On the 26th February, Joe Saward took to the stage at The Engine Group building in central London, to host his first ever "An Evening With..." event. Sidepodcast was there to capture all of the discussion and insight. Part one of this podcast covers the first half of the evening.
Topics of interest include - Joe's take on the current F1 field, the future of new teams and a classic case of Japanese bravery. Also on the agenda is the future of Formula 1 media coverage and where it all went wrong for the sport in the United States.
The USF1 team may be coming under increasingly vocal criticism for the way they've managed their Formula 1 entry so far, but Stuart Taylor of the wonderful Chain Bear, today reminds that if left to Bernie, the situation could be much worse.
Stuart apologises for his use of the German accent. You can view more of his F1 illustrations here.
For the first time in 2010, Joe joins us from France to cover all of the latest goings on in the world of F1. Topics of conversation include, bad liveries and naked cars, the fast and the furious, and troublesome pronunciation.
We cover what USF1 got right, why Renault F1 made a fine choice, and what in the world Stefan GP are up to. Joe also announces plans for a long awaited real life meet-up, talks long term research and what we might look forward to in forthcoming GP+ articles.
All of this and more, in a February edition of An Aside With Joe.
Jose Maria Lopez, pictured while competing in the 2006 GP2 Series, will race in Formula 1 for the first time with USF1.
The President of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner officially announced the signing of Argentine driver Jose Maria Lopez to the USF1 team, in Buenos Aires on Monday. The USF1 Team's web site confirmed the news shortly afterwards from their base in Charlotte, N.C.
With previous outings in Formula 3000 and GP2 as well as having a small amount F1 testing experience under his belt, the 26 year old becomes the first driver announced for the team. Money to fund the deal is said to come in part from Argentine government backing and other local sponsorship.
Speaking of the deal, Team Executive Vice President, Peter Windsor said:
"We've been following his career since he dominated the Renault V6 Championship in 2003 and we're thrilled to have him on board as we return America to Formula One. Lopez is a consummate professional and born leader."
Lopez is well aware of the challenges he faces and but eventually hopes to see the team "competing for wins and championships".
"I have been working towards this day for much of my life and I can't thank Peter and Ken enough for this opportunity."
The final name to weigh in on the news was Team Principal, President and CEO Ken Anderson, who added that the team need "the right guys in the seats" in order to experience a successful debut campaign.
A constant discussion within the Sidepodcommunity is the validity of news, and how best to check sources. Here, RG shows how easy it is to make a mistake, even if it is a deliberate one.
Twitter can highlight both the best and the worst of F1 on the internet.
I could fool you. I could fool the whole world if I wanted to. It would only take a little bit of effort and time, and possibly a bit of luck, to do it. The funny thing would be that hardly anyone would question it; they would believe every single word that had been written down in front of them.
In 2009, Twitter took off big time. It does indeed feel like the majority of the world is on it. There are, admittedly, some very good uses for using the service, especially if you are a fan of Formula 1 (which I suspect you are, considering you are on this site). Follow the right people, and you are given the latest information within seconds of it being released to the media. Instead of having to wait for an article to appear on Autosport, it is out on Twitter and can be discussed even before the first update on that page is out on the internet.
But that is only if you manage to follow the right people.
Peter Sauber. In my own mind a simple legend, of course, I am totally biased. He is, of course, the owner of the returning Sauber team. Now, I don’t wish any offence onto the great man, but can you really see him being the type who uses Twitter? No, I can’t see it either. Perhaps his son, Alex Sauber might be the type (now in charge of the team’s marketing activites).
So I do indeed wonder why a certain Formula 1 “news” agency opted to pick up on the fact that Peter Sauber, on an unverified twitter account, said the following:
“second driver to be announced next week. The team is ready to work. happy new year.”
This was posted on the 30th December 2009. Sauber has only just confirmed Pedro de la Rosa this week.
Amazingly, when a certain “news” company picked it up, it spread round the internet quicker than Usain Bolt down 100m. It didn’t take long for a reliable account, in the form of Jonathan Noble, of Autosport, to make a quick check with the real Peter Sauber, to prove it was a simple fake account.
To fool the world, though. It does sound like a bit of a challenge, doesn’t it? You would think it may require me to be on the television. Or indeed, turn into a taxi driver and spot Cristiano Ronaldo walking out of White Hart Lane (fans of the BBC live text of transfer deadline day will know what I am talking about).
In fact, all it needs is a half decent connection to the internet, a Twitter account and the ability to use hashtags. When Tom G suggested in the comments that we should lead a certain “news” company up the garden path, the following tweet, on my own Twitter account, followed:
“I've heard from some sources that Campos Meta will announce Vitaly Petrov as their new driver. Bringing in 7million euros to the team #f1”
I can confirm that I have no sources inside the F1 paddock. I will also happily say that seven million Euros was plucked from the air. I don’t know however if Vitaly Petrov will go to Campos Meta 1 or not. That will have to be seen in the future. What I love about my rumour, is that it is perfectly possible, but the way to spread a good rumour is the use of a hashtag. Some F1 fans that use Twitter do indeed follow the #f1 hashtag to possibly catch up on the news.
Originally, I was disappointed at the end of the Sunday evening, that only five non-Sidepodcast people had retweeted that message. I was indeed sure that more had read it. I’ll take this time to apologise to the people who believed that message, yes, I did lead you all up a one way street. Block me if you like.
I did think all was lost, but that was until Tom (once again) came across a link on a Spanish speaking website. Although the use of Google Translator was required, it did appear that the main structure of my tweet was involved. Seven million Euros is indeed mentioned, with a company called Megafon, which is a Russian mobile phone operator.
Easy. Too easy. I could do it again if I wanted to as well, I bet some people won’t read this article properly, so won’t realise that when I say:
Ralf Schumacher is going to USF1.
That I am totally lying. It won’t happen but a select bunch of people don’t read the whole story. That is the important thing, the whole story.
My tweet could have easily been caught out; it was on my own account, in the middle of me discussing the West Ham v Arsenal game on at that time. Odd timing for a breaking news story. I have clearly no previous history of correctly breaking Formula 1 stories and I never backed it up with anything.
Check the sources, how important is that. I’m stating the obvious but probably 90% of Formula 1 fans on the internet don’t know about the best and worst places. Sidepodcast sorted that out a year ago, a page which is still relevant today. Sadly, the “news” sources which produce the most incorrect stories still seem to end up everywhere I go. Be it something like the BBC Sport website, a forum or even in general chat with friends. (When football isn’t the main discussion)
So if you are reading an article with a three letter abbreviation or a certain German newspaper near it, it is more than likely to be incorrect. If you see something on Twitter, not by an inside source, or a journalist, again, it is likely to be incorrect.
The internet. Used by bunch of liars. Me included.
It's been a long time coming, but the first team to design and build its own F1 car in the USA since the 60's, is finally beginning to show some of the potential we were promised over sixth months ago.
The USF1 team, backed in part by YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley, have for the past fortnight been publishing short video clips detailing behind the scenes footage of an F1 project coming to life. This morning two further clips were published, and a third is expected soon.
Notably, all of the videos thus far have been filmed and released in high definition format, and considering how long fans have been requesting HD footage, USF1 should be congratulated for being the first team to make the leap. While it could be argued Toyota made a similar jump last year, their feature only amounted to a one-off production, and they've since quit the sport anyway.
If you haven't already watched the new videos, they're embedded below. Hitting Play followed by the HD button, will allow you to see them in all their 720p (if not somewhat interlaced) widescreen goodness.
Dan Gurney on USF1
The first clip appropriately features an interview with Dan Gurney. His Eagle chassis was the last F1 car to be designed and built in the States and here you'll catch him reminiscing as well as looking forward to what USF1 can offer.
Bob Varsha Walk and Talk - Part 1
The second video is slightly more concerning. It's part one of a two parter and Speed TV's Bob Varsha takes hold of the microphone before setting off to interview some members of staff. The team have rightly come in for some stick recently - from most quarters - for failing to prove they really are getting on with the business of building racing cars, and this video won't help matters. The factory appears almost completely deserted before Bob manages to find the world's most introverted American and a Brit to converse with. Formula 1 factories just don't look like this.
Bob Varsha Walk and Talk - Part 2
In the second part of Bob's walk around the factory we get to see a more active office. Of interest, discussion turns to the merits of CFD versus wind tunnel development, and the engineers at USF1 seem confident that computational fluid dynamics is more than good enough to develop a brand new F1 chassis.
Regardless of content, we should say well done to USF1 for at least pushing F1 broadcasting boundaries in the right direction, however small a step it might be. With any luck, other teams might be taking notes.
It is Lucas di Grassi's birthday today. The Brazilian is 25 years old today, and must be sad that the factories are all shut, because it means he won't get a cake. Still, with so many new teams turning up next year, does di Grassi have a shot at a race seat? On that subject:
US F1 are contemplating signing up Wurz or Pedalo, in the hopes that they can get an experienced driver alongside their American rookie. The question is, which would you rather have? We've had comments on both sides so far, with plenty of people saying neither. Where do you sit on this debate?
After some sensible words from Jean Todt recently, Ari has finally issued some of his own, but it is simply to say that he is not fighting against Mr T, or Mr M, but that he is concentrating on the plane he has instead. On that front, he should be revealing details on his cabinet very soon.
Finally, Domenicali has admitted that the new regulations haven't worked at all. I have blogged about this here, because Stefano is not the first member of a team to express disappointment. What do you think?
That'll do it for now. There is still more news in F1 than I was ever expecting for the summer break, so I will have to eat my words about the boringness of these few weeks. I will see you in the comments.
A third attempt at mastering troublesome technology finally pays dividends, as we catch up with Joe upon his return from Monaco. Christine is the notable absentee, although less chatter means more insight and this episode features plenty of that.
Topics under discussion include - the future of the French Grand Prix and what the BRDC should do next, governance of sport and the plays for power within, as well as the talent of some and the lacking of others.
All of this and much, much more in this episode of An Aside With Joe.
With the fallout from McLaren's latest indiscretion still reverberating around Formula 1, guest writer Jeremy takes a look at the story from a different angle.
Maybe I'm just naive, but I found the recent news of Team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes misleading a stewards enquiry quite outrageous and disappointing. What shocked me even more, was the revelation on Australian TV during an interview with Peter Windsor, that he would have "tried to cover it up in front of the stewards" if he was in the same situation as McLaren's Sporting Director, Dave Ryan.
During the lead up to the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix, Peter Windsor publicly discussed that, having previously been a Team Manager with Williams, if he was in Dave Ryan's shoes, he likely would have taken the same course of action. In his own words:
We're talking about the sort of thing that goes on in the stewards office, probably every day of the year and has been going on for the past 50 years at all motor racing events around the world.
If I put myself in Davey Ryan's shoes, I probably would've done the same thing.
Perhaps Mr Windsor can put this information on the website for his own Formula 1 team - USGPE. I'm sure that would be a great tactic for generating sponsorship. While I say that sarcastically, I'm actually wondering if that statement could in fact be correct.
What do you think, is Peter right and has the latest McLaren scandal been blown out of all proportion? Does this sort of thing happen every day in motor sport, or are USGPE off to a bad start before they even enter F1?
This article was originally written for BellaOnline, but is republished here for posterity.
USF1 has only been in existence for a couple of weeks and has already fallen foul of Bernie Ecclestone. The FOM boss has forced the team to change their name, as he doesn't like them using "F1" in their title. Although Bernie doesn't own the rights to the trademark F1 (and he has tried to claim it several times), he has the power to sway the teams to do as he asks.
We first knew about this when the USF1 website went down, and fans were worried that the team, hoping to enter F1 in 2010, had hit a glitch before they'd even begun. However, the site redirected to USGPE.com, and this turns out to be the new name of the team: US Grand Prix Engineering.
Aside from the fact that it's not as catchy a name, this seems to be just a spiteful act from Bernie. He must have known the name of the team before they released it to the public, as co-owner Peter Windsor has said he approached Ecclestone way back in 2003 with the idea.
If he had asked them to change it beforehand, it would have saved a lot of confusion for fans. I have already got USF1 stuck in my head, and having to rethink it as USGPE isn't easy. No doubt when the logo and car appears, and we start using it more often, it will be fine, but this is not a good example of brand awareness.
Peter Windsor confirmed that the setback wouldn't hold them up too much, and that a new logo would be on the way as soon as possible. However, he also said that the USF1 site was never going to be a permanent domain for them, and that they had considered USGPE as a name anyway, as a mark of respect to the older teams.
Williams has been known as Williams Grand Prix Engineering, and many other teams, both past and present, have similar names. The interesting thing is that Williams is currently known as AT&T Williams F1, which appears to be allowed because they are in the championship already, and on the entry list.
Bernie isn't so kind to Force India though, having asked them to change their logo as when shortened to FI, it looked too much like F1. The team have agreed to do this, but it is just another example of how Bernie exercises his power over the grid.
