Background
Following Schumacher's first retirement, Raikkonen was signed as his replacement and won at the opening race in Australia. The two Ferraris and the two McLarens would battle intensely for both titles, with McLaren and their drivers holding the upper hand as the season developed. Ferrari and Raikkonen seemed out of the title race, but at China, Hamilton's McLaren had worn his tyres out and slid off into the gravel when entering the pit-lane, and Raikkonen took his fifth victory, reigniting his title campaign leading into the final race, though still 7 points adrift. It was Ferrari's 200th victory and 600th podium, which this model commemorates. In Brazil, Massa dominated the weekend, though out of contention for the title, whilst Hamilton was battling a number of issues on the way to seventh place and Alonso was powerless against the Ferraris in third. Massa let Raikkonen through to win the race and the Drivers' Championship by a point from both Alonso and Hamilton.Interestingly, Massa revealed in the F1 podcast that it was at the Belgian GP where it was decided that the driver ahead at the end of that race would be the backed driver for the Championship. Coming to the prior race at Monza, it was the Brazilian who had the advantage but for reliability to strike and Kimi took a podium and the initiative for the remainder of the season.
Hot Wheels
The Hot Wheels car is presumably based on the race opening Australian GP, with the Marlboro red and the straight engine cover trailing edge. Hot Wheels continue with their generally good proportions, mixed with bulky appendages, but even the bargeboards are getting more detail, as is the front suspension and sidepod winglets. The helmet is a let down, but oeverall, not a bad little model.
Score: 6/10
Mattel Elite
The Mattel Elite car is based on the Chinese GP, where Kimi earned his 5th victory of the season, the 200th Ferrari win, the 600th podium, the penultimate race of the season. From the Monaco GP, the F2007 ran in a darker metallic red, which I personally loved. The car features more refined details than the Hot Wheels car, though the exhaust looks clumsy. With the wheel covers front and rear masking any difficiencies, this turns out to be quite a nice model. The cockpit has a nice steering wheel too.
Score: 7/10
Formula 1 Car Collection / Ixo
As usual, the model is the Mattel Elite car, but this is dubbed as the Australian GP, even though the shape is clearly based on the end of the season (for a start, the rounded fin on the engine cover). The front rims are terrible, and you don't get a nice sticker for the steering wheels. For the lack of attention to detail, I have to award this a lower score than the Hot Wheels car.
Score: 5/10
Redline
Redline RL140 |
Redline RL148 |
And the Championship winning car from the Brazilian GP. Again you get lovely details on this model, along with good proportions throughout, including a nicely modelled nose cone.
Score: 8/10
Looksmart
Looksmart LSF-ES1707 |
Score: 8/10
BBR
BBR BG311 |
Score: 6/10
BBR BG344 |
BBR EX26 |
Score: 9/10
Tameo
Tameo TB010 |
Tameo TMK367 |
Tameo TB015 |
The Chinese GP Version has full tobacco sponsorship rather than the barcodes,
Tameo TB011 |
Whoever made this Brazilian GP model obviously forgot to put the Shell V-Power decal on the rear wing endplate, but this is a beautiful recreation of Kimi's Championship winning car. It should have been Massa's race to win, but he let Kimi win and thus clinch the Championship by a point, and amazingly Ferrari's last champion. Tameo continue to set the standard for 1/43 scale F1 models.
Score: 10/10