Ma Qinghua looks set to join Pedro de la Rosa at HRT in 2013. China Daily, citing the information of Tencent's sports channel, reported that the Spanish team "announced at a press conference in Shanghai on Tuesday afternoon" that the 24-year-old will debut next season. Ma has driven HRT's 2012 car in free practice sessions at Monza, Singapore and Abu Dhabi this year. If HRT confirms the news internationally, Ma is most likely to replace the team's Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan.

Nico Rosberg has been released from the medical centre after his frightening accident at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Rosberg was making his way back through the field after contact with Romain Grosjean when he was launched over the back of Narain Karthikeyan. "My car felt competitive today so it's a real shame not to have finished the race and scored some points. Unfortunately that chance was gone after the first lap incident with Romain, after which I had to come into the pits for […]

Mixed feelings at the back of the grid for HRT

HRT driver Pedro de La Rosa is hopeful that the team has solved the brake issues that have plagued them recently. De La Rosa spun out of the Indian Grand Prix courtesy of a brake failure, while Narain Karthikeyan's brakes failed in qualifying in Korea. "The initial objective was to find a good car balance and we achieved it quite early on. Then we focused on testing different configurations to see where we were and to optimize the cooling of the brakes", he said. "The […]

Ma Qing Hua will drive for HRT in first practice in Abu Dhabi. The Chinese driver will replace Narain Karthikeyan and is looking forward to the experience. "I'm delighted to have another chance to drive again during a Grand Prix weekend with HRT F1 Team. After my two Friday outings in Monza and Singapore, I've continued to work hard both physically and mentally to be well prepared for opportunities like this one", he said. "Apart from the gym and the simulator, I've spent a lot […]

Rating the drivers after the Indian Grand Prix

Narain Karthikeyan says he is in the running to keep his HRT seat next year. Reports this week suggested the Indian, who returned to F1 with the backmarker Spanish team after establishing a Nascar career in 2010, could revert to the American racing scene for 2013 and is currently seeking an Indycar test. But Karthikeyan, 35, said on Friday he actually deserves a better F1 seat. "I would definitely like the possibility since I have clearly proved that I have the speed to deserve a […]

Rating the drivers after the Singapore Grand Prix

Pedro de La Rosa admitted that simply finishing the Singapore Grand Prix was an achievement for HRT. The Spanish driver started at the back but made his way up to seventeenth place. "I’m satisfied with today’s race. The safety cars helped me out, but I must admit that the race dragged on a bit for me, and the last five laps never seemed to end because I had no tyres left and I started to lose ground on Glock and Pic and Kobayashi, Kovalainen and […]

Pedro de La Rosa has confirmed that has said that he is set to continue with HRT in 2013. De La Rosa signed a two year contract with the Spanish team in 2011 and has re-iterated that those plans are still in tact. "I’ll stay here with HRT next year", he said. "Last year I signed a two-year contract - otherwise it wouldn’t have made any sense. When I joined the team I wanted a two-year deal; that was one of my basic terms because […]

Fernando Alonso is clearly the standout driver of the 2012 season so far, two of his peers have explained. Narain Karthikeyan, who usually brings up the rear of the field in his HRT, said the championship leader has performed above the level of the Ferrari. "Alonso is pulling out something much more than what that Ferrari is capable of," the Indian told the PTI news agency. "He is thinking a lot about it. Whether is wet or dry or whatever, he is still doing a […]

The Motorsport community has been paying tribute to Formula One's former medical delegate, Sid Watkins, who has died at the age of 84. Watkins, known as 'The Prof', served as the head of Formula One's on track medical team and his campaigning has led to improved safety for all. Bruno Senna, Williams F1 driver: ‘RIP Prof. Sid Watkins. Sad news for us who stay behind.’ Ron Dennis, McLaren chairman: "Today the world of motor racing lost one of its true greats: Professor Sid Watkins. No, he […]