Gifts for him F1 style

You've looked online, you've traipsed around the high street and if you don't find something soon your favourite F1 driver will be unwrapping socks and aftershave. Stop worrying, because F1 Prattle has got you covered with its list of gifts for the F1 driver who has everything.

Pastor Maldonado 

I know some of you will expect Pastor to be on the naughty list with nothing but a stocking full of coal to look forward to but if you're feeling generous then this Panel Damage Checker will allow Pastor to get his Lotus looking shiny and new for his next on track adventure!

Fernando Alonso & Ron Dennis

Sometimes, despite your best intentions, things just don't work out. So if we have a repeat of 2007 at McLaren then this exquisite shredder will make short work of that three year contract.

Max Verstappen

The 17 year old has done some practice sessions but I think it would be irresponsible to let the youngest driver do a full race without L Plates. When he gets points he can rip them up, cracking photo opportunity.

Kimi Raikkonen 

After such a disappointing year it's time to get everyones favourite Finn smiling and what better way than an ice cream maker (additional alcohol optional). Please remember to remove the instructions before you give it to him or prepare to be told "I know what I'm doing"

If you have any ideas yourself please comment below, there are team principals hunting around Tescos looking for inspiration right now that need your help!

Merry Christmas all!

Why Adrian Newey was bad for Formula 1

Adrian Newey has had an amazing career in F1 and is an undisputed genius of aerodynamics, but it is a genius that has harmed F1 by showing the limitations of the series.

Firstly, when we look into Newey's trophy cabinet we see unprecedented success and dominance, Since his first constructors championship in 1992 with Williams, Newey's cars have won 45% of the championships they have entered, a success rate that not even Schumacher can touch. Newey's cars have brought drivers titles to Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen, and Sebastian Vettel, a total of 10 drivers titles since 1992. If you could get yourself in an Adrian Newey car there was a 50:50 chance you would only have to beat your team mate to win the drivers title.

So why is F1 Prattle condemning all this aero-alchemy? Well firstly I wouldn't be the only person to question the quality of the drivers who have won in a Newey car. I believe that Formula 1 needs to find a way of ensuring that the stars of F1 are the drivers and that when a driver wins a world title we are in no doubt that he was the best driver that year, not that he was in the most aerodynamically efficient car.

I would propose that we give the teams an identical chassis and aero package and this would have three main benefits, number one, we would bring more manufactures into F1 as their engine would become the star of the engineering package and engine technology is more transferable to their road cars. Number two there would be massive cost savings on wind tunnels and aero development (not to mention that bright green flo-viz paint), which would help the smaller teams not only with finances, but also with competitiveness. Thirdly, we would give more drivers the capability to win the world championship if we look at this year, and assume the Mercedes was the best engine, we could potentially have had the drivers from Williams, Force India, Mclaren and the works Mercedes team competing for the title.

I have great respect for what these aerodynamicist wizards, but their importance should be nullified for the sake of the sport. Newey, Bell, Costa and Byrne should not be the names that are responsible for F1 success.

Please comment below and share your views