Renault's head of track operations Remi Taffin says the French engine supplier is confident of a vastly improved performance at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. Renault endured a difficult pre-season campaign and unreliability and power problems have blighted their customer teams on occasion in 2014. But Taffin says that new software tested in Bahrain has given them greater confidence. "We’re feeling more confident ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix," he said. "While we know that the others are still ahead, we have made some good […]

Jules Bianchi says he has been encouraged by Marussia's improvements despite his difficult start to the 2014 season. Bianchi was unclassified in Australia while in Malaysia he received penalty points after colliding with Pastor Maldonado. In Bahrain, the French driver was handed a couple more penalty points after stewards deemed he was the guilty party when he made contact with the Sauber of Adrian Sutil. But Bianchi says he is lifted by Marussia's progress compared to last season. "I am hoping all my bad luck […]

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says that success for the German team is now an expectation rather than a bonus. Mercedes has dominated the 2014 season so far with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton having claimed all three pole positions and wins, as well as having led every racing lap. "We head to the next race in China with good momentum behind us and motivation is extremely high," he said. "The team is now at a level where success is not a bonus but an expectation. […]

Lewis Hamilton says that winning a third successive race would be 'incredible' as he bids for victory at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. Despite winning 24 races in his career, the Brit has never won three consecutive events but Hamilton is hoping to rectify that statistic in China, having claimed wins in Malaysia and Bahrain so far in 2014. "The last race in Bahrain was fantastic: not just for us as a team but for the sport and I'm sure it won't be the last […]

Williams driver Felipe Massa believes that the long back straight at the Shanghai International Circuit will play to the strengths of the FW36 in China this weekend. Williams has enjoyed a profitable start to the 2014 season having amassed 30 points across the opening three rounds of the season. "There is a very long straight in China which will be good for overtaking, especially for our car as we have a good top speed," said Massa. "There are also low speed corners where good downforce […]

Jenson Button says that McLaren has a point to prove at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix following a disappointing result in Bahrain. Button was running in fifth place after the safety car period but slipped back before being forced to retire due to a clutch issue. Button does not believe that the characteristics of the Shanghai International Circuit will necessarily play to the strengths of the MP4-29 but the Brit is buoyed by McLaren's past performances at the circuit. "I think we head to China […]

Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya says his team can build on their 'dream' start to the 2014 season. Force India is currently in second place in the constructors' championship after they collected their first podium since 2009 at the Bahrain Grand Prix. "We're second in the constructors' championship, which feels pretty special," he said. "I know we’ve only had three races, but nevertheless it's good to be up there. 44 points out of three races, it's the dream start we were hoping for." "I think […]

Lotus technical director Nick Chester insists that the E22 has 'tremendous potential' and was encouraged by the team's pace during last weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix. Lotus has yet to score a point in 2014 but Chester believes that his outfit is rapidly closing the gap to the midfield runners. "The E22 has tremendous potential even if we are only gradually unlocking it," he said. "In the Bahrain Grand Prix we were closer to Mercedes, Williams and McLaren than we have been previously. Our race-pace gap […]

Pastor Maldonado is aiming to end his points drought at next weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. The Venezuelan driver has not finished a Formula 1 race inside the top 10 since July last year but having completed his first race distance for Lotus in Bahrain, Maldonado is hoping to score a point, even if he admits the characteristics of the Shanghai circuit will not make it easy. "It could be a bit tricky for us as we aren’t the quickest on long straights at the moment, […]

Kamui Kobayashi has urged his Caterham team to play to its strengths as he searches for a good result at next weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. Kobayashi was in the mix towards the tail end of the midfield in Bahrain but had to save fuel during the final stint of the race and came home in 15th place. That result, combined with 13th for Max Chilton, meant that Caterham conceded 10th position in the constructors' championship to Marussia. Kobayashi is hopeful that Caterham and engine supplier […]

The Shanghai International Circuit - host of the Chinese Grand Prix - will undergo an FIA inspection before the green light can be given for the 2011 event "The Shanghai International Circuit has confirmed that all work as requested by the FIA will be carried out and should be completed by the end of February," a spokeswoman for the FIA told Reuters. "Before a new licence can be issued, the FIA will carry out a final inspection in March." It is unsure exactly what changes […]