American GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

Preview Quotes - Williams

Felipe Massa - "The track in Austin is great as there is a real mix of high and low speed corners with some very technical areas. Sector one is very quick, similar to Suzuka, with a long straight which gives us the chance for overtaking. It's a fun track to drive and one where we can have a good result. Austin is also a really great place with such enthusiasm for Formula One so let's hope for a good weekend."

Valtteri Bottas - "Austin is a really cool track, one of the best on the calendar. The city is nice, the fans and atmosphere are great, so it's one of the best places of the season to go to. I have good memories from there as I got my first points in Formula 1 in Austin last season. We are definitely targeting to be on the podium again and extend the advantage we have on Ferrari in the Constructors' points. Everyone is feeling positive about Texas, so it should be fun."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to drivers

#ForzaJules

American GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes - Force India

Nico Hulkenberg - "I remember that as soon as I drove in Austin my first thought was that it was an amazing circuit. It's fun to drive, with lots of different kinds of corners, and it's one of the best tracks from the new generation of circuits. It's very easy to find a rhythm and the tarmac is very smooth, which makes it very nice to drive. Away from the track, Austin is a venue everybody enjoys visiting. It's not the biggest city, but there is a good atmosphere and they love Formula OneI've had good results in Austin (P8 in 2012 and P6 in 2013) so I am feeling upbeat about this weekend. It's clear that some teams ahead of us have made a step forward recently, but we know that we can race well. I think it's realistic to target points again this weekend and try to close the gap to fifth place."

Sergio Perez - "Austin is a great race and because it's so close to Mexico it feels like my ‘home' race. There are usually a lot of Mexican fans and you feel a lot of support because the grandstands are full and there are always a lot of Mexican flags. I enjoy the track, especially the first sector and the uphill turn one, which is quite unusual. You can brake extremely late for this corner and it's a good overtaking opportunity. From there you go into the quick corners: turns three, four and five, which are a lot of fun to drive. I arrive in Austin feeling positive. I've scored points in every race since the summer break – five races in a row – and I think we've maximised what we could get out of those races. We've been racing hard, taking some chances, and making some excellent decisions with the strategy so hopefully we can continue to do so in the next few races."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

#ForzaJules

American GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes - Sauber

Esteban Gutierrez - "I am looking forward to the United States Grand Prix; it is a great feeling coming to Austin. For me it is a special Grand Prix, because we will have a lot of support from Mexico, as it is currently the race which is closest to my home country. I am looking forward to having great support from our fans there, which gives me extra motivation. The race weekend is always busy, and it requires a lot of energy. The track in Austin is one of my favourites, I love driving there. I like the first sector with a sequence of fast corners, which is similar to a part of the track in Silverstone. As we are still facing a lack of straight line speed, the second part of the track could be a challenge, as it has a long straight. In the last sector there are some technical, slow-speed corners. All in all, it will be crucial to have a good set-up as well as efficient aerodynamics."

Adrian Sutil - "The United States Grand Prix is a great event in a country in which motorsport is hugely important. I have only been to Austin once. It is a very interesting track that offers a bit of everything. After the first slow corner, the track has a sequence of left-right combinations which remind me of the "Esses" in Suzuka. It is a lot of fun driving there. Obviously, a high amount of downforce, as well as engine power, is needed to be fast there. During the race there are many fans, and the city of Austin is also very nice. Some of my friends from the US will come for a visit. For me it is a great event, and I am looking forward to it. We will certainly do our best to get the maximum out of our package."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

#ForzaJules

American GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

 

Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Jean-Eric Vergne - "I really enjoyed going to Texas, I love the place and on top of that, the Circuit of the Americas itself is a great track to drive. There's a special feel about racing in America and the paddock has a good atmosphere to it. The fans are enthusiastic and there is always plenty of support from all the Mexicans who come to follow this race to boost the local crowd numbers. I'm not sure how our car will perform there, but hopefully we will have a good pace and enjoy a successful weekend. I know the first corner is visually impressive when you look up at it from the pits, but in the car it doesn't feel particularly special. To be competitive here you need all the usual things, good aero downforce and a powerful engine as there is a long straight. There are no special secrets to doing well at this track."

Daniil Kvyat - "I have very good memories of Austin last year. It was a very exciting time for me and now it's hard to believe that already one year has gone by since that weekend in America. I feel like a veteran now! It's a special place for me because that's where I first was part of a Formula One Grand Prix weekend, even if it was only driving the Friday morning session. I was reasonably quick there, maybe a couple of tenths off Daniel (Ricciardo) although I wouldn't be happy with that this time round. It will be good to go back there therefore. The track itself is very nice, fast with lots of challenging high speed corners, which I like. The track has plenty of up and downs with the first section featuring some corners that remind me of Silverstone. I enjoyed going to America last year and I'm looking forward to eating some steak!"

Max Verstappen (Driving for Toro Rosso in 2015) - "I'm looking forward to being back in the STR9 for the first time since Japan. I missed Sochi because I was in Imola, competing in the penultimate round of the European Formula 3 Championship that weekend. In Hockenheim, the following week, I got one win out of the three races and that meant I ended up third in the championship standings. I still have one more go in an F3 car, as I am taking part in the Macau F3 Grand Prix. It's a really special race, a special track and it is a race I would really like to win, especially as earlier this year I won the Zandvoort Masters, the other "classic" on the F3 calendar. So before coming out to Austin, I was in the simulator for Macau and I also spent some time looking at the Circuit of the Americas. It looks like a fun track to drive with interesting corners like the first one that you have to go into blind. I've never been to Austin, although I've raced karts in the States and been there on holiday. After taking part in FP1 in Suzuka, I had to rush back to Europe, but this time, I will be staying with the team all the way through to Brazil, so I'll be able to learn a lot more, taking part in all the briefings and generally getting to know the team."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to drivers

#ForzaJules

American GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

Preview Quotes - McLaren

Jenson Button - "It'll be good to get to Austin after the three-week break. I really enjoy this circuit; a great mix of a high-speed straight and really fast, technical sections to get your teeth into. It's also one of the few circuits that run anti-clockwise, which makes it a little bit more of a challenge.

Although this is only our third grand prix in Austin, it feels like we've been going there a lot longer. It's testament to the fans, who are fantastic and always provide a great welcome, and it's already a very popular track amongst the drivers. I've had positive results there over the past two years, and our performance in recent races has shown that our pace is improving as we move towards the end of the season, so I'm looking forward to this weekend. Perhaps this track won't suit us quite as well as Sochi did, but it's a similar circuit in terms of set-up so I'm hopeful we can take the fight to our closest rivals. As usual, we'll be pushing to get the maximum out of our car and secure a strong finish for the team in front of the passionate US fans."

Kevin Magnussen - "I'm really intrigued by this circuit; it's already become one of the drivers' favourites and the mix of high-speed corners and elevation changes makes it a really exciting challenge. Although this will be my first time driving on the track here in Austin, I've driven it in the simulator and many of the corners have similarities to corners on other great circuits. Turns Three, Four and Five are very like the fast Maggotts-Becketts section at Silverstone, for example, which I know well, so I'm really looking forward to getting out on track in the car.

The track has a very long, fast back straight but also lots of complex, high-speed corners, so this weekend the focus will be on finding the best balance and set-up compromise with my engineers as soon as we get started. I've also heard a lot about the famous ‘Austinite' welcome - the fans in the US are always really enthusiastic so there should be a great atmosphere. In Russia we battled hard and came away with a positive result, so despite the three-week break I'm determined to carry that momentum into Austin and hit the ground running, so that we can secure another decent performance for the team."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

#ForzaJules

American GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton - "Crossing the line on Sunday in Sochi was a really amazing moment. To win the very first Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix and help the team achieve the first constructors' championship for Mercedes-Benz with a one-two finish - it couldn't have got much better. When I went to the factories in Brackley and Brixworth the week afterwards, the atmosphere was just awesome. Everybody has worked so hard to achieve this title and they all deserve to savour the moment. Of course, we still have three races left to decide the drivers' championship - starting in Austin, which is one of the best weekends of the year. A lot of the American side of my family come to the race, plus I won the first ever Formula One Grand Prix at the circuit back in 2012, so it's a special one for me. I really enjoy going there and I'm looking forward to another great race - hopefully ending up with another Stetson hat on the top step of the podium!"

Nico Rosberg - "What a week we had after Russia. Being back at Brackley and Brixworth with a constructors' championship title for Mercedes-Benz - the first one ever, of course - and celebrating with all the people I've watched working flat-out, day and night for nearly five years to achieve this goal - it was just fantastic. I'm really proud to be a part of this team along with all the great people within it, so it's great to see them get such a reward for all their efforts. Now, of course, we target a big finish to the season in the final three races. It's still all to play for in the battle for the drivers' championship and I won't be giving up the fight until the flag drops in Abu Dhabi. Hopefully we can keep the entertainment going right to the end for the fans out there enjoying the contest. The first step comes in Austin, which is a really cool city and a great race track. I haven't had the best races there so far, but I'm determined to change that this year."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

#ForzaJules

Caterham & Marussia could miss Austin and Brazil

With just a week to go before the US GP at COTA in Austin, Texas - It is looking more and more likely that we won't be seeing Caterham or Marussia lining up on the grid for Sunday's race. In fact, the teams may not arrive in Texas at all.

Caterham is currently dealing with legal matters involving the former and current owners. Tony Fernandes who sold the team back in June of this year, claims that  the buyers did not comply with the conditions that were agreed upon when he sold Caterham F1 Team. However, the buyers insist they've paid. 

Tony went to Twitter and very bluntly tweeted the following: "If you buy something you should pay for it. Quite simple"

The tweet caused even more of a stir for the already struggling team. With all the chaos going on, the Caterham factory locked its doors, not allowing any work to go on inside. Now, they're facing the harsh possibility of missing not only the US GP, but the Brazilian GP as well.

The running of the team now lies in the hands of administrators, a firm called 'Smith & Williamson' located in London.

As for Marussia, they've already been going through enough drama lately with the aftermath of Jules Bianchi's crash at Suzuka.

Now they're struggling with financial issues. There has even been multiple claims that Andrej Cheglakov, the current owner, wants to sell the team.

If both teams are unable to attend next weekend's GP, we'll be seeing just 18 cars on the grid, making it the first time since only 18 lined up for the 2005 Grand Prix of Monaco.

More to come in the following days.

----

Find more news and updates by following us on Twitter @F1Insider78

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement intended

#ForzaJules

American GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes - Lotus

Romain Grosjean - "It's amazing just how quickly this season has passed, even if it seemed a long, hard slog at times. We head to Austin, Brazil and Abu Dhabi determined to get the most we can from the race weekends and also using some of the practice time to evaluate different aspects of the car to gain more data for 2015. (Austin) is quite a balanced circuit in that you don't need one particular thing over another for the car to perform well. In the first year the challenge was finding the level of grip we want and we did see the same to a certain extent last year too. This year, we should be helped a bit by the race being a couple of weeks earlier, but we're always wanting more grip! The gradient up to Turn 1 is really something and it makes for a fun first corner when you're in the car. It's a really well presented facility with an interesting circuit layout."

Pastor Maldonado - "Austin is a good track, it's a challenging layout which is good to drive and it's an enjoyable event. The first turn is quite something with its very steep climb and the rest of the lap flows well. The atmosphere at the circuit is really special, even for the first time we visited. It's great to see the RVs at the side of the track and people staying at the circuit to enjoy the full weekend. The circuit can be a difficult one for tyres and we had some unusual delays and interruptions on the Friday last year so it will be interesting to see what happens this time. Certainly, there can be a variety with the weather and in the past we've seen it be quite cold at the start of the day. The race is earlier this season so let's see how that makes a difference. Obviously we want to perform better than we did in Sochi. That was a difficult weekend for many reasons. We think the Austin layout should suit our car a bit better so that's a positive. Hopefully we won't have any more technical issues. I know we'll have good support from the fans so we'll be pushing for a good result."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

#ForzaJules

American GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Sebastian Vettel - "Austin is a fun city where you get a real feel for the Texan lifestyle and traditions and get to race on a great track. The Circuit of The Americas is a track I like a lot; it has 20 corners and we drive it anti-clockwise. The start/finish straight has a steep incline up to the first corner and is the trademark of the track. For us that means the braking starts uphill, which is not easy and locking the front tyres could be a problem. A lot of the corner combinations remind me of other famous circuits on the race calendar. For example the fast combination during the first part of the track feels like Silverstone and Suzuka. The famous Maggotts and Becketts passages were used as a model for this part of the track and the drivers enjoy the extremely fast turns, when the car is balanced right. Also corners 12 and 15, this section was taken from the Motodrom in Hockenheim. It is a slower part of the track, and is designed to create more of a stadium atmosphere. The long bend also reminds of the famous Turn 8 in Istanbul."

Daniel Ricciardo - "Hand on heart, this is probably the date on the calendar I look forward to the most. I've loved every minute of being in Austin: when they picked this place for the US Grand Prix, they absolutely nailed it. The city is awesome. I love listening to live music and this is a great place for that, plus Texas feels like real America, and that's something I've really enjoyed just sinking into the last two seasons. And then, there's the important bit. The Circuit of The Americas, in my opinion, is the best of the new breed of circuits. The nature of the corners is interesting. It's also a very busy track where you don't get much respite. The first sector is very special and that first turn, blind up the big hill is like nothing else in F1. It's also a good example of the excitement a late apex can create: you can have a really good lunge there. They've done a very good job."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

#ForzaJules

American GP: Circuit Preview

(Image credit belongs to : www.seatingchartview.com - All rights belong to owner.)

One of the final 3 races of this season is the American GP - So, it's time to take a look at the circuit and of course a quick. Overview of last year's race.

The "Circuit Of The Americas" is located in Austin, Texas in the United States Of America. The circuit first opened in October of 2012 and was also the first time it hosted a Grand Prix.

COTA is one of the few circuits that runs Anti-Clockwise. It's 3.427 miles in length and has a capacity of 120,000. There's a total of 20 turns and the race usually runs 56 laps.

Last year saw Sebastian Vettel start on Pole and go on to win the race. Romain Grosjean finished second and Vettel's then Team-Mate, Mark Webber finished in third. The only retirement of the race was Adrian Sutil in the Force India, due to a collision. 

For more lead-up info to next weekend's GP, follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement itended

Image belongs to www.seatingchartview.com

#ForzaJules

American GP: Schedule

As we head into the final 3 rounds of the 2014 Season, it's time for the Texas flare as F1 heads to Austin!

Here is the Schedule for the full weekend. Times are Local for Austin. Need help figuring out when things take place for you? Let us know and we'll convert it!

SCHEDULE:

October 30th / Thursday

11:00 - Drivers Press Conference (Located in The Press Room)

October 31st / Friday

10:00 - 11:30 - Free Practice #1

12:35 - 13:45 - Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk

14:00 - 15:30 - Free Practice #2

16:00 - 17:00 - Press Conference (Located in The Press Room)

November 1st / Saturday

08:15 - 09:45 - Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk

09:00 - 09:30 - Team Pit-Stop Practice

10:00 - 11:00 - Free Practice #3

12:05 - 12:40 - Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk

13:00 - Qualifying

November 2nd / Sunday

12:10 - 12:15 - Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk

12:30 - Drivers Parade

12:45 - 13:15 - Starting Grid Presentation

13:46 - National Anthem

14:00 - Race Start

----

Follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

#ForzaJules

Feature: Star Drivers Of The Russian GP

Amy Hawk - "My driver of the weekend is Lewis Hamilton. He's fighting every bit of the way to stay in the lead for the drivers Championship. His weekend in Russia was nothing less from phenomenal. 

He was quick to take the lead when Rosberg had the lock-up and he stayed ahead even when Rosberg caught up from 20th. Not only did he grab the win, but he's now got a good points gap between himself and Nico, so going into the next race weekend I think he'll be feeling more confident."

Frances Fry - "My driver of this previous GP has to be Nico Rosberg. If his previous track record for the season isn't already enough to be impressed by, his amazing progress through the places this weekend certainly should be! 

On corner 1, Rosberg locked up after attempting to overtake his teammate Lewis Hamilton. The lock up resulted in extreme bald patches on his tyres, which due to low friction were meant to last him to around lap 35. The tyres weren't suitable for racing on and so, at the end of lap 1, Rosberg pitted. 

The Mercedes driver came out in 21st place, with Massa behind him. 

The German driver began making his way up the places, making incredible progress. Williams driver Massa followed him through until they reached Perez where Massa got caught, leaving Rosberg to make yet more progress. 

Nico made it to the end of the race on the set of tyres he switched to after his lock up. If this wasn't impressive enough, he finished in second place, giving Mercedes yet another 1/2 finish."

----

Follow us on Twitter @F1insider78 for more news and updates throughout the 2014 season.

Article belongs to F1Insider78 and its writers.

#ForzaJules

Hamilton VS. Rosberg

It's no secret that there has been friction between the two team mates at Mercedes. 

The first signs of this was at the GP in Monaco. In the third qualifying session Rosberg experienced some difficulties and found himself having to use an escape road. At the time of this happening, Hamilton just happened to be on his "podium lap" when the session was given the red flag and ended early, not allowing Hamilton to finish his lap. 

Almost instantly, fans took their sides. Some saying Rosberg had done it on purpose and others agreeing it was a mere accident. 

Again on race day, friction was evident. On the podium the two could barely stand next to each other. It was especially clear on Lewis' face that he was uncomfortable. The team, as you'd expect, sat down and spoke about it. 

Fans were told there were no issues between the drivers and they remained friends. Despite this, there still remains a lot of obvious unhappiness between the two. Lewis seemed to be taking it harder until very recently when Rosberg has been greeted by booing on the podium.

Although Rosberg appears to be handling the situation very well, you can imagine it isn't the sort of way you want to start a podium finish celebration. 

After such a strong start to an incredible season for the team, some are questioning if this situation could jeopardise the championship win for the team. I suppose all we can do for now is wait and see what happens in the final rounds of the season.

Article Written By: Frances Fry

Edited By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

----

Follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78

#ForzaJules

Feature: Russian GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Post Russian Our Quotes

Amy Hawk - "First, a huge congratulations to Lewis on his win, and also to Rosberg and Bottas. They drove brilliantly.

It was great to see a race at a brand new circuit. Sochi has a great atmosphere and looks absolutely beautiful. The race itself may not have been the most challenging, but it was overall a good race and I enjoyed it.

It's still a bit hard, as we're all still thinking of Jules, but we have to stay positive and it was great to see everyone was out there racing for him. 

Things look a bit more positive for Sauber, both cars finishing without any issues, so hopefully they continue that in Austin. Force India put up a great fight despite Nico having the penalty for a Gearbox change. Unfortunately the team is now back to 6th in the Constructors, but there's 3 races left to fight for 5th, so every point counts.

McLaren also looked strong and I was very confident Button was heading for the podium, but after the pit-stop, Bottas really had the lead for third. There wasn't enough laps for him (Button) to catch back up.

We're looking forward to Austin, as it is in the US, so that makes it our home race. It's going to be a great weekend, as it has been the past two years."

Frances Fry - "A race at a new track is always something to look forward do. The unfamiliar bends and tyre wear can leave a lot to be seen. Sochi was a great track with some fierce bends but tyre wear wasn't a problem for the teams. I suppose in some ways it was a bit disappointing as it didn't offer a lot of chance for what some fans may refer to as "action". However, I think it was somewhat a blessing. With the small run off spaces at the track, no cars were damaged upon wall contact due to the lack of "action". 

Additionally, the smooth surface gave drivers the chance to show off how long they could go on set of tyres. However, after Rosberg's lock up on lap 1 I think it's fair to say his drive was more than a little impressive as he didn't pit again for the rest of the race. 

This may have overshadowed the incredible stint done by Esteban Gutierrez who made his first (and last) pit stop on lap 40! He additionally put on a fantastic performance and for a while, it looked like Sauber were going to get their first points. However, after the pit stop, Gutierrez dropped back to 15th, 5 places out of the points. 

The highlight of the weekend was without a doubt Mercedes making history and winning their first F1 constructors championship. Now it's just a question of which driver will take the crown!  

So onto Austin we go. With larger run offs, more tyre wear, and more opportunity for points, I can't wait to see what happens as the season starts to round itself up!"

----

Follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78

Quotes available for use with permission. Please visit the contact page.

#ForzaJules

Jules Bianchi: Driver & Fighter

When the current Formula 1 season started earlier this year in March, I never thought I'd be sitting here, writing an article like this. Of course, we're all aware of the dangers that any Motorsport can hold. We all know the statistics and the possibilities.. So why is it so hard to accept it when someone actually gets hurt? Well, maybe it's because we've become so used to drivers walking away from wrecks and fires without a scratch.

    It's been a little over a week since the Japanese Grand Prix. The race that changed things, the race that made me and so many others look at racing with a different point of view. As the rain pelted down on to the circuit of Suzuka, I knew the risks, I knew of accidents from other "Wet Races" - But I never expected a young, innocent man to have to fight such a battle.

    Jules Bianchi, the 25-year-old driver for Marussia F1 team is currently in critical condition in Yokkaichi Hospital, located in Japan. He had crashed heavily into a recovery tractor during the Japanese GP, before being rushed to the hospital VIA ambulance. He underwent emergency surgery and it was later announced he had suffered a Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) - One of the most severe injuries to the brain.

    We, like so many others, have been sending our prayers and support to Jules and his family. I've seen support from all the other Formula 1 drivers and even drivers from other Championships, ranging from Le Mans to MotoGP. Fans have made signs, pictures, and videos, urging Jules to fight and get better.

    On the Thursday before the Japanese GP, I watched the Drivers Press Conference, watched as Jules talked about his season and how he felt about his performance with Marussia so far this year. I never would have thought that only a few days later, he would be on his way to the hospital.

    As the teams headed to Russia for the recent Russian GP, nothing felt the same. Everything felt strange. Strange and heavy. As the drivers grouped in a circle before the race, having a moment of silence in respect of Jules, I myself closed my eyes, sharing the silence. It is an indescribable feeling when a driver is missing from the grid, when you don't see them around the paddock or prepping in the garage for a Session run.

    If there's one thing I know about Jules, it's that he's a fighter. I often think back to Monaco, earlier this year, when he scored Marussia their first ever points. I remember thinking to myself that without a doubt, he's not a rookie anymore, he's a future champion. He fought hard for those points and right now, he is fighting for the most important thing, more important than any trophy or medal. He's fighting for his life.
    
      I don't know when his condition will improve.. I know things take time and everything is just so fragile right now. The only thing we can do is just continue to keep the positivity going around with thoughts and prayers. We send our love to the Bianchi family and to the other drivers during this tough time.
 
Keep fighting Jules, everyone's cheering you on.

----
Article Written By: Amy Hawk

Russian GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

Race - Re-Cap & Results

Now that the Russian GP is over, we only have 3 races left of the 2014 season.

While it's very exciting to get to see a whole new circuit and watch the drivers race, there was a more important matter on everyone's minds. Jules Bianchi. 

Bianchi, who had a horrific crash during the Japanese GP, is still in critical condition. Before the race, all drivers including some reserves, huddled in a circle and shared a moment of silence in support to Jules and his family. Although we were not in Russia, we were also having a moment of silence. We're all hoping and praying that Jules will recover from his injuries.

With all that's been going on, it has been a very tough and emotional week for Marussia especially. They'd decided to run only Max's car in respect of Jules and his family. However, Max did not finish the race. The team decided things didn't look well with the pace and decided to retire the car. 

The only other retirement of the race was Kamui Kobayashi, who was called in and told the car was being retired as well. We've been told it was an issue with the brakes.

The Sochi circuit is stunning. Bright and beautiful, but it has proved to be a very tough circuit for overtaking. There wasn't much wheel-to-wheel battling going on, but some drivers were luckier than others.

Lewis Hamilton gained a lead over his team-mate, Rosberg in just the first lap when Rosberg made a mistake that cost him the win. He had to make an early pit-stop and lost nearly all the positions on the grid. He knew he had to battle back from 20th in order to get on the podium and keep the points gap close.

McLaren did a brilliant job in order to finish P4 and P5. Although, for awhile it looked like Jenson would take that 3rd place, he had to pit and Bottas took the lead over the Brit. There was just not enough time to catch the Fin after that.

Force India was playing a game of catch-up after neither driver advanced to Q3. Hulkenberg also had a 5-place-grid-penalty. Throughout the race, Sergio was told his fuel was critical and that he needed to be careful if he wanted to finish the race at all. Luckily, he did and he got that last Championship Point. He dedicated it to Jules. Force India has now fallen back to 6th in the Constructors standings after McLaren's top 5 finish for both drivers.

Sauber was looking a lot better this weekend, with both cars finishing and I would say they did pretty well. Esteban finished P15. A late pit-stop moved him out of a potential points finish. But he did a fantastic job making the tyres last as long as he did. His team-mate, Adrian finished P16 after a bit of contact with Romain Grosjean. The Lotus driver was handed a penalty for the contact with Adrian and also given 2 penalty points.

Lewis Hamilton won the race and Rosberg indeed fought his way to 2nd. Bottas finishing 3rd. This also won Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team the title in the Constructors Championship. Lewis dedicated his race win to Jules as well. 

In a few weeks, the teams will head to Austin, Texas for the US Grand Prix. Since we're based in both America and Britain, this is one of our home races and we're excited! You can follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78 for our most frequent updates and breaking news!

Here are the final results from the Russian GP.

RACE RESULTS:

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 25 Points

2. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / + 18 Points

3. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / + 15 Points

4. Jenson Button / McLaren-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 12 Points

5. Kevin Magnussen / McLaren-Mercedes / Denmark / + 10 Points

6. Fernando Alonso / Ferrari-Ferrari / Spain / + 8 Points

7. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia / + 6 Points

8. Sebastian Vettel / Red Bull-Renault / Germany / + 4 Points

9. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 2 Points

10. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 1 Point

11. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil

12. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany

13. Jean-Eric Vergne / Toro Rosso-Renault / France

14. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Renault / Russia

15. Esteban Gutierrez / Sauber-Ferrari / Mexico

16. Adrian Sutil / Sauber-Ferrari / Germany

17. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Renault / France

18. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Renault / Venezuela 

19. Marcus Ericsson / Caterham-Renault / Sweden

RETIRED - Kamui Kobayashi / Caterham-Renault / Japan / Brake Failure

RETIRED - Max Chilton / Marussia-Ferrari / Great Britain

----

#ForzaJules

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended