Category: Formula One

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Season Review Part One, Mercedes too hard to die

Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.
Sunday 26 March 2017.
World Copyright: Zak Mauger/LAT Images
ref: Digital Image _56I1907

Season finale once again, the 2017 Formula One season, belongs to the past, it’s hard to describe my feelings for this season. There are two emotional packages, the first one is before the summer break and the other one is after the break, mixed emotions but at the end, despite the results, despite the winner, there is no way to relieve the pain that appears when the F1 season ends. Now we have to wait until the first pre-season tests to hear the noise of the engines, but before that there will be massive debates about the Halo. Personally, I don’t like it, but the drivers’ safety is always the most important factor, end of discussion!

A traditional review would break the season into two parts and remind you round by round, or race by race, if you prefer, what happened the past months. Let’s try a different approach, a shorter  season review, which will try to put you in a flashback mode, and pass all the 2017 season in front of your eyes in 1 minute (okay maybe a bit more!)

8 months ago…

Australia

Season premiere, tonnes of coffee for us who are living in the European time zone, agony as well, like the first day in school after the summer break! Sebastian Vettel, started from the second place, had better set up and a faster car than his title rival, Lewis Hamilton, and won for the first time since the Singapore Grand Prix in September 2015. Mercedes asked from Hamilton to go faster, but the Brit had issues with his tyres and was unable to catch Vettel’s speed.

Not a race to remember for Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian’s Red Bull, stopped on the way to the grid, his mechanics sent him back to the race, and on the second lap he had another issue, returned to the track, to enjoy his home race, but retired before the 30th lap.

China

Lewis Hamilton took his revenge, the Briton won his first victory in 2017. On Saturday he secured the pole, and had an advantage the following day, Vettel was close but never too close and at the end Hamilton took the chequered flag. The drivers started the race on wets, Max Verstappen had an impressive race, moved from the 16th to the third. Antonio Giovinazzi crashed his Sauber on the third lap of the race and retired, a good result for Carlos Sainz who finished seventh and scored six points for Toro Rosso.

Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain.
Sunday 16 April 2017.
World Copyright: Charles Coates/LAT Images
ref: Digital Image _27I8921

Bahrain

Pole position for Valtteri Bottas, the first in his career, the Finn set the fastest lap on Saturday, followed by his team-mate and Sebastian Vettel. Ferrari, had the pace to challenge Mercedes, and win their second victory of the season. At that moment, it was clear that the 2017 title would be decided between Hamilton and Vettel. Lewis Hamilton received a five second time penalty, for driving slowly on the pit entry to hold up Daniel Ricciardo. Lewis, served his penalty during the second and final pit-stop, when he re-joined the track he was behind Vettel and Bottas. The Finn stepped aside, allowed to Hamilton to pass him and chase Vettel, but Hamilton was not able to cover the 12 second gap in nine laps.

Max Verstappen crashed on the eleventh lap of the race, due to brake problems and retired.

 

 

Russia

Russia was the next stop for the Formula 1 crew, after the Bahrain Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel was prepared to celebrate another victory in 2017, as he claimed the pole position in Bahrain, followed by Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas, but the Finn had other plans. The Silver Finn, jumped the two Ferraris in front of him and took the lead on the opening lap. Bottas, despite the pressure from Vettel during the final laps, managed to remain first until the chequered flag and scored his first victory in Formula 1.

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada.
Sunday 11 June 2017.
World Copyright: Steven Tee/LAT Images
ref: Digital Image _R3I0800

Spain

Hola amigos, said Hamilton to Sebastian Vettel. After an amazing start, Vettel passed Hamilton on the first lap, but Mercedes had an ace under its sleeve. The Silver Arrows, decided not to follow Ferraris strategy and go for a quick stop, but to leave Hamilton on the track for a longer medium stint and gain an advantage on a later stage of the race. Valtteri Bottas, delayed Vettel, as the German couldn’t pass the Finn, Mercedes pitted Hamilton, after the end of VSC, and with 30 laps to go. The British champion, re-joined on softs, Vettel pitted a lap later and after a wheel to wheel battle with Hamilton managed to remain first. On lap 44, Lewis was on Sebastian’s tail, took advantage of the DRS and overtook the race. Since that moment Lewis has tried to increase the gap between him and Vettel and at the end, he took his second chequered flag of the season.

Hamilton vs Vettel = 2-2

Monaco

Kimi Raikkonen started from the pole position, after nine years, Kimi took advantage of Vettel’s mistakes on his flying lap, and took the pole on Saturday’s session. A race to forget for Hamilton, Lewis qualified 13th and finished seventh. Jenson Button, replaced Fernando Alonso, in Monaco, but collided with Pascal Wehrlein on lap 60 and retired the race.

Ferrari decided to pit Kimi on lap 34, Sebastian Vettel found the opportunity and set some flying laps, pitted after five laps, and re-joined ahead of his team-mate.

Daniel Ricciardo was the third person on the podium, it was Red Bull’s third podium of the season, and the second consecutive for Ricciardo.

Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
Sunday 14 May 2017.
World Copyright: Andy Hone/LAT Images
ref: Digital Image _ONZ6737

Canada

Easy weekend for Lewis Hamilton, the Briton started and finished the race from the same position, the first. Vettel, qualified second on Saturday, couldn’t follow the pace of the two Mercedes’ and Ricciardo’s, he finished only fourth. Sergio Perez, refused to follow Force India’s orders, to allow Ocon to pass, while he was fourth behind Ricciardo. At the end, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon finished fifth and sixth respectively.

Azerbaijan

Three safety cars, and several crashed were not enough to stop Daniel Ricciardo to win his first victory in 2017. Sebastian Vettel collided with Lewis Hamilton, he got a 10 second stop and go time for swearing in Hamilton’s car.

Daniel Ricciardo totally deserved the victory in the Baku Grand Prix, the Australian dropped down to 17th place, but moved up to the tenth position just before the first safety car. The two following, safety cars, and the troubles between the leading drivers, gave the advantage to Ricciardo to move all the way up in the first place.

A race that Stroll will never forget, the Canadian young driver finished on the podium for the first time in his career.

Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.
Saturday 25 March 2017.
World Copyright: Zak Mauger/LAT Images
ref: Digital Image _56I7996

Austria

Valtteri Bottas dominated in Austria, took his second victory in 2017. A five-place grid penalty dropped Hamilton to eighth position, the following day, Lewis finished fourth behind Daniel Ricciardo whilst Sebastian Vettel finished second. During the final laps of the race, Vettel was closing to Bottas and Hamilton to Ricciardo, for the third place, but both drivers didn’t improve their position.

After the Austrian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel was leading in the championship standings by 20 points.

United Kingdom

Home race for Lewis Hamilton and he couldn’t imagine a better way to thank his fans who appeared in Silverstone, than to win the British Grand Prix. With that victory, Lewis Hamilton tied the all-time record of five career wins in the British GP.

“The support has been incredible this weekend, I am so proud I could do this for you all. Now the plan is to win the championship.” Lewis Hamilton said after his victory in Silverstone.

An issue on Vettel’s front tyre, dropped him to seventh place behind Hulkenberg. Kimi Raikkonen, suffered the same problem a couple laps earlier, which cost him the second position, dropped him to the third place, whilst Bottas moved up to the second position.

Hungary

The last race before the summer break, Ferrari dominated in Hungary, and responded to Mercedes 1-2 in Silverstone. Sebastian Vettel, despite the problems that his Ferrari suffered, he won in Hungary, followed by his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, who was complaining about Vettel’s speed.

Lewis Hamilton, was not able to catch the two Ferraris in front of him and allowed Bottas to pass him and finish third. The Briton, kept the promise which made to Valtteri earlier in the race, when Bottas allowed Lewis to pass, as he was moving faster at that point of the race.

A great race for Fernando Alonso, who finished sixth and scored crucial points for McLaren, a positive result for Carlos Sainz Jnr too, the Spaniard finished seventh behind Alonso.

Season Review…Part One…

Stay..tuned…for..the..second..part…

*Twitter @FP_Passion

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2017 – Maybe Ferrari glory days aren’t too far away

Ferrari will feel that after the mid-season collapse in 2016 that 2017 was a missed opportunity.

So often the Prancing Horse had the quickest car but slight issues here and there held them back, despite Sebastian Vettel notching another four wins.

Their and his failure to win the World Drivers’ Championship can be attributed to a spectacular collapse in Asia as the Scuderia suffered a bleak mid-autumn.

Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Max Verstappen collided at the start of a Singapore Grand Prix that the German would have been favourite for, while in Malaysia technical dramas in qualifying meant he started at the back. He recovered to fourth.

Vettel then retired once again at the Japanese Grand Prix from second place. Lewis Hamilton won two and finished second in the other over the course of those three races.

It had all started so well in Melbourne.

Vettel simply sat behind Hamilton, waited for him to pit and drove into the distance after emerging from the pits ahead.

After a second in China, Vettel struck back in Bahrain with a win before being held off by a determined Valtteri Bottas in Russia and losing out to Hamilton in Spain.

A Ferrari 1-2 in Monte Carlo as Kimi Raikkonen converted his first pole in nine years into second place while Vettel again took the spoils seemed to confirm the Prancing Horse’s return to the top.

However June was a difficult month and saw Vettel recover from early damage to finish fourth in Canada while Raikkonen’s late technical gremlins dropped him to seventh.

Baku City Circuit, Baku, Azerbaijan.
Sunday 25 June 2017.
World Copyright: Andy Hone/LAT Images
ref: Digital Image _ONY8206
Vettel’s road rage in Baku earned him a stop/go penalty and ultimately cost him victory

There was then that road rage incident as Vettel rammed Hamilton in Baku to add needle to what was before a peaceful title rivalry. Controversially, Vettel stayed ahead of Hamilton after a stop-go penalty after the Brit’s headrest became loose forcing him to pit.

He would finish second in Austria, again pressuring Bottas before a tyre failure at the British Grand Prix cost him four positions and dropped him to seventh.

A gutsy win in Hungary restored his Championship lead to 14 points, before Hamilton took the spoils in Belgium ahead of Vettel.

A Mercedes 1-2 in Italy meant that for the first time Vettel was now the hunter instead of the hunted.

Marina Bay Circuit, Marina Bay, Singapore.
Sunday 17 September 2017.
World Copyright: Steven Tee/LAT Images
ref: Digital Image _R3I1034
A first-lap collision took Vettel, Raikkonen and Verstappen out and meant pole amounted to nothing for the German World Championship contender.

The aforementioned month in which the wheels came off as Ferrari squandered poles, second places and the rest across Singapore, Malaysia and Japan rendered an excellent start and solid form thereafter irrelevant.

In the space of three races it became a case of when instead of if Hamilton won the World Championship.

The Brit took his customary win in the USA ahead of Vettel, to leave himself needing only to finish in the top five in Mexico.

A chaotic start there dropped both men to the back of the field as they collided, to leave Hamilton with a puncture and Vettel with a broken front wing. Vettel needed to win to have any chance of continuing the fight to Brazil, but could only fight to fourth. Hamilton raced to ninth.

At the Brazilian Grand Prix and with both Championships now decided, Ferrari needed to remind the watching world that they remained a threat, having failed to win a race since Hungary.

Vettel was second in qualifying ahead of Raikkonen, but jumped ahead of Bottas into turn one and controlled the race from there. It was a win the team desperately needed.

Mercedes secured a 1-2 in Abu Dhabi with Ferrari third and fourth, but thoughts had already turned to 2018.

As they reflect back on this season, it will be a mixture of “what ifs” and encouragement for the Scuderia’s top brass.

While they ultimately did not fully deliver after the promise they’d shown early season, 2017 proved that Ferrari – after so long – can compete for top honours once again.

It would be unwise to rule out the men from Maranello next year.

 

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Sauber reveal driver line-up for F1 2018

The newly branded Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team have today revealed their 2018 driver line-up. Runaway 2017 F2 champion Charles Leclerc will replace Pascal Wehrlein alongside Marcus Ericsson, who has been retained for his fourth season with the team. Italian Antonio Giovinazzi, who had initially been in contention for the seat that Leclerc ultimately claimed, has been signed as test driver.

The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Alfa Romeo museum in Rho, Italy, with the likes of FIA President Jean Todt, Liberty Media’s Chase Carey and CEO of the Fiat Chrysler group Sergio Marchionne in attendance.

20-year old Leclerc, who is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy alongside Giovinazzi, won this year’s F2 title in dominant fashion, becoming the series’ youngest ever champion and the first since Nico Hulkenberg in 2009 to win it in his rookie season. Alongside Hulkenberg, only Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton have achieved the same feat. Leclerc won seven races and started on pole a record eight times on his way to wrapping up the title with three races to spare. His first taste of F1 came in 2016 when he acted as development driver for Haas while competing in GP3, participating in FP1 for the American team at Silverstone, the Hungaroring, Hockenheim, and Interlagos. This year, he took part in the post-season tyre test for Sauber in Abu Dhabi and in four more FP1 sessions, in Malaysia, the US, Mexico and Brazil, as well as the mid-season test for Ferrari. The details of Leclerc’s contract, including for how many years he has been signed, have not yet been revealed.

Marcus Ericsson, whose Swedish backers have links with Sauber’s owners, will compete in his fifth F1 season in 2018, his fourth with the Sauber team, despite being the only full-time driver in 2017 who failed to score any points. His best finish was 11th in both Spain and Azerbaijan, and he was outqualified 11-7 by Pascal Wehrlein, albeit by an average of just 0.049 seconds over the course of the season, the closest margin between any teammates on the grid. Wehrlein scored all five Sauber’s points in 2017, despite missing the first few races as he recovered from the injury he suffered in the Race of Champions in January.

The announcement means that there is just one seat still available in F1 for 2018, with Williams still debating who should partner Lance Stroll.

2/12/2017

By Jenny Rowan

Imagine courtesy of Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team

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F1 2017: Nearly, but not quite

The 2017 Formula One season is over and observers’ verdicts are in. There is a general consensus that the season just past was a marked improvement on the three turbo-era years that preceded it.

For the first time in five years few were definitively sure about who would take the World Drivers’ Championship until October.

However, as Lewis Hamilton edged out Sebastian Vettel in what was for two-thirds of the season a really close fought battle, there was a sense of anti-climax as Mercedes steamrollered their way through Belgium, Italy and most of Asia.

From as early as winter testing, we were told that we were getting a title battle that was going right to the wire in Abu Dhabi. Yet it didn’t quite last, whether it was because the wheels fell off at Ferrari or because Mercedes’ relentless turbo juggernaut still has life left, or perhaps a bit of both.

Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
Sunday 14 May 2017.
World Copyright: Andy Hone/LAT Images
ref: Digital Image _ONZ6499
As with the Spanish Grand Prix, Hamilton edged rival Vettel in the title race

A now four-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton and his teammate Valtteri Bottas at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix were a perfect metaphor for Ferrari’s title challenge this season.

The Brit constantly harangued Bottas for the first three-quarters of the race, but in similar fashion to Ferrari over the season, ran out of puff.

That is not to say that 2017, on the track at least, has not shown promise.

We got on track battles between world champions that were genuinely exciting, if not on a regular basis.

The faster, wider and more challenging cars brought in to give F1 cars their aggressive edge back worked. On track, they looked more natural and authentic without severely affecting the racing.

Overtaking was more difficult as the aero-effect increased even further, but the best drivers often found a way.

That DRS was less effective than in previous seasons meant that in many cases, there was still a challenge despite the overtaking aid, which was the original idea when the concept was introduced in 2011.

Certainly, it didn’t stop Daniel Ricciardo’s daring late-braking manoeuvres such as those seen at the US Grand Prix.

Esteban Ocon (FRA) Sahara Force India F1 VJM10.
Despite an excellent fourth place, Force India may struggle to progress from there

There are still issues with independent teams not likely to break the glass ceiling that Force India, despite another brilliant season,  appear to have hit with fourth in the Constructors’ Championship.

Bearing in mind that is clear of two more factory outfits in Renault and McLaren – although the latter used clearly inferior engines  – it is an excellent achievement for a team with a budget smaller than at least two thirds of the grid.

Until running costs are brought down and prize money equalised, the glass ceiling – barring a Brawn-esque miracle – is likely to remain.

Meanwhile, F1’s new owners have likewise been busy, though perhaps sometimes fighting the wrong opponents in their battle to market Formula One.

They have been excellent with the increase in accessibility for fans, and particularly with digital media with F1 ringleader Chase Carey having rightly identified that medium as a place to grow the sport further and attract younger fans.

The endorsement of the F1 eSports Championship, in which computer gamers get their chance to become a World Champion, has further helped connect with younger fans.

And in Ross Brawn, F1’s American owners have made the right choice with their sporting director. But he has to play peacemaker too often as teams squabble over the next engine regulations and despite having “plans” a year ago, little progress has been made.

Liberty have made mistakes along the way, though.

Plenty of changes are needed in Formula One to attract teams, manufacturers and most importantly, fans.

F1 unveiled their new logo at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

One of those changes is not the logo, with the new one unveiled at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix looking as if the thought process and design took roughly five minutes in total.

Intended to reflect the changes in Formula One and increase brand exposure, it replaces an iconic logo recognisable the world over and makes little sense.

Surely, that time, even those five minutes, would have been better used on other issues.

Issues such as the decrease in TV audiences this decade.

Germany does not have a free-to-air deal for 2018 as of yet, while 2018 is the final year that every one of the UK’s 65m people will have access to F1.

Those are two of the biggest Formula One markets and just at a time when emphasis is on extending the sport’s media reach, it risks alienating two countries that have given so much to it.

Without being presumptuous, with all the tales of Lewis Hamilton’s rise from a council estate in Stevenage it is difficult to imagine that he had access to pay-TV in his early karting days.

F1 has certainly upped its game in 2017 and the show improved, which it needed to.

It must now make the right decisions to ensure that improvement is built upon.

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Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Season Finale

GP ABU DHABI F1/2016 – ABU DHABI 27/11/2016
© FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO PER PIRELLI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE)

The season finale for Formula One will take place in Abu Dhabi, the final race of the 2017 season will be held in Yas Marina Circuit this Sunday. A season which was very interesting if we consider that it was the first year that Mercedes worried about the championship, Ferrari considered as a difficult opponent for the Silver Arrows, but some poor judgements allowed Mercedes to seal the constructors’ title in COTA and the drivers’ championship in Mexico.

In Brazil, Valtteri Bottas secured the pole-position, but Sebastian Vettel took the lead on the opening lap and led till the chequered flag, it has been Ferrari’s first victory in Brazil since Massa’s victory in 2008. Kimi Raikkonen finished third, behind Bottas. It was Vettel’s fifth victory in 2017, four less than Lewis Hamilton, Vettel has almost secured the second place in the championship as he is 21 points ahead of Bottas with one race to go. In Brazil, Lewis Hamilton repeated an epic achievement which he firstly achieved in Hungary in 2014, the Brit started the race from the pits and managed to lead the race for a few laps.

GP ABU DHABI F1/2016 – ABU DHABI 26/11/2016
© FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO PER PIRELLI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE)

YAS MARINA CIRCUIT

Laps: 55

Circuit Length: 5.554 km

Race Length: 305.355 km

Fastest Lap: 1:40.279 (Sebastian Vettel – 2009)

Two DRS zones, one is located on the long straight between turn 7 and 8, the second zone is between turn 9 and 11. The average speeds on the track are around 190 m/h, while the top speeds are 325 km/h, the circuit is consisted by nine right turns and 12 left turns and the drivers are racing in an anti-clockwise direction.

Nico Hulkenberg – “The circuit itself is quite amazing and the facilities are really impressive. It’s a long lap with a weird rhythm so it’s key to get comfortable with the change of flow. The corners are a lot different to each other so it’s vital to find a good balance, get accustomed to the conditions and master it. Abu Dhabi is a really fun place for a season finale. I’ve finished in the top seven three times in the last three years so I’m looking forward to it and ready to fight for some points. The constructors’ championship will go down to the wire for sixth in Abu Dhabi and I’m really relishing the challenge. The track should suit us better than Interlagos. It’s the season finale, there’s plenty at stake and that makes me very excited.I head to Abu Dhabi hoping to score well. I want to kick back on Sunday night at Yas Marina with the team and celebrate a job well done.”

GP ABU DHABI F1/2016 – ABU DHABI 27/11/2016
© FOTO STUDIO COLOMBO PER PIRELLI MEDIA (© COPYRIGHT FREE)

Pirelli has nominated the three softest compounds for the Abu Dhabi grand prix, soft, supersoft and ultrasoft tyres are available to the teams.

The ideal way to close the season is a battle between Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull for the chequered flag in Yas Marina. The three teams have high chances to win the race and the track is ideal for close battles.

Twitter * @FP_Passion

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In the pit lane, the podcast with Mika Häkkinen

The Flying Finn Podcast!

Here it is! Here’s our Mika Hakkinen special episode. We spent much of the last weekend with the Flying Finn as he visited India to promote his ‘Never Drink & Drive’ campaign. We had the former World Champion on our Facebook Live show as well on our podcast and yes, we did #JoinThePact in Hakkinen’s presence. Have you?  go to  https://www.liveinstyle.com/johnniewalkerthejourney

In this week’s special episode, we have Kunal  speaking to Mika Häkkinen!  He reviews the 2017 Formula 1 Season with Kunal. Listen to his views on the current superstar drivers (Hamilton, Vettel, Verstappen, etc.) and what he believes the future of his Finnish compatriots (Bottas & Raikkonen) will be. Also, what does he make of Fernando Alonso’s quest to be the ‘world’s best racer’?

Apart from the current season, we discuss Hakkinen’s career – his first win and what was his reaction when he lost most of his trophies to a house fire in 2008! Finally, could a Mclaren team management role, be on Hakkinen’s mind, and outside of Formula 1, who is his most challenging rival? Tune in!

We all at The PitCrewOnline fully supports Mika’s road campaign, no one should drink and drive. support the campaign at  https://www.liveinstyle.com/johnniewalkerthejourney 

And thanks again to Kunal
(Season 2017, Episode 36)

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Catching F1 Cars – The intervew with Vladimir Rys

Faster and faster… F1 cars are constantly going faster. It is really hard to catch them and show the shape of them. Vladimir Rys, multiple award winning photographer and f-stop gear ambassador who works on the F1 grid, has been doing it perfectly for many years. You can see his full portfolio on the site – vladimirrys.com
Photography is a vital part of media coverage in not only Formula One, but motorsports and indeed sports in general. Vladmir has been on the grid since 2005, and throughout the years he has been snapping images of some of Formula One’s finest moments.

In his fast-paced world Vladimir managed to find a moment for a conversation. In this interview he answers questions asked by Julia Paradowska.

(The interview took a place on 13rd of November before the Brazilian GP.)

Julia Paradowska: Cameras and lenses are heavy. Do you need to go to the gym to be able to have enough power to carry them?
Vladimir Rys: Sure, you have to stay fit. I carry around the track about 20kg’s of equipment with me so I have to stay fit. Tracks like Singapore or Malaysia demand a lot of physical effort from us mainly due to climate conditions, so it’s very important to stay fit and strong.  I have a personal trainer back home and I go running quite regularly.
JP: There are only two races left. What moment of 2017 came as a surprise for you?
VR: I would say Max Verstappen’s rising star is not really a surprise after his brilliant driving last year, but for me it’s probably still the biggest positive out of all this season. F1 needs drivers like Verstappen, Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso, Ricciardo… It’s all about winning at the end of the day. The heritage that these kind of drivers leave behind is enormous. That is the DNA of F1, that is what F1 is about.
JP: What race did you attend for the first time as the photographer?
VR: Australia 2005 was my first race. I had no idea what to expect, but with the first smell of the tyres, the petrol and the V8 engine’s terrifying sound I was instantly sucked into it. I remember standing next to a car in the pitlane and the whole ground was vibrating, same as my clothing I was wearing, to me that was just something I haven’t experienced before. From a photographic point of view a brand new world has opened right in front of my eyes. I suddenly had a playground I could play at. I was excited to dive into this new world with my camera and with eyes wide open I started exploring my new creative limits. I have experienced a new creative boost that would put my photography on a new level again. I didn’t need to sit and wait for the picture like you have to do when shooting football, I went and found the picture my self.
JP: Which photo (that you’ve taken) is your favourite?
VR: I have a few photos I like, but I always believe the next one will be my best one.
JP: What car (since you started working) is the most photogenic for you?
VR: Probably this year’s cars I would say. They are just beautiful. Even with the shark fins they look amazing on the track. Best looking cars for me this year would be Toro Rosso, Mercedes and Red Bull of course. The RB13 with it’s highly saturated colours, the matt look and it’s beautiful shape just stands out. It’s a perfection of it’s self.
JP: Do you have other hobbies?
VR: Away from the track I love sports, reading books and outdoor life like camping and drinking coffee with friends.
Credit: Vladimir Rys / Red Bull Content Pool
JP: You opened an exhibition in Amsterdam in September. Why did you call it ‘Gravity‘?
VR: The title came to our minds after we spoke a lot about my work and the exhibition with my curator Yael van der Lek from Amsterdam. She said to me „when I look at your images, it seems to me almost like the cars are levitating in space, like they would be detached from gravity forces and freely move in space“. That was it, the title was out.
JP: Who was your photography guru?
VR: No one really. I had one or two names I looked up to as a young photographer, but it wasn’t any of the world famous names of photography we all know. I remember a photographer called Jiri Pekarek. Czech photographer, who although he worked as a sports photographer had a different approach of telling a story with a completely different image. It wasn’t the podiums or goals, it was a dejection of an athlete, a behind the scenes shot, a detail that he said the story with. Very emotional images. His eye fascinated me in my early days and I feel influenced by him a lot. From there on I have really followed anything that had something to do with photography or arts. You can get inspired from anything, not just photography, but also music, a movie or even a book can inspire you. Obviously the world of fashion is always a massive inspiration.
JP: How important is social media for photographers?
VR: I think it’s very important, but at the same time you have to stay authentic and real. It’s a showcase of your work and the way you promote your work. The whole market has completely changed in the last ten years and social media plays a major role for every creative mind. At the same time there are a lot of photographers who are not so talented, but know how to use social media and how to promote themselves even better than some very talented snappers and this distracts a lot of people. As always it’s about the balance really, but it’s very important to have a social media presence.
JP: Do you have any tips for amateur photographers?
VR: Doubt the standards, keep your head down and never be satisfied with the outcome.
Credit: Vladimir Rys / Red Bull Content Pool
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