Canadian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes - Red Bull


Daniel Ricciardo - "Winning (last year) has made me love (the circuit) a little bit more, but really I’ve loved it since my first lap, back when I was driving for Toro Rosso. I remember coming back into the pits and saying ‘what a circuit,’ I was amazed at how good it was - and I’d only done an install. It’s just a ridiculous amount of fun. You can jump across the kerbs and really get the car bouncing around. It’s like getting back to go-kart days, you really feel like you own it - and I love that. You can get aggressive with it, and aim to just brush the wall.

There’s a lot of risk but that brings a lot of adrenaline with it. It’d be wonderful if you were doing it in isolation but with 100,000 screaming fans urging you on, it’s just mega. How do you judge the risk versus reward between the walls? It’s a clear choice: some guys will play it safe and sacrifice half a tenth to get through there cleanly; others who will take a risk and go flat out trying to find a little bit. The nearer you are, the faster you’ll go. Give the wall a kiss and you feel pretty good: Kiss it too hard and that’s it! The city is awesome. Great places to eat and drink - plus the fact Crescent Street is closed off for a big party is very, very cool. The whole city gets involved in the race and you get the impression that the grand prix is really embraced."

Daniil Kvyat - "(The circuit) is quite intense but in a very different way (to Monaco). The straights are long but you have these big braking zones. It has a little bit of the feeling of street circuit because of the walls but it is more of a traditional, classic track. It has a unique feeling though and it’s a great place for racing. It’s great for drivers and the races are usually very exciting, so I’m looking forward to it.

The atmosphere is always really good. It’s a great crowd and they seem to really know a lot about F1, which is great. From what I’ve seen (Montreal) is a good city, but to be honest I haven’t actually been out and about there very much. However, my trainer likes it very much, because of the hockey. He’s a former hockey player so he loves it there. We’ve visited the stadium and I’ve watched a few games on the TV because it’s often play-off season (the Stanley Cup) when we’re there, so he’s always watching it."

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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Canadian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes - Lotus


Romain Grosjean - "I have very good memories from 2012 when I went from seventh on the grid to my first second place in Formula One. It was a really great day and it was really a strong team result as we used a one-stop strategy to get on the podium after a disappointing qualifying session the day before. The last couple of years haven’t been so good for me, I had to retire from last year’s race and in 2013 we struggled in the wet weather conditions.

As for Montreal itself, it’s a wonderful city to visit. There are obviously a lot of French speakers so it’s like another home race for me, and the fans are so welcoming and knowledgeable. There are also some very good restaurants in Montreal which is always a bonus. Montreal is in-between a normal circuit and a street circuit. The walls are very close in some places, while other parts are similar to a European circuit. It’s definitely unique and we normally bring a different down force package for that reason, which adds another unknown factor to the weekend. The circuit is not used for the rest of the year so the grip will change a lot - something we’ll have to adapt to - and the weather can also be tricky. Hopefully it’ll be nice and sunny because it’s a race I really like – and it’s my favourite circuit to race on the Xbox. The last chicane is a notable feature and overall it’s a good track.

I enjoy the sensation of being close to the walls. Montreal is different from Monaco as there are some long straights and some big braking moments. The track surface can also present challenges as we’ve seen in other seasons, so it will be interesting to see what the grip level is like this year and that will certainly be on your mind as you take to the track for the first time over the weekend."

Pastor Maldonado - "Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is amazing and I always enjoy being there. Canada is a great race not only because of the track but because of the people who come to support it. There is a great atmosphere all weekend and the city is quite close to the circuit which means there is a great vibe all round. There is also a lot of history to the Grand Prix and it has been around for a while - it is one of the great GPs during the season.

What do you need for a fast lap around the track? You need a good race car to have confidence to push and that is something we have with the E23. You use the kerbs quite a lot, so you need to be able to ride the bumps well and you need good turn-in for the chicanes. Also, like Monaco, you need to stay away from the walls. You should get close, but making contact is too close! You never know what the weather can be like in Montreal. I’ve been there when it’s been pretty hot, but I’ve also been there when it’s cold and when it’s very wet. Any of these conditions can make things interesting especially as the track isn’t used much so you don’t know how it might react.

I’m approaching every race wanting to finish in the points. The circuit in Canada has its own challenges but there’s nothing to say we shouldn’t be fast there. This year’s car has felt good so I’ll be pushing for points in the race. At most of the races this year we’ve looked strong all through the weekend and it’s been the final piece of crossing the finish line in the points which has been out of reach. That’s what we want this weekend."

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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Refueling To Return in 2017

Recently, it has come to light that refueling is set to return to the sport in 2017. The FIA have said the return of the process is all to happen in order to liven up the sport. Discussions on social media sites have brought one thing to light, fans are split.  After scrolling through tweets and posts in social media, it seems to me that you hear fans are opposed to the action, saying that it is reintroducing an unnecessary risk. We've all seen the types of accidents that occurred during refueling. However, long term fans of the sport seem to be set on it being a better idea as they feel the sport has drifted from what it once was.

Long term fans see that the sport has become a health and safety obsessed society, rigged with 'don't do that' and 'you must not...' And feel that any return of any process would be a step in the right direction.

Newer fans, however, see that Formula 1 is the leading pioneer in motoring. It sets the standards in skill, speed and now, safety. After so many fatalities, we live in a world where safety is a number one priority in everyday life. However, it is expected that regulations will be in place of the refueling, in order to make it as safe as possible.

As for the race, this would make it a lot easier for teams to complete a race, fuel worry free. In addition to this, cars would have the option of being lighter and hence, faster. Having said this, pit stops for refueling would be significantly longer. What side are you on? Do you want refuelling back, or do you like the sport the way it is?

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Article Written By: Frances Fry
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McLaren's 2015 Struggle

Throughout the start of the season, McLaren have been struggling and often finding themselves mid-field rather than at the front, where most fans would argue they belong. At the end of last year, after they announced that they had signed their previous driver, Fernando Alonso, things started looking up. People believed that Fernando would not be moving to a team where he couldn't win, and with his previous experience came trust of his judgment.

As expected, McLaren fans have stayed loyal. If there's a quality that F1 fans possess, it's loyalty. We have the ability to believe in and stick with a team or driver in the toughest of times. In some cases they spend years without a drive and in others they spend a season struggling for a single championship point. This is why there is no decrease in McLaren belief. Fans are sure that they will return to their former glory but with the new Honda power system, it's unsure as to when this will occur.

Many people were ecstatic to see the return of the Honda/McLaren alliance, the team being one of the people. However, it has recently been questioned if they are happy about their decision, looking back on it. In addition to this, the media and fans alike have been questioning if Fernando feels like he made the right choice. Especially since Ferrari seem to be thriving this season. It must feel like rubbing salt in the wound.

Despite this, we have been reassured by Fernando that he did not rejoin the team for points and wins. Rather he rejoined because it's where he feels he belongs. It's important for a driver to feel comfortable within the team to ensure results are the best they can be. This of course, brings Jenson Button into the equation.

He's had a better year than last as he's been married, however, Jenson doesn't seem to be his happiest when at work. However, being pilot to a struggling car is never fun. We all saw the effects it had on last year's Sauber drivers. McLaren are set to improve but it will take time, as any steps forward in motor sports will. The progress cannot be marked on a timeline but it's rather exciting to see where they'll be at the end of this season.

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Article Written By: Frances Fry
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Canadian GP: Circuit Preview

(Image belongs to: www.gtplanet.net - All rights belong to the owner)

As the drivers relax after a long weekend in Monaco, it's also time for them to prepare for the Canadian GP & time for us to go over the circuit!

"Circuit Gilles Villeneuve" is located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and first opened back in 1978. It's not the oldest circuit on the calendar, but not the newest either. It runs Clockwise and has 13 turns. It is also 2.71 Miles in length. It's capacity is 100,000 & The race will consist of 70 laps.

in 2014, Nico Rosberg took pole but didn't quite get the win. Instead it was Australia's Daniel Ricciardo while Rosberg finished Second and Sebastian Vettel snapped up Third to complete the podium.

Retirements included: Jules Bianchi (Collision), Max Chilton (Collision), Marcus Ericsson (Oil Leak), Pastor Maldonado (Power Unit), Kamui Kobayashi (Suspension Failure), Lewis Hamilton (Brake Failure), Daniil Kvyat (Driveshaft), Romain Grosjean (Rear-Wing Damage), Esteban Gutierrez (Power Unit), Sergio Perez (Collision) & Felipe Massa (Collision)

While Gutierrez, Perez & Massa all retired, they were classified as finished as they had completed at least 90% of the race.

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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Canadian GP: Schedule

It's time for the teams to leave Europe and head over to North America for the Canadian GP. This will be the 1st of 3 North American races with Mexico now on the 2015 Calendar, along with the usual race in Texas, in the USA.

Here is the schedule for the upcoming race in Montreal.

SCHEDULE:

June 4th / Thursday

09:30 - 11:00 - F1 Drivers Autograph Signing
11:00 - Drivers Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

June 5th / Friday

09:15 - 09:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
10:00 - 11:30 - Free Practice #1
12:30 - 13:30 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
14:00 - 15:30 - Free Practice #2
16:00 - 17:00 - Principals Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

June 6th / Saturday

08:05 - 09:10 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
08:30 - 09:00 - Team Pit-Stop Practice
10:00 - 11:00 - Free Practice #3
11:50 - 12:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
13:00 - Qualifying

June 7th / Sunday

11:35 - 13:15 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
12:30 - Drivers Parade
12:45 - 13:15 - Starting Grid Presentation
13:46 - National Anthem
14:00 - Race

(Times subject to change)

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Feature: Star Drivers Of The Monaco GP

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "Monaco is not renowned for giving drivers the chance to show off their pro racing skills. Due to this, I found it rather difficult to decide who I thought did best through the weekend. However, upon thinking of who to pick, the choice became ever clear. Without a doubt, Jenson Button deserves recognition for his weekend.  It's no secret that McLaren have had an exceptionally difficult start to the 2015 season. However, this weekend, with his incredible determination, Jenson Button managed to cross the line in 8th place! Bringing 4 points to the team and ending the drought.

Although the number of points is very low, it has acted as a sort of reassurance for fans and the team as it seems to be a sign that the McLaren/Honda alliance wasn't as dreadful as people had begun to think it was. Although it is only 4 points, for Button to be able to sustain that place throughout the race and bring them home for the team is a great achievement within itself. Especially since there was a safety car which bunches all of the cars up again. I believe the McLaren Honda will get there, there's just a bit of work to do."

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "My driver of the weekend is Sergio Perez. Not only did he have the pace during qualifying but he was able to achieve his best Monaco GP finish of his career, bringing home 6 points for the Force India team. I'm almost 100% positive Nico (Hulkenberg) would've been able to score points too if there hadn't been contact in the first lap with Alonso. It was a racing accident, but none the less it did cost Nico the potential for points.

Perez is a very talented and skilled driver. He's very precise with overtaking the other cars (As we saw in Singapore last year, making his way from 19th to 7th)  - And he's got the hunger to do good every weekend. He's very driven and I think in Formula 1, that is very important. There's no doubt he and the team will have a good weekend in Canada as well."

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Feature: Monaco GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "Monaco has been one of my favourite races on the F1 calendar for as long as I can remember. I've always been in love with the adrenaline that rests in the corners and the thrills stashed in the straights. Some people find themselves growing tired of the track but I can't pull myself away from Monaco. There's always something memorable from the race, something fresh.

Max Verstappen made quite an impact with a barrier after colliding with Romain Grosjean. The footage of the accident makes it appear to be Verstappen's fault but he was experiencing braking difficulties. Both drivers, as expected, blame the other. However, I believe the most talked about highlight of the race was the podium order. Hamilton was leading for a majority of the race but finished in third. This was due to a misjudgment in time within Mercedes.

It was lovely to see Nico Rosberg stand on the top of the podium at his home GP in Monte Carlo. A home win is something incredible to witness."

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "As Monaco is my favorite race of the season, I've been looking forward to it since the start of the season. The build up to the race is great, there's plenty to see and plenty to talk about. The city is absolutely stunning and the circuit is no place for mistakes. It is a heart-pounding, hair raising street circuit with little room to overtake and a tricky layout if you're not careful.

First off - A congratulations to Rosberg, Vettel and Hamilton. There were parts of the race where I found myself nearly cringing at how close some drivers were getting when trying to pass each other. The accident with Max Verstappen and Romain Grosjean was so sudden and it's very relieving that neither of them were hurt.

It was an unfortunate end for Alonso and Maldonado with both having Mechanical issues and then Max's retirement from the crash. It's not the way you want to end the Monaco GP, but it happens and it's quite disappointing for them.

We're already looking forward to the Canadian GP and there will be plenty to talk about then. Cheers!"

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Edited by: Amy Hawk
Quotes belong to F1Insider78 & Are available for use with permission - Visit the contact page.

Monaco GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

We hope everyone enjoyed the Monaco Grand Prix as much as we did. It's one of our favorites on the calendar and always has great on-track action.

When the lights went out, the race got started with 19 cars starting on the Grid and Carlos Sainz unfortunately starting from pit-lane due to not coming in for weight checks during Qualifying.

Things went smooth for most around the first few corners. But Fernando Alonso made contact with Nico Hulkenberg and the Force India was sent nose first into the barriers. Alonso was later given a 5-Second-Stop-Go-Penalty for causing the collision. Hulkenberg was able to keep racing after a front-wing change in the pit-lane.

 Pastor Maldonado was the first to retire due to a Hydraulics issue. Lotus have not been having the best year due to mechanical issues, but Romain Grosjean was able to finish the race, but not without some drama. In the later stages of the race Max Verstappen was coming up behind the Lotus driver when his front wheel hopped over the back of Grosjean's car, sending Max Verstappen slamming into the barriers while Grosjean spun out on track. It was the end for young Verstappen's race, while Grosjean was miraculously able to keep going.

Max Verstappen was handed a 5-Place-Grid-Penalty for Canada along with his first 2 Penalty Points of the season.

Two other drivers who had a near collision were Kimi Raikkonen and Daniel Ricciardo, when the Red Bull driver bumped into the Ferrari while making the pass for 5th place. Kimi was ultimately frustrated with what happened, but despite what happend.. Daniel Ricciardo was not given any penalty. 

Fernando Alonso also retired due to a gearbox issue which made his McLaren stop on track as it did the previous day in Qualifying. An issue they had hoped would not hamper the Spaniards race. While it was an unfortunate end of race for Alonso, Jenson Button finished the race in 8th and brought home McLaren-Honda's first points of the 2015 season. Their best performance so far with the new Honda engines.

For Williams it was a tough day. Felipe Massa got pushed back to 19th after a long pit-stop that included changing of the front wing. His team-mate, Bottas, was also struggling with pace. Williams had mentioned that Monaco is not a good race for their cars, but they're looking forward to Canada. Sauber also struggled with this race. Nasr finished 9th and brought home 2 points for the Swiss team while Ericsson missed the mark and finished in 13th.

Sergio Perez had his best Monaco GP finish to date and came in 7th, bringing in 6 points for Sahara Force India. It's also one of their best results this season. The team are still waiting to get their B-spec car which they think will arrive by Britain's race.

As for the front runners, it had looked to be Lewis Hamilton's first Monaco win from Pole Position. He had it in the bag. However, at the very end of the race, Mercedes called him in for a pit-stop. Lewis agreed to go in, thinking that both Vettel & Rosberg were there as well. However, when Lewis emerged from the pit lane, he had the Ferrari and other Mercedes in front of him. Not a sight he wanted to see.

Nico Rosberg ended up bringing home his 3rd Monaco victory in a row. The last person to do so was Ayrton Senna. 

Manor-Marussia had both drivers finish. Although they didn't score any points, it was overall a good weekend for the team in terms of improving. It was just last year that Jules Bianchi finished in 9th (After time penalty added) and earned them their first and only 2 points. 

Here are the rest of the results from the race. The Canadian GP is up in just 2 weeks and will definitely be exciting. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78 for all the lead up to each race.

RESULTS:

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

2. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 18 Points

3. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 15 Points

4. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia / + 12 Points

5. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia / + 10 Points

6. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 8 Points

7. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 6 Points

8. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain / + 4 Points

9. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil / + 2 Points

10. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain / + 1 Point

11. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany

12. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France

13. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

14. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland

15. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil

16. Roberto Merhi / Manor-Ferrari / Spain

17. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain

RETIRED - Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherland / Collision

RETIRED - Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain / Gearbox

RETIRED - Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela / Hydraulics

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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Monaco GP: Qualifying - Results

Here is the starting grid for today's Monaco GP. Romain Grosjean is taking a 5-Place-Grid-Penalty for a Gearbox change and Carlos Sainz will be starting from the pit-lane due to failure of coming in for a weight check.

STARTING GRID:

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain

2. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany

3. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany

4. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia

5. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia

6. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland

7. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico

8. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela

9. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands

10. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

11. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany

12. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil

13. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain

14. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

15. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France

16. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland

17. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

18. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain

19. Roberto Merhi / Manor-Ferrari / Spain

PIT-LANE - Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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

The last practice session of the Monaco GP weekend is now over and it was Sebastian Vettel on the top of the time sheets, closely followed by Rosberg and Hamilton in the Mercedes.

Weather is looking much better than during Free Practice 2 on Thursday. No rain in sight and temperatures slightly higher.

Session was Red Flagged when Kimi Raikkonen tapped the barriers with rear left tyre, causing enough damage for him not to be able to drive the car back to the garage.

Verstappen later did the same thing but was able to keep the car going. Sergio Perez also had a hair-raising moment when he almost collided with Sebastian Vettel and ended up sliding and skimming the barriers with the back of the Force India. No major damage, so the session stayed Green.

Here are the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Sebastian Vettel - 1:16.143 / Ferrari-Ferrari

2. Nico Rosberg - 1:16.361 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Lewis Hamilton - 1:16.705 / Mercedes-Mercedes

4. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:17.120 / Red Bull-Renault

5. Carlos Sainz - 1:17.256 / Toro Rosso-Renault

6. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:17.401 / Ferrari-Ferrari

7. Daniil Kvyat - 1:17.471 / Red Bull-Renalt

8. Jenson Button - 1:17.767 / McLaren-Honda

9. Max Verstappen - 1:17.788 / Toro Rosso-Renault

10. Romain Grosjean - 1:17.806 / Lotus-Mercedes

11. Sergio Perez - 1:17.832 / Force India-Mercedes

12. Pastor Maldonado - 1:17.956 / Lotus-Mercedes

13. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:18.102 / Force India-Mercedes

14. Fernando Alonso - 1:18.197 / McLaren-Honda

15. Valtteri Bottas - 1:18.212 / Williams-Mercedes

16. Felipe Massa - 1:18.242 / Williams-Mercedes

17. Felipe Nasr - 1:18.767 / Sauber-Ferrari

18. Marcus Ericsson - 1:19.269 / Sauber-Ferrari

19. Will Stevens - 1:21.093 / Manor-Ferrari

20. Roberto Merhi - 1:22.225 / Manor-Ferrari

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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

It was a cold and wet second practice session in Monte Carlo. Not too much running was able to be done as rain hampered the last hour of FP2.

It was off to a bad start for Sauber when Ericsson was unable to run due to an engine issue, which left him unable to set a time during the session.

Manor's Roberto Merhi crashed in the first 30 minutes of the session and caused Red Flags due to the debri and the car being in the way. Merhi emerged from the accident unharmed and OK and after things were cleaned up, the session was back underway. However, the rain started soon after and not many ventured out to do a lap until the last 5 minutes when the rain had stopped and the track had dried up a bit.

Here are the times from the session

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:17.192 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Nico Rosberg - 1:17.932 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:18.295 / Ferrari-Ferrari

4. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:18.543 / Ferrari-Ferrari

5. Daniil Kvyat - 1:18.548 / Red Bull-Renault

6. Carlos Sainz - 1:18.659 / Toro Rosso-Renault

7. Max Verstappen - 1:18.782 / Toro Rosso-Renault

8. Fernando Alonso - 1:18.906 / McLaren-Honda

9. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:19.151 / Force India-Mercedes

10. Romain Grosjean - 1:19.266 / Lotus-Mercedes

11. Sergio Perez - 1:19.300 / Force India-Mercedes

12. Felipe Massa - 1:19.560 / Williams-Mercedes

13. Valtteri Bottas - 1:19.566 / Williams-Mercedes

14. Pastor Maldonado - 1:19.577 / Lotus-Mercedes

15. Jenson Button - 1:19.606 / McLaren-Honda

16. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:19.639 / Red Bull-Renault

17. Felipe Nasr - 1:20.263 / Sauber-Ferrari

18. Roberto Merhi - 1:22.017 / Manor-Ferrari

19. Will Stevens - 1:22.943 / Manor-Ferrari

20. Marcus Ericsson / No Time Set / Sauber-Ferrari

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

The F1 weekend in Monte Carlo, Monaco has officially kicked off - Free Practice 1 got underway earlier and teams were eager to get their cars out for a first run of the Circuit de Monaco.

Jenson Button was forced to sit out the majority of the session due to ERS issues with his McLaren-Honda. The team worked throughout the first hour and was able to get him out by the end of the session. 

Sauber is facing a difficult weekend by the looks of their FP1 positions on the time sheets. One might suggest there were some issues with the cars and multiple people reported they looked a bit "Slow" in the session. Sauber has been consistent so-far this year after not scoring a single point in 2014 and they'll be looking to score points on Sunday.

The Circuit de Monaco is known for its beauty but also its dangers and most sessions usually have a few Yellow or Red flag moments. There was quite a few yellows but nothing too serious. Multiple drivers using the run-off at Saint Devote or nearly touching the barriers around multiple turns. Rosberg even bumped a barrier and had to go into his garage for a check of the car to make sure nothing was damaged. However, the session had no Red Flags, which everyone is thankful for.

It was Hamilton who ended the session fastest while team-mate Rosberg ended down in 9th. Young Rookie, Max Verstappen, who's never driven on this circuit, finished 2nd while Daniel Ricciardo ended the session in 3rd.

Here are the times.

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:18.750 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Max Verstappen - 1:18.899 / Toro Rosso-Renault

3. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:19.086 / Red Bull-Renault

4. Sebastian Vettel - 1:19.134 / Ferrari-Ferrari

5. Carlos Sainz - 1:19.245 / Toro Rosso-Renault

6. Pastor Maldonado - 1:19.454 / Lotus-Mercedes

7. Daniil Kvyat - 1:19.520 / Red Bull-Renault

8. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:19.679 / Ferrari-Ferrari

9. Nico Rosberg - 1:19.762 / Mercedes-Mercedes

10. Felipe Massa - 1:19.766 / Williams-Mercedes

11. Fernando Alonso - 1:19.791 / McLaren-Honda

12. Jenson Button - 1:20.202 / McLaren-Honda

13. Romain Grosjean - 1:20.274 / Lotus-Mercedes

14. Sergio Perez - 1:20.619 / Force India-Mercedes

15. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:20.784 / Force India-Mercedes

16. Felipe Nasr - 1:20.857 / Sauber-Ferrari

17. Valtteri Bottas - 1:20.917 / Williams-Mercedes

18. Marcus Ericsson - 1:21.219 / Sauber-Ferrari

19. Will Stevens - 1:23.234 / Manor-Ferrari

20. Roberto Merhi - 1:23.404 / Manor-Ferrari

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes: Toro Rosso


Carlos Sainz - "Monaco is definitely one of the highlights of the racing year for any driver. It's a special sort of track where you always want to show that you are fast, because it's a very challenging circuit where the driver can make the difference. I've had some very positive results there in the past in the World Series and it's a track I like a lot. However, this will be my first time driving there in a Formula 1 car and I imagine it will feel very different to what I've experienced there before. It will all be about the qualifying session, which in some ways is the most important moment of the race weekend. So you really need to find the right balance with the car during free practice and then put together a good lap. I'm looking forward to Saturday very much therefore, because I can imagine that getting a good lap in qualifying must feel like something really special."

Max Verstappen - "A street circuit is always special. I've never driven at this track before but I have driven at Macau, which I reckon is a very challenging street circuit. I enjoyed the experience there and so I'm looking forward to Monaco. It will need a different approach and you can't just attack it in the first free practice session, you need to build up to it gradually. The important thing is to do as many laps as possible. I've driven it on the simulator and what strikes you is that it is quite slow. Even if engine power will be less important here, you do need the best possible driveability to come from the engine. I expect the lap times between the teams to be much closer than in some other races. In the end, set-up changes won't make the biggest difference. It's more a case of what you as a driver can get out of yourself. In Monaco, I think it will be more likely to get an extra 2 tenths out of yourself than from something you do to the car."

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

Preview Quotes: Manor-Marussia

Will Stevens - "I'm so excited to be racing in my first Monaco Grand Prix this weekend. It's such a historic venue and the atmosphere is spectacular. From a racing point of view it's a real drivers' circuit, one which really showcases ability versus car performance. Precision is key as the smallest mistake can end up costing a driver dearly, but that's all part of the unique challenge and I can't wait to get started on Thursday. It will be an emotional weekend for the team as we remember Jules' amazing achievement here last year. I was only watching then, but that was some race! We'll all be pushing to ensure another strong performance and a two-car finish."

Roberto Merhi - "I can't wait to be racing in Monaco. For sure, this is one of the highlights of the season for any driver. The track is a real adventure in any category but I'm thrilled to be racing here in F1 for the first time and on the 65th anniversary of such an historic circuit. The streets of Monaco are really exhilarating to drive, like Casino Square and the Swimming Pool section and it's a really amazing vibe all weekend. This is a special place for the team, so I hope we can have a good performance in the race for everybody."

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Preview Quotes: Mercedes


Lewis Hamilton - “I didn’t have thae best weekend in Barcelona, so to come away with second was okay in terms of damage limitation and it meant another great result for the team with the one-two. I’m now fully focused on Monaco - the race that everybody looks forward to and one I particularly love. It’s the biggest challenge of the year for a driver and, when you get it right, that feeling is hard to beat. Building a rhythm right from the beginning of practice is so important, as you really need to feel your way into the circuit. You have to be inch perfect at every point, as the slightest slip can ruin your weekend. It’s about pure driving skill and pure bravery behind the wheel, which for me is what makes it so special. Like Spain, it’s another circuit where I haven’t had the best of luck in the past - but I’m not interested in what’s been and gone or in making any predictions. I’m just here to get in this fantastic car we have, race it hard and give it everything I’ve got, like always.”

Nico Rosberg - “We had a perfect weekend in Spain and, for me personally, it was good to close the gap a little in the points. There’s still a long way to go this season so it’s all there to fight for, I’m just taking it race by race. Next we have Monaco – the most legendary, exciting and challenging event in the calendar. Throughout the whole weekend, the atmosphere is very, very special. It’s a home race for me and it’s strange to just walk or take a scooter to the racetrack - but also very cool to sleep in your own bed each night! The circuit itself has very unique setup characteristics and we evaluated a few of those during the test in Barcelona, as the last sector there has a lot of tight corners which are quite representative. The car felt very good so I'm feeling optimistic and ready for this next race. If we can have everything running smoothly from the start it should be a good weekend, so I'm really looking forward to it.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

Preview Quotes: Williams


Valtteri Bottas - "As a Monaco resident I see the track being built and the grandstands going up in the weeks ahead of the race and the anticipation starts to build. Witnessing the whole build up and then the roads forming into iconic racing corners is a very strange but cool experience. It’s not the easiest race on the calendar but that challenge makes it a thrilling circuit to drive - for me it’s the most special race of the year. The first year I drove here I found it challenging so it’s nice to go into the race with some experience under my belt already.

Felipe Massa - “With the Monaco Grand Prix I get to see the whole process of how a Formula One race comes together way before the fans get there, which is something I would never normally witness. It’s a one off race, especially as I can walk to the track in the morning from home. It’s a long, special but important race and I hope we can have a strong weekend. Although I prefer longer faster circuits like Spa and Monza, nothing can take away from the thrill of the streets of Monaco. Your first thought is to qualifying well, and from there to make sure that you finish the race. If you do that then you are in with a chance of getting some really good points.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes: Sauber


Marcus Ericsson - “The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the highlights of the season. This street track is a kind of unique place, as it is quite different to other circuits on our calendar. If you are feeling confident in the car you can extract the most out of your skills and the car’s perfomance. It will be crucial, especially for the race, to find a good rhythm from corner to corner and from lap to lap. In previous racing series I have had some strong races in Monaco, so I am looking forward to a positive weekend.“

Felipe Nasr - “Monaco is one of the nicest tracks on the calendar, and at the same time the Grand Prix is a very traditional one. It is a track that is very demanding in all areas. From the driver’s side, you need to feel confident in the car to push it to the limit. There are a few things which are important for a good lap time: Good braking stability, traction, as well a generally stable car. Over the days we also need to keep an eye on the grip evolution. All in all I am looking forward to racing in Monaco surrounded by a great atmosphere.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

Preview Quotes: McLaren

Fernando Alonso - “Monaco is one of those circuits that’s in its own league. Although it’s almost impossible to overtake there, it still produces one of the most impressive and exciting shows on the Formula 1 calendar. As a circuit and as a place, it’s completely unique, and this is what makes it so special. There are three areas you have to focus on for this grand prix - qualifying, concentration, and strategy. Saturday is where you can increase your chances of getting a good result from the weekend, so this will be our first objective, and I’m hopeful we can continue to strengthen our qualifying performance and improve our starting position.

On Sunday, the most important thing is concentration - the streets are so narrow and twisty that there is no margin for error - so if you can do this and also maximise your strategy, you have the best chance of moving up the order by the end of the race. My home race in Barcelona was obviously a frustrating weekend for the whole team; we were unlucky with how my race ended and we firmly believed we could’ve achieved a positive result there. Our fighting spirit is still strong though, and we’re determined to take that to Monaco and see how much progress we can make there. I’m hopeful our car will perform better there than in Spain, and we’ll be pushing again to get into the points.

Monaco is a tough challenge, mentally, but that’s what makes it even more rewarding when you hook up a perfect lap. I’ve always enjoyed racing there and I’ve enjoyed victory there twice - in 2006 with Renault, and the year after with McLaren. Winning there is an unforgettable experience. It’s also a truly unforgiving circuit, so making mistakes comes at a high price. But Monaco is Monaco, one of the best races of the year, and the reason that the drivers love going back there each season.”

Jenson Button - “It’s true what they say - Monaco is the jewel in the crown of the Formula 1 calendar in every sense. It’s a real test of man and machine working in harmony to hook up the best lap, and maintain that consistency lap after lap. It’s very easy to make mistakes there, and you need complete confidence in the car and incredible control and accuracy to get the most out of a lap. Qualifying is so important because overtaking is famously tricky; we’ve been steadily improving our starting positions since the beginning of the season, so I’m hopeful we’ll see further progress on Saturday.

Monaco is a low-speed circuit that doesn’t rely that much on aerodynamic performance, but you do need good balance and driveability. I’m hopeful we can sort out the balance issues we had on my car in the last race, so Monaco should see an improvement. After a disappointing race in Barcelona, naturally it’s easy to be frustrated when you step out of the car, especially when you feel you deserved more. I firmly believe that we’re making solid progress, which is why having a difficult race is hard to take. However, we’ve put that race behind us and I think we’ve a decent chance of continuing our upward trend in Monaco.

I love Monaco; I won there in 2009 and the feeling you get driving there is absolutely mega. While nothing beats the feeling of racing at your home Grand Prix, Monaco has become an adopted home race for me, so driving around these famous streets so close to where I live makes it even more special. Racing at Monaco is an incredible challenge - being precise on turn-in, hitting the apex and balancing the throttle, while being as patient as possible to get the best exit, is a real art. The flow of corners in the middle sector - from Mirabeau, into the Hairpin and on to Portier - is particularly tricky, as it’s so easy to go a foot off the racing line and end up in the wall. Monaco always produces great drama, which just adds to its legendary status as one of the best Grands Prix on the calendar.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes: Force India


Nico Hulkenberg - “Monaco is my favourite race weekend of the year, both from a driving point of view and because of everything that goes on during the week. Everything about Monaco is exciting: the place itself feels special, but when Formula One turns up it's the start of something amazing.

From a driver's point of view, Monaco is one of the last tracks in the world where you have absolutely zero margin for error - one mistake and you are in the wall. The thrill and kick you get in the car as you drive around the circuit is much bigger than what you get from any other track: your heart rate goes up; your heart is in your mouth – I really like that. The whole lap is a challenge. To master the track and put together three good sectors on a qualifying run is very hard, but when you get it done it is such a great feeling. You are relieved, proud and happy - it's priceless. The atmosphere you breathe in during the race weekend is so cool. From the start of the week there is a lot going on in terms of parties and events, and just being part of this weekend is very enjoyable.”

Sergio Perez - “I always look forward to Monaco. It’s a special place, which has everything you need for a Formula One race. The lap is amazing, the location is beautiful, and it’s the race everybody wants to attend.

I enjoy the challenge of Monaco and I believe that the driver can make more of a difference compared to other circuits. To be quick you have to take some risks, push the limits, and kiss the walls. I enjoy the quick parts of the lap - the swimming pool section and Casino Square. It’s all about being accurate and precise. It’s not the most difficult circuit, but if you get it wrong, you get punished. When you get together the perfect lap, it feels great. That’s why I think it’s the one race where there is a chance to do something extra special.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes: Lotus


Romain Grosjean - "It's like an unofficial French Grand Prix first of all! It's great to see so much French support every year and there are so many flags and banners. It's a very challenging circuit and unique on the calendar. As a driver you have to stay calm and relaxed on a track that doesn't allow for any mistakes. I've been super quick in the past, but I've also hit the walls too, so there's a real balance to be struck. It's an exciting and glamorous Grand Prix but always a step into the unknown, because it's difficult to predict how well each car will work there. It's a crazy week with all the focus and attention, but everyone loves Monaco. I do like the Casino corner which is quite nice, high-speed with a little bit of banking. The most difficult part would be the next section - Mirabeau, Loews and then the two Portier corners because you have to 'create' some speed there. There's not a dull moment at any time over the course of a lap. When you finish a lap and you know it's quick because you've given everything and thought you were about to go off about three times, it is something special."

Pastor Maldonado - "First of all it's such an historic Grand Prix and an iconic race for Formula 1. I really love it. I've been very quick in the past and I think it is one of the most special weekends of the year. The atmosphere is unique. The track is really challenging and changes a lot over the sessions, which you need to anticipate. It's difficult to be quick close to the walls and overall it's a very tough race, demanding in terms of concentration and stressful physically and mentally. The only negative thing is that it is quite difficult to overtake, but it is not impossible. I really like the Casino and Swimming Pool sections. Every corner in Monaco has its own challenge, and own individual approach needed - that is probably the beauty of the circuit there. It's where I live now so I might be biased, but it's a very special place."

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes: Red Bull

Daniel Ricciardo - "From the driver's point of view - and maybe teams see it differently - the best thing about coming to Monaco is that it's a circuit where the driver has more influence on events. Driving a Formula One car anywhere is special – the speed, the power and the acceleration just blows you away - but here it's like trying to do a lap in a supermarket, and that's just so, so cool. I know there's that quote about racing at Monaco being like riding a bicycle around your bathroom - well when I was a kid I used to love riding my little bike around inside the house. It was more fun, there were more obstacles and a bit more danger. That really is what this is like: You have the walls around the circuit and the bumps on the track that make it a bit more real. The circuit has a lot of character; you can feel that in the car. You can't afford mistakes, your concentration levels rocket and you tend to amaze yourself with how quickly you manage to do everything. Just completing a lap feels like an achievement. There's so much energy surrounding it: the big boats; the big spenders; the cool people, the Hollywoods - it's all there. I wouldn't say I'm massively into that stuff at any other time of the year, but it creates a crazy atmosphere over the weekend here and that really makes the adrenaline rocket."

Daniil Kvyat - "It's a real 'confidence' circuit. You need to be in tune with it. You need to find yourself, find the flow, you need to find the right approach mentally and with the car and then you just have to make it happen. In the beginning it's a big test. To go out and find that confidence is not easy and you always question yourself, asking 'when is it going to happen, when am I going to feel it enough to really go for it'. But at some point in the weekend it just happens, you find the rhythm and the lap time comes. When it works like that, when you get yourself in the right place and you find a good understanding with the track, it's great. I'm not sure there's a special secret about it and there's no one area that holds the key. It's just a really massive lap, the whole thing seems to go by in one breath. It's just as well it's a short lap!"

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Monaco GP: Circuit Preview

(Image belongs to: www.allf1.info - All rights belong to the owner)

The "Circuit De Monaco" is one of the most talked about, loved and famous circuits in Formula 1 & motorsports in general. The circuit held its first Grand Prix in 1929, making it one of the oldest circuits. It's located in the glam & beautiful city of Monte Carlo. 

The current version of the circuit has 19 turns and runs clockwise. It has a capacity of 120,000 and is 2.075 miles in length. The Formula 1 race runs 78 laps. Being a Street Circuit, it is also known to be one of the most dangerous circuits in motorsports. 

Last year, Nico Rosberg took pole and went on to win the race, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton, finishing in second and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo finishing third. Marussia (Now Manor-Marussia) took home their first points when Jules Bianchi finished 9th for the team & Manor hopes they can honor him this year by finishing the race with good results.

Retirements included: Pastor Maldonado (Did Not Start), Sergio Perez (Collision), Sebastian Vettel (Turbo), Daniil Kvyat (Exhaust), Adrian Sutil (Accident), Jean-Eric Vergne (Exhaust), Valtteri Bottas (Engine) & Esteban Gutierrez (Suspension).

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Monaco GP: Schedule

As we head into the next F1 week, the teams arrive in the glamorous and lively Monte Carlo, Monaco. Not only will the weekend be filled with plenty of Formula 1 track action, but also the Amber Lounge Fashion Show and plenty of parties and events.

SCHEDULE:

May 20th / Wednesday

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

May 21st / Thursday

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

May 23rd / Saturday

08:00 - 08:30 - Team Pit-Stop Practice
08:00 - 08:30 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
11:00 - 12:00 - Free Practice #3
12:15 - 13:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
14:00 - Qualifying

May 24th / Sunday

08:00 - 09:00 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
12:25 - 13:15 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
12:30 - Drivers Track Parade
12:45 - 13:15 - Starting Grid Presentation
13:46 - National Anthem
14:00 - Race

(Subject to change)

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In-Season Test 1 - Barcelona Day 2: Times

The second day of Testing in Barcelona got underway yesterday and there was plenty of information and data to gather. All drivers got a good amount of time out on track. Marciello was a bit unfortunate early on in the session when he crashed the Sauber into the barriers. While he was okay, the Sauber was in the garage for quite a bit before he could get back out there.

Here are the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Jolyon Palmer - 1:26.080 / Lotus-Mercedes
2. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:26.497 / Mercedes-Mercedes
3. Pierre Gasly - 1:26.683 / Red Bull-Renault
4, Jenson Button - 1:26.927 / McLaren-Honda
5. Alex Lynn - 1:26.967 / Williams-Mercedes
6. Esteban Ocon - 1:27.520 / Force India-Mercedes
7. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:27.930 / Ferrari-Ferrari
8. Carlos Sainz - 1:27.997 / Toro Rosso-Renault
9. Raffaele Marciello - 1:28.829 / Sauber-Ferrari

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In-Season Test 1 - Barcelona Day 2: Line-Up

Here is the line-up for Day 2 of the first in-season Test.

LINE-UP:

Mercedes-Mercedes: Pascal Wehrlein
McLaren-Honda: Jenson Button
Red Bull-Renault: Pierre Gasly
Lotus-Mercedes: Jolyon Palmer
Ferrari-Ferrari: Esteban Gutierrez
Williams-Mercedes: Alex Lynn
Toro Rosso-Renault: Carlos Sainz
Force India-Mercedes: Esteban Ocon
Sauber-Ferrari: Raffaele Marciello

You can follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78 for LIVE updates throughout the AM session of Testing.
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In-Season Test 1 - Barcelona Day 1: Times

Day 1 of testing got underway yesterday and there was plenty to learn and tons of data to go over. Some teams ran aero tests and others looked over ways of improving balance and speed. Manor-Marussia is not taking part in this test.

Pascal Wehrlein was supposed to drive for Force India but was under the weather, so Nick Yelloly took over for the session. Nico Rosberg was fastest overall for the day and his fastest time beat the one he set to take Pole Position for last Sunday's Spanish GP.

Here are the times from Day 1 of the first In-Season test.

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:24.374 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Marcus Ericsson - 1:26.624 / Sauber-Ferrari
3. Raffaele Marciello - 1:26.648 / Ferrari-Ferrari
4. Daniil Kvyat - 1:26.904 / Red Bull-Renault
5. Pastor Maldonado - 1:27.338 / Lotus-Mercedes
6. Nick Yelloly - 1:27.396 / Force India-Mercedes
7. Pierre Gasly - 1:27.639 / Toro Rosso-Renault
8. Felipe Massa - 1:27.911 / Williams-Mercedes
9. Oliver Turvey - 1:28.542 / McLaren-Honda

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In-Season Test 1- Barcelona Day 1: Line-Up

It's time for the first of the two two-day in-season tests. The first one is in Barcelona, where the teams just finished racing on Sunday.

Manor will not take part in this test as they have stated.

Here is the line-up for Day 1.

LINE-UP:

Mercedes-Mercedes: Nico Rosberg

Red Bull-Renault: Daniil Kvyat

Lotus-Mercedes: Pastor Maldonado

Ferrari-Ferrari: Raffaele Marciello

Force India-Mercedes: Nick Yelloly

Sauber-Ferrari: Marcus Ericsson

Toro Rosso-Renault: Pierre Gasly

Williams-Mercedes: Felipe Massa

McLaren-Honda: Oliver Turvey

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Article written by: Amy Hawk

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Feature: Star Drivers Of The Spanish GP

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "For me, this weekend was an easy choice, although I was ready for it to be very difficult. As soon as Rosberg crossed the line, I knew he was one to look out for in the coming races. Rosberg hadn't won yet this season until he stormed the track on Sunday. Many could've suffered a total confidence blow after not winning any of the first 4 races after the 2014 season Rosberg had. But not Nico. He kept his faith and used his strengths. After a fantastic qualifying on Saturday, Nico took his silver arrow to the top of the podium! He looked particularly comfortable on the top step. I wonder how many more times we'll see him there this season?

As with most questions in F1, the only sure way of getting an answer is by staying tuned. Monaco is next, I wonder how Nico will do in Monte Carlo? A place he's always been comfortable, much like on the top step."

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "My driver of the weekend is Jenson Button. I know he didn't get points or anything but he was able to get out there and give it his all, despite the situation with the car. He's been at McLaren a very long time and he knows the ups and downs of Formula 1 itself, yet always maintains a good attitude about any situation.

So yeah, he put up a great fight during the race and managed to get the car home in 16th. Like I said, the situation at McLaren is improving and you can tell with each race they're learning more and more about the car and what needs to be fixed. I'm really hoping they're able to score points by the middle of the season."

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Feature: Spanish GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "Another great race. I hate how fast the season seems to go by. We're already on to Monaco, which a lot of people know is my favorite race on the Calendar and has been ever since I started watching Formula 1. But, yes, Spain was so good. Great race, great weather. It was really nice to see a clean first lap.. Everyone really had a chance to get out there and fight for points for the most part. Huge congratulations to Nico Rosberg on his first win of the season and also to Hamilton and Sebastian for their podium finishes. Well deserved.

It was really unfortunate that McLaren had to retire Alonso's car as it is his home race and I was really rooting for him and the team to bring home some points this time around. There's no doubt they're improving.. But it will take some time before they're near the top 10.

There was a great turn out from the fans. The stands were absolutely packed and I noticed a huge amount of Swedish flags for Ericsson, which is great. It's always cool to see all the flags. With Monaco being next.. It's quite a huge difference for the teams as far as adjustment goes. I mean, you're going from a track that's open and quite wide with smooth turns to a closed-in street circuit with very narrow corners. It's going to be very interesting to see how everyone does. I can't wait. Cheers!"


Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "Barcelona always has, and always will be a legendary racetrack. It's not secret how difficult it is to overtake on this risky series of bends. I think that's why the race this weekend was so incredible. Overtakes seemed to be happening here, there and everywhere. In fact, until the cars crossed the line I wasn't willing to say who I thought would win.

I don't know what has changed this year in Formula 1 but there seems to be an extra shot of adrenaline. Maybe it's all the new talent or the mix up with Ferrari's improvement. All I know is there's a significant amount of uncertainty to every race. The race is not only between the driver and his fellow pilots, but also with himself. When the driver takes his seat he readies himself to be bigger and better than last time. So far, I think it's pretty fair to say that there's been a rocket of excitement.

I've always heard fantastic stories from people who have attended the Spanish GP and after this weekend, there stories have been proven. It's officially on my "to attend" list and I cannot wait to cross it off! Being the race prior to Monaco, there's quite an impression for this race to make. Once again, Spain didn't fail."

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Spanish GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

We hope everyone enjoyed the Spanish GP - It's time for the race re-cap.

No drama as the cars all lined up on the grid and waited for the lights to go out. All 22 started the race with a decently-clean first lap. After the last few races, it was a relief to see all drivers have a chance at the points without a first lap accident/spin.

Nico Rosberg was quick to speed away from the rest of the pack. He started on Pole and had no problem using it to his advantage as he left his team-mate, Lewis Hamilton far behind. However, Sebastian Vettel was on Rosberg's trail, closing the gap quickly and aiming to pass.

It was a so-so day for McLaren-Honda. Things has been looking quite promising for Fernando Alonso until a brake failure caused him to retire on lap 26. Team-mate, Jenson Button was able to finish the race but in 16th, making it the 5th race in a row that the team has failed to score points.

Things for Lotus were a bit chaotic as they had multiple tricky pit-stops. Maldonado had to come in and have a piece of his rear wing ripped off as it had been damaged and was swinging back and forth wildly behind the car. Grosjean's pit-stop was a bit different. The French driver pulled in a bit too quickly, causing a few of his pit crew to go tumbling. One suffered torn ankle ligaments and the other got hit in a very *sensitive* area with the car jack. Both however are alright. Although, Maldonado's race was ended on lap 45 due to a brake failure as well.

Throughout the race, Valtteri Bottas put up a huge fight against Kimi Raikkonen, doing his absolute best to defend his 4th position while aiming to catch up with Sebastian Vettel who was in third. Hamilton got in the lead when Rosberg had to take a pit-stop, but when it was Hamilton's turn, Rosberg quickly got back in first and aimed to take his first win of the Season.

For Force India it was a day better than expected after a not-so-great Qualifying left Hulkenberg and Perez starting 17th and 18th respectively. However, Sergio Perez was able to finish the race in 13th, just 3 places away from the points. Nico Hulkenberg finished in 15th.

Young rookie, Carlos Sainz had a late battle with Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat as the two fought for 9th place and the chance at 2 Championship points. During so, Carlos Sainz put all 4 wheels off track and when he re-joined, he did so ahead of the Russian, causing quite a stir. However, the stewards ruled out no further action and Sainz retained his 9th place finish.

Nico Rosberg brought home his first win of the Season, celebrating with the famous champagne on the lovely Barcelona-Catalunya podium. Lewis Hamilton finished in a close Second place while Sebastian Vettel got Third. Another rewarding podium for Ferrari and Vettel.

Now the teams (except Manor) will stick around in Barcelona for the 2 Day In-Season test. Not all the current drivers are running but we will have all that info up soon and be covering it LIVE on our twitter @F1Insider78 so give us a follow if you're interested.

Here are the race results.

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

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk
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