Flying Finn to lead after First Lap in Fuji

Ron Dennis gave an interesting interview to ITV-F1 prior to qualifying. When asked about the team’s strategy for Lewis Hamilton this weekend, the McLaren CEO was quite clear: they would be aggressive for qualifying, cautious for the first few laps of the race – where the cost of a lost front wing is so high – and then race tactically until the finish.

Is Lewis Light on Fuel?

An interesting thread sprung up on the Planet-F1 forum last week (thanks Grasshopper) about the effect of carrying extra fuel on lap times. Obviously with Spa being such a long fast circuit, the impact is fairly substantial.

Belgian Grand Prix Data Sheet

With Spa’s notorious inclement weather and its track record for spectacular action, Safety Car spotters will be out in force this weekend. The Belgian Grand Prix Data Sheet shows that there is a fair chance that they won’t be disappointed…

Title: Belgian Grand Prix Data Sheet | Format: PDF | Filesize: 87.1kb

Not Just the Fastest Lap

The Fastest Lap market is one that Kimi Raikkonen has dominated again this season. Seven fastest laps in eleven races shows that he has had the speed that belies his championship position. Not surprisingly the bookmakers have him heavy favourite to set the Fastest Lap again here in Valencia.

Hungary, Hamilton and Hot Weather

With high temperatures predicted all weekend, I think we can get after Lewis Hamilton a little bit, despite him topping practice times yesterday afternoon.

It’s All About Kimi

Hamilton’s blinding pole-position lap yesterday should have been the sole headline-generator from the weekend so far; but plenty is being made too of the struggles that Kimi Raikkonen is again having with the Hockenheimring circuit. With the markets being comprehensively shaken up after qualifying, I think that there are opportunities for money to be made from the Finn.

German Grand Prix Data Sheet

A slightly abridged data sheet this week, taking into account that the German GP isn’t always held at Hockenheim these days and that the track layout was significantly modified after 2001.  Early thoughts are that it is no surprise to see the majority of bookmakers odds-on about a Kimi fastest lap.

Title: German Grand Prix Data Sheet | Format: PDF | Filesize: 80.4kb

Silverstone Preview

I’m inclined to tread a little warily this weekend. My gut instinct is that McLaren will put Lewis Hamilton on a Pole strategy tomorrow in an effort get the boy wonder some good publicity, following what has been a difficult couple of weeks for him, both on and off the track.

French Fancies

I thought that I had spotted some value in the winning margin market. Bet365 are offering Evens that the winning margin in Sunday’s race will be greater than six seconds. The average winning margin around Magny-Cours in the last ten years is 9.97 seconds.

Guest Post: Kimi to win in France

I’ve jumped in early and taken up to 11/8 about Kimi Raikonnen to win in Magny-Cours. He could have been backed at 6/4, but I missed the price (but I will be keeping an eye out for the rest of the week).