McLaren China

Throughout the 2010 F1 season Johnnie Walker Black Label celebrated their partnership with the Vodafone McLaren F1 team by shooting a series of short films that offer an intimate and unique insight into the world of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton alongside the unsung heroes of the McLaren team as they prepared on and off the circuit for what was probably tyhe best F1 season in a long time.

Johnnie Walker Black Label are making the films available via their Step Inside the Circuit series, enabling fans to travel with the drivers to some of the most famous and exciting race locations in the Grand Prix calendar.

Exclusive behind the scenes photographs are also scheduled for release which capture the stylish and sophisticated world of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button as Grand Prix drivers.

Buzzin F1 will feature the videos here on this blog with Johnnie Walker Black Label promising content that no race fans will have seen before.

Former World Champion and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 team driver Jenson Button said: “This is a unique opportunity for people to see me, Lewis and the team in our natural environment and should give people a true appreciation of what we get up to behind the scenes and the hard work and effort that goes into creating a winning team.”

The Legend of Mclaren

Meet the Vodafone McLaren F1 team

To coincide with the launch a Johnnie Walker Black Label limited edition pack has been produced. The Johnnie Walker Gold Pass pack will provide opportunities to win ‘one of a kind’ motorsport experiences and prizes, including an incredible money can’t buy chance to live the glamorous lifestyle by joining Lewis and Jenson in Monaco over the Grand Prix weekend in May 2011. Others can also visit the Johnnie Walker Step Inside Facebook page for the chance to win spot prizes and see the films first as they are released.

This video features fans favourite Mark Webber and young driver Daniel Ricciardo putting the RB6 through its paces on the race track in Perth.

Asked to define one moment that stood out this season, Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey says he would pick the moment when he knew that Red Bull had produced a fast car with the RB6.

‘Wind-tunnel testing is one thing, but you can never be sure. Not even pole position at the first race will guarantee you’ll still be competitive at the last race. The development race between the teams during the season has become so tough, this is something people outside of Formula One don’t fully realize.

So my ‘Magic Moment’ has to be the Brazilian GP, when we fought back after that disastrous Grand Prix in Korea two weeks earlier, where we lost both cars. Brazil showed how strong this team really is,  it proved our character and it was very, very special.’

Fernando Alonso

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso couldn’t manage to pass Sebastian Vettel in Abu Dhabi in the race for the 2010 F1 World Championship title, but off the track he has been voted the Driver Of The Year by the Principals of the F1 Racing Teams.

Using the exact same scoring system as is applied to the racing on the track, the Team Principals handed the verdict to Alonso with 229 points to Vettel’s 220.

Nothing could take the place of acheiving the World Championship Drivers title on the track of course, but the consolation was accepted by the Spanish driver as recognition for what he himself considered a remarkable first year with the Ferrari team.

Alonso said;

“I am very pleased to learn that the majority of team principals chose me as their best driver of the year, even if it goes without saying that I would have preferred to receive that accolade in the guise of world champion,” commented Fernando. “It is yet another reason to claim this has been an amazing season, despite the disappointment at the final hurdle. The team and I fought all the way to the very end, without ever giving up, even when it all seemed like a lost cause: we staged a remarkable comeback. Next year, we will be looking to do better, but I will still remember 2010 as a wonderful year.”

Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali made no secret about where his vote went and said;

“I am pleased and proud that Fernando has been rated by my fellow team principals as the best driver of this past year: he had a fantastic season. It is hardly a secret that he is a talented driver, but I must say, on behalf of everyone at Ferrari, that it was an honour for us to work with him from the human perspective. Fernando was a driving force and our aim next year will be to give him and Felipe a car which is competitive at the very highest level, right from the first race.”

The newly named Team Lotus are among those who have confirmed their drivers for tye first time, announcing that will be retaining the services of both of last years competitors, veteran driver Jano Trulli alongside Heikki Kovalainen.

Sauber have also announced both drivers for 2011 when new boy Sergio Perez will join the more experienced Kamui Kobayashi.

Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes will retain the same driver line ups as last season, while of the other established teams Renault have confirmed Robert Kubica only at this stage and Williams have retained the most experienced driver on the circuit, Rubens Barrichello for their challenge next year.

The Full 2011 Drivers  line up so far:
Red Bull
1 Sebastian Vettel
2 Mark Webber

McLaren
3 Jenson Button
4 Lewis Hamilton

Ferrari
5 Fernando Alonso
6 Felipe Massa

Mercedes GP
7 Michael Schumacher
8 Nico Rosberg

Renault
9 Robert Kubica
10 TBA

Williams
11 Rubens Barrichello
12 TBA

Force India
14 TBA
15 TBA

Sauber
16 Kamui Kobayashi
17 Sergio Perez

Toro Rosso
18 TBA
19 TBA

Team Lotus
20 Jarno Trulli
21 Heikki Kovalainen

Hispania
22 TBA
23 TBA

Virgin Racing
24 TBA
25 TBA

Framed overalls Lewis

This amazing Christmas Charity Auction opens from midnight (00.01, Wednesday December 1st) and for seven days fans of Formula 1, Football and whisky will have the chance to make their bids for these money-can’t-buy items, with all the money raised going towards finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease (NMD).

So, if you fancy a personal meeting with Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton or a VIP tour of the McLaren Technical Centre or even an exclusive Hublot Red Devil Bang Manchester United watch presented by players of the team-prepare yourself to take part in the exclusive Talisker Bounty Boat Auction on eBay.

Here is a list of the ‘priceless’ items that you will be bidding for:

• One of only 600 Hublot Red Devil Bang Manchester United watches personally presented by Manchester United players. This is the official Manchester United watch and is highly sought after among watch collectors. This package also includes four VIP hospitality tickets to a Manchester United match at Old Trafford.
• Personal VIP tour of McLaren’s state-of-the art Technology Centre in Surrey followed by a three course lunch and one-on-one meet with either Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton.
• A tour of the McLaren Technology Centre for 4 people & a look at the McLaren MP4-12C roadcar for four people, with a drive in the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes development simulator for one of the guests
• A framed set of Lewis Hamilton’s overalls from his 2008 World Championship winning season
• A  replica race helmet signed by Jenson Button
• A tour of the McLaren Technology Centre for two people
• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race helmet, from the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500.  Autographed by the starting field, including Jeff Gordon, Jamie McMurray, Carl Edwards, Jeff Burton and many others.
• Nascar overalls worn by Greg Biffle
• Four Talisker VIP packages, including a personalised tour of the Talisker distillery in Scotland, by Distillery Manager Mark Lochead and bottle of Talisker 18 signed by the Distillery Manager.
• 20 bottles of Talisker 10 year old single malt whisky with labels that were on the Talisker Bounty Boat throughout the historical expedition and signed by the crew members in Kupang.

Ryan Giggs, first team player at Manchester United, said in support of the auction: “Both myself and the team are honoured to be able to help raise some much needed funds for Motor Neurone Disease. We’re looking forward to meeting the successful bidder and presenting this exclusive Hublot watch.”

The auction, organised by the Talisker Bounty Boat Expedition, is raising vital funds for the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), whose new world-class research centre into Motor Neurone Disease is due to be inaugurated by HM the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in Sheffield on 18^th November. The money raised specifically from this auction will provide funding for a world leading researcher to spend a year working with the SITraN team, advancing our understanding of Motor Neurone Disease, giving sufferers the hope of an efficient treatment and hopefully a cure.

Mercedes-Benz

The four cowardly attackers, not content with stealing the items then attacked the octogenarian, punching him in the face and kicking him on the ground.

The gang had been waiting outside the building in Knightsbridge where Ecclesone has an eigth floor penthouse, ambushing the pair as they were about to enter.

Ecclestone was back at work within 48 hours sporting a massive black eye and bruising to his face, telling the Sun, “I’m feeling it now, it was a good whacking. They said nothing to me, just went on the attack. I took a kick or two in the head and went unconscious.”

While finishing first on its own did not ensure Vettel would win the title, team tactics at Red Bull of bringing team mate Mark Webber in early for new tyres and a change of strategy although effectively ending the Australian’s own title bid, played right into the hands of the young German.

It was Ferrari’s response to the early pitting of Webber, in choosing to cover the move by bringing their own title favourite Fernando Alonso in, that was surprising and ultimately cost both drivers dearly.

One could be forgiven for thinking it was the best team tactic of the season by Red Bull, a huge bluff that caught Ferrari off guard and their needless response in following suit would have put a huge smile on the faces of the Red Bull team.

Of course it would be wrong to make that assumption as both drivers should have had the pace and experience to put themselves back into contention during the race, despite being compromised by their teams when rejoining the race behind a string of cars that had already made their own pit stops on a track renowned for its lack of overtaking.

So it was left to Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button to try and spoil the party for Red Bull and for a while in the race it looked as though one or the other might just be able to pull something out of the bag.

But as he has proved all season, Vettel is a tough driver to beat and so long as his car is running it is a safe bet that he will win the race.

For the other contenders, Hamilton, Button and Alonso will have more chances to add to their own titles in the future, but you can’t help but feel for Webber, the oldest of the group who may never have a better chance of claiming a title.

I feel that the fastest, most consistent driver over the season eventually got his just rewards in winning the title, but I also feel that Webber has been treated as second best, if that, by the Red Bull team throughout.

Williams driver Nico Hulkenberg who was the surprise pole sitter at Interlagos, was soon overtaken by the drivers competing for this years title and as expected it was Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso who led the rest for most of the race.

While Lewis Hamilton kept his name in the frame for the championship his chances of winning his second world title this year will rely on the top three drivers failing to finish the race in Abu Dhabi.

Which is more than can be said for his McLaren team mate Jenson Button, whose fifth place on Sunday effectively rules him out of the title hunt and dreams of back to back titles.

Looking ahead to Abu Dhabi this coming weekend, Ferrari driver Alonso leads the way with 246 championship points, with Red Bull’s Mark Webber on 238 and Vettel 231. Outsider Lewis Hamilton has amassed 222 points.

Alonso has said that he is 100% confident of claiming the title in Abu Dhabi, knowing that if he finishes second in the final race of the year it will be enough to secure his third world championship.

Should Vettel win the last race Alonso will only have to finish in the top four places, so you would imagine the perfect result for Red Bull would be for Webber to win the race and effectively the championship by being followed home by his team mate Vettel, relegating Alonso to a maximum third place finish.

There is bound to be a lot of pressure on both teams on Saturday as the limited overtaking possibilities in Abu Dhabi will mean that each of the drivers will drive the wheels of their cars to get on pole position, but even that will count for nothing if they are unable to capitalise on that in the race.

With both Hamilton and Button out of the hunt I imagine most British fans will be rooting for Mark Webber on Sunday, many feel he has been treated a s a second driver to Vettel despite team boss Christian Horner saying otherwise and it would be a great to see the Australian have the last laugh.

Vettel and co will have other opportunities in the future, but for Webber you can’t help feeling this maybe his final chance to claim the ultimate prize in F1.

For Button to succeed it would need the top four drivers to either not finish, or finish out of the points in the final two races and even then Button would have to do what frankly seems impossible and win both races.

McLaren team mate and 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton is better placed to pull something out of the bag, but historically the McLarens have not been strong enough in Brazil to expect the British driver to get a win.

The Red Bull’s of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel have been fastest all season and had they managed to finish all of the races would surely be in pole position for one or the other to clinch the title.

They are the real contenders in my view along with Fernando Alonso, who is the only driver currently able to claim the title in Brazil.

Alonso is indeed the man in form going into the weekend having won three of the last four races in a Ferrari that has proved itself in previous seasons in Brazil.

In this interview Lewis Hamilton sums up his race in Korea and his thoughts on the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend.

Heavy rain had led to a ten minute delay in the start of the Korean Grand Prix and when it was deemed safe to start the race it was done so under the Safety Car, lasting just three laps before being red flagged.

It was forty eight minutes before the race got back under way and even then it was necessary to start behind the Safety Car, with half hour passing before normal racing was able to begin.

With Sebastian Vettel controlling the race from the front and Red Bull team mate Mark Webber in second, Fernando Alonso was able to keep in touch with the leaders in third place.

Light rain was still falling when on lap nineteen, Mark Webber lost control of his car, spinning across the track and bouncing back on narrowly avoiding the following Ferrari of Alonso, but collecting the fourth place Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and ending the race for both the Mercedes and Red Bull drivers.

It was all the more upsetting to see Rosberg involved through no fault of his own after displaying some brilliant aggressive driving to force himself past Lewis Hamilton into fourth place earlier on, in what was the Mercedes drivers best drive for some time.

Another frustrating Safety Car period followed as the debris was cleared from the track conditions appeared to be improving, McLaren’s Jenson Button was the first intothe pits to switch to intermediate tyres, emerging behind a traffic jam of cars in what was already a dreadful day for the current World Champion.

Another crash involving Sebastien Buemi and Timo Glock brought the Safety Car out yet again and Alonso and Hamilton entered the pit lane together for a change of tyres.

The Ferrari team had trouble with the front right wheel nut, giving McLaren the edge as Hamilton emerged from the pit lane some distance ahead of Alonso. But as the race got back underway Hamilton lost his car going into the first corner allowing the wiley Spaniard to claim the place back.

A hapless Button was forced back even further down the field following one of the many incidents in the race involving Adrian Sutil, who appeared to be having the time of his life spinning his car off the track and forcing other drivers to take evasive action with his uncontrolled late braking manoeuvres, totally oblivious to the madness of it all.

The Force India driver was penalised after the race with a five place grid penalty as well as being fined $10,000 for his irresponsible driving while knowing that he had a brake problem! Torro Roso’s Buemi also penalised for his crash with Glock and taking a five place grid penalty.

Back to the race and Alonso looked to be closing the gap on Vettel but still some way behind the German driver as dusk started to close in, the Red Bull driver understandably moaning on the radio to his team complaining that visibility was getting bad.

And then on lap 46 the Red Bull engine gave up, ending Vettel’s race and the Ferrari breezed past to lead the Grand Prix. Darkness was descending by the time that Fernado Alonso took the chequered flag, winning the race and putting himself in the driving seat for the Drivers Championship.

Korean Grand Prix Results:

Position     Driver     Race Time
1     F Alonso     2:48:20.810
2     L Hamilton     2:48:35.809
3     F Massa     2:48:51.678
4     M Schumacher     2:49:00.498
5     R Kubica     2:49:08.544
6     V Liuzzi     2:49:14.381
7     R Barrichello     2:49:30.067
8     K Kobayashi     2:49:38.699
9     N Heidfeld     2:49:40.917
10     N Hulkenberg     2:49:41.661

Drivers Championship Leaderboard:

Driver     Points
1      F Alonso       231
2     M Webber     220
3     L Hamilton    210
4     S Vettel          206
5     J Button        189
6      F Massa       143
7      R Kubica     124
8      N Rosberg   122
9      M Schumacher     66
10      R Barrichello     47