Championships are won by consistency and more importantly, consistently winning. It was no surprise that we saw Michael Schumacher dominate from 2000 to 2004. 

Red Bull too have portrayed a similar consistency and have won 3 championships on the trot. 2013 too has seen them score big whenever the opportunity has presented itself and one can say that pegging back their lead would demand a herculean task from the rest.

Ferrari and Lotus F1 have played catchup after having their fair share of success this season. Lotus F1 has seen a sudden loss of form recently and I would like to explore the reasons behind this.

1) James Allison leaving the team.

James Allison had been a fantastic addition to the Enstone based team. Respected within the Formula 1 Fraternity, James was instrumental in the championship winning years of Ferrari from 2000 to 2004. He also enjoyed success during the Benetton days. His departure on the Spanish GP weekend left everyone in shock and the team seemed to have lost direction after his departure. They put up a brave front and Kimi finished 2nd in the race. Grosjean suffered suspension failure and retired from the race. Grosjean had a big shunt in final practice in Monaco and tailgated Ricciardo putting both out of the race and earning a 10 place grid penalty for the Canadian GP.  Kimi would have finished in the Top 6 at best but contact with Perez left him on a damage limitation drive and he finished 10th in Monaco. Canada saw him struggle in Qualifying. The Race was riddled with multiple problems for him and 9th was the best he could manage. Grosjean couldn't maintain his strategy and a 2nd stop bumped him out of the points. 

The Recent spate of bad results could point to a certain unrest within the team. James brought a stability to the team. The Same could be said for the trio of Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Nigel Stepney for Ferrari or the quartet of Ron Dennis, Adrian Newey, Martin Whitmarsh and Nobert Haug for McLaren Mercedes.

"Ferrarigate" saw Nigel Stepney leave Ferrari, Jean Todt and Ross Brawn too left for other endeavours.The Team made several errors in Stepney's absence who was in charge of trackside operations. It took some time for the Team to recover and they are yet to win a championship since 2007.  Martin Whitmarsh is the only one left in the McLaren team with Ron Dennis taking a more passive role and they have had similar experiences since 2008.

One might say that James Allison isn't the sole deciding factor and this cannot be denied. However his contribution and sheer presence was assuring for a team which is smaller in size and has limited resources to work with.

Nick Chester, his replacement has big shoes to fill. Unlike James, Nick was permanently stationed in Enstone but is now trackside and it would intriguing to see how he handles such a challenge.

2) Sponsorships and Finances :

A report suggested that the Team posted a record loss in the 2012 season. The Team performed well last season and left many bigger spending teams red-faced. The Team has got some new entrants in sponsorships and it would be wrong to quote figures without proper knowledge. However in the aftermath of a loss posted, it seems logical to offload some personnel and cut back costs. This could be one of the major reasons for Allison's departure. Holding onto Kimi Raikkonen might also be a big ask for the 2014 season. The Team would really hope to be in Championship winning positions to attract more sponsors and earn the vital money that one gets after finishing higher in the championship.

3) Dent to the Charge :

The Team enjoyed being 2nd in the Constructors leading into the Spanish GP but the results of the last 2 races have meant that the Competitors have closed in and they are now 4th in the standings at the end of the Canadian GP. The Financial constraints have also meant that upgrades have been hard to come by. It can be said that the last two races ( Monaco and Canada ) weren't best suited for the car but no points for Grosjean and only 3 for Raikkonen meant that even damage limitation couldn't be achieved.The Team would hope to hit back at Silverstone and they must as any more slip-ups would leave them with too much to do at the business end of the season.

The Driver's Championship too has seen Raikkonen being demoted to 3rd after the Canadian GP. He trails leader Vettel by 44 points. We still have 12 races to go but I do not foresee Vettel dropping too many points from hereon. It might be premature to say that Raikkonen is out of contention but the team must ensure that no more mistakes are made in the upcoming races to keep him in the hunt. The disappointment would be evident for the Finn as he has had only one victory to show for his efforts.

Kimi Raikkonen would have the opportunity to break Michael Schumacher's record of consecutive points finishes in Silverstone. Grosjean too must iron out errors and ensure strong finishes in the points to aid the team in the Constructors' Battle. 

Hopefully the team might prove its doubters wrong and produce a resurgence. The Team has won championships in the past and a comeback would only spice up the battle at the front of the grid.

3 weeks until Silverstone, a lot of questions to be answered. F1 please come back soon.

Common Kimi Raikkonen!! Common Romain Grojean!! Common Lotus F1!!

F1 has always been the pinnacle of Motorsport and has had a global fanbase. However down the years, controversies and scandals have threatened to throw the sport into disarray. The Sport has weathered many storms to come out stronger.

Another controversy has hit the sport and the FIA would hope to resolve the same at the earliest. Pirelli made a return to F1 in 2011 and has had a torrid time in the sport since.

2012 saw a few teams struggling to find the correct balance for the tyres and tyre degradation was a big issue for them.

2013 has seen worse as the Tyre Life has reduced inspite of Pirelli introducing varied compounds. 2 Dry Tyre Compounds are chosen for each race weekend along with the Mandatory Intermediates and Wet Weather compounds.

The Spanish GP weekend saw the highest number of pit stops ever and the Pole Sitter Hamilton moved backwards after struggling to find grip with the tyres. Other teams too had similar complaints, the exceptions being Ferrari and Lotus F1 who seemed to have got a measure of these tyres.

The Debacle for Mercedes AMG Petronas left Pirelli Red Faced and the duo decided to perform a 1000 km test in accordance with a directive in the FIA rulebook. The Duo did a 3 day test panning 1000 km post the Spanish GP weekend albeit SECRETLY using their 2013 Car.

The Same was brought to light at the next race in Monaco and the FIA and other competitors were not pleased. In the Aftermath of the same, Red Bull and Ferrari lodged a former complaint against Mercedes AMG Petronas and contested the race under protest.

The decision makers of both Pirelli and Mercedes were summoned by the stewards post race and realizing the gravity of the situation, the case has been transferred to the Tribunal and the Verdict of the same is awaited.

What Next for Pirelli and Mercedes AMG Petronas?

This incident does not augur well for Pirelli. The Company acknowledged the excessive change of tyres in the Spanish GP and promised to bring in tyres with better grip starting from the Canadian GP. However the FIA immediately wrote off such a move stating that the company could only make changes to the tyre citing safety concerns and not performance related problems.

The only way to appease the aggrieved parties would be to perform the 1000km test and so at Pirelli's Behest, the test was performed.

The Duo did approach the FIA in regards to conducting such a test and the latter informed them that the same could be carried out provided every other team is given the opportunity to conduct a similar test in order to maintain full sporting equity. The FIA received no further communication in regards to the test and the other teams were also unaware of such a test.

Pirelli's reputation would definitely take a hit and its future in the sport definitely seems gloomy.

Mercedes AMG has been the team most affected by the mercurial performances of the tyres. Their Single Lap Pace ( In Qualifying ) has been stunning and they have grabbed 5 poles so far in the season. The Race Pace though has been their bone of contention and both their drivers have moved backwards down the field after qualifying in positions which promised victories.

The continuous criticism by the team has meant that they try to bend the rules and find a solution to close in on the rivals. The Test is not illegal considering that a provision is there in the rulebook but the team is definitely accountable for choosing to not inform their rivals about such a test.

All teams had a sufficient testing period prior to the start of the season and teams like Ferrari and Lotus F1 mastered them going into the season. They would feel hard done by such a step and Ferrari's discontent is justified.

Nico Rosberg won the Monaco Grand Prix but experts don't consider this result an immediate fruit of the test. Monaco being a street circuit offers rare overtaking opportunities. It worked well for the Mercedes AMG and a victory was certain if they would manage a front row lockout which they did.

The outcome of the Canadian Grand Prix in a fortnight would definitely be looked at. If the team has gained from the test, the same would definitely come to the fore.

A War of Words has already begun and the issue needs to be doused quickly.

What would the verdict be if found guilty?

The International Tribunal would definitely ask Pirelli to issue a Formal Apology to the affected parties offering them the opportunity to run a similar test whenever they deem it necessary. A Financial Reprimand also cannot be ruled out.

I believe that Mercedes AMG would receive a points deduction. An Exclusion from the Constructors' Championship, if given might be too harsh.

The Outcome would be pivotal for the sport. The Fans would hope that Sporting Equality is maintained. The other teams would hope that justice be given and a feasible solution reached.

Excerpts from the Report issued by the Stewards :

We just have to wait and watch.....

The Spanish Grand Prix started the European Leg of the F1 Calender. Fernando Alonso powered his Ferrari to Victory in front of his adoring fans. Kimi Raikkonen drove a very smart race to finish 2nd and Felipe Massa made it a Ferrari 1-3 on the weekend.

The Race though would be remembered for the "T" Word as everything revolved around it.

The Influence was so much that most were left ruing their race pace.

The "T" Word is the ( Pirelli ) Tyre.

Teams have always been suspect about the longevity of the tyres over a race weekend and the Spanish GP has only added fuel to the fire.

The Race saw a total of 82 pit stops and Paul Hembery, the Motorsport Director of Pirelli later admitted that there were too many pit stops and Pirelli shall address this issue starting from Canada.

Vettel said that he had to race at the pace of the tyres while Kimi was not bothered about it. Kimi finished his race using a 3 stop strategy while Alonso accomplished the same on a 4 stop.

Pirelli had chosen the hardest tyre compounds for the weekend. The Lap Time Difference between the two was marginal. However with the exception of Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button, everyone opted for a 4 stop strategy for the race. The Lotus E21 has always been easy on its tyres and the team has made little noise about tyre performance.

The Reaction has mostly been negative but I feel the criticism is somewhat harsh.

The Tyre Characteristics have been such that certain tracks have favoured certain cars up until now. We would definitely not hear Red Bull complain about tyres when they won in Bahrain or Malaysia. Ferrari seemed to have found a sweet spot and have kept mum about it.

Formula 1 has changed a lot since the Schumacher days. Schumacher with his Bridgestone Tyres made it very difficult for the rest to win and to some extent finished the excitement in F1. Races were boring as the German smoked his opposition taking victories after starting from pole positions.

Martin Brundle said that in the early years of Formula 1, the fastest car would be on pole, the slowest on the back of the grid and the order would stay the same as the tyres never degraded and the grip levels were always the same.

The Pirellis though have spiced up the races. A driver can afford to be in a slightly slower car and yet finish well if his car is easy on its tyres running the right balance. The Tyres musn't always be the sole deciding factor in the championship battle though and that is the issue that Pirelli needs to address.

Incidents of Frequent Punctures and Sudden De-Lamination have not aided Pirelli's Cause.

Pirelli did bring in better rubbered compounds and more tyre options this year but the struggle continues for most teams.

It might be hard for Fans to see their teams struggling but for a neutral, every race turns out to be an intriguing one.

The Sport would need to take certain steps to appease the affected parties :

1) Pirelli has already promised and is working towards offering tyres with better longevity Candian GP onwards. Hopefully the promise delivers for those affected on track.

2) Pirelli needs to have a test-car during the winter months which would help them in understanding the issues that teams are facing while running different setups in the Pre-season tests itself.

3) In their quest to reduce pit stops for a driver in a race, the company must ensure that the minimum requirement of stops be maintained and not make the mistake of making non-degradable tyres and end the importance of pit stops.

4) Address the Issue of De-Lamination which has become a frequent occurrence off late.

Pirelli's entrance into F1 was like a breath of fresh air and a great leveller. All the teams had to start from scratch with Pirelli and the field has closed up quite nicely.

I hope they continue to the Sole Tyre Supplier for the Sport. I am sure that they have the technical expertise and personnel to iron out the issues that teams are facing.

The Season is getting interesting.....

Surprises come in many packages and I have been at the received end of some in the recent past.

God Blessed me with some great experiences in the past year and I have had the opportunity to write about them.

2013 started off with a bang and the 2012 fairytale still continues.

Tourism Malaysia ( India ) have always been gracious in offering great prizes. They have maintained this trend whenever the Formula 1 Grand Prix has come to Sepang International Circuit and this year was no different.

A hard but fair battle was fought and there was a winner at the end of the day and Thank God I was the fortunate one, albeit by the skin of my teeth!!

Tourism Malaysia would award me an all expenses paid trip to Malaysia to enjoy the Malaysian Grand Prix!!!

It was time to pack my bags and embark on the journey!!

I flew out on 22nd March 2013 and arrived in Kuala Lumpur Late Evening.

Tourism Malaysia had offered me a fantastic hotel in KL Sentral ( the Hub in Kuala Lumpur ). The Hotel inauguration was on the same day.

A Starwood Property, The Aloft is the new 5 Star in the Heart of KL!!

The Hotel was gracious enough to offer me an upgrade too as I am an SPG Gold member!

The Room was a spacious one and had a fresh feel to it. Some of the shots of my room :

The View from My Room :

Some views from the Passageway :

23rd March 2013 :

The Excitement couldn't be contained. A quick breakfast and I was on my way to the Sepang International Circuit to the see the Saturday Practice and Qualifying for the Race.

En Route to Sepang :

Malaysia Leaves No Stone Unturned in Welcoming Racing Fans!!

The Tourism Malaysia Pavilion at the Circuit!

The Circuit is very close to KLIA and temperatures easily touch the Mid 40s

After a Tiring but Exciting Day at Sepang, it was time to return to the Hotel

( For More on the Saturday action visit : http://tech-know-crat.posthaven.com/malaysian-gp-2013-vettel-defies-mutli-21 )

However before I made my way back to the Hotel, I had the opportunity to test my racing skills at an International Karting Circuit at Sepang and believe me I was unwilling to leave the place!! I kept racing for almost an hour and thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

It was a long drive back and after a nice refreshing shower, I made my way down to the Coffee Shop for an elegant meal laid out. I also had the opportunity of meeting representatives of Tourism Malaysia!!

I had some time to explore and burn some calories after the meal. The Aloft is known as a party hotel. It envisages the vision of the W Group of Hotels and one can see the evidence of the same!

The Hotel Facade :

The Re:Mix Lounge :

The Hotel Reception & Business Centre :

The WXYZ Bar :

24th March 2013, THE BIG DAY!!

Post Breakfast, I joined the group consisting of executives invited by Tourism Malaysia and we made our way down to Sepang for the Race!

A Moment with the Director of Tourism Malaysia!! A Very Gracious and Kind Man. Thank you Sir for all the Hospitality!!

It was now time to prepare for the Racing Extravaganza!!

( To Read all about the Sunday action visit : http://tech-know-crat.posthaven.com/malaysian-gp-2013-vettel-defies-mutli-21 )

An Exciting day at the Circuit! Thank you Sepang International Circuit for such a memorable race!!

25th March 2013

I chose to spend my final day shopping at my favourite SURIA KLCC Mall!

Enroute to Suria KLCC :

It was time to drive back to the Airport and return home... 

At the Airport ( KLIA ) :

Sitting in the Lounge, I awaited my flight for Mumbai :

Bye Bye Malaysia ! Thank you so much for all the Hospitality !!

Malaysia = Truly Asia !!

I would like to thank Tourism Malaysia ( India ) for this amazing experience. I shall cherish it. A Big Thank you to the Aloft at KL Sentral for all the Hospitality and maintaining the Quality that Starwood has been renowned for !

A Big Thank you to Mr. Amit Tripathi of Beehive Communication for all the co-operation shown in making my trip preparations a breeze.

Thank you so much Tourism Malaysia!! Hopefully I shall return for the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2014!!!

Tourism Malaysia have always been gracious and they simply move up a gear when the Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix draws near.

Every Year, Tourism Malaysia offer Racing Fans Free Tickets to witness the action unfold at the Sepang International Circuit. I was a beneficiary last year and a bigger surprise was in store for me this year.

Tourism Malaysia India hosted a game where a Fan had to answer questions as the car moved around the track. The quicker you answered, better the lap time.

The Grand Prize? An All-Expenses-Paid Trip to witness the Malaysian Grand Prix. The effort paid off as I emerged the winner.

Thanks to Tourism Malaysia, I was at Sepang again. Hope you enjoy the photos from the weekend!

Sepang!

Welcome to Sepang International Circuit!

The Stunning Mercedes Petronas AMG Formula 1 Car!!

I reached the Stand. It was the K1 Grandstand with Fantastic Views of the Start Finish Line, First Couple of Turns and Parts of the Other Sectors too.

View from the K1 Grandstand :

The Start of Saturday Practice saw the teams take a cautious approach into the session.

2013 Season has been a revelation so far. Kimi Raikkonen and Lotus F1 outclassed and outwitted the opposition with a victory in Australia after starting 7th on the grid.

Red Bull had to respond and they did in Malaysia with a 1-2 finish which would be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Vettel after qualifying on pole was pulling away from the rest, only to see his teammate Webber edge ahead at the end of the final pit stop.

Webber had driven a flawless race and seemed to be the rightful winner of the race. Red Bull instructed him to turn down the engines and cruise home, a code listed as " Multi 21 ". However as he left the pitlane he saw his team-mate and Triple World Champion Sebastien Vettel breathing down his neck.

Vettel tried different means in getting past. The team was quick to notify the German of the situation, the code clearly asking both to hold their positions and bring their cars home. Vettel didn't pay heed and made a daring manoeuvre on the outside to take the lead much to the disdain of the Australian.

The Team immediately reprimanded him and he was asked to explain his actions post-race. The Drivers made it to the podium and the tension could be felt in the air.

Webber made his feelings clear in the Driver Interviews. Vettel later realised his mistake and went on an Apology Spree.

Vettel was asked to stay fort sighting the tyre degradation of the Pirellis. A fight between the two could have resulted in the tyres going "off the cliff" before the finish and the chances of falling into the clutches of the chasing Mercedes PETRONAS duo of Hamilton and Rosberg was very real.

Vettel realised his mistake and apologised to both his team-mate and the team.

However the Damage had been done.

Vettel is chasing his 4th consecutive Driver's Title. The German has been relentless in his desire to win. The team's requests to "take-it-easy" have gone unheeded on past occasions. It was not a surprise to see him do a deja-vu in Malaysia.

Vettel sensed the opportunity for the win and took it. There are many questions that have arisen from this incident.

1) Why did Vettel go against Team - Orders to win the race? It was only the 2nd race of the season and the German would have myriad opportunities to win races.

It seems that Vettel fears the possibility of having to play catch-up ( should he be in contention ) like last year. It was a herculean effort by the team and driver to take the Title last season. No Slip-ups this time it seems.

2) What does this do to the relationship between the Team-mates?

Webber has played the supporting role for 2 seasons. He has been a great team-mate and has had good victories to his name. Victory at the Malaysian GP was clearly snatched from him by Vettel. Webber is not a happy man in the team. He seems to be weighing his options now and conspiracy theories are only adding fuel to the fire.

Webber would clearly turn down the role of Helping Vettel if he is contention. The Team would rather have to witness a face-off between the two unless they are able to cool down the situation and nip it in the bud.

Team Principal Christian Horner has always emphasized equality for the Drivers but the incidents unfolding on the field suggest otherwise.

3) Is Vettel really remorseful?

Vettel won the Race, got 25 points on the board. This is official. A victory is a victory regardless of means adopted. All his apologies would fall short as the German has accomplished what he desired. Schumacher was no different and his actions on track were questionable on more than one occasion. Vettel , a protégée of sorts seems to be no different.

There is a saying that " Bad Boys always win" and Vettel wouldn't mind being labelled one if he can continue winning.

Red Bull are going full steam to douse the tension. The Team might not succeed this time ( their claims suggest otherwise ) and I won't be surprised to see a change in the line-up at the start of the next season.

What follows is a mystery. Lets wait as the season unfolds!!

Posterous was great but the relationship comes to a close. A new beginning at Posthaven.

Hopefully should be a great journey!

2011 was a season of Dominance. Sebastien Vettel & Red Bull simply pulled away from the Competition. The rest were left battling to be the " Best amongst the Rest ".

2012 though had Big Surprises in store. The return of Kimi Raikkonen to Lotus F1 Team was one such Surprise. His Return ensured that I would follow the sport with renewed vigour. 2012 also took the accolades of being the longest season in F1 History and the only season which featured 6 World Champions - Vettel, Button, Hamilton, Alonso, Raikkonen and Schumacher.

Many Predicted that status quo would be maintained but it turned out to be otherwise.

7 different winners won the first 7 Grand Prix! - Another Record!!

Button, Alonso, Rosberg, Vettel, Maldonado, Webber, Hamilton stood on the top step of the podium.

Ferraris were expected to struggle and Alonso's Victory in Malaysia was simply down to smart strategy in changing weather conditions. Maldonado's victory for Williams at Catalunya & Roberg's for Mercedes at Shanghai too was a famous victory for both teams in a long long time.

Lotus F1 too had a nice start with Kimi notching up 2 Podiums in his comeback year.

The Biggest Disappointment though was for Red Bull who simply couldn't repeat their performances of last season. Ferrari had put all the disappointments of pre-season testing behind as they lead both the Drivers' and the Constructors' Championships.

The Return to Europe in Valencia didn't do Red Bull's Cause any good as Alternator Failure robbed Vettel of a sure victory. Grosjean too suffered the same fate, the Frenchman too had a shot at victory. Alonso was the beneficiary again as he used all incidents to his advantage. Alonso was the first driver in the season to have 2 victories while Raikkonen and Schumacher made it a famous podium. The signs looked ominous...

Mark Webber helped Red Bull to have a comeback of sorts after the Spanish Debacle with a victory at Silverstone and Vettel in 3rd.

Alonso maintained consistency by finishing 2nd in Silverstone and notching up victory in Germany the week after Silverstone. Vettel's Efforts to impress in his home race fell short as he was demoted in the race result from 2nd to 5th for an illegal move on Button. Button and Raikkonen completed the Podium.

Hungary saw the resurgence of Hamilton's Title Challenge with the Lotuses of Raikkonen and Grosjean completing the podium.

Alonso's lead now stood at 40 points and the Spaniard seemed to be favourite to win the title.

Belgium saw a Horrific First Lap incident where Romain Grosjean made contact with Lewis Hamilton and they both slammed into Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez, eliminating all four on the spot. Vettel reduced the lead by 18 points by finishing 2nd. Button won the race with Raikkonen showcasing some daring moves to take 3rd.

 Hamilton's victory in Italy threw the title race wide open. Vettel's lowly 22nd left him in the lurch. Perez produced a special drive to finish 2nd and Alonso ensured that he kept scoring well by finishing 3rd.

The European Leg ended and the rest of the races were all " Fly Away " Events. Singapore saw Hamilton's Retirement due to Gearbox Failure and Catapulted Vettel to victory. Hamilton was now out of the Title Race. Vettel was now in Title Contention.

Alonso suffered another retirement after contact with Raikkonen on the First Lap and Vettel took advantage of the same to score a full 25 points. The championship fight became as close as it had been all season long. Massa and Kobayashi completed the podium with the latter overwhelmed by the Home Support, first podium for a Japanese Driver since Suzuki in 1990 ( At Suzuka ). Schumacher announced his retirement on the same weekend, this time he wouldn't return.

The Tables turned in Korea. Vettel was now on a rampage as he wrestled back the lead from Alonso with a victory. Webber ensured a Red Bull 1-2 and Alonso ensured damage limitation in 3rd.

The Next Stop - India!! Vettel was in no mood to slip-up and dominated the race to be a 2 Time winner at the Buddh International Circuit. Alonso Benefitted from a Failed KERS unit on Webber's Car to take 2nd while the Australian held off Hamilton to take the final spot on the podium.

Abu Dhabi seemed to have changed the dynamics of the Title Race again. Sebastian Vettel's dominant run was derailed in Abu Dhabi when his car was found to have insufficient fuel after qualifying and he was subsequently moved to the back of the grid. Hamilton's March to Victory was again cut short due to a mechanical failure while Vettel kept moving up the grid, a couple of Safety Car Incidents helping his cause. KIMI RAIKKONEN the ICEMAN was leading the race. Lotus F1 went through a lot of tension and just wanted to ensure victory by ensuring everything was in perfect order. The Iceman though just asserted his authority on the team radio amusing one and all with two sentences that have become world famous. Kimi Raikkoen held off a closing Alonso to take a Famous Victory for the Lotus F1 team. Fernando Alonso was 2nd and was shocked to see Sebastien Vettel sharing the podium with him!

Alonso was only able to reduce Vettel's Lead by 3 points.  

Austin Texas saw United States of America make a return on the F1 Calendar. A Fantastic Circuit saw a fantastic race. Vettel was on the receiving end this time. He was held up by a backmarker with Hamilton closing in on him. Vettel as a result lost the lead to Hamilton. Hamilton took victory with Vettel and Alonso completing the podium. The Result meant that the Driver's Championship would go down to the wire, to the last race in Brazil. Red Bull clinched the Constructor's Title.  

Brazil would produce the last bit of drama. Sebastian Vettel was involved in a first-lap clash with Bruno Senna that damaged his exhaust and spun him around, relegating him to last place. Senna retired on the spot, as did Sergio Perez, who was caught in the crossfire. Changing Weather Conditions saw the race change lead multiple leads. Hulkenberg and Hamilton lead the field and a move by the former on the latter went awry to take Hamilton out of the race. Vettel slowly moved up the field, his car's damage slowly aggravating. His 7th then became 6th. A Paul Di Resta crash on the penultimate lap brought out the safety car. Alonso couldn't improve on his 2nd position as a result.

Vettel had overcome all odds to win his 3rd consecutive Driver's title. Alonso was left contemplating as to what could have been.

Three days after the Brazilian Grand Prix, reports began to surface suggesting that Sebastian Vettel's championship was under threat and that Ferrari would be filing a formal protest against the race results. The challenge centred on a pass Vettel made on Jean-Eric Vergne early in the race ( Under Yellow Light Condition ) The FIA cleared the confusion & both Ferrari and Red Bull Racing announced that they were satisfied with the ruling, thereby preserving Vettel's championship.

Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen completed the top 3 in the Championship. Kimi Raikkonen was the sole driver to have finished every race in the season, finishing outside of the points only once in the season, setting a new record in the process.

It was a great comeback year for the Finn.

Sebastien Vettel and Christian Horner with their Trophies :

Fernando settles for 2nd Place :

Kimi, Ice Cool as ever in 3rd Place :

2013 is already on us and the competition would be looking to deny Red Bull Racing another title. Only Time will Tell.....

1st December 2012, Barcelona, Spain.

Date : 24th November 2012.

Location : Manchester, United Kingdom

The Big Day had arrived. The Day when I would see the "Red Devils" take the field in their quest for yet another English Premier League Title.

Their Adversaries : Queens Park Rangers better known as QPR.

QPR was a very strong team on paper. It boasted of having players who have played for top teams in their early days but yet the team looked in disarray.

QPR had been going downhill and had just sacked Mark Hughes ( Manager ) a day before their game against Manchester United.

It was quite a nice game to be at as United had to dig deep to attain all 3 points.

My Day started with a big surprise. I exited the Elevator of my hotel to discover the entire QPR team sitting in the lobby getting ready for their "pre-match warm-up walk".

I got hold of a few players and they obliged me with autographs while some honoured me with a picture with them

Shaun Wright-Philips :

Park Ji-Sung :

There were still a couple of hours until kickoff but the Trams were already full

I alighted at Old Trafford Station and was amazed at the scores of Supporters moving towards Old Trafford!

The Stalls brimming with Scarves and other Manchester United "Merchandise"

The Walk to the Theatre of Dreams!

I had opted for the Hospitality at Old Trafford. I was at the EUROPA SUITE :

My Ticket and all the goodies that came with it!

I settled into my seat and soon enough we were all surprised by the arrival of our "Captain Fantastic" - the man from Serbia, NEMANJA VIDIC!! I was one of the privileged few to get an autograph from our Captain

It was time...

The Boys warming up :

Fred The Red :

Getting ready for Kick - Off :

Stretford End!!

The Teams coming out onto the pitch, here is the link of the video uploaded by me :

Accolades for Robin Van Persie :

Boys waiting for the whistle :

Kick-off!! Video Link :

Some shots from the First Half :

QPR Goal Disallowed! Sigh of Relief...

Half Time!

Second Half saw Manchester United conceed.

Substitution Time :

Manchester United equalised through Johnny Evans!

Video Link :

Manchester United wasted little time in taking the lead from another setpiece. Corner Kick by Rooney and into the Goal by Darren Fletcher!! 2-1 

As Smalling and Jones warmed up, United decided to put the game to bed. Javier Hernandez, our Little Pea defeated the offside trap to score from a one-on-one situation.

3-1 to United!!  

Old Trafford in all its Glory!    

Nick Powell comes on for Danny Welbeck    

WAYNE ROONEY what a game our lad had!   

The Final Whistle went off and United secured all 3 points against QPR. United went to the Top of the Table and have stayed there since!!  

Video Link :

The Home of Manchester United - OLD TRAFFORD! 

A Picture to Treasure, A Moment to Cherish!!

Anderson paid a quick visit to the suite. I did get time to have a nice chat with a Legend at Manchester United.

SAMMY McILROY!!

It was time to leave the stadium and return home. The words said by the 2 greatest managers on the planet shall always stay with me!

Sir Matt Busby who revived the United Legacy after the Flowers of Manchester went home early...

Sir Alex Ferguson who took Manchester United to the top. The man who knocked Liverpool off their perch, the man the world reveres and respects. The man who made us dream and took the club to glories unthinkable. The Undisputed king of the Managerial World!! 

I KNEW I WAS HOME!!!

What a day what an experience. Unforgettable, Unparalled. A dream fulfilled.

Thank you God and Thank you Dad for letting me experience the experience of seeing the Red Devils play in front of their faithful. 

There is more to come!! Watch this Space!!