As the 2010 Grand Prix season beckons, most of my acquaintance are agreed that it’s been a very long time since we anticipated a year with such relish. Schumacher back… Alonso at Ferrari… Button with Hamilton at McLaren… four World Champions in the pack… the prospect of four highly competitive… Read more
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Alonso, but not by much…
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Theories on Button and Byrne
Dear Nigel,
I’m going to be cheeky as I have two burning questions, hopefully you will answer them both?1. I’m still a little mystified by Jenson Button’s transfer given his genuine affection for ‘his’ old team. My only theory is that he had a strong inkling that Michael Schumacher was on the way, Nico Rosberg would be demoted to test driver, and it would have been him against Schumacher – in a team run by Schumacher’s old buddy! Knowing how all Schumacher’s team-mates got treated, what would you do… any thoughts on the truth of that?
2. I’ve just read Crashed & Byrned, the book about Tommy Byrne – what a talent we missed out on! How do you think he measured up to Ayrton Senna? And why did no other Formula 1 teams pick up this guy after his McLaren test?
Tim Davison -
How Prost achieved perfection
Dear Nigel,
I confess to being a huge fan and admirer of Alain Prost, both as a person but also for his driving technique. Former team-mates Eddie Cheever and Keke Rosberg speak in amazement at how he managed to be so quick and smooth without them really understanding how or what he was doing. And former engineers, including John Barnard and Patrick Head, speak in awe of how easy on the car he was.Have you ever been privy to information or been told first-hand exactly what Prost did differently and where it was he made up so much time? Was it under braking? Was it through certain types of corner?
I would be fascinated to know, as in-car footage of Prost doesn’t reveal the secrets to his technique.
Gavin -
One that got away from Amon
Dear Nigel,
Please tell me it isn’t true, the allegation that Pedro Rodríguez was running a 3.3-litre engine in his BRM when he narrowly beat Chris Amon’s March to win the 1970 Belgian GP.
If he had been running such an engine, how on earth would it have got past the scrutineers?There’s no chance, I suppose, of retroactively awarding the win to Chris Amon? (One of the greatest racing drivers, uncrowned or crowned, I’m sure you’ll agree.)
David Goddard -
Top 10 drivers revised
Dear Nigel,
Based on what you have seen in last 30 years, how would you review your Top 10 list that was published in the book (itals) The Grand Prix Drivers (Racing heroes from Fangio to Prost) issued in 1987? Many thanks in advance for your attention.
Piero Dessimone -
Making peace with Patrese
Dear Nigel,
Thank you for your frank opinions on all that interests us, but don’t those opinions sometimes cause you trouble? How many times have you been snubbed by those you’ve panned?
Pat O’Brien -
Cevert was secure at Tyrrell
Dear Nigel,
In 1973, we lost François Cevert in a horrific qualifying accident at the US GP at Watkins Glen. My question is: did François know at the time of his accident that Tyrrell was retaining him for 1974? Jody Scheckter was confirmed for Tyrrell that weekend. He and Cevert had been involved in an accident in the previous round in Canada and François had hurt his ankle. He was quite angry with Jody.Anyone watching Cevert over the US GP weekend thought he was driving a bit over the limit. Do you think that caused him to loose it in the uphill section? Did Arturo Mezario, blending into the course from the pits, affect his line?
And finally, did he have a solid offer to go to Ferrari in ’74? As we know, François had an amazing season, with six second places, three of them 1-2 with Jackie Stewart. It’s very sad that we lost him before he reached his peak.
Allan Fields -
Will Ferrari come calling for Kubica?
Renault – in more ways than one – has had a poor time of it in Formula 1 over the last couple of years. True, Fernando Alonso returned to the team, after a single season with McLaren, but even the world’s best driver can do little with a fundamentally uncompetitive… Read more
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Senna’s step too far
Dear Nigel,
When discussing the Singapore episode lately you have brought up Senna’s crash with Prost in 1990 as an example of the inconsistent manner in which the FIA punishes teams. I was wondering if that incident made you feel differently about Ayrton. Did you respect him considerably less after that or could you oversee it given the circumstances of the championship in 1989?
Mario Carneiro Neto -
Circuits part of passing problem
Dear Nigel,
I read elsewhere Sam Michael of Williams say that the circuits are partially to blame for the lack of overtaking in F1. To me this is ridiculous. Not even at those circuits that were once part of a great calendar of venues and which still exist do we get a close race any more. It seems to me the working group put in place to cure this problem has flatly failed.Do you hold out any hope of them ever getting the balance right or that the ban on refuelling will improve matters (or will the dreaded ‘science’ now scupper even those hopes)?
Joe Gillis
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