Ricciardo expected Ferrari to be ‘a bit quicker’
Daniel Ricciardo admits to being slightly surprised by Red Bull’s gap to Ferrari in Friday practice at the Malaysian Grand Prix, as he expected the Scuderia to “be a bit quicker”. The Australian was four tenths behind the Ferrari duo in FP2, with team-mate Max Verstappen trailing the lead SF16-h by the same margin in…
Grosjean happy with smooth qualifying run
Romain Grosjean and Haas achieved their best qualifying performance to date today in Suzuka with the Frenchman set to line up 8th on tomorrow’s grid. It was also the first time the American squad saw both its cars run in the top-ten shootout with Esteban Guttierrez clinching P10. Grosjean has ecstatic with his performance, even suggesting…
High altitude not a big difference for Raikkonen
Ferrari star Kimi Raikkonen says racing at a higher altitude for the Mexican Grand Prix does not make a lot of difference. Returning to the Formula One calendar in 2015, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is located some 2,200 meters above sea level, thus presenting teams and drivers with a specific set of challenges. However, Raikkonen…
F1 media sees Alonso as best driver on current grid
Fernando Alonso has been selected as the best Formula One driver on the current grid following a vote by a pool of veteran journalists. With two world titles, 32 race wins, 97 podiums and 22 pole positions in 270 career starts, the McLaren-Honda star boasts one of the most successful resumés in the field. However,…
Hamilton expects fair fight from Rosberg as title looms
Lewis Hamilton says he likes “to think higher” of Nico Rosberg than for his team-mate to try any tricks to secure his first drivers’ championship. Rosberg will become world champion if he wins today’s Brazilian Grand Prix, as he currently holds a 19-point lead in the standings. While Hamilton starts from pole position, the Briton is aware…
I can still achieve more with Williams – Bottas
Valtteri Bottas says he can still achieve more with Williams and wants to secure his first win for the team after signing for the 2016 season. Having made his debut for Williams in 2013, Bottas has shown clear potential and has been linked with drives at Ferrari and Renault in recent seasons. However, the Finn will…
Bernie wants the Schumacher name back in F1
Bernie Ecclestone says he hopes Grand Prix legend Michael Schumacher’s teenage son makes it all the way to Formula 1. Mick Schumacher, 17, will be stepping up from Formula 4 to the ultra-competitive European F3 series this year, which was the category that launched Max Verstappen and so many other top drivers’ careers. Last year,…
Williams pace ‘genuine’, thinks Vettel
Sebastian Vettel believes the competitive pace shown by Williams in free practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix is “genuine”, while the Ferrari star experienced “a tricky day” that included a spin in FP1. Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa were third and fourth fastest behind the Mercedes pair in the afternoon at Interlagos, having already featured at…
Stability and Kvyat form led to Toro Rosso decision
Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost says a desire for stability allied to Daniil Kvyat being “back on top form” led to his team naming an unchanged driver line-up. It was announced on Saturday morning in Austin that Kvyat will be retained by Toro Rosso alongside Carlos Sainz in 2017, with the Russian keeping his…
Vandoorne: ‘Don’t compare me to Hamilton’
McLaren rookie Stoffel Vandoorne doesn’t want to be compared to Lewis Hamilton, or to any other driver for that matter. The 24-year-old Belgian, who made his Grand Prix debut with McLaren last year in Bahrain, is on the eve of his first full season of Formula 1, and finds himself in a context similar to…