Apologies for the delay but things have been somewhat hectic of late. FORZA is doing well while the podcast is going crazy. We now have listeners in 29 countries and the number is growing with every race, forza-mag.com. All the ones we have done since Australia are available. I thing you'll enjoy them. Definitely no pulling any punches.
As for the racing, well we all know that the team should have won several more races but just think back a year or two when they were miles behind Mercedes. Two Ferraris on the front row?! Wonderful to see.
This brings to the subject of broody, moody Lewis Hamilton. He may be on his way to his 6th title but he has been sounding off lately not unlike the 16 year old Swedish environmentalist girl Greta Thunberg. Having just returned from Sweden I can confirm that while nobody took away her youth, she did make some valuable points. Seems to me that Lewis' message is not dissimilar and because of his fame his thoughts carry a great deal of weight. Apparently Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has no objection to Lewis having a go in the new E series, one thing is for sure-they would love to have him permanently.
It would certainly be F1's loss, as it is the sport is seriously short of exciting drivers. The young ones such as Russell and the others are terrified to put a foot wrong or say the wrong thing. The grown-ups such as Kimi (happy 40th you much loved Finn!) or Vettel are clearly thinking of retirement so right now Lewis and golden boy Leclerc are the only talking points. Charles-known as Charlot to his adoring fans in the Principality can't have enough of him and every time he wins he can pop onto his scooter to meet Number one fan-Prince Albert. I don't know about you but when he won at Spa and again in Monza I loved listening to the Italian and Monegasque anthems-such a nice change to what we've been hearing ad infinitum with Mercedes. May we have many more.
Now something different: a book review. A new and dynamic publishing company by the name of EVRO just cam out with legendary scribe Pete Lyons' latest offering: 1970-75 formula One Greats-Lotus 72. In a word-brilliant. I was very active in Formula One in those days going from race to race with colleagues such as Pete. His heroes were very much my heroes. Jochen Rindt introduced me to is manager, a certain Bernie Ecclestone. Ronnie Peterson and his lovely wife Barbo used to stay with us in London. There is a picture in my book of Emerson's wife Maria Helena carrying my little son Nicholas around in her arms.
Colin Chapman, Jackie Stewart who wrote the forward to my book. Cevert, that wonderful Frenchman we lost 40 years ago at the Glen, Geoffrey Kent who was boss of John Player cigarettes and the only rival to Marlboro, ace snapper and best man at my wedding- David Phipps, I lived and loved every page.
For me page 231 was where I shed a tear, a full colour page of Ronnie and Barbro together, clearly much in love looking at the winner's trophy at the Glen on 7th October 1973.
I urge you to buy this book, great drivers, great photos, excellent journalism.
On a personal note my much loved 2012 Ferrari California is for sale. According to FORZA's editor it is as good as new with 22 thousand miles on the clock. All service records from Ferrari of San Francisco. eMail me and I will tell you all about it. Warranty until March 2020. $99 Thousand dollars. andrewfrankl@me.com. The ferrari comes with a signed and dedicated copy of my book as well as a life time free subscription to FORZA!
