2014 Season Re-Cap & Stats

Whether you watched a few races or watched them all - 2014 brought ultimate racing action. Trophies were held high, cars were wrecked and personalities ran strong throughout the 19-race season of the Formula 1 World Championship. 

It's time to take a short look back at each race and go over the stats and outcome. 

Australia: This season the races kicked off down under in Australia: As per usual, a fantastic race was supplied. The race did its job of giving us a clue as to who would be where in the end standings. Although, obviously, very early in the season to be making any predictions, with Nico Rosberg's win, the standards of Mercedes became quite clear. One of the biggest talked about moments was Daniel Ricciardo's disqualification of his 2nd place finish due to a breech in the rules.

1st: Nico Rosberg
2nd: Kevin Magnussen
3rd: Jenson Button
Last Point: Sergio Perez
Fastest Lap: Nico Rosberg
Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton
Retirements: Daniel Ricciardo (Disqualified), Kamui Kobayashi (Collision), Felipe Massa (Collision), Lewis Hamilton (Engine Failure), Sebastian Vettel (Engine Failure), Marcus Ericsson (Oil Pressure), Pastor Maldonado (Power Unit), Romain Grosjean (Power Unit)

Malaysia: In Malaysia, Lewis Hamilton came back fighting and winning the GP, leading from lights out. It suddenly became clear that neither Mercedes drivers were going to let the other win.

With both the Mercedes flying away at the front, other drivers were finding the new cars and rules hard to adapt to. Both Saubers for example, retired in the race in comparison to their finishes in the previous race. This illustrated all the development left to happen throughout the season.

1st: Lewis Hamilton
2nd: Nico Rosberg
3rd: Sebastian Vettel
Last Point: Daniil Kvyat
Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton
Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton
Retirements: Sergio Perez (Did Not Start - Gearbox), Pastor Maldonado (Power Unit), Jules Bianchi (Brakes), Jean-Eric Vergne (Turbo), Adrian Sutil (Power Unit), Esteban Gutierrez (Gearbox), Daniel Ricciardo (Wing Damage)

Bahrain: Lewis Hamilton won this race, making it his second win of the season. Reinforcing the Mercedes power with speed and reliability. The only question hanging above the team was how long these victories would last.

Perhaps the biggest occurrence of this race was the accident between Lotus driver, Pastor Maldonado and Sauber driver, Esteban Gutierrez. Gutierrez was sent head-over-heels after Maldonado drove into the side of him upon exiting the pit-lane. The younger driver was taken to the hospital for precautionary checks and was later released, unharmed.

1st: Lewis Hamilton
2nd: Nico Rosberg
3rd: Sergio Perez
Last Point: Kimi Raikkonen
Fastest Lap: Nico Rosberg
Pole Position: Nico Rosberg
Retirements: Adrian Sutil (Collision), Jean-Eric Vergne (Collision Damage), Marcus Ericsson (Oil Leak), Esteban Gutierrez (Accident), Kevin Magnussen (Clutch), Jenson Button (Clutch)

China: Lewis once again, stole a win and lead from start to finish as he began to truly show his dominance for the season. However, the race was ended on lap 54 as it ran over the 2 hour allowance. The loss of a lap didn't make a particularly massive difference however as the leader was truly ahead of the rest. It seemed the real race was for third place rather than first and second.

1st: Lewis Hamilton
2nd: Nico Rosberg
3rd: Fernando Alonso
Last Point: Daniil Kvyat
Fastest Lap: Nico Rosberg
Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton
Retirements: Adrian Sutil (Engine Failure), Romain Grosjean (Gearbox)

Spain: Lewis Hamilton took home his fourth victory at the Circuit De Barcelona-Catalunya. He was clearly unstoppable. As mentioned before, the new car were in need of a lot of work. Updates began flooding into the pit-lane on the weekend of the race. Teams were eager to make their cars more reliable and to do their best to catch the Silver Arrows.

1st: Lewis Hamilton
2nd: Nico Rosberg
3rd: Daniel Ricciardo
Last Point: Nico Hulkenberg
Fastest Lap: Sebastian Vettel
Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton
Retirements: Jean-Eric Vergne (Exhaust), Kamui Kobayashi (Brakes)

Monaco: As usual, Monaco put a twist in the tale and for a change, Nico Rosberg won the race. This was not a welcome turn for Lewis as this is where their relationship as team-mates turned a bit sour. The podium was perhaps the most awkward of the season.

But of course, what would Monaco be without a few bumps? Whether you've been in Formula 1 for 10 years or 10 weeks, the circuit has the potential to catch you out.

1st: Nico Rosberg
2nd: Lewis Hamilton
3rd: Daniel Ricciardo
Last Point: Kevin Magnussen
Fastest Lap: Kimi Raikkonen
Pole Position: Nico Rosberg
Retirements: Pastor Maldonado (Did Not Start - Fuel Pump), Sergio Perez (Collision Damage), Sebastian Vettel (Turbo), Daniil Kvyat (Exhaust), Adrian Sutil (Accident), Jean-Eric Vergne (Exhaust), Valtteri Bottas (Engine Failure), Esteban Gutierrez (Accident)

Canada: This race ended up a bit differently than the last few, as it wasn't Hamilton or Rosberg on top. It was none other than Australia's Daniel Ricciardo. This was not only an incredible accomplishment for the driver but a great bit of news for Red Bull - As their choice of bringing Ricciardo to the team seemed to be paying off, bringing them their first taste of victory for the season. Would it be their only taste though?

This was not the only surprise of the race as on the last lap there was contact between Felipe Massa and Sergio Perez. Sebastian Vettel managed to narrowly avoid the accident as the two cars touched and were unable to finish. Luckily both drivers escaped without injury.

1st: Daniel Ricciardo
2nd: Nico Rosberg
3rd: Sebastian Vettel
Last Point: Kimi Raikkonen
Fastest Lap: Felipe Massa
Pole Position: Nico Rosberg
Retirements: Jules Bianchi (Collision), Max Chilton (Collision), Marcus Ericsson (Oil Leak), Pastor Maldonado (Power Unit), Kamui Kobayashi (Suspension Failure), Lewis Hamilton (Brakes), Daniil Kvyat (Drive Shaft), Romain Grosjean (Rear Wing Damage), Esteban Gutierrez (Power Unit), Felipe Massa (Collision - Qualified as finished), Sergio Perez (Collision - Qualified as finished)

Austria: This race brought Rosberg's third win of the season. It seemed he was catching Hamilton up on the competition. Congratulations were in order for Williams' Felipe Massa as he achieved his first pole position since 2008. However, it was Massa's younger team-mate, Valtteri Bottas who finished on the podium.

1st: Nico Rosberg
2nd: Lewis Hamilton
3rd: Valtteri Bottas
Last Point: Kimi Raikkonen
Fastest Lap: Sergio Perez
Pole Position: Felipe Massa
Retirements: Daniil Kvyat (Suspension), Sebastian Vettel (Electronics), Jean-Eric Vergne (Brakes)

Great Britain: The crowds were especially happy after this race as Lewis Hamilton brought a win home for the fans from his country. The celebrations were especially significant as he won starting from 6th place, which is his win from his lowest starting position.

However, it wasn't a dream race for everyone, as on lap 1, Kimi Raikkonen spun out and bounced off the barrier before sliding across the circuit and hitting the wall on the other side. Most of the drivers got past unscathed. All but Massa, who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Both him and Raikkonen were forced to retire from the race.

1st: Lewis Hamilton
2nd: Valtteri Bottas
3rd: Daniel Ricciardo
Last Point: Jean-Eric Vergne
Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton
Pole Position: Nico Rosberg
Retirements: Kimi Raikkonen (Accident), Felipe Massa (Collision), Esteban Gutierrez (Collision Damage), Marcus Ericsson (Suspension Failure), Nico Rosberg (Gearbox), Pastor Maldonado (Exhaust)

Germany: With one Mercedes driver having just accomplished his home win, it was only expcted that the second one would. And he did. Nico Rosberg drove to victory in front of his home crowd in Germany. This win was very beneficial to him as he increased his lead on British team-mate, Lewis Hamilton. Rosberg had a new confidence entering the next race.

1st: Nico Rosberg
2nd: Valtteri Bottas
3rd: Lewis Hamilton
Last Point: Sergio Perez
Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton
Pole Position: Nico Rosberg
Retirements: Felipe Massa (Collision), Romain Grosjean (Water Leak), Daniil Kvyat (Oil Leak), Adrian Sutil (Spun Off)

Hungary: Daniel Ricciardo found himself on top of the podium in Hungary, for the second time this season it was him who took the victory. The only thing that dampened the mood was the rain that greeted the teams. The track was so wet that every single one of the drivers had to start on Intermediate tyres. The track dried up a bit towards the end of the race, allowing drivers to change strategies and get adventurous, but as you know.. A wet Grand Prix is one spent perched on the edge of your seat.

1st: Daniel Ricciardo
2nd: Fernando Alonso
3rd: Lewis Hamilton
Last Point: Jenson Button
Fastest Lap: Nico Rosberg
Pole Position: Nico Rosberg
Retirements: Marcus Ericsson (Collision), Romain Grosjean (Spun Off), Nico Hulkenberg (Collision), Sergio Perez (Accident), Kamui Kobayashi (Fuel System), Esteban Gutierrez (Electrical)

Belgium: Once again, Ricciardo was on the podium. With three wins, (and two of them back to back), Ricciardo was really beginning to shine. At this point, he'd definitely started to get people excited for his future in the sport.

Despite his win, the biggest surprise of the race was the contact between the two Mercedes drivers. On lap 2, on the entry of Les Combes, the team-mates touched, resulting in a puncture for Hamilton.

1st: Daniel Ricciardo
2nd: Nico Rosberg
3rd: Valtteri Bottas
Last Point: Nico Hulkenberg
Fastest Lap: Nico Rosberg
Pole Position: Nico Rosberg
Retirements: Pastor Maldonado (Exhaust), Andre Lotterer (Electrical), Romain Grosjean (Power Unit), Lewis Hamilton (Collision Damage), Jules Bianchi (Gearbox)

Italy: Being one of the most famous races in the season, Monza had a lot to deliver and it did not disappoint. Except for the Ferrari fans who were saddened by the retirement of Fernando Alonso.

However, Lewis Hamilton won the race after a spectacular battle. He overtook his team-mate as Rosberg missed the chicane. This happened on more than one occasion. The win was deserved as Hamilton has been on top all weekend. He qualified on pole and set the fastest lap.

1st: Lewis Hamilton
2nd: Nico Rosberg
3rd: Felipe Massa
Last Point: Kevin Magnussen
Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton
Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton
Retirements: Max Chilton (Accident), Fernando Alonso (Engine Failure)

Singapore: In Singapore a lot of action took place in the formation lap. Rosberg's car stalled on the formation and after his team managed to restart the car, he began the race from the pit-lane. He wasn't the only one with unfortunate luck. Kamui Kobayashi couldn't even start the race due to electrical issues.

1st: Lewis Hamilton
2nd: Sebastian Vettel
3rd: Daniel Ricciardo
Last Point: Kevin Magnussen
Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton
Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton
Retirements: Kamui Kobayashi (Did Not Start - Power Unit), Nico Rosberg (Wiring Loom), Esteban Gutierrez (Electrical), Adrian Sutil (Water Leak), Jenson Buton (Power Box)

Japan: This was perhaps the most shocking race of the season, and not in a good way. In Japan, the weather was more than bad as a Typhoon was hitting around the location of the circuit, making the conditions wet and dangerous. Things sometimes end badly during wet races and it was Marussia's Jules Bianchi who suffered an unfortunate accident.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with him and his family as he continues to recover.

1st: Lewis Hamilton
2nd: Nico Rosberg
3rd: Sebastian Vettel
Last Point: Sergio Perez
Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton
Pole Position: Nico Rosberg
Retirements: Fernando Alonso (Electronics), Adrian Sutil (Accident), Jules Bianchi (Accident)

Russia: This race was the first ever race at the new Sochi track in Russia. However, it seemed the surface was a little too smooth as wear on the tyres was almost non-existent. If the drivers didn't need to use both required compounds, they may have not even pitted.

Before the race, however.. The drivers stood in a linked circle at the front of the grid for a silent moment for their absent friend and driver, Jules Bianchi. It was a touching moment, reminding us all, that even if you're fighting for first or fighting for that last point.. At the end of the day, everyone comes together to stand united.

1st: Lewis Hamilton
2nd: Nico Rosberg
3rd: Valtteri Bottas
Last Point: Sergio Perez
Fastest Lap: Valtteri Bottas
Pole Position: Lewis Hamilton
Retirements: Max Chilton (Suspension Failure), Kamui Kobayashi (Brakes)

United States: In America, there were two teams missing due to financial issues, both Marussia and Caterham were given permission to miss the race. Th two teams remained absent in the next race as well. Marussia's return looks less than likely while the future of Caterham is still not confirmed for 2015.

1st: Lewis Hamilton
2nd: Nico Rosberg
3rd: Daniel Ricciardo
Last Point: Jean-Eric Vergne
Fastest Lap: Sebastian Vettel
Pole Position: Nico Rosberg
Retirements: Adrian Sutil (Collision), Sergio Perez (Collision), Nico Hulkenberg (Engine Failure)

Brazil: It was time for the penultimate race of the season and the drivers championship was due to be decided at the end of the last race. In Brazil, all was still to play for. The race ended in another 1-2 finish for Mercedes. On top of the two was Nico Rosberg. It seemed he was entering the final race with the psychological advantage.

1st: Nico Rosberg
2nd: Lewis Hamilton
3rd: Felipe Massa
Last Point: Valtteri Bottas
Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton
Pole Position: Nico Rosberg
Retirements: Daniel Ricciardo (Suspension Failure), Romain Grosjean (Power Unit - Qualified As Finished)

Abu Dhabi: This race featured everyone's favourite controversial topic! Double Points! Despite this, there was everything to race for as Rosberg and Hamilton went head-to-head for the last time of the 2014 Season.

Hamilton won in the end but unfortunately Rosberg wasn't able to give much of a fight due to reliability issues. However, Rosberg deserves praise as when he was told he could retire the car, he asked to continue the race and finish. Additionally, after he race, the team-mates managed to put their feud aside as they congratulated each other.

1st: Lewis Hamilton
2nd: Felipe Massa
3rd: Valtteri Bottas
Last Point: Kimi Raikkonen
Fastest Lap: Daniel Ricciardo
Pole Position: Nico Rosberg
Retirements: Daniil Kvyat (Power Unit), Pastor Maldonado (Power Unit), Kamui Kobayashi (Vibrations)

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Article Written By: Frances Fry
Edited By: Amy Hawk
No Copyright Infringement Intended
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Caterham & Marussia could miss Austin and Brazil

With just a week to go before the US GP at COTA in Austin, Texas - It is looking more and more likely that we won't be seeing Caterham or Marussia lining up on the grid for Sunday's race. In fact, the teams may not arrive in Texas at all.

Caterham is currently dealing with legal matters involving the former and current owners. Tony Fernandes who sold the team back in June of this year, claims that  the buyers did not comply with the conditions that were agreed upon when he sold Caterham F1 Team. However, the buyers insist they've paid. 

Tony went to Twitter and very bluntly tweeted the following: "If you buy something you should pay for it. Quite simple"

The tweet caused even more of a stir for the already struggling team. With all the chaos going on, the Caterham factory locked its doors, not allowing any work to go on inside. Now, they're facing the harsh possibility of missing not only the US GP, but the Brazilian GP as well.

The running of the team now lies in the hands of administrators, a firm called 'Smith & Williamson' located in London.

As for Marussia, they've already been going through enough drama lately with the aftermath of Jules Bianchi's crash at Suzuka.

Now they're struggling with financial issues. There has even been multiple claims that Andrej Cheglakov, the current owner, wants to sell the team.

If both teams are unable to attend next weekend's GP, we'll be seeing just 18 cars on the grid, making it the first time since only 18 lined up for the 2005 Grand Prix of Monaco.

More to come in the following days.

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#ForzaJules

Russian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Caterham

Preview Quotes: Caterham

Kamui Kobayashi - "It's always extremely exciting to race at a new circuit - I had a chance to do a few laps of this new Russian circuit in Sochi with the Codemasters 2014 F1 Game in Suzuka last week and, even though it was a video game, it seemed like an interesting circuit because of its mix of corners, some of them very tight, and high speed sections. I am looking forward to driving there in real life. It will be an interesting challenge for us all and we will do our best. Our thoughts are also with Jules and his family at this difficult time."

Marcus Ericsson - "First of all my thoughts are still with Jules and his family. It will be a weekend of mixed emotions, but it's going to be interesting here in Russia and a race I'm really looking forward to. This will be my first time racing in this country and at this newly-built track. It looks a bit like a street circuit because in a few areas the walls seem very close to the track - I like this type of circuit, street circuits seem to suit me: in Monaco I matched the team's best result and two races ago in Singapore I raced one of my best Grands Prix in F1, so I hope we can add this weekend to the list. I'm feeling much more confident this second half of the season and, together with the team, we are steadily improving race after race. We can be happy with the progress made and now we need to make sure we continue to build on the positives and get the most out of the weekend ahead."

Roberto Merhi (Driving in FP1) - "I'm very much looking forward to my third FP1 outing with Caterham F1 Team this weekend in Sochi. I feel much more comfortable in the car and this gives me more and more confidence when I drive out of the garage each time. This is my second time in Russia this year, but my first time in Sochi - it's a country that definitely brings me good memories, as back in July I won the first Formula Renault 3.5 race of the weekend at the Moscow Raceway. The Sochi layout looks like a great one to drive - it will be interesting to see what it feels like to drive for the first time."

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#ForzaJules

Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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

Free Practice 2 - Re-Cap & Results: 

Second session of the weekend is now finished and once again, no major signs of the Typhoon. There was some light rain at the end of the session, but everything else was OK.

However, there was a lot of accidents in this session. Kamui Kobayashi, Esteban Gutierrez and Daniel Ricciardo all had mishaps where their car ended up in the barriers. It was mostly due to the rears either locking up or sliding out. All drivers were unharmed. The cars, however, not so much. Lots of work will take place before Free Practice 3, tomorrow.

Jean-Eric Vergne was able to go out, but his session was halted after 3 laps, when his car stopped. After some work, he was back out until 3 minutes remained in the session, then his car stopped again an that was session over for everybody due to it being Red Flagged to retrieve JEV's car.

It was another Mercedes 1-2 at Suzuka and both Lewis and Nico look strong for this weekend, however, Ferrari is looking strong as well.

Here are the times from this session.

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:35.078 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Nico Rosberg - 1:35.318 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Valtteri Bottas - 1:36.279 / Williams-Mercedes

4. Jenson Button - 1:36.409 / McLaren-Mercedes

5. Sebastian Vettel - 1:36.436 / Red Bull-Renault

6. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:36.529 / Ferrari-Ferrari

7. Fernando Alonso - 1:36.637 / Ferrari-Ferrari

8. Kevin Magnussen - 1:36.714 / McLaren-Mercedes

9. Daniil Kvyat - 1:36.943 / Toro Rosso-Renault

10. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:37.186 / Red Bull-Renault

11. Jean-Eric Vergne - 1:37.219 / Toro Rosso-Renault

12. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:37.504 / Force India-Mercedes

13. Romain Grosjean - 1:37.563 / Lotus-Renault

14. Felipe Massa - 1:37.700 / Williams-Mercedes

15. Sergio Perez - 1:37.786 / Force India-Mercedes

16. Pastor Maldonado - 1:37.798 / Lotus-Renault

17. Adrian Sutil - 1:38.010 / Sauber-Ferrari

18. Esteban Gutierrez - 1:38.365 / Sauber-Ferrari

19. Marcus Ericsson - 1:39.069 / Caterham-Renault

20. Jules Bianchi - 1:39.306 / Marussia-Ferrari

21. Max Chilton - 1:39.333 / Marussia-Ferrari

22. Kamui Kobayashi - 1:42.760 / Caterham-Renault

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

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Japanese GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Caterham

Preview Quotes - Caterham:

Kamui Kobayashi - “I’m very excited to be back in front of all my Japanese fans and racing at Suzuka; I’ve been waiting for this race for over a year. The Japanese Grand Prix and Suzuka have always been very special for me: it’s where I experienced my first F1 Free Practice sessions back in 2009 and where I also achieved my first ever Formula 1 podium finish in 2012 and, this year, I am able to come back to Suzuka thanks to the support I received from my fans. This means a lot to me and I would like to thank them all once again. I only have positive feelings going into this weekend. Unfortunately, this year I have to admit that I won’t be fighting for a podium, but I will do my best to reward my fans with a strong performance in order to thank them for their enormous support - I look forward to meeting them all there.”

Marcus Ericsson - “I can’t wait to go back to Japan for my first Formula One race! It’s a country that brings back very good memories - I won the Japanese Formula Three championship there back in 2009, becoming the first Swede to win this title. Suzuka is also one of my favourite Japanese circuits and during my successful Japanese F3 season I managed to be on pole, win the race and set the fastest lap there; it’s a track I know very well. This will be the first time I drive it in a Formula 1 car and I look forward to racing through the high-speed corners. It’s a very demanding and challenging circuit, but that’s what makes it even more fun and one of the best tracks in the world. After a very positive end to the weekend in Singapore where we were able to stay ahead of our main competitors, I’m hoping to continue fighting out on track and make the most out of the weekend ahead in Japan. The good results are making me feel even more confident every time I get in the car; we need to make sure we make the most of the next five races and build on this momentum.”

Roberto Merhi (Driving in FP1) - “I’m very happy to be driving in another FP1 session with Caterham F1 Team. I want to thank the team for this opportunity - after my first outing a month ago in Italy, I am now looking forward to another 90 minutes in the car. I will not be starting from zero like last time, so I will be able to get up to speed quicker. I have never driven in Japan, so I will need to learn the track at the same time as I continue to get used to the car, but it’s a dream come true to be able to drive at such a special track like Suzuka, I just can’t wait for it to be Friday!"

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk.

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Quotes belong to drivers.

Singapore GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Caterham

Preview Quotes - Caterham

Kamui Kobayashi - "I always like the Singapore Grand Prix because it's a night race and its festive atmosphere is definitely one of the highlights of the season. It's a very technical track, with lots of changes of direction, and it's a challenging race for everyone. After finishing ahead of our closest rivals in Italy, I look forward to another good fight out on track in Singapore - it will be good to see what we are capable of with the updated car at the Marina Bay Street Circuit - at street circuits anything can happen and we need to make sure we do our best."

Marcus Ericsson - "Singapore is one of my favourite cities and I cannot wait for my first Formula One night race experience. It's a circuit I know quite well - I've finished on the podium every time I've raced there with GP2, so it brings back very good memories. The track is bumpy and it reminds me a lot of Monaco, even though the Singapore layout is much more physical and requires double the amount of energy over a single lap compared to Monte Carlo. The heat and humidity also make it a tough race weekend, but I've been training hard to make sure I am ready for the challenge and I look forward to the weekend ahead."

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk.
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Quotes made by Drivers.

Caterham CEO Resigns

After only 9 weeks of taking over as CEO and Team Principal of the Renault-powered Caterham F1 Team, Christijan Albers has resigned. Albers had taken over for former owner, Tony Fernandez who sold the team a few months ago.

Manfredi Ravetto stepped in upon Albers' departure with effect taken immediately.

While Albers was extremely descriptive on why he was parting ways, he however did put out the following:

"Due to private reasons and in order to be able to spend more time with my family, I will resign from my position as CEO of Caterham F1 Team. I wish the team all the best in the future."

Caterham currently stands 11th in the 2014 Constructors Standings and has not scored any points between the two current drivers, Kamui Kobashi from Japan and Marcus Ericsson from Sweden.

More to come.

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

Italian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Caterham

Preview Quotes - Caterham

Kamui Kobayashi - "I am working for Caterham F1 Team and I always respect team decisions. Now I am back in the car and looking forward to going racing again! We have worked hard as a team and added performance to the car as well as bringing new updates since I last drove in Hungary before the summer break, so I'm looking forward to feeling the updates on track here in Monza. I always enjoy the Italian GP, not only because of its high-speed nature; I also like the Italian fans, they are always very enthusiastic and a very big part of the Italian GP weekend. They create a very special atmosphere."

Marcus Ericsson - "I always enjoy racing at such a legendary circuit as Monza, where I scored one of my 13 GP2 podium finishes, but to do it for the first time driving a Formula One car is going to be even more special. I can't wait to get out on track: the long straights and fast corners mean that we are on full-throttle for most of the lap; it's a fantastic high-speed layout – in fact it's the circuit with the highest top speed of the season, so maximum power and minimal drag will be key.

After a solid race in Belgium, we need to build on the progress we made with the car and continue to work in this direction. We aim to fight against our nearest rivals and it will surely be another close battle I am ready for."

Roberto Merhi (Driving in FP1) - "I am delighted to be taking part in my first ever Formula One Free Practice session and I want to thank Caterham F1 Team for this opportunity – it's something I've wanted for a very long time! I've been working very closely with the team during the last few weeks and I feel ready for this opportunity; Friday is going to be a very special day for me and one I will never forget. Monza is also one of my favourite tracks – I ended up on the podium there earlier this year during my first race of the season in the Formula Renault 3.5 championship, so it's a circuit that will bring back very good memories. What a year it's been so far: last Christmas I didn't really know if I was going to carry on racing and now I'm about to drive a Formula One car! I'm definitely going to make the most out of this weekend in Italy."

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk

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Quotes made by Drivers.

Belgian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Caterham

Preview Quotes - Caterham

Andre Lotterer - "I am delighted to be given the opportunity to take part in a Formula One race weekend - I want to thank Caterham F1 Team for this chance. I'm ready for this challenge and I cannot wait to jump in the car and make the most out of the weekend ahead. I will need to get settled and used to the car quickly, as the team has worked on a number of updates and we will need to have as much time as possible out on track to optimise the car's performance. I really enjoy racing at the legendary circuit of Spa-Francorchamps, it's one of my favourite tracks and it's very close to where I grew up, so this makes the weekend even more special and one to remember."

Marcus Ericsson - "Spa is one of the races I've been most looking forward to since we first announced my F1 drive back in January. I love the track, it's been a very good circuit for me, especially in the last couple of years in GP2 when I won in 2012 and was on the podium last year, so it'll be good to be back, this time in an F1 car. We're aiming to make real progress in Belgium, and that will make the whole weekend even better for the team and for me. We haven't had new parts on the car for quite a while, so to be coming to a track like Spa with a package that gives us a chance to take a step forward, that's a good feeling, but we're taking nothing for granted. We have a lot of work ahead of us to get the most out of that parts but everyone is prepared for that and if we achieve what we're setting out to, and have good reliability, it could be a really good weekend for us."

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

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Quotes made by Drivers.

Andre Lotterer will drive for Caterham for Belgian GP Weekend

(Image credit goes to: www.flickr.com - All rights belong to the owner.)

This weekend at Spa, Kamui Kobayashi will not drive for Caterham, but instead, the Renault-powered team has brought in 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Andre Lotterer.

Andre will drive all 3 days in Spa and then Kobayashi will return for the Grand Prix of Italy. It is unsure at the moment if Andre could take Kobayashi's place on the team in 2015, but for now, he will make his F1 Debut at one of the most loved circuits on the calendar.

Caterham is also bringing a new nose to the Belgian GP weekend, saying it is part of a 'Package' that they'll be debuting. 

More info to come.

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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Photo belongs to: www.flickr.com - All rights go to owner.)

Alexander Rossi joins Marussia as Reserve

Rossi joins Marussia F1 Team as new Reserve Driver. 

Recently long term Caterham boss Tony Fernandez sold the team to a Swiss and Middle Eastern Consortium. Former Dutch F1 driver Christijan Albers is taking over the running of the team. This is not the only change to have occurred. The team have let over 40 of their staff go. Perhaps one of the most shocking one would be the departure of their reserve driver, Alexander Rossi. His vacated seat at Caterham's GP2 racing team is to be filled by Tom Dillmann. 

You may be wondering who Alexander Rossi is. Well, let me enlighten you. Rossi is a Californian born aspiring Formula 1 driver.  Previously, he has been reserve and test driver at other F1 teams, including Sahara Force India. In addition to being reserve driver at the recently sold team, he also drove for them in GP2. He also instantly departed this seat. It is unknown as to why Rossi left the team so swiftly. Whether he chose to leave or whether he was dismissed is a question that has not been answered. 

Rossi didn't hang around without a team. Not days after his departure from Caterham had he been signed at his previous team's championship rival, Marussia who have recently scored their first ever championship points.  Again, not only is he their reserve driver but he is now racing for GP2 team Campos. 

He has been linked to the future American Haas team. They hope to join the grid in 2016. But for now, you an remain assured that Rossi has a reserve drivers seat and is still searching for his chance to drive in an actual race in Formula 1. Lets hope he gets there but for now, lets wait and see. 

Article Written By: Frances Fry

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Hungarian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Caterham

Preview Quotes - Caterham

Kamui Kobayashi - “The last race before the August break is Hungary, another really popular race with both fans and everyone in F1. For me one of my best memories of the Hungarian GP is 2010, the first time I raced on this track in F1. I had a grid penalty for something so had to start on the last row, in 23rd, but I overtook about six or seven cars on the first lap and then finished in the points! I think we’re realistic enough to know that probably won’t be possible this year, but we’ll still go there ready to fight as hard as we can, and hopefully come away with something positive. On track the Hungaroring isn’t one of the most challenging circuits we race on, but one of the keys to a good time is to find a rhythm, especially in sector two. You need to let the corners flow, one after the other, and with the high temperatures we usually have there and the tyre choice being soft and mediums, tyre management will be even more important than normal.”

Marcus Ericsson - “Straight on to Hungary after the German GP and another chance to take the fight to the cars ahead. For the last couple of races I’ve had a few issues that compromised my race before it started, so I’m targeting a clean weekend with maximum track time, especially in quali after what happened in Hockenheim. I’ve always had great support in Hungary. It’s one of the races a lot of Swedish fans come to and after seeing so many Swedish flags in Germany I’m looking forward to the same at the Hungaroring. This time I want to give them something to cheer for all weekend, especially on Sunday, so it’s important we have good reliability across the whole package, giving us the chance to fight in quali and race properly on Sunday.”

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German GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Caterham

Preview Quotes - Caterham

Kamui Kobayashi - "The last two races before the summer break are Germany and Hungary, both tracks I like but in particular Hockenheim - I have been testing and racing at this track so many times throughout my carrier since I came to Europe. So, in a way, this is one of my home tracks! The German Grand Prix, whether it's at Hockenheim or Nurburgring, always has fantastic support from the fans. It's like Silverstone and the atmosphere, especially on Sunday at Hockenheim, is amazing! For us this will be another race where we aim to fight back against our nearest rivals. We did not see the full performance of the cars in Silverstone for various reasons, particularly for me as I had issues with the car on both Friday and Saturday. Then on Sunday I lost a chunk of downforce when I had to go off-track to avoid the shunt on lap one - that cost me so much lap time. So, I did not have a proper drive throughout the whole weekend! But I'm determined to make sure that all the problems are now gone and I'm ready to fight back in Germany and Hungary."

Marcus Ericsson - "Germany is one of the races I've been really looking forward to. I know the track well as I've raced there in GP2 and I think it'll be a great challenge in a 2014 F1 car – there's a good mix of really quick bits and some slower corners where you can overtake, and the noise the German fans make all weekend is amazing! Actually, it's one of the races that a lot of Swedish fans make it to, so seeing my country's flags in the crowd - that'll make it even more special. Inside the car I think we know it's going to be another challenging weekend for us in terms of the pure pace, but the team learnt a lot from the two day test we did in Silverstone after the British GP and we'll be looking to put that into practice on track. The key thing for me is to make sure we have maximum mileage all weekend, especially on Sunday when we need to be there at the end of the race. We've seen this year that the races are very unpredictable and for us that can create opportunities, but if we're not on track when the chequered flag falls we can't take advantage of whatever's happening around us, so that's the main goal."

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

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British GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Caterham

Preview Quotes - Caterham

Kamui Kobayashi - “The British Grand Prix is our second home race of the season and one everybody likes for many reasons! For the drivers it’s a good challenge as it’s one of the classic circuits, and the fans love it as there are so many F1 supporters in the UK. I am always amazed at how enthusiastic British motorsport fans are and I am excited about seeing them - It’s one of the good ones. On track we’re obviously aiming to pick up from where we were in Austria. I’ve been speaking to the guys at the factory a lot since they returned from Austria and we think that we can start with the good baseline setup on Friday. We’ve had a chance to look in much more detail at the data from Austria and know where we need to go to cut the gap even more and that’s the goal. With the improved reliability we had at the last race, and the nature of the Silverstone circuit, I think it could be a good weekend for us. Whatever happens, I’m sure the fans will enjoy every second, and our aim is to give those in green something to cheer for.”

Marcus Ericsson - “Next it’s my first British Grand Prix as an F1 driver at one of the great circuits of the season, Silverstone. I understand it’s the 50th anniversary of the race this year and there’s obviously so much history about the place - honestly it’ll be an honour to race there in its 50th year and I’m sure it’ll be a special weekend for everyone taking part. I’ve obviously raced at Silverstone many times before.  I was on the podium back in 2011 in GP2 and one of the things that really makes Silverstone stand out is the fans. It’s like Austria was last week, and Germany and a few other races - it’s packed right from Thursday morning until late Sunday night and that makes an amazing atmosphere. The British fans are among the most knowledgeable, passionate fans anywhere, and they absolutely love F1, whatever the weather! For us this is another chance to keep fighting back against our nearest rivals and after we made some progress in Austria we want to pick up where we left off. Silverstone should actually suit the car better than Austria as we’ve been working on improving further the setup that allows us to maximise the aero package, and at a track like Silverstone, where aero performance is crucial, we’re aiming to build on the step forward we made in Austria.”

Robin Frijns (Reserve) - “I’m back in the 2014 car for the first time since Bahrain and excited about getting back in the cockpit and helping us make some progress again, and seeing how the car has developed since early April. I was in our 2010 car a couple of weeks ago at the City Racing event in Kazan, Russia, and that was cool, but the real work is in the current season car in an official session and that’s what Friday morning is all about. The last few races have obviously been pretty tough for the team, but we clearly made some progress in Austria and we think we can do the same again at Silverstone, a track where we should see more from the setups we ran on Saturday and Sunday at the Red Bull Ring. Hopefully the weather will be good, not something that you can ever guarantee in England, but with us being able to use two sets of tyres in FP1 sunshine will help us get the most out of the session, for me and the whole team.”

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

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Austrian GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

What a race, what a race indeed! Coming back to the calendar for the first time since 2003, Austria was quite the fan-packed spectacle everyone had hoped it would be.

Before the race started, it was announced that Romain Grosjean, would start from Pit-Lane after the team changed his gear box and made some other changes on the back of the car. 

While Williams started as the front two, it certainly didn't turn out that way, as Nico Rosberg took the win in Austria, and he was absolutely overjoyed. His team-mate Lewis Hamilton finished Second and appearing on the podium in F1 for the first time, Valtteri Bottas, who secured 3rd! Super big congrats to all three of them, it was superb racing out there.

But the star of the race for us was Sergio Perez, who started in 16th, got a slight advantage when it ended up being 15th after Grosjean's gearbox penalty, and still managed to finish 6th for Force India. His team-mate, Nico Hulkenberg finishe in 9th after a tough battle with Button at the beginning of the race. All-In-All, a total of 10 points for the team. So, big congratulations!

Some people who fell unlucky during the race included both Toro Rosso drivers. Jean-Eric Vergne retired with brake failure and Daniil Kvyat retired with suspension failure after a puncture to his right-rear tyre.

Sebastian Vettel also retired after he lost power in the beginning of the race. Even though he ended up being able to continue, he later hit Esteban Gutierrez and ruined the nose/front wing of the Red Bull. He pitted and had it changed, but later the team announce they were going to retire the car to save mileage.

While Esteban was lucky to not have suffered too much damage from Vettel's hit, he'd already had issues during an earlier pit-stop, when he was released with a wheel not secured. He is now paying for the pit-crew's mistake, taking a 10-Place-Grid-Penalty to Silverstone for the next race. He also recieved a Drive-Through penalty during the race. 

We're not sure how this seems fair, when Maldonado flipped Esteban's car in Bahrain and only recieved a 5-Place-Grid-Penalty. How is it that, that recieved lesser of penalties than a pit-crew's mistake? As we say.. Things in F1 aren't always fair.

Overall, it was a wonderful race and I quite enjoyed seeing Austria for the first time! Here are the results.

RESULTS:

1. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes / Germany / + 25 Points

2. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes / Great Britain / + 18 Points

3. Valtteri Bottas / Williams / Finland / + 15 Points

4. Felipe Massa / Williams / Brazil / + 12 Points

5. Fernando Alonso / Ferrari / Spain / + 10 Points

6. Sergio Perez / Force India / Mexico / + 8 Points

7. Kevin Magnussen / McLaren / Denmark / + 6 Points

8. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull / Australia / + 4 Points

9. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India / Germany / + 2 Points

10. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari / Finland / + 1  Point

11. Jenson Button / McLaren / Great Britain

12. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus / Venezuela

13. Adrian Sutil / Sauber / Germany

14. Romain Grosjean / Lotus / France

15. Jules Bianchi / Marussia / France

16. Kamui Kobayashi / Caterham / Japan

17. Max Chilton / Marussia / Great Britain

18. Marcus Ericsson / Caterham / Sweden

19. Esteban Gutierrez / Sauber / Mexico

- Retired -

Sebastian Vettel / Red Bull / Germany - Retired to protect car.

Jean-Eric Vergne / Toro Rosso / France - Brake Failure

Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso / Russia - Suspension Failure

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As always, thanks for tuning in to our commentary this weekend! On to Silverstone next for the British Grand Prix. After that race, there will be another set of 2-Day In Season Testing, which we will be doing commentary for on Twitter.

Make sure you're following us @F1Insider78

Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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Austrian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Caterham

Quotes from Caterham: 

Kamui Kobyashi - “The Red Bull Ring is a completely new circuit for me. I’ve seen a lot of on-boards of the track and it’ll be a good challenge. It’s quick, some of it really fast, and there’s a couple of big braking zones so, as usual, getting the setup right is going to be crucial. However, until I’ve actually driven there I don’t want to make any predictions about what it’ll be like for us so let’s see when we get on track. Whatever happens, I’m sure it’ll be a good weekend for the fans, and hopefully for us too. To be totally honest we would benefit a lot from a good weekend. We were unlucky again in Canada, with both cars having to retire because of reliability issues, something we’ve been focusing on from our side all year, and something Renault have improved dramatically from the early part of the season. Even though our pace in the early part of the Canadian GP was not where it should have been, our simulations have shown that, had we finished, we’d have been closer to the pack than it may have looked at the point where I had to retire, so this weekend it’s important we cross the line. We have to finish the races so we can be there if and when it counts, and that’s one of the main goals this weekend.”

Marcus Ericsson - "I’ve never raced in Austria before so it’ll be really interesting to go to a brand new track for me, even though I’m well aware of the history of the circuit. A bit like Monaco, Ronnie Peterson won there so it’ll be another race I go to in his footsteps and after Monaco, where I met his daughter Nina, that means even more to me so, honestly, I can’t wait! It’ll also be good to be able to get back in the car after only a few laps of the race in Canada. We’d had a hard weekend until that point anyway, so an early DNF was even more hard to take, but I came straight back to the factory with the boys after the race and everyone just went straight back to work to prepare for the next race. So, Austria and what looks like will be a quick track. It looks relatively simple, but, like everywhere we race, getting the balance right all weekend is a real challenge, especially for the downhill right at turn three and then through four and into the quick lefts at five and six. You’ll need a good flow through there, and for the whole lap, so you can build up a rhythm and really push and that’s what I want to do for the whole weekend. It would be good to leave Austria in a positive note - it’s been a while since we had one and with the big efforts everyone’s putting in across the team the whole time, I think it’s something we could do with.”

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

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Canadian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Caterham

Next quotes come from the Caterham F1 Team drivers, including a quote from reserve/test driver, Alexander Rossi!

Kamui Kobayashi - "Race seven is Montreal in Canada, one of the most popular races of the year and one where the weather can play a very big part in the race. At the moment the forecasts look dry For Friday, Saturday and Sunday but if that changes it could definitely be in our favour and we need to make sure we're ready to take anything that comes our way. I was in the factory last week to start preparations for Canada and even though Monaco didn't end for me as we'd planned, despite us doing everything we could, everyone is still fighting harder than ever. Crazy races like we had last week don't come too often, but when they do we need to be ready and after talking to a lot of the team last week I know that they are all focused on making progress, not looking back at what might have been. On track Canada is a good place to go racing. The local fans are very passionate and knowledgeable - seeing the whole track full on a Thursday with people really excited about F1 being back is great as it shows just what it means to them to have us race in their home town, and that's good for everyone in the sport. I've had a couple of points finishes in Canada in 2011 and 2012 and it would obviously be cool to have the same again this year - as I say, that will probably take a crazy race but if that happens I'll be prepared ready, as will the whole team."

Marcus Ericsson - "This will be my first race in Canada and after everything I've heard about Montreal and the track I can't wait to get started. Even though there were obviously mixed feelings in the team after Monaco, I have to say I was pretty happy with how it went for me. After starting from the pit lane I finished my first ever F1 Monaco GP in 11th, equalling the team's highest ever position and, even with what happened ahead, that could be really important later this season. That sort of finish, in a race where a lot of cars didn't make it to the flag, is all part of my continuing development as an F1 driver, and I'm sure that experience will help me in Canada and for the rest of the season as we keep battling. The actual Canada circuit looks like it'll be a good challenge. It's quick, especially for what is almost a street circuit, we run pretty low downforce as there are several high speed sections and one of the main things we'll be working on in the free practice sessions is braking - we need to make sure the brake cooling is optimised throughout the weekend, and watch brake wear, especially in preparing for the race itself. After Monaco I'm definitely ready to get back to work, and it'll be good to start again at another new track and one which everyone tells me is going to be an amazing race weekend."

Alexander Rossi (Reserve) - "FP1 in Montreal will be my first drive of the year in the 2014 F1 car, but after the amount of laps I've done in the sim with CT05 I'm already pretty familiar with how it'll be inside the cockpit! Obviously it's not quite the same as actually being out on track, but I have a lot of F1 mileage under my belt with the various FP1s and test days I've completed and having driven in FP1 in Canada last year I know I can go straight to work and help the team complete its plan for the session. I'm grateful to Caterham for their continual support with my development as an F1 driver, in the F1 car again in Canada this weekend and Austin later this year. The chances for young drivers like me to be in current-season cars on track are very limited, and obviously every lap counts over a race weekend but the fact the team sees that I can add value from the work I do in the car, and they can keep helping me to learn, shows great support and how committed they are to developing young talent. Now I'm focused on Friday morning. The weather should hopefully be dry so if that stays true we should have a full session run and be out as the green lights come on - if it rains then so be it, I'll still be focused 100 percent on the job the team asks me to do."

Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

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