Australian Grand Prix Tag

By Adam Tate, Managing Editor Formula One drivers have finally had enough. On the heels of some of the sports biggest stars criticizing recent moves by Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA, the GPDA: Grand Prix Drivers Association, has released a statement bashing recent decisions which jeopardize the future of the sport, like the recent qualifying fiasco in last weekend’s season opening Australian Grand Prix. According to GPDA chairman, Alex Wurz, the drivers have considered speaking up for some time, and it seems now is finally the moment. It couldn’t have comeRead More
By Adam Tate, Managing Editor Haas Formula One Team’s Romain Grosjean has earned F1’s first Driver of the Day award, following his historic sixth place finish in Sunday’s season opening Australian Grand Prix. The sixth place finish marked the first time a new Formula One team has scored on its debut since Mika Salo did so for Toyota in 2002. The fact that Haas as a smaller independent team has achieved a similar result makes it all the more commendable. Despite being significantly helped by the Red Flag break after theRead More
By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Max Verstappen was left frustrated at his Toro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. and the team’s strategy following the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Dutchman had a promising start to the race, maintaining fifth after a frantic start. However, the 18-year-old’s afternoon took a wrong turn following a restart after the red flag on lap 18. Verstappen endured a slow stop on lap 33, dropping in the running order and falling in behind Sainz. From there Verstappen was slowed by his teammate, which led toRead More
By Adam Tate, Managing Editor Nico Rosberg led home a Mercedes one-two finish from Albert Park in what was a madcap start the 2016 season. Despite the typical result of a Mercedes double podium, the circuitous route the race took to its conclusion proved entertaining, terrifying and intense. The plot thickened before the race ever got underway as Daniil Kvyat’s Red Bull succumbed to electrical gremlins by stalling on the way to his grid position. The team ran to remove the car while the rest of the field embarked upon aRead More
By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The new qualifying format that Formula One implemented for the start of the 2016 season has been scrapped after teams and the FIA met following a horrendous qualifying session on Saturday for the Australian Grand Prix. The live-elimination system has been ditched in favor of the previous format that will be used for the next round in Bahrain. The rule change will still need to be approved by the Strategy Group and F1 Commission before it can be sent to the World Motor Sport Council, asRead More
By Adam Tate, Managing Editor Lewis Hamilton has claimed pole position for the Australian Grand Prix with a stunning 1 minute, 23.837 lap around the Albert Park circuit to reach career pole number 50. It was about the only true excitement of the session as F1’s controversial new qualifying format completely imploded. Q1 had barely begun and the field was immediately thrown into chaos as teams struggled to cope with the elimination countdown clock. Many drivers complained as they were on good laps, but the 90 second countdown clock nullified theirRead More

Posted On March 18, 2016By Adam TateIn Breaking News, Formula One

Tate: 5 Bold predictions for F1 2016

By Adam Tate, Managing Editor The 2016 Formula One season is finally underway, down under in Albert Park. Despite the soggy start, the excitement of fans world wide cannot be dampened. Before the drivers lay down their cards for qualifying a few hours from now, I will make five bold predictions on some of the more exciting stories of the season. Without further ado…. 5. All teams will score points Gone are the days when a lovable back marker like Minardi could only pray for points. Gone are the days whenRead More
By Adam Tate, Managing Editor Formula One’s second pre-season test ended the way the first test began; with Sebastian Vettel in his Ferrari firmly atop the timesheets. The German slapped a set of Pirelli’s super-softs in the morning session to post the fastest time of the pre-season with a strong 1:22.852 tour of Circuit de Catalunya. With Ferrari the quickest car on five of the eight days of testing, things near the sharp end of the field seem to have tightened between them, Mercedes and Williams. Vettel also ran the haloRead More

Posted On March 20, 2015By Motorsports TribuneIn In the Gravel Trap

In the Gravel Trap: Episode XIX 03/18

Adam Tate (Tribute Racing), Joey Barnes (Tribute Racing), Christopher DeHarde (Motorsport.com), and Josh Farmer (Motorsport Monday) team up to examine the action from this past weekend in Formula One, NASCAR, and Formula E. The Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg look poised for another strong season in F1, but Sebastien Vettel may have something to say about it after a sensational podium result in his debut race with Ferrari at Albert Park. Kevin Harvick has made Phoenix International Raceway a personal playground in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,Read More
Lewis Hamilton, 2015 Australian Grand Prix

Posted On March 15, 2015By Adam TateIn Formula One

Hamilton Wins in Australia

Lewis Hamilton continued his perfect weekend by dominating the Australian grand prix, leading every lap en route to his 7th victory in 8 races. For Hamilton it was a straightforward lights to flag victory with Nico Rosberg perpetually in tow, but behind the silver arrows, chaos and attrition ruled the roost. Kevin Magnussen’s McLaren never made the start, his Honda engine letting go early. Neither did Red Bull’s Danill Kyvat when a gearbox issue stranded the young Russian. Romain Grosjean’s Lotus never got going, Pastor Maldonado’s Lotus was bounced intoRead More