The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Kimi's win, Vettel's race. Planet F1 photo.
By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media unless otherwise noted.
Amazing Abu Dhabi: November 4 2012
Kimi Räikkönen made off with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in great fashion. It was Kimi’s win, but Vettel’s race and Alonso’s loss.
[Read more…] about Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2012
A second place for Alonso in India.
By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
For a season that offered so much hope and competition just a few months ago, 2012 F1 has suddenly degenerated into another Red Bull Route with Vettel in charge. He’s on a roll now, the earlier problems with reliability seem to have faded, the speed has returned, and it is unlikely that even Alonso will catch Vettel for the Championship. After India, Alonso is now thirteen points behind Vettel for the Championship, and that has never been a lucky number in racing.
[Read more…] about Indian Grand Prix 2012
Red Bull Rising...
By Philippe Defechereux
Photos by Ferrari Media and Planet F1
Coming four days after a strong performance in Suzuka the previous weekend, and in parts thanks to a new “Double DRS” device, the Red Bull team arrived in Korea on Thursday as the favorites. Fans of the three other leading teams, especially Ferrari and McLaren, were hoping for a magic aero trick out of the proverbial magic bag. It was not to be. Still, the Korean race had plenty of intense moments.
Massa all the way.
By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
For what was a yawn of a race, the Japanese Grand Prix has certainly set up an exciting end to the 2012 Grand Prix season. That’s great for fans, Ecclestone, Red Bull, winner Vettel and the remaining five races on the calendar.
Not so good for Ferrari and Alonso, who is now going to have to fight tooth and nail for another crown. After being knocked out in Japan, Alonso is now a mere four points in front of Vettel for the World Championship. Every race, every position will now count heavily and each race may be a nail-biter.
[Read more…] about Japanese Grand Prix 2012
Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso
By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
Time Enough
If there is one thing we will remember about Singapore 2012, it will not be the great drive by Massa, not the winning excellence of Vettel, not the intelligent drive by Alonso for third, nor the sudden race-changing retirements of both Hamilton and Maldonado, nor that the race was foreshortened by the clock. [Read more…] about Grand Prix of Singapore
Shot of the race sent to us by Philipe Defechereux. Not sure who took the photo; if the photographer is out there our apologies, and you're hired!
By Pete Vack
After a full month away from the tracks, F1 racing returned to racing at Spa-Franchorchamps, one of the last of the real road racing venues.
[Read more…] about Belgium Grand Prix 2012
By Denise McCluggage
I don’t know when Enzo Ferrari decided not to go to races in which his cars ran but to attend practice days instead, but such was his habit when I was covering the Grand Prix circuit. More often than not he was at Monza, sort of the home ball park, for the late summer Formula 1 races. And so as you see in this photograph shot at practice for the 1958 Grand Prix of Italy is “il Commendatore”, as he was usually referred to then, performing for my camera.
[Read more…] about Denise McCluggage: Ferrari Makes a Point
By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
After what must have been a frustrating weekend for many teams, Lewis Hamilton and company came up with the best handling chassis/tire combination; the pole, and the race was his.
[Read more…] about Hungarian Grand Prix 2012
Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button
By Pete Vack
All photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
Ferrari has the new—well, seven-month-old—F2012 well sorted out. Pirelli has introduced new tire compounds. And Alonso is proving to be the driver of the year, a champion of champions. All is well in Maranello.
[Read more…] about German Grand Prix 2012
Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, and Sebastian Vettel
By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
For being a pretty boring race, all in all, the British Grand Prix was a real nail-biter. Jimmy Clark would have felt right at home as thousands of Ferrari faithfuls chewed the keratin to the quick waiting to see if Webber would catch Alonso or if Alonso would hold off Weber. [Read more…] about British Grand Prix 2012
Williams-Renault's Pastor Maldonado leads Ferrari's Felipe Massa
Copyright Williams F1
By Pete Vack
All photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari unless otherwise noted.
Tiresome and trite, tire degradation issues are degrading our sport.
Alonso’s loss at the Canadian Grand Prix is not just a loss for the Spaniard, but a loss for the Scuderia, the engineers, the designers, the sponsors, Fiat and Formula One. His loss is also our loss, for we are all held hostage to the same idiotic tire game that is dominating, and we think, ruining the sport. [Read more…] about Canadian Grand Prix 2012
While Graham Gauld brought us insights and personal stories from the pits at this year’s Historics, Hugues Vanhoolandt delivered his usual outstanding imagery from around the circuit. Below, twenty top shots for our readers.
Two early Gordinis. Number 16 is the very first Gordini single-seater,
The Lancia Marino, built by Marino Brandoli who drove it at the 1957 GP of Naples, Italy, here driven by ex-F1 driver Beppe Gabbiani. See Graham’s article for more information.
Tec Mec 250F was the ultimate evolution of the Maserati 250F. But it was immediately outpaced by the rear engined cars, its only outing being the 1959 US Grand Prix.
The Maserati A6 GCM (M for monoposto) was not accepted that year at the Monaco Grand Prix as it was reserved for Sports Cars. But they took part in the F1 World Drivers Championship, and did very well.
Julia De Baldanza battling at the ‘Swimming Pool’ corner with a Cooper T41.
Grid C commemorates the 1952 Monaco Grand Prix in which Ferraris took the five first places. Three 166 MM Touring barchettas like this one were at the start.