3. COMMUNICATIONS

A bulletin containing the scores and possibly a little light-hearted banter will be posted on the website as soon as possible after each race.  The blog address is http://thepitstopprincess.blogspot.com

Team listings will be posted on the website.

Notification of results updates by email can be requested.

The website will also contain caption competitions and competitors are invited to post their punditry on the season.

4. PRICES

4.1 Drivers

5 Stars – reigning champion

Hamilton - £27m (driving for Mercedes)

4 Stars – genuine contenders (well, maybe not Kimi)

Vettel - £22m (driving for Ferrari)

Bottas - £22m (driving for Mercedes)

Verstappen - £16m (driving for Red Bull)

Ricciardo - £16m (driving for Red Bull)

Raikkonen - £16m (driving for Ferrari)

3 Stars – past or future contenders

Alonso - £8m (driving for McLaren)

Perez - £8m (driving for Force India)

Ocon - £8m (driving for Force India)

Hulkenberg - £7m (driving for Renault)

Sainz Jr - £7m (driving for Renault)

2 Stars – must try harder

Vandoorne - £6m (driving for McLaren)

Grosjean - £6m (driving for Haas)

Magnussen - £5m (driving for Haas)

1 Star – fighting to remain

Sirotkin - £3m (driving for Williams)

Stroll - £3m (driving for Williams)

Hartley - £3m (driving for Toro Rosso)

Gasly - £3m (driving for Toro Rosso)

Ericsson - £2m (driving for Sauber)

Leclerc - £2m (driving for Sauber)

4.2 Chassis

5 Stars – reigning champions

Mercedes - £27m

4 Stars – genuine contenders

Ferrari - £24m

Red Bull - £20m

3 Stars – past or future contenders

Force India - £16m

Renault - £15m

2 Stars – must try harder

McLaren - £10m

Haas - £10m

Williams - £8m

Toro Rosso - £8m

1 Star – fighting to remain

Sauber - £5m

4.3 Engines

5 Stars – reigning champions

Mercedes - £27m

4 Stars – genuine contenders

Ferrari - £24m

Tag Heuer (Red Bull) - £20m

3 Stars – past or future contenders

Mercedes (Force India) - £16m

Renault - £15m

2 Stars – must try harder

Renault (McLaren) - £10m

Ferrari (Haas) - £10m

Mercedes (Williams) - £8m

Honda (Toro Rosso) - £8m

1 Star – fighting to remain

Ferrari (Sauber) - £5m

5. CALENDAR 2018

25 March - Australia

8 April - Bahrain

15 April - China

29 April - Azerbaijan

13 May - Spain

27 May - Monaco

10 June - Canada

24 June - France

1 July - Austria

8 July - GB

22 July - Germany

29 July - Hungary

26 August - Belgium

2 September - Italy

16 September - Singapore

30 September - Russia

7 October - Japan

21 October - USA

28 October - Mexico

11 November - Brazil

25 November - Abu Dhabi

A Fond Farewell?

This Fantasy F1 league has it's roots in my teenage years, I can't remember how long it lasted that time but time was definitely called by 1998.  A decade later, I mentioned this geekery to Beauty & the F1 Geek, who immediately called for it's return.  I think that was in 2009 but it may have been the year before or even before that...we definitely worked together at the time (I'm sure someone will post in the comments...).  It doesn't feel like much has changed in that time, other than the arrival of Jenson's Whinging Legacy and consequently two Pitstop Princes.

Squeezing in watching the races is becoming trickier, as I'm sure you've noticed from my erratic posting, and typing up the results and banter even harder.  In fact, it's now a chore rather than a hobby.  And so, it may be time to wave the chequered flag.

Unless the league could be run more collectively.  If someone could arrange the spreadsheet and people could sign up to a rota to write the race posts, then the whole shebang could live on.  Let me know if you're interested.

Abu Dhabi GP - "Thank you very much for everything"

Prior to the race, Alonso admitted he was pretty happy for this to be his last Honda-powered race.  I think a few folk around were demob happy.

I really enjoyed the amazing driving displayed...in the pre-race aeronautical display.

As for the race itself, I think that must have been as much airtime for Stroll as he has had all year.  And Bottas must be wondering why he barely featured.  He drove a faultless race, driving Hamilton to make an error on Lap 31.  If Mercedes continue to be dominant next season, hopefully he can bring the fight.

Despite a wheel falling off their wagon, Renault finished sixth in the championship.  I'm not sure why Williams didn't receive any love for finishing higher that that.  Or McLaren any criticism for finishing below Haas.

To finish the season, Bottas and Hamilton celebrated with one of my favourites...doughnuts.

(For comments on Massa's retirement, please refer to the 2016 season.)