The end of the road for Nicole and Lewis

THEY were one of the closest and famous partnerships in the world of showbiz, but after four years together, time has been called on the relationship between Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton.

      McLaren Formula One ace Hamilton, 25, confirmed the frenzied speculation of the past week was true and that the pair had gone their separate ways.  Speaking to reporters in the build-up to this weekend’s inaugural Indian Grand Prix, he said; “We’re friends at least and we can move forward.  It’s never easy going through tough times.  These times are sent to try you, and it’s about how you pull through them.” 

      The Brit, who has had a tough season on the track, has spent some time away from the fast lane with his family and he seemed to be in more positive spirits on arrival at the Buddah International Circuit.  At the last event in Korea two weeks ago, he looked miserable and downbeat all weekend, which had already suggested that the relationship with his popstar princess had already, ran into trouble.  Despite the behind the scenes turmoil, Hamilton broke the Red Bull run of pole positions in South Korea last time out and finished second to reigning champion Sebastian Vettel in the race.  It will be interesting to see how the separation affects or benefits his driving.  He has won two races this season and is hoping to close up on the likes of Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber this weekend in the drivers’ championship.

OVER: Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger's relationship has hit the skids

     There were times when it looked like Hamilton and Scherzinger were the perfect match, despite the age gap between them.  The American singer is currently in London, preparing for a performance of her latest new single ‘Try with Me’ in Sunday night’s live results show of the X-Factor.  She is also booked in for an appearance on Alan Carr’s chatshow programme, Chatty Man on Channel 4, due to also be screened on Sunday.  Nicole has not commented on the spilt, with close friends just saying that the decision had been very amicable last week.  It is believed that the reason for the parting of ways was because of the long-distance working pressures between the pair.

      Scherzinger, 33, is currently judging on the US version of the X-Factor, with certain sources of the media suggesting that she is seeking comfort from Welsh presenter of the show, Steve Jones.  She has had immense success in the UK with her debut solo album ‘Killer Love,’ soaring to the top of the charts with hit singles such as ‘Right There,’ ‘Poison,’ and ‘Don’t Hold Your Breath.’  Her relationship with Hamilton has gone down rocky roads in the past, as they did have a brief separation in January 2010.  Her role in Lewis’s life has also been seen as a catalyst in the decline of the racing driver’s close relationship with his Dad, Anthony.  They first got together in Monaco in 2008, with the former Pussycat Doll cheering for her boyfriend when he sensationally won the 2008 F1 championship on the final corner of the Brazilian Grand Prix.  They were last seen together in public at a Grand Prix event back in Monaco in May.  During the summer, both denied a possible engagement through the social networking site, Twitter.

       It is a sad ending for one of the most well-known and well-liked celebrity couples.  Let’s hope both can put aside the difficult time in their private lives at the weekend and produce electric performances in London and India.  

2011 Korean Grand Prix - Red Bull seal double success in Asia

DOMINANT: Vettel produced another flawless performance

RED Bull Racing secured the constructors championship in clinical fashion this morning at the Korean Grand Prix.  Newly crowned double champion Sebastian Vettel claimed his tenth victory of the season and Mark Webber’s third spot made sure that the Milton Keynes based team scored more points than their only rivals for this championship, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

     For the first time since the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix, a Red Bull failed to qualify on pole position.  A rather subdued Lewis Hamilton produced a special lap to claim the top honours for McLaren.  However, Red Bull looked to be faster on raceday and from the moment Vettel charged into the lead on the fourth corner of the race, the outcome never really looked in doubt.  McLaren had looked seriously competitive again throughout the weekend, but both drivers lost out in a mad first lap.  Jenson Button was beaten up on the first circuit and got relegated from third on the grid to sixth at the end of it.  Button’s charge continued to be held back, when Mercedes GP managed to get Nico Rosberg briefly infront of the Brit in a pitstop race.

     In the early stages, Hamilton managed to hold onto Vettel, but the expected wear on the Pirelli tyres wasn’t as high as anticipated and once again, it was the Brit who wore out his tyres the most.  Not even a Safety Car period could halt Vettel’s charge after the first round of pitstops.  This was caused when Vitaly Petrov got into a fierce battle with Fernando Alonso down the longest straight in Formula One.  Both completely missed their braking point, but whilst Alonso realised trouble and took a wider route around the corner, Petrov clobbered straight into the back of the innocent Michael Schumacher.  Both cars were badly damaged and had to retire, with debris scattered across the circuit.  Petrov accepted responsibility for his misjudgement, but still incurs a five place grid penalty for the next race in India.

     As the race wore on, Webber became more of a factor in the reckoning.  He closed in on Hamilton and the pair had a couple of brilliant, clean dices.  Red Bull did miss a trick in pitting Webber at the same time as the McLaren, losing the opportunity to springboard Lewis via the ‘undercut.’  Although the leading cars were bunched together, no-one looked capable of pulling off an overtaking manoeuvre in frankly, a boring race that would have made anyone decide to go back to sleep for it’s early takeoff.  Fernando Alonso did produce the sound bite of the season, when he closed in on Button, but got a warning message about high fuel consumption.  He then said; “I give up, I give up.”  Perhaps it was a message of annoyance, having spent the first half of the race a forlorn figure, trapped behind the much slower Felipe Massa.

      Further back, Jaime Alguesuari passed Rosberg on the last lap to match his best ever career result of seventh place.  Sebastian Buemi brought his car home in ninth to secure some much-needed points for the Toro Rosso team, which sees them close up on Sauber in the championship.  Paul di Resta held off his team-mate Adrian Sutil to claim the final point for Force India.

     This season, it has belonged to one driver and one team.  Many congratulations to Red Bull Racing, the 2011 FIA Formula One Constructors Champions.

F1 classic races - Korea

IN A new series, I will be looking back at six classic races every weekend from the country about to stage an event in the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship.  As Korea only made its bow onto the world championship stage last season, here is a varied selection of events that are no longer on the current F1 calendar, plus last year’s inaugural event in Korea.  The races are between 1991 and 2010, so enjoy the archive!

1991 – Portugal

WINNER: Riccardo Patrese (Williams Renault), 2^nd: Ayrton Senna (McLaren Honda), 3^rd: Jean Alesi (Ferrari)

WILLIAMS may have won the 1991 Portuguese Grand Prix, but it was the wrong driver as far as the championship battle was concerned.  Despite starting fourth, Nigel Mansell took the lead early on and looked set for a crucial victory.  Disaster then struck at his first pitstop, when chief mechanic Peter Windsor didn’t tighten up his right rear wheel.  The wheel rolled off down the pitlane, leaving a frustrated Mansell, beating his hands on the steering wheel in sheer despair.  The team then worked on the car in an illegal area and Nigel was black-flagged in Estoril for the second time in three years, having charged back to fifth.  Riccardo Patrese drove well to win, but second place took Ayrton Senna a massive step forward towards a third world championship.

1998 – Argentina

CONTROVERSY: Coulthard was furious with this contact in 1998

WINNER: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), 2^nd: Mika Hakkinen (McLaren Mercedes), 3^rd: Eddie Irvine (Ferrari)

MCLAREN had dominated the first two races of 1998, but Ferrari and Michael Schumacher responded in superb fashion on F1’s last visit to Buenos Aires.  A new, wider tyre from Goodyear helped them close the gap.  The talking point of the race came on lap six, when Schumacher collided with David Coulthard, spinning the McLaren around and out of the lead.  Schumacher survived and despite a late trip into the gravel during a rain shower, beat Mika Hakkinen by over 20 seconds.  Eddie Irvine won out in a fierce scrap with youngster Alexander Wurz to secure a double podium finish for Ferrari.  Further run-ins with Jacques Villeneuve and Giancarlo Fisichella left Coulthard’s car looking like a battering ram by the finish.  However, he still earnt a point for his troubles.

1999 – France

WINNER: Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Jordan Mugen Honda), 2^nd: Mika Hakkinen (McLaren Mercedes), 3^rd: Rubens Barrichello (Stewart Ford)

THIS was a great Grand Prix, which Stewart, McLaren and Ferrari took turns in taking command, yet Jordan won the race.  An inspired decision on the pitwall saw the Irish team fuel Heinz-Harald Frentzen’s car to the brim during a heavy downpour on lap 22.  Frentzen didn’t have to pit again and claimed the lead when both Mika Hakkinen and Rubens Barrichello had to call in late on for a splash and dash.  Jordan’s second Grand Prix victory was memorable, but Damon Hill’s future in the sport came into serious question.  In a wet qualifying, he failed to make the 107% cut-off.  Given special dispensation to start, he tangled with Pedro de la Rosa and collected a puncture, before giving up at half-distance.  Afterwards, he cast doubts over whether he would get back into an F1 cockpit.  David Coulthard’s rotten season continued, when an alternator problem forced him out of a commanding lead on the ninth lap, whilst Michael Schumacher was restricted to fifth by gear selection issues.  Jean Alesi was on for a great result, but spun off in the downpour, as did Jacques Villeneuve and Alexander Wurz.  It was a crazy event, full of overtaking, but a magnificent day for Jordan’s new star in Magny-Cours.

2003 – Austria

WINNER: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), 2^nd: Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren Mercedes), 3^rd: Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari)

AUSTRIA 2003 was one of Michael Schumacher’s greatest victories.  He had a big advantage infront, when he pitted for a routine pitstop on lap 20.  Seconds later, droplets of fuel from a faulty refuelling rig made contact with the engine cover and his Ferrari was on fire.  The mechanics quickly put out the barbeque, whilst Schumacher sat there, looking as cool as a cucumber.  Nine laps later, he hunted down Kimi Raikkonen’s ailing McLaren successfully and seconds later, was back infront when a water leak terminated Juan Pablo Montoya’s chance of victory for BMW Williams.  Raikkonen showed his championship might by protecting a sick engine and resolutely holding off Rubens Barrichello to prevent a Ferrari 1-2.  Jenson Button did well to finish fourth, his best result of the season whilst an engine failure ended a great comeback drive from Fernando Alonso, having risen from 19^th on the grid to fifth.  However, this was the day when great escapes really do come true and a stunning way for Austria to end its Formula One relationship.

2004 – USA

WINNER: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), 2^nd: Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari), 3^rd: Takuma Sato (BAR Honda)

MICHAEL Schumacher had to deal with mixed emotions at Indianapolis in 2004.  He managed to beat his team-mate Rubens Barrichello to record his eighth win from nine attempts in a runaway Ferrari season.  However, he had to drive past the scene of a nasty accident for his brother, Ralf.  11 laps into the event and a puncture on his Williams sent Schumacher Jnr careering backwards into the turn 13 concrete wall.  He suffered a cracked vertebra and would miss the majority of the season.  He wasn’t the only Michelin driver to collect a puncture, as debris on the track from a startline crash ended Fernando Alonso’s challenge two laps earlier.  Juan Pablo Montoya was black-flagged, after his engine died on the dummy grid.  He failed to switch to the spare car 15 seconds before the start of the formation lap, sealing his fate.  The biggest cheers in the paddock were for Takuma Sato, who recorded his one and only podium finish in F1 for BAR and for Zsvolt Baumgartner, who survived the mayhem to be the eighth and final finisher, hence scoring Minardi’s first championship point in over two years.

2010 – Korea

BLOW: Vettel extinguishes the charred remains of his engine in 2010

WINNER: Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), 2^nd: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes), 3^rd: Felipe Massa (Ferrari)

F1’s maiden visit to Korea began with an 80-minute delay, due to heavy rain.  Four laps behind the Safety Car was criticised by the drivers, so the event was temporarily suspended.  Once they got going, Red Bull imploded.  Two laps after the Safety Car pitted, championship leader Mark Webber got onto the Astroturf and spun into the wall.  His car came back across the track, taking out the unfortunate Nico Rosberg in the process.  Having been the fastest driver all weekend, Sebastian Vettel looked set to win and take the championship lead.  However, he suffered a cruel engine failure with just ten laps to go, handing Fernando Alonso the victory and the drivers lead in the process.  Second place for Lewis Hamilton kept him in the championship challenge, but team-mate Jenson Button had a nightmare afternoon.  He struggled with grip all day, was one of the slowest cars on the track and finished a distant 12^th; all but ending his hopes of retaining the world championship he had won in 2009.  Fourth place for Michael Schumacher equalled his best result of a tricky first season back in the sport after a three year lay-off.

2010 Korean Grand Prix - The Conclusions

IN THIS piece, I will be assessing ten key features from each Grand Prix weekend from the 2010 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.  With three races remaining, it was a new venture for Formula One into Korea, which put on a spectacular show.  The title race took several more twists, but are more going to come in the last three weeks of a gripping season.  Here is a round-up then of the race of the season so far. . .

Fernando Alonso – Champion-Elect

AFTER a dismal day at Silverstone, Fernando Alonso fell nearly fifty points behind the championship leaders and vowed he would win the championship.  At Spa, a costly accident looked to have buried his chances for good, but what a fightback in the last four races.  He now is the red-hot favourite for his third title, after a stunning drive on Sunday afternoon.  Alonso knew Ferrari were going to be strong in Korea, so he did well to contain his frustration at being beaten to the front row by those pesky Red Bulls.  On Sunday, he pressured Mark Webber into a rare mistake, and kept Sebastian Vettel honest all day.  Even though Vettel looked to have the race under control, one mistake and the Ferrari was through.  Like in Bahrain though, a failure with the Red Bull allowed Alonso to cruise through to his fifth win of the season, his fourth in the last seven races.  You would be a brave man not to back Fernando now for title glory in Abu Dhabi in three weeks time. . .

Red Bull Racing – From Saturday Heaven to Sunday Hell

The first sector of the Korea circuit was never going to suit the Red Bull cars, so for them to button up the front row in qualifying spelt ominous signs for the closest opposition.  Twenty-four hours later, they were reflecting on their first double DNF of the season, and it can’t have come at a worse time.  Mark Webber has had a near-perfect season, but he had one of those slow, frustrating spins early in the race under green flag conditions.  The Aussie was powerless to control his spinning missile and Nico Rosberg unluckily collected the remains.  It was only Webber’s second non-score of the season and after his previous retirement, which was THAT scary flip over Heikki Kovalainen in Valencia; he won next time out at Silverstone.  He also won imperiously in Brazil last year, so who’s to say that Webber’s out of the battle yet.  It was a damaging crash, but not a terminal blow.  The same can’t be said for Sebastian Vettel though, who had to endure the cruel misfortune of a spectacular engine failure with just eight laps to go.  Vettel put a very philosophical face on this setback in the pits, but by being a full race win behind Alonso now with two races to go, it looks like he will have to wait until 2011 to get his hands on the cherished prize.

Jenson Button – Time to Back Lewis Hamilton

He has battled on very gamely all season, but Jenson Button even admitted after his horror race on Sunday that his chances of retaining his championship are now all but impossible.  Sunday’s conditions were meant to put Button in the driving seat.  After all, he won his two races this season in similar conditions.  However, he had no grip, no confidence and the aggressive set-up on his car just chewed up its tyres.  By the end of the race, only the Hispania’s were lapping slower than Jenson, which says it all really.  With Lewis Hamilton bringing his A game to Korea and winding up with an excellent second place, Button now must play the team role and help McLaren and Hamilton out in Brazil and Abu Dhabi if they are to walkaway with any of the top prizes this season.

Wet Weather – Lack of Racing Sets a Dangerous Precedent

Safety is absolutely paramount in Formula One, but I shared the frustration of Lewis Hamilton and BBC commentator Martin Brundle at the length of time that the Safety Car stayed out on the track.  The first attempted start had to be suspended and rightfully so, as the Korean track looked like a lake, not a race circuit.  However, on the restart – another thirteen laps were run under yellow flag conditions, when the track looked almost ready for intermediate tyres, which Hamilton confirmed to millions on his team radio.  These drivers are paid millions of pounds to go racing, and without wanting to sound too naïve, they could have gone racing at least four/five laps earlier than they did.  This sets a dangerous precedent for the future; maybe it is time to limit the driver’s voice on these decisions.

Nico Rosberg – An Innocent Victim

Nico Rosberg was the most unluckiest driver on Sunday in Korea, even more so than Sebastian Vettel.  Rosberg has quietly gone about his job all season, in quite frankly, a poor car.  He has trounced Michael Schumacher and starred again on this new track, qualifying an outstanding 5^th on the grid.  On the race start, he ducked underneath Lewis Hamilton and was threatening Alonso, when Mark Webber’s spinning Red Bull came into his path.  Despite Rosberg’s best efforts, including driving on the grass, he couldn’t avoid Webber and the contact ripped his suspension off and sent him off the track, and into a painful retirement.  Schumacher’s strong 4^th place suggested how good the Mercedes was in these mixed conditions.  Had Rosberg managed to avoid the out of control Webber, who knows where he could have finished in the final reckoning.

Adrian Sutil – A Chaotic Afternoon

In 2009, Adrian Sutil should have had a big WARNING sign pointed onto the back of his Force India, as he had a scenic ambition of crashing into other drivers.  He has got rid of that tag this year, with some very solid drives – most notably in Malaysia, Spain, Valencia and Spa.  However, it was a return to the bad old days in Korea, with a series of crazy, chaotic and unnecessary incidents.  Sutil was reckless for the most of the day, but you couldn’t fault his commitment to the cause.  His move on Jenson Button was fair, if brutal, when the Brit was shoved off the track and he had a feisty dice with Jaime Alguesuari too.  His downfall was the Sauber drivers, who he seemed to be passing twenty times in the race.  Eventually, he hit a damp patch, rammed into the side of Kamur Kobayashi and broke his steering column, finishing his race.  At least we found out that Kobayashi’s Sauber can take a strong hit and survive.  Later, it was revealed Sutil knew of a brake problem, yet kept crashing and failed to report his issue to the race stewards.  A $10,000 fine and a five-place grid penalty for Brazil seem like a suitable punishment, but despite the craziness, you can’t fault a guy for trying!

Vitantonio Liuzzi – Career-Saving Drive?

Whereas Sutil had one of those days, when he seemed like he was going to crash into anything, team-mate Vitantonio Liuzzi picked up some massive points that might have saved his Formula 1 career.  For the sixth time this season, Liuzzi was bundled out in Q1, then bitched like a typical, frustrated Italian driver does, blaming everything but himself.  Whether it was the conditions or something in his breakfast porridge, but you couldn’t fault him in the race.  He took advantage of Williams’ late tyre issues and kept Robert Kubica in his sights throughout the race.  Liuzzi’s sixth place result equals his best result ever (set in China 2007).  Will it be enough to keep him at Force India?  It is a tough decision for Vijay Mallya, but this result will have done him the power of good.

Sebastian Buemi – Another Man under Grave Pressure

Another man in the paddock who is under grave pressure is Sebastian Buemi.  After a promising rookie season, the Swiss driver’s momentum has stalled this season and he made another rookie mistake in the race, locking his brakes in a panic and smashing into Timo Glock’s Virgin.  Virgin couldn’t believe it, as they reckoned Glock might have scored a precious championship point and Buemi picked up a similar penalty to Sutil for Brazil.  It has been a tough season for Toro Rosso, but Jaime Alguesuari has done a better job, so Buemi needs to up his game over the winter for next season.

Vitaly Petrov – Has He Just Slammed Into The F1 Exit Door!

If Liuzzi thought he was under pressure and Buemi is struggling, Vitaly Petrov may well have kissed his chances goodbye to racing in F1 next season.  Despite his undoubted pace, he looks set to join Piquet and Grosjean in the Renault reject bin.  After his customary qualifying spin and the grid penalty for his Japanese startline antics, Petrov drove calmly in the early stages, and made a smart move onto intermediates in the early stages.  The move left him up in 7^th, and two places ahead of Robert Kubica, who was having a quiet day.  Then, on Lap 41 came the expected . . . Petrov crashes again!  Another Renault that ends up looking like Bambi after he had been born and a stern face from Eric Bouillier on the pitwall said it all.  Petrov’s inconsistency has cost Renault a shot at fourth place in the constructor’s championship, whereas at Mercedes, Schumacher has at least been consistently scoring minor points to back up Rosberg.  The way the Russian looked after the crash, shaking his head with his helmet firmly on, I think he may have just realised that this was his most expensive mistake of the season.

Korea’s First Taste of F1 – the Final Verdict

Considering we had absolutely no idea of what to expect, Korea certainly didn’t disappoint.  We were told that the circuit looked like a building site, but it is an impressive little venue.  Finally, after years of constant frustration, Hermann Tilke has created another good circuit.  Why can’t he make more decent tracks like this one and Istanbul, yet ruin the old Hockenheim, and produce mediocre attempts at Bahrain and Malaysia remains a mystery!  Changes have to be made to the pitlane entry and exit, as that looked precariously dangerous, but at such short notice, they did a good job.  When it is all complete for next year, Korea should look like a stunning spectacle.  It’s a big thumbs-up from me.

2010 Korean Grand Prix - Alonso Gifted Sensational Victory

FERNANDO Alonso took a giant leap towards a third world championship, with a priceless win at the Korean Grand Prix.  The Ferrari driver was gifted victory at the Yeongam circuit, when Sebastian Vettel was forced to retire with a blown engine, with just eight laps to go.  In a sensational grand prix, that was heavily delayed and finished in darkness, both Mark Webber and Jenson Button also failed to score, while second place breathes new life into Lewis Hamilton’s faltering championship bid.

After a dry first couple of days at the inaugural event, raceday was dominated by grey clouds and constant rain.  After a ten minute delay to the start, FIA race director Charlie Whiting set the cars off behind the Safety Car.  Three laps later, the standing water was so much on the recent new surface that the race was suspended and held up for 55 minutes.  Another Safety Car restart and 17 frustrating laps later, the proper racing begun and Vettel, who had started on pole position took complete command of the race.

Whilst Vettel was faultless, his team-mate wasn’t.  Webber made a rare error on Lap 19, and ran wide onto some Astroturf, spinning into the concrete wall.  The Australian was powerless to prevent his Red Bull bouncing across the road and collected the innocent Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes.  Mud and debris flew onto the track, as both cars pirouetted into the barriers and out of the event.  A Safety Car came out to clear up this mess, and Button’s race was also to be severely compromised by a poorly timed pitstop, and being unable to keep heat in his intermediate tyres.  He was left floating on the water, and a late race spin consigned the defending world champion to a disappointing 12^th place finish, and being 43 points behind the championship lead, with 50 left to play for, realistically finishes off his championship prospects.

Although Alonso and Hamilton kept Vettel honest, the German always had some extra pace in his back pocket.  Sadly, with just eight laps remaining, his car sounded sick and Alonso zoomed past the ailing Red Bull into turn one.  Moments later, Vettel’s engine blew up in spectacular fashion, which also leaves his chances of winning a maiden championship look very remote.  Alonso reeled off the remaining seven laps to secure his fourth win in seven races, and give him the lead in the world championship for the first time since Australia.  

Like Button, Hamilton struggled with grip from his intermediate tyres all day, but drove round the issues fantastically to finish second and rekindle his championship hopes.  Hamilton did jump Alonso in the pitstops, when the Ferrari was delayed by a loose wheel nut, but ran wide at turn one on a mid-race Safety Car restart and allowed Alonso back through.  That Safety Car came out after Sebastian Buemi sideswiped Timo Glock in the braking zone for turn three.

Felipe Massa scored some priceless points for Ferrari’s constructors’ championship cause, with a podium finish, and Michael Schumacher carried his Suzuka form into Korea to finish an excellent fourth, his best result of the season.  Rubens Barrichello looked set for fifth, but his tyres were worn down so much in the closing stages that he was gobbled up by the quiet Robert Kubica and Vitantonio Liuzzi’s Force India.  Barrichello wound up seventh, with a late pitstop dropping Nico Hulkenberg to 10^th.  Kubica picked up some solid points again and Liuzzi’s drive could be a career-saving one, especially on a day where Adrian Sutil hit almost everything, and eventually made a clumsy lunge on Kamur Kobayashi to break his front suspension and retire with seven laps remaining.  Kobayashi survived this attack to claim eighth, with Nick Heidfeld backing up his team-mate, winding up ninth.

Alonso now has an eleven point lead in the world championship, with Webber and Hamilton all within a race win of the new championship leader.  Two races remain, and another stunning grand prix that left everyone breathless, you wonder what will happen next in Brazil, the scene of Button’s world championship clincher last year.