Formula 1 World Championship Begins 2019 With Gripping Notes - Whiting & Mercedes

Paying our respects to Charlie Whiting this weekend on the #VF19. #AusGP #F1 #HaasF1 Image Credit: HAAS F1 via Twitter (2019)

Formula 1 World Championship Begins 2019 With Gripping Notes - Whiting & Mercedes

The 2019 Formula 1 World Championship season begins with the biggest drama in Melbourne, Australia being that 1) Longtime competitor as team mechanic becoming Chief Mechanic at Brabham, to staff then Race Director since 1997 at FIA Charlie Whiting passing away from Pulmonary Embolism ... & 2) Mercedes speed domination that continued in the race from nearly having a full second on the field at qualifications.

The sudden passing of Charlie Whiting shocked and gripped the paddocks of Formula 1 as they prepared the cars to compete in the first race of a twenty race season. The Pulmonary Embolism blood clot malady arrest occurred on the morning of Thursday, just three days ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday. Whiting held a key role in the running of Formula One race weekends as Race Director, overseeing the FIA's operation of all on-track sessions. In addition to his duties at grand prix weekends, he also had a wide-ranging position at the FIA overseeing safety and technical matters in the sport.

All at McLaren are shocked and deeply saddened at the news of Charlie Whiting's passing. Charlie will be remembered as one of the giants of our sport, as well as a great colleague. Our deepest sympathies and thoughts are with all of his loved ones. pic.twitter.com/DmrSZAT4Cc

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) March 14, 2019

This excerpted and edited from CNN -

Charlie Whiting: Formula One race director dies suddenly, aged 66

Leading motorsport figures have paid tribute to Formula One's race director Charlie Whiting following his sudden death after he suffered a pulmonary embolism in Australia.

The 66-year-old Whiting was in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix, which kicks off the new Formula 1 season at the weekend.

He had begun his F1 career as part of the Hesketh team, before joining Bernie Ecclestone's Brabham outfit, where he served as the team's chief mechanic during a successful era that saw Nelson Piquet win the World Drivers' Championship (WDC) in both 1981 and 1983.

He had been the motorsport series' race director since 1997. FIA president Jean Todt described Whiting as "a central and inimitable figure in Formula One who embodied the ethics and spirit of this fantastic sport."

Prior to taking over as the competition's race director, which saw him serve as the official starter of each grand prix, as well as the overseer of F1's rules and regulations, Whiting had initially joined the FIA in 1988 as its technical director.

'Our sort of man'

Five-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was one of many current and former F1 stars to pay tribute to Whiting, who was seen as the go-to man for drivers on any race weekend.

"What he did for the sport, his commitment, he really was a pillar," Hamilton said. "Such an iconic figure within the sporting world, and he contributed so much to us. May he rest in peace."

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel called him "our sort of man, our drivers' man". He said: "I spoke to him yesterday and walked the track for the first couple of corners together with him. It's difficult to grasp when somebody's just not there anymore.

"He was the middle man. He was someone you could ask anything, at any time. He was open to everyone, any time his door was always open. He was a racer, he was just a very nice guy."

Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn recalled his own long-lasting friendship with Whiting, who also worked with triple world champion Niki Lauda during his time at Brabham.

"I have known Charlie for all of my racing life," he said. "We worked as mechanics together, became friends and spent so much time together at race tracks across the world.

"I was filled with immense sadness when I heard the tragic news. I'm devastated. It is a great loss not only for me personally but also the entire Formula 1 family, the FIA and motorsport as a whole."
[Reference Here]

VALTTERI BOTTAS WINS the 2019 F1 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX for MERCEDES in a MASTERCLASS DOMINANT VICTORY from START to FINISH after a winless 2018! #F1 #F119MEL #MEL #AusGP #AustralianGP #MelbourneGP #Formula1 #points #VB77 #MercedesAMGF1 - Image & Caption Credit: @F1Racing via Twitter

ADDITIONAL TRIBUTE INFORMATION - SKY SPORTS >>>

With this backdrop of sadness and loss, the show began in earnest.

This excerpted and edited from ESPN -

Mercedes and the art of throwing pie in everyone's face
By: Nate Saunders - F1 Associate Editor

Oh dear. Mercedes has displayed some pretty ominous pace all weekend in Melbourne but no one was expecting such a comfortable pole position for Lewis Hamilton. Preseason suggested Ferrari would be in the mix but the Italian team has to go back to the drawing board ahead of tomorrow's Australian Grand Prix.
----
A few weeks ago, Hamilton claimed Ferrari was 0.5 seconds ahead of Mercedes -- a significant margin in F1 over one lap -- and the narrative which formed during the winter was that the Italian team had the edge. All the evidence from Barcelona suggested that was the case. Sebastian Vettel finished 0.7 down on Hamilton's eventual benchmark on Saturday. Mercedes seemed surprised by the gap and how comfortable things have been in Melbourne, while Ferrari expected it to be closer.
[Reference Here]

Motorsport Network's Julia Piquet gives her top five takeaways from the 2019 Australian Grand Prix, the opening round of the 2019 Formula 1 World Championship.

Valtteri Bottas dominated the season opener - captures fastest lap point against instruction - after getting ahead of poleman and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton on the run to the first corner at the start - first point awarded for fastest lap since 1959.

Ferrari faltered, so Red Bull stepped into the breach - and on to the podium - in its first race with Honda.
(ht: Charles Bradley - Motorsport Report)

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: Formula 1, Charlie Whiting, Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne, #F1 #F119MEL #MEL #AusGP #AustralianGP #MelbourneGP #Formula1 #points #VB77 #MercedesAMGF, HAAS F1, The EDJE

McLaren F1 Says "HALO" & G'Day To Gandys In Australia

A brilliant first move by a shoe manufacturer in an effort of cross-promotional branding. McLaren, as with all other F1 racing teams, have to field a car with the new cockpit protection superstructure known as a HALO. Image Credit: Gandys

McLaren F1 Says "HALO" & G'Day To Gandys In Australia

McLaren teams up with the adventurous British lifestyle brand for next week's Grand Prix in a brilliant sponsorship deal.

Today’s announcement marks the first brand, Gandys, to take advantage of the unique shape of the new-for-2018 Halo cockpit protection structure, which has frequently been compared to the distinctive upper of a flip-flop. For the Australian Grand Prix, Gandys branding will be a feature on the front part of the HALO on both McLaren cars.

Gandys logo clearly sported on the joining section of the protective HALO superstructure. Image Credit: McLaren

Additionally, Gandys and McLaren will collaborate to create a limited-run ‘Halo-edition’ flip-flop, with 100 per cent of all profits going directly to the Orphans For Orphans foundation. They will be available from gandyslondon.com and all Gandys' London stores, as well as through mclarenstore.com.

Gandys was founded by brothers Rob and Paul Forkan, who were inspired to start the brand after tragically losing both their parents in the Tsunami that affected much of southeast Asia in December 2004.

The Gandys brand began with a single flip-flop design, with its initial success enabling Rob and Paul to achieve their goal and open the first Orphans For Orphans foundation kid’s campus, in Sri Lanka in 2014.

F1 champion driver Felipe Massa had this reaction he posted on his Facebook page which was latter shared with the social media platform Reddit. Great minds think alike but it was McLaren and Gandys that made this promotiona dream come true. Image Credit Felipe Massa via Reddit

Alongside their charitable foundation, the Gandys brothers have continued to grow the brand since its inception in 2012. Gandys introduced full menswear and womenswear collections to the brand in 2016, and continue to support Orphans For Orphans by donating 10 per cent of their profits to the foundation. The second campus was opened last year in Malawi, with plans to open more across the world.

John Allert, McLaren Chief Marketing Officer, said:
“We’re delighted to have Rob, Paul and the team at Gandys join us for the Australian Grand Prix. The placement of the logo, on the MCL33’s Halo, was not only perfect from a branding perspective, but also a great opportunity to underline Gandys’ charitable commitment to providing a safer, more protective environment for those at risk.

“Collaborating with Gandys on a limited-edition co-branded product was also a meaningful step for us. By giving 100 per cent of all profits to the Orphans For Orphans charity, McLaren is also able to help a very deserving good cause.

“Showcasing this partnership in Australia, where we race just a stone’s throw from Melbourne’s beautiful St Kilda beach, just felt like the best possible opportunity for Gandys to showcase its brand and noble cause on the international stage.”

Gandys co-founder Rob Forkan said:
“We were absolutely thrilled when McLaren came to us with this idea. When the brand was created, Paul was living in Melbourne, and I went out to surprise him on his birthday to tell him about the idea for Gandys. After managing to persuade him to return to the UK and start the brand, it’s really exciting to be going back. In fact, it will be the first time we’ve returned to Melbourne, so it’s great to feel we have come full circle!

“By putting Gandys’ branding on the car’s Halo, we can help to strengthen the message behind our Orphans For Orphans initiative; creating a protective and inspiring environment for children at risk. It is a step in the right direction for the safety of the drivers and a great step for Gandys.

“When we started Gandys we started working on a small scale, helping a few children. Now we are helping more and more vulnerable children all around the world. We hope the halo will have a similar impact in Formula 1, as we know that even if it only saves one life to begin with, it will go on to have a wider impact.”

“On a personal note, as huge fans of Formula 1 and McLaren, this was an opportunity that was simply too good to pass up. We can’t wait to see Fernando, Stoffel and the whole team in action in Melbourne next weekend.”
(ht: McLaren)

... notes from The EDJE



TAGS: McLaren, Gandys, HALO, Flip Flop, Felipe Massa, Formula 1, #F1, Facebook, Reddit, Melbourne, Australia, The EDJE