The man as usual was all humility personified and well thanks to Yohann Setna, the former Sporting Director, A1 GP Team India and Marketing Consultant Lotus F1, he was exposed for being a prankster too. It was a great occasion personally I got to get in touch with him after a long time…

R Senthilkumar

When Button signed up at McLaren, it was little disappointing that the man had to leave because of financials. But this year clearly belonged to Button for some reason from the start with a fantastic drive at Australian GP and went on to win the championship though not as everyone expected. But now it seems lost to the PR mania that Schumacher come back has taken on. Ever since Mercedes spilled the news that they were in touch with Schumie for a possible come back, it was the leading story till they culminated with an official story to the effect. Now we have an all German line up backed by a Mercedes brand.

I was delighted to see the man but to be a little frank it took sometime to see him adorn a new set of colors literally. How would Schumacher look in the new livery. For some fans like me who know F1 as Schumacher and Schumacher as F1 it would be really a great tough thing to point the car he will be driving. Or would it be now part Ferrari and part Mercedes loyalty. Pitrat has analysed it in his post.

A red and black/grey combination (most of my countries political flags have this colour), so how do I do it… root for Schumie, and root for Ferrari…tough ask I should say. I would reserve this for the first race, nevertheless, will be watching the most of what happens till the light go out at the first GP.

The year 2009 will be remembered for Schumacher come back than for having created a new World Champion. We can look forward to some exciting racing here when you know that more champions are there vying with one another. It has always been my fancy to see how Lewis would drive along side the seven time champion.

With this official announcement the expectations are only bound to rise. With Ross Brawn and Micheal Schumacher together you can expect nothing short of magic, like I said the driver and team gelling is more time consuming than getting a new aero upgrade. For me, in hindsight it looked like it was bound to happen.

On the other side the Ferrari stable had been very gracious till now, because even when he was retired Schumie made it a point to visit every race possible. Now will there be a vacuum in an already morale-sagged Ferrari team which had a nightmarish weekends sometimes this year.

But this has been a cycle or trend and unless people go all out washing dirty linen in public, it’s all fine and it’s the way it is.

Before I end, Wishing fellow bloggers and the team at Yallaf1.com a Merry Christmas and happy Weekend …

Welcome 2010, you give more reasons for the F1 fans to watch it more than ever. And we thought 2010 would be dull.

(this was on Yallaf1.blogspot.com)

It is absolutely lovely and great presentation…and runs on wordpress and it has a neat layout and the best part bloggers are featured on the front page…

I am so happy with Indian F1 fan featured in the bloggers column…:)

Great work team Yallaf1.com!!!

R Senthilkumar

Its all over for the year and with one more race to go, the fan following will be little disinterested. It might be a show of strength for many in the better off teams and may be just another race to the others.

Welcome the champion of the new race, Jenson Button. You did a great job and that was really an effort from a team which just was put together few days before the races started. The team left us wondering for new phrases and adjectives. There was even this rumour mill going around that this was a ploy to garner more eyeballs. Little did they expect that the Brawns would go all the way to the championship in style and when it mattered.

Even before the Brazilian race started it was Vettel who was hogging everyone’s mind screen, I remember once Karun wrote when Force India F1 made to the second place, we fans love the underdogs, and more often than not, the real player has his last laugh as much as it happened with Jenson Button.

Let me admit that I have been the severest critic of this man in no unequal terms, someone who had had the most number of starts, the most over rated driver ever and I could not stand him because he was once Narain’s challenger at British F3. Look at where he’s gone and how Narain struggled to make it to the F1 circuit.

But this year I had a change of heart, you still need to drive even if you had the best of the machine or the external forces played its part. I started seeing him as one more mature driver this time around and the best part was this he had almost closed the championship half way through the season. I do hate him for making the last race an academic one for Abu Dhabi could have been a heated one. On a lighter note, actually we need to give it to Red Bulls for pulling this one, they gave the wrong car to Vettel.

I started looking at him for his charitable ways, and more than that he hid somewhere beneath that unassuming face, his undying thirst to be the champion. Well his time has come and he did it in style.

It seemed destined that he was the winner, and it showed with all other teams trying to decipher the new rules and the diffusers and whatever. Brawns were making merry and made it happen like it was their game every-time they raced. Some circuits were unmistakably trying and then it went on for them.

Mathematically it was almost close and then we need to be sure simply because your F1 car could almost stop at the last corner just few yards before the chequered flag. In all this I do feel a bit for Barichello, the man seems destined to be the best second man to World Champions. He did put up a spirited fightback. I have always bet that Barrichello was the serious contender than Vettel. Except if we did not have the initial glitches that Barrichello faced, this sure would have been the most talked after love hate story in F1 history on track.

This year has a new champion from a new team and at a time F1 is trying to resurrect its image and this does augur well for the sport in genral and fans in particular. Last two years have seen scandals rock the sport hopefully lets not be taken in for another unheard scandal for the next year.

Jenson Button you win hands down and well that’s in the history for now and forever.

R Senthilkumar

Note: this article appeared in the yallaf1.com blogs

The whole of the country was in debate and I was wondering how come man in question is n’t replying… he was in Africa.

All this only goes to show how we are such a crazy nation and am afraid if we are trying to ape America.

On other note, the former Media Advisor to our present PM said in a way that those who are twittering or those kind are really a minority now thats a statistic we should consider to eradicate…

On the F1 front, the Renault stands exposed by the men who were the face of Renault. Now what is the big Q out at the paddock…

I wrote an open letter to Vijay Mallya and thot it fit not to publish that…

Some thoughtful provocation for the Indian Motorsports fraternity and ofcourse leaves me thinking whats does he have in mind.

I have an idea for KC, look further KC, there are enough teams, and its should be a good fit for you to learn the tricks before you end in a good team.

Read the story in here

celebrating Force India F1 pole...

I know it wasn’t in the scripts and well everyone were in for a surprise and what a delightful surprise it was. Adjectives weren’t at hand to celebrate the most cherishing occasion since an Indian driver drove an F1 car in 2005. And let me tell you Fisichella will carry a billion dreams when he drives his Force India F1 VJM02.

At the outset let me thank the team at Yalla F1.com for this dedication to me a simple fan who long awaited to listen to my national anthem. At the moment as the news started sinking in, after Q1, it was disbelief writ large over me. It took some time for me to realize that it was true and happening. At last we are there, guys the records would say at least in the Q1, we were there at one of the most celebrated and unpredictable circuits, on pole as the relegation was announced.

Waiting as I watched the next Qualifying session with Fisichella ending on 4th, I thought we should be there, well it is going to be tough and we have to make it happen. I was keeping my fingers crossed and nothing mattered and wanted a glimpse of what Adrian was up to. Well he couldn’t make it, then it was left to that one F1 beauty and flashing it across the television screen on pole and yet some eight cars were to follow. Chequered flag meant it was going to be close and it was close. I kept seeing only the number and the names flashing across the screen praying fervently all the Gods, that no one should take it away from Fisichella. He deserved it so much today and of course Force India F1 deserved this so much.

It was then the Radio transmission confirmation and well they did say ‘Not bad!’ I was simply hurt, well it was the moment we have been waiting for, to tell people, well we have it in us. It was no fluke, it was bound to happen, only thing of course was when.

As I had approached this weekend, it was not a great one to say the least, on 25th August I had woken little early not knowing that our Sports ministry had in fact turned down a request to pay the license fee to Formula One Management saying that F1 was an entertainment not a sport. It hurt so much because the guys had no reason in trying to understand the sport in the first place.

Though the JKSP the people responsible for the track and conduct of Indian GP were reassuring it was no breather at that moment. All this were happening when Force India F1 celebrated the Freedom in a class of it own with a classic video Free India to Force India. I had taken it to my personal blog and even the Sports Ministry’s issue also featured there.

Now I know we as the people of this nation will have the opportunity to celebrate the most cherishing moment when we see the Force India F1 car lead the procession into the start and as the lights go into the first corner.

I can see right in front of my eyes. I am sure this is an event of historic importance not withstanding the result of tomorrow’s GP at the Spa will herald the new era for motorsports in the country. I know the little guys tomorrow at the Karting championship Track in my hometown will be looking to see the Indian colours making it at Spa.

Congrats Fisichella, We are waiting to see you drive into records tomorrow!!!

I will conclude with what Mallya had to say this evening. ” What an unbelievable result we have had here. I am so proud of Giancarlo, the team in the garage and the factory and also for the entire Indian nation. There is nothing more to say: we’ve done both ourselves and the country proud.”

This was an answer to the post at Yallaf1.com

Absolutely great day for motorsports in India.

According to a report in the Times of India, today the Government of India has rejected the request for transfer of remittance fee to Formula One Management for the conduct of the race by JKSP, saying “F1 is not purely sports. It is entertainment and this venture by JKSP is a commercial initiative,”

Now that leaves us far behind in terms of appreciating the value that F1 has been able to do commercially otherwise. Lets forget the politics and the insane things about the sport, but what I am not able to understand is the idea that the so called enlightened men in the sports ministry have.

As if they have been doing yeomen service to other sports without politics involved they have taken a moral stand. I quote “The proposed F1 race does not satisfy conditions which focus on human endeavour for excelling in competition with others, keeping in view the whole sports movement from Olympics downwards.”

Now that leaves us with a big question mark. We don’t yet know what will happen to an F1 dream that India will always have. This puts a larger question in terms of doing business in India. Even if it was a commercial venture and that someone is willing to do it what right has the Government got to stop something which is private if they want to call it that.

Add to this “The basic premise of the ministry is that F1 is not needed in India and the money can be spent on development of disciplines which have a wider base in the country.”

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry over this. Lets see how they build up other games.

PS: JKSP still thinks it can pull off a coup with the Sports ministry, here is their version.

Germany's pride on track

I know its German GP and with 5 native drivers, everyone is looking at them with awe and how would they perform, some expected questions like will they match a certain German called Micheal Schumacher, who too had the power to get things done on track of course.

For once Button must thank the Gods, he is not under pressure to perform, though not logically. Never the less the press and forums this weeked has concentrated on the Five home grown talent and especially the challenger from RedBull, Sebastian Vettel.

In all this the weather man forecasts rains and light showers for sure as on date, which must be happy news for Vettel and Red Bull. There is this sense of expectation because Nurburgring is his home circuit literally, unless of course he is hijacked by home grown expectations in his mind. To me he is a little matured on that count though he did stray a little too wide giving his pole position to Jenson Button on a platter at Turkey. Hopefully we expect he does not repeat it this time.

There is likely hood of rain and already Bridgestone has come prepared on super soft and medium tyres. The race will also be decided on the nature’s terms with a rain or showers during qualifying, we can see a different grid altogether.

All that expectations from German drivers apart there are two German Teams in fray, the BMW and the Toyota. This year has been a little too unlucky for BMW, though Toyota holds a little promise to be competitive.

Will this be an opportunity for BMW to redeem its lost palce in the run up to the Championship, with half the season behind us, it would be interesting to see if any one could actually alter the course of championship.

I can hear the chant of Vettel, Vettel already. The other German compatriots are also geared up to make it happen.

I think there is more fun on track this weekend than that is happening off it..

R Senthilkumar

(first published in bleacher report)

Winning is a habit these days...

Whats common about the movies, Pulp Fiction and Sword Fish, well John Travolta you would say, add to that, it happens to be two favorite movies of Jenson Button the current championship leader by a big mile.

Jenson Button these days is getting to be a legendary name for the sheer purpose that it has defied logic in turning the tables against established names in F1. For someone who was set to be in his twilight years, this phoenix-like rise is unnatural even to his past standards, and yet this man has not let the wins take over the better of him.

After the last win at Monaco he said “Wow Winning the Monaco Grand Prix is something that you dream about as a child and as a racing driver and the reality of taking that victory just feels awesome. To win in Monaco is truly a special feeling.” So much summing up that the journos need not do some extra effort into what it means to win this Monaco GP.

So what was his secret to this and more so the man is a composed self all through, no tantrums ever…He says his success secret is ‘Being surrounded by fantastic people, and I’m very lucky in that way. And being able to laugh at yourself is important too.’

In an interview to F1.com, Brawn the man behind this phenomenon says how he was convinced by the team members that Jenson was good under any circumstances only that he should get a machine to match. The best part was that the team was always prodding him on to scale greater heights. For once we could see a driver praising all his team every time he’s on podium, so much full of camaraderie.

This year has been a roller coaster year for Jenson, for someone who does not have a hero, the future holds bright for him and chances are that he would indeed be a role model and a hero for many more young aspirants.

With such a run, its going to be little boring to see Jenson and all of a sudden we are getting used to his being the man to reckon with. The talks of Lewis or Ferrari has taken a back seat, and they are occupying much less mind space, will this be a year of the Brawn and Button so to say.

Let’s watch this spectacle unfold in the days to come and hopefully he would be able to rewrite quite a few records, after all records are made to be broken.

And going by the resident’s take at Monaco, they were happy that one of their own people finally won the crown. Jenson happens to reside in Monaco.

I think this team Brawn GP and the drivers have that sort of conviction to make it happen for them come what may. And Jenson is all set to deliver what the team wants and the team couldn’t have asked for more…

As I write I should admit that I wasn’t a big fan of Jenson Button when the season started, but heroes are those who make these kind of changes right, and here too Jenson has changed me to be his fan of the man, his style and humbleness.

PS: No marks for guessing Jensons’ favorite actor – John Travolta