Alvin's Formula One Blog

The Mexican Grand Prix is an FIA-sanctioned auto race held at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. It first appeared as a non-championship event in 1962 before being held as a championship event from 1963-1970 and 1986-1992. The Grand Prix returned in 2015 at the Mexico City circuit. The last few races have seen some fascinating strategy gambles from Red Bull and others, so will we see more of the same this weekend, as the F1 teams race for the second time on the revamped Hermanos Rodgrizuez circuit in Mexico City? Over 350,000 people are expected to attend across the three days, with organisers installing new grandstands, such is the demand for F1 tickets in Mexico. The track was brand new last year, so the surface has had a year to shed the oils that are always present in new tarmac and in addition there has been quite a bit of racing activity, so there should be significantly more grip from rubber on the surface. The confines of the Magdalena Mixhuaca park which ...

The race conclusions from PlanetF1. Original article is here . Nico Rosberg is playing the “long game” while Carlos Sainz may have lost out in the Fernando Alonso tussle but could yet have the last laugh. Playing the long game Venus Williams was one of the high-profile figures in the Mercedes paddock this weekend and the US Grand Prix, although not a classic, was befitting of a match at Flushing Meadows as F1’s big boys probed and pushed their opponents on the track. The strategic battle between Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari made for compelling viewing, while some drivers literally pushed their rivals around – here’s looking at you Daniil Kvyat while Fernando Alonso’s light ‘kiss’ on former team-mate Felipe Massa also stands out. Lewis Hamilton may have trimmed Nico Rosberg’s lead to 26 points but as the German said repeatedly on team radio, what matters is the “long game”. Rosberg does not need to take any risks and made it clear in Austin that he will be playing the p...

As Nico Hulkenberg leaves Force India for Renault, 11 seats have yet to be officially confirmed for 2017. Indeed, the German, who had an existing contract with Force India for 2017, is proof that even if a contract is in place those numerous clauses contained in it mean nothing can be taken for granted until the cars line up on the grid in Melbourne, though in Sauber’s case… While Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren have confirmed their 2017 line-ups, a number of teams have only nominated one driver thus far, while four, including Williams, have yet to officially confirm either of their drivers. Though Valtteri Bottas is likely to remain with Williams, it is known that Renault is eyeing the Finn whose rise appears to have faltered somewhat this season. While Canadian youngster Lance Stroll is expected to fill one of the seats at Grove, due to the team's sponsorship by drinks giant Martini no announcement can be made before he turns 18 later this month, the Saturday of the...

The Japanese Grand Prix is a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. Traditionally one of the last, if not the last race of the season, the Japanese Grand Prix has been the venue for many title-deciding races, with 13 World Champions being crowned over the 27 World Championship Japanese Grands Prix that have been hosted. The first two Japanese Grands Prix in 1976 and 1977 were held at the Fuji Speedway, before Japan was taken off the calendar. It returned in 1987 at  Suzuka , which hosted the Grand Prix exclusively for 20 years and gained a reputation as one of the most challenging F1 circuits. In 2007 the Grand Prix moved back to the newly redesigned Fuji Speedway. After a second race at Fuji in 2008, the race returned to Suzuka in 2009. New additions to the Formula One calendar tend to be homogeneous affairs lacking in local colour. But the unique Suzuka circuit’s fairground setting and famously dedicated fans make it unmistakably Japanese. It also...