to it, or because I forgot to publish. It’s because there’s very little of note to say. (more…)

Early on Friday morning, probably before any of you have read this, the F1 2010 season officially kicks off in Bahrain. It promises to be a cracker of a year, with four big teams looking neck-and-neck – Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes. Testing seemed to suggest McLaren and Ferrari may have a slight edge, but it really looks like anything could happen this weekend. It will be fascinating. (more…)