Bleacher Report - Articles by Billy Amann

Is Jensen Button Worthy Of Being The Formula One World Champion?

Billy Amann — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:29:21 -0400

Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2009.

There will be the mark of what could be a championship-winning race.

For Jensen Button that is…

If you have been following the Formula One world championship in 2009 then you know the dream story of Button’s six wins out of seven at the start of the season.

You also know the lacklustre results from then on in. So that now begs the question: Is Jensen Button worthy of becoming a world champion?

Really we should be asking, "Is anyone else worthy of being a world champion?"

Looking at the entire grid, including Jensen’s nearest rivals and those not in the title hunt, has anyone done anything to prove that they should be world champion this year?

Let's look at the other challengers.

Rubens Barrichello has won two races compared to the six of Jensen Button, his teammate. But he has out qualified the Brit 8-6 this season so far.

His strong qualifying form has only beaten the championship leader from the British Grand Prix onwards, before that point China was the only race in which the Brazilian beat his closest rival to the grid.

Sebastian Vettel has won one more race than Barrichello and out qualified him by one at 8-7. The German has retired twice more than the two Brawn drivers. But has his one extra race win and qualifying points done enough for him to deserve the title?

On performance merit, up until the British Grand Prix, Jensen had the edge.

But after that point, the race wins have been divided between no fewer than five drivers, and not one of those drivers include Jensen.

From the last time Button won a Grand Prix, he has only visited the podium once, compared to Vettel at four times and Barrichello three times.

From the rest of the grid, we have seen some brilliant drives from Kimi Raikkonen who won the Belgian Grand Prix at spa, and a commanding drive from Mark Webber who took his first F1 victory at the Nurburgring in Germany back in June.

Then there were the two victories for the reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton who helped his troubled team turn their dismal first half of the season around.

With solid performances in a “dog of a car” as he once said, Lewis Hamilton has pushed 100 percent to achieve the maximum that the car could deliver. Compared to his team mate Heikki Kovalainen, Lewis took two victories, out qualified Heikki 12-3, finished higher 10-4 and has finished two more races.

The mere fact that he claimed to be pushing too hard at the Italian Grand Prix, when he went off on the last lap, proves that he has never given up throughout the season.

With Lewis Hamilton doing what a reigning world champion should be doing in an inferior car (i.e. beating his teammate consistently) and Button’s stunning first half of the season, the rest of the highlights seem to be shared among drivers.

Let me put it this way, had Bernie Ecclestone’s medals system been in place, or the FIA’s variation of that as it was planned to be, then Jensen would have taken the title in Singapore when Hamilton took the chequered flag.

That would have left three races and three drivers needing four wins just to catch up to Buttons' six.

Things now look a little rosier for Jensen to be worthy of the title.

He hasn’t been consistent throughout the entire season, but then again neither has anybody else. So his first six wins out of seven will have served him well if he was to win the title.

If anyone else does win the title, they deserve it because one man failed to hold onto the lead.

2010 Formula 1 Driver Market: Where the Best Behind the Wheel Score New Deals

Billy Amann — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:17:32 -0400

It's that time again: The driver market opens for business. In F1 this is the time for those whose contacts are up for grabs to show off what they can do and how good they actually are.

So far in the last few weeks we have seen drivers dropped, hired and re-signed for another stint. But there has yet to be announced a driver switch.

With Fernando Alonso expected to be announced as a Ferrari driver in two weeks at Monza, the driver market is about to be blown open once again.

McLaren has warned their driver Heikki Kovalainen he has to up his game to retain his seat, and if he doesn't we can expect a large group of drivers trying to bid for his spot in the team.

Nico Rosberg appears to be at the top of that list, but the likes of Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld will be closely looked at. From a marketing point of view it would make sense to employ a German driver, so Heidfeld and Rosberg along with Timo Glock will be more attractive to McLaren.

If Alonso does make the switch to the Italian squad, then that would leave an open seat at Renault. Robet Kubica has been linked with the drive and this probably looks more likely than a switch to McLaren.

Toyota's future hangs in the balance of the powers that be in Japan. The wait in the signing off of their 2010 budget is getting everyone at Cologne a bit anxious, even more so for that of Jarno Trulli, who looks like he could be on the move after the announcement that the team are unlikely to retain the Italian for 2010.

He could end up giving one of the new three teams a hand, lending his experience and knowledge to the new comers.

Ferrari looks to have their driver line up sorted for 2010. As mentioned earlier it looks almost certain that Alonso will make the switch in the next season. Felipe Massa will most certainly be retained, as his impressive work in 2008 and his consistency in this year's championship will have earned him a well deserved drive, provided he can fully recover from his accident in Hungary.

Kimi Raikkonen has been very quiet about his future, feeding rumors he is to leave F1 altogether.

Moving further down the grid before going back to the sharp end, Force India are most likely to keep hold of Adrian Sutil, who has been linked to a McLaren drive also.

But the feeling is he will remain at the Silverstone based squad for 2010. The likelihood of Giancarlo Fisichella staying is 50/50. Not a lot has been mentioned about where he may end up next year.

Red Bull has their seats firmly filled next year, with both first team drivers signed, sealed, and delivered (pardon the pun...) for next year at least.

The sister team Torro Rosso is most likely to keep their two youngsters Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari as both have impressed in their short Formula 1 careers. (My view is that Alguersuari is a one to watch for the future, keep an eye on him)

To Grove, where Williams resides...Nico Rosberg has made no secret of wanting to switch to a more competitive side, but Williams has improved and Nico is driving well, scoring points consistently.

So he has a lot to think about, but the feeling of the paddock and media is that the German will move South Westerly to Woking and join the Silver Arrows.

Another big talking point about Williams is their desire to to cut the contract between them and Toyota over engine supply. This would then put the struggling Nakajima at risk. It is said he is only driving with the team by way of a heavy influence from the Japanese manufacturer.

Brawn has announced there is no need to look for new drivers, and they may be right. Rubens Barrichello has just one his first race in five years and Jenson Button's flying first half of the season will be hard to forget.

Rubens has said he is still eager to race next year and it's just way too early for Jenson to hang up his helmet.

BMW has decided that they no longer wish to compete as a manufacture outfit anymore so the team is up for sale, but they still have to re-apply for their grid slot.

If they are successfully bought, most likely by their former owner Peter Sauber, then they will be looking to find or keep hold of their drivers. If this is the case Jarno Trulli may be looked at and also Nick Heidfeld will also be in with a chance to stay at Hinwill.

Movers and shakers for 2010 look to be aplenty, but there are also many staying put. It looks to be an exciting time with six extra seats becoming available and some fresh new blood to the scene keeping the older and wiser ones in check.

There is never a dull moment in the world of F1 off the track, if it's not a battle between the FIA and the teams it's a battle over drivers. Come December 31, 2009 we should all know who is going where.

Hamilton Out and McLaren In Dog House: Cheating Once Again!

Billy Amann — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 06:02:49 -0400

Lewis Hamilton was handed and then stripped of a third place finish in Melbourne earlier today.

The FIA have reviewed the evidence given, with proof from the teams radio, and have decided to disqualify the the world champion. Jarno Trulli's 25 second penalty has been revoked and he has been allowed his third place.

The heart of this article is not my displeasure at the FIA for doing what is fair and what is right (for once), it's my displeasure at the team and driver I have chosen to support.

Mclaren and Lewis Hamilton have been found guilty of cheating once again.

Why? Is it because they believed this was the best chance they have of scoring points before they are able to try and claw back some down-force? I don't know.

One thing is clear, they have cheated once again, by giving misleading information in order to gain an advantage.

Hamilton cheated to gain an advantage at Spa, Mclaren did it in unbelievable fashion in 2007 with the "spygate" saga.

Surely a huge organisation like Mclaren, in one of the most televised sports in the world, should know better.

It's not good for the sport and it's not good for the team. By the team I mean the mechanics who have to work all night getting the cars ready, and the guys who put up their media centre.

I now call in to question Martin Whitmarsh's credibility to head the F1 Team's Alliance.

It may or may not be his fault directly, and I do not doubt for one second that he is up to the job, but as the leader of a stable for all F1 teams, this cheating stain on his reputation leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.

If the fans are the most important part of F1's appeal, why do you insist on annoying and disappointing your own?

Final Showdown As Button and Barrichello Head For Abu Dhabi

Billy Amann — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:58:27 -0400

Abu Dhabi, hosts this, the final race of the season, where Brawn GP (2009 Constructors Champions) have ran away with the entire season and look certain to run away with this race once again. With a record breaking 288 points compared to Ferrari’s 2004 record of 262 and a 100 percent win rate so far F1’s newest team are set to fill the top two steps of the podium once again to take their final total to 306 points.

Race 17 of 17 sees an undisputed Brawn GP team, who took the coveted honours two races ago head to the final grid line up with little left to prove except that they are the absolute class of 2009.

With Ferrari falling back gradually throughout the season and their announcement earlier this week that they intend to pull out of Formula One for good, because of their lack of success this season. All of the teams are set to gain an extra share of income from FOM. It was well documented that Ferrari get an extra cut of the money just because of their history in the sport.

Mclaren’s improved form did little for their 2009 campaign as the Brackley squad were in a class of their own winning every single race of the season with 1-2 finishes at every event. Mclaren’s CEO Martin Whitmarsh explained Brawn’s season as a “phenomenal achievement” saying that “they just got everything right.”

Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello are set to go head to head for the Drivers Championship at the final race this weekend, both drivers have traded race wins and second places all season long giving each driver 144 points. That’s eight wins and eight second places each with Jenson taking the chequered flag last race in Brazil.

Formula One is about to close the curtains on 2009 in both race terms and testing. The final race will be the last time the 2009 cars run this year with testing banned until 2010. Farewell to the fairy tail season for Brawn GP and farewell to F1’s longest serving team.

Hey, it could happen…

Looking Forward to the 2009 Formula One Season

Billy Amann — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:09:05 -0400

Is it the new rules or the new cars? Or is it the fact that it is a clean slate for all of the teams? There is something a little more exciting about the prospect of this season than in recent years.

Here is a look at what I am looking forward to in the coming season, and fret not fellow bleachers I want you to have your say too.

Brawn GP (the new but old boys of F1)

The name change has forced them to the back of the pit lane, which has its advantages but also its disadvantages such as the smaller garage. A new team is what they are classed as by the FIA which means a new start for the Brackley squad.

Fifteen months of hard work on their 2009 challenger has ebbed them ahead of the grid after the final pre season and the final of the 2009 tests. They showed great long distance and short distance speed pushing them in front as they head to Melbourne.

Watching the test reports pop up put a smile on my face, who would have thought that the old Honda team would be leaving the others trailing? Exciting for the first three races but also exciting to see if they maintain their dominance when everybody has had a chance to catch up for Catalunya.

Aero

This year Aero has been scaled back and, let's face it, the cars are nowhere near as pretty as last season's cars. The high rear wing and wide front wing makes the cars look a little topsy turvy, but I'm sure with time these aesthetics will become a little easier to live with.

Its going to be about the tiny details this season with each update having little tweaks to them, although with Formula One’s great minds I expect to see some innovative additions to the cars this season.

The Grid

The Grid this season is likely to be a place of irregularity as teams come up with new solutions and ideas to gain an advantage. The new aero regulations have forced a reshuffle, as teams who have done well over the last season appear to be falling behind, and teams who have struggled look to have improved.

A look forward to the Spanish Grand Prix (to which the teams believe shows who is going to perform well in the season) sees the first batch of major updates to the cars since the final tests last week. It’s a real gamble on new developments to see if they will gain any advantage.

The British Grand Prix

The British GP waves goodbye to its resident home of Silverstone this year. So I'm sure the organisers will want to go out with a bang and have something special planned for the event.

It is also a first chance for me to see the new machinery in the flesh and I am sure to have my camera primed and ready. This will be my first year in a Grandstand and I felt the final GP at Silverstone is a good excuse to splash out on Pit Straight seats. I can’t wait...

What are you looking forward to this season?

Formula 2 or Formula Poo?

Billy Amann — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:02:19 -0400

GP2…The unofficial Formula 2. The new official one is set to arrive next year.

Formula 2 will once again grace the circuits in 2009, since it was replaced by Formula 3000 back in the '80s. But will this new and revived formula feel like those cheap two-striped track suits from the market?

1984 saw the final Formula 2 race, where diminishing grids were its demise. But it is being resurrected to inject some new talent into the sport and into Formula 1.

Why?

GP2 has provided F1 with most of its new generation. Nico Rosberg, Timo Glock, Heikki Kovalainen, Nelson Piquet, Lewis Hamilton and Lucas Di Grassi (Renault test driver) have all joined the sports elite since its first race at the San Marino GP on April 23, 2005.

The new generation are fast, with every single newcomer (except Di Grassi, who has yet to compete) from the series getting on the podium of a Formula 1 race at some point. It's clear to see GP2 has produced some top quality racers.

I just don’t see why the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) thinks that we need another formula to fill the hopefuls' heads with false hope, let alone another race series that pollutes the ever-declining climate.

With the FIA pushing for a cleaner F1 to clean up their planet-damaging image, wouldn’t it be better for them to develop a new Formula that is clean and environmentally friendly?

The way the cars will look is similar to that of the previous GP2 cars and the previous Formula Renault cars. This seems like a step backwards in terms of new and exciting things.

There is just no need for a series that runs like so many others, such as the World Series by Renault, Formula Renault, and Formula BMW. Why do we need another single-seater, single-manufacture formula?

It seems to me that the cheapness is already showing through and it will be as successful as those two striped track suits you used to be able to get, not quite the three-striped brand…

Not quite GP2…

Did Singapore Live Up To The Hype?

Billy Amann — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:46:27 -0400

As Formula 1 cools down from a hot and sweaty night race in Singapore, the time has come to ask the question: Did it live up to the hype?

Fernando Alonso took victory, Williams and Nico Rosberg appeared on the Podium, and Felipe Massa took the fuel hose. Today’s race was filled with delights that saw two safety car periods and the seasons seventh different winner.

The darkness of Singapore never deterred any of the teams from the race, as the lights along the track ensured maximum visibility of every inch. Clear visors allowed us to peer into the helmets of the drivers and the paint-work of the cars glistened under the floodlights.

It was surely a different spectacle, and the race proved just as dramatic as it looked. One crash, as Nelson Piquet lost control and hit a barrier, started the reshuffle of the field. This shifted things as the safety car came out at the exact point at which a number of cars were low on fuel. From then on it was a completely different race.

The streets of Singapore lacked the straights to gain a good toe, so overtaking was limited. Turn ten threw a spanner in the works, sending a few cars flying with the high concrete bumps. The Anderson Bridge was the reason for these bumps as the organisers wanted the cars to remain in single file on the bridge.

An action packed race saw Singapore’s inaugural grand prix be a good one. What do you think? What did it do for you?

David Coulthard: A Tribute

Billy Amann — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:27:32 -0400

With Sebastian Vettel confirmed yesterday (Thursday, July 17, 2008) at Red Bull to replace retiring Brit David Coulthard, it seems like we are already waving good bye to one of Formula One's finest men. A true gentleman and a passionate Scot, David Coulthard looks to the future outside of a carbon fibre monocock.

He competed in 238 grand prix (prior to the German Grand Prix) and won no less than 13, scoring 533 points along the way. He has been a permanent fixture in the F1 driver lineup for over 14 years and raced for three teams: Williams (test driver 93) '94-'96, McLaren '96-'05, and Red Bull '05-'08.

Now I'd like to take you through David Coulthard’s history in the sport and have a look at what he has achieved.

Name: David Marshall Coulthard (DC)

Born: March 27, 1971; Twynholm, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland

DC, like most drivers, started his motor racing career karting at an early age, winning the Scottish Junior Kart Championship, Scottish Open Kart Championship, and British Super Kart 1 Championship.

He graduated to Formula Ford in 1989 where he won the Dunlop/Autosport FF1600 Championship, P&O Ferries Junior FF1600 Championship, and came third in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch.

It was in that same year when DC won the McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award. This was the same award won by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, Gary Paffett, and rising star Oliver Turvey.

In 1990 David competed in the Formula Vauxhall-Lotus Championship/GM Lotus Euroseries Championship. But in 1991 he moved into Formula Three, winning the famous Macau Grand Prix and Marlboro Masters of Formula Three, whilst coming second in the overall championship for that year.

From '92-'93 our Scot raced in the Formula 3000 championship, having a quiet first year in the series and finishing ninth in the championship. His second year was a little more fruitful and he finished third overall and won the GT class at the French 24-hour race at Le Mans. This year David Coulthard was announced as the official test driver for Williams Renault, and so his F1 career began.

David was promoted from test driver to race driver for William Renault in 1994, marking the beginning of a Formula One racing career that would span 14 years.

The reason for this promotion was due to the death of racing legend Ayrton Senna at Imola in the San Marino Grand Prix. He did not race the whole of the season, giving up the last three races to returning Nigel Mansell.

But it was in 1995 when Coulthard would get the drive for William Renault and not ex-champion Mansell. He would go on to win his first Formula One Grand Prix in Portugal and finish third in the championship with 43 points. This would be his last season with the Williams team, managing to get his first podium and first win in F1.

By the time 1996 came around the now Grand Prix winner David Coulthard was with Mika Hakkinen at McLaren. There his first season with the outfit was poor as the squad struggled to find pace, but he finished second behind Oliver Panis at Monaco.

He finished the season in seventh place with just 18 points to his name, a season in which Englishman Damon Hill recorded his only Formula One World championship with Williams Renault—the team winning 12 out of the 16 races that season.

1997 became the year DC would open his race wins score with McLaren, taking victory in Australia and Italy. He finished the season third on 36 points. Things were looking up.

When McLaren took the championship in ‘98, DC was basically used to supporting his teammate Mika Hakkinen when he won the drivers championship. Coulthard took one victory at the San Marino Grand Prix and finished with 56 points leaving him third in the championship.

Fourth place in the championship was all DC could manage in 1999, despite winning his home Grand Prix at Silverstone. He also won at the infamous Spa—he only had Monaco to complete the big four. His tally for the year was 48 points, but David looked strong and confident moving into the millennium.

Three wins would only take Coulthard to a bronze in the championship in 2000, and at this stage it was all he was able to achieve. But this year David completed the big four, adding Monaco to his list of wins, while taking the chequered at Silverstone and Magny Cours, ending up with a massive 73 points.

Now DC had taken victories at Silverstone, Monza, Monaco, and Spa—the big four were completed. All that was left was the WDC (World Drivers Championship).

2001 was the second year of the Schumacher reign, meaning that Coulthard missed out heavily in the drivers championship, scoring just over half of Schumacher’s tally of 123 points.

He beat his best efforts by finishing second to the German, who would be knocked off the top spot for another three years. His chances of winning a title in Formula One faded fast. Coulthard could muster just 65 points against the mighty scarlet bullets.

From 2002 to 2004 Coulthard struggled for pace against the current champion Kimi Raikkonen. Still, he won in Monaco for the second time in ’02 and capped off his wins in Australia a year later.

His finishing positions dropped by a factor of two each year. In 2002 he finished with 41 points in fifth; in 2003 he scored 41 points and ended up seventh; in 2004 he was in ninth with a mere 24 points. This was to be his last time with McLaren and his future in the sport looked shady at best.

Red Bull, the buyers of Jaguar, came to the rescue. DC signed to Red Bull as the No. 1 driver, to which he would partner a young Christian Klien.

DC helped develop the Red Bull car and team, having a pivotal role in signing star designer Adrian Newey. David Coulthard has only ever won in an Adrian Newey car, so things looked good for DC in the future.

David Coulthard has scored 59 points for Red Bull and helped turn them into a competitive team. This loyal Scot who spent nine years at McLaren and will hope to spend more at Red Bull has seen it all in Formula One, from the last death in the sport to some downright dirty tactics.

He has seen a young Brit win his first British Grand Prix and will see Formula One's first night race. The only thing keeping this tale just short of perfection is the missing trophy every driver strives to attain.

Formula One: 2009 Driver Lineup Predictions

Billy Amann — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:38:25 -0400

With David Coulthard retiring at the end of the 2008 Formula One season and several drivers under pressure to perform, I look to the future of the driver lineup in 2009.

We must first look at available slots and who is a tad vulnerable to the chop. It is obvious that Red Bull have an opening, so with the team growing ever more competitive, they will be receiving more CV’s than usual.

Renault aren’t sure to hang onto both drivers, with Honda offering Alonso a hand and Nelson Piquet’s lacklustre first half to the season, it’s questionable to who will be there next year.

Neither Honda drivers are tied up but Jenson Button looks certain to stay. Whereas Barrichello’s good performance of late may swing the pendulum his way, but it still all hangs in the balance of whether Honda can secure Alonso.

Then there will be Torro Rosso and Force India. Vettel could be in with a chance at the Red Bull seat, which would leave a free seat for Torro Rosso. Force India will most likely keep their line up to ensure continuity and stability.

Red Bull will wave goodbye to one of the most experienced drivers in F1 and make way for some fresh talent to grace their garages. Vettel will be looking to jump from Torro Rosso to the First team.

He has impressed the whole paddock and shown the world what he is capable of, finishing fourth in China back in 2007 and consistently getting into the second and third qualifying rounds, even though only finishing four out of nine starts in 2008.

My verdict is to keep an eye on Vettel because I can just see him at Ferrari in three or four years time. He could be the replacement to Raikkonen.

Shaky starts to the season meant Nelson Piquet has had to up his game to assure himself a place at Renault. He started to shine when he twice overtook his experienced former world champion team-mate Alonso twice at the British Grand Prix.

However, that still doesn’t give him a guaranteed seat at his current team. When you take a look at last year, Heikki Kovalainen had the same start. In the second half of the season he outperformed his then team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella, but was still dropped to make way for Piquet.

Alonso could be on the move again. He is being touted by Honda and could make the big move back to England. If he is clever, he will stay at the improving French squad. Next year is a blank canvas for the teams and Renault will be looking to keep Fernando to help develop the new car.

It's been well-publicised that Honda have probably the most experienced drivers on the grid and should look to keep it that way. Jenson Button is currently in talks with the Brackley squad to stay for a little while longer and that looks the case. But Rubens Barrichello’s story is a little different.

If Honda manages to sign Alonso, then Rubens will be looking for a new seat or will consider heading out of F1 like David Coulthard. Should Alonso stay at Renault, Barrichello will most certainly have at least one more year left in the sport.

Sebastian Vettel has had a remarkable start to the season and is said to be the favourite to replace David Coulthard. So this would leave an opening for Torro Rosso. Looking at the current drivers, this could be a slot for Rubens Barrichello if things go pear-shaped at Honda. Or this could be the opportunity for GP2 star Bruno Senna.

Although he is linked with a test role at BMW, it is race seats we are talking about today. He is said to be focusing on his GP2 career, but it's certain to say he will be thinking about Formula 1. But his biggest chance of a race seat lies with Torro Rosso.

The teams and drivers not mentioned are contractually tied to their teams or linked so heavily that the possibility of a move is a distant prospect. Both drivers for Ferrari and McLaren are pretty stable, and so are the two BMW drivers.

Force India will look to keep their lineup, as will Toyota. Nico Rosberg is tied heavily to Williams, and the strong link between the team and Toyota means that Japanese driver Kazuki Nakajima has a seat with the constructor.

Not many movers and shakers, but still an exciting prospect for Red Bull and Torro Rosso. These predictions could be the future, or I could be completely wrong. All we can do is see how this season unfolds and watch the driver market do its thing.

Billy Amann