F1 Tag

After topping the Friday morning times, Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg was again quickest at the Red Bull Ring, though team-mate Lewis Hamilton closed within two hundredths of a second of the championship leader in a rain disrupted FP2 in Spielberg. Rosberg’s best time of 1:07.967, almost sixth tenths slower than his best lap of the morning, was set early in the afternoon, just before heavy rain began to sweep across the circuit in Austria’s Styrian mountains. The downpour first affected the final two corners of the short nine-corner circuit, leading toRead More

Nico Rosberg set the quickest time of opening practice for the Austrian Grand Prix, finishing almost four tenths of a second clear of Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton. The German also went a full three seconds quicker than his P1 time from the same session last year. There was trouble for Max Verstappen, though, with the Red Bull Racing driver exiting the session with broken front suspension after tangling with new kerbs at the Red Bull Ring. Rosberg benefited from a re-surfaced track to set blistering pace and used the supersoftRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Kimi Raikkonen remained unflappable in Thursday’s FIA press conference leading up to the Austrian Grand Prix, despite a mass of questions regarding rumors centering over his future at Ferrari. The 2007 Formula 1 champion’s contract with the Italian manufacturer expires at the end of the season. In the midst of a dogfight with Mercedes for F1 supremacy, neither Raikkonen or teammate Sebastian Vettel have won yet this season, with both amassing five runner-up finishes thus far. However, Ferrari president and CEO Sergio Marchionne warned that RaikkonenRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The Formula 1 season is already hitting the summer months and thus speculation has begun for 2017, with Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen once again at the center of attention. The 2007 F1 champion has enjoyed a solid season thus far, scoring three podiums in eight starts, but he and teammate Sebastian Vettel are still searching for the Scuderia’s first victory of 2016. However, an expiring contract has many believing the Italian manufacturer will move away from the Finn and look the direction of current Force IndiaRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Ferrari president and CEO Sergio Marchionne stated that Kimi Raikkonen must improve his performance if he wants a new deal for 2017. Raikkonen’s current contract with Ferrari expires at the end of the season. The Italian manufacturer’s most recent Formula 1 champion in 2007, Raikkonen enjoyed a promising start to the season that saw him lead teammate and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, before underwhelming results the last few races. For the second consecutive season, the Finn has been on the frontlines of speculation whether or notRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Carlos Sainz Jr. will return to Scuderia Toro Rosso next season, Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner confirmed. Sainz was overlooked for a promotion to Red Bull in favor of teammate Max Verstappen when the team demoted Daniil Kvyat to Toro Rosso. Since then, the Spaniard has impressed enough to warrant a rare third-year with the team and thus ending any speculation about his future. “We took up his option earlier this week, so he’s committed to Red Bull for the next 12 months,” Horner said.Read More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Sergio Sette Camara will make his official Formula 1 debut in a test at Silverstone with Scuderia Toro Rosso. The 18-year-old Brazilian currently competes in the FIA F3 European Championship and sits seventh in the standings with two podiums in 15 races this season. Sette Camara will take over on the second day of the post-British Grand Prix test for Carlos Sainz Jr. “I’m very happy and excited to be testing with Scuderia Toro Rosso”, Sette Camara said in a statement. “It’s a great opportunity which I’veRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Alfonso Celis Jr. will reprise his role as Force India’s development driver by stepping in for an FP1 session during the Austian Grand Prix weekend. The Mexican will replace fellow countryman Sergio Perez for the Friday morning session – it will be third time this season Celis will appear in FP1. The 19-year-old also piloted the VJM09 during pre-season and in-season testing. In addition to his role at Force India, Celis also competes in the Formula V8 3.5 Series, collecting one podium in eight races soRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The Haas F1 Team has confirmed that 18-year-old Charles Leclerc will make his Formula 1 debut in opening practice for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The current ART Grand Prix driver in GP3 is set for other Friday sessions in the VF-16 at Hungary, Germany, Malaysia and Abu Dhabi, replacing Esteban Gutierrez. “This is a fantastic opportunity to get seat time in a Formula 1 car and I can’t thank Haas F1 Team and Esteban enough,” Leclerc said. “I’m honored by the faith Haas F1Read More

Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg cruised to a comprehensive Grand Prix of Europe win, finishing more than 16 seconds ahead of second-placed Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari, while Sergio Perez recovered from a grid penalty to take a deserved third place. With plenty of incidents enlivening the support races at the inaugural race in Baku, similar unpredictability had been expected from the grand prix, but when Rosberg went through the first corner in the lead and quickly built up a solid gap to fellow front-row starter Daniel Ricciardo, the identity of the winner,Read More