Mexican GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso


Max Verstappen - “Well, I’ve never been to Mexico. The track is new for everyone – I’ve only driven it on the simulator - so it will be very challenging and a completely new experience which I’m looking forward to. Hopefully the track will suit our car.”

Carlos Sainz - “I remember when I went there earlier in the year for an event with Red Bull I ate some really good Mexican tortillas… Okay, it’s something I won’t do as much this time as I am on a diet during race weekends, but maybe on Sunday night we can have some! As (the track) is new nobody knows much about it really. While I was there it was still being built, but it looked very good, especially the part of the stadium, it looks pretty interesting. I really like the city, I look forward to visiting it again!”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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Mexican GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

Preview Quotes - Williams


Felipe Massa - "It's the first time I have ever been to Mexico so I am excited to go there. The track has a lot of history in Formula One, even though it has changed a little bit. I hear the tickets sold out in less than a week, so there is clearly a passion for motorsport. The track has a very long straight and some high speed corners, but also some very slow elements too. It is hard to say exactly what it will be like until we have driven it, but I am looking forward to it."

Valtteri Bottas - "The track and place is new to me, so I am looking forward to finding out more about both. I like spicy foods so that is one thing I am looking forward to. As a track it looks interesting with high and low speed corners and a very long straight. It will be interesting to see how the high altitude has an effect on the cooling of the cars but also its physical effects on me as a driver. I was too young to watch the race last time they were in Mexico, but the track has been changed. I hear there will be a lot of fans so I am looking forward to meeting them."

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Mexican GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes - Force India


Sergio Perez - “The races in Russia and the United States have been an ideal way to prepare me for the return of my home race. A podium finish and a strong fifth place have given me a lot of confidence ahead of the final part of the season. I think there is more to come from us and I’m really looking forward to the final few races.

Having the opportunity of driving in my home Grand Prix is something I never thought would happen. It will be one of the highlights of my career and I have no doubt that this race will become a modern classic of Formula One. Mexico has a lot of history in motorsport: the fans know the sport; they have a lot of enthusiasm and have been waiting a long time for Formula One to come back. I think everyone will have a great time.

Racing in Mexico is, of course, very special for me, but at the same time I should not let this distract me from the fact that it is another race in which I will need to give 100% to bring home a good result. I am incredibly motivated to work hard with my team to have another race to celebrate.

I had the chance to drive a lap of the new track layout recently and it’s a fantastic circuit. There are quite a few changes compared to the old layout when Formula One last raced there, but I don't think the circuit has lost any of its character. The new section in the stadium is spectacular and it will be such an incredible emotion to drive through there for the first time when it’s full of fans. There are a lot of fast sections, but at the same time you have a combination of fast, slow and medium-speed corners that make for a very varied lap.

I am also happy to see the final corner has been named after Nigel Mansell. He is a hero to motorsport fans in Mexico and I admire all he has achieved. Nigel won the last race in Mexico in 1992 and produced one of the greatest overtakes of all times there, so it is right that he has been honoured in this way.”

Nico Hulkenberg - “When you have a bad result, the best way to bounce back is to get back in the saddle immediately. The race in Austin was frustrating as I felt it was a missed opportunity to score a lot of points, but that's racing. I have to get it out of the system and at least I get to be back in the car after just a few days.

This week should be one of the most exciting in the season for us with lots happening on and off the track. We have a lot of Mexican partners and I think there will be a lot of attention on us so the expectations will be high. When we visited Mexico in January for our team launch, the whole country was incredibly supportive and enthusiastic, and it was the same last week when I was there for a charity event. They have been waiting for a Grand Prix for a long time and I am sure the circuit will put on a great event. I have even been trying to learn a bit of Spanish ahead of the race - even though by Sunday night all I want to say to the local press is "una gran carrera!"

I am really looking forward to exploring the new track. I have never really driven on it properly - I just did a handful of laps in a road car on what was the old layout back in January. I have seen the map and a few videos, and the circuit seems to have a nice flow. There are a lot of medium-speed corners which is something drivers enjoy and some big straights that should generate some overtaking opportunities.”

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Mexican GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

Preview Quotes - McLaren


Fernando Alonso - “I really enjoyed the race in Austin and it was definitely one of the most exhilarating races for McLaren-Honda this year so far. It was a hard fight, but we didn’t give up. I hope we can repeat some of those battles in Mexico, but we’re expecting a tough fight on a circuit that on paper won’t suit our car.

It’ll be interesting as we have no data from there so the conditions are unknown, which makes it pretty exciting. Going to a new Grand Prix at a venue that the current generation of F1 drivers hasn’t been to yet is going to be something special, especially as it already has a great reputation since the last time a race was held there.

From what I’ve seen of the circuit, it looks like a great design with some interesting corners, and the combination of a high top speed and new asphalt will mean getting set-up right from the first possible moment will be very important to get the maximum down force. It’s an exciting new chapter for Formula 1 and I’m looking forward to seeing where we are this weekend.”

Jenson Button - “Austin was an exciting race and the mixed conditions meant we were able to race on a more level playing field with our competitors until the track dried out towards the end. If the weather stays dry next weekend in Mexico, we know we’ll have a much more difficult grand prix on our hands, so we need to take the opportunity to gather as much data as we can and work on maximising our strategy for our car’s performance.

The circuit itself looks really interesting - I remember as a kid watching some incredible battles there and the drivers hanging onto their cars around Peraltada, which looked mega, if a bit scary! It’s a shame that corner hasn’t been included in the new layout, but from what I’ve seen of the track and heard from others that have visited, it looks like it’ll be a fun challenge.

The altitude is easily the highest we have to deal with at any Grand Prix on the calendar, so that in itself will be something new for all the teams to work with, and the fact this circuit has the second highest top speed after Monza will mean it won’t be easy for us. Saying that, having good balance and down force in the car will be crucial so we’ll get stuck in with set-up and see how we fare on Friday morning. I’m really looking forward to going to a new Grand Prix venue and hopefully we can learn a lot this weekend and put on another good show.”

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Mexican GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes - Lotus


Romain Grosjean - “It’s a new venue and it’s always nice to learn a new track. I can remember watching the Mexican Grand Prix when I was a kid, particularly with a memory of Senna going upside down at the last corner. It looks like the layout has more low speed corners now, but it still has a very long straight so there’ll be an interesting competition to see who can be the fastest there! It will be a first (time in Mexico City) for me so I’m excited to be going there. I’m sure we will all get a great response and I’m looking forward to experiencing the culture and especially investigating the food which is what I always do when visiting a new city. The city is very high but for me that’s a good thing as I was born in the mountains! I’m a big fan of skiing and cycling in the mountains too, so I think I’ll be pretty well prepared. I don’t think it’s going to cause the drivers any issues, but I know there are a few areas to give some different calculations to the engineers. It’s going to be different with the brake cooling and things like that, but every track has its characteristics so I’m sure we’ll get on top of it pretty quickly.”

Pastor Maldonado - “I think it’s going to be one of the most special races of the year. There’s certainly a lot of expectation and lots of great fans in Mexico. It’s a Latin American race so I think I’m going to enjoy it a lot. I think we’re all going to get a fantastic welcome and a lot of support. It’s a great country with great people. I love Mexico so I’m looking forward to it. It’s certainly very close to my home and the Spanish language is used so I’m looking forward to meeting fans old and new. It’s a big city so there’s a lot of potential for many people to support the event and I’m sure they will. I’ve never been (to the circuit) so it will be a new experience for me. It’s always difficult to make a call on a track until you’ve driven it in the car. The layout looks good with some interesting corners with some low speed and also medium and quicker stuff, then a very long main straight which makes up a big percentage of the lap. We’re certainly going to get some high speeds along there! It’ll be interesting to explore our potential.”

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Mexican GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes - Red Bull


Daniel Ricciardo - “I’ve only driven around the parts of the track that were finished in July (in a road car), so I’m not the authority on it! The very long main straight reminded me a little of Monza. And there are some flowing parts of the track which look quite interesting... but you can never tell until you drive a new circuit properly. It could go either way. I hope it’s fun!

(Mexico City) was very cool. I love the food - I say that a lot don’t I? - and I love the passion of the people. It was quite a moment when we saw how many had turned up to watch us [at a Red Bull demo event] back in the summer, it really makes you do a double-take. I’m looking forward to spending more time there just so I can experience a bit more of the culture.”

Daniil Kvyat - “It’s always nice to visit a new place and to race at a new track. Mexico should be no different. The city looks nice - interesting culture and the food should be very good too.

On paper it (the circuit) looks interesting. It looks like there are some good high-speed corners and the Esses section looks like it might be quite exciting. It obviously has a lot of history and they seem to have kept the old-school feel of it, which is good. I think Mexico has a pretty big heritage with Formula One and it seems like it’s one of those places that is really passionate about the sport, maybe a bit like Brazil. It should be a good weekend.”

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Mexican GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Preview Quotes - Mercedes


Lewis Hamilton - “Sunday in Austin is all a bit of a blur. The race was so, so crazy and it wasn't until a few moments after I crossed the line that I realised that I'd done it! To be honest, it still hasn't quite settled in. To match Ayrton in winning three titles was always a big ambition of mine and it just doesn't feel real. I can't express how grateful I am to everyone who made it possible - from my family to the team at the track and everyone back at the factories. I couldn't have done this without each and every one of them. Now, I'm even more pumped to get to Mexico. For many of us in the paddock - including the drivers - it's a new Grand Prix venue, and experiencing a new city and a new track is always exciting. Formula One has been racing in South America at the Brazilian Grand Prix throughout my career and the atmosphere there is just insane - plus we see thousands of Mexican fans every year in Austin. If they're anything to go by the crowds will be fantastic, so I'm really looking forward to seeing them all out there making plenty of noise. I can attack the final three races now with nothing to prove and nothing to lose, so the aim is absolutely to put my name down as the first Mexican Grand Prix winner of the modern era. After the Ushanka style hats we had on the podium in Russia and the Stetsons in America, I'm definitely hoping for a massive sombrero if I make it onto the podium!”

Nico Rosberg - “The Championship fight is over for me this year but I have three races left to make a big push, end this tough season on a high and make up for the disappointment of the past few races. My first chance is in Mexico and I'm sure everyone is really looking forward to the weekend. I love discovering new places and this one will definitely be a really interesting venue. If the Mexican fans we see in Austin are anything to go by, the atmosphere will be incredible! My father raced there once back in the 80's so maybe he can give me a few tips... although the circuit is very different now and so are the cars, so maybe that's not the best reference point! Data will be very important in Mexico, of course, as it's a track none of the current grid have driven before. Some of the more experienced engineers might know it - but the circuit and the cars will have changed so much since the sport last went there that it's basically like starting from zero. That's a big challenge and I'm looking forward to it. I've driven the circuit in the simulator to be as prepared as I can be, so let's see what we can do.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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Mexican GP: Circuit Preview

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

F1 returns to Mexico after 23 years and it's going to be a spectacular event with racing, food, music and much more. The race will be taking place at the newly re-opened "Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez" Circuit, which originally opened back in 1962 and was named after the late Rodriguez brothers in order to honor them.

    The circuit is located in Mexico City, Mexico and was used for many, many years in Formula 1. The circuit also hosted the Nascar Nationwide Series. There's a total of 17 turns on the current design and it runs Clockwise. It's 2.674 miles in length and the venue has a capacity of around 100,000. The race will run for approximately 71 laps. 

    This will be Sergio Perez's home race. While Esteban Gutierrez is not racing this year, it's his home race as well & We might see him do an outing for the Scuderia Ferrari team, for Free Practice #1. It was rumoured earlier this year that he would get a chance to do so.

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Mexican GP: Schedule

Formula 1 returns to Mexico for the first time in 23 years and everyone knows it's going to be quite the event. A very special event for fans, teams & drivers. Especially Sergio Perez as it is his home race and he will get to race on the newly re-opened Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit.

Here is the schedule for the race week.

SCHEDULE:

October 29th / Thursday

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

October 30th / Friday

10:00 - 11:30 - Free Practice #1
12:25 - 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)

October 31st / Saturday

08:00 - 09:40 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
08:30 - 09:00 - Team Pit-Stop Practice
10:00 - 11:00 - Free Practice #3
12:00 - 12:40 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
13:00 - 14:00 - Qualifying

November 1st / Sunday

08:00 - 09:15 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
11:00 - 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 - Race Start

(Times subject to change)

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Feature: Star Drivers Of The United States GP

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "My star driver of the United States Grand Prix is Max Verstappen. This weekend Max managed to cross the line in fourth place, equalling his best finish of the season. What an incredible accomplishment! Each race Max matures and shows incredible talent within the way he composes his car on track. His devotion to his career is easy to see as he overtakes cars and cautiously guides his car around corners. Congratulations on a fantastic finish, Max! Here's to many more!"

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "My star driver is Lewis Hamilton. He did an absolutely amazing job securing the championship and it's well deserved. I think his career has been amazing so far and I know there's still so much more to come from him and from Mercedes. The season isn't over yet and even though he already has the championship, he can still impress with great results."

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Feature: United States GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "The US Grand Prix was my home-race and it was spectacular. There was plenty of wheel-to-wheel racing, and thankfully the rain did stop around the half-way point. Congratulations to Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel and of course the Mercedes AMG F1 team. They've accomplished so much this season and it's not even over.

Mexico is next and to have it make a return after 23 years is super exciting, not only for the fans, but for the teams and drivers. Especially Perez as it will be his home race. I'm hoping to see Gutierrez doing a practice session for Ferrari as it would be his home race as well. Shame he didn't get a drive this year, but the work he's doing at Ferrari is great. Cheers!"

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "The circuit of the Americas never fails to deliver an incredible race. However, paired with torrential rain, the race didn't come without risks. Drivers were sliding and spinning all over the track as a result of the surface water. 

Despite the near constant downpour that drenched the weekend, viewing the coverage was very amusing as drivers and teams danced, laughed and eventually, raced. Perhaps the best of this was Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat dancing together in the pit lane. Of course, the biggest highlight of the weekend was Hamilton winning the championship, succeeding in defending his title. My congratulations go to Lewis and Mercedes. Another year on top!"

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United States GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

With the rain continuing to pour down, it was finally race time and it was going to be a stormy one. When the lights went out, both Hamilton and Rosberg were eager to take an early lead, which looked to belong to Rosberg since he was starting on Pole Position. However, it was Lewis Hamilton that managed to get around his team-mate and lead the pack. Rosberg found Hamilton to be too aggressive, as the two did make slight contact, but neither car was damaged.

    Both Will Stevens and Romain Grosjean were victims of early-lap contact and both were forced to retire from the race with too much damage to their cars to continue. Their team-mates however were a bit more lucky. Pastor Maldonado finished the race in 8th and brought home 4 points for the Lotus-Mercedes team. Alexander Rossi, driving in his home race, finished 12th, making the team beyond proud.

    Former team-mates, Fernando Alonso & Felipe Massa made contact and Massa had to later retire from the race with suspension damage, the same thing his team-mate, Valtteri Bottas, retired from earlier on in the race. A bad race day for the Williams-Mercedess team.

    Force India looked to have a good end to the race with both their drivers in the top 10, however, Hulkenberg faced some mechanical issues with his car and while trying to pass Daniel Ricciardo, he ended up colliding with him and he spun out and crashed. He emerged from the car uninjured, but his race was over. Perez was able to finish in 5th and bring 10 points to the team.

    Daniil Kvyat & Kimi Raikkonen both had crashes. Raikkonen's due to a brake issue and Kvyat's due to losing control of the car - And neither got to finish the race. An unfortunate end to good running. Meanwhile, Vettel was eagerly trying to hold on to second place. If he did, Lewis Hamilton wouldn't be able to be crowned F1 World Champion just yet. However, Rosberg was able to pass Vettel for 2nd and keep the position until the end of the race.

    A great day for McLaren-Honda with both cars finishing and Jenson Button able to bring home 8 points for the team, while Alonso unfortunately struggled with an engine issue and brought the car home in 11th, just one place away from a championship point.

    Sauber had mixed results with Nasr finishing in the points and Ericsson having his race ended to electronic issues. The two team-mates made contact with one another during the race, although this did not lead to Ericsson's retirement, Monisha Kaltenborn, (Team Principal), is not happy with them doing so.

    Lewis Hamilton brought home the win and won his 3rd F1 World Championship. His second consecutive championship as well. He was emotional on the radio as he crossed the finish line, thanking the team and the fans and everyone involved in getting him to this point in his career.

Here are the final results from the race.

RACE RESULTS:

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 25 Points
2. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / + 18 Points
3. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 15 Points
4. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands / + 12 Points
5. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 10 Points
6. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain / + 8 Points
7. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain / + 6 Points
8. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela / + 4 Points
9. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil / + 2 Points
10. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia / + 1 Point
11. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain / 
12. Alexander Rossi / Manor-Ferrari / America /

RETIRED - Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia / Accident
RETIRED - Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / Accident Damage
RETIRED - Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden / Electrics
RETIRED - Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / Brakes
RETIRED - Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / Suspension
RETIRED - Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France / Accident Damage
RETIRED - Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / Suspension
RETIRED - Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain / Accident Damage

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United States GP: Qualifying - Results

While Qualifying was post-poned until Sunday morning, it still was able to go ahead, despite Q3 being canceled. There were penalties over the weekend and they are noted below the results.

STARTING GRID:

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

* - Vettel - 10-Place-Grid-Penalty for multiple power unit changes
* - Bottas - 5-Place-Grid-Penalty for gearbox change
* - Raikkonen - 10-Place-Grid-Penalty for multiple power unit changes
* - Stevens - 20-Place-Grid-Penalty for multiple power unit changes

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United States GP: Free Practice 3 - Re-Cap & Results

It was once again raining at the Circuit Of The Americas and the venue was closed off to fans and spectators, while the session went ahead. Nico Rosberg had a slight crash into the barriers and ended up with front wing damage, although he was OK.

    Many other drivers found themselves spinning off track & sliding around. The rain seemed to not want to let up long enough for good lap times. Everyone, however, was able to set at least one good time & Here are the results from the session.

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:59.517 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Sebastian Vettel - 2:00.380 / Ferrari-Ferrari
3. Nico Hulkenberg - 2:00.996 / Force India-Mercedes
4. Valtteri Bottas - 2:00.523 / Williams-Mercedes
5. Carlos Sainz - 2:00.687 / Toro Rosso-Renault
6. Daniil Kvyat - 2:00.694 / Red Bull-Renault
7. Kimi Raikkonen - 2:00.785 / Ferrari-Ferrari
8. Daniel Ricciardo - 2:01.008 / Red Bull-Renault
9. Nico Rosberg - 2:01.474 / Mercedes-Mercedes
10. Felipe Massa - 2:02.199 / Williams-Mercedes
11. Sergio Perez - 2:02.660 / Force India-Mercedes
12. Romain Grosjean - 2:02.825 / Lotus-Mercedes
13. Pastor Maldonado - 2:02.921 / Lotus-Mercedes
14. Fernando Alonso - 2:03.375 / McLaren-Honda
15. Marcus Ericsson - 2:04.399 / Sauber-Ferrari
16. Jenson Button - 2:05.283 / McLaren-Honda
17. Will Stevens - 2:05.378 / Manor-Ferrari
18. Alexander Rossi - 2:05.607 / Manor-Ferrari
19. Felipe Nasr - 2:06.792 / Sauber-Ferrari
20. Max Verstappen - 2:09.994 / Toro Rosso-Renault 

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United States GP: Free Practice 2 - CANCELED

Friday's FP2 session was canceled due to heavy rain & lightning brought in by Hurricane Patricia. The venue was closed off & the day came to an early end due to safety measures.

    Running was continued on Saturday for FP3, although fans & spectators were still not allowed inside the circuit grounds.

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United States GP: Free Practice 1 - Re-Cap & Results

It was a super rainy start to the US GP weekend, with Hurricane Patricia moving in towards Texas from Mexico. Things were able to get underway, despite the weather and there was plenty to talks about.

    Alexander Rossi is back with Manor-Marussia for the weekend and Lotus announced Jolyon Palmer as their second driver for 2016, alongside Pastor Maldonado. Maldonado was unable to run in this session due to a gearbox issue.

    Both Ferrari drivers were given 10-Place-Grid-Penalties for multiple power unit changes & Will Stevens was handed a 20-Place-Grid-Penalty for the same reason.

    Raffaele Marciello got to get behind the wheel of Nasr's Sauber in this session. It's been quite a while since the young Italian driver has got to take part in a Free Practice session, but he has been doing a fantastic job in GP2.

Here are the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:53.989 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Daniil Kvyat - 1:55.224 / Red Bull-Renault
3. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:55.592 / Red Bull-Renault
4. Carlos Sainz - 1:55.667 / Toro Rosso-Renault
5. Lewis Hamilton - 1:55.693 / Mercedes-Mercedes
6. Sebastian Vettel - 1:55.710 / Ferrari-Ferrari
7. Max Verstappen - 1:55.969 / Toro Rosso-Renault
8. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:56.326 / Ferrari-Ferrari
9. Fernando Alonso - 1:56.839 / McLaren-Honda
10. Valtteri Bottas - 1:56.866 / Williams-Mercedes
11. Felipe Massa - 1:57.081 / Williams-Mercedes
12. Sergio Perez - 1:57.139 / Force India-Mercedes
13. Jenson Button - 1:57.495 / McLaren-Honda
14. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:57.518 / Force India-Mercedes
15. Romain Grosjean - 1:58.319 / Lotus-Mercedes
16. Raffaele Marciello* - 1:59.431 / Sauber-Ferrari
17. Marcus Ericsson - 1:59.793 / Sauber-Ferrari
18. Alexander Rossi - 2:01.154 / Manor-Ferrari
19. Will Stevens - 2:01.907 - Manor-Ferrari
20. Pastor Maldonado - No Time Set - Lotus-Mercedes (Gearbox)

* - Driving in this session only. ----
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United States GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

Preview Quotes - Manor


Roberto Merhi - "I can't adequately describe how excited I am about competing in my home Grand Prix for the first time. Thankfully, I've been so busy with a whole bunch of PR commitments that I've been able to keep that side of it in check, but now we're just a few days out, the reality is starting to hit me and it feels great. It's a huge deal for me, not only because it makes me extremely proud to be the first American driver to race on US soil since 2007, but also because it's the realisation of a goal that I, and the people around me, have been working towards for effectively 13 years. This weekend is an opportunity to reward their support and commitment as much as my own determination as a race car driver, and I'll be giving it my all.

I'm pretty happy with how things went in my first two races for the team, in Singapore and Japan. There's a lot to get to grips with at first, before you can really start to build some momentum, but that considered, I was pleased with my relative position at the end of those races. After a race off due to my GP2 schedule, I'm looking forward to picking up where I left off at Suzuka and enjoying a good fight with Will. Circuit of The Americas is an awesome track. I've driven it before and it's a real mix of some of the best circuits in the world. It's pretty fast and the frequent elevation changes make it spectacular for racing and spectating. There's going to be an amazing vibe, from the fans and having my family and friends in the crowd, so I really can't wait til we start turning wheels on Friday."

Will Stevens - "I'm really excited to be racing in Austin for the first time this weekend. It's a fantastic track with so much going on through the lap and I can't wait to experience the elevation change for myself. The city also sounds like a lot of fun. I do love America and I've spent the past few days training in Florida and getting used to the time difference, so I'm feeling fighting fit and prepared for the next races. It's good to welcome Alex back to the team, and clearly this is a big weekend for him. As you'd expect though, my objective, as always, is to beat my team-mate!"

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United States GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

Preview Quotes - Williams


Valtteri Bottas - “Austin is the place where I scored my first points so it will always be special to me. It’s also one of my favourite circuits to drive, with fast sweeping corners. Austin as a city is a fantastic place, accompanied by great weather. For me it’s one of the best locations on the calendar.”

Felipe Massa - “Austin is a beautiful place with a great circuit which has fantastic infrastructure. The circuit is very fun to drive with many fast corners. The first sector is incredible leading into a long straight with the opportunity for overtaking. The first corner is special - the elevation change is incredible and the space available means it’s a great place to pass and it’s hard to defend. The fans really enjoy Formula One and the drivers like to go there.”

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United States GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso


Max Verstappen - “I have good memories of Austin, as last year I did a Friday practice session there and it was all very exciting. It’s a great track, with a lot of elevation changes and fast corners. I really enjoyed driving there.”

Carlos Sainz - “I don’t know much about Austin because I’ve never been there and only driven it on the simulator. The track looks amazing and I think I will really enjoy it there, especially the first sector which looks very fast. From what I’ve heard, it’s one of the best race weekends on the Formula 1 calendar. The whole city gets involved with F1 and I’ve been told there are some really good steakhouses…”

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United States GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes - Force India

Sergio Perez - "Austin is a great place to race. It has been my home race for several years, before the return of the Mexican Grand Prix, and the circuit is great fun for both fans and drivers. The city is very cool and there is so much happening during Grand Prix week. When I step into the cockpit and see all the Mexican flags and the fans in the stands it’s an incredible boost for me.

The track has some special parts, especially the first sector and the uphill turn one. You can take a few different lines through the corner and you can brake really late for it, which makes it a good place to overtake. The whole of the first sector is very fun to drive with a lot of quick corners.”

Nico Hulkenberg - “Of the newer tracks on the calendar I think Austin is probably my favourite. The variation of corners makes it good fun to drive and they’ve designed a very nice facility. The track is smooth and it’s easy to find your rhythm. It's generally a busy weekend on and off the track: Austin is a fun city that really embraces the race and the atmosphere is great.

The lap is made up of a mixture of corners - high-speed, medium-speed and low-speed. There are also a lot of gradient changes, such as the uphill approach to turn one where it can be tricky to get your brake balance right. Turns three to six are where downforce counts and you need a car that’s responsive to the quick changes of direction. It’s these quick parts of the lap that put high lateral energy through your tyres.

The DRS is worth quite a lot in Austin and the long straight between turns 11 and 12 is a really good opportunity for overtaking. We should be in good shape and competitive there, which would be the best way to bounce back after my disappointing weekend in Sochi.”

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United States GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

Preview Quotes - McLaren


Fernando Alonso - “It was obviously disappointing to lose out on 10th place in Sochi, but considering it was a circuit that we knew wouldn’t suit our package, we can’t be too disappointed with the result and the positive reliability of the car all weekend. Now we move to Austin which is a very different proposition. We know it’ll be difficult for us in some of the areas we’ve already seen this year, but we will definitely be working flat out to achieve more progress and another positive result. The track is a hybrid of corners from great circuits all around the world, which makes setting up the car tricky, but a precise, well-balanced car will definitely help you there, so we need to build on those strengths straight away.

I really enjoy going to Austin - a fantastic atmosphere and a city that absolutely loves its racing. The circuit is really fun to drive because it’s so varied, so you have to keep your focus 100 percent all the way around a lap. I had some great battles with Jenson there last year and I’m hoping for more of the same against our competitors this weekend.”

Jenson Button - “Since Sochi I’ve been back at MTC for a couple of days, working hard with my engineers and prepping for the back-to-backs of Austin and Mexico. Although we were lucky on the last lap in Russia, we haven’t had much luck go our way this season so it was encouraging to come away with two points and get both cars to the finish with no issues.

I’m looking forward to a fun weekend in Austin. The welcome is always incredible and there’s something really special about the city on a race weekend; it really has its own unique charm. The track, too, has firmly become one of the favourites among the drivers because it has a little bit of everything which makes it pretty demanding for us, but very exciting too.

Last year we really struggled with tyre degradation on the relatively new asphalt, so we need to crack that as soon as we get out on track on Friday and see what we can do to combat it. Circuit of The Americas has long straights, heavy braking, fast corners and some twisty sections, but its flowing nature could play to our package’s strengths. In Russia we saw that anything is possible, so we’ll be pushing hard as usual to make sure we’re in with a fighting chance come the end of the race.”

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United States GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes - Lotus


Romain Grosjean - “At the moment, the part of America I know the most is Austin for the Grand Prix, and it’s a place that I - and I know, my crew, as well - really like to visit. Of course, the USA is such a big place which I would love to explore more and I’m going to get that wish fulfilled pretty soon!

What do I think of the Circuit of The Americas? It looks great and the first time I walked around it in 2012 I thought wow! The gradient up to turn one is really something and it makes for a fun first corner when you’re in the car. It’s a really well-presented facility with an interesting circuit layout. It’s great to be at a race where the local character is very evident and that’s certainly the case in Austin, with the fan reception and the American way of presenting events.

It’s quite a balanced circuit in that you don’t need one particular thing over another for the car to perform well. In the first year the challenge was finding the level of grip we want and we did see the same for the past two races too. Every year so far the race has taken place a little earlier, and that’s good as it generally means warmer weather. This is good for many reasons, but wearing my race driving hat it’s good as it helps with tyre warm-up and grip. Grip is something we’ve struggled with in
Austin in the past, so a warmer circuit with a bit more aged track surface should help with that.”

Pastor Maldonado - “Austin is a great track, it’s a challenging layout which is refreshing to drive and it’s an enjoyable event. The first turn is quite something with its very steep climb and the rest of the lap flows well. The atmosphere at the circuit is really special, even for the first time we visited. It’s great to see the RVs at the side of the track and people staying at the circuit to enjoy the full weekend. The circuit can be a difficult one for tyres. The event is taking place earlier in the year this season so hopefully there’s plenty of sun to burn off any morning fog! Certainly, there can be a variety with the weather and in the past we’ve seen it be quite cold at the start of the day.

I think Austin offers us a good opportunity. The circuit shouldn’t pose any particular problems as long as we can get the tyres working as we want. The E23 is a car that generally works well so we have a good baseline to start with. At this point of the year we’re pretty on top of things like set-up and getting the most out of the car so it’s a case of getting the laps and simulations done in practice, qualifying as well as possible then targeting points in the race.

(Austin is) a really fantastic location with a lot to do. It’s certainly the type of city I’d like to visit even if there wasn’t a race there! It’s a really lively place with a lot going on. Great food, great music and great people are three things I think about when we go to Austin. The fans are superb too. It’s only the fourth time we will visit Austin, but already it’s one event on the calendar that we really look forward to visiting.”

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United States GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

Preview Quotes - Red Bull


Daniel Ricciardo - “I love Austin. Great track, great city, great food, great fans, great people in general, great hotel. Basically... great. For a modern-day circuit with lots of runoff, they’ve done the best job possible. They’ve created a track that’s safe but managed to ensure it’s still fun. It’s probably the best overtaking circuit on the calendar.

I love live music and I love bars and I particularly love live music in bars - and as that’s what Austin’s all about, it’s the sort of culture I can really appreciate. I’ll also enjoy some beef. Definitely the city to visit if you like ribs or brisket. Amazing stuff.
We stay out in a hotel on a ranch - which is pretty awesome. There’s a river, a golf course, and yes, the occasional snake. The snakes are OK though. They’re pretty cool. They’re not like Aussie snakes.”

Daniil Kvyat - “I made my F1 debut there and that was a big moment in my career. The race last year was I would say unlucky in that we had really good pace but I had to pit for a vibration with the tyre after overtaking Kimi, but yes, I have very positive memories of the circuit.

I really like racing at COTA; the track is really good. It has a lot of high-speed corners, heavy braking, long straights, a bit of everything really, so it’s great for racing, very enjoyable. Sector One is exciting. There are a lot of high-speed changes of direction. It’s kind of like Maggots-Becketts at Silverstone and it feels great through there in an F1 car. The circuit also has a lot of changes of elevation, which is something I think every driver appreciates. It’s a good track. (The city), I like it there. It’s a really good atmosphere. Great food. America does feel different to race in. It’s got its own style, which I like. It’s Texas, it’s cowboy country and it’s good fun.”

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United States GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Preview Quotes - Mercedes


Lewis Hamilton - “It’s been great to catch up with the team back at the factories and to celebrate together the amazing achievements of this year. I can’t say enough how grateful I am for all the hard work and it’s important that we savour these moments. Now, we head off to Austin, which is definitely one of the highlights of the year for me. I love the States and spend a lot of time over there, so it’s a weekend I always look forward to. I’ve learned from experience that nothing is ever done until it’s done in this sport, so I won’t be taking anything for granted going into the weekend. I’m going into this next race with the same approach I’ve had all year. There are four races left for me to get this championship tied up and as long as it’s done by the time I cross the line in Abu Dhabi that’s what really counts. I’m excited to get out there, give my best and if I can come away with a third Stetson hat that would be unbelievable."

Nico Rosberg  - “Being back at the factories and seeing everyone so happy was just the boost I needed after a tough Sunday in Russia. The whole team deserves this moment and what we’ve achieved together is really amazing. Hopefully this is just the start. With four races left and a big gap to Lewis, it’s clear that the title is a long shot for me now. But it’s not in me to give up or back down, so I’ll be pushing flat out to the end and hopefully having some fun out there in the final few rounds this year. I really want to enjoy the next races, as our Silver Arrow is such a great car and gives me the chance to end the year with a few more wins. Austin is definitely somewhere that you can have fun too, so I’m looking forward to going back there. It’s a great track to drive, I got pole there last year, and I’m coming off the back of a really strong weekend in Russia in terms of my performance, so if I can repeat all of that then I’ll be in a good position. Bring it on!”

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United States GP: Circuit Preview

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

The "Circuit Of The Americas" is located in Travis County, Austin, Texas and is F1's only US circuit as of currently. It opened just a few years ago on October 21st of 2012 and held its first race that year as well.

    The circuit runs counter-clockwise and is 3.427 miles in length. It has a capacity of around 120,000 & has 20 turns. The race will run for a total of 56 laps.

    In 2014, Nico Rosberg took pole but it was Lewis Hamilton who went on to win the race, while Rosberg finished 2nd. Daniel Ricciardo finished 3rd. Retirements included Adrian Sutil (Collision), Sergio Perez (Collision) & Nico Hulkenberg (Engine)

    All three years that the race has been held at the circuit, the fan turn out has been great, always drawing in massive crowds. This year is expected to be no different.

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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United States GP: Schedule

After a great race in Russia, the teams leave Europe and head over to North America, for the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.

Here is the schedule for the week.

October 22nd / Thursday

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

October 23rd / Friday

10:00 - 11:30 - Free Practice #1 
12:25 - 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)

October 24th / Saturday

07:25 - 08:40 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
08:00 - 08:30 - Team Pit-Stop Practice
10:00 - 11:00 - Free Practice #3
12:05 - 12:40 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
13:00 - Qualifying

October 25th / Sunday

12:05 - 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 - 16:00 - Race Start

(Times subject to change)

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Feature: Star Drivers Of The Russian GP

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "My star driver of the Russian Grand Prix is unsurprisingly Sergio Perez. Perez performed with incredible skill this weekend, managing to hold off the rest of the field as he pushed his way forward and finally, defended his third place and podium step.

He made up a total of six places during the race. However, he almost lost two of these positions in the final lap of the Grand Prix as Bottas and Raikonnen slipped past him. However, the two collided not seconds later, allowing Checo (Perez) to jump back ahead, stealing third place once again. Checo handled the situation calmly, keeping his cool. He crossed the line in third place winning a huge 15 points for his mid-field team. Bringing home their third ever podium was celebrated throughout their garage. Congratulations Sergio!"

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "My star driver of the Russian GP is also Sergio Perez. Being a huge supporter of the Force India F1 team, I was absolutely thrilled that he was able to finish on the podium. He did a stellar job looking out for his tyres and keeping the pace even when the degradation started to become an issue.

Perez has shown before that he has what it takes to be up there in the front with the leaders and we definitely saw that during the race & I know there's plenty more to come from him, Hulkenberg & the team."

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Feature: Russian GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Frances Fry (Assistant Writer) - "From lights out to across the line there was no telling what could happen. Car failures, collisions and penalties fuelled the fans and their cheers. Hamilton left the track on the brink of becoming a three time world champion, and after Kimi's penalty Mercedes were crowned constructors champions! The weekend was packed with news and events that sent adrenaline pumping through every fan's veins."

Amy Hawk (Lead Writer & Editor) - "What a great race. I really enjoyed it. Congratulations to Hamilton & Mercedes for their achievements and to Vettel & Perez. I am so thrilled to see Force India colors up on the podium again & I know there's plenty more to come from the team. The race itself was super thrilling. I don't think anyone was expecting that crash at the end, but I'm glad no one was hurt. Props to Carlos Sainz for racing after his accident in FP3. I know the race didn't turn out how he wanted, but the fact he got out there was great. My home race is next (US GP) and I'm super excited to see how things go. Cheers!"

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Russian GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

It was good weather for the start of the Russian GP and good news for young Toro Rosso driver, Carlos Sainz, who was cleared to race after passing an FIA Medical test. For those who didn't know, Sainz had a huge crash during Saturday's last practice session and was taken to a local Hospital where he was cleared from any injuries.

    When the lights went out, it was a good start for most drivers and a special start for Fernando Alonso, who celebrated his 250th F1 race start. Nico Hulkenberg, who started from 6th, ended up in a spin on the first lap and Marcus Ericsson collided with him, causing them both to have too much damage to their cars to continue.

   In the front, Hamilton had taken an easy lead from Rosberg, who started from Pole Position. Rosberg retired only a few laps in due to a problem with his throttle. Not only was this bad news for him as far as the drivers championship is concerned, but it was also his first retirement since Singapore 2014. Sebastian Vettel & Valtteri Bottas were close behind Hamilton, along with Raikkonen and Perez. While Lotus looked to be doing good, Romain Grosjean had a huge crash that ended his race early, but luckily escaped the car unharmed.

    Carlos Sainz ended up having to retire after a brake failure, which put an unfortunate end to his already unlucky weekend. Daniel Ricciardo also retired due to a suspension failure. Their team-mates, however, were still in the running for points. Both Max Verstappen & Daniil Kvyat, who is the only Russian driver on the grid, finished in the top 10 and brought points to their teams.

    Towards the last few laps, Perez had been holding on to 3rd place for a podium finish, but had also only had 1 pit stop and was still going on that set of tyres. Both Valtteri Bottas and Raikkonen passed him with just a couple of laps to go. However, Raikkonen tried to pass Bottas just seconds later and the two collided, sending Bottasd spinning into the barriers & leaving Raikkonen with car damage. Both drivers were unharmed, but their chance at the podium was over and Perez soared across the finish line in 3rd, gaining his second podium with the Force India team.

    Lewis Hamilton took the win & Mercedes ended up securing the Constructors Championship title after Raikkonen was penalized for the collision with Bottas (30 second time penalty), moving the Finnish driver down to 8th from his original 5th position finish. This meant that Ferrari was far enough away in the constructors that Mercedes are now back-to-back title winners. However, the drivers championship is still up for grabs, with Vettel not far behind in the points. The Ferrari driver finished the race in second and continues to rack up the points and close in on Hamilton's lead in the standings.

    Fernando Alonso was demoted from points after he was given 10 seconds to his final race time for exceeding track limits during the race. This was after he'd already started with a 35-place-grid-penalty for multiple engine component changes. Roberto Merhi had started with a 20-place-grid-penalty for also needing component changes.

Here are the race results after the penalties were put into place. Next up is the US Grand Prix in Austin Texas & There's always a huge fan turn out. It'll be a great one.

RACE RESULTS:

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 25 Points
2. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 18 Points
3. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 15 Points
4. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / + 12 Points
5. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia / + 10 Points
6. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil / + 8 Points
7. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela / + 6 Points
8. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 4 Points (Collision - Qualified as finished) (Demoted 2 places due to 30 second time penalty for collision with Bottas)
9. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain / + 2 Points 
10. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands / 1 Point
11. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain / (Demoted due to 10 seconds added to race time for exceeding track limits)
12. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / (Collision - Qualified as finished)
13. Roberto Merhi / Manor-Ferrari / Spain 
14. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain

RETIRED - Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia / Suspension Failure
RETIRED - Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain / Brake Failure
RETIRED - Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France / Accident
RETIRED - Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / Throttle
RETIRED - Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / Collision
RETIRED - Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden / Collision

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Russian GP: Qualifying - Results

Nico Rosberg took Pole Position for the Russian GP while Carlos Sainz was unable to participate following his huge crash in Free Practice 3. He has been released from the Hospital and will race if he can complete and FIA Medical test.

    Both Roberto Merhi & Fernando Alonso have grid penalties for multiple engine component changes & They have been accounted for below.

STARTING GRID:

1. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany
2. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain
3. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland
4. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany
5. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland
6. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany
7. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico
8. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France
9. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands
10. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia
11. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia
12. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil
13. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain
14. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela
15. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil
16. Fernando Alonso* / McLaren-Honda / Spain
17. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden
18. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain
19. Roberto Merhi* / Manor-Ferrari / Spain
DID NOT QUALIFY - Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain (Accident in FP3)

* - Fernando Alonso has received a 35-Place-Grid-Penalty for having multiple engine components changes
* - Roberto Merhi has received a 20-Place-Grid-Penalty for having multiple engine components changed

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

Weather was improved for the third and final practice session of the weekend but was stopped 25 minutes early when Carlos Sainz had a huge crash. The Toro Rosso got stuck nose first in the barriers and he was extracted by medics while marshals helped move pieces of the barrier. He gave a thumbs up to signal that he was OK and conscious while he was taken into an ambulance on a stretcher. He was brought to the medical center at the track before being further taken to a local Hospital. Sainz has since been released and hopes to race. We're glad to hear that he is uninjured. He will have to undergo and FIA medical test before the race in order to be cleared to participate.

    As for the times, Mercedes were at the top this time around, however it wasn't a 1-2. Valtteri Bottas grabbed second place in the session, while Rosberg finished first and Hamilton third. Force India also did a good job with both their drivers in the top 10 and Jenson Button ending in 7th with a seemingly improved McLaren.

Here are the times

TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:38.561 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Valtteri Bottas - 1:39.287 / Williams-Mercedes
3. Lewis Hamilton - 1:39.363 / Mercedes-Mercedes
4. Sergio Perez - 1:39.616 / Force India-Mercedes
5. Felipe Massa - 1:39.875 / Williams-Mercedes
6. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:39.917 / Force India-Mercedes
7. Jenson Button - 1:40.581 / McLaren-Honda
8. Pastor Maldonado - 1:40.767 / Lotus-Mercedes
9. Fernando Alonso - 1:41.200 / McLaren-Honda
10. Felipe Nasr - 1:41.229 / Sauber-Ferrari
11. Daniil Kvyat - 1:41.358 / Red Bull-Renault
12. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:42.297 / Ferrari-Ferrari
13. Romain Grosjean - 1:42.371 / Lotus-Mercedes
14. Marcus Ericsson - 1:42.450 / Sauber-Ferrari
15. Carlos Sainz - 1:42.683 / Toro Rosso-Renault
16. Sebastian Vettel - 1:42.686 / Ferrari-Ferrari
17. Max Verstappen - 1:43.089 / Toro Rosso-Renault
18. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:43.347 / Red Bull-Renault
19. Roberto Merhi - 1:46.767 / Manor-Ferrari
20. Will Stevens - 1:47.249 / Manor-Ferrari

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

The second practice session was limited as the rain poured down onto the circuit, making it impossible to go out safely. Only 8 drivers managed to set a time, while the rest opted to just sit this session out.
   
Here are the times from the session.

TIMES:

1. Felipe Massa - 2:00.458 / Williams-Mercedes
2. Sebastian Vettel - 2:00.659 / Ferrari-Ferrari
3. Valtteri Bottas - 2:00.688 / Williams-Mercedes
4. Max Verstappen - 2:00.806 / Toro Rosso-Renault
5. Fernando Alonso - 2:01.077 / McLaren-Honda
6. Daniil Kvyat - 2:01.418 / Red Bull-Renault
7. Carlos Sainz - 2:02.805 / Toro Rosso-Renault
8. Jenson Button - 2:02.845 / McLaren-Honda
9. Nico Rosberg - No Time Set / Mercedes-Mercedes
10. Marcus Ericsson - No Time Set / Sauber-Ferrari
11. Lewis Hamilton - No Time Set / Mercedes-Mercedes
12. Sergio Perez - No Time Set / Force India-Mercedes
13. Nico Hulkenberg - No Time Set / Force India-Mercedes
14. Daniel Ricciardo - No Time Set / Red Bull-Renault
15. Kimi Raikkonen - No Time Set / Ferrari-Ferrari
16. Romain Grosjean - No Time Set / Lotus-Mercedes
17. Felipe Nasr - No Time Set / Sauber-Ferrari
18. Pastor Maldonado - No Time Set / Lotus-Mercedes
19. Will Stevens - No Time Set / Manor-Ferrari
20. Roberto Merhi - No Time Set / Manor-Ferrari

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

The first practice session of the Russian GP was off to a not-so-great start due to a huge oil spill on the circuit from a sweeping truck. It delayed the session for 30 minutes and the session itself was not extended, making running time only an hour long. Bad news for the drivers as they also knew rain would be coming around FP2.

    Jolyon Palmer was in this session in place of Romain Grosjean & rumour has it that Palmer is in the running for the second Lotus seat, however, Lotus is staying hush about who will pair Pastor Maldonado in the 2016 season. Also back in a car this weekend is Roberto Merhi, while Alexander Rossi does his GP2 duties. Rossi will be back for Mexico, Austin & Brazil, while Merhi will finish of the season in Abu Dhabi.

    It was a good day for Sahara Force India with Nico Hulkenberg setting the fastest time & Team-mate, Sergio Perez, ending the session in 4th. The updates to their cars are proving good and the drivers seem to agree the cars are running much better than in the beginning of the season.

    However, the rain came early and times were not as fast as they could be in dry weather. Running was fairly limited, but everyone managed to set a time and gather up some data for the teams.

Here are the times from the session

TIMES:

1. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:44.355 / Force India-Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg - 1:44.407 / Mercedes-Mercedes
3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:44.986 / Ferrari-Ferrari
4. Sergio Perez - 1:45.146 / Force India-Mercedes
5. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:45.233 / Red Bull-Renault
6. Carlos Sainz - 1:45.488 / Toro Rosso-Renault
7. Lewis Hamilton - 1:45.691 / Mercedes-Mercedes
8. Valtteri Bottas - 1:45.746 / Williams-Mercedes
9. Max Verstappen - 1:46.203 / Toro Rosso-Renault
10. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:46.215 / Ferrari-Ferrari
11. Jenson Button - 1:46.231 / McLaren-Honda
12. Felipe Massa - 1:46.333 / Williams-Mercedes
13. Felipe Nasr - 1:46.747 / Sauber-Ferrari
14. Fernando Alonso - 1:47.443 / McLaren-Honda
15. Pastor Maldonado - 1:48.006 / Lotus-Mercedes
16. Daniil Kvyat - 1:48.096 / Red Bull-Renault
17. Jolyon Palmer* - 1:49.094 / Lotus-Mercedes
18. Roberto Merhi - 1:52.994 / Manor-Ferrari
19. Marcus Ericsson - 1:54.272 / Sauber-Ferrari
20. Will Stevens - 1:58.254 / Manor-Ferrari

* - Only driving in this session.

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Russian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

Preview Quotes - Manor/Marussia

Will Stevens - “I’m really looking forward to the challenge of Sochi. I was here last year in my role as Reserve Driver, so I walked the track and observed the task of getting to grips with it from afar. It’s quite useful having two different drivers as a benchmark this past few races, and of course it is Roberto back in the other seat for this race, rather than Alex. This is a really technical track and I can’t wait to get my first experience of it on Friday.”

Roberto Merhi - “I can’t wait to be back in the car in Sochi this weekend. It’s the first time I have raced here, but last year I took part in the FP1 session, so I have some understanding of the circuit characteristics and this will be helpful for me after a couple of races out of the car. I’ve continued to work very closely with the team during track sessions and engineering meetings, so I have a very good appreciation of the work we have completed and I’m eager to get stuck into the programme and to make the most of my two races, in Sochi and Abu Dhabi.”

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Russian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso


Max Verstappen - "Sochi looks like an interesting track. It should suit our car well so hopefully we can have another strong weekend. I've never raced there, but we've done some good work on the sim so I'm familiar with the track. I look forward to driving there in real life, it seems like a circuit where there's room for overtaking and hopefully this time I won't have to start from the back again! I raced in Moscow last year in Formula 3 and ended up on the podium twice that weekend, so I have good memories - but we need to practice our Russian a bit more before we arrive!"

Carlos Sainz - "I also like the idea of racing around the Olympic Park, it's something unusual. I always follow the Olympics! I also raced there last year during my Formula Renault 3.5 season. It should be a good weekend for us and hopefully we can continue to fight for points. We need to catch Lotus and overtake them in the championship!"

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Russian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes - Sauber


Marcus Ericsson - "Last season the Russian Grand Prix was my last race both with Caterham and for the year. Qualifying wasn't so bad, and then I also had a decent race. So I have good memories of this track. Hopefully the second Russian race will be a positive weekend for me with the Sauber C34-Ferrari. But we have to work hard to optimise our updates that we have brought to Singapore, and try to make them work even better. And, of course, our aim is to score points again."

Felipe Nasr - "The track in Sochi is again another circuit on which I will drive my first laps in a Formula One car. But I know it from last year's GP2 races. I have quite good memories from this weekend after finishing one of the races on the podium. The circuit itself is a bit of a mix between a permanent and a street track. It is impressive that it has been built in the centre of the Olympic Park, which makes it an interesting environment. The circuit itself consists mainly of low and medium-speed corners. Therefore, braking stability as well as traction is very important. During the weekend we will continue to work on evaluating our aero package."

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