Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

Preview Quotes - Manor/Marussia


Will Stevens - "I'm really looking forward to this weekend. It was here 12 months ago that I made my F1 debut, so this track has happy memories for me and it's one I really enjoy racing at. I had a really strong race in Brazil, so I'd really like to replicate that performance on Sunday and I plan to approach the weekend in a similar fashion, focusing much more on the race than my single lap pace. Beating my team-mate is a moving target once again, with Roberto back in the car rather than Alex, but my aim is still to be the lead Manor driver going into the race, and the first to cross the line at the end of it."

Roberto Merhi - "I'm so excited to be back in the car this weekend for the season finale. As any reserve driver will tell you, I really missed the racing; it will be a long time yet before I'm ready to hang up my racing gloves for a full-time career in TV commentary! I've kept a close eye on everything the team has been doing over the past five races, so I don't think it will be too difficult to get back up to speed on Friday and see how I stand versus Will. I've missed the competitive spirit between us. The most important thing is to do the best job possible for the team on Sunday, and ensure we have a result to celebrate. It has been a long, hard season, so I want to say thank you for this opportunity and I hope I can deliver another strong performance to reward the faith the team has shown in me."

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes - Sauber


Marcus Ericsson - "Abu Dhabi, the last race of the season - it is unbelievable how time flies. It is very exciting to come back to Abu Dhabi, and I am looking forward to enjoying the race weekend there. This Grand Prix in the middle east is always a great event attended by lots of fans from many countries. It is a race in the desert with the start at sunset. The track itself is in perfect condition, it is very modern and has some run-off areas. As the circuit has a few long straights, engine power will be crucial. On the other hand, there are also hairpins and some slow speed corners. I am quite familiar with that track from my time in the GP2 series, and I also drove there for my first test for the Sauber F1 Team in November last year. Certainly, we will again do our best to score points - for a successful completion to the season."

Felipe Nasr - "The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is another great event, and I will enjoy driving on this track with our car for the first time. So far, I have driven there as a GP2 driver and I have also had an F1 test with Williams. I can also say, because of my family's Lebanese roots, I always receive a warm welcome and a lot of support both in the UAE and the whole of the Middle East. They make me feel I am also at home. I like the people, their traditions, their cultures and, of course, the food. On the track it will be important again to find the right set-up, and this is where we need to concentrate our focus the most on Friday. The track in the desert sands is quite spectacular with unique surroundings. All in all, the atmosphere is special. The race starts late in the afternoon, which makes it even more interesting, because of the floodlit-style à la Singapore. We will keep on with our fight for a good result."

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso


Carlos Sainz - "It's unbelievable how quickly my first season in Formula 1 has gone by! I still remember this time last year as if it was yesterday...It was a very special moment in my career too as, after the 2014 Abu Dhabi test with our friends at Infiniti Red Bull Racing, I was confirmed as a Scuderia Toro Rosso driver. It will now be good to go back there and race...

I have some very good memories (of the season): scoring my first ever F1 points in my first race in Australia; qualifying in P5 in front of my home crowd in Barcelona; racing from pits to points in Monaco. Okay, then there's been a bit of an unlucky streak, but we were able to overcome that and I've had some more good races lately, like Austin. I've learned so, so much this year that I can be sure I've become a better driver and I can use this experience to grow even more. This year was all about gaining experience, and that's what we've done!"

Max Verstappen - "It's a shame that it's already the last race of the season, it would be good to keep on racing for another few weeks! At least I have my simulator at home, I can race on that until the season starts again! I'm very happy with my first year in Formula 1. It's been a steep learning curve. We've scored some really good results, ending up very close to the podium thanks to our two P4's in Hungary and Austin! I've also had a lot of fun out on track - hopefully I can have some more this week.

Even though (The Yas Marina Circuit) has long straights, there are also plenty of corners, which is good. The atmosphere is also special, with the harbour so close, and it will be interesting to race starting in the daylight and finishing at night. It's the perfect setting for our last day at school. If we could finish the season sixth, that would be great - so let's go for it! We will all push together, that's for sure."

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes - Force India


Sergio Perez - “The 2015 season has gone by so quickly, but I have lots of great memories and I’m very proud of what we have achieved. I think it’s probably been my best season in Formula One in terms of results and also the most enjoyable. We have grown a lot during the course of the year and we have had some special days, with a highlight being my podium in Russia and my home race in Mexico.

I think Abu Dhabi is the perfect place to end the season, especially with a race under the lights. The whole venue is impressive and the track is quite a challenge from a set-up point of view. You need a car that works through the fast corners in the first sector, as well as through the slow final sector, which feels more like a twisty street circuit. I think we have the potential for a big result in Abu Dhabi. Things didn’t work out for me in Brazil so I’m determined to get back in the points this weekend and finish this great season on a positive note."

Nico Hulkenberg - “The final race of the season is always important because you want to finish the season well and carry the momentum into the winter months. We have already secured fifth in the championship but I want to make sure I end the season in the top ten of the drivers’ championship so there is still a lot to play for.

Abu Dhabi is a fun place for the season finale: the venue is great and the twilight racing helps create a special atmosphere. As a track, it's not easy to get a good lap as the layout is very technical, especially in the final sector. It's quite easy to come into a corner too hot and make a mistake, and finding a good flow is a big challenge. Brazil was a very enjoyable weekend for me: the car felt great and we maximised every session to come away with a well-deserved result. I think we can realistically aim for a similar performance this weekend. It's been a great year for everyone in the team and we deserve to finish on a high.”


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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

Preview Quotes - Williams


Valtteri Bottas - “I really like Abu Dhabi as a place. The weather is guaranteed to be good and the facilities are great. It’s the track where I had my first official Formula One test, so I have good memories there. It’s the season finale, so it would be very nice to end the season with a strong result with both of our cars like we did last season. We have good memories from last year, everyone in the team was so happy, it was a really special feeling after such a difficult season in 2013 to confirm third in the constructors’ and my fourth place in the drivers’ championship. Hopefully we can make more great memories this time.”

Felipe Massa - “Abu Dhabi last season, I think this was the best race I’ve had in my time at Williams. To be able to fight for the victory was amazing, there have been two races we were really fighting for the victory, one was Silverstone this year and the other was Abu Dhabi. We got very close to winning the race, it was the best result for the team with both cars on the podium. The race starts in the day time and finishes in the evening, it’s almost like two separate races. I really hope we can have a similar performance as we had last year there because the car was really very strong.”

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

Preview Quotes - McLaren


Fernando Alonso - "The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend represents many things for us at McLaren-Honda: the end of a challenging season and a significant learning curve; the opportunity to collect as much information as possible and continue our learning; and the start of the winter period where we are all focussed on working incredibly hard on next year's package, and seeing more progress and results from our efforts throughout this year.

Yas Marina is always an exciting racetrack to drive on – it's one of those circuits that changes its character all the way through the lap, which makes it a lot of fun for the drivers. The spectacle of a twilight race, and feeling the atmosphere change as the light fades during the sessions over the course of the weekend is pretty incredible. Abu Dhabi is a fantastic place to end the season and we are hoping to take what we can from the weekend and enjoy it as much as possible.

After a few difficult weekends, we will of course be pushing hard to finish the year on a positive note, but the whole team knows the work we have to do over the winter, and there's huge commitment from everyone already to start seeing results. Every session this weekend will be an opportunity to learn more and take that development into next year's car, so as usual we will continue fighting as hard as we can to the end."

Jenson Button - "It's great to be heading back to Yas Marina, not least because of the excitement and buzz that the fans bring and the incredible setting Abu Dhabi provides for a racing venue, but also because it is the end of a long and challenging year for the whole team. Although we've had some difficult weekends over the past few races, the mood back at MTC is still very upbeat, and everyone is already working hard for next year.

It's testament to the strength of our team that we continue to come out fighting every race weekend, and Abu Dhabi will be exactly the same. Yas Marina is a tricky circuit with lots of different elements coming together: sweeping faster sections, two long back straights, and a slower-speed tight, twisty infield section at the end of the lap. It makes set-up a challenge and particularly for our package it's not well suited, but we're hopeful of a more positive performance there than we found at Interlagos.

If we can push for some points in Abu Dhabi, it'll definitely be a boost for the team to end the season, and will reward all the efforts from every single member of the team over the past year. We already have our heads firmly on the development push over winter, so anything positive we can take from this weekend will help us start our next chapter together with even more energy. Our motivation is as strong as ever."

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes - Lotus


Romain Grosjean - “It’s a good track with very nice paddock facilities which in my opinion are amongst the best on the calendar. It’s also a very special Grand Prix given that it starts in the day and finishes under lights, which makes it incredible for the fans as they can see through our visors and watch how hard we are concentrating. It’s also pretty good for me as I can get up a bit later on race day! The weekend is a bit unusual as it can be difficult to work on car set-up in FP1 and FP3 as conditions are not representative of those you’ll find in qualifying and the race. This means FP2 becomes even more important for both the engineers and myself, which makes it a rather crucial session.

There’s no point holding back in the race or over the weekend. It’s the last time the E23s will be used in race action so I’ll be looking to give my car a good send off. The engine will be turned up to eleven, I’ll be racing my heart out and I know all the guys and girls at Enstone want to see a great end to the season.”

Pastor Maldonado - “It’s always a special event and being the final race of the year makes it all the more exciting. The venue is fabulous and the facilities are the very best Formula One can offer. Even though the event is amongst the busiest, the ease with which everything happens makes it quite a relaxing one when you’re out of the car. It’s easy to get in and out of the track and the team hospitality buildings are immense. Away from the track, the people are always really welcoming, the weather is great and the place is spectacular.

It’s a good track to drive. The first sector at the circuit stands out with Turns 2, 3 and 4 being particularly enjoyable and the final sector is pretty eye-catching, even if you do have a lot of work to do behind the wheel at this section. The event format is interesting because of half the practice sessions being during the day, when the race itself is in early evening. This means you have a little bit less data in race representative conditions, but we’ve been to Abu Dhabi many times so the engineers are pretty good at working out what to do.”

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Daniel Ricciardo - “I think it (Abu Dhabi) really was my best weekend of 2014. It wasn’t a win but I nailed qualifying, I nailed the race, I nailed the whole thing. Pace, consistency, everything was awesome and it got me from the back of the grid to fourth, so yes, in terms of pure performance, it was my best race.

I like the last sector in particular because that turns it into an exciting track. It’s twisty and you get right up close with the walls. You also have to contend with your tyres going off because the start of the lap is so fast - by the third sector you’re really having to manage your rubber. It’s... a challenge. I think starting in the sun and ending in the dark is pretty cool. Actually I think the whole atmosphere of the weekend is pretty cool. Lots of Aussies make the trip, lots of Europeans and there’s a really good multicultural scene. Lots of boat parties in the marina, lots of fun. I do like Abu Dhabi.”

Daniil Kvyat - “I generally enjoy most tracks and in one way or another they all have good associations but it’s particularly the case at Yas Marina because I won the GP3 championship there. I had a good qualifying there last year. I was fifth on the grid I think but the race didn’t work out so well as I had to retire with an engine problem. Still, it’s been enjoyable. It’s a good track to drive, even if it’s one of the modern ones with the big run-off areas. It’s very technical though and it takes some time to get your head around it. Do that and you’ll get a good lap, but it’s not as easy as it looks.”

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Abu Dhabi GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton - "The Yas Marina really is a stunning place to hold the season-ending Grand Prix. The organisers clearly spent a lot of time and effort on designing the most spectacular venue imaginable and the track is one I really enjoy driving. It’s actually a really challenging circuit. There are a couple of high speed corners but it’s mostly medium to low speed, so despite the long straights you need to set the car up with a downforce level tuned for low speed grip. It’s also a twilight race, starting late afternoon and running into the night, which is quite unusual and I imagine must be pretty cool to watch on TV. Last year, this place brought probably the most intense weekend of my life. I didn’t sleep much through nerves and not knowing what was ahead. But this time around there’s no pressure, so I’ll be well-rested and aiming to go out on a high. A lot of British fans come out to Abu Dhabi so it’s like another home crowd for me. To win for them and show how grateful I am for the fantastic support I’ve had all year would be the best way to end an incredible season."

Nico Rosberg - "I’ve had two really great weekends now in Mexico and Brazil, so I’m heading into the final race on a massive high. Abu Dhabi hasn’t always been an easy one for me. Of course, last year was probably my biggest disappointment – losing the title at the last moment with a mechanical problem. But I showed my speed there with pole position and I have good momentum behind me right now, so I’m aiming to end the season on a big positive this time around. Of course, it’s also the last race for this incredible Silver Arrow – and it deserves a spectacular send off. Everyone at the factories has done such a fantastic job one again this year. A car like this is something every driver dreams of having in their hands, so I’ll be pushing hard to make the most of it for one last time as a tribute to all their hard work. Of course, it will be close as always with Lewis and we saw a big push from Ferrari in São Paulo, so it won’t be straightforward. But I’m up for a battle and hopefully we can put on a great show for the fans to end the year."

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Abu Dhabi GP: Circuit Preview

(Image belongs to abovav.com - All rights belong to the owner)

The "Yas Marina Circuit" currently hosts the last race on the F1 calendar and is located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The circuit is one of the newer ones on the calendar, having just opened in 2009. 

    The circuit runs anti-clockwise and has 21 turns. It has a capacity of 50,000 & is 3.451 miles in length and the race runs for 55 laps.

    In 2014, Nico Rosberg got pole position but lost out on the win to Lewis Hamilton. Felipe Massa came in Second and Valtteri Bottas got Third, making it a double-podium for Williams F1 Team. Retirements included: Daniil Kvyat (Driveshaft), Pastor Maldonado (Engine), & Kamui Kobayashi (Vibration).

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Abu Dhabi GP: Schedule

SCHEDULE:

November 26th / Thursday

15:00 - Drivers Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

November 27th / Friday

13:00 - 14:30 - Free Practice #1

16:05 - 16:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

17:00 - 18:30 - Free Practice #2 

19:10 - 20:00 - Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

November 28th / Saturday

11:00 - 12:05 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

11:30 - 12:00 - Team Pit-Stop Practice

14:00 - 15:00 - Free Practice #3

15:05 - 16:20 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

17:00 - Qualifying

November 29th / Sunday

15:15 - 16:15 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

15:20 - Fastest Lap Of The Year Award

15:25 - Drivers Photograph (End Of the year photo)

15:30 - Drivers Track Parade

15:45 - 16:15 - Starting Grid Presentation

16:46 - National Anthem

17:00 - Race 

(Times subject to change)

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Feature: Star Drivers Of The Brazilian GP

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "My star driver of the Brazilian Grand Prix is 18-year-old Max Verstappen. Once again the rookie has shown incredible maturity and understanding of his car. This was specifically obvious on track as he overtook several cars, earning a significant amount of attention.

These overtakes were some of the best from the race. This fact was highlighted as Hamilton declared it was impossible to overtake on the Interlagos track as he crossed the line second. Some could argue Max's ability to overtake in such extreme, high-pressure circumstances is due to recklessness but others could argue his overtake was that of a champion. Ex-F1 driver David Coulthard would agree (as he stated on BBC's live F1 coverage). Congratulations to Max on continued success in the overtaking department. I look forward to seeing the moves you make in the final race of the season!"

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "My driver of the weekend is Sebastian Vettel.. He is really helping take Ferrari back to the top after a rough couple of years.. It's really great to see him and the team staying consistent and I know next year they'll come back even stronger and hopefully take some wins. Vettel has done an outstanding job with Ferrari & It's great to see he's getting good results."

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Feature: Brazilian GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "First of all, huge Congratulations to Rosberg, Hamilton and Vettel on their results. Brazil is always a great race.. It has a lot of character and Interlagos is just a really up-beat circuit. This was Nasr's first F1 race at his home circuit and that's always a great feeling for a driver. A shame that Massa was excluded.. But rules are rules. It was also wonderful to see that people continue to keep Senna a huge part of the race and the sport. He, to this day, is still a huge inspiration for so many. The race however, was overshadowed by the tragic events of the weekend and my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in France at the moment."

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "Interlagos is renowned for its buzzing atmosphere supplied by the incredible enthusiastic Brazilian fans. This season, Interlagos has not disappointed. Cheers were made for all of the drivers however, none as much as their very own and the late Ayrton Senna. Ayrton Senna was remembered in every second of the event. A beautiful memorial image was on the side of a building, providing fans with the comfort of their hero. In addition to this, "Senna" was chanted throughout the podium celebrations which were more reserved due to the tragic occurrences of the weekend. Brazil remains to be one of my favourite races of the season but I can't help feeling somewhat saddened by it as it's the penultimate race of the season. Having said that, I can't think of a better track to hold the event."

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Brazilian GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

~~First off, our thoughts go out to everyone involved in the tragic events that took place in France recently and we keep everyone in our prayers.~~

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The Brazilian GP got underway after a long weekend of practice sessions and Qualifying. It was a great day for Mercedes & Ferrari as they once again soared to the top and added more points to their tally in both the Drivers & Constructors results.

    Carlos Sainz was unfortunate enough to be the only retirement of the race due to a power failure. His team-mate however, scored 2 Championship points by finishing in 9th, another good result for Verstappen.

    Pastor Maldonado and Marcus Ericsson had a collision during the race and Maldonado was handed a 5-Second-Time-Penalty to his final race time. However, he retained his position after the 5 seconds were added.

    Felipe Massa had originally finished 8th at his home GP, but was later excluded from the race results altogether after the FIA found that Williams had exceeded the tyre heat limit prior to the race.

    Nico Rosberg went on to win the race with Hamilton coming in second and Sebastian Vettel rounding up the top three. This was Rosberg's second win in a row.

Here are the final results

RACE RESULTS

1. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / + 25 Points

2. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 18 Points

3. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 15 Points

4. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 12 Points

5. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / + 10 Points

6. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / + 8 Points

7. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia / + 6 Points

8. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France / + 4 Points

9. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands / + 2 Points

10. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela /  + 1 Point

11. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia

12. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico

13. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

14. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

15. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain

16. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

17. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain

18. Alexander Rossi / Manor-Ferrari / America

RETIRED - Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain / Power Loss

DISQUALIFIED - Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / Excluded Tyre Heat Limit

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Brazilian GP: Qualifying - Results

It was Nico Rosberg who took Pole Position for the Brazilian GP, meanwhile there were other drivers dealing with the unfortunate news of grid penalties. Here are the results. (Penalties listed below)

RESULTS:

1. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany
2. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain
3. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany
4. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland
5. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany
6. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia
7. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland*
8. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil
9. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands
10. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain
11. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico
12. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden
13. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil*
14. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France
15. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela
16. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain
17. Alexander Rossi / Manor-Ferrari / America
18. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain
19. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia*
20. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain*

* - Valtteri Bottas = 3-Place-Grid-Penalty for passing Nasr under Red Flags
* - Felipe Nasr = 3-Place-Grid-Penalty for impeding Massa
* - Daniel Ricciardo = 20-Place-Grid-Penalty for multiple power unit changes
* - Fernando Alonso = 25-Place-Grid-Penalty for multiple power unit changes

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Brazilian GP: Free Practice 3 - Re-Cap & Results

It was a pretty relaxed session apart from Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes stopping on track due to technical issues. Both Hamilton and Rosberg finished in a 1-2 for the third time of the weekend with Vettel in the Ferrari rounding up the top 3.

Here are the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:12.070 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Nico Rosberg - 1:12.193 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:12.760 / Ferrari-Ferrari

4. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:13.096 / Ferrari-Ferrari

5. Valtteri Bottas - 1:13.335 / Williams-Mercedes

6. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:13.345 / Force India-Mercedes

7. Romain Grosjean - 1:13.437 / Lotus-Mercedes

8. Sergio Perez - 1:13.506 / Force India-Mercedes

9. Pastor Maldonado - 1:13.534 / Lotus-Mercedes

10. Max Verstappen - 1:13.548 / Toro Rosso-Renault

11. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:13.572 / Red Bull-Renault

12. Felipe Massa - 1:13.742 / Williams-Mercedes

13. Daniil Kvyat - 1:13.829 / Red Bull-Renault

14. Fernando Alonso - 1:13.850 / McLaren-Honda 

15. Carlos Sainz - 1:13.959 / Toro Rosso-Renault

16. Marcus Ericsson - 1:14.185 / Sauber-Ferrari

17. Felipe Nasr - 1:14.288 / Sauber-Ferrari

18. Jenson Button - 1:14.445 / McLaren-Honda

19. Will Stevens - 1:16.671 / Manor-Ferrari

20. Alexander Rossi - 1:17.059 / Manor-Ferrari

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Brazilian GP: Free Practice 2 - Re-Cap & Results

It was Nico Rosberg who topped this session, despite him mentioning he had upshift problems throughout the hour and a half. However, it was still a Mercedes 1-2 and a great start to their weekend.

    Red Flags came out when Alonso's Mclaren stopped on track. During this, Valtteri Bottas passed Felipe Nasr and ended up with a 3-Place-Grid-Penalty and 2 Penalty Points.

Here are the times from the session

 TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:12.385 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Lewis Hamilton - 1:12.843 / Mercedes-Mercedes
3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:13.345 / Ferrari-Ferrari
4. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:13.500 / Ferrari-Ferrari
5. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:13.585 / Red Bull-Renault
6. Valtteri Bottas - 1:13.603 / Williams-Mercedes
7. Romain Grosjean - 1:13.634 / Lotus-Mercedes
8. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:13.710 / Force India-Mercedes
9. Daniil Kvyat - 1:13.848 / Red Bull-Renault
10. Felipe Massa - 1:13.870 / Wiliams-Mercedes
11. Sergio Perez - 1:14.056 / Force India-Mercedes
12. Pastor Maldonado - 1:14.124 / Lotus-Mercedes
13. Felipe Nasr - 1:14.134 / Sauber-Ferrari
14. Max Verstappen - 1:14.226 / Toro Rosso-Renault
15. Carlos Sainz - 1:14.326 / Toro Rosso-Renault 
16. Jenson Button - 1:14.644 / McLaren-Honda
17. Marcus Ericsson - 1:14.772 / Sauber-Ferrari
18. Fernando Alonso - 1:15.129 / McLaren-Honda
19. Will Stevens - 1:16.501 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Alexander Rossi - 1:16.787 / Manor-Ferrari

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Brazilian GP: Free Practice 1 - Re-Cap & Results

Free Practice 1 was another good session for Mercdes. Both Hamilton and Rosberg took the top spots. Hamilton recovering from a crazy week which included both an illness and a traffic accident. All was OK though and he was able to out-perform his team-mate.

    Jolyon Palmer was in this session in place of Romain Grosjean and to those who have not yet heard, he will be taking Grosjean's place at Lotus, starting in 2016. Pastor Maldonado will stay on the team and partner Palmer.

    Alexander Rossi also continues to race for Marussia during the Brazilian GP weekend, but Roberto Merhi will take over for the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

Here are the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:13.543 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg - 1:14.062 / Mercedes-Mercedes
3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:14.168 / Ferrari-Ferrari
4. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:14.449 / Red Bull-Renault
5. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:14.549 / Ferrari-Ferrari 
6. Daniil Kvyat - 1:14.696 / Red Bull-Renault
7. Valtteri Bottas - 1:14.886 / Williams-Mercedes
8. Max Verstappen - 1:14.960 / Toro Rosso-Renault
9. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:15.174 / Force India-Mercedes
10. Pastor Maldonado - 1:15.192 / Lotus-Mercedes
11. Carlos Sainz - 1:15.314 / Toro Rosso-Renault
12. Jolyon Palmer* - 1:15.352 / Lotus-Mercedes
13. Jenson Button - 1:15.379 / McLaren-Honda
14. Felipe Nasr - 1:15.381 / Sauber-Ferrari 
15. Sergio Perez - 1:15.408 / Force India-Mercedes
16. Fernando Alonso - 1:15.413 / McLaren-Honda
17. Felipe Massa - 1:15.469 / Williams-Mercedes
18. Marcus Ericsson - 1:15.798 / Sauber-Ferrari
19. Alexander Rossi - 1:17.860 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Will Stevens - 1:18.090 / Manor-Ferrari

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Brazilian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

Preview Quotes - Manor


Will Stevens - “The race in Mexico was a very exciting one between me and Alex. In the end, it didn’t deliver the position I held for much of the race, but I felt like I was back to where I was, after a few slightly more challenging rounds on my side of the garage. A stronger weekend there has really fired me up to end the season on a high note, so I’m feeling very optimistic about the next two races, in Brazil and Abu Dhabi. Obviously Abu Dhabi I’ve raced at before, but Brazil is another new circuit for me, and one I’ve always been excited about racing at. What’s great is that it’s a new experience for me personally, but an old classic with a lot of heritage and obviously forever tied to the legacy of one of my own inspirations, Ayrton Senna. It’s also a very challenging circuit, which are my favourites, as it’s another opportunity for a driver to show their skill in arriving at a good compromise set-up to cope with the different circuit characteristics. I’m looking forward to it.”

Alexander Rossi - “Brazil is my final race of 2015 for the team and I really hope it will be as positive as the past four have been for me. I’m very satisfied with my performances thus far, so we will need to keep the momentum going to end on a really strong note. This is a track that I’ve raced and won on in the past, so I will be looking forward to hitting the ground running on Friday. The weather looks like it will be a variable again, as is so often the case with this circuit, but I have grown to be quite comfortable with the car in all conditions, especially after the past two race weekends. I can’t wait to get out there on Friday and resume the on-track battle with Will for one final time this year.”

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Brazilian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes - Sauber

Marcus Ericsson - “It is exciting going to Brazil, as it will be my first time racing in Sao Paulo. I am looking forward to it for two reasons - on a personal level, and also because it is the home Grand Prix for Banco do Brasil, one of our Principal Partners. Of course, as a team we will do our very best with the objective being that Felipe and I will finish the race in the points. That would be a great achievement for everyone. From what I have seen on videos as well as on the data, traction is really important on this track. The first corner is also crucial, as you need to carry the speed when going onto the back straight. Therefore, it is important to have a well-balanced car.”

Felipe Nasr - “I am really looking forward to my first ever Formula One Grand Prix in Interlagos. I am sure there is going to be a lot of energy around the track from all the fans. It will be a very exciting weekend for me representing my home country in Formula One. Last year I drove in FP1 for Williams, which was a nice feeling. But racing in Formula One in front of my home crowd is a dream I have always had. Considering our motorsport history, it is not only a pleasure and honour, but also a moment to remember.”

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Brazilian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

Preview Quotes - McLaren


Fernando Alonso - “The last couple of races have been frustrating on my side of the garage, as we’ve had some bad luck with reliability issues. It’s something we’re always working hard on and we’ll be looking especially closely at in the lead up to the Brazilian Grand Prix, so we can make sure we get the most track time possible over the course of the weekend.

We knew Mexico would be tough, and many of Interlagos’ characteristics are similar, with its steep sections and long straights. However, the circuit is incredible to drive and always a lot of fun, so I’m looking forward to the weekend. We are still seeing progress in our pace and small improvements in every area race by race, so we know it’s important to keep our heads down and keep pushing towards the end of the season. Every race counts and the more we can learn and gather data at every track, the more information we will have at our disposal over the winter and for the development of our package.

After the incredible fan support we received in Mexico, I know we’ll receive another warm welcome in Brazil. The atmosphere is always fantastic and the Brazilian fans are just as passionate. It’s a very special place and we always see unpredictable racing there, so let’s hope we can have some fun this weekend.”

Jenson Button - “Interlagos has got to be up there with the all-time great circuits in Formula One. There’s so much history there, so many legends have raced on that circuit, and the fans are always so enthusiastic that you can’t help but love going back there each year. For me personally, the track is very special. It’s a tough circuit on the cars as it’s so bumpy, but really fun to drive with its off-camber sections and technical mix of corners. Although we found it tough in Mexico - especially with the altitude - our pace in the corners was positive, so I’m looking forward to seeing how our car performs in those areas in Brazil.

The weather is usually unpredictable too, which has made for some chaotic races in the past. It’s great for the fans and always produces some really interesting results, so hopefully we can put ourselves in a position to take advantage if anything happens. Unlike the last couple of races, I hope we can get some solid dry running done initially so that we can really focus on set-up and reliability, and get as much time on track as possible from Friday onwards - then we’ll see what we can do from there.”

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Brazilian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

Preview Quotes - Williams


Valtteri Bottas - “I haven’t had the best races in Brazil in the past, but I’m looking forward to fixing that. It’s a very nice circuit to drive, it has a good combination of different types of corners, and it’s good for racing with good possibilities for overtaking. The fans are very passionate and obviously with Felipe being Brazilian there is a lot of support for Williams Martini Racing. Hopefully this time around I can have a good result. We will be looking to fight with Ferrari and Red Bull for an opportunity to be on the podium. That will be the target.”

Felipe Massa - “Your home Grand Prix is always the most important race for a driver. For me to race at home where I started my career - first on the other side of the wall at the kart track, then onto the race track - there is always a big expectation to perform in front of your home crowd. I love the track, it’s one of the best tracks for me and I’ve always had good results there. I’m really looking forward to hopefully achieving another amazing result this year. Last year we managed to finish on the podium. It was a race with so many things happening - I had a five-second penalty and even stopped in the wrong garage - but we still managed to have an amazing race so it’s important to look back on what we did last year to try to repeat it and have a very strong weekend once again. The passion from the fans is amazing. The emotion they have and how close they are to me as a driver, it’s really an amazing feeling to race at home. The experience is difficult to explain.”

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Brazilian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes - Force India


Sergio Perez - "Racing in my home Grand Prix last week was a dream come true. The support from the fans was incredible and I have so many memories that will stay with me forever. I was happy with my performance over the weekend and I think it was one of my best races of the season. You can always look back and say, ‘what if the safety car hadn't come out', but we made the best of it and I was happy to score points in my home race.

Brazil is another venue where you can feel the energy of the fans. The track is brilliant: it's a proper racer's circuit with some amazing corners. The first sector is fantastic: you can take different lines through turn one and you can end up in a battle for position that lasts until turn six. The lap is very technical and there are a lot of places where you can easily make a mistake, but the feeling when you get a perfect lap together is amazing. In the last few races we've had a really good run of results. I feel I'm driving at my best and the team is doing a fantastic job. We want to finish this season on a high and I think we still have some big results in us, so I am confident ahead of the race."

Nico Hulkenberg - "I really love Brazil as a country and Sao Paulo as a city. The track is very traditional and there is always a special atmosphere around the place. There are some fun corners - the Senna Esses are really cool as turns one, two and three make up a nice combination. The lap is quite short but there are a lot of elevation changes and banked corners, which create a very challenging lap. It's a track where I really enjoy driving.

Interlagos has been quite good to me: I had a pole position in 2010, led the race in 2012 and I've always finished in the points. I seem to have good chemistry there and I feel comfortable on and off the track. I can really identify with the Brazilian lifestyle and the people. I think we will be competitive so I hope I can add another strong result to the list."

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Brazilian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Daniil Kvyat - “It’s one of F1’s classic tracks and the atmosphere is always great. I think they have done some rebuilding there and I’m looking forward to seeing how the paddock has changed. It was the smallest of the year and kind of difficult for teams to work in and it will be good to see what has been done. But whatever they have done I don’t think it will change the atmosphere. It’s always amazing, with the fans so close to the track. They really have a big passion for Formula One and the feeling is always good on the grid there - even though it’s a bit crazy!

It’s a good circuit and like I said it’s one of the classics. It’s got good changes of elevation, it’s quite a quick, short lap and there are some good overtaking spots. It’s nice to drive; it has a good flow to it with some good high-speed corners, which is what drivers always enjoy. It has some great memories for me, because I did my second free practice in F1 there in 2013 with Toro Rosso. It was wet but I really enjoyed it and I finished I think eighth or ninth. Last year’s race wasn’t great. I had a grid penalty and started 17th but I managed to finish 11th. The city is enormous. It’s hard to get a good feel for it really because it’s so big but the food there is really good and it has got some really nice restaurants, if you know where to go. Also the girls are really pretty!”

Daniel Ricciardo - “I don’t think I’ve ever done one [perfect lap of (Interlagos), so I’ve got no secrets! What I have learned is that you shouldn’t think ahead too much. You have to take it corner-by-corner and concentrate on the one you’re in. There’s not many that you string together. There’s not many corners full stop.

Brazil’s a wonderful Grand Prix with a great atmosphere in an exciting city but the track doesn’t really do it for me. There’s just not a corner that gives you any real satisfaction. I don’t want to make it sound dull, because it isn’t, but like Russia, there isn’t a corner that makes you go ‘Woooo-Hoooo!’ It needs a few more corners and something really high speed. There’s a couple that look good on paper but because of the cambers, you never really have the grip to go barrelling in. The crowd really gets your heart-rate up before the sessions, so you want to be really on it but instead have to be very patient.

The start-finish straight is very narrow, so if your grid slot is on the outside, you’re about two metres away from the grandstand. You better hope they [the crowd] like you because if not you’re a pretty easy target when you’re pulling your helmet on! It’s a good time though. Lots of noise, lots of airhorns, trumpets, drums. Like Mexico, it’s the crowd you want for a Grand Prix. Brazilians are cool.”

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Brazilian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes - Lotus

Romain Grosjean - “Interlagos is a fantastic track and there’s no part of it that isn’t great. It really suits my driving style so I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a big challenge at every turn. There never seems to have a part where you relax. Even the main start-finish ‘straight’ isn’t boring as it starts uphill with some interesting camber, then gradually turns before finishing at the downhill turn one, where it’s so easy to out-brake yourself.

If I had to pick favourite parts of Interlagos, I would say the first and last corners; the first corner is really technical and punishes you if you get it wrong, and the last corner is so fast and really puts quite a stain on your body. As a driver I really enjoy these corners. It’s an old style track, so very hard to pick out a single element; I’d say everything is pretty good in Interlagos; I love it!

(The Brazilian fans) really love Formula One and Formula One really loves the Brazilian fans. You feel the passion when you arrive at the circuit and you see so many fans outside and around the track and city too. Of course, we know they all save their strongest support for their own Brazilian drivers but everyone in Formula One gets a strong welcome.”

Pastor Maldonado - “Interlagos may not have the most impressive infrastructure these days but it is a great, historic circuit. I really love the track, the atmosphere and the people. Brazilians have such a great Formula One heritage and for me it will be great to be at another event where there are a lot of Venezuelans in the crowds. Hopefully we can have a great race and put on another good show for the South American fans.

Technically it’s always tricky to find a setup balance between the twisty parts of the circuit and the long straights. In an ideal world you’d want Monza-spec for the start and end of the lap and Hungaroring-spec for the rest! Different drivers and teams will make different compromises, which all adds up to an interesting race. Some will go for greater straight-line speed to help them pass and defend in the race, others more downforce for a better lap time and less sliding. Bumps can also be an issue and there are several overtaking opportunities on the track which rewards late braking, both to go on the attack and keep rivals behind. Last but not least the unpredictable weather is sure to keep us on our toes.

We all know the amount of rain which can fall in Sao Paulo and the Interlagos track even has grooves cut into it to help the water flow off the track! It’s a challenging circuit in the dry and even more so in the wet, but there have been some amazing races over the years because of this. One of the great aspects of racing at Interlagos is you can almost feel the vibe of the crowd as well as hear their enthusiasm, even when the rain is falling. Whatever the weather, we’ll be pushing for the best result possible.”

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Brazilian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Preview Quotes - Mercedes


Lewis Hamilton - "Interlagos is one of the real classics - quite short, tough on tyres, with variable weather and a really tricky start to the lap that always seems to bring drama. Then there's the fans. The Brazilian people are so passionate, fun and outgoing. It's a vibrant country, full of colour, and somewhere that's quite special to me. This was the home race for Ayrton, so it was a dream of mine to race in São Paulo when I was younger and I always feel his presence when I'm there. He was such a huge hero in Brazil and it's humbling that I always get such a warm response there. It's amazing to think that it took Ayrton eight attempts to win this race and it's one of the few I haven't yet won myself. If I can change that this weekend it would be a salute to him and another highlight to add to this amazing year, so I'll be going all out to make that happen."

Nico Rosberg - "I'm really pumped to get to São Paulo and get back out on track after a great weekend in Mexico. For a start, Interlagos is one of the classic races on the calendar. It's a tricky circuit that's a really good challenge for a driver, with plenty of overtaking opportunities and crazy weather that always makes for an action-packed race. I have good memories from Brazil, too. I've usually been pretty quick there and last year was a good battle with Lewis, when I came out on top. Standing on the top step after a hard-earned win, following in the footsteps of so many great drivers who have won there and with the passionate Brazilian crowd cheering on - that was a great feeling. I'd love to experience that again, so the aim is to put on another good show for the fans and to carry my form from Mexico into this race. It's always a great feeling to head into a weekend on the back of a win, so I'm confident of a strong performance."

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Brazilian GP: Circuit Preview

(Image belongs to brazila1.wix.com - All rights belong to the owner)

The "Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace", also known as "Interlagos" is F1's circuit in the beautiful country of Brazil in South America. The circuit is located in the city of Sao Paulo and first opened back in 1940.

    The circuit runs anti-clockwise, has a capacity of 60,000 and is 2.677 miles in length. The current version has 15 turns and the race runs 71 laps.

    Last year, Nico Rosberg took Pole Position and the win, while Lewis Hamilton finished Second and Felipe Massa finished Third. Retirements included: Romain Grosjean (Power Unit - Qualified As Finished) and Daniel Ricciardo (Suspension)

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Brazilian GP: Schedule

With two races left to go, it's times for the teams to head to South America for the Brazilian GP. Here is the schedule for the week.

SCHEDULE:

November 12th / Thursday

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

November 13th / Friday

10:00 - 11:30 - Free Practice #1
14:00 - 15:30 - Free Practice #2
16:00 - 17:00 - Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

November 14th / Saturday 

08:30 - 09:15 - Team Pit-Stop Practice
11:00 - 12:00 - Free Practice #3 
14:00 - Qualifying 

November 15th / Sunday

12:30 - Drivers Track Parade (Starting Grid)
12:45 - 13:15 - Starting Grid Presentation
13:46 - National Anthem
14:00 - Race Start

(Times subject to change)

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Feature: Star Drivers Of The Mexican GP

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "After the Mexican Grand Prix I've found it incredibly hard to select a star driver. However, after long deliberation I finally decided to give my star driver to winner of the race, Nico Rosberg. Nico Rosberg has found himself second to his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, more often than not this season. This is why it was so fantastic to see see him conquer the field and come out in first place for only the fourth time this year. I imagine that his lack of first place finishes made this victory in particular, so much sweeter. Nico stayed ahead of the field and remained calm and collected until he passed the chequered flag. Congratulations on another win Nico!"

Amy Hawk (Assistant Writer) - "My star driver of the weekend is Valtteri Bottas. He's had a bit of bad luck the last few races, but this time he was able to go out there and get on the podium and of course that's a great result for both him and the Williams team. I think eventually, he will get his first win and it will be a great achievement."

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Feature: Mexican GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "The Mexican Grand Prix is officially back on the calendar after 23 years absence and my goodness it's stunning! The section of curves with grandstands on either side is fantastic and the fact that it homes the podium is the cherry on top! Standing on the podium with the incredibly enthusiastic Mexican fans cheering your name must be incredible!

My highlight of the weekend was, without a doubt, the Mexican fans. Yes, the track was wonderful but what's a great track without excited fans filling the grandstands. I can't imagine how Sergio Perez must've felt driving through, screams of support in his path. I very much look forward to next year's Mexican Grand Prix where two Mexican drivers will be back on the grid. Perhaps the cheers will be twice as loud."

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "I think the Mexican GP had a great comeback to Formula 1! It was a great race, great circuit and the fans were just so excited and happy. Huge congratulations to Rosberg, Hamilton and Bottas. It's gotta' be a great feeling for Rosberg to win somewhere so special to the sport. I'm glad we'll have both Sergio Perez and Esteban Gutierrez driving on the circuit next year. It's so great for them to have a home race. I thought the circuit looked absolutely amazing. The grand stand areas were phenomenal. Next is Brazil and I'm already looking forward to it. It's always an action-packed race! Cheers!"

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Mexican GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

It was a big day for everyone as Mexico made its return to the F1 calendar for the first time in 23 years. The pressure was on everyone to do good, especially Sergio Perez, the lone Mexican driver. He was finally able to race for his home crowd and he was cheered on every time his car passed by the stands.

    The pressure was also on Nico Rosberg, who was starting from Pole Position. It had been quite awhile since Rosberg was able to come away with a win. Lewis Hamilton had just wrapped up the Drivers Championship in Austin and now, all that's up for grabs is winning the final races.

    Fernando Alonso was suffering from many mechanical issues, but started the race out of respect for the crowd/fans. Unfortunately, he had to retire the car after only one lap. It was a difficult day for McLaren altogether, especially with Button starting from the last place on the grid.

    Another team facing an unlucky ending to the race was Ferrari. Sebastian Vettel was not only tagged and spun by former team-mate, Ricciardo, around lap 18, but on lap 52, he lost control of the car and plowed into the barriers. His team-mate, Raikkonen, collided again with Valtteri Bottas, causing the Ferrari driver to have to retire with suspension damage. Neither Vettel or Raikkonen were injured, but their race was over far too early.

    The last retirement of the race was Felipe Nasr, who reported a brake fire during the safety car period, following Vettel's crash. Nasr retired only a couple of laps later and his race was over.

    Nico Rosberg was able to take home the win, while Hamilton finished in second and Valtteri Bottas soared to the podium in third. Both Red Bull's produced great results as well with Kvyat and Ricciardo finishing 4th and 5th respectively.

    Force India also had a double points scoring finish with Hulkenberg in 7th and Perez in 8th. Another great result for the team, that keeps them secure in 5th in the constructors championship.

Here are the race results.

RACE RESULTS:

1. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / + 25 Points
2. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 18 Points
3. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / + 15 Points
4. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia / + 12 Points
5. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia / + 10 Points
6. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / + 8 Points
7. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / + 6 Points
8. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 4 Points
9. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands / + 2 Points
10. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France / + 1 Point
11. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela
12. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden
13. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain
14. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain
15. Alexander Rossi / Manor-Ferrari / America
16. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain

RETIRED - Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil / Brakes
RETIRED - Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / Crash
RETIRED - Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / Accident Damage
RETIRED - Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain / Power-Unit Failure

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Mexican GP: Qualifying - Results

Jenson Button was unable to participate in Qualifying due to multiple mechanical issues with his McLaren. He was also 1 of 3 drivers with penalties. Here are the results after the penalties were put into place.

RESULTS:

1. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany
2. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain
3. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany
4. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia
5. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia
6. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland
7. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil
8. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands
9. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico
10. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany
11. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain
12. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France
13. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela 
14. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden
15. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil
16. Alexander Rossi / Manor-Ferrari / America
17. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain
18. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain*
19. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland*
20. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain*

* - Fernando Alonso = 15-Place-Grid-Penalty for multiple component changes
* - Kimi Raikkonen = 35-Place-Grid-Penalty for multiple component changes
* - Jenson Button = 70-Place-Grid-Penalty for multiple component changes
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Mexican GP: Free Practice 3 - Re-Cap & Results

The last free practice session was able to get underway without any rain, although not everyone had a good session.

    Besides a few drivers spinning, Kimi Raikkonen stopped on track only 30 minutes into the session due to Power Unit issues & Jenson Button face multiple problems with his McLaren. Button was already set to take penalties for the race, but even more were added as he had multiple component changes to his car.

Here are the times from the session

TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:21.083 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Lewis Hamilton - 1:21.097 / Mercedes-Mercedes
3. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:21.201 / Red Bull-Renault
4. Sebastian Vettel - 1:21.294 / Ferrari-Ferrari
5. Daniil Kvyat - 1:21.530 / Red Bull-Renault
6. Sergio Perez - 1:21.603 / Force India-Mercedes
7. Valtteri Bottas - 1:21.772 / Williams-Mercedes
8. Carlos Sainz - 1:21.775 / Toro Rosso-Renault
9. Felipe Massa - 1:21.945 / Williams-Mercedes
10. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:22.010 / Force India-Mercedes
11. Max Verstappen - 1:22.039 / Toro Rosso-Renault
12. Pastor Maldonado - 1:22.042 / Lotus-Mercedes
13. Romain Grosjean - 1:22.184 / Lotus-Mercedes
14. Marcus Ericsson - 1:22.871 / Sauber-Ferrari
15. Fernando Alonso - 1:23.065 / McLaren-Honda
16. Felipe Nasr - 1:23.067 / Sauber-Ferrari
17. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:24.648 / Ferrari-Ferrari
18. Will Stevens - 1:25.654 / Manor-Ferrari
19. Alexander Rossi - 1:28.176 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Jenson Button - 1:29.336 / McLaren-Honda

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Mexican GP: Free Practice 2 - Re-Cap & Results

It was a rainy second session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, and it proved difficult for drivers to find grip and balance. Max Verstappen had a huge spin and ended up with his Toro Rosso in the barriers. Max escaped uninjured, but his session was over before he could even set a time.

    Romain Grosjean also had an unlucky session when his car stopped on track due to Mechanical issues. However, things had turned around for Rosberg after suffering brake problems in FP1. This time, he ended the session on top, followed by Kvyat and Ricciardo.

Here are the times from the session

TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:21.531 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Daniil Kvyat - 1:21.776 / Red Bull-Renault
3. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:21.868 / Red Bull-Renault
4. Lewis Hamilton - 1:21.961 / Mercedes-Mercedes
5. Sebastian Vettel - 1:21.984 / Ferrari-Ferrari
6. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:22.399 / Ferrari-Ferrari
7. Valtteri Bottas - 1:22.721 / Williams-Mercedes
8. Fernando Alonso - 1:22.993 / McLaren-Honda
9. Jenson Button - 1:23.109 / McLaren-Honda
10. Felipe Massa - 1:23.289 / Williams-Mercedes
11. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:23.290 / Force India-Mercedes
12. Pastor Maldonado - 1:23.363 / Lotus-Mercedes
13. Carlos Sainz - 1:23.364 / Toro Rosso-Renault
14. Felipe Nasr - 1:23.430 / Sauber-Ferrari
15. Sergio Perez - 1:23.597 / Force India-Mercedes
16. Romain Grosjean - 1:23.614 / Lotus-Mercedes
17. Marcus Ericsson - 1:24.533 / Sauber-Ferrari
18. Alexander Rossi - 1:25.940 / Manor-Ferrari
19. Will Stevens - 1:26.968 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Max Verstappen - No Time Set / Toro Rosso-Renault

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk
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Mexican GP: Free Practice 1 - Re-Cap & Results

There was plenty to be excited about as Friday finally arrived with much anticipation from fans, drivers & media. It was Mexico's return to F1 after 23 years.

    With the circuit being brand new, one thing was noted almost immediately as drivers started putting in their lap times. It was that the circuit lacked grip and was super slippery. The light morning rain didn't help that fact either. Not one, not two, but more than 3 drivers experienced spins, including Bottas, Perez & Ricciardo.

   Mercedes didn't make this session a 1-2, but instead it was a Toro Rosso and a Red Bull. Young drivers Max Verstappen & Daniil Kvyat topped the session and drew in great applause from their fans. Nico Rosberg struggled with brake problems in the session, while Hamilton just couldn't seem to navigate the track fast enough.

    American driver, Alexander Rossi is in the car for Manor-Marussia again for the whole weekend, while Jolyon Palmer is in the session for Grosjean.

Here are the times from the session

TIMES:

1. Max Verstappen - 1:25.990 / Toro Rosso-Renault
2. Daniil Kvyat - 1:26.295 / Red Bull-Renault
3. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:26.295 / Ferrari-Ferrari
4. Sebastian Vettel - 1:26.886 / Ferrari-Ferrari
5. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:27.185 / Red Bull-Renault
6. Nico Rosberg - 1:27.196 / Mercedes-Mercedes
7. Valtteri Bottas - 1:27.303 / Williams-Mercedes
8. Carlos Sainz - 1:27.410 / Toro Rosso-Renault
9. Sergio Perez - 1:27.582 / Force India-Mercedes
10. Felipe Massa - 1:27.695 / Williams-Mercedes
11. Lewis Hamilton - 1:27.723 / Mercedes-Mercedes
12. Marcus Ericsson - 1:28.498 / Sauber-Ferrari
13. Pastor Maldonado - 1:28.559 / Lotus-Mercedes
14. Felipe Nasr - 1:28.579 / Sauber-Ferrari
15. Jolyon Palmer* - 1:28.711 / Lotus-Mercedes
16. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:29.099 / Force India-Mercedes
17. Fernando Alonso - 1:30.072 / McLaren-Honda
18. Alexander Rossi - 1:30.619 / Manor-Ferrari
19. Jenson Button - 1:32.091 / McLaren-Honda
20. Will Stevens - 1:32.866 / Manor-Ferrari

* - Driving in this session only

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk
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