Hamilton: I want to be a Formula 1 legend

Lewis Hamilton has declared that being a one time Formula World champion is not part of his master plan and the goal is to become one of the most successful drivers of his generation, with more F1 titles high on his list of priorities.

Interviewed by the Observer, the 2008 F1 World Champion said, “I am not here to race ten years and only win one or two world championships. I want to be one of the most successful F1 drivers of this generation so I do want to win more world championships and I think you have to continue winning and prove yourself time after time for people to really know that you are the best. I can’t say right now that people can say he was clearly the best in the world. I have only been here for four years so I have got a lot more to do.”

After a mega career in the lower ranks, it was no surprise that the 26 year old Briton took the Formula 1 world by storm. In his first F1 season in 2007 he nearly won the world championship, a year later he did so and today he is rated as one of the best drivers currently plying their trade at the pinnacle of motor sport.

McLaren have backed Hamilton since he was a toddler and he is deeply indebted to the team. But, for a racing driver, the reason to exist is to win races and if the team they are with do not deliver race winning machinery then temptation to seek a team that can deliver becomes a necessity.

Despite the hype it is abundantly clear that the McLaren MP4-26, the weapon that Hamilton will use to challenge for the 2011 title, has been a huge disappointment and has done little to inspire either of the team’s drivers.

If it is yet another year of catch-up for the silver cars, then it would be no surprise if Hamilton starts looking beyond the posh lawns of Woking and work offers would not be scarce!

McLaren have not won the constructors title since 1998 and since then only two driver’s titles, in 1999 and 2008. But their greatest strength is the ability to turnaround bad cars into race winners during the course of the season.

However this may not be enough to take on the might of Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes who also have similar capacity but appear to already have pretty good cars to work from in 2011.

Earlier this month after day two of the final 2011 preseason testing at Circuit de Catalunya, Hamilton said, “Do I believe I have a car to win the world championship at the moment? I don’t. No.”

Clearly McLaren will have to deliver to keep their star in a McLaren cockpit. His recently appointed manager, Simon Fuller, will no doubt be looking out for the best opportunities and will certainly explore every avenue for his high profile client.

Fuller is adamant, “He [Hamilton] is not only one of the leading sportsmen of his generation, but he will, I believe, become one of the best of all time.”

For now Hamilton is spinning the politically correct PR line, “Look at the history of McLaren. They are an incredible team. I haven’t been to other factories, but McLaren have some of the greatest people I have ever met in the team. The way they treat their drivers is fantastic. It is a great place to go to work and I feel privileged to be part of the team. They are fighters and I am a fighter,” he said.

But the question is: Can the team deliver on their driver’s aspirations to become a Formula 1 legend like those that have driven their cars in the past – Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Niki Lauda? Time will tell…

Source: YallaF1

Vettel pulled off a 'Räikkönen'

Sebastian Vettel looked to Kimi Räikkönen for inspiration as he battled his way to becoming the youngest Formula One Champion in history

Vettel's situation was a forlorn one when his Red Bull suffered a blown engine in Korea three weeks ago, handing victory on a plate to Fernando Alonso that left the German trailing by 25 points with two races remaining.

Three years ago Räikkönen's hopes were hanging by a thinner thread as he trailed Lewis Hamilton by 17 points with only 20 up for grabs.

But the Finn went on to remarkably win the title by a point as he took the chequered flag in the last two races, whilst Hamilton suffered problems in both that left him crushed.

On this occasion Vettel, too, managed to win the final two grands prix, following up his success in Brazil with a second successive victory under the lights in Abu Dhabi.

Going into Sunday's race all Alonso needed to do was cover any potential Vettel victory with fourth place, but Ferrari's abysmal tactics saw him finish seventh, and four points adrift of the German.

"Prior to the race I was thinking about Kimi's situation," said Vettel, who takes the title at 23 years 135 days beating Hamilton's 2008 record by 166 days.

"Whether you like Kimi or not - some people do, some people don't - but I faced a little bit of a similar situation.

"Obviously we were in a stronger position in terms of how many points were missing.

"But if you know Kimi, you know the one big advantage he has is that he just does his own thing, which was my target all weekend long.

"What he achieved three years ago was very special because no one thought it was possible.

"He proved us wrong, but the circumstances were special, the same as with me."

In the immediate aftermath of his triumph, Vettel initially claimed he was "speechless", only to subsequently open his heart.

Vettel's words were certainly heartfelt as he proceeded to thank a variety of people with a speech that was Oscar-like in its depth.

Overall, there was unsurprising pride at joining the list of the all-time greats, adding: "We have one guy in the team who knows all the World Champions of every year since 1950.

"Just ask him the year and he gives you the World Champion, so to be on that list now with drivers like (Ayrton) Senna and Michael (Schumacher), those two guys, I mean...I don't know.

"I'm just happy to put my name down on the list."

Vettel now possesses every significant age record in the sport as he is also the youngest to score points; lead a race; qualify on pole; win a grand prix.

It is an astonishing compilation, and who is to say he cannot now go on to beat many of the records of seven-times Champion and 91-times grands prix winner Schumacher.

In adding the Drivers' title to the Constructors' Championship won last week in Brazil, team principal Christian Horner was naturally overwhelmed and ebullient.

"The first time Sebastian has led the Championship is at the last race of the year, but arguably it's the only time you need to lead it," said Horner.

"He's stuck with it though this year, he's had some tough times and he's had his issues with reliability here and there, but he's never lost his focus.

"He's the youngest ever World Champion and a very deserving World Champion.

"It's down to what he's done on the circuit, and the whole team is hugely proud of what he's achieved."

Source: Planet-F1

Abu Dhabi sold out for title finale

Sunday's 2010 world championship finale in Abu Dhabi is sold out, organisers of the Yas Marina event have announced.

Richard Cregan, chief executive of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, said the capacity crowd on race day is about 50,000.

The event also sold out for its inaugural running a year ago.

"We are very proud to be staging the race and to know that we will see the crowning of the 2010 world champion," said Cregan.

Barely a day after seeing the chequered flag 12,000 kilometres away in Brazil, the F1 cars and equipment arrived at the impressive Abu Dhabi track on Tuesday.

Incredibly, despite the desert location and extremely low annual rainfall, some rain fell in Abu Dhabi late on Tuesday.

And some more light sprinkles are possible over the Grand Prix weekend, according to some forecasts.

McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh told Auto Motor und Sport he is relieved that this weekend's focus is an unprecedented four-way battle for the title.

In past years, the title battles have been marred by off-track team disputes, political wrangling with the FIA, and scandals.

"It's refreshing," the Briton admitted.

"Four drivers with three different teams have a chance of the title, which has never happened before. This is an epic championship battle," added Whitmarsh.

Source: Motorsport.com

The Abu Dhabi GP timetable

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which takes place at Yas Marina Circuit, marks the season finale of the 2010 F1 World Championship

All times are local (Abu Dhabi is GMT +4)

Thursday 11 November
15:00: FIA press conference

Friday 12 November
13:00 - 14:30: First free practice
17:00 - 18:30: Second free practice
19:00: FIA press conference

Saturday 13 November
14:00 - 15:00: Third free practice
17:00 - 18:00: Qualifying
18:00: FIA post qualifying press conference

Sunday 14 November
17:00 - 19:00: Abu Dhabi GP
19:00: FIA post race press conference

Abu Dhabi GP Info
No of Laps: 55
Race Distance:305.355km
Lap Record: 1.40.279 - S Vettel (2009)
2009 Winner: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

Source: Planet-F1

How Formula One womaniser James Hunt slept with 33 BA stewardesses before race that made him world champ

James Hunt was not known for ­behaving ­appropriately. But never was he more outrageous than in the last two weeks of October 1976, when he was in Tokyo ­battling Niki Lauda for the title of ­Formula One world motor racing ­champion.

His preparations were unconventional, to say the least. He had spent the two weeks leading up to the race on a round-the-clock alcohol, ­cannabis and cocaine binge with his friend Barry Sheene, who was world motorcycle champion that year.

While Jackie Stewart famously abstained from sex a week before a motor race, Hunt would often have sex minutes before climbing into the ­cockpit.

He had a gigantic appetite for sex. Physically, he was unequalled even if, emotionally, he was, ­perhaps, an amateur.

In Japan, his playground of choice was the Tokyo Hilton, where every morning British ­Airways ­stewardesses were dropped off at ­reception for a 24-hour stopover.

Hunt unfailingly met them as they checked in and invited them to his suite for a party — they always said yes.

It wasn’t unusual for him and Sheene to have sex with all of the women, often together.

But, as Stirling Moss, who used to carouse with Hunt in Monte Carlo before

No one watching Hunt that week in 1976 would have believed he was ­preparing for the race of his life.

At the circuit, he had been behaving bizarrely — at one point dropping his overalls and urinating in full view of the crowds in the grandstand.

The ­spectators, many of whom had ­powerful binoculars trained on him, applauded once he had finished.
He waved back. Even on race day, his mind was on other things — and he didn’t care who knew it.

Nothing could have prepared Patrick Head, now co-owner of the Williams F1 team but then a young car designer, for the morning when he inadvertently walked into the wrong pit garage.

He found Hunt inside, with his racing overalls around his ankles, cavorting with a Japanese girl. Hunt laughed when he saw the interloper, who left, not quite believing what he had seen.

A few minutes later, Hunt left the garage and went around the side to carry out his pre-race ritual of vomiting — the result of extreme nerves ­combined with overindulgence.

Finally ready for action, Hunt Hunt went out to drive the race of his life... and won the 1976 world championship, beating his nearest rival by one point.

The televised action was seen by more than 30million people around the world and his victory signalled a huge celebration.
It was 24 hours before he was due to return to Britain and, in the interim, Hunt drank himself silly.

At a British Embassy reception in his honour, Hunt was so drunk that the ambassador hesitated to let him in.

The return flight on Japan Airlines had been block-booked by F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone’s travel company and was the scene for a riotous 12-hour party that drained the plane of alcohol.

When Hunt arrived back at Heathrow airport, 2,000 fans were waiting to greet him. He staggered down the steps of the aircraft, drunk, into the arms of his mother Sue and his beautiful, long-­suffering girlfriend Jane Birbeck.

[...] Full article HERE

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

A Finnish band made a song about Kimi's life

The rock-band TAP from Tampere wanted to honor Kimi's achievements as a person swell as his sport-career and they wrote a song about the man's life.

– I dig Kimi's lifestyle and attitude. He is my unbeatable favourite dude. I've played hockey and been on camps with Teemu Selänne and others but none of them are at the same level Kimi is, the singer Juha praises the Finnish driver.

The inspiration for the song 'Deny everything' (Kiellä kaikki) came from the treatment Iceman got from Ferrari. The song tells about Kimi's lifeline, the good and the bad sides of it.

– Kimi took the WDC and did good stuff for the team. Then they made a s*** car for Kimi and after that everything went to hell. And then he was pushed out at the end. That's why the words say "a pencil writes about you on the paper, words that are fruitful here. Your handprints will remain in small folders when the next page is turned again".

According to the singer Kimi's attitude has always been awesome. Why go and explain your own things to others when they always are turned upside down.

– "Deny everything or otherwise you always get to hear how everybody is talking about you again". That's just how it goes. I don't know Kimi personally but hopefully Kimi hears the song. It's a tribute to him.

lyrics, translated by Nora M:

TAP - Kiellä Kaikki – Deny everything

A pen is writing on the paper about you
The words that bear fruit here
The prints of your hands remain only on the small covers
When the page is being turned again

In a magazine the headlines are writing about you
Words change and the truth is being covered
The prints of your hands remain only on the small covers
When the page is being turned again

Deny everything or you will always hear about
How everyone is talking about you again
Don’t listen to the pictures
Your mind goes up in smoke again
When the nest is burning where a bird is singing
It’s evil songs

Hand on a gun and a narrow mind
Who says that you don’t dare to do anything
Get wasted and have a break from thinking
Looking for the better again

Your own time the whole world is down
Buy time do it on the edge of the world
Get wasted and have a break from thinking
Looking for the better again

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Nicole

Vettel: The Championship means everything

Sebastian Vettel has underlined his dedication to winning the World title, revealing that like many drivers he's made sacrifices since a young age to get where he is.

The German, who began racing karts at the age of eight, currently sits in third place on the Drivers' table, ten points behind his team-mate Mark Webber and well in the hunt for the Championship glory - his primary goal in life.

"Nothing in the world means as much to me as winning the World Championship," Vettel is quoted as saying by Auto Bild.

The 23-year-old admits that in his younger years he often had to work on his racing skills while his friends enjoyed summers by the pool.

"How I wish I'd been there, but I had to work hard and train. I already was working for my goal in life," he explained.

While not far off the leaders in the title race, Vettel has endured a frustrating period in which a number of factors have prevented him from capitalising on having what has for the most part been the fastest car on the grid.

Last time out in Hungary, Vettel was slapped with a drive-through penalty for allowing team-mate Mark Webber to get beyond the permissible 10 car lengths during the safety car period, with the punishment dropping him to third spot when first place was well within his grasp.

The Hungary mistake followed on from a puncture at Silverstone which saw Vettel finish in seventh spot despite qualifying first. Then there was of course the infamous collision between the two Red Bull drivers in Turkey which saw Vettel crash out and record only his second DNF thus far this season.

Vettel will need to eradicate such mishaps if he's to win the title, and achieve his lifetime goal.

Source: Planet F1

Räikkönen: three unforgettable years together

"I will never forget the three years I spent at Ferrari. At the wheel of a car from Maranello, I managed to realise my dream as a driver, which was to win the Formula 1 World Championship title, but it’s not just because of the results that I will never forget this experience. It was a very intense time, a mix of indescribable happiness and some difficult moments: throughout it all, we were always united, as befits a real team.

I took nine wins with Ferrari and three of them stand out. The first was in Melbourne, in 2007, because I could not ask for more than to start my career with the Reds in this way. Then there was the last one at Spa last year, because winning in those circumstances, with a car that was not as good as that of the opposition, was a real morale booster for the team, which was going through a particularly complicated time. Then, there was the victory in Sao Paolo, which brought me the world title and no other words are needed to explain why that race is special for me.

My character and how I express myself is very different to the Italian way, but that did not stop us from understanding each other and the emotions we shared. I gave my maximum effort over those three years and I got so much in return and even if, in the end, we went our separate ways, I will always have some really nice memories.”

Source: Ferrari

Horner cools contract talk

Red Bull Racing principal Christian Horner is adamant that the team are not in contract talks with Mark Webber, saying they are relaxed about the future of the new drivers' championship leader

Webber powered away to a Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday and reports before the race had suggested that Horner had been in talks with the driver's agent.

Webber's management team were seen entering into discussions with Horner ahead of the 33-year-old Australian's Monaco Grand Prix triumph, which propelled him to the top of the drivers' championship standings, and later emerging with beaming smiles.

But Horner maintains Webber's future has yet to be discussed, although if that is the case, he has certainly done himself the power of good with his back-to-back wins over the past two weekends.

"The team and Mark are very relaxed about the situation," said Horner. He is an important member of the team and he is driving fantastically well at he moment. He enjoys driving here, and we enjoy having him.

No talks

"But we have not spoken and have no real interest in speaking with any of our drivers, so when the time gets to it, we will sit down and look at the paperwork."

Horner acknowledged Webber is in the form of his career, underlined by the fact he has won in Spain and Monaco from pole to flag, a total of 144 consecutive laps in the lead.

"I said to Ann (Neal), his partner, 'I don't know what you have been giving Mark for breakfast, but please keep giving it to him'," joked Horner.

"His form has been exemplary in the last 10 days, and at two very different tracks. You can tell he is completely at one with his car and his confidence is high."

Although Webber and Vettel are tied on 78 points at the top of the championship - the former ahead on countback by two victories to one over the latter - and Red Bull now lead the constructors' title race, Horner is fully expecting a backlash from their rivals.

Opposition

"It's very early in the championship, and it's foolish to underestimate your opposition, especially quality teams like Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes," said Horner.

"They are teams with great pedigrees, and there is still a long way to go." Horner is also expecting it to be a nip-and-tuck battle between his two drivers, with no advantage given to one over the other at any stage.

"The best situation is to have both the drivers at the front of the field," added Horner.

"We treat them fairly, with the priority to beat everybody else, although I am sure between the two of them we will see the ebb and flow from now until the end of the season."

Source: SkySports.com