New F1 2021 video game review

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July 19, 2021

Lewis Hamilton’s victory in the 2021 British Grand Prix may have inspired you to want some Formula 1 action in your own home.

Helpfully, the new F1 2021 video game has just been released. As the official game of the Formula 1 World Championship, F1 2021 is meant to accurately reflect the action on track.

We undertook the tough job of testing out the latest racing game, to see if it deserves to claim pole position in your console.

Exceeding track limits

Spare a thought for Codemasters, the creators of F1 2021. Coronavirus has played havoc with the 2021 Formula 1 calendar, making it more difficult to build a racing game that accurately replicates the championship.

Missing circuits will be added through downloadable content, meaning players will not miss out on Jeddah, Portimao, and Imola. Other tracks, such as Melbourne, Catalunya and Abu Dhabi are presented in 2020 form, rather than their updated 2021 layouts.

At least every team and driver that started the 2021 season is present and correct, with their performance ratings already a talking point.

Hitting the Braking Point

Like many leading sports games, F1 2021 features a dramatic story mode branded ‘Braking Point’. Described as offering ‘epic racing, off-track drama, and stunning cut-scenes’, it follows the contrasting fortunes of fictional drivers.

A great amount of effort has been dedicated to Braking Point, even down to replicating real-world social media accounts. Beginning with the FIA Formula 2 championship, it spans multiple seasons.

The story itself will feel fanciful to Formula 1 regulars, invoking the kind of drama the producers of Netflix’s Drive to Survive series could only dream about.

Driving to survive?

Braking Point is perhaps not the game changer Codemasters hoped it would be, but it still serves a purpose. For those new to F1 games, it can be an effective tutorial, introducing key concepts in a structured way.

Being broken down into bite-size chapters does make it easy to play, without needing the commitment of a full season.

Once completed, there is little replay appeal, not least given the multitude of additional career modes to experiment with.

My Team, my rules

One of the standout features continued from last year’s F1 2020 game is the ‘My Team’ format. If you have ever dreamt of starting your own Formula 1 team, and starring as its leading driver, this is the game mode for you.

Pick a name, a livery, even the style of your team’s overalls, and compete for glory. Sponsorship deals need to be managed, car development undertaken and second drivers chosen.

Although not an intensive management simulator, it does add an extra degree of interaction. Playing as a modern-day Bruce McLaren, there is genuine pleasure in fighting to see a team you have built score points.

Multiple career routes available

Other career modes include a single-player season mode that accurately follows the 2021 Formula 1 Championship. Players can create their own driver, and dive into a season tailored to their skill level.

There is the option to run a full-length race weekend, or a condensed package should you be short on time. Race distances, and the length of time spent on practice and qualifying can all be adjusted to suit.

Updated standings will reflect the season in real-time, allowing players to try and change the course of history.

F1 2021 also includes a novel two-player career option. Using the online multi-player function, you and a friend can join the same team, or compete against each other, across a complete season.

Online multi-player and Esports

There are other extensive online multiplayer options available for F1 2021, offering players the chance to earn their very own Super Licence. Custom car designs and helmets ensure you can stand out on the grid.

Undertaking fast, but fair, racing against online competitors helps build your reputation. Weekly events offer new scenarios and challenges, while custom leagues can be made with friends.

F1 2021 will form the basis for the latest season of the official Formula 1 Esports Series. This offers top players the chance to become part of an official F1 team, and take part in a glamorous tournament to be crowned the ultimate champion.

Performance over looks

Compared to the photorealism of Gran Turismo or Forza Horizon, the F1 franchise of games have traditionally lagged behind on graphical perfection. F1 2021 undoubtedly looks better than before, but there is still no doubt that you are looking at a video game.

Lighting effects on a HDR-compatible system are notably neat, though. The glare of floodlights in Bahrain, or the sunlight filtering through the trees in Melbourne, manage to impress.

Played on a Microsoft Xbox One X, there was no frame rate slowdown or pop-up issues. While F1 2021 might not be the outright prettiest game, it delivers speed on track.

Only the faces of the drivers are a notable criticism. Some F1 contenders are likely to be unimpressed by their virtual likenesses outside of the Braking Point cut-scenes.

Handling the pressure

Although it accurately reflects the Formula 1 World Championship, F1 2021 delivers accessible handling. Not intended as an outright simulation, gamers should not be intimidated by driving a modern F1 car, with multiple assists and driver aids to simplify the experience.

Casual, Standard, and Expert modes offer varying levels of difficulty for races. Harder settings can deliver a proper challenge, and are likely to result in the ‘Flashback’ feature being used to undo collisions and trips across the gravel.

Support for racing wheels and pedals is included, with players able to customise and calibrate their setups. There is no disadvantage to playing with a traditional control pad though, meaning casual gamers are not penalised.

Taking the chequered flag

Despite all the innovations and extra features, F1 2021 can feel less generous. Previous games have featured an array of historic cars to drive, but these are noticeably absent from this year’s iteration.

Instead, only F1 cars from the 2021 season, and F2 cars from 2020, are available to use.

Codemasters does offer a Deluxe Edition of F1 2021. This brings F1 icons, such as Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, to the My Team mode. Players can then sign them as a second driver, meaning you could be teammates with a legend of the sport.

Getting the Deluxe Edition takes the price of F1 2021 to £74.99 ($74.99), compared to the standard cost of £59.99 ($59.99).

F1 2021 is currently available on the Microsoft Xbox One & Xbox Series S/X, Sony PlayStation 4 and 5, and PC.

Verdict: F1 2021

As with many sports video games, year-to-year changes are incremental. F1 2021 is no different, making small tweaks and improvements, rather than being a radical redesign.

The graphics are better, the handling is more balanced, and the whole experience feels slick and professional.

Diehard Formula 1 fans are likely to buy it regardless, needing to have the latest teams, circuits, and driver ratings. For casual gamers, who have bought a recent game in the F1 franchise, there is maybe less incentive to buy this year’s instalment.

Overall, F1 2021 nails its brief of delivering the Formula 1 World Championship experience. As a result, it is worthy of taking a grid spot in your collection.

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Lewis Hamilton McLaren F1 car sells for nearly £5m

By

John Redfern

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July 18, 2021

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A 2010 McLaren-Mercedes Formula 1 car, driven to victory by Sir Lewis Hamilton, has been sold at auction.

Sold by RM Sotheby’s, this is the first time a race-winning F1 driven by the seven-time champion has been offered to the public.

The auction took place as part of the British Grand Prix weekend, with the MP4-25A hitting the track after the new Sprint Qualifying event.

Race-winning heritage

Chassis number MP4-25A-01 was the first car to be built for the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship. During the season it would be driven by both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Powered by a Mercedes-Benz 2.4-l naturally aspirated V8 engine, MP4-25A-01 achieved a number of important results for the McLaren team.

Hamilton drove the car to take an impressive second place at the 2010 Chinese Grand Prix, followed by fifth in Monaco.

However, the car’s greatest moment came at the Turkish Grand Prix. Despite a lengthy pit stop, a collision between the Red Bulls allowed Hamilton to seize the lead. He then held off Button to take the win.

Ready for the track again

At the end of the 2010 Formula 1 season, the car was placed into storage.

The car has been thoroughly restored by McLaren Racing Heritage and Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains. Detailed work was undertaken to get the car track-ready again, allowing the new owner to use it in anger.

This extended to X-raying safety critical parts, with the work taking from 2019 to 2021. All parts were replaced where necessary, with track testing undertaken.

Auctioned with a huge crowd present at Silverstone, the MP4-25A-01 achieved an impressive £4.836 million ($6.658 million) when the hammer fell.

The new owner now has a piece of rare British motorsport history. More importantly, it is one that can be used in anger on a race track again.

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Top hot rods crowned by Goodguys in Ohio

By

John Redfern

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July 16, 2021

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The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association has added another two impressive cars to its ‘Goodguys Top 12 of the Year’.

As part of the Summit Racing Nationals in Columbus, OH, the ‘Street Machine’ and ‘Street Rod’ winners were chosen.

For those looking to add a new custom ride to their garage, the prize for the annual Grand Prize Giveaway was also announced.

2021 Street Machine of the Year

The PPG Street Machine of the Year category covers vehicles made between 1954 and 1987. A combination of impressive build quality, huge performance, and overall creativity is needed to scoop this prize.

Chad Farischon’s 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ticked all the boxes, not least because of the Mercury Racing 7.0-liter V-8 engine. Developing 750hp, it comes fitted to a six-speed manual transmission.

Built by Mountain Home Street Hot Rods, the Camaro has seen no part left untouched. Along with the custom exterior, the interior benefits from Recaro seats and carbon fiber trim.

2021 Street Rod of the Year

Covering cars made before 1948, the Classic Instruments Street Rod category is a fiercely contested category. Quality craftsmanship, impressive engineering, and new design ideas are what the judges are looking for.

Wes and Vivian Rydell’s 1941 Chevrolet Fleetline scooped the top prize this year. Built by Rad Rides by Troy, the Chevrolet features a modern LT1 V-8 engine. This benefits from Lingenfelter performance upgrades, including a custom camshaft and stroker crank.

The exterior features a bold new paint scheme, while the interior has gained a bespoke dashboard. This includes a set of Dakota Digital instruments, along with a new steering column fitted with a custom wheel.

Goodguys will celebrate the chosen Top 12 later this year at the Southwest Nationals in Scottsdale, AZ.

Grand Prize Giveaway prize announced

Each year, Goodguys offers a special custom vehicle as part of its Grand Prize Giveaway. Covering 2021 through 2022, the winner of the latest giveaway will be chosen at next year’s Columbus, OH show.

The 2022 lucky winner will take home a 1986 Chevrolet C-10 pickup truck, fitted with a range of custom parts. Under the hood, a Chevrolet Performance LT1 crate engine by Pace Performance has been installed, along with a Gearstar 4L65E transmission.

Although registered Goodguys members are automatically included in the Grand Prize Giveaway, additional entries can be made by entering a show car at an event.

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London tops car crime list – and everyday cars most likely to be stolen

By

Richard Aucock

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July 16, 2021

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Lambeth is the car crime capital of the UK and nine of the top 10 postcodes for vehicle theft are in London, a new four-year study has revealed.

Car insurance data since 2016 has been analysed to discover a vehicle theft frequency rate of 12.3 percent in Lambeth, the highest postcode rate in the country.

It is followed by Kensington and Chelsea, Ealing, Southwark and Lewisham.

The only area in the top 10 not to be located in London is Watford – while Slough and Preston are in the top 20.

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“Car crime rates in London have remained continuously high,” said Paul Evans from Co-op Insurance, which carried out the analysis.

“But it’s interesting to see that places like Preston and Stockport are also emerging hotspots in the North.”

Among the lowest theft rates are Moray in Scotland, Mid Devon in England and Denbighshire in Wales.

Co-op Insurance has now launched a Park Smart tool, based on Home Office data, that allows users to search for vehicle crime hotspots by postcode.

Ford and Vauxhall targeted

Despite the desirability of premium cars, it is more affordable brands such as Ford and Vauxhall that are favourites to steal.

The Ford Fiesta tops the theft claim top 10 as a percentage of total claims, followed by the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Corsa.

The top premium brand for vehicle theft is the Range Rover Evoque in sixth.

“Don’t think it won’t happen to you,” said TV consumer champion (and former car dealer) Dominic Littlewood.

“Cheaper makes and models are becoming more attractive than ever to thieves.”

“People with smaller and perhaps less expensive cars need to be aware that these motor vehicles are hot property for car thieves,” added Mr Evans.

It is believed this is because such cars are less likely to attract the attention of the police – and may also be easier to clone and sell on, due to their sheer popularity.

Top 10 cars most likely to be stolen

1: Ford Fiesta

2: Ford Focus

3: Vauxhall Corsa

4: Vauxhall Astra

5: Volkswagen Golf

6: Range Rover Evoque

7: Land Rover Discovery

8: Audi A3

9: Mercedes-Benz C-Class

10: Audi A4

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Staycation surge as millions of motorists plan holidays – with 1 in 3 to the West Country

By

Richard Aucock

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July 16, 2021

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Summer holiday plans by motorists have surged 20 percent since April with at least 29 million staycations now set to take place.

This will lead to “unprecedented” traffic on UK roads – particularly around the school holiday weeks.

And if overseas travel restrictions remain, the staycation surge could swell further, as a third of those with foreign holidays booked will holiday in the UK instead.

In August 2019, 9.4 million overseas trips were made.

The West Country is likely to be a hot spot with 1 in 3 drivers surveyed planning holidays there; 14 percent will visit Scotland and 8 percent are going to Yorkshire.

Breakdown risk

The RAC is warning motorists to start preparing their cars now in readiness for staycation getaways, to lessen the risk of breakdowns spoiling their holiday plans.

“A second ‘staycation summer’ in a row now looks like a certainty and will mean millions of us relying on our cars to get us wherever we want to go,” said RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis.

“Busier roads, especially in the heat, can mean a sudden sharp increase in breakdowns, so we’re calling on every driver to check their car is ‘road ready’ and isn’t about to let them down.”

The risk of breakdowns may also rise because motorists are planning to holiday much further away from home than normal.

A third of drivers who took a staycation in 2020 say they will be driving greater distances in 2021, planning to explore new areas of the country.

Nearly 6 in 10 say their staycation will be more than 150 miles from home, while 17 percent will travel more than 300 miles.

However, only 5 percent are planning to tow a caravan or trailer.

Top staycation destinations for motorists in 2021

1: West Country – 30%

2: Scotland – 14%

3: Yorkshire – 8%

4=: Lake District – 6%

4=: East Anglia – 6%

6: North Wales – 5%

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Police can now instantly access DVLA driver photos to speed up roadside checks

By

Richard Aucock

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July 15, 2021

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Police forces are now able to instantly access driving licence photos to confirm motorists’ identity at the roadside, saving time and reducing the number of arrests.

The new tech developed by the DVLA enables officers to access the organisation’s photograph database almost immediately via a handheld smart device

This compares to a wait of up to 16 minutes for officers to confirm identity without the new tech.

In some cases, it has taken so long, it has resulted in an arrest as the motorist is taken to the station to complete the checks.

The DVLA estimates the technology, which has been used in pilots by selected forces since August 2019, has saved more than 14,000 hours for Road Police Unit Officers.

It has made roadside checks up to 66 percent faster.

18 police forces are already using the tech, with 10 more in coming weeks – and the service set to roll out across all 46 police forces across the UK.

The innocents

“This development will not only free up valuable police time but also make sure innocent drivers can get back on their journeys quicker,” said roads minister Baroness Vere.

DVLA chief executive Julie Lennard said the new tech is something that will “directly benefit citizens.

“The ability to support quicker and more robust roadside checks for motoring offences through the better use of technology is something we were pleased to help deliver.”

The DVLA says photographs are accessed via sourcing the motorists’ driving licence number from the Police National Computer.

This allows them to access the correct image from DVLA records.

The police officer receives the images solely to complete the check – they are only accessible during the enquiry and are not retained.

Nearly 90,000 driver images have already been accessed by police during the trails.

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Valhalla! Aston Martin’s 950hp ‘road racer’ revealed

By

Tim Pitt

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July 15, 2021

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Aston Martin has traditionally been defined by brutish, front-engined GT cars. Think Sean Connery in a DB5, Pierce Brosnan in a Vanquish or Daniel Craig in a DBS. Now, the British brand has aimed its Walther PPK straight at Ferrari – and it has a view to a kill.

Enough with the Bond puns. You’re looking at the new Valhalla, Aston Martin’s answer to the Ferrari SF90 Stradale. With a hybrid powertrain, carbon fibre tub, active aerodynamics and F1-style pushrod suspension, there’s nothing traditional here.

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Fittingly, our first glimpse of the Valhalla was at Silverstone, home of the Aston Martin Cognizant F1 team. This Sunday, the circuit hosts Aston’s return to the British Grand Prix after more than 60 years.

But first, there are Covid-friendly elbow-bumps, drinks, speeches and – finally – a new supercar to swoon over.

Extreme performance

Supercar? Frankly, the Valkyrie accelerates headlong through the glass ceiling into hypercar territory. The combined punch of its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and 150kW hybrid system serves up 950hp and a mighty 1,000Nm (738lb ft) of torque.

The flat-plane V8 contributes 750hp and revs to 7,200rpm. It drives the rear wheels and breathes through top-exit tailpipes for an ‘authentic Aston Martin sound character’.

The remaining 200hp of electric drive is split between front and rear axle motors, with up to 100 percent sent rearwards for maximum performance. The headline figures are 0-62mph in 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 217mph.

Aston Martin is also targeting a Nurburgring lap-time of less than 6min 30sec. For context, the current road-legal record is 6min 38.8sec, set by a Manthey-modified Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

Developed by F1 drivers

When you aren’t blitzing Bergwerk or nudging Vmax at Döttinger Höhe, the Valhalla offers a zero-emissions range of 9.3 miles: key to achieving predicted CO2 emissions of just 200g/km.

Top speed in EV mode is 80mph and the electric motors also function as a reverse gear.

The other key component of the powertrain is a new – and fiendishly complex – eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Impressively, the V8 and electric motors can run different gears simultaneously to boost torque.

An electronic limited-slip differential on the rear axle delivers ‘maximum traction and handling agility’, says Aston Martin. With development drivers including Sebastian Vettel, Lance Stroll and Nico Hulkenburg, we’re inclined to believe them.

Low-flying jet

The Valhalla’s sculpted, dramatic styling is little changed from the AM-RB 003 concept car, first seen at the Geneva Motor Show in 2019. Unmistakably mid-engined, it resembles the love child of a Le Mans prototype and Typhoon fighter.

A slatted grille is perhaps the only hat-tip to Astons of old, framed by full LED matrix headlights and a jutting splitter. A roof scoop and slash-cut side vents feed air directly to the hungry V8.

Access is via upwards-opening dihedral doors, while the lack of a rear window means relying on the surround-view cameras (and possibly prayer) for parking manoeuvres. Mind that carbon fibre…

The car’s interior hasn’t been revealed yet, but we’re promised an ‘innovative new central touchscreen’ with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The seat bases are fixed, so you adjust the pedals and steering column to find the right driving position.

Attack the track

A target dry weight of ‘less than 1,550kg’ undercuts the SF90, even if the Italian car has the lightweight Assetto Fiorano pack fitted. ‘F1 inspired’ active aerodynamics and underbody venturi tunnels muster 600kg of downforce at 150mph.

The Valhalla’s carbon tub is suspended by pushrods at the front and a multi-link design at the rear, with inboard components to reduce unsprung mass. Multimatic variable springs and spool valve dampers ‒ also seen on the Aston Martin Vulcan – provide a range of adjustment, including a belly-scraping Track mode.

Tyres are bespoke Michelins (20-inch front, 21-inch rear) and the Valhalla is reined in by huge carbon-ceramic discs with brake-by-wire tech.

Premium Bond

Want one? Expect to stump up somewhere between £600,000 and £700,000 and join a long waiting list. The first year of a two-year production run is already sold out, and deliveries won’t begin until 2024.

New Aston Martin CEO Tobias Moers said: “With Valhalla, not only have we stayed true to our commitment to build a world-beating supercar, but we have exceeded our original aims. The result is a pure driving machine – one which exists right at the cutting edge of performance and technology, yet allows the driver to feel the emotion and thrill of complete connection and control.”

It all adds up, we hope, to an era-defining supercar that will leave you shaken and stirred (sorry, couldn’t resist).

Look out for the Valhalla’s screen debut in No Time to Die this September.

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Motorist with 22 points among 600 M6 drivers caught by HGV ‘supercab’

By

Richard Aucock

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July 15, 2021

0

A week of action by police and Highways England with an unmarked HGV ‘supercab’ on the M6 motorway saw more than 600 motorists caught committing driving offences.

The undercover truck, which allows police to look down and spot offending motorists, patrolled the entire length of the M6 during the week-long campaign, dubbed ‘Operation Vertebrae’.

230 HGVs were caught, as well as cars and vans.

Actions taken by police include words of caution, fixed penalty notices… and eight arrests.

The most common offence was not wearing a seatbelt, while 1 in 6 motorists were also caught using their mobile phone illegally.

One driver was playing online poker; another was FaceTiming his partner.

PC Jamie Blood led the campaign in Warwickshire. “Once again, it is terribly disappointing that we encountered so much poor driver behaviour on our roads.”

Some of the most dangerous drivers were spotted in the region, including someone who had no driving licence or car insurance, who was not wearing a seatbelt… and neither was a four-year old sat on someone’s lap in their car.

Another motorist in Warwickshire had 22 points on their licence, and no insurance.

Elsewhere, the Central Motorway Police Group pulled over a car near to junction 10 of the M6.

It had false plates and no documents, while the driver only had a provisional licence. They were reported to the courts and the vehicles was seized.

Highways England head of road safety Jeremy Philips said the campaign has “raised awareness that those who engage in high-risk behaviours can expect to be spotted and, if an offence has been committed, action will be taken by our enforcement partners”.

Since the Operation Tramline HGV supercab initiative launched in 2015, almost 22,000 motoring offences have been spotted – with the most common being using a mobile phone and not wearing a seatbelt.

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How to take better car photos for Instagram

By

Motoring Research team

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July 15, 2021

0

Skoda Octavia Scout

Fancy yourself as a smartphone snapper? Want to attempt more than selfies and pictures of your breakfast? Here’s how to take your Instagram car photography to the next level.

By teaming up with pro photographer Julian Calverley, Skoda has offered tips on how to get the best out of whatever photo equipment you have.

The shot begins before you’ve even opened the camera app, preferably with a good-looking car in some stunning scenery. We’ll let you draw your own conclusions about the Skoda Octavia (above), but a moody morning in Wales seems a good place to start.

Below are five steps that Calverley insists will improve your Instagram photography. Like and follow, etc…

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1. See the bigger picture: Make sure your shoot is suitable as a thumbnail. Use dramatic locations if possible and apply the rule of thirds, mentally dividing the photo into nine equal squares (helpfully, most phone cameras do this for you).

2. Start early and follow the sun: They don’t call it ‘golden hour’ for no reason. Dawn and dusk provide the most photographically sympathetic light levels. The middle of the day is often too harsh and bright.

3. Perfect weather isn’t always perfect: Equally, clear skies can make for bad photos. The calmness of a cool overcast or rainy day is the smartphone photographer’s friend.

4. Find the best angle: Move around the car, don’t zoom in. Once you’ve set the scene, you’re free to shoot from whatever angle you like. Tiny changes make a difference.

5. Cars have eyes, too: The headlights are a nice point of focus, like eyes on a person. If you’re shooting the front of the car, use sidelights only – no main beams. If you’re shooting from the rear, switch the lights on.

Add it all up and Julian reckons you have the makings of some great Instagram photography. Good luck!

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Red Bull F1 car takes on RAF Spitfire

By

John Redfern

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July 14, 2021

0

Ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend, the Red Bull Racing F1 team has challenged a host of British icons to a dramatic race.

British icons with a twist, that is…

With Red Bull’s Max Verstappen currently leading the Formula 1 World Championship, this weekend’s race is a key event.

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It will also feature the debut of F1’s new Sprint Race qualifying format, intended to bring extra excitement to proceedings.

Best of British on track

The special video sees a championship-winning 2011 Red Bull Racing RB7 pitted against six (mainly) classic British vehicles.

Rivals range from a London bus, to a black cab and even a car full of festival goers. However, the star of the show is an RAF Supermarine Spitfire.

Capable of close to 400mph, almost double the top speed of the RB7 F1 car, the Spitfire is a worthy adversary.

We will let you watch the video to see whether 1940’s engineering can vanquish a modern Formula 1 machine…

Fans back in the Silverstone stands

Red Bull Racing CEO and Team Principal, Christian Horner, said that his personal ‘winner’ from the race “has got to be the Spitfire – the sound, the grace it has in the air, it is fantastic to see”.

Significantly, this weekend’s British Grand Prix will feature a full-attendance crowd. Horner commented: “We have really missed fully attended races and I think this is the first time we are going to see a proper crowd and I think that it is tremendously exciting.”

He added: “It’s always a great thrill to race in front of the British public – I live only 10 minutes from Silverstone, so for me, I get to sleep in my own bed! I’ve always loved the British Grand Prix, so I’m looking forward to seeing everybody there.”

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing driver and current F1 championship leader, is looking forward to having fans back.

He said: “When we were at Silverstone last year, the track was amazing, but the atmosphere was missing. To have the British crowd back again in full attendance will be really special and I hope that the race is going to be just as exciting.”

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