Bahrain GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

DRIVER PREVIEW QUOTES - SAHARA FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM

Sergio Perez - “I feel pretty happy about the way we have started the year. Eight points from two races is a good achievement and shows that we are working well as a team. I still think a better result was possible in China, but we can’t complain about where we ended up because it wasn’t an easy race considering how cold and wet it was on Sunday.

    Bahrain is always a track I enjoy and I think racing at night has made the event more exciting. I still smile when I remember our podium finish in 2014 - it’s one of my best memories in Formula One. My big battle with Jenson (Button) in 2013 is also something I remember. It’s a circuit that always produces good racing and overtaking opportunities. In the past you always had to worry about looking after the rear tyres because there are so many big acceleration zones, but maybe it won’t be such a factor with this year’s tyres.

    With the 2017 regulations the learning curve is very steep. The team is working really hard with the development of the car and we made some progress in China. There are more developments coming this weekend and hopefully we will feel the benefit straight away. It puts extra emphasis on the Friday sessions as we try and understand all the test items and how to get the best performance from them.”

Esteban Ocon - “I feel positive after China and scoring another point. Despite the lack of running on Friday and the disappointment of qualifying, we were able to come back strongly in the race. I still believe we didn’t maximise our opportunities and we have analysed everything that happened and learned what we could have done better. There is a lot on which we can build to get stronger as the season progresses.

    Bahrain is a fantastic track and I’m really looking forward to the first night race of the season. It’s a track I enjoy and I have a good history there - I was on pole position in GP3 in 2015 so I hope to have another strong performance. There are many nice parts of the track, but my favourite is the combination of corners at turns five, six and seven: a quick chicane and then the hairpin - a very testing braking zone which you approach at really high speed. It’s not easy to get the right set-up for this part of the lap, but when you do and you drive it perfectly, it’s an awesome feeling. Sakhir is a hard circuit for tyres, brakes and engines, with big braking zones and long straights. It’s also testing for the driver because you have to keep hydrated as the weather can get really warm.

    I’m quite pleased that we have races on consecutive weekends. Every time I get in the car, I feel more comfortable with the team and this reflects in the work we produce. At this stage of the season, it’s important to score points whenever there is an opportunity and this remains the goal in Bahrain.”

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Pre-Season Test #2 - Day #4 - Re-Cap & Times

PRE-SEASON TEST #2 - DAY #4 - RE-CAP & TIMES

    Kimi Raikkonen topped the times on a red flag ridden final day of testing. A number of teams, including Ferrari suffered mechanical problems as the teams headed onto the track for the last time before Melbourne.

    As has become the norm, the early part of the session was where most of the fastest lap times came. Lance Stroll, Nico Hulkenberg, and Max Verstappen each topped the times at points, but nobody was able to beat the 1:18.634 Raikkonen was able to set.

    The first red flag of the day came an hour and a half into the first session, when Romain Grosjean ran into the gravel at turn 5. It wouldn’t be the last time the Haas driver ran into trouble. He stopped on the back straight just before the lunch break, bringing out the red flag again.

    Unsurprisingly, the Honda powered McLaren fell into trouble again. Fernando Alonso had completed less than 20 laps when he stopped on track due to the same electrical issue that had caused problems for Stoffel Vandoorne yesterday, even though the team had changed parts of the power unit and chassis overnight. Alonso did manage to get back out before the end of the session, only to stop almost immediately.

    The team seemed to clear up the problem by the afternoon, as Alonso was able to get back out. He managed to complete 43 laps before the end of the day.

    McLaren weren’t the only driver to have limited morning running. Max Verstappen in the Red Bull hadn’t been out much after his pitch for the top spot early in the session. That was because Red Bull were fixing a turbo issue on the car, but the teenager was still able to get out in the afternoon. By that point, though, he’d already set the second fastest time of the day and Red Bull’s fastest time of the test.

    Anybody watching the timing screens would have had a less exciting afternoon, as many of the teams began race simulations again, but the simulations were disturbed by red flags. None from McLaren this time though.

    Raikkonen was the first to bring out the red flag in the afternoon. The Ferrari was on a race simulation when it suffered a problem. Raikkonen moved onto the unused part of the circuit to try and return to the pits, only to lock the rear wheels and spin at the unused chicane.

    Carlos Sainz was the culprit for the sixth and final red flag of the day as he stopped on the start finish straight after setting the third fastest time earlier in the day.

    Mercedes had a quiet day, with their two drivers finishing fourth and fifth by the end of the day with just over 100 laps between them, but the German team still heads to Australia favourites.

TIMES:

1. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:18.634 / Ferrari-Ferrari / 110 Laps
2. Max Verstappen - 1:19.438 / Red Bull-TAG-Heuer / 70 Laps
3. Carlos Sainz - 1:19.837 / Toro Rosso-Renault / 131 Laps
4. Valtteri Bottas (AM) - 1:19.845 / Mercedes-Mercedes / 53 Laps
5. Lewis Hamilton (PM) - 1:19.850 / Mercedes-Mercedes / 53 Laps
6. Nico Hulkenberg (AM) - 1:19.885 / Renault-Renault / 45 Laps
7. Sergio Perez - 1:20.116 / Force India-Mercedes / 138 Laps
8. Jolyon Palmer (PM) – 1:20.205 / Renault-Renault / 43 Laps
9. Lance Stroll - 1:20.335 / Williams-Mercedes / 132 Laps
10. Romain Grosjean - 1:21.110 / Haas-Ferrari / 76 Laps
11. Fernando Alonso - 1:21.389 / McLaren-Honda / 43 Laps
12. Marcus Ericsson (AM) - 1:21.670 / Sauber-Ferrari / 59 Laps
13. Pascal Wehrlein (PM) - 1:23.527 / Sauber-Ferrari / 42 Laps

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Article Written By: Bethonie Waring
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Hulkenberg Leaves Force India, Signs With Renault for 2017

NICO HULKENBERG JOINS RENAULT IN 2017

    Nico Hulkenberg will be joining Renault F1 Team next year in a multi-year contract that starts in 2017.

    Hulkenberg currently races for Force India alongside Sergio Perez, who was linked to the team earlier this year before resigning for his current team. It is understood Hulkenberg signed with Renault sometime this week, saying he has always dreamed of working for a works team.

    His new team is definitely still in the development stage, a long way off Force India, who are currently fourth in the teams’ championship, but Hulkenberg believes next year’s rules change gives Renault a “good opportunity”. Renault have said they need an “experienced driver who is still hungry for podiums” to help drive their development.

    “Nico Hulkenberg fulfils this role perfectly and is an excellent complement to what we want to achieve,” said Jerome Stroll, Renault Sport Racing Chairman. “He is a highly talented, dedicated and motivated driver. Nico will enable us to harness all the hard work completed this season and translate it to improving results on track in 2017 and beyond.”

    “It has always been my dream to work for a manufacturer team,” said Hulkenberg. “F1’s new regulations will change the game and give our team a good opportunity. In the years to come, Renault will play a challenger role, which fits my approach to racing 100%. I can’t wait to become part of the family.”

    Hulkenberg also thanked Force India and said he was committed to his current team’s battle against Williams in the 2016 constructors’ championship.

    It’s not yet known who will be racing alongside Hulkenberg next season. Esteban Ocon is currently one of the drivers rumoured to be looked at the seat, as well as current Renault drivers Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer.

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Article Written By: Bethonie Waring
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2017 Provisional Calendar Released

F1 2017 PROVISIONAL CALENDAR

    A provisional calendar for the 2017 season has been published. Subject to confirmation, over twenty races will be run from March through to November.

    As usual, the 2017 season starts in Australia, before China and Bahrain. Then the circus heads to Europe for nine rounds, with the trip to Canada in the middle, before returning to East Asia for Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan. The grid then goes to America for three rounds – USA, Mexico, and Brazil  - before the season ends in Abu Dhabi.

    The calendar currently includes seven pairs of back to back races, though there are never more than two race weekends in a row.

    The main concern for the wider motorsport world is that, once again, the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be out of access to anybody wanting to complete an entire F1 season. The 24 hours race clashes with the Azerbaijan grand prix.

    You can find the full provisional calendar below. The Canadian, German, and Brazilian Grand Prix are all still subject to confirmation.

2017 CALENDAR (Provisional) 

26 March – Australia (Melbourne)
9 April – China (Shanghai)
16 April – Bahrain (Bahrain)
30 April – Russia (Sochi)
14 May – Spain (Barcelona)
28 May – Monaco (Monte Carlo)
11 June – Canada (Montreal)
18 June – Azerbaijan (Baku)
2 July – Austria (Spielberg)
9 July – United Kingdom (Silverstone)
23 July – Hungary (Budapest)
30 July – Germany (Hockenheim)
27 August – Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
3 September – Italy (Monza)
17 September – Malaysia (Sepang)
1 October - Singapore (Singapore)
8 October – Japan (Suzuka)
22 October – USA (Austin)
5 November – Mexico (Mexico City)
12 November – Brazil (Sao Paulo)
26 November – United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi)

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Article Written By: Bethonie Waring
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