The 2012 Season was a season to remember. 2013 promised to be a great season and it has not disappointed.

2013 saw the absence of Michael Schumacher after the German decided to retire for good. Valencia ( European GP ) withdrew from the 2013 season, Spain's financial status to blame for the loss. So 2013 would feature 19 race weekends.

The First 10 has brought its fair share of controversies and even chaos on some occasions. Lets do a quick review of what has conspired in the first half of the season for the teams.

Red Bull Racing :

Red Bull lead the Constructors' Championship by 69 Points. Vettel leads the Drivers' Championship by 38 points over Raikkonen while Webber is 5th at 105 Points.
Its been a satisfactory first half for the team but it has not been a smooth ride. Vettel and Webber had a big disagreement at the Malaysian GP and the friction between the two is still at an all time high. Vettel has been consistent notching up 4 wins and 3 podiums. He suffered one retirement at Silverstone ( Gearbox failure ). Webber has been very unlucky and some questions have been raised about the Australian being provided with inferior machinery compared to his team-mate. 3 Podiums ( One sure victory was robbed ) coupled with one retirement have left him down in 5th. He leaves at the end of the season and the talk of who replaces him have been dominating the Paddock.

Red Bull might not be strong in Spa and Monza but the car's capabilities come to the fore in the final fly-away events. Still Favourites for the Title

Mercedes AMG Petronas :

Mercedes have had a mercurial First Half. Inspite of Multiple Pole Positions, they have failed to hold on and win races. Tyre Degradation has been their Achilles' Heel and they tried to address the situation post the Spanish GP. The Illegal Test attracted a reprimand and a ban from the Young Drivers' test at Silverstone. The team has openly admitted their inability to understand the tyre performance and degradation but their recent victory at Hungary suggests that their bad days are behind them.

Lewis Hamilton is 4th in the Drivers' Championship and got his first victory with the team at the recently concluded Hungarian GP. He also managed 3 podiums. Nico Rosberg is in 6th on 84 points and has won 2 races. If the team has been able to resolve their tyre problems, ( there have been false assurances earlier ), then Red Bull have a fight on their hands.

Ferrari :

Ferrari made a solid start to the season but seem to have lost their way a bit. The lack of a wind tunnel for testing has meant that the upgrades have failed to deliver the required results. The technical progress has stagnated and the team has hired James Allison ( Ex-Lotus ) to help them overcome the problems. He joins the team from the Italian GP weekend.

Fernando Alonso is 3rd in the standings with 2 victories and 3 podiums. The Spaniard has done well in the Ferrari so far. His recent rant about the car's lack of performance has not gone down well with Ferrari's top boss.

Massa has had a disappointing season with only one podium at Catalunya. Ferrari have reiterated their faith in him but the Brazilian would have to step up his game and deliver some really strong results to have any chances of retaining his seat next season.

Lotus F1 :

Lotus F1 are 4th in the Constructors' and only 5 points behind Ferrari. The Enstone based team has embarassed many bigger spending teams with their amazing performance this year. The Race Pace has been exceptional and Tyre Degradation has been less compared to other teams. The Team have come close to victory on many occasions this year but have won only one race. They need to work on their Qualifying Pace ( One Lap Runs ) to start higher up on the grid and improve their chances of winning even more.

Kimi Raikkonen has finished every race ( but one ) in the points since his return to F1 in 2012. He is 2nd in the Drivers' Championship at 134 points. One Victory ( Australia ) and 5 Podiums where he has finished 2nd have shown that the team could have scored more had their Qualifying Pace been stronger. Kimi's consistency has helped him stay in the title hunt.

Romain Grosjean has had another mercurial season this year. He is 8th in the Championship on 49 points and has had only 2 podiums. He has made less mistakes compared to last year but he too like Massa needs to better his results to keep his seat for 2014 if Kimi stays.

Force India :

Force India are 5th in the Constructors' Championship on 59 points and have had a great first half so far. The team uses Mercedes' Engines and McLaren's Gearbox Technologies and have managed to keep the latter behind them up until this point.They have been really strong at certain circuits and that has helped their charge up the standings.

Neither Di Resta Nor Sutil have got on the Podium but the team has earned points in almost all races up until Silverstone. The Recent slump in Germany and Hungary has meant that the McLaren have gained ground on them.

McLaren Mercedes :

McLaren Mercedes have had a Horrible Season so far. A Team of their Stature and Spending Ability shouldn't be languishing in 6th, 220 points behind the leader Red Bull. The Car has not been good enough and heavy upgrades have come in to improve performance The Woking based team are making steady progress but Damage Limitation is all that they can expect from this season

Jenson Button has been steadily delivering points. Sergio Perez took some races to come into his own. Neither has enjoyed a podium so far.

Toro Rosso - Ferrari, Sauber - Ferrari & Williams - Renault :

Toro Rosso have had a better season compared to 2012 and Ricciardo and Vergne are locked in a battle for supremacy. The Former though is a better performer and might just edge out the latter towards the end.

Sauber Ferrari have had a horrendous first-half. Their performance is nowhere near last year's. Financial Crunches have meant that the upgrades have been meagre. Hulkenberg has not been paid and been released from his contract. A Russian Sponsor had promised financial influx but the promise is yet to be fulfilled. Hulkenberg and Gutierrez though have done well with whatever machinery they have had.

Williams Renault has suffered the same fate as Sauber. Their Performance is nowhere near 2012 where Maldonado even won a race. The team has had forgettable races, thanks to reliability issues and mistakes committed throughout the season. Maldonado and Bottas have faced an uphill task. The former brought the team their first point this season at Hungary. I don't see an improvement happening in the near future.

Marussia Cosworth, Caterham Renault :

These Teams might be the back-markers or the ''also-rans" but both deserve to be applauded for their efforts so far. Marussia have outperformed Caterham for many races. However the new construction of tyres has meant that the latter has gained some ground. What follows in the second half would be intriguing to watch.

I still believe that Lotus F1 is the Dark Horse in the Constructors' battle. If they can sustain their challenge in the second half then a 2nd place finish isn't too far from their reach. Do they have the finances to sustain such a challenge is the question...

Mercedes can trouble Red Bull if they have put their tyre troubles to rest. Ferrari right now seemed to be lost but one cannot discount their abilities. I believe they shall recover but will it be too late a charge?

McLaren Mercedes are on the road to recovery and their financial position should help them surpass Force India. Catching the ones in front would be a different story. However they might just play spoil-sport in the latter half of the season.

Sebastien Vettel seems favourite for the crown this year too but it won't be a walk in the park. Lewis Hamilton has added more spice into the mix and Vettel's lead of 38 points can vanish very quickly if he fails to finish races. Kimi Raikkonen will remain consistent as long as he has a strong and reliable car under him. Fernando Alonso shall continue producing gutsy drives for Ferrari. He must get a competitive car to challenge those at the front to have any hopes of winning his 3rd championship.

The Second Half only promises to be more exciting. The wait for the Belgian GP continues...

We are halfway through the 2013 F1 Season and I had the privilege of being at the Malaysian GP thanks to Tourism Malaysia.

My First Paddock Club of the season was at the German GP at Nurburgring with the Lotus F1 Team.

3 Fantastic Days and a double podium for the Team was the Icing on the Cake!! Met many new faces in F1.

As always, let the pictures say it all!!

Davide Valsecchi, Current GP2 Champion and Lotus F1 Reserve Driver. A Great Guy, extremely humble and definitely Championship Material!! GO DAVIDE!!!

Damon Hill, 1996 F1 World Champion!! Had a nice chat about the Tyre Crisis.

KIMI RAIKKONEN!!! THE ICEMAN COMETH again & again & again!! Go KIMI!!

Sebastien Vettel too made an appearance

Romain Grosjean, The Flying Frenchman!!

Mark Webber visited the Paddock on Sunday Morning. He will be missed!

The Team enjoyed a double podium!! So had the opportunity to get photos with the Trophies!!!

The Team Members with the trophies!!!

Photo - op with the Team Members!

Our Beloved Accolades that No One can take away from us!!

3 weeks have gone by since the Canadian GP weekend on 9th June. The long break also meant that a lot would happen outside the track as well.

In the weeks leading upto the British GP weekend many talking points have emerged and the British Grand Prix itself has caused more unrest in the world of F1.

1) The International Tribunal Verdict on the "PirelliGate" scandal :

The Verdict was out on 21st June after the hearings in Paris. Mercedes AMG Petronas & Pirelli received reprimands and the former was excluded from the Young Driver's Test to be held at Silverstone.

Mercedes would view the verdict as fair but the others felt it was a big let-off. Ferrari and Red Bull made their feelings known publicly but the verdict was given. The results of the last 3 races ( including Silverstone ) clearly indicate that Mercedes has gained an advantage through the tyre-test held at Catalunya. Hamilton was successful in carrying out a 2 stop strategy ( including the damage tyre stop ) to finish 4th after being bumped down to 22nd due to a tyre burst at the British GP. His race pace clearly suggested that the team had made giant leaps and seemed to have ironed out their tyre degradation problems.

The results have helped them leap-frog both Ferrari and Lotus F1 to 2nd in the Constructors' Championship and Hamilton has closed in on Raikkonen for 3rd place in the Driver's Championship.

Christian Horner, Red Bull Team Principal was livid when news emerged that Ferrari were planning to run a similar test on a 2011 chassis with 2013 aerodynamic parts. He has written to the FIA wanting clarifications on the prerequisites of a legitimate test and what chassis should be allowed to run.

2) Mark Webber announces his retirement while Vettel extends his deal for another year at Red-Bull :

Mark Webber chose Silverstone as the appropriate weekend to announce his retirement from the sport. He shall switch to Le Mans with Porsche. Red Bull were caught unawares and will have to move quickly for a replacement. Vettel extended his contract for another year and it was no surprise for the 3 time F1 World Champion. 2014 though see new power units so he has kept his options open for 2015. The Incident in Malaysia and his non-cooperation in helping Vettel for his 3rd Title would have

The Big Talk in the Paddock though is : "Who should replace Webber for 2014? "

The Canditates : Kimi Raikkonen, Daniel Ricciardo, Jean-Eric Vergne.

Daniel and Jean-Eric drive for the sister Red-Bull ( Toro - Rosso ) and have moved up the ranks in the Red Bull Driver Program. The duo definitely will make the promotion to the " A " team one day but a move in 2014 would be a bit premature. Kimi Raikkonen is the favourite to land the seat.

I feel that Kimi Must Stay at Lotus F1 for 2014.

Kimi has finished every race since his return to F1. He has beaten Michael Schumacher's record of 25 consecutive points finishes. Its a big feat considering that Kimi didn't finish as many races ( let alone in the points ) even in his championship winning year in 07. He was riddled with incidents and unreliability in his past seasons but Lotus has helped him finish all races since his return. Kimi has claimed that he enjoys life at Lotus. A Blunder in Silverstone might not cause him to defect but it will definitely cause him to lose some confidence in the team. It is paramount for the team to hold onto a driver like Kimi. He is a World Champion and his contribution over 2 seasons has helped a mid-table team become a top team in F1. The team can attribute their position in this year's championship to his consistent performances. Grosjean has been mercurial and still needs to develop as a challenger to the title. Kimi would be irreplaceable and another driver of his calibre might not come to Lotus. Maldonado is being looked at if a replacement is needed but he would not be a Kimi. I also dread the prospect of having Maldonado and Grosjean in one team considering the reprimands and penalties both have incurred in the past 2 seasons. The Team must do a rethink if such a move is being hinted at.

Kimi enjoys being No.1 in the team and enjoys life outside F1 too. He has many interests and was on a leash during his time at Ferrari. Lotus has allowed him to pursue other interests and brought in the people he enjoyed working with ( Mark Slade who was his engineer at McLaren ). Red Bull might not follow the same philosophy and Vettel has been the favoured driver throughout his time there. Dr. Helmut Marko wants to land Raikkonen and I see it more like a stop-gap arrangement for Red Bull until the time is right for the Younger Toro - Rosso Drivers to make the big leap. Red Bull is the best car on the grid but is prone to Failures, the most recent being Gearbox Failure for Vettel at Silverstone. However Kimi will do what he thinks is best and our opinions won't really matter.

"Just Leave Me Alone, I know what I am doing" - Right, Kimi !

3) Suspension Change for Lotus F1 before Nurburgring, Launch of "The Device" :

Lotus F1 was reported to the stewards by McLaren Mercedes after the latter spotted an anomaly in their suspension. Article 10.5.2 of F1's Technical Regulations states: "The loads from the suspension members and wheel bearings must individually and entirely be carried by the suspension upright. Exceptionally up to three suspension members may be connected together by titanium, aluminium alloy or steel components before their load is passed into the upright."

It is suggested that the Lotus design could be interpreted as having four suspension members connected together, rather than the maximum three.

The Team has been instructed by the FIA to modify the same prior to the Nurburgring Grand Prix next week and the team has agreed to do so. The Effects of such a modification would only be known by the end of next week.

The Team also ran their talked-about innovation at Silverstone - The Device or the Passive DRS. Kimi Raikkonen ran this configuration on his car's rear-wing throughout the weekend. The Race Pace was good and a strategic mistake caused him to lose a sure podium. The performance though of the system cannot be doubted and will definitely aid team performance on faster circuits like Italy, India.

4) De-lamination at Silverstone, Pirelli pulled up :

Pirelli has already been at the centre of controversy due to the "PirelliGate"  Scandal. They came into Silverstone hoping to put the worst behind them but their problems haven't left them. Perez Suffered a left rear de-lamination in the Final Practice and the Race Saw 4 Tyre Bursts - Hamilton, Massa, Vergne and Perez. Hamilton was the biggest loser as the tyre burst robbed him of sure victory. Massa too missed out on the podium after a strong start in the race.

The Tyre Burst for Hamilton jeopardized Track Safety causing the Safety Car to come out and other 3 drivers also suffered on track. Pirelli were left red-faced and Paul Hembery was summoned by the FIA President Jean Todt and Race Director Charlie Whiting over safety of the tyres. Reports are also hinting at Razor-Sharp Kerbs at turn 4 close to where 2 of the blowouts occured. Cuts on the Tyres were also reported so Pirelli might not have to bear the brunt but a change in construction would now be mandatory.

Pirelli had expressed their desire to replace the Steel Belt with a Kevlar Belt to improve tyre durability but Lotus F1 and Ferrari voted against such a move and the plan was scrapped. A Steel Belt Construction also helped Pirelli to keep costs in check but a change is imminent now starting from the Hunagarian GP. Lotus F1 and Ferrari would feel hard done by such a move as their cars are kinder on their tyres. Tyre Bursts occured with the usual suspects but Pirelli can't shy away from the incident.

Anthony Davidson of Sky Sports F1 also pointed out a change in construction of the tyres. Video Evidence Shows that Tyre De-Lamination at Bahrain wasn't as damaging as the ones in Silverstone as Pirelli had a wider belt in Bahrain allowing Cars to maintain form unlike Silverstone which caused extensive Floor Damage.

5) Introduction of Mid-Season Testing for 2014, Point Systems for Penalty applied :

The Decision for Mid-Season Testing has been made and it makes a return for good. The Young Driver Tests, held to allow teams to evaluate potential drivers, will be abandoned in favour of a return of mid-season testing. Four European venues will each host a two-day test in the week following the Grand Prix held at the circuit. The move will definitely rule out the possibilities of secretive tests and encourage healthy competition.

The teams agreed upon the introduction of a "penalty points" system for driving offences. Driving offences would carry a pre-determined points value based on their severity that would be tallied up over the course of a season, with a driver receiving a race ban after accumulating twelve penalty points. The points would stay for 12 months and there would be a possibility of drivers carrying the same into the next season which I am a bit skeptical about. More changes have been introduced, most notably a downgrade from the 2.4l V8 to 1.6l V6. Drivers shall have only 5 engines as against an allocation of 8. A 21 Race Calender shall not help teams putting immense strain on the resources and personnel. Hopefully Racing isn't compromised amongst all this.

A lot has conspired in the 3 weeks gone by. A lot of unrest has been caused and the Sport is going through a rough phase. However the racing has been fantastic and hopefully will stay that way.

I look forward to the German GP Next Week as I shall have the privilege of being in the Paddock with the Lotus F1 Team and meet my hero Kimi Raikkonen again.

F1 was missed, Welcome Back!!

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!!