Fernando Alonso has officially had the longest Formula 1 career in the sport's history, overtaking Michael Schumacher at the top of the list. The German was for so long the most successful racer ever to appear in the sport, and was around for longer than anyone before him as well. Exactly 21 years and three months passed between his first and last race appearance, a record set in 2012 that would take a while to beat. Perhaps 10 years is a shorter timeframe than expected, but it was eclipsed on Sunday when Alonso took to the track for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix . By taking part in the Baku race, his F1 career was officially extended to 21 years, three months and eight days. Had the Spaniard been in the sport for that entire period, then the race in Azerbaijan would also have been his 400th Grand Prix. It wasn't as he had a mini-break from F1 between 2019-20, but he is still creeping towards the current F1 appearance record held by the recently retired Kimi Raikkonen . … [Read more...] about Michael Schumacher record beaten by Fernando Alonso with Lewis Hamilton a long way off
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Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher snubbed as F1 rookie names childhood idol
Zhou Guanyu snubbed both Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher when revealing his childhood Formula 1 icon. There is much interest in the Alfa Romeo driver this season, not least because he is the only current rookie in the sport. But the 23-year-old is also the first Chinese racer ever to take part in the series, and is helping to bring more attention to F1 as a whole from his homeland. He was still very young when he made the tough decision to leave, despite having begun karting as an eight-year-old living near Shanghai. Aged just 12 when he migrated to the UK, it was a move he made solely to pursue the dream he is now living. Zhou has now revealed that it was not Hamilton or Schumacher who he revered as a youngster watching F1, but another world champion. Asked by AS which driver he followed most closely in his youth, he did not hesitate in answering: " Fernando Alonso ." He added: "I was just more of a fan. In China there was a lot of support for Ferrari and … [Read more...] about Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher snubbed as F1 rookie names childhood idol
Seven times halo saved F1 drivers’ lives – from Zhou smash to Lewis Hamilton tyre horror
When the halo was introduced to Formula One in 2018 it was a highly controversial decision which was met with a largely negative reaction. The design was slammed by fans, pundits and drivers alike, with traditionalists unhappy with that it spelled an end to the open cockpit. Lewis Hamilton even called it "the worst looking mod in F1 history" - but he and many others might not be alive today without it. In the years since it has proved to be an invaluable safety measure in all FIA races, with Zhou Guanyu the latest of the following seven drivers to live to see another day because of it. READ MORE: Fan footage just yards away from shocking upside-down British GP crash emerges Tadasuke Makino The benefits of the halo were seen almost instantaneously as it saved Japanese driver Tadasuke Makino from a potentially fatal injury at the third round of the 2018 F2 Championship in Barcelona. He and fellow countryman Nirei Fukuzumi made contact at turn four, prompting … [Read more...] about Seven times halo saved F1 drivers’ lives – from Zhou smash to Lewis Hamilton tyre horror
F1 star emerged from Michael Schumacher’s shadow to almost stop Lewis Hamilton dominance
For more than 30 seconds, he believed that he had just summited the Formula 1 world – only to have that notion cruelly ripped away. Felipe Massa went from dreamland to the depths of despair in such a short space of time. But then came the moment which secured his place in the hearts of F1 fans forever, as he accepted the most difficult of defeats with humility and dignity in front of the people who adored him most in the world. It was in 2008 that Massa had the best shot he would ever have to become the champion. In his sixth full season in the sport and third with Ferrari , he was finally ready to make a real bid for the prize he had been dreaming about ever since he first sat in a go-kart. The stage couldn't have been any more ideal, even if the job was a tough one. In front of his own people, at the Brazilian Grand Prix finale, the Interlagos circuit the he had grown up living just a couple of hours away from was the staging ground for his assault. His job was … [Read more...] about F1 star emerged from Michael Schumacher’s shadow to almost stop Lewis Hamilton dominance