F1 Pit Buzz… My first attempt at writing a weekly column about anything and everything related to the Formula 1 scene. Shall keep this column as unbiased as I can. Post-race bickering among drivers (and team bosses), lawsuits and the possible delay of McLaren’s MP4-18 is featured in this week’s installment.

A lot has been said by the fans, drivers and team bosses about 2 dramatic moves in the European GP, first with Montoya overtaking Schumi on the outside and resulted in Schumi spinning into the gravel trap. The second was DC being forced off track by Alonso in an attempt to overtake the latter with 2 laps remaining of the race.

I don?t really know why Ross Brawn got so heated up over Montoya for the move on Schumi since it was clearly a racing incident, Schumi is not complaining. Do the people in the Ferrari camp really do believe they have the superiority over other teams? Were the Benetton, Williams or McLaren team that arrogant back then when they were dominating the F1 scene? smiley

The second incident that ended DC?s race with just 2 laps to go was really a shame. Without doubt DC had to attack as Alonso was really struggling on and off with his Renault. With DC close behind him, it was really dangerous for DC to not overtake, after all, a lap or two before the incident, DC almost caught the back of the Renault. The way I see it, it was clearly Alonso?s fault for trying too hard to defend his position knowing that he?s struggling with his car and got a faster car tailing his rear wing. Lack of sensible thinking by Alonso I might add.

But of course, the most unlucky person in last weekend?s race would be Kimi Raikkonen, leading the grand prix almost half of the race distance when a cloud of blue smoke from his Mercedes V10 engine ended his challenge to close down the gap between himself and Schumi in the World Championship standings. Now I?m not too sure about Mercedes supplying another team with their engines next season. Do they have the manpower and capabilities to support another team?s engine needs? smiley

Lately, there?s been a few lawsuits between F1 teams and their sponsors, there?s Eddie Jordan suing Vodafone, currently sponsoring the scarlet red Ferrari team. And now Paul Stoddart of Minardi team is suing a few Malaysian sponsors that were brought in with the help of Alex Yoong last season. The amount of sponsorship owed to Minardi amounted to over USD 1.5 million, and if I recall correctly, Yoong will get to see 50% of it. And poor Yoong is still being owed his wages for his short drive with the Minardi team. Yoong believes that Stoddart is able to pay his remaining wages now that they are financially injected with Bernie Ecclestone?s investment. After all, Stoddart managed to scoop up the remains of Team Arrows chassis and 3-seaters in a spending spree at an auction recently.

Back on track, McLaren might just delay further the debut of their revolutionary MP4-18. They recently failed a FIA crash test and it seems that the MP4-18 is quite accident-prone. Perhaps they should really hold on to the new car until next season should the current MP4-17D continue to show competitive pace. But if they really do this, will this hamper Kimi?s chances of being world champion this season? Only time will tell?
That?s all for this week. Don?t forget there?s no break this weekend in the F1 calendar, French GP is up this weekend before the teams break for 2 weeks before the British GP.

Your feedback on this column is very welcomed. Please send them to me. If you want to subscribe to this column?s mailing list (for notification of updates in this column), please click here.

F1 Pit Buzz archives

Au Yong