Formula One Features

The contrast between Sebastian Vettel and all other members of the Ferrari team at the end of the Mexican Grand Prix was striking. Obviously everyone at the Scuderia was disappointed with the loss of the Drivers' Championship to Lewis Hamilton, but the German driver looked completely distraught.

Ferrari's Sepang Debrief

Team orders have been part of motor racing since the sport was born more than one century ago. In the aftermath of yesterday's Belgian Grand Prix there are two teams that are seriously considering imposing team orders from Monza until the end of the season, but for completely different reasons and with completely different purposes.

Kubica's return in Hungary

The Hungarian Grand Prix was an intriguing race, with a lot happening on the pit walls and garages of the two top teams. While the way Ferrari managed the fact its leading driver was in trouble, the Mercedes team's actions created a lot of controversy and may come back to haunt Toto Wolff by the end of the season.

In the space of just two weeks, Fernando Alonso saw the doors at Mercedes and Ferrari firmly shut in his face. With Red Bull never intending to take top drivers from other teams, preferring to breed its own stars, this means the Spaniard's chances of getting his hands on a winning car for 2018 are next to zero.

The FIA decided to hand no further sporting penalties to Sebastian Vettel after Monday's hearing, following his sudden burst of road rage in the streets of Baku the previous week. He won't lose any points in this year's championship, won't be suspended for a race or two or take any other penalty that could seriously undermine his chances of winning this year's Formula One World Championship.

Vettel vs. Hamilton: Carey's Solution

McLaren-Honda Briefing

Hamilton's silver lining

Spanish strategies

Kimi Raikkonen had his best performance of the season last weekend in Russia, scoring his first podium finish of 2017, closing on Valtteri Bottas and Sebastian Vettel in the second part of the Sochi race, after just missing out on his first pole position to his team mate. But that didn't stop Ferrari from using the veteran Finn as help for Vettel's battle for victory, giving yet another hint Raikkonen is seen very much as the Number Two driver at Maranello.

If one of the things McLaren targeted when it was decided Fernando Alonso would give the Monaco Grand Prix a miss to try his hands in the Indy 500 was media exposure, then well done to Zak Brown and his staff. From Wednesday to Friday in Bahrain, the Spaniard's decision was the focal point of the paddock but, of course, when qualifying started, no one thought about it anymore.

"People in Formula One have very short memories", I was told a couple of weeks ago by Christian Horner when I asked him if the relationship between his team and Renault could ever fully recover from the very public fallout from 2014.

News that both the Russian and the Canadian Grand Prix have extended their current deals for very long periods of time are a clear sign Liberty Media didn't come to Formula One to spend time looking around at how the business has been run and then come up with a long-term plan on how to proceed.

Christmas at Mercedes

What a shame those exciting last five laps of the Mexican Grand Prix were completely destroyed by red tape. When we should all be talking about the tremendous battle Sebastian Vettel and the two Red Bull drivers engaged in, everywhere on social media the subjects are the penalties handed to Max Verstappen and the German and then, of course, the use of very foul language by the four-times World Champion.

Mexican Grand Prix: Speedy Gonzales replaces Safety Car!

Malaysia has now decided it's not worth it hosting a Formula One Grand Prix in Sepang, because the race generates major losses and they've decided it's better to soldier on with other forms of racing, particularly Moto GP rather than keeping on losing money to host a Formula One Grand Prix.

Nico Hulkenberg has decided to swap the team that is likely to finish fourth in this year's Championship for another one that has scored only eight points. Moreover, the last time Hulkenberg's new team finished ahead of his current team was back in 2013, so what is happening this year is not a one-off, it's a trend.

Suzuka: The triple!

Formula One is about to enter new territory with the acquisition by Liberty Media. We've all gathered a lot more effort will be put into digital and social media, as a way to broaden the exposure and attract a completely new generation of fans - something the old regime was not even trying to do as Bernie Ecclestone was quick to point out.

Ron Dennis, called McLaren's decision to keep Jenson Button on their books for another two years, an innovative three-driver strategy. Speaking to a lot of paddock old hands all I heard were people speaking about McLaren keeping Button as an insurance policy for an eventual departure by Fernando Alonso.

The genie of Maranello