Q+A with Racecar Engineering's Sam Collins
As a first in a series of interviews with close Formula One watchers, Daniel Hewitt has interviewed Sam Collins. Sam is the Deputy and Digital Editor of 'Racecar Engineering', a magazine dedicated to racing technology and a partner of F1technical.
The new Formula One season is about to kick start in Melbourne very soon. What are your expectations for the first race?Sam Collins: It’s going to be fascinating, the real order of things has clearly changed, the new regulations will make the cars handle very differently and I expect that to lead to some reasonably large accidents
Formula One has been hard-hit by the recession. Many sponsors have pulled out their funding, including ING with Renault at the end of this year, or are reducing sponsorship; Super Aguri ceased operations earlier last season when they failed to secure further investment, then Honda pulled out. How do you view the future of the sport?SC: The future is dependent on the new regulations for 2010 and 2011. But in past economic troubles, F1 has boomed.
Ross Brawn now has his very own Formula One team, Brawn GP. They’ve produced some promising results during testing. What are your expectations for the new team and do you believe they will have a ‘race winning’ car this season?SC: Hard to say with just testing times. I think they may struggle with reliability.
Sebastian Vettel made a big impression in 2008. Timo Glock also provided some promising performances. But who do you think will be 2009’s ‘most improved’ driver?SC: Most improved driver will be a driver who can think, not one who can just drive. Look to Nico Rosberg.
What do you believe will be the most visibly evident and/or exciting change in the regulations for 2009?SC: Pretty much every element of the cars has changed – the aero regulations, tyres and KERS have totally changed the dynamics. That’s the big change – expect a lot of oversteer.
Many believe that Bernie Ecclestone is misusing his power and having too much influence over the regulations in Formula One? Should the teams run the sport and not have a dictator?SC: Bernie made the sport what it is today. The Frances made NASCAR the ACO is good at Le Mans. Why do you need democracy?
The BBC has now secured UK coverage of Formula One in a five-year deal – including TV, radio and online streaming rights. What benefits do you believe this will bring to the sport as a whole and for the viewers/fans?SC: The theme tune! Better commentary but the big change will be the availability of the full race on iplayer for seven days. That could be a huge change for the viewers.
Which Grand Prix/s do you most like writing about and why?SC: Monza and Monaco as the cars are so very different.
Talk us through the day in the life of a motorsport journalist...SC: No two days are alike but here is a vague idea:
Typical office day:
6am - Get up, skip breakfast, 45 minute walk through the countryside
7am - Cup of earl grey tea in Hitchin, catch train to London. Transcribe some interviews.
9am – Get to office check & respond to emails
10am – Editorial meetings (issue planning / digital planning)
11am - 1230 – checking copy, selecting images for features, deal with European contributors
1230 – Lunch (eat at desk)
1300 - 1500 – Work on InDesign for future issues / web development
1500 – 1600 – Deal with USA contributors
1600 – 1730 – future issue planning
1730 – 1900 – deal with US Emails / Calls
1900 – Pub.
But this is not even close to fixed – often you can fly to Europe first thing in the morning to visit a team or similar. Or you spend the whole day at a track somewhere in the world. I spent a week in Portugal to see the first runs of the new cars.
Who would you most like to see crowned as the 2009 Formula One World Champion? Why?SC: BMW – the development has been textbook and entertaining.
And finally, a few words on Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor and their planned F1 team...SC: Good luck to them. The team will happen but it won’t be a front runner.
Interview by Daniel Hewitt
