Formula One Features — September 2005

For the first time in a good few years I was recently tempted to venture forth from the comfort of the pub to go for trip to a Grand Prix in that place we Brits call Europe. Actually, if the truth be told, it was the current wife who decided that this would be a good idea.

Fernando Alonso, the new World Champion, comes from the town of Oviedo, the capital of the principality of Asturias, an autonomous province on the north coast of Spain. There is a proud heritage in the region and an independence which one sees sometimes when the Asturias flags appear when Alonso is around.

In the summer of 1985 Keke Rosberg, the original F1 Flying Finn, wound up his turbo-charged Williams-Honda and went for the fastest lap ever around Silverstone, aiming to break the average speed of 160mph. It was a record that would stand for 17 years.

Red Bull has acquired the Minardi team from Paul Stoddart and will take over operations on November 1. We asked Dietrich Mateschitz and his right hand man Dany Bahar to explain the takeover and their plans for the future.

Tonio Liuzzi is a frustrated man. Last year he was racing like a demon and swept to a dominant championship in Formula 3000 with seven wins in 10 races. Sauber wanted to give him a contract but decided at the last minute to sign Jacques Villeneuve instead and so Liuzzi went instead to Red Bull Racing.