As this year's fascinating Formula One season marches towards it's dramatic conclusion starting with this weekend's Indian Grand Prix, it's interesting to note that the final four races are crammed into a mere four weeks. After India, it's Abu Dhabi in seven days, USA two weeks later and the season finale in Brazil a week later. 
    We as F1 fans love a jam-packed 20 race season with quick turnovers between events, but what a drain on the team personnel and especially the race teams that traipse the world ensuring their drivers have the best possible package with which to contest the championship. Some may argue that they do it by choice and are well rewarded for their efforts, but that doesn't change the fact that it must be extremely exhausting work saddled with massive amounts of travel. 
    Yet the teams are meticulous in their approach. Amidst spotless pit garages, brand and sponsor exposure is paramount. From the cars themselves to the overhead gantries, to the prat perches, to the wheel guns, to the communication devices, down to the team's belts and socks, no stone is left unturned. Everything is immaculate. Whenever the cars return to the pit, the teams busily scurry around with their cooling fans, pressure gauges and tyre warmers. Even during a lull, someone is methodically polishing the car whilst data is being thoroughly analysed. Pit stops are practised without respite. Every team member knows their role and what is expected of them. Impressive.
    Formula One teams have evolved into highly professional entities who provide an excellent business model for companies, and governments for that matter, regarding problem solving and the level of communication needed to achieve success. Despite pushing the limits of exhaustion, these teams should be commended for maintaining their focus. Not to mention we love the entertainment. Leave a comment or send formulafrontrow.com an email at: [email protected].
    Red Bull Racing look very strong in India locking out the front row in qualifying with a seriously gripped up F1 car. Go Mark Webber.   

    What a fantastic Bathurst 1000 last weekend at the iconic Mt Panorama Circuit. Congratulations to winners Team Vodafone and their drivers Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell. Wasn't it a great strategy to place championship leader Whincup in the car fairly early on when the V8 Supercar field was largely comprised of co-drivers? Kudos should also be awarded to Bottle-O Racing's David Reynolds and Dean Canto. It was Reynolds' first V8 Supercar podium and he very nearly won, but had to be content with sniffing Whincup's exhaust fumes home for second. Looking ominous in third was Team Vodafone's Craig Lowndes and Warren Luff. 
    Is the 2012 V8 Supercar Championship now a three horse race? Whincup, Lowndes and Ford Performance Racing's Mark Winterbottom are on 2772, 2611 and 2584 points respectively. The title's anyone's guess. Which leads us to next weekend's Gold Coast 600. The variable factor is the inclusion of international drivers as co-drivers. Big names with international pedigree in categories such as F1, Indy, British Touring Cars, Porsche Supercup include Boudais, Liuzzi, Andretti, Brabham, Salo, Heidfeld, Bleekemolen, Said and Pagenaud; join the field to thrash a V8 Supercar around the streets of Surfers Paradise. It's going to be awesome.
    V8 Supercars as a series is certainly on the up. Complementing Formula One at this year's Abu Dhabi GP, off to Austin, Texas next May at the new Circuit Of The Americas will definitely raise brand awareness internationally. The horizon looks endless. 
    But will the "brand" be conceived differently next year with the arrival of Mercedes in the form of Erebus Motorsport with long time Ford team Stone Brothers Racing, and Nissan replacing Holden at Kelly Racing? Under the Car Of The Future regulations new manufacturers are encouraged to join the field. The traditional Ford vs Holden becomes Ford vs Holden vs Mercedes vs Nissan vs ??? in 2013 and beyond. In it's endeavours to reach fair wider global audiences and therefore attracting more sponsors, race teams and fans; are V8 Supercars at risk of losing some local fans who feel that tradition has been dispensed with? Will the legendary Bathurst 1000 take on new appeal? Will traditional fans embrace V8 Supercar's future and continue to support what is an extremely well presented, professional sport? Let us know what you think. Send formulafrontrow.com an email at: [email protected] or simply leave a comment.
    

   Well, well, well! McLaren Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton has surprised many by saying "Auf Wiedersehen" to McLaren by inking his signature to a three year contract with German F1 team, Mercedes. This effectively leaves seven time champion Michael Schumacher without a confirmed F1 drive for 2013. At this point Schumi has not announced his plans for the future. Should he continue in Formula One? Michael will be 44 before the start of next season, and despite a few great drives this season, there's been more evidence to suggest that he's definitely past his prime. That horrific shunt in Singapore springs to mind. Time will tell.
    Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn recently announced that Lewis Hamilton's people instigated negotiations with Mercedes about Hamilton joining the team. Did this suggest some unrest in the Hamilton- McLaren relationship? Lewis' recent tweet of his and team mate Jenson Button's qualifying telemetry, whilst not overly damaging, would hint towards this. McLaren have often stated that they know how to handle, shall we say, high maintenance drivers and ultra competitive team mates. Perhaps we should ask Alain Prost, Juan Pablo Montoya, Fernando Alonso, or even Kimi Raikkonen for that matter, whether they agree?
    However, McLaren always build race winning cars, whereas Mercedes at this stage, do not. Yes they are towards the front end of the grid, but they don't punch on with McLaren race by race do they? Will Lewis Hamilton's frustrations compound with a Mercedes that may not be able to challenge for race wins event after event? Or is the challenge of helping push Mercedes to the very front of the F1 grid a task he'll relish? Will a fresh start at Mercedes rejuvenate Lewis? It'll be interesting to see how talented team mate Nico Rosberg stacks up against Hamilton. 
    McLaren have quickly signed impressive Sauber driver, Sergio Perez, to a multi- year contract. What a fantastic opportunity for the young Mexican partnering Jenson Button next year. McLaren undoubtedly will be fighting for race wins and the championship. Will Perez rise to the challenge of driving for one of F1's top teams? Leave formulafrontrow.com a comment or send us an email at: [email protected]. 
    Final thought though. Perez is a member of the Ferrari Young Driver Academy. Have Ferrari made a master stroke allowing Perez to race for a frontrunning team with the option of recalling a more accomplished, mature Perez to lead Ferrari post- Alonso? Interesting....
     
       
    

    With the European F1 season wound up and the final flyaway races commencing starting with next weekend's glamorous night race at Singapore, we thought it would be prudent to ask which team has improved the most?
    There's no doubt that KERS, DRS and the Pirelli tyres have spiced up the racing making it extremely difficult to predict a winner race to race, but as all teams push themselves to improve their packages, patterns and form emerge. The cream always rises to the top and the big teams are the big teams. But which other F1 teams have caught your eye with their form?
    Lotus seem to be loitering around that first win under their new guise with Kimi Raikkonen quietly featuring regularly on the podium. Team mate Romain Grosjean whilst still raw, has also scored podiums. His stint in the "sin bin" during the recent Italian GP will only help him to mature. A team to watch.
    Mercedes? Well what can you say? Still a lot of talk of grand things, but whilst Nico Rosberg won in China and scores well, still only have one win; there's speculation of Michael Schumacher's future; speculation whether they've signed Lewis Hamilton; some weekends they're fast; the next they're nowhere. Sigh!
    Force India is an exciting team. Just watch Paul di Resta's race-cam to witness his fluent style with minimal steering input. Nico Hulkenberg is unquestionably quick and is no stranger to top ten qualifying sessions. Both are evenly matched and have a great future in F1.
    Williams have definitely improved, but by how much compared to the other teams? Bruno Senna is racing well, but has conceded that his qualifying needs to improve. Even though Pastor Maldonado won in dominant fashion in Spain, he still seems to be involved in too many contentious issues on track, revealing a still evident impetuous nature.
    The team that seems to have improved more than even they could have imagined is the very efficient Swiss F1 team, Sauber. Having been in F1 for almost 20 years, Sauber have always built tidy cars, but fell behind in the development race. This year they are regular Q3 contenders and have started on the front row of the grid. The car is easier on the tyres enabling them to run longer stints. Sergio Perez could very well have won in Malaysia. To go with that 2nd place, he's also scored podiums at Canada and Monza. Exciting Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi has featured in Q3 and with a bit more luck would have more points. The car seems competitive in all circuit configurations. Do you think Sauber are F1's quiet achievers? Will Sauber overhaul Mercedes in the constructor's championship for fifth place?
    Let us know which team you think is on the up going into the season ending flyaways. Leave a comment or send formulafrontrow.com an email at: [email protected]. Can't wait for Singapore...
    R.I.P. Professor Sid Watkins. You will be missed. Thank you.