Bleacher Report - Articles by Isuru Wakishta Arachchi

Why Did FIA Really Rule The Diffusers Legal?

Isuru Wakishta Arachchi — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:01:36 -0400

Most on-line F1 fans tend to appreciate newest FIA ruling in favor of the Diffuser 3. They claim that FIA has yet again become noble. Are you kidding me? When did Max Mosely's FIA become noble? The real reasons why Diffusers were made legal are as follows.

1) The Diffuser Three(D3): Toyota, Williams and BrawnGP are also the Vulnerable 3(V3) in F1. They have tremendous financial pressures on their mere survival and such a major ruling against them puts the final nail in their coffins.

Without D3, F1, CVC Capital, Bernie Ecclestone, Max Mosley cease to exists as we know them today. THAT IS A BIG NO! NO!

2) The ruling in favor of the D3 in a hearing shattered the seeming harmony among the constructors that once looked to topple the tyranny of Max Mosley and Ecclestone. The real plot here actually was the hearing it self. Without a hearing the big arguments among Brawn, Renault and Ferrari would not have occurred.

The whole incident leading up to the hearing was scripted to perfection to split the harmony. A ruling against the big brother Ferrari send the shock waves around. A big brother is always the figure of union. It is around the big brother that every lessor party flocks around to revolt. So if you beat the big brother then the rebellion is effectively repulsed.

The world we know runs according to some carefully scripted rules of an elite. They call it the status-quo. The status-quo is maintained with immense vigor and wisdom.

Let me close with a quote from Bernie Ecclestone him self.

"We're going to be here forever, don't worry.”
Bernie Ecclestone quote

2009 F1 Manufacturers Title Prediction

Isuru Wakishta Arachchi — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:32:39 -0400

Following is my revised 2009 prediction for manufacturers title.

1) Ferrari: Great pair of drivers, fastest car.

2) BMW: Only team that sand-bagged the performance in preseason testing, it is a sure beast.

3) BrawnGP: Unique fast car with the best engine and decent drivers. Lack of KERS and last minute integration with an alien engine means competitive advantage and reliability is questionable. With the worst 2008 F1 engine replaced with the best engine in the grid in a chassis that has been developed over years BrawnGP is definitely a force to reckon with but not quite as many might think.

4) Renault: Alonso lifts the team up and Piquet lets it down. Heck Alonso might even win the drivers title if Ferrari has reliability issues.

5) Toyota: They just lack the final 1% of magic that differentiates good ones from the best.

6) Reb Bull: Newey has not delivered a cracker it seems. Nevertheless Vettel will flourish in rain.

7) Mclaren: Too much ground to catch. No stolen tire data and no good feedback from drivers has taken it's toll. Expect a recovery later in the season but may be too little too late.

8) Torro-Rosso: Magic must be gone along with Vettel.

9) Wlliams: Competition is too fierce nowadays and money matters a lot.

10) Force-India: Mercedes bail-out will not change reality.

Honda Motor Company Ceases All Operations

Isuru Wakishta Arachchi — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:43:08 -0500

Honda Motor Company was founded by Soichiro Honda. It was a company founded by a man passionate for racing and sheer engineering excellence. In fact the very origin of the company lends it self to the inspiration of great racing success that motor bicycles engineered by the man achieved.

The bicycles were very rich in engineering excellence and innovations but cost only a handful. The precedence was set for the success of the company. Engineering excellence that cost little money marched the company forward into one of the most successful motor companies in the world.

In the automobile world it was one of the most successful companies to bring Variable Valve Timing and Lift Control mechanisms to mass production cars. These VTEC units were unparallel when it comes to the combination of durability (as oppose to forced induction), performance (120hp per liter) and fuel efficiency they offer. According to EVO car magazineHonda Integra Type R DC2 model is world’s best FWD car ever made.

Apart from VTEC there are other great contributions they have made when it comes to fuel efficiency, durability, chassis balance and cost effective production methods.

But ever since great Soichiro closed his eyes Honda has never been the same company.

They distanced themselves from their original values of “Engineering excellence that cost little money” and became the company of tree huggers and corporate profits. While there is nothing wrong with tree huggers and profits in their own right, when company began to shift its focus to them Honda lost their original color.

The departure from original colors was seen in Formula1 than anywhere else. They went from the most successful F1 engine maker in the late '80s and early '90s to the back markers of 2008. They became big spenders and engineering excellence eluded them.

On one fateful day in December 2008 even while still being one of the best financially positioned car makers in the world that boasts a so much better balance sheet, even revenue and future potential than companies like Renault-Nissan, GM, Chrysler, Ford, Peugeot, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Suzuki, and many more Honda announced that they quit racing at the pinnacle of motor sport. The founding father Soichiro Honda once famously said that “without racing there is not Honda.”

True to the spirits of founding values the Honda Motor Company ceases to exist from thereon. One suggests that the Honda badge be removed and replaced with a one that reads “Prudent Green.”

2009 F1 Predictions

Isuru Wakishta Arachchi — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 07:51:01 -0500

Writing an article for BR is something that I always do when I am jobless. So here I go again in cold Sweden, where I am thousands of miles from my warm family and home in Sri Lanka.

It's just too early, and I have only been into F1 for one and a half years, so pardon me if my predictions end up being very wrong.

But so far, I have had a good record with my share of predictions, but I am not too confident on this one of mine.

First place...

I think because of the quality of their drivers, Ferrari will win both WDC and WCC, despite having the second best car. Following are the facts I wish to bring out.

Most Ferrari customers are the kind that flourish during times of economic crisis. Unless the oil prices stay low, there is no doubt that Ferrari will be unaffected by the Global Financial Crisis. They, together with McLaren, have a strong financial clout to support development, and I have no doubt they have done their homework on 2009 very well. With or without KERS, they are going to make it to the top.
Kimi has been philosophical about 2008. He is a man on a mission for 2009, and I am sure Felipe is the most motivated man on the grid for 2009. Either one of them will be WDC.
Ferrari, after having made all those technical and strategic blunders, would want to play it very safe in 2009. I don't see the same mistakes made in 2008 to repeat themselves.

Second place...

I think McLaren will be the best car next year, but nevertheless will be second for the following reasons.

With the huge financial clout they already have and being multiplied by charismatic Lewis Hamilton, they have had the most resources of any team in the grid to focus on 2008 and 2009 developments. I don't think they have done any less than what a team like BMW may have done by focusing solely on 2009 since mid-season 2008.
You only have to look no further than 1998, where there were significant changes last time and they moved from fourth to first. So essentially McLaren adapt to changes well. The more changes there are, the better will they get.
Lewis Hamilton is going to be more or less unstoppable now. I predicted soon after Japan 2008 that he has now become almost perfect. Click here for more information. He's definitely going to prove the worth of the car. His childhood dream of becoming WDC has now been realised, and he's now working on his manhood dream of that McLaren F1 LM.
Nevertheless, I don't think Lewis Hamilton will become WDC because I think he's not ready to be champion in front of a motivated Felipe or a focused Kimi.
Kovalainen will let McLaren down in 2009 too. He's just lost his heart over what's happened in 2008.

Third place...

BMW will be strong just as always. But crucially they'd not be quite as good as the top two. In my short period in touch with F1, I have never seen a team that chickens out make it to the top. BMW chickened out in 2008 and they'd pay the price for that with Renault charging down their neck in 2009.

It might sound silly, but the morale of the team has a HUGE impact on the final outcome. I think BMW lost it in the latter part of 2008.

Fourth place...

Renault is the most motivated team on the grid, but I think Carlos Ghosn was bit too late injecting desperately needed cash for 2009 development.

I also think that Renault made too much into 2008 in a desperate attempt to retain Fernando. Although Alonso might be challenging for podiums, Nelsinho might let the team down yet again.

Fifth place...

Toyota will have improved massively, but I think Fernando will make the difference for Renault. Nevertheless, I expect a very close fight among BMW, Renault and Toyota.

Sixth place...

With young Sebastian, RBR will be stronger than STR. Nevertheless, Mark Webber will let the team down against BMW, Renault and Toyota.

Seventh place...

Again, my "chicken out theory" plays out against Honda. They chickened out in 2007, look what happened and then they chickened out in 2008. What do you think will happen? Only an idiot does the same thing over and over and expects a different result.

Eighth place...

I think without young Sebastian, the magic of STR will be gone. I think RBR will also be more greedy on them.

Ninth Place...

Williams has been having problems with their development in 2008 & I expect them to stay where they are today.

Last place...

Surely, they'd improve under Mercedes, but they just have too much ground to catch.

Hamilton, Finally Perfect!!!

Isuru Wakishta Arachchi — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 04:32:48 -0400

I became a fan of Formula One at roughly the same time Hamilton entered the sport. I have closely followed his activities. I am, however, a Ferrari-Kimi fan, so naturally I hate him, but I try my best to be objective when I write this about him.

To those uncompromising Hamilton haters...

I hear you, I agree that he thinks he's too good, thinks to highly of himself, and that he isn't a gentleman on the track.

There is no denying that his talent & personal story is so extraordinary. Many argue that his career was offered to him on a platter, sure enough, but I think he deserved it. His father was not Nelson Piquet, nor was his father a wealthy man with so much influence. If his career was offered on a platter, then I think he made others offer it to him.

The fact that he is British definitely worked to his advantage but being born to the greatest F1 nation is not his fault, is it? Maybe Rosberg, Vettel, & Alonso are just as great drivers or even better, but it wasn't god willing that they got a deserving car, so be it. I don't believe luck is an excuse, but that's just me.

On the Hamilton that was...

I think, ever since Hungary 2007, Hamilton was just being himself. Yes, the arrogant (on the track) self-proclaimed living legend that I hate, is the real Hamilton. But maybe most F1 drivers of his caliber are like that and maybe they are not quite as genuine or as powerful enough in the team to beat PR requirements.

On the Hamilton that is...

To me, Japan 2008 is the lowest point in his career. He started to be hated by most and I am sure everyone close to him, including Ron Dennis & Anthony Hamilton, must have gone to great lengths to give Hamilton a reality check. Maybe they told him to just be 95 percent of the man you are, not the entire 100 percent because the final five percent is too lethal. Guess what, it worked.

I was very impressed with the way he spoke to the media & raced since qualifying started this week in China, but it wasn't Hamilton himself, it was the 95 percent Hamilton. This seems to be the best for him & his fans alike.

On the Hamilton that will be...

Maybe Hamilton learnt today that if he becomes like what he was today, he can be the "best" he thinks he is. Nevertheless, it is a very fine line to walk, however successful he is in doing that, might just decide whether the world's greatest driver 'ever' comes from Germany or Britain.

50 years after Britain had its first taste of great drivers in F1, now they have renewed hope to produce perhaps the 'greatest ever'...but not yet for sure...only time will tell.

The Most Unfortunate Driver’s Season Ever?

Isuru Wakishta Arachchi — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:21:48 -0400

I firmly believe that one does not become a winner simply with personal talent and so be it. But sometimes you see an outpouring of talent being undermined by even greater outpouring of bad luck.

I think that’s what happened to my Kimi this season. But legends have to over come all odds and win, so let us hope Kimi can fight against all odds and win next year. His success in doing so will put him down as either a mere champion or a legend.

Following were some really unfortunate situations that forced Kimi out of contention this year. I want to ask from you F1 fans in this site whether any other title contender driver in the recorded F1 history has had as many misfortunes during a season.

Race/Cause/Actual Result/Possible Result according to my personal judgment

Australian/fuel pressure problems in Q1 it self/8/2

Canadian/Lewis slid into the back/DNF/1

French/the right-side exhaust pipe came loose & broke/2/1

British/wrong tire call by team/4/2

Hungarian/mechanical failure/3/2

European/engine failure/DNF/5

Belgium/illegal driving by Lewis/18/2

Japan/illegal driving by Lewis/3/1

Evidently if it wasn’t for so many unfortunate incidents like above, Kimi may have been champion this year too. Nevertheless Kimi does not deserve this year’s title. I believe every year title belong to the most deserving driver. But that’s just me.

It's game over for Kimi Raikonnen today in Japan, but wasn’t he really that good or is it something else?

The Ross Brawn That Was and the Ross Brawn That Will Be?

Isuru Wakishta Arachchi — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 06:56:20 -0400

It was inevitable right from the very beginning of the season that the top two teams would not be as consistent as BMW. Three Ferrari engines failing in the opener was more than enough proof of things to come.

Hamilton with his brave driving was always going to make a few mistakes and also ruin the tires. Massa made his trademark inconsistency ever so clear with two opening lackluster performances. Kovalainen proved his lack of magic with opening 5/3/5 finishes.

For an ordinary thinker in BMW the above is all that he’d have wanted as proof to launch an all out title battle against top two. BMW could easily have been tempted to run a campaign of consistency against the top two. But somebody there did not think so and rightfully withdrew the title challenge soon after “Mission Accomplished” in Canada.

For all those F1 commentators and some Kubica fans who think that he was wrong, I prove to you that he was absolutely right. Kubica, you better not get all worked up and leave BMW thinking they did not back you enough for a title battle. The truth is you were never in one.

Following is how 2008 season looks so far:

Race	Ferrari (KR/FM)	McLaren (LH/HK)	BMW (RK/NH)
1	8/RET	1/5	RET/2
2	1/RET	5/3	2/6
3	2/1	13/5	3/4
4	1/2	3/RET	4/9
5	3/1	2/12	4/5
6	9/3	1/8	2/14
7	RET/5	RET/9	1/2
8	2/1	10/4	5/13
9	4/13	1/5	RET/2
10	6/3	1/5	7/4
11	3/17	5/1	8/10
12	RET/1	2/4	3
13	18/1	3/10	6/2

Following is the aftermath had it not been for his rightful call.

Race	Ferrari (KR/FM)	McLaren (LH/HK)	BMW (RK/NH)
1	8/RET	1/5	RET/2
2	1/RET	5/3	2/6
3	2/1	13/5	3/4
4	1/2	3/RET	4/9
5	3/1	2/12	4/5
6	9/3	1/8	2/14
7	RET/5	RET/9	1/2
8	2/1	10/5	3/13
9	4/13	1/5	RET/2
10	6/4	1/5	7/2
11	3/17	5/1	8/10
12	RET/1	2/4	3/8
13	18/1	3/10	4/2

If the above table were to be true, following is the current outlook for the championship. Note that I have been careful to alter results only after Canada where he made the call.

Evidently BMW has lost almost nothing and may perhaps gain handily next season because of his call.

	BMW	Ferrari	McLaren
RK/FM/LH	62(4)	73(-1)	76
NH/KR/HK	53(4)	57	42(-1)
Total	115(8)	130(-1)	118(-1)

Alonso must be in deep trouble to choose between the “Ross Brawn” that was and the “Ross Brawn” that will be.