F1: Kimi Raikkonen wins Australian Grand prix...

Kimi Raikkonen got off to a perfect start in the 2013 F1 season by winning the Australian Grand prix in Melbourne last weekend. Riding on a 2 pit-stop strategy, the Finn Raikkonen preserved his car and drove an impeccable race and scored a victory for his Lotus team.
Fernando Alonso of Ferrari and reigning F1 champion Sebastian Vettel for Red Bull Racing completed the podium at the Australian Grand Prix F1 race.

Finn Kimi Raikkonen with the Australian Grand Prix 2013 F1 title for Lotus

Pic courtesy: Kimi Raikkonen (Twitter)

F1 2013 Season - Race 1 round-up
Race  - Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne
Date  -  15-17 March, 2013

Pole Position after qualification: 
1. Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing-Renault
2. Mark Webber of Red Bull Racing-Renault
3. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes

Podium Finishes: 
1. Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus-Renault
2. Fernando Alonso of Ferrari
3. Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing-Renault

2013 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Podium winners - Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel 

Pic courtesy: www.grandprix.com.au

Kimi Raikkonen, Alonso and Vettel celebrate podium finishes at the Australian F1 Grand prix

Pic courtesy: Getty Images

Kimi Raikkonen in his Lotus racing car at the 2013 season of F1 Australian Grand prix in Melbourne

Pic courtesy: Getty Images

Australian Grand Prix Pole positions for Vettel, Webber and Hamilton

Pic courtesy: www.grandprix.com.au

A good start for the F1 season.. seems Lotus, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes all have good speeds and will compete to win races this F1 season... would be interesting to see what happens in the next race... 

Formula 1 2013 Season Schedule

Formula 1 2013 season is about to start in a few days... March 17th, 2013 to be precise with the Australian GP.

Formula 1 2013 season to have 19 races... starts on March 17th with the Australian GP in Melbourne. 

This year the F1 season is to have a total of 19 races as opposed to the initial plan of 20 races. This decision was confirmed by the Formula 1's governing body and the F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. The inaugural Grand Prix of America that was planned to happen in New Jersey on June 16th is postponed to 2014 due to a financing problem as mentioned by the organizers. Hence, the total race for the 2013 F1 season is 19.

Formula 1 2013 season schedule

17 March	Australia (Melbourne)
24 March	Malaysia (Sepang)
14 April	China (Shanghai)
21 April	Bahrain (Sakhir)
12 May	Spain (Barcelona)
26 May	Monaco
9 June	Canada (Montreal)
30 June	Britain (Silverstone)
7 July	Germany (Nurburgring/Hockenheim)
28 July	Hungary (Hungaroring)
25 August	Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
8 September	Italy (Monza)
22 September	Singapore (Marina Bay)
6 October	Korea (Yeongam)
13 October	Japan (Suzuka)
27 October	India (New Delhi)
3 November	Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)
17 November	United States (Austin)
24 November	Brazil (Interlagos)

So, whom do you think will take the 2013 Formula 1 championship? Which team has the edge to take the constructor championship?  Tough one isn't it? My money on Alonso and Ferrari.... probably its Ferrari's season  - From an optimistic hardcore Ferrari fan :)

Paul Di Resta & Nico Hulkenberg for Force India in 2012 F1 season

So, the cat is out of the bag atlast... Sahara Force India F1 racing team announces their 2012 F1 season drivers.... Paul Di Resta of Britain and Nico Hulkenberg of Germany (2011 test driver for Force India) would race for Force India in the 2012 season...

 

Paul Di Resta of Scotland finalized for yet another season representing Force India

 

Nico Hulkenberg of Germany starts his journey as the new driver for Force India in the 2012 F1 season

The predictions of Adrian Sutil going out of Force India team after the 2011 season comes true...
Sutil had finished a career-high ninth in the drivers’ standings in the 2011 F1 season, as well as helping Force India to their highest position of sixth in the constructors’ standings.

 

Adrian Sutil is out of Force India lineup for 2012 season 

Hope Sutil gets a good team to race with.. probably the Williams team... he is ready for the big switch now.. 


While Paul Di Resta will continue with the Force India team for his second year, Hulkenberg, would be making a comeback to racing after a year's gap. The highly rated German driver had to take up a reserve role at Force India last year after having raced for Williams in 2010. 

 

Young Nico Hulkenberg who had a wonderful debut season for Williams in 2010 will be back on the race track for Force India

Speaking about the choice of drivers for 2012, Force India team principal Vijay Mallya said Paul and Nico were drivers with tremendous potential. "I think Paul caught the eye of everybody in the pit lane during his rookie season. His speed, maturity and racecraft confirmed that we were right to believe in him and we look forward to working with him again next year. As for Nico, we identified him as a rising star at the end of 2010 and chose to evaluate him during the course of this season." Despite having only limited time in the car, he convinced us that he deserved a race seat for 2012," he remarked.
 

 

British Paul Di Resta is back for Force India again after a wonderful 2011 season

So, here is how the team has changed for Sahara Force India from 2011 to 2012...

 

Adrian Sutil and Paul Di Resta raced for Force India in 2011 F1 season

 

The new Force India racing team partners - Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg for the 2012 season

Wishing Nico and Di Resta a wonderful 2012 season for Force India... May the force be with you :)