Halo Confirmed For 2017

HALO CONFIRMED FOR 2017

Formula One bosses have confirmed a modified version of the halo head protection device will be run from 2017. The device, which has divided opinions in the paddock, is thought to be the more developed of the two options available at the moment.

    The modified design is expected to be a more elegant design than the one tested by Ferrari already, made of titanium with a smaller central hub. The new design will be tested in June ahead of the planned final agreement in July. Few problems are expected.

    The halo concept was chosen over Red Bull’s aero screen, but work will continue on the second concept with the possibility of introducing it in 2018. The aero screen was unexpectedly poor in the most recent tests, and is yet to go through the free head space test that the halo has already passed.

    Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley believes 2017 is too early to bring in the design, though, saying the halo needs to be fully evaluated before rushing into the decision.

“In my view it’s much better that you do the full evaluation and then come in with a solution that you’re completely satisfied with,” Fernley told Autosport.

“There are gaps. Gaps that springs go through, or manhole covers. So why are you sure that that is the right solution?

“We could bring it in for ’18, having done a full evaluation of the process and that would still meet all the needs of the safety requirement.”

Others, including Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg, have backed the FIA’s decision.

“We had another event on Thursday with the drain, and the halo can help in such instances I would expect, so we have another example where it could be very beneficial,” Rosberg told Autosport.

    There’s still an official legislative procedure the halo has to go through before it’s formally adopted, but the FIA can push it through on legal grounds.

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Monaco GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

MONACO GRAND PRIX - RACE

Lewis Hamilton took his first race win of 2016 in a wet Monaco race. The Brit, who started the race in third, held off challenges from pole sitter Daniel Ricciardo to take victory on the streets of Monte Carlo.

    Rain in the morning and at the start of the race forced a safety car start, taking away any advantage or disadvantage Ricciardo may have had after qualifying on harder compound tyres.

    It did come to the advantage of Max Verstappen and Felipe Nasr, though, who started from the pit lane after a collision (Verstappen) and engine failure (Nasr) took them out of qualifying.

    Seven laps in and the safety car returned to the pits, only for Jolyon Palmer to bring out the virtual safety car later that lap after flying into the barriers.

    Green flags signalled for Ricciardo to pull away whilst Nico Rosberg behind him struggled to keep his team mate behind him.

    Further back, there was another retirement in the making as Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen hit the wall and pulled his front wing underneath him. The Finn tried to continue, after managing to disrupt both Felipe Massa and Romain Grosjean, but was forced to retire.

    The call came through to Rosberg to let his team mate past as the gap to Ricciardo grew to over ten seconds. Hamilton was allowed past and the Brit immediately set the fastest lap of the race, catching the pole sitter.

    After winning the Spanish grand prix, last wasn’t where Verstappen wanted to be. The teenager was slicing his way up through the field, already in the top ten twenty four laps in.

    The lap before, race leader Ricciardo made the switch from wet to intermediate tyres. Mercedes, after already pitting Rosberg, looked like they were going to follow Ricciardo’s lead with Hamilton, but the champion stayed out, inheriting the race lead.

    Ricciardo was flying on the new tyres, though, quickly catching up with Hamilton and his overheating tyres. The track was drying and, just seven laps after Ricciardo pitted for intermediates, the first driver – Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson – pitted for slick tyres.

    Hamilton skipped the intermediates, pitting for ultra-soft tyres thirty two laps into the race. Ricciardo followed him in but miscommunication between the pit wall and the mechanics meant there was no tyres ready for the Australian.

    Ricciardo returned to the track just behind Hamilton on super soft tyres and immediately set about taking back the race lead.

    The battle was paused briefly when Verstappen found himself in the barriers for the second time in as many days but the battle was back on as soon as the green flags returned.

    Ricciardo was desperate to get past Hamilton, pulling up to the side of him only for Hamilton to close the door and almost push the Red Bull into the wall. Whilst the Australian was clearly unhappy on the radio, there was no further action for the incident.

    Riccardo continued to keep Hamilton under pressure whilst, behind them, Fernando Alonso was under pressure from the championship leader. After starting on the front row of the grid, Rosberg was down in sixth, struggling to get past a slow Alonso whilst Nico Hülkenberg and Carlos Sainz caught up with them.

    At the back of the field, there was more drama. Sauber were running in the last but one and last but two positions, Ericsson behind Felipe Nasr after struggling to switch his tyres on. Nasr was given the call to allow his team mate past, but chose to ignore it given that he felt he could fight the cars ahead.

    Ericsson took matters into his own hands and attempted a risky move on Nasr that ended with the two of them colliding. The damage to the race was only a brief virtual safety car to clear up debris but both Sauber cars pitted to retire soon after.

    Fifty nine laps into the race, Rosberg finally managed to get past the McLaren, only to run across the chicane and have to give the place back. A lock up from the German allowed Hülkenberg to creep closer but he stayed behind the Mercedes.

    Up at the front, the gap between Hamilton and Ricciardo shortened and grew every lap, with Ricciardo locking up every time he was just close enough to Hamilton.

    As the rain began to speckle the streets of Monte Carlo once again, Ricciardo had to let go, Hamilton taking the race win. An almost anonymous drive for Perez put him on the third step of the podium whilst Vettel just missed out on the Champagne in fourth.

    The race was still on behind them. Alonso crossed the line in fifth whilst Hülkenberg tried a last minute attack, snatching sixth place from Rosberg on the finish line.

    Sainz, Jenson Button, and Felipe Massa completed the top ten.

RESULTS:

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 25 Points
2. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Australia / + 18 Points
3. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 15 Points
4. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 12 Points
5. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain / + 10 Points
6. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / + 8 Points
7. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / + 6 Points
8. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Spain / + 4 Points
9. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain / + 2 Points
10. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / + 1 Point
11. Esteban Gutierrez / Haas-Ferrari / Mexico
12. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland*
13. Romain Grosjean / Haas-Ferrari / France
14. Pascal Wehrlein / Manor-Mercedes / Germany**
15. Rio Haryanto / Manor-Mercedes / Indonesia

RETIRED -  Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden / Collision Damage
RETIRED – Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil / Collision Damage
RETIRED - Max Verstappen / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Netherlands / Crash
RETIRED - Kevin Magnussen / Renault-Renault / Denmark / Collision Damage
RETIRED - Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Russia / Collision Damage
RETIRED -  Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / Crash
RETIRED - Jolyon Palmer / Renault-Renault / Great Britain / Crash

* - Bottas originally finished 11th but received a 10-Second-Time-Penalty after causing a collision with Gutierrez
** - Wehrlein received two separate 10-Second-Time-Penalties after ignoring blue flags during the race and also failing to stay above the minimum speed under the safety car.

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Monaco GP: Qualifying - Re-Cap & Results

MONACO GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING

It was a shocking crash for Spanish GP Winner, Max Verstappen, who will start the race from pit-lane after not setting a time and needing a chassis change. Felipe Nasr will also start from pit-lane after he had an engine failure in the opening minutes of Q1. The team had to change the cooling ducts and panels of the engine later on. Kimi Raikkonen has a 5-Place-Grid-Penalty due to a pre-qualifying gearbox change.

HOW IT WORKS:

Q1 = 18 minutes. All cars allowed to go out. At the end of the session, the six slowest are eliminated.

Q2 = 15 minutes. The remaining cars go out. At the end of the session, the six slowest are eliminated.

Q3 = 12 minutes. Final 10 cars go out. The final order at the end of the session is how the grid will line up. Fastest car starts from Pole Position.

GRID LINE-UP

1. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Australia

2. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany

3. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain

4. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany

5. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany

6. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Spain

7. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico

8. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Russia

9. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain

10. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland

11. Kimi Raikkonen* / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland

12. Esteban Gutierrez / Haas-Ferrari / Mexico

13. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

14. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil

15. Romain Grosjean / Haas-Ferrari / France

16. Kevin Magnussen / Renault-Renault / Denmark

17. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

18. Jolyon Palmer / Renault-Renault / Great Britain

19. Rio Haryanto / Manor-Mercedes / Indonesia

20. Pascal Wehrlein / Manor-Mercedes / Germany

PIT-LANE - Felipe Nasr** / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil / 

PIT-LANE - Max Verstappen*** / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Netherlands

* - Kimi Raikkonen received a 5-Place-Grid-Penalty for a Gearbox change

** - Felipe Nasr will start from Pit-Lane after an engine failure, resulting in the changing of cooling ducts and panels 

*** - Max Verstappen will start from Pit-Lane due to not setting a time in qualifying after crashing out. The crash resulted in him also needing a change of chassis.

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

MONACO GRAND PRIX - FREE PRACTICE #3

It was Sebastian Vettel who finished the last free practice session on top, followed by both Mercedes drivers. Hamilton in second and Rosberg in third. 

    A handful of drivers were caught having to use run-off areas due to lock-ups and over over-shooting the tight turns of the circuit. Luckily no major damage to any cars this time around. It was a clean session overall compared to the first two sessions where multiple cars had to be craned off of the track.

TIMES:

1. Sebastian Vettel - 1:14.650 / Ferrari-Ferrari

2. Lewis Hamilton - 1:14.668 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Nico Rosberg - 1:14.772 / Mercedes-Mercedes

4. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:14.807 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

5. Max Verstappen - 1:15.081 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

6. Daniil Kvyat - 1:15.259 / 1:15.259 / Force India-Mercedes

7. Carlos Sainz - 1:15.324 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

8. Sergio Perez - 1:15.368 / Force India-Mercedes

9. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:15.555 / Ferrari-Ferrari

10. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:15.666 / Force India-Mercedes

11. Felipe Massa - 1:16.068 / Williams-Mercedes

12. Fernando Alonso - 1:16.257 / McLaren-Honda

13. Jenson Button - 1:16.298 / McLaren-Honda

14. Valtteri Bottas - 1:16.347 / Williams-Mercedes

15. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:16.406 / Haas-Ferrari

16. Kevin Magnussen - 1:16.412 / Renault-Renault

17. Romain Grosjean - 1:16.527 / Haas-Ferrari

18. Felipe Nasr - 1:16.867 / Sauber-Ferrari

19. Marcus Ericsson - 1:17.038 / Sauber-Ferrari

20. Jolyon Palmer - 1:17.482 / Renault-Renault

21. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:17.595 / Manor-Mercedes

22. Rio Haryanto - 1:18.180 / Manor-Mercedes

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

MONACO GRAND PRIX - FREE PRACTICE #2

The second practice session saw more mishaps for a few unlucky drivers. Romain Grosjean was the first to lose control of his car, as he was exiting the famous tunnel. He had slight contact with the barriers and ended up with minor damage to his car.

    Sebastian Vettel was another victim of the tight corners of the circuit. He had 2 spins throughout the session and crashed, damaging his rear wing. He radioed his team and told them he had crashed and needed them to get a new wing ready. After that was situated, he was back out on track.

    Rio Haryanto had a pretty serious crash after exiting the tunnel. He lost control of the car and slammed into the barriers before he was able to brake and stop the car, luckily not hitting the chicane. Haryanto emerged from the car OK, but his session was over. Kevin Magnussen also crashed in the session. 

    A bit of a bad-luck situation in Hamilton's garage late in the session. The jack used to hold up the front of the car slipped and fell into the nose of the Mercedes, leaving quite a huge puncture in the body work. The team resorted to sticking some tape over it for the rest of the session. 

    It was neither of the Mercedes drivers who topped this session. It was Red Bull's, Daniel Ricciardo, who is eager to prove that he can win after watching his new 18-year-old-team-mate, Max Verstappen, get his first ever F1 win in Spain two weeks ago. 

TIMES:

1. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:14.607 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

2. Lewis Hamilton - 1:15.213 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Nico Rosberg - 1:15.506 / Mercedes-Mercedes

4. Max Verstappen - 1:15.571 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

5. Daniil Kvyat - 1:15.815 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

6. Carlos Sainz - 1:15.981 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

7. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:16.040 / Ferrari-Ferrari

8. Sergio Perez - 1:16.120 / Force India-Mercedes

9. Sebastian Vettel - 1:16.269 / Ferrari-Ferrari

10. Jenson Button - 1:16.325 / McLaren-Honda

11. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:16.487 / Force India-Mercedes

12. Fernando Alonso - 1:16.723 / McLaren-Honda

13. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:16.782 / Haas-Ferrari

14. Valtteri Bottas - 1:16.849 / Williams-Mercedes

15. Romain Grosjean - 1:16.874 / Haas-Ferrari

16. Felipe Massa - 1:17.286 / Williams-Mercedes

17. Kevin Magnussen - 1:17.530 / Renault-Renault

18. Marcus Ericsson - 1:17.562 / Sauber-Ferrari

19. Jolyon Palmer - 1:17.761 / Renault-Renault

20. Felipe Nasr - 1:17.999 / Sauber-Ferrari

21. Rio Haryanto - 1:18.647 / Manor-Mercedes

22. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:18.814 / Manor-Mercedes

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

MONACO GRAND PRIX - FREE PRACTICE #1

It was an eventful first practice session in the beautiful city of Monte Carlo. One of the main talking points has been the new Ultra-Soft compound tyres that are being used this weekend. The purple-banded tyres could apparently go up to 30 laps and the times being set on them are much faster than with the super-soft compound.

    Felipe Massa was the first car to have a slight mishap and end up crashing into the barriers. His crash happened at the Sainte Devote corner, an area where he crashed in 2013, when he was racing for Ferrari. Jolyon Palmer also crashed and his car had to be craned away, like Massa's. Felipe Nasr had a slight brush with the barriers as well, but avoided doing too much damage.

    Gutierrez had some car troubles when his Haas stopped on track under the bridge area. However, he still had a decent session, finishing with the 14th fastest time. Team-mate, Grosjean, finished in 12th.

    Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button both suffered car damage after Rosberg drove over a loose drain cover, which got sucked up under his car before ricocheting into Button's car, damaging his front wing. Rosberg ended up with a rear tyre puncture. No one was hurt but it was a dangerous and unfortunate incident. Despite the car damage, it was Mercedes who topped the time sheets in this session with Hamilton finishing in 1st and Rosberg in 2nd, while Sebastian Vettel rounded up the top three.

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:15.537 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Nico Rosberg - 1:15.638 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:15.956 / Ferrari-Ferrari

4. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:16.308 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

5. Max Verstappen - 1:16.371 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

6. Daniil Kvyat - 1:16.426 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

7. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:16.560 / Force India-Mercedes

8. Sergio Perez - 1:16.697 / Force India-Mercedes

9. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:16.912 / Ferrari-Ferrari

10. Carlos Sainz - 1:17.130 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

11. Valtteri Bottas - 1:17.562 / Williams-Mercedes

12. Romain Grosjean - 1:17.599 / Haas-Ferrari

13. Fernando Alonso - 1:17.838 / McLaren-Honda

14. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:17.909 / Haas-Ferrari

15. Jenson Button - 1:17.920 / McLaren-Honda

16. Felipe Nasr - 1:18.187 / Sauber-Ferrari

17. Kevin Magnussen - 1:18.274 / Renault-Renault

18. Marcus Ericsson - 1:18.301 / Sauber-Ferrari

19. Felipe Massa - 1:18.746 / Williams-Mercedes

20. Jolyon Palmer - 1:18.871 / Renault-Renault

21. Rio Haryanto - 1:20.528 / Manor-Mercedes

22. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:20.868 / Manor-Mercedes

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - MANOR RACING F1 TEAM

Pascal Wehrlein - “I can’t deny it - I’m super excited! It’s a race like no other and although they are all new to me in my debut season, it’s such a special feeling – and a privilege – to be competing here. I can’t describe the feeling of racing at this track but listening to others that have really gives me goose bumps. What I do know though is that it’s a race that demands every bit of focus and concentration from the driver. So although I’m itching to get in the car and go, I’m very aware that there’s a lot of preparation to be done between now and the race.”

It’s the first proper street circuit of the season and one of the most historic events on the calendar. I know I’m going to love it. It’s also going to be pretty busy off-track as we have a lot of partner guests and activities here. It will be a juggling act I think but I want to enjoy every second of my first Monaco Grand Prix.”

Rio Haryanto - “Lining up for my first Grand Prix in Melbourne was a pretty special feeling but I’m sure competing in my first Monaco Grand Prix will come very close. It’s a completely unique experience, which I know from racing here in GP2. I’ve actually been on the podium in Monaco after finishing in 3rd place in 2014 and the atmosphere and sense of occasion is incredible. Although we have slightly more realistic ambitions this weekend, everyone knows that this race creates opportunities like no other – particularly if it rains, which at the moment is the forecast for Sunday.”

(Driving at Monaco is) an incredible experience for a driver. The lap feels so quick and passes by in a flash but at the same time you’re captivated by mastering every single corner. It requires every bit of your full focus because it’s such an unforgiving track; the proximity of the barriers mean that one tiny mistake can be very costly. But it can also be very rewarding if you get it right.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SAUBER F1 TEAM

Marcus Ericsson - “Racing in Monte Carlo has a long tradition which makes it to one of the most remarkable races in the Formula One season. The track is a lot of fun to drive, but very challenging at the same time. Every little mistake can mean ending up in the barriers. It is all about very precise driving and having the confidence in the car to use every centimetre of the track. I cannot wait to race in Monte Carlo. I really enjoy the atmosphere around the circuit, which also makes it one of the highlights of the season.”

Felipe Nasr - “The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the best races on the calendar. The track on the narrow streets of Monte Carlo is a real challenge – for us drivers as well as for the car. There is a fine line between driving the perfect lap and pushing the car to the limit. I really like racing there as the atmosphere is also very special. Last year I had a great race during which I was able to score points by finishing in P9. I hope that we can have a positive weekend this year as well.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Haas

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - HAAS F1 TEAM

Romain Grosjean - “Monaco is special to me because it’s kind of my home race. We’re beside France and there’s always a lot of people, a lot of fans. It is, of course, special because of all the glamour because it is Monaco. Everyone knows Monaco and everyone wants to be in Monaco. It’s a very challenging track and a very long weekend with lots of demands, but at the end of the day it’s a very nice show.

It’s pretty difficult to race there. Every city racetrack is complicated. In Monaco, you can’t make any mistakes or you’re straight into the wall. It’s hard to find the right limit of the car. You always have to drive underneath (the limit), unless you’re in qualifying on a very fast lap. It’s very tight there, and it goes very fast between the walls. It’s a great challenge.

It’s almost impossible to pass in Monaco, unless you take big risks, and in that case you may spend some hours with the stewards afterward. Qualifying is the key. You really want to be on the front row. Once the race starts, you want a good start and try to hang in there. It’s one of those races where the chances to overtake are very low. Something really needs to happen for you to be able to come back if you’re racing at the back.

Yes, it’s a driver’s track, where you need to have confidence in your car. But, on the other hand, if your car doesn’t give you any grip, you won’t have any confidence, and you cannot make any difference. It’s just finding that very fine balance in between the car, the driver pushing it, and the fact that yes, once you’re very confident, you can actually make a bit of a difference.

It’s probably one of the most difficult races to win. Everything needs to be perfect, from the first free practice to the end of the race. You need a good pace in practice and, hopefully, get a top-three place in qualifying. After that you need a good start, a good strategy and a good run to the end. It’s very difficult to get that right.”

Esteban Gutierrez - “It’s simply the most iconic race on the calendar. There’s a lot of history. It’s very special to race in Monaco, in general. It’s a very cool place. It is one of the most demanding circuits, but it’s very special. It’s very important to keep your focus all weekend, which becomes a challenge, as you have many different distractions around. It’s a very intense event because it’s small, everything’s compressed. It’s the most difficult track to overtake. Turn one is an opportunity, and also going out of the tunnel when you brake for the low-speed chicane. Those two places are the most viable for overtaking.

The car never stops being a factor, but it is true that the driver can have a lot of influence because it’s a track that is very demanding. You can make a lot of difference with different driving styles, and by having the confidence in your car in order to push and get the maximum out of what you have. I love turn one, and also turns three and four up at the casino. That part is really special. I like the tunnel and the swimming pool complex, too.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - RED BULL RACING FORMULA 1 TEAM

Daniel Ricciardo - “Monaco is really cool, being able to stay at home makes you feel a bit more relaxed and normal, like watching TV before you go to bed and waking up and having my own breakfast. I remember in 2014 when I got the podium in Monaco I came back to my house with the trophy and champagne and sat there thinking I just had an F1 race an hour ago and now I’m sat in my house, this is weird. Then I had loads of Pizza.

I believe street circuits like Monaco bring out the best in a driver. Fans, commentators and ex-drivers can see who’s really on it and willing to push it to the limit. That’s what I like about street circuits. It’s visible to the spectators who is running the fine line between risk and reward.

So far this year we’ve had a win and a podium as a team and I think Monaco provides a great opportunity to add to that. I can’t wait to go there, it’s one of those races you don’t want to get too excited about. If you go to Monaco too excited it can turn around and bite you, so we have to play it cool but I think we have a good chance.

Monaco is great fun, I have always wanted to do the Energy Station on a Saturday night. It’s an awesome venue right on the water, it’s open air with the pool and they’ve got very good cocktails so that’s where I would go if I could. One day I will go back to Monaco as a spectator for a race weekend and do all the things I can’t do now.”

Max Verstappen - “I always enjoy racing street circuits like Monaco because you are really pushing the limit and are very close to the walls, it gives you a great feeling that you are on top of your car and getting the most out of it. It’s so difficult to overtake in Monaco, last year I tried and we ended up in the wall, so the most important thing is to have a good qualifying and start and from there on keep it on the track! Monaco is also special because the track is walking distance from where I live so that’s nice to feel like I’m home during the race weekend.

Naturally there is a lot more attention around driving the car but at the end the most important thing for the driver is just to focus on what you’re doing. My favourite part of the track is around the swimming pool section because it’s very fast, to go flat out through the first chicane on a street circuit is nice to do. Also riding the curbs in 15 and 16 feels great. My first win in Spain felt amazing, I still can’t believe it! It was a great weekend, a great result and we’ll see what happens in Monaco. The target first of all is just to stay out of the walls, and if you stay out of the walls we can be close or hopefully on the podium.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO F1 TEAM

Daniil Kvyat - “When I think of Monaco I always remember the first time I drove there in a Formula One car and went at full speed… The first lap was a bit scary, as it's so narrow! Racing in Monaco is therefore always a challenge as you are always very close to the walls, especially at Turn 4 and in the final sector, from Turn 13 to 19. I enjoy driving at Turns 3 and 4, they are nice and fast. Turn 6 is definitely the slowest corner on track and the braking when arriving at Turn 10 is always challenging. Turns 13 and 14 are the fastest and you need to be brave there! It's a very specific and special track, with such a big history, it always takes your breath away when you drive there. You constantly need to keep your concentration levels to the absolute limit, and this year will be no exception!”

Carlos Sainz - “Monaco is one of my favourite tracks because it's so special – not only for me, but for all drivers. It's such an exciting and challenging race weekend! Turn 1, especially at the start of the race, is very tight and only one car at a time can go through there, so it's easy to see massive traffic jams there if you start from the middle or back of the grid - sometimes you nearly need to stop the car at that first corner.

Turns 3 and 4 are probably the most glamorous corners of the championship, as we go past the casino and the Café de Paris. It's a very special feeling to drive through here the first time, as well as it being one of the most challenging parts of the track. Turns 5, 6, 7 and 8 I'd call the slow part of the track, with Turn 6 being the slowest of the whole season - it's done in first gear and full steering lock. Then it's flat out through the tunnel, even though it's always a challenge to go flat out during the first lap of the weekend in FP1… You always want to do it but then you end up doing a small lift just to be safe, waiting for your confidence to build up! Turn 10 is the bumpiest corner and braking of the calendar I'd say - you just need to check my onboard from last year's race with Ericsson to see what I mean! Turns 12, 13 and 14 are the fastest and nicest corners - this is my favourite part of the track and I can't wait to be racing there again this weekend!”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SAHARA FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM

Nico Hulkenberg - "Monaco is one of the best weeks of the year. The track, the location, the schedule - it has all the things that make Formula One such a great sport. This will be my sixth Monaco Grand Prix, but I will still feel a huge buzz when I walk into the paddock on Wednesday morning and see everything taking shape.

The challenge of the track is good fun and very demanding. You build your speed with each session and by the time you get to qualifying you need to be right at the limit. When you walk the track you can't believe that we actually race there because it's so narrow. You need to be incredibly precise because you can't afford even the smallest mistake. Mentally it's very tough because it's corner after corner and there's never a moment when you can relax - even for a second.

Monaco is one of my home races and I'm hoping that my luck will start to change this weekend. Sometimes you have a spell of unlucky races and there's nothing you can do about it - that's the way I look back on Russia and Spain. You have to put them out of your mind and move on. Monaco is a fresh start and I'm already smiling at the thought of driving around such a fantastic lap."

Sergio Perez - "Monaco is my favourite circuit of the year. It's very demanding, but it's also a track where the driver can make more of a difference. You need to be brave, push the limits and use every inch of the track - that's why it's so much fun in the car. I really enjoy the quicker parts of the lap - Casino and the Swimming Pool - where you need to be accurate and carry lots of speed.

When I was a child I always dreamed about racing in Monaco. I've had good memories there and some difficult days too. Scoring points last year was special and a very important result for the team. It's always a busy week on and off the track, but it's good fun because the fans can walk the track and get really close to us. It always gives me a lot of energy just being there and soaking up the atmosphere. I'm happy with my results in the last couple of races. We've improved the car and we are moving in a good direction. I think the next run of races will give us the chance to show our speed and continue picking up the points we need for the championship."

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Renault

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - RENAULT SPORT FORMULA 1 TEAM

Jolyon Palmer - “I love it! It’s tight and twisty and the barriers are so close meaning there’s no room for error. As a race track it’s the craziest one I’ve ever driven, not just because it’s a street course, it’s a street course like no other; it’s a proper road that’s used by the public every day and it wasn’t designed to be a race track, it’s very bumpy and it’s very easy to make a mistake and end up in the wall. It presents a really exacting challenge to deliver a fast lap time as you need to be practically brushing the walls everywhere. To put everything together and to win in Monaco is the biggest challenge in Formula One.

(You overtake) with a lot of commitment! It’s very difficult: firstly you need a good pace advantage on the guy in front, and preferably you want him to make a mistake! There are a couple of places: Ste Devote is one, and there’s a DRS zone there too, and then into the chicane is the most obvious opportunity. Everywhere around Monaco takes a lot of commitment. Any overtake attempt you make could end up in contact with your competitor or the wall so you really have to balance the risk and reward. You have to get your move right and hope the other guy sees you; even if you do everything right, if your rival doesn’t see you it’s likely there’ll be contact.

One (Monaco) race I remember really well from watching when I was young was when Olivier Panis won. I watched this as a little boy - at about five years old - and it was a crazy Grand Prix, seeing Panis win in a Ligier! It just shows what can be possible. It’s a difficult track to overtake but there have been so many legendary races there! I won twice in the GP2 Series in Monaco. My first win in GP2 was in Monaco in 2012 in the Sprint race where I nailed it off the start, took the lead at Ste Devote after a messy first corner then controlled it to the chequered flag. Then in 2014 it was pole, fastest lap and race win.”

Kevin Magnussen - “Monaco is always a nice experience, the circuit is awesome to drive and the event is one of the most spectacular of the season. There’s a great history of Formula One there and the whole experience is great. Of course you’re aware of all the parties going on but when you’re there to race that is where your focus is. You can’t go mad over a race weekend, you just have to go to bed and know that there’s plenty of opportunity to party other times when you’re not at a race. I’ll happily miss a great party if it means I get to race a Formula One car around Monaco.

My first experience of driving Monaco was in a World Series by Renault car and I was so excited. It’s just awesome - there’s no other word - as it amazes you how narrow it is and busy you are over the course of a lap. I felt like I knew it so well from watching Formula One on television so many times before driving it myself, but there’s nothing like driving Monaco. I’ve always been fast there but I haven’t had the results to show it. The best is yet to come.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING

Felipe Massa - "Monaco is like another home Grand Prix for me because I live there. I’m not from Monaco, but it’s definitely my town. I pass through the track most of the time when it’s just a road, and then suddenly everything changes and in just a few months it turns into a race track. It’s pretty amazing to see what they do there with the tight roads, and then we go racing there at 300kph. It’s always a very difficult race. It’s very easy to lose your concentration and hit the wall. It’s a very important race for us as drivers, but also for people to enjoy from their boats in the glamourous setting of Monaco. It’s always a really nice weekend for so many people and not just the drivers. I’m really looking forward to an amazing weekend, and some good racing at one of my home grands prix."

Valtteri Bottas - "Monaco is a unique Grand Prix and really challenging as a track for the drivers, especially mentally, as you have to keep focussed for the whole race distance and a good qualifying lap is crucial. It’s a nice feeling when you do a neat lap there. It’s a very busy week – it starts one day earlier than normal, because practice is on Thursday. Normally there are plenty of partners who come to Monaco for lots of events, so it’s probably the busiest race weekend off the track for me as a driver. It’s a big challenge. I’m still missing my first points in Monaco, so I’m looking forward to being able to achieve that. It’s kind of like a home race as well, as I live there. It’s nice being able to either walk or scooter to the paddock!"

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - McLAREN HONDA FORMULA 1 TEAM

Fernando Alonso - “Monaco is such a special place. I don’t think there are many drivers in the world that can say they don’t like racing there. Because it’s so narrow, and overtaking is almost impossible, it can be incredibly frustrating, but the feeling when you put together the perfect lap, or manage an overtaking manoeuvre, is all the more satisfying.

It’s a real challenge to get the set-up right for Monaco because of its unique characteristics, but often we see some unpredictable racing there because the nature of it tends to shuffle the pack up. I’m optimistic that we can dial-in our car to suit the track because we have a very well-balanced chassis, so it will be interesting to see how we measure up when the circuit’s characteristics are more likely to play to our strengths.

The most obvious characteristic of the Monaco circuit is that qualifying is probably more important there than at any other track. Getting through to Q3 in Barcelona for the first time since the McLaren-Honda partnership was reunited was definitely a boost for the team, so our aim, of course, will be to replicate that to give ourselves the best possible chance in Monaco.

Monaco is a very demanding race, so reliability and strategy will be key in order to maximise the potential in our chassis and power unit at this circuit. After a disappointing result in the race in Spain, I’m pleased to see that our work completed at the test was encouraging, so I hope that can translate to a positive performance for the whole team next weekend. It’s definitely one of the best races of the year.”

Jenson Button - “I love this track - although we are now seeing more street circuits appearing on the Formula One calendar, Monaco is like no other in the world. It requires a completely unique set-up - more traction, high down force, more steering angle, softer suspension - and the feeling you get driving around there is among the best you experience as a driver.

It’s not a fast circuit, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel it. The barriers are so close you feel like you can reach out and touch them, and you need absolute 100 percent focus and concentration to get the most out of each lap, every lap - or pay serious consequences. One small mistake and you’ll definitely be punished, which is what makes it such a great driver’s track. It’s a real test, and one we look forward to taking every year we go back there.

The feeling at Monaco is completely unique. I’ve definitely adopted it as another home race after Silverstone, and after all these years it still does feel pretty surreal driving around your back yard, although while the Grand Prix is in town the place takes on a whole new atmosphere. Despite its long history, it’s still got the glamour, the excitement, the beautiful backdrop, and always produces something unexpected.

I’ve had a bit of bad luck over the last few races, so coming home with two points in Barcelona was definitely a positive on my side of the garage. Monaco is a completely different ball game, but one where the strengths of our car should shine through a bit more than in Spain if we hook up all of the elements, so I’m excited to see what we can do there. There are so many variables to come together, so it won’t be easy, but our testing programme last week went well so I’m hopeful we can put a lot of that learning into practice come Thursday in Monaco.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS FORMULA 1 TEAM

Lewis Hamilton - “Barcelona was the worst feeling but, like I always say, the true test is how you get back up when you've been knocked down. It was a tough moment for all of us after the race but it's now chapter closed and looking ahead to Monaco. It's an incredible feeling making a car dance through those streets, one of the purest thrills you can have in a racing car. I've not had the best run of results in Monaco in recent years - but last year showed I have the pace to do the job. It's always a different weekend to the rest, with the extra day, the boats in the harbour and sleeping at home; that makes it fun because the whole rhythm is something else to the rest of the season. I'm approaching this weekend with only one result in mind.”

Nico Rosberg - “I was gutted after what happened in Spain - for myself, but mostly for the team. We're in this together and I know how hard everybody works to make these amazing cars, so for us to leave them both in the gravel is the worst possible scenario. But we've talked it through and now it's time to leave it in the past. It's one of my home races next in Monaco - the ultimate driver's track. It's where I grew up and where I still live today, so that always makes it a special weekend. I have memories from every corner going right back to my school days and I always have great support there from my family, my friends and the fans, which gives you that extra boost through the weekend. It's been amazing to win there for the past three years - but I know it will be tough to repeat that with Lewis, the Ferraris and the Red Bulls all so strong now. I'm feeling confident, so bring on the battle!”

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Monaco GP: Circuit Preview

MONACO GRAND PRIX 2016 - CIRCUIT PREVIEW & 2015 STATS

Name: Circuit de Monaco

Location: Monte Carlo, Monaco

Opened: 1929

Length: 2.074 Miles

Capacity: 37,000

Runs: Clockwise

Turns: 19

Race Laps: 78

2016 STATS

Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton

1st Place: Nico Rosberg

2nd Place: Sebastian Vettel

3rd Place: Lewis Hamilton

Retirements: Pastor Maldonado (Brakes), Fernando Alonso (Gearbox) & Max Verstappen (Collision)

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Monaco GP: Track Schedule

MONACO GRAND PRIX 2016 - TRACK SCHEDULE

May 25th / Wednesday

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

May 26th / Thursday

10:00 - 11:30 - Free Practice #1

14:00 - 15:30 - Free Practice #2

16:00 - 17:00 - Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

May 28th / Saturday

08:00 - 08:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

08:00 - 08:45 - Team Pit-Stop Practice

11:00 - 12:00 - Free Practice #3

12:10 - 13:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

14:00 - 15:00 - Qualifying

May 29th / Sunday

08:00 - 09:00 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

11:45 - 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 

(Times subject to change)

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Head Protection Design To Be Chosen

Head Protection Concepts in F1

So, will it be Ferrari’s “Halo” or Red Bull’s "Aeroscreen" that will be protecting drivers in the future? The debate over cockpit protection in Formula One has raised a lot of questions, but one of the most important of them, which concept will be introduced in 2017, will be answered by July 1st.

Formula One bosses have set the deadline for the cockpit protection concept for the first of July.

Charlie Whiting told Autosport that the plan is to have everything sorted “to the point that the teams can design their chassis” by July 1st. The changes to the 2017 aerodynamic regulations mean the decision will have a huge influence on what the car looks like.

“It would be unreasonable if we didn’t have a clear path by that time,” Whiting told Autosport.

“It’s only a small part of the chassis and it’s not going to affect things like fuel volume and those big things but it’s still part of a complex design process.

“There are different load cases for each deign because the halo has a central mounting and the aeroscreen has two sides on the side and nothing in the middle.”

Only one of the two proposed designs will be implemented and, in the case of the aeroscreen screen, it will be made by one company, so every team will receive the exact same screen.

“Most teams would like to have a single design, whether that is a single source supply or whether it is a design like side impact structures, where the design and lay up are all part of the technical regulations and the teams make their own to that precise design.”

There are still tests for the cockpit protection device, including the “free head volume” which will test how much space the driver has to move his head without hitting the device.

It’s expected we’ll see Red Bull continue to test the aeroscreen in practice at in Spain and Monaco, and Ferrari and Mercedes are free to further test the halo if they request to do so.

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In-Season Test 1 - (Barcelona) Day 2 / Re-Cap & Times

IN-SEASON TEST 1 / DAY 2 / RE-CAP & TIMES

Max Verstappen celebrated his first ever grand prix win by topping the timing sheets in the second day of in-season testing at Barcelona. The Red Bull newbie set more than 100 laps with the B-spec power unit, but had already set the fastest time of the day in the morning session.

    On both Tuesday and Wednesday, Renault have been testing the B-spec power unit, looking to see what the upgrade can do ahead of a possible introduction in Monaco. Judging by Versappen’s times, the implementation could cause a few worried thoughts in the Ferrari camp, with Verstappen’s Wednesday time just 0.047 seconds off of Vettel’s best time from Tuesday

    Behind Verstappen was another young face, with Stoffel Vandoorne ending the second day of testing just 0.739 seconds behind the teenager. Vandoorne set the time on the supersoft tyre, with McLaren focusing on tyre preparation during the morning session. The test driver also commented on the improved down force of the McLaren car, which he drove in Bahrain after Fernando Alonso’s collision in Australia.

    Mercedes made a late change in their driver line-up, with Manor driver Pascal Wehrlein taking the Mercedes for a spin in the second day of testing. The German set the third fastest time of the day, 0.878 seconds slower than Vandoorne. The switch may be more than meets the eye to the Mercedes fans/conspiracy theorists, as the switch means Lewis Hamilton most likely will not test for the team this season.

    It was a used ultrasoft tyre that Esteban Gutierrez used to set his fastest time, which put him fourth quickest, 0.128 seconds ahead of Antonio Fuoco, who was in the Ferrari car. The Italian was using medium tyres for most of the day, setting his fastest time late on the day when he switched to the soft compound.

    After rejoining the team before the Spanish grand prix, Russian Daniil Kvyat would have wanted as much time in the possible to get used to the Toro Rosso. Kvyat set over a hundred laps, but his day was interrupted when he brought out the red flags after stopping late in the afternoon.

    Alfonso Celis Junior in the Force India and Kevin Magnussen in the Renault were seventh and eighth on the timing sheet. After recent complaints about the Renault, Magnussen noted the improved drivability of the car, which is also carrying the B-spec power unit. The Dane said he would be happy to run it in Monaco, if the team believes it is ready.

    Felipe Massa and Jordan King rounded off the timings, with Massa running the experimental double wing in the afternoon. The wing wouldn’t be race legal, but allows the team to analyse aero balance.

 TIMES:

 1. Max Verstappen - 1:23.267 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Netherlands
2. Stoffel Vandoorne - 1:24.006 / McLaren-Honda / Belgium
3. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:24.145 / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany
4. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:24.592 / Haas-Ferrari / Mexico
5. Antonio Fuoco - 1:24.720 / Ferrari-Ferrari / Italy
6. Daniil Kvyat - 1:24.737 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari /Russia
7. Alfonso Celis - 1:25.016 / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico
8. Kevin Magnussen - 1:25.133 / Renault-Renault / Denmark
9. Felipe Massa - 1:27.167 / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil
10. Jordan King - 1:27.615 / Manor-Mercedes / Great Britain

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In-Season Test 1 - (Barcelona) Day 2 / Line-Up

IN-SEASON TESTING / DAY 2 / LINE-UP

Mercedes-Mercedes: Pascal Wehrlein

Ferrari-Ferrari: Antonio Fuoco

Red Bull-TAG-HEUER: Max Verstappen

Williams-Mercedes: Felipe Massa

Force India-Mercedes: Alfonso Celis Jr.

Toro Rosso-Ferrari: Daniil Kvyat

McLaren-Honda: Stoffel Vandoorne

Renault-Renault: Kevin Magnussen

Manor-Mercedes: Jordan King

Haas-Ferrari: Esteban Gutierrez

Sauber **

** - Sauber has opted to sit out the first test

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In-Season Test 1 - (Barcelona) Day 1 / Re-Cap & Times

IN-SEASON TESTING / DAY 1 / RE-CAP & TIMES

While Sauber opted not to attend testing for multiple reasons, the rest of the 10 teams stuck around for the first in-season test of the year. Not all teams chose to run a current driver in their line up. For example, Williams did not use Massa or Bottas for day 1 but instead went with Alex Lynn, who is not a main driver but a reserve/test driver for their team for this season.

    Williams not only used a different driver, but showed off a retro-style double decker back wing. The wing is illegal currently to race with, but they were allowed to run it in testing. It was definitely a talking point around the track and on social media.

    Pierre Gasly, former Formula Renault 3.5 driver & Current GP2 driver for the Prema Racing team, got to drive for Toro Rosso for the day and had a pretty good session until electronics issues cut his running short. Gasly however, finished the session overall in 7th.

    Ferrari was at the top of the time-sheets, with Sebastian Vettel behind the wheel. His fastest time of the day was a 1:23.220. Mercedes was close behind though, while Button in the McLaren rounded up the top three. 

TIMES:

1. Sebastian Vettel - 1:23.220 / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany

2. Nico Rosberg - 1:23.337 / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany

3. Jenson Button - 1:23.753 / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

4. Romain Grosjean - 1:23.882 / Haas-Ferrari / France

5. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:24.297 / Manor-Mercedes / Germany

6. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:24.307 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Australia

7. Pierre Gasly - 1:24.821 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / France

8. Alfonso Celis - 1:25.467 / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico

9. Alex Lynn - 1:26.071 / Williams-Mercedes / Great Britain

10. Esteban Ocon - 1:26.530 / Renault-Renault / France

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In-Season Test 1 - (Barcelona) Day 1 / Line-Up

IN-SEASON TESTING / DAY 1 / LINE-UP

Mercedes-Mercedes: Nico Rosberg

Ferrari-Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel

Red Bull-TAG-HEUER: Daniel Ricciardo

Williams-Mercedes: Alex Lynn

Force India-Mercedes: Alfonso Celis Jr.

Toro Rosso-Ferrari: Pierre Gasly

McLaren-Honda: Jenson Button

Renault-Renault: Esteban Ocon

Manor-Mercedes: Pascal Wehrlein

Haas-Ferrari: Romain Grosjean

Sauber: **

** - Sauber has opted to sit out the first in-season test as they do not have any upgrades

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Spanish GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

SPANISH GRAND PRIX - RACE

It was a first lap shocker for everyone watching when Lewis Hamilton ran through the grass and spun out before hitting Rosberg's car in the process, taking them both out of the race before they could even fully get around the track once. Both drivers were angry and disappointed as it meant nothing good for the team. Nico Rosberg's winning streak was also over. Lots of drama followed, with multiple people pointing the blame at either driver. Some said Hamilton was making an illegal move on Rosberg, while some say Rosberg shoved Hamilton into the grass

    With both Mercedes drivers out, it was both Ferraris and Red Bulls taking to the front of the leading pack, with Williams and Force India close behind, along with Sainz in the Toro Rosso. Max Verstappen was quick to battle to get past both Raikkonn and Vettel but Daniel Ricciardo was the one leading the race.

    Force India, who have recently installed multiple upgrades to their cars, were looking to have a promising race, but it was over fairly quickly for Nico Hulkenberg. An oil leak saw him retire from the race. Hulkenberg also retired on Lap 1 of the Russian grand prix after a collision involving Gutierrez and Haryanto. 

    Fernando Alonso and Romain Grosjean were the last two retirements of the race. It wasn't the way Alonso wanted his home race to go. But a software issue shut his engine down and he could no longer race. Grosjean retired with a brake issue, following a nasty trip through the gravel.

    With a little over 20 laps to go, it was Max Verstappen leading the race, with Kimi Raikkonen close behind. A little further back, Sebastian Vettel was battling his old team-mate, Ricciardo. With every lap, Raikkonen tried hard to close the gap to Verstappen and was even coming close enough to try and pass, but it didn't seem to be going in Raikkonen's favour. 

    In the end, it was a shocking and remarkable 1st win for 18-year-old, Max Verstappen. Not only was it his first weekend with Red Bull, and his first podium finish, but he won his first Grand Prix and also became the youngest F1 race winner in history, beating Vettel's previous record. Verstappen won at exactly 18 years and 227 days. Vettel had won at 21 years and 73 days. Kimi Raikkonen finished in second and Sebastian Vettel in third.

    Carlos Sainz finished his home-race in 6th, which not only is a great result for the Toro Rosso team, but also Sainz's best finish of his F1 career. New team-mate, Kvyat was able to grab the last point by passing Gutierrez in the final laps and finishing in 10th.

    Post-Race, it was deemed that what happened between Hamilton and Rosberg was a racing incident and no further action would be taken. However, a scuffle between Renault team-mates, Magnussen and Palmer during the race, which resulted in both cars touching, ended up with Magnussen getting a post-race penalty which demoted his finish to 15th and earned him 2 penalty points to his license. 

RESULTS: 

1. Max Verstappen / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Netherlands / + 25 Points

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

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

4. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Australia / + 12 Points

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

6. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Spain / + 8 Points

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

8. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / + 4 Points

9. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain / + 2 Points

10. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Russia / + 1 Points

11. Esteban Gutierrez / Haas-Ferrari / Mexico 

12. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

13. Jolyon Palmer / Renault-Renault / Great Britain

14. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

15. Kevin Magnussen* / Renault-Renault / Denmark

16. Pascal Wehrlein / Manor-Mercedes / Germany

17. Rio Haryanto / Manor-Mercedes / Indonesia

RETIRED - Romain Grosjean / Haas-Ferrari / France / Brakes

RETIRED - Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain / Software Issue

RETIRED - Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / Oil Leak

RETIRED - Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / Collision

RETIRED - Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / Collision

* - Magnussen demoted due to post-race penalty for causing a collision with Palmer

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Spanish GP: Qualifying - Re-Cap & Results

SPANISH GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING 

Lewis Hamilton grabs Pole Position this time around while Max Verstappen will start 4th in his debut race for Red Bull Racing. 

HOW IT WORKS:

Q1 = 18 minutes. All cars allowed to go out. At the end of the session, the six slowest are eliminated.

Q2 = 15 minutes. The remaining cars go out. At the end of the session, the six slowest are eliminated.

Q3 = 12 minutes. Final 10 cars go out. The final order at the end of the session is how the grid will line up. Fastest car starts from Pole Position.

GRID LINE-UP

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain

2. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany

3. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Australia

4. Max Verstappen / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Netherlands

5. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland

6. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany

7. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland

8. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Spain

9. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico

10. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain

11. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany

12. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

13. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Russia

14. Romain Grosjean / Haas-Ferrari / France

15. Kevin Magnussen / Renault-Renault / Denmark

16. Esteban Gutierrez / Haas-Ferrari / Mexico

17. Jolyon Palmer / Renault-Renault / Great Britain

18. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil

19. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

20. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

21. Pascal Wehrlein / Manor-Mercedes / Germany

22. Rio Haryanto / Manor-Mercedes / Indonesia 

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