Maldonado: From Hero to Zero in Just Two Weeks

12 months ago, Williams F1 Team driver Pastor Maldonado was soaring on a high. He was a hero back home in Venezuela after he crossed the line at the Circuit de Catalunya to register his first, and so far only, Formula 1 victory.
 

(c) Octane Photographic

It was a stunning and controlled drive at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix which proved many critics wrong. However the previously described "erratic" and inconsistent Pastor of old returned just two weeks later at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Button Expecting "Small Steps" Forward in Monaco

Jenson Button has said that he expects McLaren to make "small steps" forward during next weekend's Monaco Grand Prix.

(c) Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

The Brit is confident that they can move forward, but he has downplayed the thought of jumping higher up the order. He had his worst qualifying performance of the season in Spain, lining up 14th on the grid, but he was happy with his race pace and the strategy call by the team.

Hulkenberg Confident Sauber can Return to Form

Nico Hulkenberg has shared his confidence that the Sauber F1 Team can put on a strong showing at the next race weekend in Monaco.

(c) Sauber F1 Team

So far in 2013, the switch to Sauber has proved underwhelming and the C32 has proved to be unable to challenge at the front of the midfield pack like his former team Force India are doing. However he feels that the dynamics of the tight, twisty Monaco circuit and the return of the soft tyre compound can see them return to form.

Honda Announce Rekindling of McLaren Partnership

It had been rumoured for some time and earlier in the week; reports suggested it would be a Thursday announced. That day arrived and predictions were correct as it was announced that Honda would return to Formula 1 in 2015 as the official engine supplier for McLaren.

 

(c) Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

The Japanese manufacturer has not been active in the sport since 2008. After two unsuccessful years they decided to pull the plug on the operation, handing ownership over to 2009 champions Brawn GP in a last minute deal. Now their former Brackley base houses the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team.

Pirelli's Problematic Predicament - The Conclusion

It was always going to be problematic. Pirelli could have taken two very differing paths. They could have kept the likes of Ferrari and Lotus happy by keeping the tyres as they were, or they could have responded to critics and complaints by re-structuring their 2013 range.

(c) Octane Photographic

Today the Italian firm announced the conclusion to their difficult predicament, they caved from the pressure and decided to go with the latter route. The changes will come into place in two rounds time at the Canadian Grand Prix, meaning the current Pirelli rubber will bow out in style at the sixth round of the season in Monaco.

Behind the Scenes at the MTC

The McLaren Technology Centre is a building that has you in awe, and that's only the pictures. So you can imagine how jealous I was when Luke Smith, Editor-in-chief of RichlandF1 (my boss), got the chance to visit the iconic building. Check out his behind the scenes look at the MTC in this exclusive guest blog.

(c) Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

Writing about Formula One certainly has its highs and lows. There are the late nights where you’re wrangling with a team over an article, knowing you’re not going to get paid for it anyway, and questioning just where you’ll find the money to pay the website bill. Luckily, moments such as these are beautifully juxtaposed by the dizzying highs, one of which I experienced on Tuesday on a visit to McLaren’s HQ: the hallowed MTC.

Lotus Feel Tyre Changes Would be Unfair

The Lotus F1 Team has said that they feel it would be unfair for Pirelli to make changes to their tyre compounds after the latest spat of complaints.

(c) Lotus F1 Team

A number of teams have voiced their frustration at the more fragile and less durable 2013 Pirelli tyre range due to their struggles understanding and working with the them.

Mercedes Drop Like a Stone in Spain

Both Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 drivers have shared their disappointment and disbelief at falling back from their front row grid slots, to such a degree that Lewis Hamilton was actually lapped during the Spanish Grand Prix.

(c) Octane Photographic

Rosberg and Hamilton locked out the front row in Qualifying but were left with no answer to the stronger race pace of Ferrari and Red Bull.

F1 2013 Driver Salaries Revealed

Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo has published the annual list of F1 driver salaries.

(c) Octane Photographic

The report reveals that Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton share the top spot as the sports highest earners, with both drivers earning around €20 million per year. The latter is currently earning €4 million more per year at Mercedes in comparison to his salary when racing for McLaren

2013 Spanish Grand Prix Weekend Review

The European season kicked off in the usual way, returning to the Circuit de Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix.

(c) Sahara Force India F1 Team

Returning to the well-used track gave teams the perfect opportunity to access their progress; they last tested there back in early March. It is a crucial weekend for teams to kick start the development race and start the European stint on the right foot.