F1Insider Feature: Post-Race Quote

"Well, I want to first congratulate Hamilton on an amazing win and Nico in Second. But to be honest, the biggest congratulations goes to Checo (Perez), for his podium finish. I'm very proud of him and Force India. They fought the whole way through and it's great to see such good results.

The situation between Maldonado and Gutierrez is very worrying. Maldonado has a very dangerous driving-style and I don't think the 5-Place-Grid-Penalty is enough for what he did to Esteban. I was beyond relieved to see him (Esteban), get out of the car without injury and I hope he's feeling okay. That was probably one of the worst accidents I've seen since Spa back in 2012. Driver safety is very important and I would've thought Maldonado would get a race ban for China, but sometimes things don't work the way they should.

I'm very looking forward to the teams getting to Shanghai for the next GP. I'm hoping Force India can keep their pace. We'll see what happens!" - Amy Hawk from Formula1Insider78

Quote available for use with permission. All rights belong to owner.

Bahrain GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

    The Bahrain GP is now over, and let me just start by saying it was the most thrilling and exciting race of this season so-far. 

       This was a very special race as it was the official 900th Grand Prix of Forumula 1 and it also marked Jenson Button's 250th GP start. With Nico Rosberg on Pole and his team-mate Lewis Hamilton starting beside him, it was a sure thing that Mercedes was going to dominate this Grand Prix and they absolutely did just that. 

    Rosberg spent most of the race leading, but it wasn't long before Hamilton took over and gained 1st Position. It was also a very exciting race for Force India, when Sergio Perez held 3rd for pretty much the entire race and gave Force India their second Podium, the first one being in 2009. For Sergio, it was his first Podium with Force India and his 4th Podium altogether. His last was in Monza in 2012. Sergio's team-mate, Nico Hulkenberg became unlucky when he got trapped by The Williams and Daniel Ricciardo, who passed him on the last few laps. He still managed to finish 5th, bringing Force India into 2nd for the Constructors Championship and 3rd for the drivers Championship. Perez, who was unable to start in Malaysia is now currently in 9th for the drivers Championship.

       It was an unlucky day for McLaren when they faced a double-retirement due to a sort of Clutch failure/issue. Also enduring a double-retirement was Sauber, with Adrian Sutil retiring with damage from a minor incident with Jules Bianchi. Meanwhile, Esteban Gutierrez was unable to continue racing when Pastor Maldonado came speeding into him and flipped his car into the air. The Sauber came crashing down heavily and abruptly. Esteban remained still for a few moments, before he climbed out of the car, unharmed and without assistance. He was sent to a local Hospital for a routine check-up and tests and was released later with no injuries or harm done. However, what Maldonado did was extremely dangerous and he was given a 10-Second-Drive-Through-Penalty, along with a 5-Place-Grid-Penalty for China and 3 Penalty points on his Super License. To me, this seems not enough for what he did. I would highly prefer a race ban for Maldonado.

   Other unlucky drivers included Jean-Eric Vergne who had to retire with damage to the car and Marcus Ericsson who had an oil leak. Redbull finished in the top 10, with Ricciardo in 4th, unable to get past the incredibly fast Sergio Perez, while Vettel finished in 6th, unable to pass Sergio's fast team-mate, Hulkenberg. The Williams finished in 7th (Massa) and 8th (Bottas) - Not the ideal race they had in mind, but at least they were able to both finish the race.

  Now, on to the final results from the race!

RESULTS:

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes / Great Britain - + 25 Points
2. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes / Germany - + 18 Points
3. Sergio Perez / Force India / Mexico - + 15 Points
4. Daniel Ricciardo / Redbull / Australia - + 12 Points
5. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India / Germany - + 10 Points
6. Sebastian Vettel / Redbull / Germany - + 8 Points
7. Felipe Massa / Williams / Brazil - + 6 Points
8. Valtteri Bottas / Williams / Finland - + 4 Points
9. Fernando Alonso / Ferrari / Spain - + 2 Points
10. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari / Finland - + 1 Point
11. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso / Russia - + 0 Points
12. Romain Grosjean / Lotus / France - + 0 Points
13. Max Chilton / Marussia / Great Britain - + 0 Points
14. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus / Venezuela - + 0 Points
15. Kamui Kobayashi / Caterham / Japan - + 0 Points
16. Jules Bianchi / Marussia / France - + 0 Points
17. Jenson Button / McLaren / Great Britain - + 0 Points / Finished over 90% Of the race.
18. Kevin Magnussen / McLaren / Denmark - + 0 Points / RETIRED / Clutch Issue
19. Esteban Gutierrez / Sauber / Mexico - + 0 Points / RETIRED / Accident
20. Marcus Ericsson / Caterham / Sweden - + 0 Points / RETIRED / Oil Leak
21. Jean-Eric Vergne / Toro Rosso / France - + 0 Points / RETIRED / Accident
22. Adrian Sutil / Sauber / Germany - + 0 Points / RETIRED / Accident

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.
No Copyright Infringement Intended.


 

Bahrain GP: Qualifying - Re-Cap & Results

Just a quick Re-Cap of Qualifying before I get to the Bahrain GP Race Re-Cap. Boy, it was a good one!

So, for those of you who are new to F1 or just new to how Qualifying works, let me just go over the rules! There are 3 rounds of Qualifying and it takes around an hour. In Q1 (Or Round 1, if you want to call it), all 22 cars go out and see who can go fastest. The 6 slowest cars do not move on to round 2 and will start on the grid, where their times qualify them. Same rules for Q2, six slowest get knocked out and in Round 3, the final 10 will battle it out to see who gets Pole Position (Front of the grid), and who else will start near the front!

Here are the results after all 3 Rounds:

1. (Pole) - Nico Rosberg / Mercedes / Germany
2. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes / Great Britain
3. v Daniel Ricciardo / Redbull / Australia / Recieved 10-Place-Grid-Penalty and demoted to 13th
4. ^ Valtteri Bottas / Williams / Finland
5. ^ Sergio Perez / Force India / Mexico
6. ^ Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari / Finland
7. ^ Jenson Button / McLaren / Great Britain
8. ^ Felipe Massa / Williams / Brazil
9. ^ Kevin Magnussen / McLaren / Denmark
10. ^ Fernando Alonso / Ferrari / Spain
11. ^ Sebastian Vettel / Redbull / Germany
12. ^ Nico Hulkenberg / Force India / Germany
13. ^ Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso / Russia
14. Jean-Eric Vergne / Toro Rosso / France
15. Esteban Gutierrez / Sauber / Mexico
16. Romain Grosjean / Lotus / France
17. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus / Venezuela 
18. v Adrian Sutil / Sauber / Germany / Demoted 5 placed for forcing Grosjean off track in Q1
19. ^ Kamui Kobayashi / Caterham / Japan
20. ^ Jules Bianchi / Marussia / France
21. ^ Marcus Ericsson / Caterham / Sweden
22. ^ Max Chilton / Marussia / Great Britain

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.
No Copyright Infringement Intended.

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

We're about 6 hours away from the start of the Bahrain GP and so, it's time for a quick Re-Cap of Free Practice 3 from yesterday!

Mercedes was once again, dominating the time-sheets and also, a very happy Sergio Perez, made his way to the top, to join Hamilton & Rosberg. Force India is having an overall promising weekend and they're aiming for a podium finish in the race.

Ferrari is still having some issues with battery power while it seems Lotus can't quite figure out why their cars are much slower than last year. But, now, on to the times!

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:35.324 / Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg - 1:35.439 / Mercedes
3. Sergio Perez - 1:35.868 / Force India
4. Valtteri Bottas - 1:36.116 / Williams
5. Felipe Massa - 1:36.364 / Williams
6. Jenson Button - 1:36.394 / McLaren
7. Fernando Alonso 1:36.454 / Ferrari
8. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:36.455 / Force India
9. Daniil Kvyat - 1:36.680 / Toro Rosso
10. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:36.772 / Ferrari
11. Kevin Magnussen - 1:36.822 / McLaren
12. Jean-Eric Vergne - 1:37.030 / Toro Rosso
13. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:37.119 / Redbull
14. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:37.325 / Sauber
15. Adrian Sutil - 1:38.089 / Sauber
16. Kamui Kobayashi - 1:38.400 / Caterham
17. Jules Bianchi - 1:38.736 / Marussia
18. Pastor Maldonado - 1:38.880 / Lotus
19. Marcus Ericsson - 1:38.971 / Caterham
20. Romain Grosjean - 1:39.208 / Lotus
21. Sebastian Vettel - 1:39.225 / Redbull
22. Max Chilton - 1:39.597 / Marussia

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.
No Copyright Infringement Intended.

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

    Free Practice 2 sure did bring some drama this time around. Nico Rosberg was given a Reprimand after the session when he pulled a dangerous move infront of Sergio Perez, who was planning for a smooth pass by him, since Rosberg seemed to be coasting, but at Sergio approached, Nico quickly swerved into his path. 

          We also had some drivers gaining air while launching off of the Kerb at Turn 4. Many drivers have expressed their concerns about the kerb at that corner and apparently there are some plans to change it to make it a bit safer.

    Marussia, Lotus & Sauber all had some issues, with Chilton spinning out, Sutil losing power in the car and Maldonado having damage to the floor of the chassis after the kerb-launch caused the car to come back down on to the surface of the circuit, very heavily and abruptly.

      Lets go ahead and get to those times.

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:34.325 / Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg - 1:34.690 / Mercedes
3. Fernando Alonso - 1:35.360 / Ferrari
4. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:35.433 / Redbull
5. Felipe Massa - 1:35.442 / Williams
6. Jenson Button - 1:35.528 / McLaren
7. Sebastian Vettel - 1:35.606 / Redbull
8. Daniil Kvyat - 1:35.640 / Toro Rosso
9. Kevin Magnussen - 1:35.662 / McLaren
10. Sergio Perez - 1:35.802 / Force India
11. Valtteri Bottas - 1:35.920 / Williams
12. Jean-Eric Vergne - 1:35.972 / Toro Rosso
13. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:35.998 / Force India
14. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:36.366 / Ferrari
15. Adrian Sutil - 1:36.962 / Sauber
16. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:36.975 / Sauber
17. Pastor Maldonado - 1:37.259 / Lotus
18. Romain Grosjean - 1:37.599 / Lotus
19. Jules Bianchi - 1:37.800 / Marussia
20. Max Chilton - 1:38.247 / Marussia
21. Kamui Kobayashi - 1:38.257 / Caterham
22. Marcus Ericsson - 1:39.136 / Caterham


Free Practice #3 is going on right now and I'm doing Live-Commentary-Coverage on my twitter @F1Insider78 - Come join for all the action and fun, and don't forget to say "Hi.".

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.
No Copyright Infringement Intended. 

Adrian Sutil angry over Weight Restrictions

 (I do not own this photo. Photo Credit To: Rachf1.com)


     Current Sauber F1 Team driver, Adrian Sutil, has been very open about criticizing the current Formula 1 Weight Rescticitons.

     Sutil, who is among the other taller drivers has opened up about the dangerous aspects of having to lose weight at his height, for the benefit of the car going faster. The German driver, who drove for team Sahara Force India last year, has been quoted for saying that he is not driving with a water bottle in his car for this season. This is quite a dangerous task, as some drivers may lose up to 12 pounds during a race from constant sweating and need to be constantly re-hydrating.

        His team-mate, Esteban Gutierrez is also one of the taller drivers, along with Nico Hulkenberg and Jenson Button. All four of them undergo vigorous training routines and hardcore diets just to maintain a weight that's suitable for their car. The shorter drivers don't have as much of a problem, as they are naturally thinner for their height. Because of this, not many people/drivers want to call for a change in weight limits. 

         In the future, we could see the weight limit raised if drivers are becoming dizzy and/or passing out during the sessions. The bottom-line is that as it stand right now, the restrictions are dangerous and could cause serious harm to the drivers.


Article Written By: Amy Hawk.
No Copyright Infringement Intended.

Bahrain GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Marussia

Next quotes are from the Marussia F1 Team!

Jules Bianchi - "This has not been the best start to the season for me and I am hoping that Bahrain will be a case of ‘third time lucky’. Malaysia was disappointing for me but there is no point dwelling on what has passed because we need to have the focus on the next race, which is what I have been doing. We are perhaps better prepared here because of the work we did in pre-season testing, so we have to take that as a positive, and I am looking forward to the first night race to be held here. I really enjoy the flow of this track and I think its characteristics will help us at this early stage of the season when we are still learning a lot from the new package and how to get the best out of it."

Max Chilton - "On the one hand, this weekend is quite a quick turnaround for the Team, but at least we are returning to a track we visited only recently in pre-season testing, so we have a good engineering basis for the week ahead. I like Sakhir, so it will be interesting to race here in the different conditions presented by a night race; I do like a challenging race, but it would be good to achieve a better outcome this weekend. As ever, you learn a lot from the races that are most difficult, so I hope we can take the lessons from Malaysia and use them to improve here. They will be small steps but in the right direction."

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.
No Copyright Infringement Intended.
Quotes made by Drivers.