Malaysian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING 

Valtteri Bottas - “Malaysia has changed places in the calendar so it’s going to be just as hot and humid as Singapore and another very physical race for the drivers. It has a nice mix of both high and low-speed corners. We normally score strong points at Sepang. Overall, it’s an enjoyable track to drive and I’m really looking forward to going back for another year.”

Felipe Massa - “Malaysia is another very difficult race in the calendar because of how hot and humid it is. It rains there almost every day, and when it rains it’s normally torrential so it covers the whole track. The race is just so dependent on the weather, but I really hope we can do well there and have a good result. I was sixth there last year, I hope this year I can perform even better!”

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Malaysian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SAHARA FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM

Nico Hulkenberg - "It feels strange to be going to Sepang at the end of the season, but it’s also a nice change to mix up the calendar. It's one of the hottest events of the year and the temperatures make it quite tough on tyre degradation. The tyres will be important here, managing them throughout the race is crucial and it’s an area we really concentrate on understanding with the engineers.

Coming after Singapore, I hope we will be a bit more acclimatised to the hot weather - it may even feel like a relief after the real oven of Marina Bay! I'd rank these two events as the toughest races of the season from a physical point of view - you really need to be at the peak of you fitness to do well here. Most of the races I remember in Malaysia have seen crazy weather conditions, in April, with monsoon rain, red flags and aquaplaning everywhere. I am quite curious to see how it will change now that the race is in October. It's a track where I have scored some good points and where I had a strong race in 2014, so I hope to go there and create some more special memories."

Sergio Perez - “Kuala Lumpur is a very interesting and busy city. There are many things to do and see so it’s always cool to be there. The weather usually plays a big role in the race and it will be interesting to see how this year’s changes to the calendar affect the weekend, with the race going from April to October. Sepang is usually a circuit where rain is a certainty rather than a possibility. It’s where I scored my first podium in Formula One, in 2012, thanks to making the most of the weather conditions. Being in a position to fight for the win came as a shock for me as we did not expect it, but the emotions of that day will stay with me forever.

It’s another physical race, with the heat and humidity. The track itself is very long and there are a several technical corners. There are long straights with big braking zones that require precision and the high temperatures take the life out of the tyres quickly, especially the rear ones. We have done well in similar hot conditions this season so hopefully we can be on the pace once again.”

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Malaysian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - McLAREN HONDA FORMULA 1 TEAM

Fernando Alonso - “The Malaysian Grand Prix is always a fun event and among the drivers’ favourites on the calendar. There’s great food, lively fans and good racing so I hope we can put up a strong fight there. I’ve won this race three times before so I have happy memories, and we’ll be aiming to continue the momentum from the past couple of races and get a strong result there again this year.

I’m looking forward to heading back to Malaysia after 18 months since the last race there. It’ll be interesting to see how the cars cope on the newly-resurfaced track, and I imagine the weather conditions will be different from our last visit. Still, we expect it to be a tough race in the heat and humidity, but there’s a good combination of slow and high-speed corners and fast straights, so it has a little bit of everything. It tests every part of the package, and the driver too, so hopefully there’ll be some close racing and an entertaining weekend for the fans.”

Jenson Button - “We always think of Singapore being tough because it’s the longest race of the year, but Malaysia will almost certainly be the hottest race on the calendar. Not only that, but the humidity is immense and the cockpit reaches very high temperatures. As drivers, we’re all well equipped for these conditions as part of our training, but it does take its toll by the end of the weekend. You definitely need to be in peak physical fitness to cope with the heat. I’m ready and excited to get out there and start my 300th Grand Prix, and hopefully have better luck than I did in Singapore.

Sepang is becoming a modern classic - although it’s a relatively new circuit, it’s one of those tracks that drivers enjoy going back to. The conditions are like nothing else we experience, the circuit is quite technical and fun to drive, and the atmosphere is always great. Although it’s traditionally seen as a high-speed circuit which isn’t usually something that our package favours, we do have a good car under braking which is necessary to handle the tight corners after the long, fast straights.”

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Malaysian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - RED BULL RACING FORMULA 1 TEAM

Max Verstappen - “Malaysia is very humid and very hot, a bit like Singapore. I like the Sepang circuit, it’s pretty cool. It has a nice combination of fast corners at Turn 5 and 6 and good overtaking opportunities at Turn 9. The weather can vary quite a bit as well. We can get some pretty big storms, but then the track can dry up very quickly because of the high temperature. Last year I did a bit of sightseeing while I was there, and Malaysia seems like a very beautiful country. I really enjoyed it.”

Daniel Ricciardo - “I like back to backs. Looking at Malaysia and Japan they are both very challenging circuits. Malaysia physically is a hot one. We usually go there at the beginning of the season so it is going to be interesting going there now with a lot more development on the car and seeing how it performs. I checked the weather and it seems pretty constant all year round so that shouldn’t change much, but Sepang has been resurfaced so that could be interesting for tyre life."

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Malaysian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS FORMULA 1 TEAM

Nico Rosberg - “Singapore was a perfect weekend for me. I felt great in the car, had a fantastic qualifying, made a strong start and then came out on top after a really intense battle with Daniel (Ricciardo) at the end of the race, which made the win all the more fulfilling. The team did such an impressive job understanding what went wrong last year and turning it around. I’m massively proud of everyone for that. It’s an incredible position to be in as a driver, knowing you have a shot at winning every weekend. I won’t take it for granted. I’ve had a good run lately and I’m enjoying the moment. But as far as the next race goes, or the next one after that and so on… it’s anyone’s game. Red Bull and Ferrari are both pushing us really hard, so there will be some tough weekends ahead. It’s exciting for the fans and pushes us even harder to keep improving, so that’s a great thing. Malaysia didn’t work out perfectly for us last year, so if we can win it this time against such tough opposition that would be really awesome. I can’t wait to see all the guys from Petronas who work so hard to give us that extra competitive advantage and hopefully give them something to cheer about at their home race.”

Lewis Hamilton - “Singapore was a difficult weekend for me, so to come away with a podium in the circumstances was pretty good damage limitation. Ultimately, Nico did an exceptional job and I didn’t have my best weekend. But that’s the way it goes. We’re both fiercely competitive. Some weekends he does great, some weekends I do great. It’s a combination of things that all come together to make a strong weekend and every one is different. I have no idea if the momentum will swing back to me or when it might. But we still have six races left, so I just have to keep giving it my all and hope for the best. That’s all you can do as a sportsman. It’s going to take some good results to get back in front and stay there - but I’ve had plenty of those in the past, so there’s no reason to think they won’t come back to me again. Sepang is my first shot at it and I’m really looking forward to getting out there. It’s a track I usually go pretty well at - plus we have some really fantastic support from the Malaysian people, including all the guys and girls from Petronas. It should be a great weekend, so if we can get a result to match that would be awesome. Let’s see how it goes."

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Malaysian GP: Circuit Preview

MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX 2016 - CIRCUIT PREVIEW & 2015 STATS

Name: Sepang International Circuit

Location: Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia

Opened: March 7th 1999

Length: 3.445 Miles

Capacity: 80,000

Runs: Clockwise

Turns: 15

Race Laps: 56

2015 STATS

Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton

1st Place: Sebastian Vettel

2nd Place: Lewis Hamilton

3rd Place: Nico Rosberg

Retirements: Will Stevens (Did Not Start - Fuel System), Marcus Ericsson (Spin), Fernando Alonso (Power Unit), Jenson Button (Turbo Failure) & Pastor Maldonado (Brake Failure)

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Malaysian GP: Track Schedule

MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX 2016 - TRACK SCHEDULE 

September 29th / Thursday

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

September 30th / Friday

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

12:30 - 13:40 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

14:00 - 15:30 - Free Practice #2
16:00 - 17:00 - Press Conference

October 1st / Saturday

13:00 - 13:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
14:00 - 15:30 - Free Practice #3
15:15 - 16:30 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
17:00 - 18:00 - Qualifying

October 2nd / Sunday

13:15 - 14:30 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk
13:30 - Drivers Track Parade
13:45 - 14:15 - Starting Grid Presentation
14:46 - National Anthem
15:00 - 17:00 - Race

(Times subject to change)

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Singapore GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - RACE

    Nico Rosberg took a well deserved victory at Singapore in what may be the most exciting race of the season. It’s rare in Formula One that there’s much of a battle at the front of the field, let alone one that lasts until the very last lap, but a mixed up strategy in the night race made for a battle that kept fans and team personnel alike on the edge of their seats.

    There’s always a safety car at Singapore. This one came right at the beginning of the race, after a collision between Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz.

    Fourth place started Max Verstappen had a slow start, falling back through the pack. Sainz, starting directly behind him, tried to avoid his ex-team mate, but tangled with Hulkenberg.

    The Toro Rosso driver was able to keep going, but was forced to pit a few laps after the green flags returned when the meatball flags were brought out for some damage to the front of his car.

    Verstappen’s slow start promoted Raikkonen to fourth but the Finn wasn’t going to stay there for long. Raikkonen caught up with Hamilton and was in DRS range within twenty six laps, but it took another seven or so laps to make the move.

    When he did, it was a clean overtake for the Ferrari driver. Hamilton locked up his front right tyre at turn seven, allowing Raikkonen to get closer. At turn ten, the Finn dived down the inside to pass Hamilton.

    Further back, there was a battle for the bottom spaces of the top ten. It was a battle of Red Bull past and (possibly) future, as Sebastian Vettel tried to get past Sainz. Vettel started from the very back of the grid, but was on a charge.

    Esteban Gutierrez was following behind Vettel, hoping to follow the Ferrari through when Vettel inevitably got past the Toro Rosso driver. The trio came three abreast for a number of corners, but Vettel eventually got through. Sainz defended heavily, managing to keep Gutierrez behind him.

    Back at the front of the pack, the leading four pitted and, despite Hamilton hoping the team could do something different to get him back ahead of Raikkonen, there was no change of order. The gaps between the top four rose and fell like a spring, but there was no movement.

    Mercedes told Hamilton to switch to plan B. The race was reignited.

    “We need to pull Raikkonen in,” Hamilton was told. The Brit responded by setting the fastest lap of the race at that point, a Singapore race lap record.

    Raikkonen was told to keep squeezing Ricciardo, who was happily running in second, whilst Hamilton caught up with him. With less than two seconds between Hamilton and Raikkonen, the Mercedes driver dived into the pit, losing time but no positions.

    Ferrari panicked. When Raikkonen asked his engineer if they were going to respond, the answer he got was “we’ll let you know”. They did, pitting Raikkonen to put faster tyres on his Ferrari, but he left the pits behind Mercedes. Plan B had worked.

    Ricciardo decided now was a good time for him to pit too. It was a free stop with Hamilton so far behind him. Mercedes almost fell for the same trick they’d pulled on Ferrari, telling Rosberg to pit, only ordering him to abort that moments later.

    Ricciardo was catching him though, taking three seconds out of Rosberg’s lead in the first lap out of the pits. The Australian was told he would catch Rosberg with four laps to go and, as the clock ticked down, Rosberg’s lead grew smaller and smaller.

   There weren’t enough laps though. With the backmarker traffic and Rosberg finding extra pace from his car, the race ended with Ricciardo right under the Mercedes rear wing.

    It was another win for Rosberg that puts him back in the lead of the championship.

    Elsewhere, Vettel recovered all the way to fifth and was followed over the line by a recovering Verstappen.

 RESULTS:

1. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / + 25 Points
2. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Australia / + 18 Points
3. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 15 Points
4. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 12 Points
5. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 10 Points
6. Max Verstappen / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Netherlands / + 8 Points
7. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain / + 6 Points
8. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 4 Points
9. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Russia / + 2 Points
10. Kevin Magnussen / Renault-Renault / Denmark / + 1 Point
11. Esteban Gutierrez / Haas-Ferrari / Mexico
12. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil
13. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil
14. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Spain
15. Jolyon Palmer / Renault-Renault / Great Britain
16. Pascal Wehrlein / Manor-Mercedes / Germany
17. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden
18. Esteban Ocon / Manor-Mercedes / France

RETIRED - Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain
RETIRED - Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland /
RETIRED - Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / Collision

DNS - Romain Grosjean / Haas-Ferrari / France

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Singapore GP: Qualifying - Re-Cap & Results

SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING 

    It's Nico Rosberg who will start from pole position for the Singapore GP, while Lewis Hamilton will start from 3rd. Daniel Ricciardo was able to set a time fast enough to start beside Rosberg, in 2nd.

    Sebastian Vettel was struck with mechanical issues and missed out on a fast lap in Q1 and will start all the way back in 22nd. Vettel has since then had his engine and gearbox replaced and was handed a 25-Place-Grid-Penalty but will still start from 22nd.

    Both Sergio Perez and Romain Grosjean have grid penalties as well. Grosjean's is due to a gearbox replacement. Perez was handed two separate penalties. The first was for failing to sufficiently slow under yellows after Grosjean had a minor crash and the second was for passing Gutierrez under yellows.

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. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany

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

3. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain

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

5. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland

6. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Spain

7. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Russia

8. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany

9. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain

10. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland

11. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil

12. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

13. Esteban Gutierrez / Haas-Ferrari / Mexico

14. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

15. Kevin Magnussen / Renault-Renault / Denmark

16. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

17. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico*

18. Jolyon Palmer / Renault-Renault / Great Britain

19. Romain Grosjean / Haas-Ferrari / France**

20. Pascal Wehrlein / Manor-Mercedes / Germany

21. Esteban Ocon / Manor-Mercedes / France

22. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany***

* - (Perez) 5-Place Grid Penalty for failing to slow sufficiently under yellows & 3-Place-Grid-Penalty for overtaking Gutierrez under yellows

** - (Grosjean) 5-Place-Grid-Penalty for gearbox change

*** (Vettel) - 25-Place-Grid-Penalty for engine change (20 Places) and gearbox change (5 Places) (Driver was starting 22nd before grid penalty was added)

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

SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - FREE PRACTICE #3

    Nico Rosberg topped the final practice session of the weekend and Hamilton found himself outside of the top 5 once again. Max Verstappen finished in 2nd with Raikkonen, Ricciardo and Vettel rounding up the top 5.

    Pascal Wehrlein had a minor crash during the session and was able to walk away, but he lost out on setting any more laps ahead of Qualifying. Felipe Nasr and Lewis Hamilton each had a significant spin during the session but both managed to avoid any major damage to their cars.

    Max Verstappen had a close encounter with a decent-sized Monitor lizard that got on the track and ran across just as Verstappen's Red Bull was approaching it. The lizard got away unharmed an marshals were seen chasing after it. The situation was definitely one of a kind.

TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:44.362 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Max Verstappen - 1:44.411 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

3. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:44.860 / Ferrari-Ferrari

4. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:44.903 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

5. Sebastian Vettel - 1:45.104 / Ferrari-Ferrari

6. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:45.316 / Force India-Mercedes

7. Daniil Kvyat - 1:45.503 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

8. Lewis Hamilton - 1:45.806 / Mercedes-Mercedes

9. Carlos Sainz - 1:45.879 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

10. Valtteri Bottas - 1:45.947 / Williams-Mercedes

11. Sergio Perez - 1:46.112 / Force India-Mercedes

12. Fernando Alonso - 1:46.164 / McLaren-Honda

13. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:46.316 / Haas-Ferrari

14. Felipe Massa - 1:46.529 / Williams-Mercedes

15. Kevin Magnussen - 1:47.116 / Renault-Renault

16. Jenson Button - 1:47.277 / McLaren-Honda

17. Felipe Nasr - 1:47.293 / Sauber-Ferrari

18. Romain Grosjean - 1:47.411 / Haas-Ferrari

19. Marcus Ericsson - 1:47.956 / Sauber-Ferrari

20. Jolyon Palmer - 1:48.689 / Renault-Renault

21. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:49.201 / Manor-Mercedes

22. Esteban Ocon - 1:49.565 / Manor-Mercedes

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

SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - FREE PRACTICE #2

    It was Nico Rosberg who topped the second session of the weekend, while Lewis Hamilton suffered technical issues and missed most of the session. However, Hamilton was still able to finish the session in 7th with a time of 1:45.275. Kimi Raikkonen finished the session in 2nd, followed by Verstappen, Ricciardo and Vettel.

    Romain Grosjean suffered more car troubles as well and completed just under 15 laps. He also had a minor crash which resulted in him losing most of the back wing of the car. A piece of the wing was left embedded in the barrier.

    At the end of the session, just as the Chequered Flag had been called, it was Fernando Alonso who stopped in one of the run-off areas with a suspected gearbox issue. In FP1, it was Jenson Button who had stopped on track. It looks to be a difficult weekend for the Woking-based team.

TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:44.152 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:44.427 / Ferrari-Ferrari

3. Max Verstappen - 1:44.532 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

4. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:44.557 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

5. Sebastian Vettel - 1:45.161 / Ferrari-Ferrari

6. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:45.182 / Force India-Mercedes

7. Lewis Hamilton - 1:45.275  / Mercedes-Mercedes

8. Carlos Sainz - 1:45.507 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

9. Fernando Alonso - 1:45.779 / McLaren-Honda

10. Daniil Kvyat - 1:46.029 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

11. Sergio Perez - 1:46.063 / Force India-Mercedes

12. Jenson Button - 1:46.574 / McLaren-Honda

13. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:46.727 / Haas-Ferrari

14. Felipe Massa - 1:46.856 / Williams-Mercedes

15. Valtteri Bottas - 1:46.960 / Williams-Mercedes

16. Kevin Magnussen - 1:47.161 / Renault-Renault

17. Jolyon Palmer - 1:47.166 / Renault-Renault

18. Felipe Nasr - 1:47.531 / Sauber-Ferrari

19. Romain Grosjean - 1:48.391 / Haas-Ferrari

20. Marcus Ericsson - 1:48.487 / Sauber-Ferrari

21. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:48.505 / Manor-Mercedes

22. Esteban Ocon - 1:48.823 / Manor-Mercedes

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

SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX - FREE PRACTICE #1

    It was a Red Bull 1-2 in the first practice session at Marina Bay Street Circuit. While most of the weekend is known for being under the lights of the circuit, the first session is done while the sun is still mostly out. Max Verstappen took the top spot on the time sheets with a 1:45.823. Ricciardo followed close behind. Vettel, Hamilton and Rosberg completed the top 5.

    Button's McLaren stopped on track only 4-5 minutes into the session and the circuit marshals had to push it all the way back to pit-lane and to his garage. He was back out by the end of the session but the same couldn't be said for the the Haas of Romain Grosjean. He endured mechanical issues early on in the session and never got to set a time.

    Nico Rosberg had a minor crash at turn 18, but was able to reverse and head back to the pits, only missing his front wing. Turn 18 has seen multiple crashes over the course of the time that the circuit has been in Formula 1 and the drivers know just how cautious you have to be in order to not have your race ended early. Other parts of the circuit are hairy as well and multiple drivers including Sainz, Verstappen and Vettel all had moments where they lightly tapped the walls/barriers but managed to avoid any major damage.

TIMES:

1. Max Verstappen - 1:45.823 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

2. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:45.872 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:46.287 / Ferrari-Ferrari

4. Lewis Hamilton - 1:46.426 / Mercedes-Mercedes

5. Nico Rosberg - 1:46.513 / Mercedes-Mercedes

6. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:46.890 / Ferrari-Ferrari

7. Carlos Sainz - 1:46.936 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

8. Daniil Kvyat - 1:47.683 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

9. Felipe Massa - 1:48.044 / Williams-Mercedes

10. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:48.109 / Haas-Ferrari

11. Fernando Alonso - 1:48.202 / McLaren-Honda

12. Sergio Perez - 1:48.214 / Force India-Mercedes

13. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:48.359 / Force India-Mercedes

14. Valtteri Bottas - 1:48.453 / Williams-Mercedes

15. Felipe Nasr - 1:49.595 / Sauber-Ferrari

16. Jenson Button - 1:49.615 / McLaren-Honda

17. Jolyon Palmer - 1:49.794 / Renault-Renault

18. Kevin Magnussen - 1:50.263 / Renault-Renault

19. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:51.122 / Manor-Mercedes

20. Marcus Ericsson - 1:51.479 / Sauber-Ferrari

21. Esteban Ocon - 1:52.379 / Manor-Mercedes

22. Romain Grosjean - NO TIME SET / Haas-Ferrari

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Liberty Media Buys F1

LIBERTY MEDIA TAKES OVER FORMULA 1

    Liberty Media have started the process of buying Formula One.

    Chase Carey has replaced Peter Brabeck-Letmathe as chairman of the company as part of the deal, whilst Bernie Ecclestone will remain as CEO.

    Seven hundred and forty six million dollars. Cash. That’s what Liberty Media paid to Formula One’s current parent company, Delta Topco, for just 18.7% of Formula One, a minority share. That’s only the first part of the deal, though. Liberty Media plans on owning 100% of the company, once it’s satisfied some conditions.

    “I am thrilled to take up the role of Chairman of Formula One, and have the opportunity to work alongside Bernie Ecclestone, CVC, and the Liberty Media team,” said Chase Carey. “I greatly admire Formula One as a unique global sports entertainment franchise attracting hundreds of millions of fans each season from all around the world. I see great opportunity to help Formula One to develop and prosper for the benefit of the sport, fans, teams and investors alike.”

    When rumours of the deal began to circulate, there was hope among many fans that this would be the end of Bernie Ecclestone, who many blame for Formula One’s faults. The Formula One figurehead will continue as CEO, though. Still, Liberty Media have ensured that things will change, with a focus on improving the social media side of Formula One, which the series has lacked compared to other motorsport series.

    As well of this, Liberty Media has said “The teams will be given the opportunity to participate in the investment in Formula One”. According to the company, some teams have already expressed an interest in this opportunity.

    Change may not be immediate, but Liberty Media’s take over will mark a new chapter in Formula One’s history, one we hope will make fans happy.

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - MANOR RACING F1 TEAM

Pascal Wehrlein - “Checking into my hotel room, seeing the view of the Marina Bay Circuit laid out right in front of me, was a very nice feeling. An incredible view of an incredible city and a fantastic location for a Grand Prix. Tough conditions, a demanding circuit for car and driver – exactly the kind of challenge I love. Bring it on!

I’m prepared for the fact that it will be tough-going; high temperatures, high humidity, 23 corners on a track that is not so long compared to some. The track conditions can be changeable, with two practice sessions in daylight, and qualifying and the race at night - and, of course, the rain. Plus, it’s a street circuit, so it can be quite unforgiving. But, you won’t find me complaining. Pretty much every track is new for me this season, so while each one is to be respected, I don’t worry too much about acclimatisation; it’s something I really enjoy. I’ll let you know how it goes!”

Esteban Ocon - “I’m loving and learning every minute - and there’s so much more still to come. It’s a big challenge stepping up to F1 in the middle of the season; so much to get to grips with and no time to stop and think, only to keep pushing forward. It’s a big test, but that works for me! In only two races I’ve had some things go well and some things go less well, but I’ve got two race distances under my belt and I’m really happy with the way I’ve slotted into the team, and with my own performances. Six of the next seven tracks are new for me, so some exciting challenges are ahead, which is great! Plus, we have some important objectives as a team, which we need to be very focused on.

I think we’ve shown that when everything goes our way, we can expect to be in Q2. Pascal has been able to show that it’s possible. So that’s the next target for me personally. When we start further up the grid, we can create opportunities for the race, and then, who knows, another point is a real possibility. At this stage, that would be a dream come true in a long list of dreams I’d like to realise.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Haas

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - HAAS F1 TEAM

Romain Grosjean - “It’s pretty cool. Everyone loves it, especially the VIPs, who then go partying after the race. It’s a special one, for sure. It’s a race everyone waits for. It’s a tricky track, and you’re racing at night downtown when it’s very hot and humid, so there are a lot of factors that make it exciting. It’s actually easier at night because the lights never change. The luminosity is always the same. You stick with the same visor, and driving at those speeds in those conditions is absolutely fine.

There are a few corners where you can actually run wide and go over the kerbs. I think last year they removed some. So, yes, most of the time there are walls in close proximity - you pretty much have to hold your breath and hope for the best, especially when you’re pushing in qualifying, as you run so close to the walls - but there are a few occasions on the track when you can use a bit more of the width than was perhaps first designed. Especially between Turns 3 and 4, and on the long straight, it’s very bumpy. You really want to find the right line there. When you make an overtaking move there, you’ve really got to be sure you’ve got the car with you as it’s very tricky. To be honest, every corner is tricky.

It can be very physical. All week we never see the sunlight, so that takes a bit of energy away. Then it’s humid, it’s hot and it’s always a long race. We usually reach the two-hour limit. It’s very, very demanding. I remember back in 2013, I lost four kilos (nine pounds) of water during the race, which is quite a lot. Mentally it’s very difficult, as much as it is physical. It’s clearly one of the races where you need to be at your fittest in the season. We (drivers) love a challenge. That’s why we race in Formula One and that’s why we drive these cars and race at over 300 km/h (186 mph). We love it.”

Esteban Gutierrez - “I like very much the first section - Turns 1, 2, 3 and 4. You arrive very quick from the straight, so it’s a sequence of corners which makes it very interesting. I also like the last part where you have a lot of chicanes where you can use the kerbs. It’s a lot of corners in a very short period of time, so it’s very physical. The overtaking opportunities are on corner 1, corner 8, which is after the long straight, then after the hairpin, as well. There are two or three places which are pretty good for overtaking, even though it’s a street circuit and usually street circuits are a bit more difficult for that. The first time I came there was in GP2 and I went straight into practice without knowing much about it. There used to be a very special corner, a triple chicane, which now has been changed, so that part and that section will be new to me. I’m looking forward to getting to know it.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING

Valtteri Bottas - “We’re back into the fly-aways with Singapore, one of the most challenging race weekends on the calendar. That track has so many corners, so as a driver to complete the perfect lap in Singapore it’s quite tricky. But it’s really rewarding when you do. Personally, I do like the challenge. It’s a night race and in terms of how much you need to focus, it’s probably the most difficult track after Monaco. There’s no room for mistakes. It’s extremely hot, which makes it much more physical for the driver and hard on the car. It’s a very unique and cool looking Grand Prix.”

Felipe Massa - “Singapore is one of the few night races that we have, together with Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. It’s a very difficult race. It’s very humid and so hot; a tricky race for everybody and one of the hardest on the calendar. That said, I really enjoy racing there and it’s a very rewarding track. It’s always a good feeling racing in Singapore.”

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SAUBER F1 TEAM

Marcus Ericsson - “The Singapore Grand Prix is surely one of most exciting as well as challenging race weekends. The typically high temperatures, the high humidity, and the fact that the race is held at night makes it to one of the highlights of the season. For the spectators it is a real experience - besides the action on track, there are also many events going on off track. Thinking about last year’s race, I was very close to the points by finishing in P11. As we saw positive results from the car package during the recent race weekends, our aim is certainly to fight for points in Singapore.”

Felipe Nasr - “I like the Singapore Grand Prix a lot - the night race as well as the atmosphere in the city once Formula One is there makes it a special race weekend. It is a great street circuit and racing under these high temperatures is a real challenge. I have good memories from last year’s Singapore Grand Prix, as I was able to score one point. Looking back to the tests during the previous race weekends, I have confidence in our car, as I felt that we made a step in the right direction, although we cannot see it in the results yet. In Singapore a lot can happen during the race, so we need to take every opportunity that might come up.”

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SAHARA FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM

Nico Hulkenberg - “Singapore has really become one of the highlights of the season, next to Monaco and perhaps Baku. It’s a street circuit; it’s a night race and it’s in a city which is one of the hubs of the world. The track is spectacular and you drive next to an amazing backdrop - definitely one of the best races you could have on the calendar.

The strange sleeping pattern you get into also adds to the unusual weekend - you sleep until late in the day and stay up well into the night - it’s an interesting way to break from the usual routine of a race weekend. It’s nice to have a change. Coming from Europe, this schedule makes it much easier on you because you don’t have any jet lag; you don’t have any adjustment to make and can go straight into the racing matters. The only struggle is to find any restaurants that still serve food after midnight when you’re finished at the circuit!

I’ve never had a chance to explore Singapore, partly because of the schedule, but also because Marina Bay is quite far from the heart of the city. Once the race weekend kicks off, it’s difficult to move around the town because many roads are closed so we usually end up not seeing too much of the place. It seems a fun city, though - Asian but with a European vibe.

The track is very challenging. It’s a very long lap, with many corners and that in itself is an added difficulty when you try to strike a balance for the set-up with the engineers: it’s never-ending! From a driving point of view, it makes it really hard to get all the sectors together and deliver the perfect lap. It’s also very hot and humid - you’re in the car for pretty much two hours in steaming hot conditions. it definitely tests you.

There are some nice corners, such as the fast right-hand kink of Turn 6 and the approach to Turn 7. The first sector is my favourite part of the lap - there are bumps and big kerbs, so you need a car that can take them nicely, and you need good traction out of the low and medium-speed corners to get a quick lap.”

Sergio Perez - “Singapore is unique - starting from the very special schedule we have there. The European season may be over, but we keep to their times: it’s a weird routine - you wake up late, go to the track in the afternoon and stay up late into the night. It’s a very demanding race from a physical and mental perspective: it’s hot, races usually last up to two hours and you have nearly 25 corners to get right every lap. There is no margin for error and generally the racing is very intense, which takes a lot out of you as a driver.

The key to being quick in Singapore is precision. You need to find every last millimetre of the track, almost kiss the walls and have a stable rear end of the car. It’s a circuit that can catch you out and I can’t remember a race there without a safety car, so races can be shaken up at any time. It’s also a track that rewards guts and where the driver can make a big difference. As a street circuit, it’s not as unforgiving as Monaco because the track is much wider, but it also means the speeds are higher and there are more overtaking opportunities. I have a good relationship with the place, with some strong results in the past. Hopefully I can do the same this year!”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Renault

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - RENAULT SPORT FORMULA 1 TEAM

Kevin Magnussen - “It’s a really cool circuit and being a night race in Singapore, it makes Formula One look even more spectacular. The cars look super shiny under the lights - for television viewers as well as for the spectators in the grandstands it adds to the beauty of the race. The entire city lives and breathes F1 during that week and you can feel it in the atmosphere everywhere when you are downtown.

The track itself is fun and I always enjoy driving on street circuits. That said, it’s also a pretty tricky circuit to get right with a lot of corners where a mistake can be easily made. Grip levels evolve throughout the weekend so the key is set up and getting the balance right. Hopefully it’s a track where we can better our performance a little bit after a disappointing last European race.

Although it’s a night race, we all stay on European time - we get up late in the day and come to the track from around four o’clock in the afternoon, which means that it’s morning in Europe. This also means that we don’t struggle with jet lag in Singapore. Even though we race at night it gets very hot in Singapore and that’s a challenge in itself, but it should be fine.

It didn’t go very well (last time I raced here in 2014) as I had an overheating issue in the car - on top of hot conditions! A radiator seal had broken and there was hot air coming into the cockpit. It was extremely hot! This year I’m hoping for a solid race where we can fight in the pack. I really look forward to being in Singapore.”

Jolyon Palmer - “I love Singapore and it’s a totally different challenge from Monza. It’s a street race with close walls taking place at night so it’s a unique event on the calendar. I’ve raced and won there in the GP2 Series and it was one of my best wins. In fact, I raced there two years running and both years were very good. It’s a better opportunity for a stronger result. It’s a cool feeling driving at night as you can see the circuit very clearly from the lights but your vision is channelled as the background is in darkness.

The final sector is a real challenge with the section under the grandstand. It’s tight over the bridge too so you need your wits about you. Stringing a perfect lap together is a real challenge! Over the bridge and the middle of the lap are pretty tough to get right as you’re braking as you turn so it’s easy to lock a wheel, and the last sector is very tight and twisty.

(Overtaking is) certainly is a challenge but Turn 6 at the end of the first sector / beginning of the second sector where the DRS comes in is the main overtaking opportunity and then braking into Turn 7. The track is pretty tight in other places and it’s always pretty slippery when you do go off-line. We see the circuit change a lot over the weekend as the surface rubbers in then the climatic conditions are reasonably different between FP1 and FP2, then FP3 and qualifying so getting a good handle on the balance of the car gives us plenty of work as generally it’s cooler later in the night. It’s not a conventional weekend!

The great thing about the race is that it’s right in the centre of the city so you’re surrounded by everything you could want. You don’t have to go far for a good restaurant. It’s great to sample the local culture. I’m really looking forward to it. The summer break allowed me to recharge my batteries completely and now I’m fully in the zone. Spa and Monza were not the easiest tracks for us but Singapore offers more of an opportunity I think. I’m driving better than ever and I’m exceptionally keen to have a strong result after the frustration of Monza.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - McLAREN HONDA FORMULA 1 TEAM

Fernando Alonso - “We knew Spa and Monza would be among the two most difficult races on the calendar for us. Now we move to the end-of-season fly-aways and we’re optimistic that we can continue pushing for more points and more positive results. Singapore is a really fun track, very bumpy and challenging, but it’s a quirky layout with a lot of stop-start sections and really fast straights, so you need a car that works well in high down force set-up and has good traction out of the slower corners. I’ve won there twice before, and the floodlights and energetic fans give it a really exciting atmosphere.

Singapore is a great race - it’s always an enjoyable weekend and definitely one of the halo races on the calendar each year. It’s a really long race - usually almost two hours - so a lot can happen. It’s tough on the cars too, especially with the current that runs underneath the asphalt near the Anderson Bridge towards Turn 13, which can play tricks on the electronics systems. It’s definitely a race of attrition, so I hope we can have a smooth weekend with good reliability, and work our way towards the front. Over the past few races, we’ve shown good consistency in our performances, so I’m optimistic that we can continue this form in Singapore.”

Jenson Button - “The Marina Bay circuit is a challenge unlike any other that we face during the season - even when you compare it to the other street races on the calendar. It’s twisty, extremely fast, the barriers are high and close, and the bumpy surface is unforgiving, which sometimes means losing grip is something you can’t get away with, without seeing flying debris all over the track and the possibility of a safety car. That’s part of what makes racing in Singapore so special, and its characteristics pose a tough test for even the strongest chassis and power unit. It’s gruelling for car and driver, but that’s what makes it all the more rewarding to drive.

Singapore is a tough race, so you have to be at your absolute peak physical fitness to not find it a struggle, especially in the heat. It’s an incredible venue and there’s a really special feeling all weekend. Knowing you’re working on European time while the rest of Singapore is running on local time makes it really unique - like racing in a parallel universe! Racing under floodlights never gets boring, and I hope I can have a weekend with less drama than at Monza.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Red Bull

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - RED BULL RACING FORMULA 1 TEAM

Max Verstappen - “Singapore is definitely one of my favourites. It’s very challenging, not easy to understand and also the heat makes it even harder. Being a night race means it’s a bit different, you have to adapt your braking zone as the light changes from the earlier session to the late ones. I enjoyed it a lot last year so I’m excited to go out there again. The local food looks and smells great but I haven’t got around to trying it yet. In 2015 I ate pretty basic food, I don’t really like fish so I kept it simple with some plain meat. This year I am going to try and sample some local dishes. Luckily the time difference isn’t a problem because we are always driving so late, this means we keep our body clocks on the European time zone. It’s funny because we go for dinner in the middle of the night, there are people partying while you sit eating.”

Daniel Ricciardo - “Singapore is great, a real night race. Being able to drive through a massive city at night with all the lights flashing between buildings as you go past is an awesome feeling. It’s weird, I think it actually feels like you are going faster at night. It’s really hot and humid out there, I would say it is probably the most physical race of the year but I enjoy the challenge. One main highlight for me is the food, it’s amazing in Singapore. You can get everything and anything but Chilli mud crabs are pretty mega so I love having them a lot. It seems like a really fun city and I’m really fortunate to get a lot of people coming over from Australia and especially Perth, this means I get a lot of love in Singapore.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS FORMULA 1 TEAM

Lewis Hamilton - “Monza didn’t quite go to plan. But when you look at how far we’ve come as a team this season, from the position we were in, then I realise I’m in a phenomenal position. We’re still leading both World Championships and there are still so many great things to achieve together, even before this season is through. Next up it’s Singapore, which is always a great event. The race is a challenge with the heat and humidity – but it’s a street circuit, which I love. We didn’t have the greatest weekend there last year, so hopefully we’re on top of that now. I guess we’ll find out in a few days’ time! Either way, it’s not going to be an easy breezy drive. Even when we won there back in 2014, it wasn’t straightforward. Ferrari and Red Bull will be on it I’m sure, so we’ve got a big fight on our hands if we are up at the front. I love a battle, so I’ m excited to see how it plays out.”

Nico Rosberg - “Standing on top of that Monza podium was an awesome experience. I’ll definitely remember that one for a long time! But now my focus is on Singapore - a race that’s been up and down for me. I got my second ever podium there way back in 2008 but haven’t been up there again since, so the target is to change that on Sunday. Of course, it won’t be easy. This is a Red Bull track and we weren’t so strong there last year. But I have faith in the team and my belief in myself is as high as ever. I approach each weekend aiming to win the race. The points gap has gone up and down but I’ve taken it one race at a time - and that’s the best way for me, as you can see by how the gap is now. Singapore is a cool city and a great place for Formula One. The track looks spectacular under the lights and it’s always buzzing in town around the race weekend, so I’m really looking forward to getting out there.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Singapore GP: Circuit Preview

SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX 2016 - CIRCUIT PREVIEW & 2015 STATS

Name: Marina Bay Street Circuit

Location: Marina Bay, Singapore

Opened: August 31st 2008

Length: 3.147 Miles

Capacity: 90,000

Runs: Anti-Clockwise

Turns: 23

Race Laps: 61

2015 STATS

Pole Position: Sebastian Vettel

1st Place: Sebastian Vettel

2nd Place: Daniel Ricciardo

3rd Place: Kimi Raikkonen

Retirements: Nico Hulkenberg (Collision), Felipe Massa (Gearbox), Lewis Hamilton (Power Unit), Fernando Alonso (Gearbox), Jenson Button (Gearbox), Romain Grosjean (Gearbox*)

* - Qualified as Finished

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Singapore GP: Track Schedule

SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX 2016 - TRACK SCHEDULE

September 15th / Thursday

18:00 - Drivers Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

September 16th / Friday

18:00 - 19:30 - Free Practice #1

20:30 - 21:15 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

21:30 - 23:00 - Free Practice #2

23:15 - 00:15 - Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

September 17th / Saturday

15:10 - 15:40 - Team Pit-Stop Practice

18:00 - 19:00 - Free Practice #3

19:55 - 20:50 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

21:00 - 22:00 - Qualifying

September 18th / Sunday

17:40 - 19:15 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

18:30 - Drivers Track Parade

18:45 - 19:15 - Starting Grid Presentation

19:46 - National Anthem

20:00 - 22:00 - Race

(Times subject to change)

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Vandoorne Replaces Button at McLaren for 2017

VANDOORNE TO RACE FOR MCLAREN IN 2017/BUTTON TO TAKE SABBATICAL

    McLaren have confirmed Stoffel Vandoorne will join their race driver line up following Button’s semi-retirement.

    The Brit has moved to a behind the scenes role developing the car whilst Vandoorne joins Fernando Alonso in the 2017 driver line up.

    McLaren call the format a “three driver strategy”.

    “(Button) will continue to be a senior, influential and committed member of the team, and will remain centrally involved in the development of our cars. He’ll also be available to race for us if circumstances require it,” said Ron Dennis.

    If, for instance, either driver is in a huge accident and told he can’t race at the next GP…

    Stoffel Vandoorne naturally fit into the seat that Button had vacated. After filling in for Fernando Alonso at the beginning of the season, the Belgian scored McLaren’s first point of the season. He’s been on the McLaren Young Driver Programme since 2013, and was appointed the team’s test and development driver at the start of 2014.

    “He’s been both diligent and patient over the past two seasons, and he shares with all of us at McLaren-Honda the confidence that 2017 will be the season in which our partnership begins to deliver strong results,” Dennis said.

    “Over the past two and a half years, he’s made a very valuable contribution to (the test and development) role, learning from his two World Champion team-mates as well as from our many world class engineers, and, having been runner-up in World Series by Renault in 2013 and the run-away winner of the GP2 Championship last year, he’s now completed with distinction a meticulously designed apprenticeship.”

    Vandoorne said: “I already know the team extremely well – they’re a fantastic group of extremely clever people – and I’ve already raced the car once and tested it often. I have total confidence in the potential of the McLaren-Honda project, and I firmly believe that, racing alongside a brilliant and experienced driver, I’ll be able to make a strong contribution to the team’s future World Championship successes. I’m not saying when that’ll happen, but I’m confident that that’s what the McLaren-Honda team will achieve, and I’m determined to do my bit.”

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Article Written By: Bethonie Waring
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Italian GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

ITALIAN GRAND PRIX - RACE

    The gap at the front of the championship is now down to only two points as Nico Rosberg took his second win in a row. The German finished ahead of team mate Lewis Hamilton, who fell back to sixth at the start of the race.

    It was expected to be a walk in the park for Hamilton. The championship leader started on pole with Rosberg alongside him. A mistake cost the Brit greatly, though, as car after car sped past him at the lights. He eventually slipped in behind Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo whilst Rosberg defended against the home favourites Ferrari to take the lead of the race.

    Rosberg and Hamilton were the only drivers at the front of the field on the harder compound tyre. It may have been the slower tyre, but it would have given them a tactical advantage when it came to pit stops. Ricciardo and the rest of the drivers separating Hamilton and his team mate would have to pit earlier, meaning Hamilton wouldn’t really have to be racing against them in the first stint.

    Tell that to Hamilton. As the Brit struggled to find a way past the Red Bull and then the Williams of Valtteri Bottas, Rosberg was building up a gap to the Ferraris. A gap Hamilton would have to close when he got into second to have any chance of winning the race.

    Hamilton eventually got up into fourth, behind Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari, and was promoted to third on lap sixteen when the Ferrari pitted. A lap later, Sebastian Vettel pitted too and Hamilton could finally get back to the real race, but Rosberg was already over ten seconds up the road, and we hadn’t really even seen the full power of the Mercedes yet.

    Rosberg pitted first, coming out behind Hamilton only for the Brit to pit the following lap. Hamilton came out behind the Ferraris again and, despite the fact they would have to pit again, it still put the Mercedes at a disadvantage.

    By the time Hamilton had gotten past the Ferrari duo again, there was no catching his team mate. Rosberg, in a relatively quiet race, took his seventh win of the season and his first win at Monza, whilst Hamilton would have to settle for second.

    Ferrari did get one driver on the podium at their home race, with Sebastian Vettel taking third just ahead of Kimi Raikkonen.

    As usual for Formula One, there was more interesting battles further back in the field.

    Once Hamilton had passed the pair of them, Bottas and Ricciardo began a race long fight. The pair were on different strategies and Ricciardo, who spent most of the race chasing Bottas, had other cars to pass on a few occasions, but the battle went right down to the end of the race.

    In the closing stages of the race, the Australian got up alongside Bottas at one of Monza’s many chicanes, sending Bottas onto the curb in defence. Bottas couldn’t close the door quick enough on Ricciardo, and the Australian moved up into fifth. Bottas couldn’t find the pace to challenge Ricciardo back, and would have to settle for sixth.

    Still, it was ahead of both Force India drivers. Williams lost out in the constructors’ championship to the team last time out, and were looking for revenge. Though Felipe Massa could only finish ninth, behind Sergio Perez, he finished ahead of Nico Hulkenberg. Together with Bottas’ sixth, Williams managed to take fourth in the constructors’ championship back from Force India, now a whole three points ahead.

    Elsewhere, there were four retirements from the race. Felipe Nasr and Jolyon Palmer came together on the opening lap and, though both cars were able to continue, they both eventually retired, leaving a mess in their wake. Luckily, nobody’s tyres were damaged on the scraps of carbon fibre, and the pair’s retirement went by fairly unnoticed.

    Retirement three came from Pascal Wehrlein. Dramatic radio messages came through to the Manor driver to stop the car immediately and switch it off. He did on lap twenty eight, but stayed out of the way of everybody. There was no need for anything more than a few yellow flags.

    Daniil Kvyat was the fourth and final retirement. After being handed a five second penalty for speeding in the pit lane, the Russian returned to the pits to retire.

RESULTS:

1. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / + 25 Points
2. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 18 Points
3. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / + 15 Points
4. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 12 Points
5. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Australia / + 10 Points
6. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / + 8 Points
7. Max Verstappen / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER / Netherlands / + 6 Points
8. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 4 Points
9. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / + 2 Point
10. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / + 1 Points
11. Romain Grosjean / Haas-Ferrari / France
12. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain
13. Esteban Gutierrez / Haas-Ferrari / Mexico
14. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain
15. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Spain
16. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden
17. Kevin Magnussen / Renault-Renault / Denmark
18. Esteban Ocon / Manor-Mercedes / France

RETIRED - Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Russia / Battery
RETIRED - Pascal Wehrlein / Manor-Mercedes / Germany / Oil Leak
RETIRED - Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil / Collison Damage
RETIRED - Jolyon Palmer / Renault-Renault / Great Britain / Collision Damage

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Italian GP: Qualifying - Re-Cap & Results

ITALIAN GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING 

    Lewis Hamilton has taken Pole Position for the Italian GP while Esteban Ocon faced mechanical issues and was unable to set a time. Romain Grosjean endures a 5-Place-Grid-Penalty for a gearbox change while his team-mate, Gutierrez broke into Q3.

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. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany

4. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland

5. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland

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

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

8. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico

9. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany

10. Esteban Gutierrez / Haas-Ferrari / Mexico

11. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil

12. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain

13. Pascal Wehrlein / Manor-Mercedes / Germany

14. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

15. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Spain

16. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Ferrari / Russia

17. Romain Grosjean / Haas-Ferrari / France*

18. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

19. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden

20. Jolyon Palmer / Renault-Renault / Great Britain

21. Kevin Magnussen / Renault-Renault / Denmark

22. Esteban Ocon / Manor-Mercedes / France

* - (Grosjean) 5-Place-Grid-Penalty for gearbox change

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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