Bad News at Manor

Naturally I was quite surprised by the news last Friday announcing that Manor Marussia Team Principal John Booth and Sporting Director Graeme Lowdon were resigning from the team, which I sincerely hope will not be catastrophic for the team's future success.

As Manor Marussia seemingly looked pointed the right way with the announcement of Mercedes Power Units and Williams running gear and suspension components for next year.

As Mercedes Toto Wolff rightly points out, Manor is Booth and Booth is Manor, for which things must have really soured for the team's founder and driving force to walk away from his own racing team!

As I sincerely hope that current owner Stephen Fitzpatrick won't be as short-sighted as the Bankers who bought Hispania F1. Y'all remember Hispania F1 right? After the Thespian Capital "Bankers" promptly ran it into the ground.

As scuttlebutt suggests that Booth & Lowdon had lost faith in Fitzpatrick's abilities to fund the team long-term, reputedly having turned down two lucrative new investors wishing to invest multi-millions, somewhere nears $100m? As both Booth & Lowdon worked thru the Mexican GP weekend and reportedly will stay on at Manor thru the end of the season...

Mercedes Boss describes departure of Manor's Booth, Lowdon as a Loss

Now comes word that respected Technical Director Bob Bell who's been a Manor Marussia consultant since June 1st has  resigned, while Grizzled Journo' Joe Saward has speculated will the exodus of Manor staff continue with the proximity of Haas F1's European base just down the road...

Bob Bell Quits Manor F1 team

F1: Mexico Tricks 'N Treats

Don't wanna say it was an exceptional race, but it was interesting, especially with A-L-L the Argy-Bargy occurring...

Tricks

Once again NBC played its 'Uber ANNOYING 3-card Monty upon us loyal Celestial TV viewers, like where's Formula 1? As I haven't learned quite yet to look up the obscure CNBC Info-Commercial channel when I cannot find a television listing, a la Qualie - whilst NOT being amused by FREAKIN' Boxing blasting into thy living room for 20-extra minutes Saturday night at 10PM Pacific. Hmm? What's that Elton John song 'bout Saturday Nite's Alright - before lopping off five minutes coverage at a quarter 'til midnight in order to go to some riveting Football Show; URGH!

Not to mention making sure we lost 5+ minutes of F1 Broadcast time Post-race in order to go S-E-E some riveting Roundy-round Taxicabs' mid-race update from Martinsville; BARF! 

Sebastian Vettel simply melted down after his ex-Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo gave him a 1st-lap puncture. Then Vettel SPUN twice, the second resulting in a crash! Whilst Kimi Raikkonen had wrecked earlier vs. his "Friend" Valtteri Bottas for Scuderia Ferrari's first double Non-classified finish since Australia, 2006!

Mexico City's altitude of 7,300-feet caused a 20% loss/reduction of Downforce, along with cooling, etc, as brakes were an issue, especially when Nico Rosberg's caught on fire on Friday!

Treats

Thy Wee Willie Buxom (Will Buxton) threw out the amazing Stat that Felipe Massa  had gone Supersonic on Mexico's three-quarter mile front straight at an eye staggering 226.2mph!

Noting that Massa's speed would have been good enough for third at this year's Indianapolis 500, languishing behind  only Pole sitter Scott Dixon's 226.760 mph and Will Power's 226.350mph, and would have dislodged Simon Pagenaud (226.145mph) from the outside of Row-1; Aye Karumba! With Massa going even faster in the race with a speed of 227mph!

HOLY SPEEDTRAPS BATMAN!

Team Willy's Valtteri Bottas claimed his second podium of the year after holding off another lunging pass by his good buddy Kimi Raikkonen, which saw the Iceman retiring with broken suspension after his younger Countryman saying NO WAY 'Kimster!

Mexican Sergio Perez didn't fail to endure himself to the 105,000+, or was I-T 120,000 Crazed Mexicali's at the Sold Out event? As "Checo" finished the race in a fine eighth place aboard his Force India Mercedes.

As what a special Day for Mexico, hosting its first Grand Prix in 23-years - with the Fans in absolute reverie, especially when "Checo" overtook Max Verstappen in the stadium section...

Now Twice as Many Mexicans...

As one of the worst kept secrets in F1 has finally been divulged...

Since we've A-L-L been anxiously awaiting, Ariva-Ariva-Ariva... The long since speculated signing of Mexico's Esteban Gutierrez, current Ferrari F1 reserve driver, has finally been confirmed as Haas F1's second driver for their debut season next year.

With the announcement appropriately taking place in Mexico City, naturally, in order  to soak up the groundswell of Hometown support, where Mexico's other Gran Premio Pilote' Sergio Perez will be hoping to continue his recent form of regular point scoring finishes...

Gutierrez joins Grosjean at Haas F1

Rough Sledding at COTA

Still attempting' to dry out from thy past  weekend's Ultra Soggy Rain Affair at Circuit Of The Americas, nee COTA, where naturally attendance was Down due primarily to the W-E-T STUFF (weather) everyone endured over the three days.

As my only regret was for the Fans, Y'all know the ones drivers routinely thank like one of many "PSA's," (Public Service Announcement) as I'm thrilled I DIDN'T fall for the 'Ol Trickeroo' of waiting 'N waiting for a Rain delay to eventually cause Friday's (Free Practice) FP2  session to be cancelled, along with Saturday's Qualifications, wisely cancelled due to lightning!

While I'd experienced Qualie being canceled once before whilst on thy road to Suzuka, circa '04. When our Hosts told us upon arrival Friday evening: Suzuka NO Go; YIKES! After having driven all day in the ever increasing rain.

Yet, as I stood alongside Seeing Eye Guide Guy Claudio' in the steadily increasing rain Sunday morning at COTA, I was happy to leave after the winds had picked up for which I've never experienced before - Qualie's Q3 session was cancelled; Aye Karumba!

But I must say the race was a Blast and I yelled my hearty approval of Daniel Ricky' Ricciardo's fine overtaking maneuver on Lewis Hamilton for the race's early lead. Then asking Claudio if the track's Ash-fault' was drying out, which certainly would unfortunately return us to status quo, a la another Silver Arrows parade; Sigh!

And COTA might of taken I-T on the Chin financially, but for Mwah, they scored a massive Coo when Sir Elton John put on a splendid 2hr Post-race concert, for which I've never seen so many Fans stick around for the past 4yrs, as 40,000+ is a lot 'O Fans; especially in the MUD!

A tough weekend for Austin's Formula 1 after rain, Mexico race

Regarding the loss of millions on Concessions, Boo Hoo-Hoo, Cry me a River Mr. Epstein! Like if the prices weren't so prohibitively expensive to begin with! Whilst certainly IndyCar would be thrilled with 101,000+ paying customers for a Road Race right?

As it was priceless hearing the countless vendors crying out Ice Cold Water and get your (paper) programs in the pelting RAIN Friday!

Jolyon Palmer gets Treat from Lotus

Totally missed getting Thoust Memo over current Lotus F1 Simulator Jockey Jolyon Palmer having been announced as Lotuses second driver for 2016 during the USGP weekend, whilst Art thou suffered in thy precipitation at COTA.

As Grizzled Journo' Joe Saward ruefully opines that Palmer's signing could be partly due to Jolyon's Camp giving the cash strapped team an instant infusion of thy green stuff, nee Dinero toot sweet...

Jolyon Palmer given big break by Lotus for 2016