Motorsport on Monday: 24/08/2015
Spa reviewed, Guy Ligier RIP, WRC Germany and wishing Justin Wilson all the best
An afternoon to forget for Bottas
Moves of the race have to be Kvyat's mighty overtakes to grab fourth position. He was masterful under the brakes - in contrast to Verstappen - and showing that much precision and composure under pressure was a real standout, particularly as the Red Bull was running a skinny wing compared to the others.
However, Red Bull has apparently called time on the engine deal with Renault for 2016 already, so frustrated are they with its 'lamentable' performance. Having not won yourself too many fans with your attitude to date, Red Bull, here's hoping Renault don't come up with a slam-dunk for 2016 - even if you get Merc engines, you won't be the de facto works team you currently are.
And what if you don't get Mercedes - what then? Honda?
Thrills aplenty again at Knockhill!
BTCC visited Knockhill this weekend and it was a win apiece for Team Dynamics Honda drivers Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden, plus another win for the ever-faster Rob Collard (whose MSA Formula-driving son Ricky was this week confirmed as a BRDC Rising Star).
It was a particularly popular local win for Shedden, but the entire weekend seemed a great motorsport festival. Any racing is great to watch at Knockhill and if you couldn't be there, feet-up with ITV4 on a rainy Sunday afternoon was the next best thing. A proper spectacle from start to finish.
F1 driver, team owner and rugby player!
Former F1 team owner, points-scoring driver and French B team rugby player Guy Ligier has died. He was 85. Famous for his oh-so French pale blue and white cars, Ligier drove in the 1966 and 1967 seasons but, although he didn't enter F1 until he was 35, still retired early after the death of his friend Jo Schlesser. He became a sportscar constructor instead: his first car, the JS1, was named after Schlesser.
Buying Matra Sports in 1974 gave Ligier a route into F1, in which the name remained for the next 22 years: its final win was Olivier Panis' famous 1996 Monaco Grand Prix victory in the howling Mugen-powered car. By then, Guy Ligier had sold his stake in the team: rather improbably, the canny businessmen had moved into microcars - he was indeed behind those odd little quadricycles we sometimes see here in the UK.
A great career, then, and a sad loss. So let's celebrate Ligier's life with a set of headphones and a quick search for 'Ligier Matra'. You know the one...
VW wins in Germany; who'd have thought?
Volkswagen scored a podium lockout in the German WRC round, and the entire team led by the ever-ebullient Jost Capito breathed a huge sigh of relief. Piech may be gone but Dr. Winterkorn is equally fearsome and would you fancy explaining a foul-up on home soil to him?
Sebastien Ogier of course won, leading Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen. Behind them, Hyundai was a not-bad fourth, Sordo less than half a minute behind Mikkelsen, and M-Sport driver Elfyn Evans starred with a sixth place overall and a standout stage performance as the only non-VW driver to win one.
More disappointment for Kris Meeke though. Another mistake saw him tumble out the points as his fight for a seat continues. Citroen are saying some grotty things about him, and the pressure is clearly showing. The only positive for him this weekend was Capito's admission that if he had a fourth car, Meeke would be in it like a shot. What next for McRae's protege?
Wilson's condition apparently 'critical'
Awful news from America overnight: British star Justin Wilson is in a coma after being hit by debris when a Ganassi car crashed in front of him late in the race: Wilson's car veered into the infield barrier immediately after he was hit, by what appeared to be the nosecone of the Ganassi car.
IndyCar officials have said the Andretti Autosport driver's condition is "critical" and he's currently in a coma as he undergoes further evaluation. "Indycar sends its thoughts and prayers to Justin, his family and Andretti Autosport during this difficult time." Here, here.
Move of the weekend - this, just this makes F1 worthwhile.
Ferrari have offered their engines I believe. If I was Ferrari, I wouldn't bother though as the Red Bull with the same spec. Ferrari engine would probably be quicker than the Ferrari! I am sure Ferrari would produce a customer spec. engine though!
Going back to McLaren, I have no idea how these things work in practice, but why couldn't Mr McLaren invite Mr Honda to the MTC late one night last season and ask him to have a look at the Merc engine. I am sure he could put it back together. Did the Merc have anti-tamper seals or something? Must have been very annoying for Ron having the best F1 engine downstairs and not being able to open it up and scrutinise it.
Move of the weekend - this, just this makes F1 worthwhile.
Move of the weekend - this, just this makes F1 worthwhile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8CWaTO9w18
McHonda posted the 5th fastest lap of the race on Sunday and were the 3rd quickest car through sector 2 behind only the Mercedes.
Also yes, Mercedes did pretty much have Customer engines under lock and key, Ron Dennis already stated that no one else with a customer Mercedes engine will win the world championship, read into that what you will. He also stated that they were never allowed access to the telemetry of the engine to try to improve their own car so switching to Honda gave them full factory support they need.
This season is a test season, and people nowadays have no patience. Honda didn't sign up to make up the numbers, they have taken a radical approach to their PU. They don't want to catch Mercedes, they want to surpass them.
Move of the weekend - this, just this makes F1 worthwhile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8CWaTO9w18
Wow - top action.
He got caught out by loss of down-force due to a slow Massa when trying to overtake Raikkonen in the Ferrari... during the last round... and he's driving a second hand Renault himself.
And the move on Nasr has never been done before in F1.
Max was the hero again, BBC agrees.
I'm sure many people will ask: What happens if you give him a Ferrari.
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