I feel that one of my duties as an F1 fan is to inform the rest of the world of the beautiful men hidden beneath helmets and coveralls.

Thankfully, the photo I used yesterday for Mark Webber’s win at Monaco may have shown some others here at Aerys the light.

Consider this your introduction to the wonderful world of Grand Prix racing drivers. There are many more to come, my friends.

Mark is the sixth winner in six races for Formula 1, although it’s his team’s second race win this year. Red Bull has been the constructor’s champion for the past two years. The Australian also enjoys mountain biking, although he has had bad luck in it as well as in racing over the years. Clearly it hasn’t negatively affected Mark.

Monaco is known for its glitz and glamour, with the drivers even getting involved. The fashion shows may be the second best part of the racing if you’re not there. (I’m sure yacht parties come second if you’re actually there.)

From left: Jean-Eric Vergne of France, Bruno Senna of Brazil, and Esteban Gutierrez of Mexico. Gutierrez is a GP2 driver, a feeder series for Formula 1.

» Continue reading “Monday Morning Motivation: Grand Prix Driver Edition”

Honestly, this whole thing is his fault.

Here’s something not a lot of people realize about me – I like cars.

I’ve harbored a secret desire to be a racecar driver since I was roughly ten years old when I started watching a certain cartoon related to auto racing. It generally didn’t work out in real life because my mom thought it would be too dangerous (and we didn’t live in a rural area where I could’ve gotten a tractor permit at age 14), but I still longingly watch the World Rally Championship and try to convince my parents to pay for me to go to a rallying school in New Hampshire. I’m 23.

I vicariously live my dream through Gran Turismo nowadays, but the in-game music gets repetitive when you’re doing endurance races, so I’ve put together my own playlists of driving music over the years. This Sunday, we’ve got two of the biggest races of the year on the calendar – on one day. The Monaco Grand Prix is running first (7 am EST on SPEED), followed almost immediately after by the most famous race in America, the Indianapolis 500. Since I won’t be driving in either of them, I’ll be on my couch watching and eating fried rice and telling my friends why Kimi Raikkonen is amazing.

In honor of what may be the biggest day in motorsports in quite some time, here’s a driving playlist for you all.

» Continue reading “Tune In Tuesday: Motorsports Edition”

That’s it. We’re done.

Just kidding.

The 2011 Formula 1 season was absolutely dominated by Sebastian Vettel. He started on pole 15 times. We heard this anthem play 11 times on the podium. It is not only the anthem of Germany but the anthem of the season. And now, it won’t be heard until March, plus you haven’t heard it all November, so it’s time to reminisce.

It wasn’t all Vettel, of course. Other things went on. With just over 100 days until 2012 is underway, let’s musically enjoy the 2011 season once more.

» Continue reading “Tune In Tuesday: 2011 Formula 1 Season Edition”