All posts by Joey Barnes

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Max Verstappen secured his sixth podium finish of the season after finishing second in the Japanese Grand Prix, but came under the scrutiny after a controversial defensive move on Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages of the race. Verstappen led the three-time Formula 1 World Champion as they exited 130R, Hamilton began to surge and showed enough pace to pull alongside the Red Bull at the chicane but Verstappen closed the door under braking, forcing the Mercedes off the track and down the escape road. “IRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Mercedes secured the Formula 1 World Constructors’ title after drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton finished first and third respectively in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka International Racing Course. It is the third consecutive title for the German manufacturer as their 593 points were enough over Red Bull with four rounds remaining to lock up the championship. With Rosberg’s win in Japan, it marks the 15th time out of 17 races that Mercedes have achieved victory in 2016, with the only other wins coming fromRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Jenson Button is set to start last in the Japanese Grand Prix after taking a new power unit following qualifying. Honda had introduced an upgraded power unit for McLaren-Honda teammate Fernando Alonso for the Malaysia Grand Prix last weekend, the same that Button was waiting until the United States Grand Prix for in hopes to avoid a grid penalty at Honda’s home race at Suzuka. However, the 36-year-old Brit qualified a disappointing 17th and Honda decided the penalty is minimal and have upgraded Button’s power unitRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Kimi Raikkonen’s hopes to challenge Mercedes and deliver Ferrari’s first win of the season have taken a hit as he will drop from third on the Japanese Grand Prix grid to eighth place as a result of an unscheduled gearbox change. The 36-year-old Finn showed surprising pace in qualifying to take third place, bettering teammate Sebastian Vettel who ended up fourth but had a three-place grid penalty for causing a collision in Malaysia last weekend. However, Ferrari had to change Raikkonen’s gearbox ahead of the race,Read More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen have been reprimanded for failing to return to the pits in a reasonable time during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix. Both the Williams and Renault drivers took longer than the maximum permitted time between the pit exit and entry set by the FIA leading up to the event. Massa faced the hit in Q2, while Magnussen’s came in Q1 – the first reprimand for both drivers. Massa will start 12th for Sunday’s race, six spots up of Magnussen in P18.Read More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Sergio Perez has announced that he will remain at Force India for the 2017 Formula 1 season. The 26-year-old Mexican’s was the center of speculation on his eventual destination for next season, including Ferrari and Haas, but despite several delays with Force India he will return with the team. Bob Fernley, Force India’s deputy team principal, said on Friday that he was confident the details in the deal would be finalized with Perez. Perez’s return to the Silverstone-based squad means that he can continue to addRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Sebastian Vettel’s day came to an early end at the first corner of the Malaysian Grand Prix after hitting and sending Formula 1 championship leader Nico Rosberg into a spin, destroying his own car in the process. The 29-year-old German had a blistering start from row three and climbed to the inside of Turn 1 with Max Verstappen on his right. The aggressive move was labeled “crazy” from the Red Bull Racing driver in a near repeat in reverse roles of the Belgian Grand Prix. “IRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Fernando Alonso will take a 15-place grid penalty after McLaren-Honda fitted new power unit components to his car ahead of final practice on Saturday. The 35-year-old Spaniard had already taken a 30-place penalty following a new power unit for Friday’s practice, in which Honda upgraded the engine block and the exhaust in an effort to reduce weight. Originally the plan was to revert to a previous engine for qualifying and the race, but now the team opted to the older engine with a new turbocharger andRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Andretti Autosport have announced that they will extend its current partnership with Bryan Herta Autosports through the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season. The duo came together at the start of this year in an effort to put Alexander Rossi in an Indy car, having seen the payoff after winning the historic 100th Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil back in May before placing 11th in the points standings. “We’re happy to have Bryan back with the team for 2017,” Andretti Autosport team owner Michael AndrettiRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Sahara Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley believes that there is a strong likelihood that current driver Sergio Perez will remain with the team for the 2017 Formula 1 season. Perez has been the center of much speculation this season, originally linked as Kimi Raikkonen’s replacement earlier this year at Ferrari until the Italian-squad re-signed the Finn, and now linked to a possible seat at the Haas F1 Team. The 26-year-old Mexican has delayed his plans on several occasions and has recently stated that nextRead More