Sergio Marchionne Passes Away At 66

MARCHIONNE PASSES AWAY AFTER ILLNESS

    Former Ferrari boss Sergio Marchionne has passed away at the age of 66 after a short illness.

    Marchionne, who took over from Luca di Montezemolo as Ferrari chairman in 2014, entered hospital for a shoulder operation, but his health deteriorated rapidly after surgery.

    It was announced earlier this week he wouldn’t be able to return to work, with John Elkann taking over as chairman while Louis C Camilleri took on the role of CEO.

    “Unfortunately, what we feared has come to pass. Sergio Marchionne, man and friend, is gone,” Elkann said in a statement.

    “I believe that the best way to honour his memory is to build on the legacy he left us, continuing to develop the human values of responsibility and openness of which he was an ardent champion.

    My family and I will be forever grateful for what he has done. Our thoughts are with Manuela, and his sons Alessio and Tyler.”

    Marchionne played an essential role in Ferrari’s F1 operation in his four years as CEO and chairman.

    Among his key contributions were the decisions to replace Marco Mattiacci with Maurizio Arrivabene as team principal, and negotiating the Alfa Romeo/Sauber deal.

    He also showed interest in driver line up decisions, and was a supporter of Ferrari junior Charles Leclerc.

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Article Written By: Bethonie Waring

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Ferrari Launch 2018 Car

(Image credit to: Scuderia Ferrari)

    Ferrari has revealed its latest Formula 1 car, the SF71H, ahead of preseason testing.

    Its unchanged driver line-up of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, as well as development driver Daniil Kvyat and Antonio Giovinazzi, were at the launch at the team’s base in Maranello.

    One year into the current set of technical regulations, Ferrari’s 2018 challenger is built on what the team learned last season. It is similar to its predecessor, the most successful Ferrari in recent years, but has a longer wheel base and a revised cooling system.

    Unsurprisingly, Ferrari has stuck with the traditional red livery, including on the mandatory halo head protection device, with the absence of white features differentiating it from its immediate predecessors.

    Also absent is the Santander branding – which has featured on Ferrari machines since 2009 – as the Spanish bank has opted to end its F1 sponsorship deals.

    Like all engine manufacturers, Ferrari has focused on durability this winter as drivers are limited to just three power units this season.

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Ferrari Retains Sebastian Vettel

FERRARI RETAINS SEBASTIAN VETTEL FOR 2018

    Sebastian Vettel has secured his Formula 1 future with Ferrari after brief discussions with Mercedes.

    Vettel’s contract with the Italian team was due to end at the end of this season, but a three-year extension means he will remain at Ferrari until 2021.

    The German had been linked to a possible move to Mercedes but Niki Lauda confirmed they had stopped discussions when it became clear Vettel didn’t want to leave Ferrari.

    The deal means Ferrari will not change its driver line-up for a fourth consecutive season, with Vettel’s team-mate Kimi Raikkonen already confirmed for 2018.

    Vettel joined Ferrari in 2015 and has so far taken seven wins for the Italian teams. This season he became the first Ferrari driver since Fernando Alonso in 2013 to lead a Formula 1 championship.

    He is currently second in the championship just three points behind points leader Lewis Hamilton.

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Ferrari Retains Raikkonen

FERRARI RETAINS RAIKKONEN FOR 2018

    Kimi Raikkonen will race at Ferrari in the 2018 Formula One championship, the Italian team has confirmed.

    Raikkonen’s contract was due to run out at the end of the season, and there was speculation the 2007 champion would retire, 17 years after making his F1 debut with Sauber.

    But Ferrari confirmed in the build up to the Belgian Grand Prix the 37-year-old has extended his contract for another season.

    Raikkonen rejoined Ferrari in 2014, having left the team in 2009. Since then, he has taken 10 podium finishes, including four this season, but hasn’t taken a race win with the Italian team. His last F1 win was with Lotus in 2013.

    Team-mate Sebastian Vettel’s contract is also due to finish this season. It’s expected Ferrari will retain the championship leader, but no announcement has been made.

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Ferrari Unveil SF70H

FERRARI UNVEIL SF70H

    Ferrari’s 2017 challenger, the SF70H, has hit the track for the first time at the team’s test track at Fiorano.

    The Italian team launched live online only just over an hour before Kimi Raikkonen got behind the wheel of the 2017 specification car for the first time. The Finn was only shaking it down, but he reported no problems with the car he’ll be racing this season.

    Nobody at the team has set any expectations for the season ahead, though they’ll inevitably be trying to catch up with Mercedes, who are the favourites to lead the championship again this season.

    Due to regulation changes, the SF70H has a fin above the engine cover, like most cars launched so far this year, and a lengthened nose, as well as a completely redesigned roll hoop.

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Article Written By: Bethonie Waring
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Raikkonen Confirmed at Ferrari in 2017

KIMI RAIKKONEN SIGNS 2017 FERRARI CONTRACT

The most talked about seat of the season has been filled. Ferrari has confirmed they have re-signed Kimi Raikkonen to partner Sebastian Vettel in the 2017 Formula 1 season.

A number of drivers have been rumored to be in discussions with Ferrari to take the Finn’s seat as it seemed Raikkonen might be set to retire from Formula One. Though he has been keeping up with team mate Vettel this season (both drivers are on 96 points at present), his performance in previous seasons hasn’t been brilliant compared to his team mate, but Ferrari feel a fourth year in his second stint at the team is deserved.

“Scuderia Ferrari announces that it has renewed its technical and racing agreement with Kimi Raikkonen,” Ferrari said in a statement ahead of the British Grand Prix. “The driver line-up for the 2017 racing season will still consist of the Finish driver and Sebastien Vettel.”

Raikkonen said ahead of the GP weekend that Ferrari is the best team in F1.

“I’m really happy to be part of Ferrari,” he said. “The atmosphere is fantastic, we are always pushing each other forward and hopefully we’ll get the team back where it belongs.”

Whilst we know the Finn will be at Ferrari in 2017, it’s not known how long this contract will last, meaning we’ll probably be having the same rumors surrounding the most desirable seat on the grid next season.

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Article Written By: Bethonie Waring
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