Fernando Alonso gave new Ferrari boss Marco Mattiacci a promising start after setting the quickest time during the opening practice session for this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. Alonso was almost four tenths of a second faster than championship leader Nico Rosberg at a cool Shanghai International Circuit on Friday morning. Daniel Ricciardo was the only other driver to get within a second of Alonso's time as he was third quickest for Red Bull, ahead of McLaren's Jenson Button. Nico Hulkenberg was fifth quickest for Force […]

Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado has warned that excessive penalties could ruin racing in Formula 1. Formula 1's new penalty points system was given the thumbs up by some of Maldonado's rivals ahead of this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix but the Venezuelan raised a few concerns. Maldonado was involved in an accident with Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez last time out in Bahrain, for which he was given a penalty during the race, three penalty points added to his super license and a five place grid drop for […]

Adrian Sutil has admitted that Sauber is simply too slow ahead of this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. Neither Sutil nor team-mate Esteban Gutierrez has scored a point so far in 2014, while their last two events have been blighted by unreliability and accidents. The German reckons Sauber made progress with the C33 at last week's post-race test in Bahrain but does not believe the team will make huge improvements until the sport reconvenes in Europe next month. "A little progress has been made at the […]

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen does not expect Stefano Domenicali's resignation from the team to change the fortunes of the squad. Domenicali stepped down as team principal with immediate effect on Monday and has since been replaced with Marco Mattiacci. Raikkonen says that he does not know his new boss, but isn't expecting Mattiacci to perform miracles. "I don't know him, we've probably met before," he said. "He will have great people around him and lots of people to help him, so I don't think there […]

A realistic Sebastian Vettel has admitted that a top five finish for Red Bull would be a good result at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. Vettel, who claimed Red Bull's maiden victory at the circuit five years ago, currently sits in sixth place in the championship, 38 points down on early leader Nico Rosberg. The reigning champion believes it will be tough for Red Bull to close down the gap to Mercedes. "It is a big gap at the moment," he said. "In Bahrain it […]

Felipe Massa has conceded that Williams's best chance of finishing on the podium in 2014 may have gone. Williams impressed the Formula 1 paddock in pre-season testing but Massa was eliminated at the first corner in Australia before driving to seventh place in Malaysia and Bahrain. "In Australia I did not race so I lost my big chance to be on the podium," he said. "I hope we are going to have another chance. "[In Bahrain] I was fighting for third place the whole race […]

Nico Rosberg says he will discuss driving standard with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton ahead of this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. Rosberg and Hamilton battled for the lead of the race in Bahrain, with the German unhappy at Hamilton's driving at one stage of their scrap. "That was the only example where I came on the radio and thought it was above the limits," he said. "The rest of the examples were really tough racing but with the necessary respect. "It was the rate at which […]

Nico Hulkenberg has dismissed concerns that Formula 1 drivers could strike over unpaid wages. Hulkenberg is reportedly one of a number of drivers who are owed money either by their current employer or previous teams. The German confirmed that members of the Grand Prix Drivers Association had discussed the matter but ruled out strike action. "It is an issue which we have been discussing in the GPDA," he told Sky Sports News. "It's not something we like, and in the pinnacle of motorsport it is […]

Formula 1 drivers say that the new penalty points system is a positive move for the sport. From 2014, stewards have been able to endorse a driver's super license with penalty points if they are deemed to have transgressed. If a driver receives 12 penalty points within the space of a year, they will be banned from the next event. Several racers have already accumulated penalty points; Jules Bianchi has four, Pastor Maldonado three while Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen and Adrian Sutil have each amassed […]

Fernando Alonso says he has not yet spoken to new Ferrari team principal Marco Mattiacci and remains unsure as to whether his new boss will be present at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. Mattiacci has replaced Stefano Domenicali, who resigned his position this week after almost seven years in the position. "No, I haven’t had the chance... I don’t know if he’s coming here, I guess so, so it would be a good time to welcome him," Alonso said when asked if he had spoken […]

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo says he didn't expect the outcome of this week's appeal against his disqualification from the Australian Grand Prix to be positive for the team. Ricciardo finished in second place in Australia but was excluded after exceeding the fuel flow rate limit during the race. Red Bull appealed the decision but their argument was dismissed as the FIA upheld the result at a court case in Paris on Monday. "[I'm] obviously a little bit disappointed but at the same time I […]

Formula 1 resumes this weekend with round four of the championship at the Shanghai International Circuit, a modern and very technical track with a mixture of high and low speed corners – a different proposition to Sakhir. That race in Bahrain was dominated by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg who put on a thrilling battle to the chequered flag. Up to 20 seconds behind the Mercedes duo came Sergio Pérez, who claimed Force India’s first podium for almost five years. So forget about dodgy noses […]