Formula One Features — July 2010

Timo Glock emerged as the best placed of the New Kids on the Block at the end of the German Grand Prix, a race that marked a complete contrast to the previous Grand Prix. Whereas in Silverstone Glock had battled it out with both Lotus drivers all the way to the last lap, in Hockenheim the German saw all his rivals fall by the wayside to inherit the lead of the group with just ten laps to go.

"I am a sportsman. I love sport. I love the fans. But I don't consider Formula 1 any more a sport." These were Fernando Alonso's words on the morning of the 2006 Italian Grand Prix. Hours earlier he'd been given a five-place grid penalty for 'blocking' Ferrari's Felipe Massa in qualifying - though Massa was 100 metres away.

The three new teams that have joined the F1 fraternity this year were faced with the daunting task of putting together a package capable of making them race at a respectable level in a very short period of time. They've been taking some stick from people like Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who'd rather field a third car for Valentino Rossi than to have six cars racing together in the back of the field...

Sauber Motorsport celebrates 40 years of racing at Hockenheim next week. Peter Sauber took time out to reflect.

Sebastian Vettel spent his early F1 career fending off comparisons with his illustrious compatriot Michael Schumacher. The standard retort for any rising star is always 'No, I'm not the second X, I'm the first Y.' But Red Bull's Silverstone antics have brought the associations flooding back - sadly not with bright young Schu but with Schu the pantomime villain.

The British GP marked the 31st anniversary of Williams Grand Prix Engineering's first F1 win. There was no repeat on Sunday but fifth place from Rubens Barrichello has signalled an upturn in form. Sir Frank chose the weekend to hand over the chairmanship to Adam Parr, but insists that thoughts of retirement are not in his mind...

While Michael Schumacher has been struggling in his comeback to F1, many pundits have given their views on his return after more than three years away. Only two men stopped racing and returned to win another title: Alain Prost and Niki Lauda.

The Hispania Racing Team made a last minute arrival to the F1 paddock in Bahrain. Technical chief Geoff Willis talks about life for one of Grand Prix racing's new teams.