Hey! F1 followers,

There is a great new stuff to show off to your friends and pals onyour mobile phones. Rediff has launched F1 - mobile special downloads. Download them at
http://in.rediff.com/mobile/specials/Formula1.html

Cool wallpapers and pictures. Games are not actually F1 games but they are racing games which will keep you excited. Have fun.

Sumit.

Hey! Folks,

Here comes a chance for you all to experience a new game specially designed for F1 and its right on Rediff.com

The "Predict and Win - F1 edition" is loaded with lots of fun. You can select the teams, drivers, tracks and bet on them. As you win the rarest and the most unexpected, you win tons :-)

So, put on your thinking caps and logon to http://www.rediff.com/formulaone/

I am gonna put my bets on it right away. So, who do you think is going to take the championship this time? The new rookie skills of Hamilton, the repeat of Alonso or rising of Kimi? And after all, is it McLaren or Ferrari?

All the best! Cheers!

Malaysia, physically one of the most demanding track. On Sunday it had a hot and humid weather with temperature meter showing 34 deg C and 57% humidity. The track temperature was extreme 55 deg C.

And boy!. Little past noon, the cars lined up on the track. One could see the sole Bridgestone dominating the flags everywhere. For the first time there is a white strip in the tyre with the Bridgestone mark.

So, 3 ..2 ..1 Go! starts the race. And a little slow start by Massa (well Ferrari) and fantastic overtake by McLarens from right on 1st corner makes the race Alonso <- Hamilton <- Massa <- Kimi

It was an amazing display of talent by Hamilton to break hard and get Massa on the greens on 6th lap. That made Massa who was dog chasing Hamilton go down to 5th place behind Nick Hiefield as Kimi started chasing Hamilton.

Niko Roseberg, a potential to watch this year made a superb overtake on the 11th lap putting him on 6th place secs behind Massa.

Lap 12 bang bang McClaren. The gap between the 2 McClaren drivers was increased to 11 sec with the increase of 1 sec per lap. By the time they were on lap 14, Alonso was cruising ahead by the difference was 13 sec ahead of Kimi and 20 sec ahead of Massa. Lap 16 - 15 sec difference from Kimi and 24 sec from Massa and the game was over.

The first pit stop for McClaren was 7.x sec and Ferrari had 9.x.

Seems the track took the toll on lap 31. Roseberg was asked to switch to Mode-4 of the engine. It means he had to reduce the power of the engine.

I thought I should write a line about what the car faces in speed drive and power brakes. The G-force at top speed (300 kmph, gear 7) is 0.2 with wheels rotating at 19,000 RPM all the way when one brakes at the sharp turn the G-force at the low speed (80 kmph, gear 2) is near to 4-G with wheels rotating at 1000 rpm.

Mode-4 did not help Roseberg and when there were 13 laps to the finish flag, Roseberg had a engine burnout issue. I'm sure there will be some thinking once they get back in the tents after the race.

12 laps to finish and Kimi started driving 1 sec faster than Hamilton per lap and was 7 sec away from Hamilton. 8 laps to go, 4.7 sec behind Hamilton .... 7 laps to go, 3.7 sec behind .... 5 laps to go and its 2.81 sec ... 3 laps to go and 2.1 sec difference .. Wow!!!

But the test driver of McClaren held the nerve -- throughout the race. He emerged the best driver of the race and 2nd best on the podium.

Finish Line had Alonso -> Hamilton -> Kimi -> Hiefield -> Massa.

All I can say, the race should be called as "The Hamilton Race" more than the McClaren race. We saw a better driver today and will be in days to come.

Cheers!

Yes, he and Alonso both have 116 points.

But Schumi's won 7 and Alonso 6 races this season, which means the German is currently on top, leading this year's World Championship.

I want to sit and write reams and reams about this Chinese Grand Prix, the year's finest race -- *and* the only one I have managed to catch live. And I will -- but not today. I underestimated the hardcore partying enthusiasm of the Tifosi, and post-race people from all nations came together under the scarlet sun, so what if Schumacher was the only word they understood. Ferrari symbols were worn and waved, and much merrymaking ensued.

All of which, along with the race, shall be reported upon so that all of you can have a close-to-ringside experience of The Shang's finest hours. But tonight I have a flight to catch and need to hurry back to Bombay. Tomorrow onwards, racetalk begins.

Oh, and the chat for the Chinese GP will be on Tuesday, from 1-2pm. Decided to give you guys a break on the Gandhiji dry-day. Spread the word, enjoy yourselves, and, like Michael Schumacher, Lage Raho!

Cheers,


Raja


P.S. - In relation to my last two posts, it rained -- before and after the race -- with impecccable timing. ;)

Alright folks, I'm currently on my way to the stadium to watch the Chinese GP.

For now, there hasn't been a shower all morning and I decided to put myself out on a limb for today -- I predict that by racetime, we'll not just have a dry circuit, but some sun.

Y'all know what that means. Catch you after the race.


-- Raja Sen

Okay, so the rains have changed the momentum around.

Qualifying today has ensured that Renault are right back on top, with their World Champion not just on pole, but with 4 drivers between him and challenger Michael Schumacher. Giancarlo Fisichella is ideally positioned at P2, while Felipe Massa starts from the back of the grid.

It's hard to imagine Renault not retaking the lead in the Constructor's Race. This season might be a blue one after all.

Positives for a Ferrari fan: MS was the only Bridgestone runner in the Top 10, and looks gunned to go. His qualifying performance with those tyres was superlative and looked incredible in the rain, and he might enjoy charging through the grid. Also, carving through 4 top drivers might be just the impetus he needs to finally conquer his Shanghai jinx.

And if it doesn't rain tomorrow -- I'm praying it doesn't, because I'd rather wave the flag freely instead of cowering beneath an umbrella shivering -- all bets are off, and all I will predict is an Alonso-Schumi dogfight.

Ready for China, gents?

Alright, fellow F1 freaks.

We're in the season's last leg, the current World Champion is two points ahead of the rampaging 7-time Champion who has just announced his retirement -- this is high drama even Bollywood would call too unrealistic.

So what was left to do but go see The Man? He has 3 races to go, and so tonight I embark for Shanghai to see if I can catch up with Michael and check out the F1 Weekend up close.

Posts will be constant over the next few days, and specials will follow after I return. For now, send in your Shanghai predictions -- and any advice for my first China trip.

Cheers,


Raja Sen

So there's a lot of Michael speculation these days. Will he retire at the end of 2006 or not? If he doesn't, will he stay at Ferrari or head to Renault?

And now a new contender jumps startlingly into the fray.

BMW Team Boss Mario Theissen has admitted that he's trying to get Schumi for his blue-and-white outfit next season. While this might normally be considered mere wishful thinking, please note that Dr T's offer is a very generous one. $100 million, as conservative rumours dictate!

My completely insignificant two cents: Michael, now 37, won't call it quits in 2006 -- not unless he wins with massive style. Ferrari's resurgent, and he'll stay optimistically on board for another season. He won't move to Renault, cause the risk -- of wearing a blue suit at this time in his career and losing -- is too great and would muddy up his Ferrari mythos entirely.

As for the BMW offer, if it really is as astronomical as that, then it's interesting 'cause Michael likes the idea of building up a race legacy, a la Ferrari, with a fledgling team and might take his key personnel Ross Brawn and Jean Todt along with him. It's a curious idea, and the concept would definitely appeal to Michael -- Don't forget BMW is as German as they come -- but it would mean sticking around till about 2009 and enduring more than one title-less season.

Will Michael be racing at 40? Honestly, I wouldn't totally bet against it.

What do you think?

-- Raja Sen

So Juan Pablo Montoya's been sacked.

Congratulations, Ron Dennis, that's the first sign of good luck we've seen for McLaren all year.

Just last week Dennis was defending Montoya despite his idiocy at the US Grand Prix, where he ploughed into the back of his luckless teammate Kimi Raikkonen. But now Montoya, who has rightfully realised that he deserves no more room in a technically demanding sport, announces a move to NASCAR next season, and Dennis finds the opportunity to show him the red card. Fab.

So the crucial French Grand Prix might potentially be the 'safest' race we've seen since Takuma Sato got out of a threateningly fast car. Still, despite the Colombian increasingly turning into a bland driver, I must concede that I'm going to miss Juan Pablo.

What's your take?

-- Raja Sen

One day, in the morning while checking my email, I suddenly bumped upon this mail by Vilas Jamindar. He says he has made a lot of sketches and one of his favourites is Schumi's sketch. Vilas is working in Space Applications Centre(ISRO), Ahmedabad as a Scientist.

Thanks a ton Vilas for such a wonderful sketch. Deserves to be on the home of F1 i-land. :-)

- Sumit Rajwade