British GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Carlos Sainz - “Silverstone is one of the Grands Prix circuits I’ve most been looking forward to this season. It’s always been my favourite track. I have driven the track with both the Infiniti Red Bull Racing and the Scuderia Toro Rosso car, in occasion of the in-season test in 2013. I have also scored many wins there in Formula Renault and taken pole positions, as well as being quite quick in Formula BMW and Formula 3. It should be one of the nicest tracks to drive in a Formula 1 car with its high speed layout. It’s also an important Grand Prix for me, as I have a home in London. It’s going to be an enjoyable weekend.”

Max Verstappen - “I’ve driven there in Formula 3 and one day of a Renault test, so not that much track time, but a bit more than at some other tracks. It’s not an easy track to understand at first, but I found that I improved a lot over the course of a weekend racing there. Hopefully, this weekend I can start again where I left off and improve some more. Becketts and Maggots are very important in terms of gaining lap time and it’s very important at this circuit to get into a good flowing rhythm. It’s high speed, which in terms of the corners will suit our car, although the long straights might see us struggle a little bit. It’s a great track, so I am really looking forward to the race there. The weather can be a bit strange and the crosswinds can make it really challenging, sometimes requiring completely different set-up from one session to the next."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

British GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes - Sauber


Marcus Ericsson - "The British Grand Prix is for me one of the highlights of the season. A historical track with some great corner combinations. Also the atmosphere there is unique, with loyal, dedicated and enthusiastic British Formula One fans. I love to drive there, Silverstone is one of my favorite tracks. I believe it will be a challenging weekend for us, but I am convinced that we will make the best of it."

Felipe Nasr - "Silverstone is a circuit which I enjoy driving on. It is not only one of my favorite tracks, but for me also kind of a home race, because I have been living in England for five years now. Therefore, it is always nice to come back to where motorsport and its great fans are at home. The British Grand Prix will probably not be an easy weekend, as this high speed track requires a lot of down force."

Raffaele Marciello (Test & Reserve for Sauber F1 Team - Driving in Free Practice #1) - "I am looking forward to another FP1 session. In general I like fast tracks; Silverstone is one of my favorites. The Becketts section particularly is always a challenge. I am pleased to again be driving the Sauber C34-Ferrari. It is the third time I will be driving the car in FP1 – after Malaysia and Spain. Together with my GP2 duties, I am looking forward to another busy race weekend."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

British GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes - Force India


Nico Hulkenberg - "I'm really looking forward to Silverstone – the team's home race. We go there with a lot of momentum following the strong performance in Austria where we really maximised everything. The circuit suited us, of course, but the field was really close and it was up to us to get a good result, which we did. Finishing sixth was probably the maximum we could get from the race and to come away with a good bunch of points was very satisfying. I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the upgraded VJM08 at Silverstone, which will give us the first impression of what we can expect in the second half of the season.

Silverstone is one of the best races on the calendar. The fans are great and it's hard to find an empty seat anywhere. The atmosphere is buzzing and that always gives me an extra boost. I usually go to the campsites to see the fans and it's great to see everybody having such a good time. Because it's our home race, I also get to spend more time at the factory with the team members who don't usually go to races. As a circuit, Silverstone gives you a great feeling when you're driving, especially in the fast corners: to get a good lap together on such a difficult track is an amazing feeling."

Sergio Perez - "The last two races have been a bit difficult for me, but we still managed to come away with points in Austria and it was a great performance by the team. With the arrival of our upgrade package in Silverstone, it's going to be an important and busy weekend for the team as we try to get all the new parts working together. I really like the Silverstone track, with its fast and flowing corners, which are great fun to drive. There is a lot of history and you feel there is something special from the moment you arrive at the circuit. I always performed well there in the early part of my career and I would love to pick up some points this weekend.

Having our factory next to the circuit makes this a special race for the team. It's a busy one too with lots going on with all our partners and events for the staff. I used to live close to the track - in Oxford – when I was racing in Formula Three, so this used to be my home race for a while and I still have a lot of friends in the area, which makes the week very enjoyable."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

British GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes - Lotus


Romain Grosjean - "It's a fantastic track with a lot of high speed corners. I won there in the GP2 Series in 2011, so I have to say it has fond memories for me. I scored points there in my F1 debut but then for the last couple of years my British Grand Prix hasn't been so good in terms of results. This means I must be due a good result and we'll be doing everything we can to ensure a good finish in the points! Silverstone is challenging, but it has a really good feeling to it. It's one of the quickest tracks of the year and as drivers we always like to go fast! There are corners which are legendary like the Magotts, Becketts, Chapel complex. It's quite a feeling going through there and I can't wait to feel that sensation once more. The whole layout has a really good, fast flow to it and you can really feel your car working hard with the down force through the fast flowing corners. It's a happy place to be. It's also a special Grand Prix for the team as the factory is very close to the track. It's always nice to see not only the race team, but also some of the many people from the factory come to see us out in action. It's thanks to all their hard work that we're out on track and they are all doing an amazing job, always working so hard. It really does have a feeling of a home event.

Over the years there's been quite a bit of wet weather for the British Grand Prix, and this was not so much of a surprise to the Englishmen I've spoken to! I have lived quite near to the track so my experience of regularly visiting Enstone means that I know the weather can change quite a lot. An English summer's day is wonderful, but sometimes you have to look hard to find one! That said, it's looked pretty good so far this year and there is even talk of something of a heatwave coming to Britain. It's fantastic to be at Silverstone when the weather is good and the fans are all out so let's hope that happens."

Pastor Maldonado - "I think that Silverstone is an amazing track. It has a great history, it's fast and the change to the most recent layout hasn't really changed the nature of the track too much. It's always a special place to visit and you know that you're always there for the racing as it's not on the doorstep of a big city. I have always enjoyed racing at Silverstone since my first visit back in 2007. I also have good memories of it as I have had some great races there, including winning in both 2009 and 2010 in the GP2 Series.

I've spent so much time in England that it's like a second home to me, especially as I have family who live very close to the circuit in Oxfordshire. It's a great event coming mid-season and it always provides an interesting race. It's always a very special event for the teams based nearby and the support all drivers get there is amazing with some of the most knowledgeable fans in the world. I'm looking forward to racing just down the road from the Lotus F1 Team factory and seeing many familiar faces over the weekend."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

British GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes - Red Bull


Daniel Ricciardo - "I can't hide it! Silverstone's awesome. I love high-speed circuits with high-speed corners – and so the run from Copse through Maggotts, Becketts, Chapel and then around Stowe... maybe the five coolest corners on the calendar and to have them coming at you one after the other. Yeah, I love it. It's definitely a circuit where, the faster the car, the better the experience – though that's usually the case with high-speed tracks. I mean, Silverstone's great in a Formula Renault 2.0. In an F1 car? Epic.

The thing about Silverstone is that it's packed from Thursday onwards. If we have one of those nice, hot blue sky sunny weekends then the atmosphere's amazing. If it's grey, wet and windy then the atmosphere's still amazing. I'm not sure how that's possible – but Silverstone manages it. As for driving in those conditions, it's still exciting – but in a very different way!"

Daniil Kvyat - "It's the first time for me racing for the team at its home grand prix in the UK and I'm definitely looking forward to it. It's a chance for everyone from the factory to stay really close to the race team at a grand prix and that should give it a great atmosphere. It's good for the team I think. Silverstone is a real classic. It's a cool circuit: high speeds, incredibly challenging layout, I really enjoy it. If you get everything right with the car and your confidence is high then it brings you a lot of joy. The high-speed corners are what it's all about - Maggots-Becketts and Copse. It starts with Copse and ends with Maggots-Becketts. That whole section is all done in one breath, the speed is really good and you really find your limits there. That's where you really feel like you are driving a Formula One car, really pushing hard."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

British GP: Circuit Preview

(Image belongs to: www.goretro.com - All rights belong to the owner)

As another F1 weekend is upon us, it's time to take a peek at the next circuit & a quick look-back at the 2014 British Grand Prix.

"Silverstone Circuit" is located in Silverstone, Northamptonshire & Buckinghamshire, England in the United Kingdom. It's one of the circuits with a larger capacity, which is around 150,000. The circuit opened in 1948 and also held its first GP that year.

There have been a handful of different versions of the circuit but the current one is 3.661 miles in length and has 18 turns. The circuit runs Clockwise & the F1 race will consist of 52 laps. A usual F1 weekend at Silverstone almost always has 1 day of rain & last year it was Qualifying Saturday.

Nico Rosberg grabbed Pole Position last year but retired during the race, allowing Lewis Hamilton to grab a home-race win, with Valtteri Bottas finishing in 2nd and Daniel Ricciardo finishing in 3rd.

Retirements included: Kimi Raikkonen (Accident), Felipe Massa (Collision), Esteban Gutierrez (Collision), Marcus Ericsson (Suspension Failure), Nico Rosberg (Gearbox) & Pastor Maldonado (Qualified as finished - Retired during race with Exhaust issue)

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Photo belongs to: www.goretro.com

British GP: Schedule

As the F1 teams head to England for the next race, they won't be the only ones racing at Silverstone Circuit this coming weekend. GP2 & GP3 will also be competing as well. The crown turnout is expected to break records. Weather can be unpredictable and there's almost always 1 day of rain during the weekend.

Here's the schedule.

SCHEDULE:

July 2nd / Thursday

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

July 3rd / Friday

08:45 - 09:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
10:00 - 11:30 - Free Practice #1
12:50 - 13:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
14:00 - 15:30 - Free Practice #2
16:00 - 17:00 - Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

July 4th / Saturday

07:30 - 08:15 - Team Pit-Stop Practice
07:30 - 08:30 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
10:00 - 11:00 - Free Practice #3
12:00 - 12:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
13:00 - Qualifying

July 5th / Sunday

11:25 - 12:15 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
11:30 - Drivers Track Parade
11:45 - 12:15 - Starting Grid Presentation
12:46 - National Anthem
13:00 - 15:00 - Race

(Times subject to change)

----
Article Written By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended
Follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78

In-Season Test 2 - Austria Day 2: Re-Cap & Times

With the rain nowhere in sight for the second day testing, the blue skies gave teams a better chance at bringing in those laps.

Marco Wittmann from DTM got to driver for Toro Rosso, which was a very exciting thing as he'd been waiting quite a long time. He was supposed to drive their 2012 car as a prize last year but due to bad weather, it had been canceled.

Red Bull faced some mechanical woes towards the end of the day with a brake issue but were still able to get Ricciardo back out for a final run.

Here ae the times from Day 2.

TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:09.113 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:09.331 / Ferrari-Ferrari
3. Valtteri Bottas - 1:10.029 / Williams-Mercedes
4. Marco Wittmann - 1:10.103 / Toro Rosso-Renault
5. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:10.253 / Force India-Mercedes
6. Jolyon Palmer - 1:10.373 / Lotus-Mercedes
7. Fernando Alonso - 1:10.718 / McLaren-Honda
8. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:10.757 / Red Bull-Renault
9. Felipe Nasr - 1:10.922 / Sauber-Ferrari

----
Article Written By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended

In-Season Test 2 - Austria Day 2: Line-Up

Here is the line-up for Day 2 of the Austrian In-Season test. Looks like clear weather so-far - We have LIVE Commentary coverage of the AM session on our Twitter, so you can follow us @F1Insider78 for all the updates.

TEST LINE-UP DAY #2 - TUESDAY

Mercedes-Mercedes: Nico Rosberg
Red Bull-Renault: Daniel Ricciardo
Ferrari-Ferrari: Esteban Gutierrez
McLaren-Honda: Fernando Alonso
Lotus-Mercedes: Jolyon Palmer
Sauber-Ferrari: Felipe Nasr
Williams-Mercedes: Valtteri Bottas
Force India-Mercedes: Pascal Wehrlein
Toro Rosso-Renault: Marco Wittmann

----
Article Written By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended

In-Season Test 2 - Austria Day 1: Re-Cap & Times

The first day of testing in Austria got off to a very rain-soaked start. The clouds above sent downpour for the whole AM session and continued through the lunch break before finally stopping. The rain caused the test to be Red Flagged as conditions were too dangerous to be running in.

When the session finally went green, the drivers still had a few hours to rack up some laps and gather information for he teams. Manor-Marussia isn't taking part in the test as they are putting all resources towards their 2016 car.

Antonio Fuoco was in the Ferrari and had a late crash in the session. He went on the grass and the car went into the wall. He took the blame for the crash but is OK. The Ferrari, however, needed some repairs.

Esteban Ocon was behind the wheel of the new Force India B-Spec car and he finished the session in 2nd, giving everyone a taste of good things to come for the midfield team.

Here are the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:11.005 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Esteban Ocon - 1:11.192 / Force India-Mercedes

3. Max Verstappen - 1:11.328 / Toro Rosso-Renault

4. Antonio Fuoco - 1:11.331 / Ferrari-Ferrari

5. Romain Grosjean - 1:11.509 / Lotus-Mercedes

6. Pierre Gasly - 1:11.757 / Red Bull-Renault

7. Raffaele Marciello - 1:11.826 / Sauber-Ferrari

8. Stoffel Vandoorne - 1:12.530 / McLaren-Honda

9. Susie Wolff - 1:13.248 / Williams-Mercedes

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78

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

It's time for the last in-season test of 2015 and it takes place at Red Bull Ring where the latest race has just taken place. Here's the line-up for day 1.

TEST LINE-UP DAY #1 - TUESDAY

Mercedes-Mercedes: Pascal Wehrlein
Red Bull-Renault: Pierre Gasly
Ferrari-Ferrari: Antonio Fuoco
McLaren-Honda: Stoffel Vandoorne
Lotus-Mercedes: Romain Grosjean
Sauber-Ferrari: Raffaele Marciello
Williams-Mercedes: Susie Wolff
Force India-Mercedes: Esteban Ocon
Toro Rosso-Renault: Max Verstappen

LIVE Commentary coverage throughout the AM session from us on our twitter - Follow @F1Insider78

----
Article Written By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended

Feature: Star Drivers Of The Austrian GP

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "My driver of the weekend is Nico Hulkenberg. Not just because of this weekend but also because of how he drove at Le Mans the previous weekend. I think it's been a huge confidence boost for him to win Le Mans and then qualify 5th on the grid for the Austrian Grand Prix. He took his car to the maximum, came away with a solid 8 points and with points from Perez as well, Force India is in 5th for the constructors championship and that overall is a great result.

I believe in time and with Force India getting their new car ready for Silverstone, the results will only get better."

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) -  "My driver of the weekend is Felipe Massa. Felipe has improved with every race this season, having no rest from pushing his Williams into the points. I was not expecting to see him stood on the podium at the end of the race. It's not a secret that Vettel's Ferrari had the power to overtake Massa, but with experience comes skill, and that's exactly what Massa showed us as he held off the advancing Ferrari in the final laps of the race. Some people may see this as a one off, but what I saw on that race track was Massa stripping it back to the basics. He kept his cool and used moves that he knew were enough to keep Vettel behind him, and what do you know? There he was, on the podium!

Felipe Massa is an incredible driver and I don't believe he gets enough recognition. Sure, he may not be a championship winner, but he was so close and he never lost the quality of performance. So, I'd like to recognise Massa and his talent and congratulate him on being able to perform so outstandingly."

----

Quotes belong to F1Insider78 & are available for use with permission - Please visit the contact page.

Feature: Austrian GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "When I woke up on Sunday morning, I was not prepared to watch the race that I saw. Austria has indeed done it again, and provided us all with a show stopping race. I'm just glad everyone is safe and well at the end of it.

I must sound like a broken record but this season, each race that goes by elevates in excitement and adrenaline. Although the rain that was thought to make an appearance never did, I think it's fair to say there were enough surprises, especially with Fernando and Kimi's accident. I think Silverstone has quite an act to follow but, because it's my home GP, I have no doubt that we can put on a show. Before, we get all too excited for the British GP and the sports incredible history here I think we need to recognise what Austria has proven. Yes, F1 may be an ever evolving Motorsport, but the classic tracks always bring out the best of us all. Drivers, teams and fans alike."

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "What a race. The most important thing is that Kimi (Raikkonen) and Fernando (Alonso) are both okay. That was quite an accident and it was so relieving that both of them were able to walk away unharmed. Congratulations to Rosberg on his win and to Hamilton & Massa for their podium finish.

I really enjoyed watching the healthy wheel-to-wheel battles between drivers. One battle in particular was amazing and that was the one between Valtteri Bottas and Nico Hulkenberg. Every moment of it was intense yet exciting and fun to watch. There were no illegal moves or bad passes. It was good, clean racing and we need to see more of that for sure.

The British GP is next and I really love Silverstone. I'm a huge fan of the circuit and I know it will produce a great race as it always does. Cheers!"

----

Quotes belong to F1Insider78 and are available for use with permission - Please visit the contact page.

Austrian GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

With this being Austria's second year back on the FIA Formula 1 calendar, it was sure to be quite the show & and it sure was. Things were quite chaotic as soon as the lights went out at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. Marcus Ericsson was first to cause a talking point when he Jump-Started and was put under investigation for doing so. The Swedish driver ended up with a 5-Second-Drive-Through-Penalty and received 2 Penalty Points after the race.

Only one lap in, Kimi Raikkonen had an issue with is Ferrari and it began to swerve out of his control, causing him to start spinning. McLaren's Fernando Alonso was unlucky to be behind him at the time and crashed into Raikkonen, causing his McLaren to land on top of the Ferrari. Both cars slid onto the grass and against the barrier before coming to a stop with the McLaren still on the top of the Ferrari, just narrowly missing Raikkonen in the cockpit. Both drivers emerged unscathed but however it was an early retirement for both.

Will Stevens was the next unfortunate retirement when his Manor came to a stop in a patch of grass. It's not been the best year for the Manor/Marussia team, but they have definitely improved over the last few races. Roberto Merhi finished the race in 14th.

There was plenty of Wheel-To-Wheel racing to be seen on track with some intense battles between Bottas & Hulkenberg, Verstappen & Maldonado and at the end of the race it was Vettel & Massa in a fight for Third, with Massa taking the position and finishing on the podium. Vettel could've very well had the third place in his hands but lost time due to a lengthy pit-stop earlier on.

As for the fight up in front, Rosberg had taken the lead early on in the race despite his team-mate, Hamilton, starting from his 7th Pole Position of the season. The German was fighting hard to make the win his and in the end he did, standing at the top of the podium. Hamilton finished Second. Making it another Mercedes 1-2 & bringing even more points to the team. A very happy day for Niki Lauda, who is Austrian and was able to celebrate in his home country.

However, it was not a good day for all teams and one in particular was McLaren. With Alonso's retirement on the first lap, it was up to Button to produce a good result - But his race came to an early end as well when he was told on the radio that they needed to retire the car due to a mechanical issue. Something Button has heard quite a lot this season. 

Force India got back in the groove with both drivers scoring points. Hulkenberg finished in 6th after a lengthy battle with Valtteri Bottas & Sergio Perez brought his car home in 9th after he spent the first half of the race defending against Romain Grosjean. Grosjean retired halfway through the race due to a gearbox issue. The same reason for Carlos Sainz' retirement which happened just before Grosjean's.

The teams head off to Silverstone next for the British Grand Prix, but for now - Tuesday & Wednesday the teams stay at Red Bull Ring for the 2nd and last In-Season test. We will have LIVE Commentary coverage of that on our Twitter @F1Insider78

RESULTS:

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

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

3. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / + 15 Points

4. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 12 Points

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

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

7. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela / + 6 Points

8. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands / + 4 Points

9. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 2 Points

10. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia / + 1 Point

11. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil 

12. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia

13. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

14. Roberto Merhi / Manor-Ferrari / Spain

RETIRED - Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France / Gearbox

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

RETIRED - Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain / Electronics

RETIRED - Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain / Oil Leak

RETIRED - Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / Collision

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

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Austrian GP: Qualifying - Results

After many penalties, rain and some off-track spins, it's time to take a look at how the grid lines up for today's Austrian Grand Prix. All penalties have been accounted for and will be noted below as this is the revised grid & not the one originally printed after Qualifying ended.

Lewis Hamilton takes his 7th Pole Position of the season despite spinning at the end of Q3, something Rosberg also did which cost him his last fast lap and the potential to start on Pole.

STARTING 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. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany

6. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland

7. Max Verstappen / Toro-Rosso / Netherlands

8. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

9. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France

10. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela

11. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

12. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain

13. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico

14. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland

15. Daniil Kvyat* / Red Bull-Renault / Russia

16. Roberto Merhi / Manor-Ferrari / Spain

17. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain

18. Daniel Ricciardo* / Red Bull-Renault / Australia

19. Fernando Alonso** / McLaren-Honda / Spain

20. Jenson Button* / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

* = Kvyat received 10-Place-Grid-Penalty for using 5th engine element

* = Ricciardo received 10-Place-Grid-Penalty for using 5th engine element

* = Button received 25-Place-Grid-Penalty for using 5th & 6th engine elements

** = Alonso received 20-Place-Grid-Penalty for using 5th engine elements & 5-Place-Grid-Penalty for a gearbox change after Free Practice 3.

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

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

The last practice session for the Austrian GP proved to be quite different from the first two as the clouds loomed over the circuit and soon began to shed rainfall, making the track wet and slippery. The drivers got to put on the wet and/or intermediate tyre compounds while also having the choices of the main compounds brought for this weekend which are the Soft & Super-Soft tyres.

Ferrari once again proved pace with Vettel leading the time sheets while team-mate, Raikkonen finished third. It was not a Mercedes 1-2 this time around.

McLaren faced more technical woes when Fernando Alonso's car stopped on the starting grid, causing a Red Flag and delaying the session until the McLaren could be brought back to the pit-lane. The team is facing a total of a 50-place-grid-penalty between both Alonso & Button after both drivers used 5th and even 6th elements for their cars and Alonso also required a gearbox change after this session.

Here are the times.

TIMES:

1. Sebastian Vettel - 1:09.994 / Ferrari-Ferrari
2. Lewis Hamilton - 1:10.011 / Mercedes-Mercedes
3. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:10.177 / Ferrari-Ferrari
4. Sergio Perez - 1:10.221 / Force India-Mercedes
5. Nico Rosberg - 1:10.332 / Mercedes-Mercedes
6. Felipe Massa - 1:10.408 / Williams-Mercedes
7. Valtteri Bottas - 1:10.417 / Williams-Mercedes
8. Max Verstappen - 1:10.436 / Toro Rosso-Renault
9. Pastor Maldonado - 1:10.576 / Lotus-Mercedes
10. Romain Grosjean - 1:10.863 / Lotus-Mercedes
11. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:11.009 / Force India-Mercedes
12. Marcus Ericsson - 1:11.058 / Sauber-Ferrari
13. Carlos Sainz - 1:11.139 / Toro Rosso-Renault
14. Daniil Kvyat - 1:11.139 / Red Bull-Renault
15. Fernando Alonso - 1:11.168 / McLaren-Honda
16. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:11.819 / Red Bull-Renault
17. Felipe Nasr - 1:11.906 / Sauber-Ferrari
18. Jenson Button - 1:12.616 / McLaren-Honda
19. Will Stevens - 1:13.328 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Roberto Merhi - 1:13.960 / Manor-Ferrari

----
Article Written By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended

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

Session two belonged to Vettel as he ended it with the fastest time. Although, despite this, he faced more car problems which saw him miss the end of the session. However, Ferrari's pace is looking quite well against the Mercedes duo. Raikkonen finished the session in 3rd.

Both McLaren's also experienced mechanical issues as well. Button's car lost power and they brought him back into the pit-lane. The team later told Alonso to "Box, Box" as they came to realize the problem was transferable and could affect his car as well.

Lotus is looking good with their pace this weekend. Pastor Maldonado finished the session in 4th and Grosjean, who sat out the first session so Jolyon Palmer could take the wheel, returned in this session and was 7th fastest.

And who could forget the commotion in the pit-lane when Felipe Massa almost ran into Ferrari's team principal? No one was injured and the two had a laugh later on, but it sure was a talking point.

Here are the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Sebastian Vettel - 1:09.600 / Ferrari-Ferrari

2. Nico Rosberg - 1:09.611 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:09.860 / Ferrari-Ferrari

4. Pastor Maldonado - 1:09.914 / Lotus-Mercedes

5. Lewis Hamilton - 1:10.137 / Mercedes-Mercedes

6. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:10.160 / Force India-Mercedes

7. Romain Grosjean - 1:10.267 / Lotus-Mercedes

8. Max Verstappen - 1:10.356 / Toro Rosso-Renault

9. Felipe Nasr - 1:10.495 / Sauber-Ferrari

10. Sergio Perez - 1:10.585 / Force India-Mercedes

11. Carlos Sainz - 1:10.631 / Toro Rosso-Renault

12. Daniil Kvyat - 1:10.686 / Red Bull-Renault

13. Marcus Ericsson - 1:10.744 / Sauber-Ferrari

14. Valtteri Bottas - 1:10.746 / Williams-Mercedes

15. Felipe Massa - 1:11.011 / Williams-Mercedes

16. Fernando Alonso - 1:11.517 / McLaren-Honda

17. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:11.676 / Red Bull-Renault

18. Jenson Button - 1:11.919 / McLaren-Honda

19. Will Stevens - 1:12.522 / Manor-Ferrari 

20. Roberto Merhi - 1:13.094 / Manor-Ferrari

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

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

An overall good Practice Session for most although there were a few unlucky drivers.

It's not a good start to the F1 week for Red Bull. It's their home race and both drivers are facing a 10-place-grid-penalty for engine/component changes.

Fernando Alonso has been handed a 20-place-grid-penalty for multiple component changes including an ICE change. However, it's impossible to take a full 20-place-grid-penalty so depending on how much of his penalty he can take, he will either receive a time penalty added to his final race time or he will have to take a drive-through penalty during the race. Alonso sat out most of the session while his McLaren-Honda was worked on after it stopped during one of his first out laps.

Sebastian Vettel missed most of the session after his Ferrari stopped out on track and they weren't able to get it back out. His team-mate, Raikkonen, finished the session in 3rd while Mercedes topped the 1-2 positions.

Jolyon Palmer drove for Lotus in this session in place of French driver, Romain Grosjean. Palmer will also take part in the next 4 Free Practice 1 sessions. He finished this one in 14th. Maldonado finished 12th.

Here are the rest of the results from the Session.

TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:10.401 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Lewis Hamilton - 1:10.709 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:11.028 / Ferrari-Ferrari

4. Valtteri Bottas - 1:11.452 / Williams-Mercedes

5. Felipe Nasr - 1:11.633 / Sauber-Ferrari

6. Daniil Kvyat - 1:11.642 / Red Bull-Renault

7. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:11.724 / Red Bull-Renault

8. Max Verstappen - 1:11.825 / Toro Rosso-Renault

9. Felipe Massa - 1:11.890 / Williams-Mercedes

10. Sergio Perez - 1:11.905 / Force India-Mercedes

11. Carlos Sainz - 1:11.948 / Toro Rosso-Renault 

12. Pastor Maldonado - 1:12.004 / Lotus-Mercedes

13. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:12.031 / Force India-Mercedes

14. Jolyon Palmer* - 1:12.050 / Lotus-Mercedes

15. Marcus Ericsson - 1:12.159 / Sauber-Ferrari

16. Jenson Button - 1:12.920 / McLaren-Honda

17. Fernando Alonso - 1:13.272 / McLaren-Honda

18. Will Stevens - 1:13.937 / Manor-Ferrari

19. Roberto Merhi - 1:15.459 / Manor-Ferrari

20. Sebastian Vettel - 1:15.684 / Ferrari-Ferrari

* = Driving in this session only.

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Austrian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

Preview Quotes - McLaren


Fernando Alonso - “Montreal was a difficult race for the whole team – we expected it to be tough because of the nature of the circuit, but obviously a double retirement was especially disappointing. But, of course, just because a weekend doesn’t go to plan, it doesn’t mean we give up. We’re still seeing great progress every weekend, and we hope Austria will be the same. Our most important focus is reliability, so that we can get the most time on track in order to make the biggest improvements we can. This is a very physical circuit with four long, fast straights and heavy braking in the corners, so it’ll be challenging for our package, but it’s a really interesting track to race on.

Spielberg is a beautiful location for a Grand Prix and going back there last year after an 11-year break was a great experience. It’s still the great circuit it was, and there are quite a few overtaking opportunities which make it even more enjoyable. We’ve already put the last race behind us and I’m keen to get out there, race hard with our nearest competitors, and hopefully have some fun.”

Jenson Button - “Over the past few days we’ve bounced back from Montreal and we’re already looking firmly ahead at the next challenge. As a team, we’re measured ultimately on where we finish on a Sunday afternoon, which doesn’t take into account the progress we’ve made behind the scenes, or in practice and qualifying in the build-up to the race, so it can sometimes be difficult to see the positives after a tough grand prix.

However, it’s important that we don’t forget how far we’ve come. Yes, both cars retiring from the race was not at all the result we’ve been working so hard for, but we are focused on the progress we’re still making and the improvements that we’ve already made up to this point. There’s still a huge amount of belief within the team, and we’re continuing to push for development in every area back in Woking and Sakura. Last year’s Austrian Grand Prix was a huge success, and for the few of us drivers that raced here pre-2003, it’s definitely considered one of those ‘mini-classics’: not so complex in terms of its configuration, but fun to drive. On paper, Austria won’t suit the characteristics of our car, but I’m looking forward to enjoying some good racing there and pushing to make more progress in every session.”

----
Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended
Quotes belong to Drivers

Austrian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton - “It was a great feeling to finally get back on top in Canada and add to the great memories I have there. Now, though, it's time to move on and put things right at a circuit I had a tough introduction to last year - Austria. Although I struggled in qualifying, starting down in ninth, it was actually a great race fighting back through the field. I think I was about fourth or fifth by the end of the first lap and then just kept chipping away to claw my way back to the podium, which was really good fun. Of course, I'll be working hard to have a clearer shot at the win on Sunday. Whatever happens, though, you can be sure the atmosphere will be incredible. Last year the grandstands were absolutely packed and the fans were just insane, so I'm looking forward to putting on a show for them.”

Nico Rosberg - “Canada was really lost for me on the Saturday. Not getting everything together in qualifying hurt my chances big time - but I had the pace and that's a big positive to take forward and go maximum attack in Austria. My first race at this track last year couldn't have been much better. Of course, we didn't have the ideal start in qualifying - but we nailed it on Sunday and it was great to get the win. I'm sure we'll have some tough competition here once again with Williams and probably some others too. But it's a circuit I really enjoy driving and the crowds are unbelievable, so I'm looking forward to getting back out there and having a good battle. Of course, it's a home race for Niki and Toto, too, so we'll need to be on our best form for this one!”

-----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

Austrian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

Preview Quotes - Manor


Will Stevens - “I’ve had a couple of good performances at the Red Bull Ring in Formula Renault. It’s a great track and very different to the Canadian experience two weeks ago, but there are a few similarities between the two circuits, including the long straights and high speed corners. It’s quite a fast, flowing track and really fun to drive, with the last sector being my favourite. With no Germany on the calendar this year, this race is one of the big camping events for the fans. Although Montreal is a pretty fantastic atmosphere, there’s something very special about these races as you see the spectators bedding down for the weekend in the fields next to the circuit and loving every minute of it, rain or shine.”

Roberto Merhi - “It was disappointing to have to retire from my first Canadian Grand Prix, and for the team to experience its first DNF of the season. Hopefully we’ll be back to our usual impressive level of reliability for this race, as the more mileage for the car and the drivers, the better it is for our long-term development. I had a good weekend until then and things are really starting to come my way. I really like this next track and I’ve even won a couple of times here, so I’m hoping I can pick up where I left off in Montreal in terms of my own progress. It’s a fast and fun circuit to drive, with a few tricky spots, such as the last couple of corners of the lap, which can be difficult to get right. I’m looking forward to the challenge."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

Austrian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso


Carlos Sainz - "Austria is the home race for our big Red Bull family. I raced there back in my Formula 3 days but I imagine it will feel rather different in a Formula 1 car. From what I heard, last year’s return to this circuit turned into a great Grand Prix weekend for everyone, especially the crowds that came to watch and also in terms of the organisation. So I’m looking forward to going there and the track layout should suit us better than the last one in Canada."

Max Verstappen - "I have always enjoyed driving at this track, especially in the Formula 3 car, which I tested and raced here so I know it quite well. It’s a very nice track in a beautiful location, even if the long straights might not suit us that well. There are some tight corners at the end of the fast sections, which means it can be hard on the brakes. It’s a bit of an old-school track, which is the type of circuit I like, so I’m looking forward to going there. Everyone in the team will be keen to get the best result possible at what is the home track for Red Bull."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

Austrian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

Preview Quotes - Williams


Valtteri Bottas - "Austria is a beautiful country and the Grand Prix is packed with racing fans. The atmosphere is going to be great again I’m sure! It’s great to be going back to Austria. Last year, as a team we had strong qualifying with a front-row lockout, and in the race I achieved my first Formula One podium. The track, with its long straights and a mixture of slow and high speed corners requires good straight line speed and strong aero efficiency from the car. With the upgrades we are bringing here, we are expecting another strong weekend."

Felipe Massa - "The circuit in Austria is a great track, very fast and really enjoyable to drive. Our car is normally suited to this track and I will never forget my pole position last year. Hopefully this year we can have a repeat or at least something similar, as we are looking to build on the momentum we have following Canada."

----
Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended
Quotes belong to Drivers 

Austrian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes - Force India


Nico Hulkenberg - "Finishing in the points in Canada was an important result for me. I had a great feeling with the car and everything came together nicely. I think we have a good opportunity for another strong result in Austria. I had never raced on this track before last year - not even in the junior formulas - so it was a new experience for me. It's a fun track and it flows nicely, but there are a few corners that can catch you out, so it's not easy to get a good lap together. It's one of those tracks that looks easier on paper because it's actually quite technical in many areas. Austria is a great place to race: the track is in a beautiful setting in the mountains and there's a very relaxed atmosphere. Without the German Grand Prix this year, I expect a lot of German fans to come to Austria this year so there should be a big crowd once again."

Sergio Perez - "The race in Austria is one I'm really looking forward to, both for the driving and everything that is around the event. The circuit has a simple layout and few corners and so the margins between drivers are smaller compared to some other tracks. It means a mistake in qualifying can set you back a long way. It requires a lot of concentration but it's fun to drive, with elevation changes and some very tricky corners.

Not scoring in Canada was a disappointment so I want to make up for that in Austria. Last year it was not an easy race for me, starting far down the order (P16 following a grid penalty), but we had a brilliant race, scored well and set the fastest lap of the race. I remember getting to the Red Bull Ring for the first time last year, having never raced there, and meeting the fans. They had been waiting for the race for a long time and they helped create a great atmosphere. The Austrians have a great passion for Formula One - just like the Mexicans - and they are very proud of their Grand Prix."

----
Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended
Quotes belong to Drivers

Austrian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes - Sauber

Marcus Ericsson - "I am delighted to be getting back to Austria and especially Spielberg. The atmosphere during the race weekend last year was amazing - it was a great experience. There were a lot of spectators in the grandstands and on the campsites. I like the track a lot, as it is a fast circuit which I am going to enjoy. Overtaking is rather difficult, but there are places where it is possible. I am looking forward to the race weekend."

Felipe Nasr - "This season it will be my first time driving a Formula One car in Spielberg. I am looking forward to racing there. It is quite a fast circuit, with many long straights combined with some high-speed corners. The last two corners before the start and finish line are my favourites, as they are very quick and you have to drive them very precisely. The long straights could be a benefit for us, but down force is also required in the high-speed corners. I assume it will be a challenging weekend fighting against our main competitors, but I am confident we will extract the maximum out of our package."

----

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Quotes belong to Drivers

Austrian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes - Red Bull


Daniel Ricciardo - "(Austria is) not one of our strongest (circuits) but good nonetheless. It’s short, there aren’t a lot of corners - but the corners that there are good; there are a couple of proper quick turns and plenty to catch you out. It’s a fast track. You can have a good scrap as well. I finished the race [last year] in a really good tussle with The Hulk (Nico Hulkenberg). Good stuff.

Turn One is pretty cool as it climbs up the hill. It looks tight but actually it isn’t, it’s pretty quick, about third gear, and it opens up nicely. Turn Two is interesting as you climb a lot into what’s quite a tight right-hander, going uphill and off-camber. The second-last corner as well, that’s quick too. It’s quite flowing. There’s two tight corners but the rest are quick - third gear and up. With everyone camping around the track the atmosphere was like going to a festival - everyone sitting out in the sun, drinking beer, listening to music, up in the mountains. Yeah, I could go for a bit of that. Massive crowd of course, and genuinely supportive of the event. Not just the Red Bull teams but the entire grid. It was really noticeable on the drivers’ parade, which was by far the most lively of the whole year.

I was rather cautious (about wearing the promotional lederhosen last year) so gave them a test run early in the week before rocking up in them on race day to maximise my Austrian Grand Prix experience. They’re surprisingly comfortable - a bit stiff at first but they come in after a while and develop a bit of give. I’m not saying they’re the thing for a 20-hour flight to Perth - but I reckon Oktoberfest, with a couple of beers… yeah, you’d be okay for a day."

Daniil Kvyat - "First of all, I really enjoy the track; it’s a really good circuit. I already knew the track well as I had raced there before in junior series, so I was really looking forward to going back. I raced there in Formula Renault and also in Formula Three. It’s great fun to drive. Actually, I think one of the best circuits on the calendar. It’s fast, it flows well, the lap is pretty busy. It’s a good circuit and I have good memories of it.

I was at Toro Rosso last year so we didn’t have too much pressure from a media point of view, certainly not as much as the Red Bull Racing guys, so it was pretty easy from my point of view. But it’s a good atmosphere and the team’s home race is obviously important. However, I don’t think you can let it distract you. It’s just racing in the end and I’ll try to enjoy the weekend as much as possible. Last year we stayed about 45 minutes away in a small village, which was actually really nice. It was very quiet, very peaceful but maybe not the easiest place to get to! This year I think we’re staying somewhere a little closer to the track, somewhere a little more efficient in terms of getting to the circuit!"

----
Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended
Quotes belong to Drivers

Austrian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes - Lotus


Romain Grosjean - "It’s a fantastic location and a great circuit. The mountains and the fresh air remind me a bit of Switzerland and the track is pretty exciting. It’s not a long lap but it has good character. You’ve got a reasonable start-finish straight, then and uphill section where we’ll appreciate the power of our car. Braking into turn two is fun as it’s uphill so you can brake later than you would otherwise. There’s a second DRS zone then some medium speed corners and you’re back to the start-finish again. Certainly last year we struggled, but this year’s car is so much better that I’m really looking forward to being able to push hard all weekend.

We have a lot more potential to do well this year. Last year was the first time at the track for Formula One in over a decade and we were doing a lot of learning of the circuit and set-up as well as struggling with a lot of issues with our car at the time. We couldn’t get on top of the tyres and we didn’t have the right package for our brakes so it was a frustrating weekend, not to mention with some reliability issues too! This year we should be so much better placed and I’m really looking forward to being able to attack the track."

Pastor Maldonado - "It is an interesting circuit and one I enjoyed visiting last year, even if it was a weekend where we didn’t have the best of results. I think we have much better potential this year with the car and we’ve been looking quite strong recently. It’s great to be able to visit a different type of location for a Grand Prix and the event was really impressive last year; I’m looking forward to returning. Just like any Grand Prix we’ll be looking to get the maximum from the car. You need good power in Austria especially with the decent hill there. There are a couple of straights and we’ve been looking good through the speed traps so hopefully we’ll keep that pace. If we can qualify well we should have a great race."

----
Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended
Quotes belong to Drivers

Austrian GP: Circuit Preview

(Image belongs to: f1GPtours.com - All rights belong to the owner)

As Formula 1 heads back over to Europe, it's time to take a look at the next circuit. An inconic one that was re-introduced to us just last year. 

The "Red Bull Ring" (Formerly known & Founded as Osterreichring) is located in Spielberg, Styria, Austria and is host to the 8th round of the 2015 Formula 1 Calendar. The circuit is 2.688 miles in length and is one of the shorter circuits & only has a total of 9 turns, also making it one of the fastest. It first opened back in 1969 & has a capacity of around 40,000. It also runs clockwise & the race will consist of 71 laps.

Last year's race saw Felipe Massa take Pole Position but the Brazilian missed out on a podium. Instead, Nico Rosberg won while Hamilton finished second and young Finish driver, Valtteri Bottas, finished third.

Retirements included: Daniil Kvyat (Suspension Failure), Sebastian Vettel (Electronics) & Jean-Eric Vergne (Brake Failure).

----

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

No copyright infringement intended

Photo belongs to: f1GPtours.com

Austrian GP: Schedule

There are lots of motorsport events happening in the coming weeks including the 2015 24 Hours Of Le Mans, the Barcelona-Catalunya Moto GP races & F1's Austrian GP. With the circuit "Red Bull Ring" being brought back to the F1 calendar as of last year, it was hugely welcomed by fans of motorsport all around the world. A two day in-season test will take place after next weekend's race in Spielberg, Austria.

SCHEDULE:

June 18th / Thursday

15:00 - Drivers Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)
15:05 - 18:30 - Pit-Lane Walk (For 3-Day-Ticket-Holders Only)

June 19th / Friday

08:45 - 09:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
10:00 - 11:30 - Free Practice #1
12:50 - 13:45 - 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 20th / Saturday

08:30 - 09:15 - Team Pit-Stop Practice
08:30 - 09:35 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
11:00 - 12:00 - Free Practice #3
14:00 - Qualifying

June 21st / Sunday

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

(Times subject to change)

----
Article Written By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended

Feature: Star Drivers Of The Canadian GP

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "This is one really hard decision. So many drivers showed some incredible skills this weekend, especially when it came to overtaking. However, I think the driver that has earned this title for me has to be Romain Grosjean. The Frenchman has had a very difficult couple of seasons and it's been fantastic to see him come back fighting. When Grosjean battled his way through qualifying, I must say I was incredibly impressed, especially to see him with such confidence, pushing forward. He said he was hoping for a top 6 on the grid, in fact, he did achieve this. He actually managed to get the Lotus to fifth with his teammate just behind. Maybe Lotus are on their way back to the top?

In addition to Romain's incredible performance in qualifying, he managed to hold onto a points position, finishing in tenth place. Some of you may not think this is a fantastic performance but I cannot refuse a driver who has performed so flawlessly throughout the weekend, their well deserved glory. Romain Grosjean is an incredible driver who battled with top teams on a narrow track to achieve tenth place. If that's not worthy of praise, I don't know what is. Congratulations Romain, you've wowed me once again!"

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "My driver of the weekend is once again Valtteri Bottas. Last time I talked about his driving I was saying how close he was to getting back to the podium and he did it. He brought Williams another podium finish and it was quite the drive. I have no doubts he'll have a good chance at getting with one of the top teams in the next year or so.

I think Bottas came into the sport as quite the underdog and he's really impressed. If you're not already a fan, you should definitely keep an eye out. He's got Champion potential."

----
Quotes belong to F1Insider78 & Are available for use with permission
Please visit the contact page.

Feature: Canadian GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "Canada, oh Canada. I do love your racetrack! Your narrow straights and sudden corners leave no room for error, do they?  With just enough room for one car to slip past another, I think it's fair to say I've fallen in love with the track. Not only does Canada feature one of the most fantastic and testing courses, but it also welcomes us with some of the most enthusiastic fans of our sport. Let's not forget the cheers that leaped from the stands when a car driven by or passed another driver. Of course, the race did not go without a hiccup. I don't think any of us will forget the ground hog.

I'd like to thank Canada  for hosting an incredible show. I'm aware that some people found the race tedious but I can honestly say that the race blew me away! Possibly even my favourite of the season."

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "I really enjoyed this race. It may not have been filled with the most overtakes or risky wheel-to-wheel moments but it was still overall a fantastic race and there was plenty to cheer about. As always my congratulations goes to the Winner, Lewis Hamilton and the other podium finishers, Nico Rosberg & Valtteri Bottas.

It was a fantastic race for Lotus & especially Pastor Maldonado. One of his best performances & I'm very happy he was able to finish the race without any mechanical issues & Score his first points of the season. The team should be very happy.

Austria is next and with its return last year, it definitely impressed & the fan turnout was amazing. I'm very excited to see it for the second time. Cheers!"

----
Quotes belong to F1Insider78 & Are available for use with permission
Please visit the contact page.

Canadian GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

When the lights went out at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, everyone was filled with nerves and anticipation. With many chances to overtake, the Canadian GP is always filled with surprises.

Lewis Hamilton sped off, eager to get a lead over his team-mate. Sebastian Vettel was not battling for a podium this time around as he had to start from 18th after not getting a chance at Qualifying plus his grid penalty for overtaking during a Red Flag in Free Practice #3. However, Kimi Raikkonen was racing towards the front after a second row start.

Raikkonen was unlucky though when he spun around mid-race and his chance of a podium was long gone. Valtteri Bottas was quick to grab that 3rd spot and make his way to his first Podium of the 2015 season. A great result for the Williams driver and for the team.

Nico Hulkenberg and Sebastian Vettel collided after the Ferrari driver attempted a risky overtake, sending Hulkenberg into a spin. Neither driver was given a penalty and it was deemed as a racing accident. However, the same could not be said when Grosjean later collided with Manor driver, Will Stevens. Grosjean was handed 2 penalty points after the race for causing a collision. Grosjean's team-mate, Pastor Maldonado went on to finish in 7th, his best result since 2012 and his 10th time in the points in his F1 career. Will's team-matel, Roberto Merhi retired more than half-way through the race due to a Driveshaft issue.

Unfortunately it was a race to forget for McLaren-Honda as they suffered another double DNF. Fernando Alonso was first to retire with a loss of power/engine issue. His team-mate, Button, was later told to retire the car with an exhaust issue. While it has been a difficult start to the 2015 season for the Woking team, they are confident that more points could be in reach soon.

Mercedes dominated again as Lewis Hamilton took the win with Rosberg coming in 2nd. This was also Rosberg's 7th consecutive podium.

There's only a handful of races left before the Summer Break and the teams head to Austria next.

Here are the race results:

RESULTS:

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

----
Article Written By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended
Follow us on Twitter @F1Insider78

Canadian GP: Qualifying - Results

With the 2015 Canadian GP just hours away, it's time to take a look at the starting grid for Today's race.

Lewis Hamilton took Pole Position after a close battle in lap-times with team-mate Nico Rosberg and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

A couple of penalties have switched a few drivers around from their original positions - But none the less, no one will be starting from the Pit-Lane.

Max Vestappen had a combined total of a 15-Place-Grid-Penalty between 5 from his accident in Monaco and an extra 10 for an engine change. Because he qualified further back than 5th, he cannot go back 15 spaces, instead he will start 19th and a 10-Second-Time-Penalty will be added to his final race time.

Jenson Button will be starting in 20th after needing permission to race after not setting  time in qualifying due to mechanical issues. The stewards granted Button permission as he had set good enough times during the 3 practice sessions.

Sebastian Vettel got a grid penalty as well due to overtaking Merhi during a Red Flag in Free Practice 3. He also received 3 Penalty Points to his Super License. He will start from 18th.

Here is how everyone else lines up....

STARTING GRID:

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

* - Driver is serving penalty &/or did not Qualify.

----
Article Written By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended