Ernie Black - TheF1Poet

T’was the night before Christmas and at the top of pit lane, sat Lewis Hamilton’s cherry red plane Inside was Russell and Toto and Schumacher, Mick. Wearing number 3 sweaters, gifted by Danny RIC They arrived to celebrate F1 Christmas cheer. As did Albon and Stroll who brought cases of beer Helmut and Horner didn’t want to be rude, so they offered to cater this gathering’s food Mario Andretti…

F1 Media Christmas Party 2020

T’was the night before Christmas and Medders was lit! He slipped on an “Elf Onesie” which didn’t quite fit Luke Smith sat by the tree, he wasn’t too far behind, polishing off the last of the Yamazaki, that he could find Lawrence Barretto set the table while sipping champagne, he was chipper and giggling and feeling no pain Nate Saunders sat on a chair, just outside the door, listening to a…

It’s lights out and a… wait! AUS GP is a no go! What? Seb on a plane before practice? Oh hell no!

This year has been bat shit crazy, pun intended. It’s the season which started, after it ended!

The world’s been shutdown and we’re all on lock-down, we’re all wearing masks as we venture about town

Everyone’s waiting for F1 to comeback, everyone’s waiting to see some action on track

Staying at home with no where to roam, from the bed to the kitchen to the shop to the throne

At least Jon Noble didn’t miss driver announcements, those hours in flight are always a bit tense

Luke’s been reading and writing and baking and running, half marathon done and I’m not even punning

Jess left Matt & the gang to advance her career, we wish her well with a beer and good cheer

Oh by the way, if you didn’t already know, Will Buxton started his own online cooking show

This pre-season/off-season/no season thing, is causing some serious strain and suffering

Charles is confused, there is no dispute, the lad’s playing video games in a banana suit

It’s working Charles, you’re in a good luck tsunami, you drive for Ferrari and the new face of Armani

I mean look, you’re the new number one! Out with the old, this deal is done.

You’ve got the run, you won’t be outdone and you’ve got a new mate running shotgun

It’s a good thing your rich, you’ll need to pay Charlotte back, for her subscription to Twitch

Right, well, as if nobody knows, Ferrari started a game of Dominos.

The reason Seb’s in the shadows, only Binotto knows.

Why the four-time champ is on the sidelines requires reading between some rather tight lines.

But in the meantime, in the headlines, was the expected news about Carlos Sainz

We knew the news before it broke, once we heard about that Aussie bloke.

No mirrors or smoke, no magical cloak, just a hint of genius, that masterstroke

So Sainz to Ferrari it’s plain to see, and Danny’s gone from a farm to MTC.

It will be interesting to see this all play out, with the obvious fallout and potential blowout

And what of the empty seat, down at Renault? Who will bring the talent and much needed dough?

Will Seb end his days in yellow and black or will Alonso be mysteriously lured back?

Let’s pause to get serious, for some recognition for those in our sport who have been on a mission

I’d be remiss if I failed or missed, to acknowledge how F1 jumped in to assist

Mario Isola assumed the role, of full Paramedic, when things got hectic during this global pandemic

Drivers and staffers delivering meals, as life’s more precious than racing automobiles

Rivals abandoning their simulators, to retool operations, to make ventilators

Masks and shields and other equipment, showing care and concern through total commitment

We all came together in one way or another, even offering support as a sister or brother

Flattening the curve is what F1 does best, nailing that apex with the throttle depressed

So Martin and Crofty, warm up those vocals, the pints are chilling, in all our locals

It’s one for the money and two for the show, it will soon be lights out and away we go!

‘Twas the night before Christmas – F1 2018

‘Twas the night before Christmas and Kimi was lit! He crawled in for a nap in his new Sauber cockpit.

Niki’s stockings were hanging from the Mercedes Garage ceiling. They were bright red and furry and surprisingly appealing.

Ross Brawn was nestled, all snug in his bed. Jean Todt slipped into his onesie, coloured cranberry red.

When from the paddock, arose such a clatter, Charlie sprang from his…

Putin Team Orders on Display

An F1 poem about the Team Orders issued by Mercedes  in the Russian GP.

Mercedes AMG F1 driver, Valtteri Bottas. Photo credit: Octane Photos (http://octanephotos.co.uk)

Team Orders aren’t merely semantics

They’re a necessary evil, in F1 tactics

Decisions are made, through mathematics

Though we saw how easily they enrage fanatics

The truth is this, it really is a team sport

And a…

Wecome Back Formula One

Photo Credit: Octane Photographics Formula One finally returns this week, to a magnificent circuit which is rather unique.    Steeped in history and a certain mystique, with the likes of Eau Rouge… it’s not for the weak.    Commencing in earnest about mid-week, as key personnel gather to speak.   Engines fire up from rumble to shriek, sending shivers down spines of every F1 geek. The development…

Williams F1… in the pits

When I was a child (many… many years ago) we were doing an exercise in class at school.  We were told to reach as high as we could possibly reach. We all did so.  Being measured against the wall, where a ruler had been taped, we were all measured. Then we were instructed to reach even higher.  Without questioning our instructor or her instructions, we all attempted to outreach…

Sometimes F1 must come second…

Montreal Canada, Canadian GP F1 Media Centre. I have had the good fortune of being able to attend my home F1 Grand Prix a total of 30 times over the years.  I know that statement ages me.  As a fan of the sport since the age of 4, I’ve bore witness to some amazing races around the circuit which bares the name of one of my F1 heroes.  Not long ago, I have had the pleasure of being able to make the…

After the shortest off-season, F1 is back. Eager to get racing again and back on track. They all turned up down under with their  poker faces, to start this campaign of 21 races. There were names we knew well and others we still don’t, including Renault who arrived on a surfboard-like boat. Wearing a yellow sport suit, nicely pressed at the seams, hoping to rekindle its F1 championship dreams. A…

2015 – An F1 Fan Christmas Poem

T’was The Night Before Christmas, When All Through Pit Lane There Were No Milk And Cookies, Just Bottles Of Champagne The Stockings Were Hung, By The Podium With Care Hoping New Power Units, Soon Would Be There Bernie Was Sleeping, Safe And Sound In His Bed As 52 Race Calendar, Bounced Around In His Head Jean Todt In His Onesie, Was Checking His List As He Made Plans To Rule With A Soft Iron…

#CiaoJules It goes without saying that the untimely death of such a young and promising young driver is a tragedy.  The loss of any life which could have been avoided is tragic.  Arguably, all if not mostly all accidents are avoidable. We enter the realm of “ifs”,”could’ves” and “should’ves” but in reality there is no way of knowing the outcome. For instance, questions were asked whether the…

#RIPSenna – Gone but never forgotten

  This first day of May, we are reminded of that sad and dreadful day, when the legend passed away. The silence was deafening in our state of dismay, it’s been 21 years for which for him the champagne would no longer spray.

He was not just a driver but so much more, the fiercest competitor to his very core refusing to lift off the throttle which was constantly pinned to the cockpit floor.…

#F1Poem: 2015 Thunder Down Under

Photo Courtesy © Octane Photographic Ltd

Its 12 am in Albert park. Friday morning and all is dark

Not a soul to be found walking pit lane. No sounds to be heard, except that of the rain

Just hours ago, the paddock was jammed. Pit lane was full, garages were crammed

The air thick with excitement, one could slice with a knife. As F1 2015 came quickly to life

Photographers scrambling, snapping…

The F1 Poet Project

Dream BIG – and chase it! A poet and a legend…

If you take one thing away from reading this, let it be the knowledge that if you work hard at a goal, it is achievable. Your dreams may not always be all you believe them to be but you owe it to yourself to chase them…

  Everyone has dreams, ambitions and goals, though not everyone chases them. Do not fail to chase your dreams. Often you’ll find…

F1 Fan Open Letter to Santa

F1 Fan Open Letter to Santa

Dear Santa, let me start by saying, I’ve actually been quite good. I mean far better than Bernie, that much should be understood.

I’ve watched every race, even the ones at the “crack of stupid” in the morning. I must admit however, I may have said unpleasant things without thought or warning.

In my defense, I’m very passionate and maybe a bit obsessed with Formula One.