Like most of you I am counting the days to 2019’s first race
in Melbourne. Lots of new cars, lots of new faces. Some of them will look like
schoolboys and let’s face it that is what they were until recently . Amazing,
especially if you realize that Louis
Chiron started the Monaco GP in 1955 when he was nearly 56 years old!
Yes folks, times have changed . These days these kids are
more or less bred for racing. Go-karts, simulators, video games. By the time they
get to Melbourne they will know all the corners by heart. In the not so olden
days Jim Clark or Graham Hill would walk the circuit . They would also drive
stick shifts instead of pulling leavers. The steering wheel was just that and
not a myriad of buttons and switches.
Still, even though the engines don’t sound like the V12s,
V10s or V8s when the lights go out in a few weeks time it will still be fast
and furious.
The new owners are having a real go. In Bernie’s days
everything was very strictly controlled, the paddock had massive minders whose
vocabulary consisted of one word: NO!
Now the whole ambiance is far more relaxed, a welcome
change. I think Liberty Media were hoping to move faster with at least 25 races
in 2019 but they’ve discovered that the teams, essentially the circus was not
prepared to move so fast. I can understand it. If you watch the physical work
as well as the huge concentration during the race you can understand it. One
tiny mistake-and there have been several-can lose your driver the race. One
slow tire change and there goes the victory to someone else. And when it is
over the mechanics have to pack absolutely everything in record time. Yes, the
boxes are precisely labeled but someone still has to dismantle everything and get
all the equipment on the way to the next race, sometimes a few days away. The
so-called double headers are an absolute nightmare. Mexican GP on October 27
and the US GP is just one week later in Austin.
So if your driver has a big crash-think Alonso in Spa, the car
has to be for rebuilt for Monza
which is the following weekend.
So full credit to all the teams for getting it right every
single time in 2018. Well done to Liberty for starting the races 10 minutes
after the hour, they guessed, correctly that TVs-like mine- have to be warmed
up from their slumber.
There is a very sad anniversary coming up in a few
days-Michael Schumacher’s awful skiing accident in Meribel. I’ve skied there
many times and so have tens of thousands of people, it is not a difficult piste.
Michael was an excellent skier and the fittest sportsman I’ve ever met. A truly
million to one accident which essentially robbed us of a great driver, father
and philanthropist who gave millions to charity anonymously. If my good friend
Jon McEvoy’s recent article is correct Michael was actually watching a
race on television with his mentor and
FIA President Jean Todt. I just hope he will be well enough to enjoy seeing
his son Mick on the F1 grid in 2020.
Now on to domestic matters. Some of you may know that a few
weeks ago I became a grandfather for the very first time. The enclosed picture
says it all.
I saw the family in Florida where I also had a chance to
catch up with David Hobbs. Known him for a long time, his book-co-written by my
very old mate Andrew Marriott is excellent.
My revised and updated book-Frankly Frankl- life, love, luck
and automobiles is selling well. FORZA subscribers have been kind enough to buy
it and with the 55 dollars all sent notes, observations, anecdotes. The print
run is limited-499 copies just like Ferraris used to be until recently. The
talk and book signing in Miami was a big success as was Doug Dolton’s local
auto emporium full of fascinating cars. And- you will like this-I sold 20
copies at Rustic Bakery one Saturday afternoon. Great crowd, a 488, an F12-the
locals loved it!
`If you would like a copy please send me an e mail to andrewfrankl@me.com .
So until March happy motoring.
All the best for the holidays from
FORZA’s GP editor
Andrew Frankl
