F1 Drivers Championship 19/4/2011

After three races of this season F1 there are three or four obvious contenders for the title, while there has also been a few surprise packages this season such as Paul Di Resta and Sergio Perez. So here is a look at how the Drivers Championship stands at this moment of time.

                               Championship leader Sebastian Vettel celebrating his win from pole in Australia.

Driver                                                     Team                                               Nationality                 Points              

1. Sebastian Vettel                       RBR-Renault                         German             68

2. Lewis Hamilton                        McLaren-Mercedes                British               47

3. Jenson Button                          McLaren-Mercedes                British               38  

4. Mark Webber                           RBR-Renault                          Australian         37

5. Fernando Alonso                      Ferrari                                  Spanish             26

6. Felipe Massa                            Ferrari                                  Brazilian           24

7. Vitaly Petrov                           Renault                                 Russian             17

8. Nick Heidfeld                          Renault                                 German            15

9. Nico Rosberg                           Mercedes                               German            10

10. Kamui Kobayashi                   Sauber-Ferrari                        Japanese          7

11. Michael Schumacher              Mercedes                               German            6

12. Sebastien Buemi                    STR-Ferrari                            Swiss                4

13. Adrian Sutil                           Force India-Mercedes             German            2

14. Paul Di Resta                         Force India-Mercedes             British              2

15. Jaime Alguersuari                 STR-Ferrari                             Spanish            0

16. Jarno Trulli                           Lotus-Renault                         Italian              0

17. Rubens Barrichello                Williams-Cosworth                  Brazilian           0

18. Jerome D'Ambrosio               Virgin-Cosworth                      Belgian             0

19. Heikki Kovalainen                  Lotus-Renault                        Finnish              0

20. Timo Glock                            Virgin-Cosworth                    German             0

21. Sergio Perez                          Sauber-Ferrari                       Mexican            0

22. Pastor Maldonado                  Williams-Cosworth                 Venezuelan       0  

23. Vitantonio Liuzzi                   HRT-Cosworth                        Italian               0

24. Narain Karthikeyan                HRT-Cosworth                        Indian               0

In this years F1 season there is a total of six drivers from Germany. And one of them (Sebastian Vettel of RBR-Renault) is leader of the drivers championship by 21 points.

F1-Chinese Grand Prix

                               The shanghai international circuit in China - the fourth track in the F1 calendar.

The second edition of the 18 editions is all about the Chinese Grand Prix and we at The captain's armband shall inform you of all the facts you need to know about the race.

It was a bad qualifying session for Mark Webber going out in qualifying 1 and eighteenth on the grid, however the other driver in Red Bull (Sebastian Vettel) put a 1.33.706 in to win pole position ahead of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. Also Nico Rosberg was 4th on the grid, whilst his team-mate Michael Schumacher went out in qualifying 2 only managing 14th.

Sebastian Vettel didn't get off to the best of starts with Button and Hamilton passing him before turn 1, it was a very good start to the Grand Prix. Around 10 laps in, the top three of Button, Hamilton and Vettel were separated by just 1.2 seconds. 

The Facts
Fastest Lap: Mark Webber - 1.38.993 (in Lap 42 with an average speed of 198.232 mph).
Fastest pit stop: Mercedes (Michael Schumacher, 20.522).
Least pit stops and the highest finishing position: Sebastian Vettel with 2 (RBR-Renault).
Turns on the track: 16 turns.
Amount of drivers retired: 1 (Jaime Alguersuari).
Race distance: 305.066km.
Circuit Length: 5.451km.
Lap record: 1.32.238 - Michael Schumacher (2004).

The race was the best race of the season by a long way and the last ten laps of the race were exhilarating, at the beginning of lap 44 Sebastian Vettel was race leader with Hamilton, Button, Rosberg, Massa and Webber all in the chasing pack. Vettel's tyres were 6 laps older than Hamilton's and Lewis was cutting the time drastically each and every lap, however none of this would of been possible if Hamilton didn't overtake as well as he did. Meanwhile Webber was eating ground up on both Rosberg and Massa. When he reached them he eased past them, now in 4th position. With a few laps to go Webber passed Button for third and Hamilton went first by passing Vettel. It was a brilliant race from Hamilton but also from Webber.

The new Pirelli's the cars have to use were very interesting forcing the teams to decide whether or not to go on a two or three stop race, and teams such as McLaren and Mercedes went for the three stops, they definitely chose the right option.

Top 10 final positions:
1. Lewis Hamilton (25 points).
2. Sebastian Vettel (18 points).
3. Mark Webber (15 points).
4. Jenson Button (12 points).
5. Nico Rosberg (10 points).
6. Felipe Massa (8 points).
7. Fernando Alonso (6 points).
8. Michael Schumacher (4 points).
9. Vitaly Petrov (2 points).
10. Kamui Kobayashi (1 point).

Coming soon will be facts on the F1 teams and drivers when there isn't any races on. 

F1-Malaysian Grand Prix

                 The Sepang race track in Kuala Lumpar, the host of the 2011 Malaysian Formula 1 grand prix.
After the first race of the 2011 F1 season we here at The captain's armband decided that we should give a group of facts on the Malaysian grand prix and how the race finished.

Sebastian Vettel finished pole in qualifying pipping Lewis Hamilton to the accolade whilst Nick Heidfeld qualified on the grid in 6th and Michael Schumacher was P11 on the grid.

After the first few corners Nick Heidfeld climbed four places into 2nd and further back in the field Michael Schumacher jumped three places to 8th. 

The Facts.
Fastest Lap: Mark Webber - 1.40.571 (in Lap 46 with an average speed of 198.415).
Fastest pit stop: RBR-Renault (Sebastian Vettel, 21.893).
Least pit stops and the highest finishing position: Kamui Kobayashi with 2 (Sauber).
Turns on the track: 15 turns.
Amount of drivers retired: 8 (Pastor Maldonado, Narain Karthikeyan, Rubens Barrichello, Sergio Perez, Jarno Trulli, Jerome D'Ambrosio, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Vitaly Petrov).
Race distance: 310.408km.
Circuit Length: 5.543km.
Lap record: 1.34.223 - JP Montoya (2004).

During the race Vettel lead for the majority and ended up winning by 5.6 seconds ahead of Jenson Button and further ahead of Nick Heidfeld in third. In the last five laps Lewis Hamilton dropped from 3rd to 8th, (overtaken by Heidfeld, went off the track and passed by Webber and had to pit meaning he came out behind Massa, Alonso and Petrov) whilst in eighth Petrov went off the track ahead of Hamilton and had to retire, leaving Hamilton in 7th. After the race, race control gave Hamilton and Alonso a twenty second penalty for a clash towards the end of the race.

Top 10 final positions:
1. Sebastian Vettel (25 points).
2. Jenson Button (18 points).
3. Nick Heidfeld (15 points).
4. Mark Webber (12 points).
5. Felipe Massa (10 points).
6. Fernando Alonso (8 points).
7. Kamui Kobayashi (6 points).
8. Lewis Hamilton (4 points).
9. Michael Schumacher (2 points).
10. Paul Di Resta (1 point).

Read The Captain's Armband next Sunday for information on the Chinese grand prix.

Exclusive interview with Crystal Palace's Alex Marrow

Today we have an exclusive interview with Crystal Palace's midfield maestro Alex Marrow.

                                          Picture courtesy of Mark Baker Imagery.

Who is your footballing idol and why?
Roy Keane is my idol because he played the same position as me. He was so professional on and off the pitch, he would also give 100% whenever he played. Just one i watched as a child really.


Is there a football team that your family have supported for generations? 
Yes, well being from Manchester i've always supported Manchester United.


What was the first football match you went to?
I went to Manchester United reserves when i was young, but when i was bit older i went to see Manchester United vs Bolton.


How have things changed since Dougie Freedman has been incharge?
The team is a lot closer, were all working harder together as a team. He is trying to get his ideas across, they have been working with the recent results; it's going well.


If you weren't a footballer what job would you do?
I'm not to sure, probably something in sport.


How do rate the palace fans compared to other teams you've played for?
Palace fans are the best i've played for, i've only been at Oldham before but home and away they seem great.


What team would you like to play against most in the Premier League?
Manchester United at Old Trafford.


Why do you love football?
It's good coming into work everyday, enjoying it, just playing football as well. But on Saturday going home from the game with 3 points there's nothing better, and having a good game.


Quickfire questions.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?
Manchester.


If you could go on I'm a celebrity get me out of here would you?
Yes.


What is your favourite car brand?
Audi.


What do you eat before a game?
Pasta.


What is your favourite movie?
The fighter with Mark Wahlberg, he played a boxer, it was out recently.


What is the best goal you've ever seen?
Ryan Giggs' solo effort in the FA cup semi final for Manchester United vs Arsenal in April 1999.


And finally, what is your perfect XI?


Goalkeeper: Edwin Van Der Sar. (Manchester United, Fulham and ex-Netherlands veteran goalkeeper).
Right-back: Nathaniel Clyne. (Crystal Palace and England U19 international wing-back).
Centre-back: Nemanja Vidic. (Manchester United and Serbian centre back with Rio Ferdinand for Manchester United).
Centre-back: Rio Ferdinand.(Leeds, Manchester United and England centre back paired with Nemanja Vidic for Manchester United).
Left-back: Ashley Cole. (Chelsea and England world class wing-back).
Right Midfield: David Beckham.(Former Manchester United and Real Madrid player).
Centre Midfield: Roy Keane. (Ex-Ireland international and Manchester United midfielder).
Centre Midfield: Zinedine Zidane. (French midfield maestro and Real Madrid galactico)
Left Midfield: Ronaldinho. (Former Brazilian international and Barcelona great).
Right Striker: Ruud Van Nistelrooy. (Dutch and ex-Manchester United striker).
Left Striker: Ronaldo. (Ex-Brazil international and Real Madrid galactico).

                                            Ronaldinho a former Barcelona great.
                                             Picture courtesy of www.flamengo.com.br

Weekly Touch Count

In the first issue of Weekly Touch Count we reveal how many touches Chelsea debutants Fernando Torres and David Luiz had against Liverpool and also featuring the ultimate trickstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Fernando Torres.

 

 This picture is courtesy of www.chelseafc.com

Fernando Torres (Right), Jamie Carragher (Left)

On his debut against his ex-team Fernando Torres only played for 65 minutes and 39 seconds whilst managing 51 touches and 2 shots; neither of these were on target.

David Luiz came on at 72 minutes and 4 seconds also making his debut for Chelsea, in the 22 minutes and 25 seconds he made 49 touches, 2 blocks and won 1 foul for his team, considerably better than Fernando Torres.

                                                This picture is courtesy of www.chelseafc.com

And finally Cristiano Ronaldo played 93 minutes and 2 seconds having 188 touches (approximately 2 touches a minute), taking 11 shots, 5 on target, 6 off target and winning 2 free kicks. This game was Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid, as Ronaldo and his team saw Sociedad off by winning 4-1.


 

 

Wayne Rooney Goal.

It was a massive occasion today at Old Trafford. Manchester United vs Manchester City. It could be described as one of the most important Manchester derbies in history. In the 77th minute it was 1-1 after Nani placed the ball with his left foot into the corner of Joe Hart's net in the 41st minute. Then in the 65th minute Edin Dzeko had a shot deflected from around 12 yards out, it then hit David Silva and went the opposite way to the direction of Dzeko's shot into the back of Edwin Van Der Sar's net.
  
But then Wayne Rooney, the man for the occasion scored what is probably the goal of the season and some would say one of the best goals in Premier League history.

Nani whipped in a ball from the right hand side, the ball was behind Rooney and he tried the spectacular, an overhead kick volley into the top corner.



To see the goal click here.

This picture is courtesy of www.manutd.com

Weekly Scouting Report

In the fourth issue of weekly scouting report we uncover Crystal Palace's next academy prodigy Nathaniel Clyne.

Nathaniel Clyne

Picture courtesy of www.cpfc.co.uk

Passing   6/10
Shooting  7/10 
Vision      6/10
Heading   8/10
Strength   8/10
Stamina   8/10
Speed      9/10
Tackling   9/10
Ability       8/10
Potential  10/10

79/100

0-10    - No way in a million years.
11-20  - Don't quit your day job.
21-30  - Try a different job.
31-40  - Join a semi-pro club.
41-50  - Might not make the cut.
51-60  - More time on the training ground.
61-70  - Watch this space.
71-80  - Hot prospect.
81-90  - On his way to the top.
91-100 - World class.


Factfile


Name: Nathaniel Clyne.


Age: 19 (5th April, 1991).


Born: Stockwell, England.

Position: Right-back.

Club: Crystal Palace.


Did you know: He started his career of a Tottenham Hotspur.

Top 3 assists of the Barclays Premier League 9/11/10-10/11/10

1. Steven Gerrard to Fernando Torres vs Wigan.

Steven Gerrard picked the ball up mid way in his half and ran at the Wigan midfield without anyone going to him, he saw Torres making a fantastic run on the shoulder of the last Wigan defender, threaded it through to him with a world-class 30-40 yard pass splitting the defense open. Torres controlled it with a touch to the edge of the box and finished superbly by poking the ball into the bottom corner of Wigan's Al-Habsi's net. Liverpool made it 1-0 with this goal and it finished 1-1.

2. Cesc Fabregas to Marouane Chamakh vs Wolves.

Lukasz Fabianski makes a good save and threw the ball straight to Tomas Rosicky on the half way line out towards the right hand wing, he lobbed it neatly to Cesc Fabregas who could see Marouane Chamakh unmarked 30-40 yards out from the Wolves goal, he controlled the ball and picked a pass expertly to Chamakh who took a touch and with the outside of his boot, hit it at Marcus Hahnemann who couldn't stop the ball from going into the back of the net. Marouane Chamakh's goal made it 2-0 after he scored in the first minute of the game and that was in the last, Arsenal won 2-0 but Wolves played very well.

3. Joey Barton to Andy Carroll vs Blackburn Rovers.

Joey Barton took a free-kick on the half way line on the left hand side. He floated it in perfectly for Andy Carroll at the far post who lost his marker Christopher Samba and placed his header into the top corner of Robinson's net without the goalkeeper even moving. During that game Joey Barton punched Morten Gamst Pedersen in the chest without the referee seeing the incident and has now received a three game ban from the Football Association.

Weekly Scouting Report

In the third issue of weekly scouting report we uncover Arsenal's new hardman Craig Eastmond.

Craig Eastmond
Sadly again due to copyright issues the image cannot be displayed so click this link for a picture:
http://www.arsenal.com/reserves-youth/players/craig-eastmond 

Passing     7/10
Shooting   6/10            
Vision        7/10
Heading    8/10
Strength    9/10
Stamina    7/10
Speed       8/10
Tackling    9/10
Ability        8/10
Potential   10/10

79/100

0 - 10   - No way in a million years.
11-20   - Don't quit your day job.
21-30   - Try a different job.
31-40   - Join a semi-pro club.
41-50   - Might not make the cut.
51-60   - More time on the training ground.
61-70   - Watch this space.
71-80   - Hot prospect.
81-90   - On his way to the top.
91-100  - World class.


Factfile

Name: Craig Eastmond.
Age: 19 years old (9th December 1990).
Born: Wandsworth, England.
Position: Defender.
Club: Arsenal.
Did you know?: He won the FA youth cup in 2009.

Video technology in football

Recently video technology has been one of the major talking points in the footballing world, but is it needed or would it make football come across as a computer controlled sport.

The issue arose when France faced off against Republic of Ireland in a World Cup Play-off match where Thierry Henry famously gave France a "helping hand" into the World Cup group stages. It was called for again in the World Cup round of 16 when England faced Germany and with the game balanced on a knife-edge, Frank Lampard's shot bounced down off the underside of the crossbar and then made contact with the ground two foot past the goal line. Germany went on to win the match 4-1.

With football being one of the richest sports worldwide why is it technology hasn't yet appeared. One of the reasons given by Michel Platini and Sep Blatter are that it would turn football into "Playstation football''. But in my opinion why not it could make football a fairer game, it could help cut out diving in the modern game and see closer and tighter games hopefully resulting in the leagues becoming closer and more exciting. 

 Video technology is used in American football, Cricket, Tennis, Rugby and occasionally in Golf so why does football not take advantage of it. Every match a team would have three appeals and every time you successfully use an appeal you get to keep it, however when you unsuccessfully appeal you lose that appeal, when an appeal happens the referee looks up to the big screen to see the replay of the event on different camera angles taking place and can decide what action or decision to take.

So Sep Blatter and Michel Platini could really have a look at the idea of Video technology in football at their next meetings, and help sort out any issues that happen in the game like the horrendous dive from Kirk Broadfoot in one of the biggest games in Scottish football the Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic on Sunday.