Driver wages in Formula 1

No matter how much we earn in life, something in our mind always dreams of having just that bit more. Things would be great if I had X amount more of money. Well, in reality that dreamed Utopia isn't strictly a real one. You see, as humans, we will always live to our means no matter how much we have and so therefore, in the long run, will end up feeling exactly the same no matter. As long as you have enough to pay your bills each month and have a decent life then what the hey. Yes, but we are human so... more more more!

When it comes to the wages of Formula 1 drives, this need for more seems to be hugely amplified. The driver wages earned for the 2009 F1 season has just been published. Some of the money flying around, especially near the top, is absolutely crazy.

The wages displayed are in US Dollars.


1. Kimi Raikkonen $45m

2. Lewis Hamilton $18m

3. Fernando Alonso $15m

4. Nico Rosberg $8.5m

5. Felipe Massa $8m

6. Jarno Trulli $6.5m

7. Sebastian Vettel $6m

8. Mark Webber $5.5m

9. Jenson Button $5m

10. Robert Kubica $4.5m

11. Heikki Kovalainen $3.5m

12. Nick Heidfeld $2.8m

13. Timo Glock $2m

14. Giancarlo Fisichella $1.5m

15. Sébastien Buemi $1.5m

16. Rubens Barrichello $1m

17. Jaime Alguersuari $0.5m

18. Vitantonio Liuzzi $Nil

19. Adrian Sutil $Nil

20. Romain Grosjean $Nil

21. Kazuki Nakajima $Nil

Kimi Raikkonen was paid by Ferrari a staggering 45 Million Dollars. No driver can surely be worth this amount of money. 45 Million? No wonder they're getting rid of him and no wonder he has yet signed a contract for 2010 with another team. Nobody is yet prepared to pay his wages. 45 Million Dollars? Still can't believe this. That's over twice as much as 2nd man Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton has to make do with just 18 Million Dollars... poor chap, hope he survives the winter.

Think I should have got into Formula 1. I wonder how much money Ferrari pay their filing clerk?

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Giftware & Collectables

Video Racing Games - Just how real do you want it?

I recently found myself in a daft conversation (yes it was at the Pub) regarding Formula 1 games and their realism.

The point was made that a certain game was pretty bad as it didn't feel very realistic. Well... just how realistic do you want it? The games can never be 100% realistic otherwise only professional Formula 1 drivers would be able to successfully play them... and they probably have a lot better things to be getting on with... apart from Jacques Villeneuve.

Anyway, as long as they look authentic with cool engine sounds and graphics and are fun to play, I think that's the most you can ask for. If I had to drive a real Formula 1 car, I would probably be extremely tired by the end of Lap 1, fall unconscious on Lap 2 and wake up in hospital 3 weeks later. A game that could provide that level of realism wouldn't be very popular.

A point conceded though, F1 05 on the PlayStation 2 is maybe a bit too easy. Ok, it's your turn to go up to the Bar. Mine's a pint of Fosters.

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Giftware & Collectables

Formula 1 - Fernando Alonso a threat in 2009?

Will Spaniard and double World Champion, Fernando Alonso, be a threat to the FIA Formula 1 Championship in 2009?

He undeniably brings a massive amount to any team he is with. When he moved to beleaguered Renault from Mclaren in 2008, the team were nowhere. Struggling for points and way off the pace, it seemed the best years were way behind them.

With Fernando's input, the car steadily improved and late on in the season he earned back to back race victories in Singapore and Japan. Alonso finished 2nd in the dramatic final race at Interlagos Brazil and ended the season 5th overall with a very credible 61 points. He was also the only driver to out-qualify his team mate in every race.

Fernando Alonso has signed a new contract with the Renault Team which will keep him there for another two seasons.

Team Boss, Flavio Briatore said,

"He has been a big asset throughout this difficult season and his leadership and talent, matched with the team's hard work and determination, have paid off with our recent performances, which have placed the Renault F1 Team back among the top competitors of Formula 1."

After the tumultuous season with Mclaren, Alonso is obviously very happy to be back with the team where he won his two World Championships in 2005 and 2006. He said,

"I have decided to stay with the Renault F1 team because, as I have often repeated this season, they have always been my first choice and I feel very happy and comfortable with them".

With a determined Alonso on board, it is very likely the team will continue to improve further throughout the close season and 2009. Expect the Spaniard to be challenging for the title next season.

Alonso verses Hamilton part 2? It could be an epic.

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Formula 1 - The 2008 Season, Scores and Statistics

World Champion
Lewis Hamilton, Mclaren-Mercedes

Drivers Championship 2008 Final Table
1 Lewis Hamilton, British, McLaren-Mercedes 98
2 Felipe Massa, Brazilian, Ferrari 97
3 Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish, Ferrari 75
4 Robert Kubica, Polish, BMW Sauber 75
5 Fernando Alonso, Spanish, Renault 61
6 Nick Heidfeld, German, BMW Sauber 60
7 Heikki Kovalainen, Finnish, McLaren-Mercedes 53
8 Sebastian Vettel, German, STR-Ferrari 35
9 Jarno Trulli, Italian, Toyota 31
10 Timo Glock, German, Toyota 25
11 Mark Webber, Australian, Red Bull-Renault 21
12 Nelsinho Piquet, Brazilian, Renault 19
13 Nico Rosberg, German, Williams-Toyota 17
14 Rubens Barrichello, Brazilian, Honda 11
15 Kazuki Nakajima, Japanese, Williams-Toyota 9
16 David Coulthard, British, Red Bull-Renault 8
17 Sebastien Bourdais, French, STR-Ferrari 4
18 Jenson Button, British, Honda 3

Constructors Championship Final Table
1 Ferrari 172
2 McLaren-Mercedes 151
3 BMW Sauber 135
4 Renault 80
5 Toyota 56
6 STR-Ferrari 39
7 Red Bull-Renault 29
8 Williams-Toyota 26
9 Honda 14

(Teams Force-India and Super Aguri failed to score. Super Aguri withdrew after Race 4)

2008 Race Winners
Australia 16/03/2008 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
Malaysia 23/03/2008 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari
Bahrain 06/04/2008 Felipe Massa Ferrari
Spain 27/04/2008 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari
Turkey 11/05/2008 Felipe Massa Ferrari
Monaco 25/05/2008 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
Canada 08/06/2008 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber
France 22/06/2008 Felipe Massa Ferrari
Great Britain 06/07/2008 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
Germany 20/07/2008 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
Hungary 03/08/2008 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes
Europe 24/08/2008 Felipe Massa Ferrari
Belgium 07/09/2008 Felipe Massa Ferrari
Italy 14/09/2008 Sebastian Vettel STR-Ferrari
Singapore 28/09/2008 Fernando Alonso Renault
Japan 12/10/2008 Fernando Alonso Renault
China 19/10/2008 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
Brazil 02/11/2008 Felipe Massa Ferrari

Race Wins
Felipe Massa 6
Lewis Hamilton 5
Kimi Räikkönen 2
Fernando Alonso 2
Heikki Kovalainen 1 (First ever win)
Robert Kubica 1 (First ever win)
Sebastian Vettel 1 (First ever win and record youngest driver to win at 21 years, 73 days.

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Formula 1 2008 - Lewis Hamilton World Champion !!!

He's done it !!!

Lewis Hamilton is the new Formula 1 Champion of the World !!!

Felipe Massa won the race which meant Lewis just had to finish 5th or better to take the title. It was far from plain sailing.

A short spell of rain delayed the race by 10 minutes, then stopped. All teams were now in a quandary as to which tyres to use. Not ideal, when Lewis just wanted a nice boring race.

Starting fourth on the grid, Lewis was far less aggressive in turn 1 than last year and focused on keeping the car on circuit. Team mate Kovalainen was able to give him some protective cover.

For most the race, Hamilton concentrated on remaining in the top five, taking as little risk as possible. This was a good plan had it not been for more rain.

Pit stops threw the race up in the air as everyone pitted late on to change to Intermediate tyres from slick low grip. Everyone that is except Toyota driver, Timo Glock. Glock gambled on slicks. This put him way ahead of Hamilton on the track.

Hamilton came out in fifth, the minimum position he needed, but he had, young gun, Sebastian Vettel all over his gear box in the Torro Rosso. Lewis couldn't afford for him to overtake, otherwise the Championship was gone. Vettels car was dealing with the wet conditions a lot better than Hamilton's Mclaren and he struggled to keep ahead.

This was high drama.

Then disaster. Hamilton went wide coming on to the start finish straight with just a few laps to go. Vettel passed by on the inside and heads went down in the Mclaren garage. Lewis tried desperately to keep up with Vettel, but he was slowly edging away, the position had gone. 6th was no good. Meanwhile, Felipe Massa's Ferrari was way ahead of the pack and the title was surely his going into the last lap.

Massa crossed the finish line and all the Ferrari pit crew and Massa's father started to celebrate. He had won! But wait....

Struggling badly on slick tyres, Timo Glock lost 18 seconds on the final lap. Lewis surely couldn't have believed his eyes. Glock was in sight travelling extremely slowly. As they hit the start/finish straight for the last time, Hamilton passed him to retake 5th place and become the youngest Formula 1 World Champion of all time!!!

It was probably the most exciting finish to a World Championship ever. It was absolutely unbelievable. Massa had it, then Lewis came back from the dead within the last quarter of a mile. Championship battles surely can not get any closer than this. Lewis Hamilton wins at the season end by just 1 point.

Next year he races with the coverted Number 1 on his car. One suspects there will be more Championships to come.

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Formula 1 2008 - Brazil - Interlagos Qualifying - Hamilton verses Massa

With just one race left in the F1 Grand Prix Championship, Saturday's qualifying was all important. Interlagos is a relatively short lap circuit, meaning all qualifying times would be very close together with any mistakes being very costly. In terms of the F1 2008 World Champion, it is Lewis Hamiltion verses Phillipe Massa.

Massa set the early pace in the first qualifying session although it was clear that both Ferraris was suffering from slight under steer. Shockingly, both Williams cars were eliminated at this stage. Williams driver, Nico Rosberg said,

"We were suffering from tyre graining, but I didn't think it would go that bad."

David Coulthard, competing in his last Grand Prix sneaked through in 15th place to go the the second session. Unfortunately he could progress no further. The Red Bull car was suffering from tyre graining and was struggling for grip in the second sector.

The second session saw the Toyotas looking unusually fast. It was possible one of them could get in the way of the Hamilton/Massa Championship battle. Both Toro Rossos also looked fast and qualified for the final session in which Kovalainen went quickest.

In the final session, Phillipe Massa grabbed pole position for the third year in succession with an amazing lap of 1:12.368. This was a staggering four tenths quicker than the second place man.

Who was second place man?

Toyota's Jarno Trulli !!!

Although far from disastrous for the Championship, this is not what Lewis needed. One suspects that the Mclaren is a little heavier on fuel than the Toyotas. Kimi Raikonnen made it to third spot with 1:12.825 with Lewis in fourth in a virtually identical time.

Lewis has both Ferraris in front of him, but most worryingly of all, he has Fernando Alonso positioned immediately behind him on the grid. Fernando has publicly said he doesn't want Mclaren to win and would like to see Massa take the Championship. Alonso has nothing to lose and it is likely he will be fairly aggressive going into the first turn. Lewis also threatens breaking Alonso's record of youngest ever F1 Champion... unless some one bumps into him of course.

Trulli has a history of being quick in qualifying and slower in the race. He could well provide a bit of an obstacle with a dangerous unpredictable train of cars behind him.

Pole Position for Massa, 4th for Hamilton. If Lewis can survive the first lap chaos he stands an excellent chance of becoming the youngest driver ever and first black driver to win the Formula 1 World Championship. It is probably that this race will be with incident as rain is also predicted.

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Formula 1 - A Lap of Interlagos

Youtube can be very handy at finding that elusive bit of footage.

The last race of the Formula 1 season happens this Sunday at Interlagos, Brazil. It is a fast undulating track with some segments of tight bends. Here is a Youtube video of the Benetton of a view seasons ago racing a lap. The commentary is from the knowledgeable, Martin Brundle.

The main place for overtaking is the long start/finish straight at the end, under breaking. If you are close enough to the driver in front, there is also a great chance to get a tow in the clean air and pass.

Lewis Hamilton is currently 7 points ahead of Massa in the Championship and is quoted at odds of 1/8 on to win. (That's £8 to win £1). Massa is listed at 9/2. Lewis was in a similar position last year however, but Kimi Raikkonen won at 12/1.

Should be a good race with some controversy and outrageous maneuvers... I hope.

Related Story
Lewis Hamilton, Second Time Lucky?

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Formula 1 2008 - Lewis Hamilton, second time lucky?

He was in a similar position in his rookie year, but things didn't work out. Can it be second time lucky for British F1 Driver, Lewis Hamilton?

If so, he will become the first Brit since Damon Hill in 1996 to win and become the youngest World Champion in F1 History. The record is currently held by Fernando Alonso at 24 years, 59 days. You may have heard of him.

Hamilton leads the Drivers Championship by 7 points with just a single race remaining. The last deciding race takes place this weekend at Interlagos race track, Brazil.

Last year, Hamilton was defeated by Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen for the Championship and this year it is his Brazillian team mate, Phillipe Massa's turn to try to upset the party. 2007 World Champion Raikkonen, has suffered a mysterious drop of form the second half of 2008 and is way out of the running. He could however, still provide a bit of a nuisance to Hamilton during Sunday's Grand Prix.

In interview Hamilton said,

"I know we didn't have the pace to win last year, but things could be very different this season. I'm really looking forward to getting out on the track at Interlagos and seeing where we stand."

Last year, after an eventful race, Lewis was forced to retire with gearbox failure.

Astonishingly, Mclaren haven't had a Drivers World Champion since Mika Hakkinen in 1999. Team Boss, Ron Dennis and all his pit-crew will surely be keeping their fingers crossed as will most of the British viewing public.

Massa was second at Interlagos last year and won the race the previous, we know he is quick at the track. All this makes for a potentially exciting and nail biting race. Phillipe will be racing to become the first Brazillian World Champion since Ayrton Senna. That surely is incentive enough.

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Formula 1 - Ferrari to Quit?

In an announcement that will surely rock the sport, Ferrari have said they may quit Formula 1 if planned rules are brought in to standardise the engines.

Ferrari hold great historic significance in Formula 1 which dates back to 1950. Without Ferrari, the sport would lose a lot of its allure which is struggling as it is. Their first World Champion was Alberto Ascari in 1952 and they have always been a top performing team. Ferrari F1 Champions to date are,

1952: Alberto Ascari
1953: Alberto Ascari
1958: Mike Hawthorn
1961: Phil Hill
1964: John Surtees
1975: Niki Lauda
1977: Niki Lauda
1979: Jody Scheckter
2000: Michael Schumacher
2001: Michael Schumacher
2002: Michael Schumacher
2003: Michael Schumacher
2004: Michael Schumacher
2007: Kimi Räikkönen

The Formula 1 ruling body, The FIA, have said the changes are necessary to cut rising costs and intends to implement these new rules from the 2010 season onwards.

A statement was released from Ferrari,

"We have major reservations over any proposals that would lead to teams using the same engines. It would deprive Formula One of its whole reason for existing, which is based on competition and technological development. If these elements were to become obsolete, our Administrative Council reserves the right, after consultation with its partners, to evaluate whether we remain committed to the discipline."

It is unlikely that the FIA will back out of their proposed Engine move so we now run into a bit of a stalemate. Bernie Ecclestone said,

"What we want is to reduce the necessity to spend to be competitive. That is the simplest thing."

I can see both sides of the argument here, but surely some kind of middle ground can be found. Formula 1 without Ferrari? It doesn't bare thinking about. Lets hope some sort of agreement can be reached.



Phillipe Massa has an outside chance of grabbing the 2008 title for Ferrari this season. With one race to go in his native Brazil, he trails Lewis Hamilton by 7 points. He would need to win and Lewis Hamilton finish 7th or lower.

Ferrari look good for the Constructors championship of 2008.

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