Feature: Star Drivers Of The Bahrain GP

Frances Fry (Assistant writer) - "My driver of the weekend is none other than Ferrari's Kimi Raikonnen. Kimi performed fantastically and kept to his tradition of podium finishes in Bahrain. Finishing second gave Ferrari another boost in addition to Sebastian Vettel's win. It's good to see the red horses feeling good and back near the top!

Kimi drove with continuous skill and stayed focused throughout the entire race, his concentration didn't waver once. The Finn didn't miss any opportunities and as soon as the chance arose, he overtook who was ahead of him, which for a majority of the race was Rosberg. As we know, overtaking a Mercedes is like winning a battle (much like achieving any overtake). Ferrari have managed to do it now not only with Vettel but also will Raikonnen! If that doesn't prove their progress, I don't know what will.
Kimi deserves the points that he won in the race and it was great to see him back on the podium. Now he's gotten second I can't wait for him to get first. There's nothing like an array of winners in a Formula 1 season."

Amy Hawk (Lead writer & Editor) - "My driver of the weekend is also Kimi Raikkonen as I can't get over how thrilling it was to watch him battle with Nico Rosberg during the race. It's been awhile since we've seen Kimi on the podium and I was very happy for both him and Ferrari, who are just doing an incredible job so far this year, with multiple podiums and a win from Sebastian.

Kimi's had quite the career so far, with many wins and many podiums. There will definitely be more to come from him this year in the next GP's."

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Feature: Bahrain GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Frances Fry (Assistant writer) - "Bahrain! Oh my goodness! If there could only be one race track in the season I would choose Bahrain! What a fantastic successor to last years race in Sakhir. I'm sure we all remember the incredible duel between Rosberg and Hamilton last year, and even Gutierrez and Maldonado's accident. This year did not disappoint. It was almost impossible to predict which three drivers would end up on the podium and in which order. For the first half of the race it seemed almost certain that the podium would be made up of Ferrari and Mercedes but out of nowhere, here comes Bottas! Like a Phoenix from the flames, Bottas battled Vettel till the very end.

Anything can happen in the desert. Including retirements as I was shocked at the disappointing DNS for Button and the DNFs for the Toro Rosso drivers. I was looking forward to seeing how they do. From what I saw they were handling the track with great success. I must say, I cannot wait for Bahrain next year. I suppose we'd better start counting down the days!"

Amy Hawk (Lead writer & Editor) - "What a race! I've always been a huge fan of the desert circuits including Bahrain & Abu Dhabi, just as I am also a huge fan of the street circuits like Monaco & Singapore. The Sakhir circuit just has this great vibe and every turn just brings so much intensity. And of course, who did't enjoy seeing the old fashioned F1 sparks?

Huge congratulations goes to Hamilton, Raikkonen & Rosberg for their podium finishes. Hamilton continues to gather up those points and lead the Championship, but it's most certainly a close battle. It was definitely not the way I wanted to see the race end for Toro Rosso. No one wants to a see a team have a double DNF. It was very unfortunate, but I know they'll be all ready and geared up for Spain.

Great job from Sergio Perez to finish 8th and get Force India back to scoring points. Every point matters and things are going to be much better for them once they are able to get their B car & the upgrades in Austria. It's nearing Summer and it's time for the majority of the European races, which are always fun to watch. I'm looking forward to the race in Barcelona, and I know it will be a great one. Cheers!"

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Bahrain GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

We hope everyone enjoyed the 4th race of the 2014 F1 Season. This was the last fly-away race of the beginning of the season and it's time for the Europe portion. Teams will be heading to Barcelona next for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Things were off to a rocky start for McLaren before the race even started, with the team confirming that Jenson Button would not start due to mechanical issues that could not he fixed in time. The British driver had suffered from car issues all weekend, stopping multiple times on track during the Free Practice sessions and then not being able to set a proper time during Q1 in Qualifying.

Carlos Sainz received a 5-second-time-penalty for exceeding the speed limit during the pre-race installation lap. Meanwhile, Felipe Massa stalled on the grid and did not even complete the lap. The Williams team was quick to roll him off and fix the problem. He started from pit-lane as a result of the issue.

It was clear throughout the race that Ferrari's top-shape form was still consistent as they battled alongside both Mercedes AMG drivers. Lewis Hamilton had an advantage, starting on Pole Position.

Toro Rosso had an unlucky ending to their weekend with both drivers retiring with car problems. It was Carlos Sainz first due to handling issues and then Verstappen retired later on due to an electric problem. The rookie-duo will be looking forward to moving on to the next race in Barcelona.

Force India was able to retrieve a handful of points, courtesy of Sergio Perez, who finished the race in 8th after a tricky weekend. His team-mate, Nico Hulkenberg finished outside of the points in 13th.

Kimi Raikkonen lead the race for quite awhile until he was called in for a pit-stop. Hamilton regained the lead quickly with Rosberg and Vettel following. However, Kimi was able to sneak up and pass Rosberg in order to retain that second place finish, while Vettel fell back to 5th after a phenomenal pass by Williams driver Valtteri Bottas.

Hamilton brought home his 3rd win of the season, while it was the 1st time this season that Vettel was not on the podium, but his team-mate Raikkonen instead. Raikkonen held up the 2nd place trophy, his first since the 2013 Korean GP. Rosberg finished 3rd after struggling with brake issues. Mercedes confirmed after the race that in the final laps, neither Hamilton or Rosberg had working breaks.

Daniel Ricciardo was lucky to finish 6th and finish the race at all. Once he passed over the finish line, a loud boom and a cloud of smoke popped from the back of his Red Bull. An engine failure. He has now used 3 of his 5 engines and there's still 15 races left this season. 

RACE RESULTS:

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

2. Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 18 Points

3. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / + 15 Points

4. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / + 12 Points

5. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 10 Points

6. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia / + 8 Points

7. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France / + 6 Points

8. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 4 Points

9. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia / + 2 Points

10. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / + 1 Point

11. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain 

12. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

13. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany

14. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

15. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela 

16. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain

17. Roberto Merhi / Manor-Ferrari / Spain

RETIRED - Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Electrical

RETIRED - Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain / Handling

DID NOT START - Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain / Mechanical Issues

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Bahrain GP: Qualifying - Results

It's Lewis Hamilton on Pole Position for this year's Bahrain GP, with Vettel starting second and Lewis's team-mate, Nico Rosberg starting in Third. Problems for Jenson Button means he starts last as he did not set a proper time.

Here is how the grid lines up for the race!

GRID:

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

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

Another good practice session for both Mercedes & Ferrari, with the top 4 being Hamilton, Vettel, Rosberg & Raikkonen.

Hamilton's best time of the session was in the 1:34s, despite suffering from a 'Hot seat' again.

The session was Red Flagged for a few minutes after Daniil Kvyat had a spin in his Red Bull and got stuck in the gravel. A tractor was called out to retrieve the car.

Pastor Maldonado lost part/s of his monkey seat while doing a lap. No word on if there was contact between him and another driver. But, either way it was a good session for him, finishing in 7th, while Romain Grosjean struggled with the Lotus and finished 18th.

Here are the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:34.599 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Sebastian Vettel - 1:34.668 / Ferrari-Ferrari

3. Nico Rosberg - 1:34.968 / Mercedes-Mercedes

4. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:35.142 / Ferrari-Ferrari 

5. Valtteri Bottas - 1:35.398 / Williams-Mercedes

6. Felipe Massa - 1:35.471 / Williams-Mercedes

7. Pastor Maldonado - 1:36.307 / Lotus-Mercedes

8. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:36.355 / Red Bull-Renault

9. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:36.421 / Force India-Mercedes

10. Felipe Nasr - 1:36.429 / Sauber-Ferrari

11. Jenson Button - 1:36.488 / McLaren-Honda

12. Daniil Kvyat - 1:36.548 / Toro Rosso-Renault

13. Marcus Ericsson - 1:36.612 / Sauber-Ferrari

14. Max Verstappen - 1:36.648 / Toro Rosso-Renault

15. Sergio Perez - 1:36.727 / Force India-Mercedes

16. Fernando Alonso - 1:36.899 / McLaren-Honda

17. Carlos Sainz - 1:36.979 / Toro Rosso-Renault

18. Romain Grosjean - 1:37.151 / Lotus-Mercedes

19. Will Stevens - 1:39.745 / Manor-Ferrari

20. Roberto Merhi - 1:40.541 / Manor-Ferrari

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

Another good practice session for the teams at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. It was a Mercedes 1-2 as the team bounced back from a less-than-perfect FP1. Both drivers finished with times in the 1:34s range.

Also a good session for Ferrari with both drivers finishing below the Mercedes. At the end of the session there was a small accident involving Sebastian Vettel & Sergio Perez. Perez and Vettel's cars touched near the pit-lane exit after Vettel slowed with a brake issue and the rear wheel of the Force India took off bits of the Ferrari's front wing. Vettel took blame and after the session, went to see Perez and apologized for what happened. Stewards investigated it after the session and neither driver was penalized. However, it seems now the stewards are investigating again as it is possible Vettel was released from the pit-lane unsafely with a loose front wheel.

Another positive session for Fernando Alonso as he finished 12th. However, there were more issues for Jenson Button when his car stopped again, as it did in FP1. It was reported that there were multiple things changed and replaced in his car. Hopefully things are solved before Qualifying, where McLaren is hoping to get into Q2.

Here are the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:34.647 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Lewis Hamilton - 1:34762 / Mercedes-Mercedes
3. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:35.174 / Ferrari-Ferrari
4. Sebastian Vettel - 1:35.277 / Ferrari-Ferrari
5. Valtteri Bottas - 1:35.280 / Williams-Mercedes
6. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:35.449 / Red Bull-Renault
7. Pastor Maldonado - 1:35.474 / Mercedes-Lotus
8. Felipe Nasr - 1:35.793 / Sauber-Ferrari
9. Daniil Kvyat - 1:35.883 / Red Bull-Renault
10. Felipe Massa - 1:35.884 / Williams-Mercedes
11. Marcus Ericsson - 1:36.148 / Sauber-Ferrari
12. Fernando Alonso - 1:36.191 / McLaren-Honda
13. Romain Grosjean - 1:36.334 / Lotus-Mercedes
14. Carlos Sainz - 1:36.471 / Toro Rosso-Renault
15. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:36.805 / Force India-Mercedes
16. Max Verstappen - 1:36.917 / Toro Rosso-Renault
17. Sergio Perez - 1:37.062 / Force India-Mercedes
18. Will Stevens - 1:39.131 / Manor-Ferrari
19. Jenson Button - 1:39.209 / McLaren-Honda
20. Roberto Merhi - 1:40.592 / Manor-Ferrari

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

The F1 weekend in Bahrain has gotten to a start with Free Practice 1 and it was a Ferrari 1-2 as Raikkonen and Vettel took over the top of the time sheets. Sebastian Vettel was able to bounce back after reporting a loss of power in the beginning of the session and needing work done on his car.

Lotus brought back Jolyon Palmer for this session, replacing Romain Grosjean who is also celebrating his 29th Birthday today!

It was a hit and miss session for McLaren. Jenson Button who had an early spin due to his engine cutting out, was never able to get back out due to the team needing to take apart the car and change the battery pack. However, his team-mate, Fernando Alonso, finished the session in 7th.

Force India have been making improvements and are looking good so far this weekend. Sergio Perez finished in the 11th and is hopeful to score points this weekend after finishing 3rd last year after an intense race.

Lewis Hamilton fell victim one again to a very hot seat. It was not a good session for him or Rosberg as both finished outside of the top 10. However, it's very likely they'll be back in top form before tomorrow's Qualifying session.

Here are the times from the session:

TIMES:

1. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:37.827 / Ferrari-Ferrari
2. Sebastian Vettel - 1:38.029 / Ferrari-Ferrari
3. Valtteri Bottas - 1:38.390 / Williams-Mercedes
4. Carlos Sainz - 1:38.447 / Toro Rosso-Renault
5. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:38.455 / Red Bull-Renault
6. Max Verstappen - 1:38.504 / Toro Rosso-Renault
7. Fernando Alonso - 1:38.598 / McLaren-Honda
8. Felipe Nasr - 1:38.628 / Sauber-Ferrari
9. Daniil Kvyat - 1:38.661 / Red Bull-Renault
10. Felipe Massa - 1:38.790 / Williams-Mercedes
11. Sergio Perez - 1:38.793 / Force India-Mercedes
12. Pastor Maldonado - 1:38.842 / Lotus-Mercedes
13. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:39.187 / Force India-Mercedes
14. Jolyon Palmer* - 1:39.283 / Lotus-Mercedes
15. Nico Rosberg - 1:39.293 / Mercedes-Mercedes
16. Lewis Hamilton - 1:39.532 / Mercedes-Mercedes
17. Marcus Ericsson - 1:39.534 / Sauber-Ferrari
18. Will Stevens - 1:42.973 / Manor-Ferrari
19. Roberto Merhi - 1:44.265 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Jenson Button - No Time Set / McLaren-Honda

* = Driving in this Session only.

Thanks for joining us on Twitter @F1Insider78 for our LIVE Commentary for FP1! Follow us for LIVE FP2 commentary in just over an hour!

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Bahrain GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

Preview Quotes - Manor-Marussia


Will Stevens - "Although a back to back race always presents a challenge for the team due to the quick turnaround, as a driver it is always amazing to be able to get back in the car so quickly. That's particularly the case after a good race for us in China. Now we're getting into a good rhythm, I'm really hungry for more so we can keep driving the team forward. Last season's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was my first taste of night racing and it was a fantastic experience, so I'm really excited about racing under the floodlights here and to the challenging conditions this track poses for the car and driver."

Roberto Merhi - "I'm very excited to be racing in Bahrain this weekend. The track looks amazing, particularly at night, and has a pretty interesting set of challenges for the car, due to the track conditions, the heat and the wind. It's good to be able to get back in the car so soon as we seem to have a good momentum building and it is important that we take advantage of that to keep driving our development programme forward. I can't wait to get started on Friday."

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Bahrain GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes - Force India


Nico Hulkenberg - “Bahrain is always an enjoyable weekend: I really like the paddock and the atmosphere around the venue is great. There's always a fairy-tale feel in the paddock and the facilities are fantastic, especially at night when all the lights turn on. It is also the place where I drove my first Formula One race, back in 2010, so I have some very good memories about this race - not least last year's race, which was very enjoyable to drive.

The track is quite tricky to master, especially as the sand blowing on the track can make it really dusty, so grip doesn't always improve throughout the weekend. There are a few very nice corners, especially the double left-hander before the back straight: it's difficult to get it right and it is very easy to lock the inside front wheel. It's a very technical track with a few good overtaking opportunities, and at the same time it's a challenge from a mechanical point-of-view as well, taking a lot from your rear tyres and from your brakes.

After a disappointing weekend in China, we want to be in a condition to make the most of any opportunities we may get in the race. We know where we stand in terms of performance and we know the work we have to do to get closer to the teams in front of us. In the last few years there have been some very eventful races in Bahrain, so hopefully we will be able to challenge for the points and come away with some rewards to close this first part of the season.”

Sergio Perez - "Returning to Bahrain brings back a lot of good memories. Last year's race had all you can ask from it: a lot of action, a great performance and of course finishing on the podium. It's a good track for me; I won there in GP2 and generally always had good races so I feel positive about going there. The track itself is a stop-and-go circuit with long straights, sharp braking zones followed by rapid acceleration: rear tyre degradation is quite high and I expect it to be one of the themes of this race. Grip is always a challenge with all the dust blowing on the track, and the surface evolves a lot during the weekend and the race itself. There are two DRS zones and a few good overtaking opportunities, especially in the first sector: this should make for some good racing.

The last race in China was interesting for us, as we were able to be much more involved in battles against the other teams. As we keep learning about our car and its set-up, we are closing the gap to our rivals, which is really encouraging. There is still a long way to go but everyone is working hard for it and hopefully we will soon be able to mount a more consistent challenge for regular points."

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Bahrain GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso


 Carlos Sainz - “This track usually produces a good race and last year I remember it was one of the highlights of the season. Racing at night in a Formula One car will be an interesting challenge, something different, although I have competed in a GP3 night race in Abu Dhabi. The Sakhir track has got long straights that create quite a lot of overtaking opportunities. Then there’s a tight middle sector that also has some high speed corners, followed by a very challenging braking point at Turn 10 I think, where it’s very easy to lock up the front tyres. I’ve never been to Bahrain, so I don’t know what to expect from the country itself.”

Max Verstappen - “I have been to Bahrain and I’ve actually raced on the go-kart track next to the Formula One circuit. But my only ‘real’ experience of where we will be racing this weekend consists of one lap on a bicycle! The race is run partly at night which I’m sure will be an interesting experience for me, but in fact it’s not exactly something new as I have raced go-karts at night before. What I like about night races is that the track gets cooler, which means it’s faster, and this is always good!”

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Bahrain GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes - Lotus


 Romain Grosjean - “It’s a good track and I’m happy to go back there. I’m especially looking forward to being able to race in Bahrain at night with a fast and reliable car. It’s a really fun circuit and one I enjoy racing at. Two of the three times I’ve raced at the Bahrain International Circuit in Formula One I’ve been on the podium. It’s a good record and of course I’ll be pushing as hard as possible for the best result to get more points for myself and the team in 2015.

On paper it is not the most amazing circuit, but when you drive it’s pretty cool. I like the long straights followed by the hairpins and then the twisty middle section with a lot of G-force which makes it exciting. It gives the driver plenty to do behind the wheel and it gives you quite a lot to do in the debrief as well. It’s always rewarding when you balance all the different demands on the car to get the lap as fast as possible.

(Racing at night) means a later start, and the later schedule means a larger window for sleep which is always welcome! In terms of at the track, the daytime hot temperatures with a lot of sun made tyre degradation quite high. Temperatures are clearly lower at night which has an influence on tyre grip and degradation. Last time it was certainly an exciting event visually and I think people enjoyed it as a viewing experience on television as well as at the track where there was something more of a party feeling with the crowds.”

Pastor Maldonado - “Bahrain is a good circuit. I would say it is a ‘complete’ circuit because it has a mix of high, medium and low speed turns, plus good sequences of corners. It’s challenging over a lap and makes for an enjoyable race. The weather can get pretty hot, although this won’t be as much of a challenge as we’re racing at night now. The facilities for the teams are great and it’s one of the easiest circuits to work in as the paddock feels welcoming, there’s plenty of space for us yet it doesn’t feel like you’re at a massive venue like some tracks do. (As a night race) we now approach Bahrain a little differently technically in terms of tyre pressures and set-up. Otherwise we will treat it much like any other race and it’s similar in feel to Singapore and Abu Dhabi. At the end of the day it’s racing no matter what the time.”

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Bahrain GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes - Sauber

 Marcus Ericsson - "I am looking forward to the first night race of the season. It is always spectacular and good fun. Bahrain is a track I know very well from previous racing series, and I have been there quite often. The track has some long straights, slow-speed corners with hard braking zones, as well as high-speed corners with fast changes of direction. Overall the circuit is technical and drivingwise not an easy one. Another aspect which comes into play is the sand blowing onto the track. We need to keep an eye on that, as the circuit is usually quite dusty for the first sessions and then picks up more grip during the weekend. Especially with the strong package and after the good result in China, we need to build on that and continue to fight for points. I feel confident we will also be able to be competitive there. I am looking forward to another good race weekend."

Felipe Nasr  - "For the Bahrain Grand Prix we expect much warmer weather conditions than in China. It is a track which I am familiar with, as I have raced there often. It can be positive for us that the circuit has a few straights due to our high top speed. In Bahrain there are three facts which are important for a good lap time: Braking stability, traction, as well as a good balance for the car in the high-speed corners in sector two. I also expect we need to work on good tyre management, because that can be very tricky in those warm conditions. Although it is a race that starts in the evening, the surface stays quite warm. It is not my first night race, as I did one in Abu Dhabi during my GP2 Series season. I am looking forward to it, and I hope we can keep the momentum from China."

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Bahrain GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Daniel Ricciardo - “It was the location of possibly my best qualifying lap ever, so I’ve got a few nice memories of Sakhir. Over one lap there’s nothing that really has the ‘wow’ factor, but for racing it’s a little better. Last year the race was one of the best. You can pass, and moving to an evening race spices things up a little. It kept you guessing with the tyres. Yeah, it’s a good track to race on. There’s some tricky corners. Turn 10 is a funny turning-turning-braking-braking that’s very technical, and when you get it right it feels good - but there’s nothing that feels sick (amazing). There’s a really good go-kart track next to the circuit. Last year after testing you could go down there and hang out with the guys working at the track and do a few laps - obviously in your race overalls and helmet trying to look as cool as possible. Pretty good.”

Daniil Kvyat - “(Racing at night) makes a difference. The temperature is a lot easier on you as a driver, the tarmac is not so hot. The lighting is very good, there’s no real issue with driving under lights. The track itself is what I would call a kind of ‘classic’ configuration. It’s got some flowing sections, some interesting corners. I enjoy it. It’s a good racing track. The facilities are great and it’s a good paddock. I had quite an unlucky race there last year but that doesn’t make it a bad track for me. I think if you’re fast and you’re winning then any track is a good one! If you hit the right lines, if you hit on the right set-up and the right approach to the weekend, you’re going to enjoy yourself.”

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Bahrain GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

Preview Quotes - McLaren


Fernando Alonso - “For me, China was a significant step forward for us and particularly for me as it’s the longest race distance I have done so far! Every lap we complete provides us with extremely valuable data, so to finish the race was a great improvement and proves the gains we have made in the reliability of our package. I had a lot of fun out there and our performance in the final stint was very positive.

Now, we go to Bahrain, and our aim is to keep building on this momentum with reliability, and of course to keep pushing for gains in performance, as we have been doing every weekend. In Australia, Malaysia and China we have seen big improvements each weekend, and although these two races are back-to-back, we will arrive in Bahrain and begin working on set-up straight away to maximize our potential at this circuit. This will be a challenging track for our car, for sure, but our first aim is to finish the race and take away as much data as possible to prepare ourselves for Barcelona onwards. We are certainly seeing progress all the time and the car feels great to drive, so we have a good base to keep developing. I’m looking forward to seeing what this race brings and getting the most from the weekend in every session.”

Jenson Button - “China was a tricky race for us although we did see a lot of positives. There’s been a definite step forward at each race so far, although sadly this didn’t translate into the gains on track that we’d hoped for during the race, so we’re busy working out the reasons for that and will channel that into set up preparation for this weekend.

The incident with Maldonado towards the end of the race in China was unfortunate and a simple misjudgment on my part as we braked into the corner. Nevertheless, until that point our battle was a lot of fun and it was very encouraging that we were able to take the fight to the Lotus in the corners, even though on the straights it was much more challenging. Bahrain is always a really great event for the fans and it’s a fun track to race on – I won there in 2009 and I enjoy driving there. Although our car isn’t suited so well to this track layout, we’ll still be pushing to continue our development as we look forward to the start of the European season and hopefully more gains in performance.”

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Bahrain GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

Preview Quotes - Williams 


 Felipe Massa - "Bahrain is the first night race of the season and is a spectacular place to watch a race. I always have fond memories of tracks where I have won before and I have managed to step onto the top step of the podium twice in Bahrain. I hope our car can show its true pace and utilise its straight line speed on the long straights. The track and facilities are always excellent in Bahrain, which is an added bonus when going to any race."

Valtteri Bottas - "Last year was a good race in Bahrain. The circuit offers the opportunity to overtake but it doesn’t make it easy so the drivers fight for every position. The track surface is quite rough which has a huge effect on the tyres, so looking after them becomes a priority. This can lead to quicker cars being bunched up and we have to take every chance that is on offer to overtake. I really like the Middle East; the facilities are always fantastic so I am looking forward to heading back there."

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Bahrain GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Preview Quotes - Mercedes


Lewis Hamilton - "I was really buzzing after the result in China and I have to say a big thank you to the team for the amazing job they did all weekend. As always, though, my thoughts have been completely focused on the next race from the moment we left the circuit on Sunday. It's been a great start - but for me last season showed that you can never feel too comfortable and that's even more the case this time around with Ferrari right there with us. I don't actually have the best record in Bahrain compared to other circuits. Last year was my first win here and it was definitely one I'll remember after a great fight with Nico. That's what I love about racing and it's a special feeling to come out on top in a battle like that. I'm in a good place right now. The momentum is with me, so the target is to carry that on and hopefully repeat last year's performance."

Nico Rosberg - "China was a frustrating weekend for me and I'm glad we have another race right away to get straight back to work. The team has made a great start to the season and, with this incredible car they have built, I know I just need to find a little bit more in myself to get back to the top step. I've never won in Bahrain but I've taken the last two pole positions here and also set the fastest lap at this circuit on my Formula One debut, so I know I have the pace. Of course, everyone remembers the race last year and it would be great for the fans if we can put on another great show for them this time. If we can do that but with the two top steps in a different order it would be fantastic! It won't be so easy with the competition breathing down our necks. But that makes for even more exciting racing, so I'm looking forward to a great battle and I'm determined to come out on top."

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Bahrain GP: Circuit Preview

It's almost time for Round 4 of the 2015 F1 Season and the teams are going to be racing in Bahrain.

The "Bahrain International Circuit" is located in Sakhir, Bahrain and first opened March 17th 2004. It is the site for multiple motorsport events including F1 and GP2. The current circuit layout has 15 turns and is 3.363 miles in length. It runs Clockwise and has a capacity of 70,000. The race will consist of 57 laps.

In 2014, Nico Rosberg took Pole Position for the race but it was his team-mate Lewis Hamilton who won the race, with Rosberg coming in a close second. Force India driver, Sergio Perez, celebrated his first podium with the team when he finished 3rd.

Retirements included: Jenson Button (Clutch), Kevin Magnussen (Clutch),Esteban Gutierrez (Collision), Jean-Eric Vergne (Collision), Marcus Ericsson (Oil Leak) and Adrian Sutil (Collision)

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Bahrain GP: Schedule

Here is the schedule for Round 4 of the F1 2015 Season, taking place in Sakhir, Bahrain.

SCHEDULE: 

April 16th / Thursday

15:00 - Drivers Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)
15:00 - 16:45 - Pit Lane Walk for 3-Day-Ticket-Holders

April 17th / Friday

13:00 - 13:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
14:00 - 15:30 - Free Practice #1
15:45 - 16:55 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
18:00 - 19:30 - Free Practice #2
20:00 - 21:00 - Principals Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

April 18th / Saturday

11:30 - 12:40 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
12:10 - 12:30 - Team Pit-Stop Practice
15:00 - 16:00 - Free Practice #3
16:15 - 17:30 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
18:00 - 19:00 - Qualifying

April 19th / Sunday

15:30 - 17:15 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
16:30 - Drivers Track Parade
16:45 - 17:15 - Starting Grid Presentation
17:46 - National Anthem
18:00 - Race

(Subject to change)
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Feature: Star Drivers Of The Chinese GP

Amy Hawk (Main writer & editor) - "My driver of the weekend is Valtteri Bottas. I've been very impressed with the Fin's driving since he entered Formula 1 and he is one of my favorites in the sport. He's a very friendly guy and he has what it takes to be a future Champion. I think he had a great race in China and for sure he'll get some more podiums. Can't wait to see how he does in Bahrain."


Frances Fry (Assistant writer) - "My driver of the race weekend is Max Verstappen. The 17-year-old driver was one of the most talked about drivers between this season and last. Most of the attention was because of his age. Max is the youngest driver to ever participate in a Formula 1 race.

After the talk of him between the seasons I was very excited to see how he'd do on track. I must say, so far I have been very impressed but this weekend, I thought he deserved the credit that I'd given to others. Max may not have crossed the finish line or scored points in the race but he is consistent in his skill and has proven that he belongs on the race track with the older and more experienced drivers. His overtaking is spotless and is crafted carefully of precision, speed and experience.

Max Verstappen is without a doubt good enough to race in Formula 1. His first few races make his future look very promising. He's defying his age and making people proud. Well done, Max! Keep pushing forward!"

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Feature - Chinese GP: Our Post-Race Quotes

Amy Hawk (Main writer & editor) - "I really enjoyed this race - First of all a huge congrats to Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel. To see Ferrari up there in the results again is great. The team is doing a great job and I know there will be plenty more podiums to come. It was definitely a tough weekend for Force India. Hulkenberg's retirement was very sudden and then Perez was very close to getting a few points, but in the end it just didn't work out unfortunately. Overall, it was a great race and I'm very excited that this is a back-to-back race weekend with Bahrain coming up. Cheers!"

Frances Fry (Assistant writer) - "This season is electric! Not a race passes without its thrills. This race kept in with the pattern as we saw wheel-to-wheel racing, from the core of F1. Although the Ferraris were not able to race against the Mercedes, their racing and tactics cannot be faulted as they completed the race faultlessly, finishing in 3rd and 4th. Without a doubt the best of the rest. At the other end of the places we have Manor Marussia who also finished the race, with both cars crossing the line. The team should be very proud of themselves as they have defied all the odds stacked against them.

The most shocking part of the race was when McLaren driver Jenson Button and Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado had contact. Button was ruled responsible for the accident that lead to the Lotus' retirement. Since the race Button has apologised for the accident and received a penalty in time and license points. I hope McLaren's car and lick improves soon. It would be good to see them get some points! Overall the race was not short of supplying gasps as the drivers took to the track. A few teams have a little way to go but it is only the third race. Nothing is set in stone! I can't wait for the next race to see if Rosberg can pull a pole position out of the bag!"

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Chinese GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

We hope everyone enjoyed the Chinese Grand Prix as much as we did. Let's jump straight into the re-cap!

As soon as the lights went out, it was Vettel trying to make an early pass on Rosberg, but the Mercedes driver wasn't going to let him by easily. Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull, slipped back to 17th after stalling on the Grid.

Nico Hulkenberg was the first to retire, after moving up quite a few positions, his car lost power and he drove through the gravel to a halt before jumping out of his car. A very unfortunate end to his weekend indeed. Team-mate, Sergio Perez, found himself defending his position from the Toro Rosso and Sauber drivers.

Up in front, Massa and Bottas were eagerly trying to catch up with the Ferrari's, while Hamilton led the pack.

Both McLaren's were struggling with the pace, barely staying ahead of the Manor drivers in the first half of the race. It seems even with the recent upgrades, McLaren still has a lot of work to do before they're up in the points. However, they have made progress and both drivers were able to finish the race.

Daniil Kvyat retired with an engine problem that caused his car to go up in smoke for the 2nd time this weekend. The first time was caused by a brake issue during Free Practice 2. Another renault-powered car that suffered an engine issue was Max Verstappen's Toro Rosso. He ended up having to retire with only 3 laps left in the race.

While Lotus driver Romain Grosjean finished in 7th and gained a handful of points, his team-mate, Pastor Maldonado was not so lucky. He had quite a spin and then later on was hit by Jenson Button when he McLaren driver tried to pass him. Maldonado pitted and his car was checked for damage, but one lap later he reported brake damage and was forced to retire.

In the end, Hamilton brought home the win for the Mercedes team, under the safety car, with Rosberg coming in Second and Vettel in Third for Ferrari. Here are the rest of the results.

RACE RESULTS:

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

Thanks for joining us on Twitter for all the race action this weekend! Make sure to follow us @F1Insider78 for everything leading up the Bahrain Grand Prix!

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Chinese GP: Qualifying - Results

Good things in Qualifying with Lewis Hamilton grabbing Pole Position for Mercedes and both Sauber drivers making it into Q3 for the first time since 2013.

Here is the starting grid for today's Chinese Grand Prix

GRID:

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

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

Free Practice 3 got off to quite a start for McLaren-Honda as Alonso barely made it on to the track before his car came to a halt. The session was yellow flagged as track marshals rolled his car away and it was returned to the garages. Alonso was never able to make it back out for the session unfortunately. However, team-mate Jenson Button was able to rack in a few good laps, finishing the session in 15th.

Both Williams drivers were also experiencing problems. Felipe Massa reported smoke in the cockpit while Bottas, who headed out in the beginning of the session, suddenly aborted his lap and headed back in, not returning to the track for quite awhile. However, both drivers were able to set relatively good times.

It was another Mercedes 1-2 with Hamilton leading the times-sheets, despite reporting a "hot seat" and coming into the garage for a seat change.

Here are the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:37.615 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg - 1:37.841 / Mercedes-Mercedes
3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:38.313 / Ferrari-Ferrari
4. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:38.512 / Ferrari-Ferrari
5. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:39.020 / Red Bull-Renault
6. Daniil Kvyat - 1:39.106 / Red Bull-Renault
7. Carlos Sainz - 1:39.113 / Toro Rosso-Renault
8. Valtteri Bottas - 1:39.243 / Williams-Mercedes
9. Max Verstappen - 1:39.274 / Toro Rosso-Renault
10. Romain Grosjean - 1:39.405 / Lotus-Mercedes
11. Felipe Massa - 1:39.410 / Williams-Mercedes
12. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:39.513 / Force India-Mercedes
13. Marcus Ericsson - 1:39.559 / Sauber-Ferrari
14. Felipe Nasr - 1:39.591 / Sauber-Ferrari
15. Jenson Button - 1:39.694 / McLaren-Honda
16. Pastor Maldonado - 1:39.766 / Lotus-Mercedes
17. Sergio Perez - 1:39.781 / Force India-Mercedes
18. Will Stevens - 1:42.928 / Manor-Ferrari
19. Roberto Merhi - 1:44.391 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Fernando Alonso - No Time Set / McLaren-Honda

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

Teams are now preparing for tomorrow when FP3 and Qualifying will get underway. But for now it's time to go over the very eventful FP2!

Ferrari are proving to be the ones to watch this weekend as they keep Mercedes from getting a 1-2 finish on the time sheets. Raikkonen was just 4 hundreths of of Hamilton's fastest time of the session.

There were a few minor crashes in this session, the first being when Felipe Massa spun out and scuffed the barrier. The session was Red Flagged while his car was taken back to the garages. Later on Daniil Kvyat crashed after having a brake failure. He had left the pit-lane with his rear brake smoking, which ended catching fire before the crash. Both drivers OK.

Tough session for Sahara Force India with both drivers having car issues. Perez was in the garages for awhile after the team told him to box with a brake issue. Hulkenberg was called in early at the end of the session with his gearbox oil having too high of temperature readings. Will Stevens of Manor also had a delayed session after the team found a power unit problem. He got back out with just 1 minute left on the clock.

And of course.. We can't fail to mention the random person who ran across the track while the session was live, then dove over the fence into the pit-lane and darted into the Ferrari garage with the intentions of driving one of the cars. The person was caught by security moments later.

Here are the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:37.219 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:37.662 / Ferrari-Ferrari
3. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:38.311 / Red Bull-Renault
4. Sebastian Vettel - 1:38.339 / Ferrari-Ferrari
5. Nico Rosberg - 1:38.399 / Mercedes-Mercedes
6. Daniil Kvyat - 1:38.737 / Red Bull-Renault 
7. Valtteri Bottas - 1:38.850 / Williams-Mercedes
8. Felipe Nasr - 1:39.032 / Sauber-Ferrari
9. Romain Grosjean - 1:39.142 / Lotus-Mercedes
10. Jenson Button - 1:39.275 / McLaren-Honda
11. Pastor Maldonado - 1:39.444 / Lotus-Mercedes
12. Fernando Alonso - 1:39.743 / McLaren-Honda
13. Marcus Ericsson - 1:39.751 / Sauber-Ferrari
14. Max Verstappen - 1:39.894 / Toro Rosso-Renault
15. Carlos Sainz - 1:39.971 / Toro Rosso-Renault
16. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:40.151 / Force India-Mercedes
17. Felipe Massa - 1:40.423 / Williams-Mercedes
18. Sergio Perez - 1:40.868 / Force India-Mercedes
19. Roberto Merhi - 1:42.973 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Will Stevens - 1:44.564 / Manor-Ferrari

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

We're officially into the 3rd F1 week of the 2015 season and Free Practice 1 is now over so it's time to go over what happened.

Lotus gave Jolyon Palmer his first run of the season in place of Romain Grosjean. The young Brit won the 2014 GP2 season.

Shanghai International Circuit has one of the longest straights and Mercedes proved fastest on it.

Both Manor cars were on track and able to run in this session, which is good news for Will Stevens who was limited in Malaysia due to a fuel system issue.

Lots of lock-ups in this session, including Palmer, Massa and Sainz. Williams was running some new upgrades, but they did not end the session on top. It was a Mercedes 1-2 this time around and here are the rest of the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:39.033 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Nico Rosberg - 1:39.574 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:40.157 / Ferrari-Ferrari

4. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:40.661 / Ferrari-Ferrari

5. Felipe Nasr - 1:41.012 / Sauber-Ferrari

6. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:41.029 / Red Bull-Renault

7. Daniil Kvyat - 1:41.097 / Red Bull-Renault

8. Carlos Sainz - 1:41.112 / Toro Rosso-Renault

9. Valtteri Bottas - 1:41.303 / Williams-Mercedes

10. Felipe Massa - 1:41.304 / Williams-Mercedes

11. Pastor Maldonado - 1:41.335 / Lotus-Mercedes

12. Max Verstappen - 1:41.575 / Toro Rosso-Renault

13. Jenson Button - 1:41.845 / McLaren-Honda

14. Marcus Ericsson - 1:41.918 / Sauber-Ferrari

15. Jolyon Palmer* - 1:41.967 / Lotus-Mercedes

16. Sergio Perez - 1:42.141 / Force India-Mercedes

17. Fernando Alonso - 1:42.161 / McLaren-Honda

18. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:42.184 / Force India-Mercedes

19. Will Stevens - 1:45.379 / Manor-Ferrari

20. Roberto Merhi - 1:46.443 / Manor-Ferrari

* = Driving in this session only.

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Chinese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

Preview Quotes - Manor

Will Stevens - "There were some positive signs at Sepang with the running I was able to achieve, so I'm looking forward to building on that here in China. It's been good to have the data from Roberto's race there for the team to work with and I'm hoping that we can start to get into a good rhythm from this weekend. It's always good to tackle a circuit I've never raced at before and this one has some nice challenges for both car and driver, so it will be good to experience those and to start getting to grips with the car a little more."

Roberto Merhi - "I was very pleased to complete my first F1 race in Malaysia two weeks ago and I'm really looking forward to the next one here in China. The challenge of getting to know a new track is very exciting for me, especially one that places a lot of demands on the driver, as is the case here at Shanghai. In particular, Turn 1 is a pretty exciting start to the lap which is a real test of skill and the section from turns 7-10 looks really interesting because it's quite fast and flowing. I can't wait to get started on Friday."

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Chinese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

Preview Quotes - McLaren

Fernando Alonso - “I have lots of positive memories of racing in China - I’ve won there twice, and I really enjoy the track. Like Sepang, it’s got a real mix of corners and some interesting fast stuff around the back of the circuit. Despite those similarities, however, I don’t think our car package will be as well suited here as it was in Malaysia, especially if the weather is as cold and windy as it usually is in early springtime in Shanghai. Nonetheless, the steps we took between Australia and Malaysia were extremely impressive: it was a great feeling to be able to //mix it with other cars and drivers, and I hope we can do more of the same in China this weekend. That sort of progress really gives the whole team belief and confidence in the path we’re taking, so I hope we can keep moving forwards every time we take to the track.”

Jenson Button - “It’s a pity we didn’t finish the race in Malaysia. We’d made solid progress up until that point in the weekend, and it would have been a fantastic boost to get a car home in amongst some of the cars in the midfield pack. Still, it’s a target to aim for in China, and I hope we can build upon our pace and performance in Malaysia. However, China’s two long straights - each preceded by slow- to medium-speed corners - will place extra emphasis on the power-unit. And there is a feeling that the expected cooler weather will make it harder to generate tyre temperature - which could mean that any progress we make doesn’t necessarily translate to a lap time benefit. But there is definitely progress being made, and it’s great to be able to play a role in helping move the whole team forwards. It’ll be fascinating to see how much change we can effect over the forthcoming races.”

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Chinese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

Preview Quotes - Williams


Felipe Massa - "China is a similar track to Barcelona where we have conducted most of our pre-season testing, so we have a lot of data that can assist us in setting up the car. The track is harsh on the front tyres, often resulting in graining. It’s a good circuit, and you will always see overtaking there due to the long straight, which has the added DRS effect as well."

Valtteri Bottas - "China is a good fun circuit to drive. The long and high speed corners give it a good character, plus it has a very long back straight which aids overtaking and makes the races more interesting. There is a lot of support for the Finns in China which is great to see and they are passionate about Formula One too."

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Chinese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Carlos Sainz - “China is a circuit that I don’t know at all, in a country that I don’t know very well, so I am looking forward to enjoying a new experience. It’s a very special and unusual circuit according to what the team engineers tell me. Normally, with the Pirelli tyres, the rear end of the car is the most difficult to deal with, but in Shanghai it’s the front axle that requires the most careful attention as you can have some front graining. That means it could be similar to conditions we encountered during winter testing. The track looks challenging, with really long corners taken at high speed, which is something I am looking forward to. When I was a kid, I didn’t like Chinese food, but now I am acquiring a taste for it, so I’m looking forward to experiencing the real thing!”

Max Verstappen - “I’ve been to China a few times already, although I have never been to Shanghai or the circuit there. The track looks nice, especially the long right hander first corner, it seems pretty cool. It’s always exciting to go to a new circuit, so I’m really looking forward to the weekend and meeting some new Chinese fans."

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Chinese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes - Sauber


Marcus Ericsson - "The track in Shanghai is a circuit I know from last year, but it is not an easy one with a mixture of high-speed and low-speed corners. Before some corners hard braking is required, so braking stability for the car is important. I believe the set-up of the car will be similar to the one we had in Malaysia, as the layout of the track has some related characteristics. The weather conditions will be different, as it is not as hot as in Sepang, which will also have an influence on the tyre management. I have a good feeling traveling to China, because we have a competitive car. We are looking forward to getting to Shanghai to continue improving as well as scoring points again. I am confident it is going to be a positive weekend for us."

Felipe Nasr - "Last year during the Chinese Grand Prix I had my first FP1 session with Williams. I have never raced on this circuit, but it is good that I have already got to know it. The track has a combination of high-speed and low-speed corners, which is quite demanding for the tyres and challenging to find a good balance for the car. Besides that, the circuit has a straight which is the longest on the whole race calendar. I believe this could be positive for us as we have a strong top speed. As the track has some low-speed corners, traction can be important as well. I am looking forward to a positive race weekend and to scoring points again."

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Chinese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes - Lotus

Romain Grosjean - "Generally (Malaysia) was a good weekend with strong performance through the qualifying session, however in the race things didn't quite work out the way we wanted. There are still a lot of good positives we take to the next races and when it all comes together it's going to be very nice. Shanghai is always quite a particular race track so it's quite difficult to predict. It's often pretty cold and the front is the limitation of the car as you look to avoid under steer. I think we have a lot of tools at our disposal to try to make our car work well and I'm sure we'll have a good race."

Pastor Maldonado - "(Malaysia)was very good for the team that we are in a position to fight for points on a different track. It was very hot and in those conditions the car didn't look bad. During the race, even with the damage we had from the floor after the contact from Valtteri Bottas in the first corner, our pace was very consistent. We had a couple of small reliability issues but the team's working very hard on this, and we expect to have these resolved by China. I'm looking forward to getting out in action in Shanghai and hoping for a clean weekend when we should be able to get some points. I think we should be in a similar position to that we've been in for the first and second race, so fighting for the top ten in qualifying and then in the race. Let's see what the track conditions are like, the weather, how the car feels and how good a set-up we can get. I'm confident we should be fighting for good places."

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Chinese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes - Force India

Nico Hulkenberg - “Shanghai is a cool place. I always stay in the centre of the city and you can feel the buzz of the place. There is so much happening and everybody is very busy all the time. The track has a mix of everything – low, medium and high-speed corners, so it’s quite similar to Sepang with a big emphasis on aero performance. The quick corners are tough on the tyres and high degradation is a big factor in this race. The never-ending turn one also takes the life out of the tyres, especially the front left.

It's a fun track to drive and a challenge to get right. I’m not going there with any big expectations, but we’ve got to believe we can fight for some points. It wasn’t possible in Malaysia, but we certainly put up a good fight and will keep working hard. I think our performance level will be similar this weekend.”

Sergio Perez - “I’m looking forward to this weekend and getting back in the car. The first two races have not been the easiest for me, but as a team we’ve been fighting hard and doing all that we can to find more performance. We have lots of areas to improve, but it’s a long season and it feels like we are moving in the right direction.

Shanghai has never been the luckiest circuit for me. It was only last year that I scored my first points there. It’s a track that I enjoy because of the unusual characteristics. Turn one is a real challenge, especially in qualifying because you need to carry so much speed into the corner, but it’s easy to run wide and lose a lot of time. The long back straight is also interesting because you get a lot of drag races. It’s where horsepower and top speed are important. Sometimes you see three cars wide and lots over overtaking into the hairpin. It’s definitely the best passing opportunity of the lap.”

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Chinese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes: Red Bull

Daniel Ricciardo - "The paddock is enormous! You need to be an athlete just to get around. As for the track itself, I'd call it 'technical'. Turns One, Two and Three are all very long and technical. I don't think there's any other corner like it on the calendar. And it's very, very aggressive on the front tyres. You could drink a can of Red Bull driving down it (the long straight). I've heard quite a few drivers saying it's pretty boring. Ha! If they think it's boring in a Formula One car, they should have tried coming here in Formula BMW. I drove here as a kid, all massive afro and enthusiasm and, trust me, it was the sort of straight where I'd definitely have been reaching for a book if I'd had one. (Tyre wear) is pretty extreme – but I'd still prefer it to the scenario with a tyre that takes three laps to come in. The fact it comes in straight away is awesome. In qualifying, you drive the out-lap like your grandma, desperately trying to not kill it before the flying lap starts."

Daniil Kvyat - "The start of the lap is always really tough and it's very easy to get wrong. The lap starts with a big test but the big thing is to find a good rhythm through it. That's the case everywhere there really. The long straight is good and the heavy braking zone at the end of that is interesting. It's a pretty good circuit, wide open, you can really push hard all the way through. I had a good race there last year and managed to get a points finish, so I'm happy to go back. We stayed close to the track last year, so it's not easy to get a good look around the centre of Shanghai. But we did get a chance to do a bit of sightseeing last year, it's an impressive city. It's a really interesting place, but absolutely huge, you drive through all these towns on the way in to the centre that are part of the city and they're huge."

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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