أرشيف وسم ‘ Japanese Grand Prix ’
Three-time world champion Sir Jackie Stewart says that youngster Max Verstappen can be a 'superstar', provided he can handle the pressure of Formula 1. Verstappen will race for Toro Rosso in 2015 but will make his Grand Prix weekend debut in Japan on Friday, when he pilots Jean-Eric Vergne's car during the opening 90 minute practice session. At the age of 17 years and three days, Verstappen will become the youngest driver to take part in an official Formula 1 session. "The world is looking […]
Kimi Raikkonen says he is hoping to maintain a 'good feeling' into this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix after making progress with the Ferrari F14T at the most recent race in Singapore. While Raikkonen could finish only eighth at Marina Bay, the Finn expressed his positivity over his feeling with the Ferrari F14T and is eager to see if that momentum can be carried forward to Suzuka. "In Singapore, we finally had the speed to put together a quick single flying lap in qualifying, as the […]
Kamui Kobayashi will retain his Caterham drive for his home race in Japan this weekend, the team has confirmed. Kobayashi's future has been unclear following a takeover of the squad earlier in the year, with the Japanese racer missing the Belgian Grand Prix in August. Kobayashi will nonetheless line-up on the grid at Suzuka this weekend, alongside Marcus Ericsson, with Formula Renault 3.5 frontrunner Roberto Merhi taking part in Friday's opening practice session. "I’m very excited to be back in front of all my Japanese […]
Renault says that it is prepared for some of its customers to have to take a grid penalty before the end of the current campaign. Under 2014 regulations, drivers are permitted to use no more than five versions of the six elements which make up the Power Unit. If they use a sixth version, a driver will sustain a 10 place grid penalty, a fate which already struck Daniil Kvyat in Italy. With half of the grid having used five versions, Renault head of track […]
Ferrari technical director James Allison says he is sure that the Italian squad can beat Williams to third position in the Constructors' championship at the end of the season. Ferrari and Williams have been locked in a duel for the place for much of the year, with Williams leaping ahead after the Italian Grand Prix but Ferrari closing the gap to nine points after the most recent race in Singapore. Allison is sure that, despite most of the team's efforts now on 2015, they can […]
Jean-Eric Vergne believes that Suzuka's infamous 130r corner could be more of a challenge this year due to the reduced downforce levels of the 2014 cars. Vergne finished sixth in Singapore but will miss the first practice session at Suzuka as Toro Rosso opts to hand Max Verstappen an outing in the STR9. Vergne believes that drivers may have to be wary of the fast left-hander towards the end of the lap. "Suzuka is one of the best tracks on the calendar," he said. "I […]
Toro Rosso has confirmed that Max Verstappen will make his practice debut in this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. Verstappen, who will race for the squad in 2015, will replace outgoing driver Jean-Eric Vergne in the opening 90 minute session on Friday. Toro Rosso had originally planned to give Verstappen his practice debut in Austin at the end of October but has opted to hand him an outing in Japan after the FIA granted the young Dutch driver his superlicence. "I am very much […]
Lewis Hamilton says he is 'determined' to claim his first victory at Suzuka this weekend as he bids to extend his championship advantage over Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg. Hamilton has won in Japan before but did so in torrential rain when the race was held at Fuji Speedway in 2007. Hamilton has only once finished on the podium at Suzuka but is hoping to continue his recent good form by claiming a third successive victory this weekend. "[Singapore was] the first time in quite a […]
Force India team principal Vijay Mallya says he is anticipating the battle with McLaren over fifth place in the Constructors' championship to become 'more intense' as the season reaches its final stages. Mallya's squad has enjoyed a strong campaign and, after dropping behind McLaren in Italy, they re-gained fifth from their rivals after the Singapore Grand Prix and now lead them by six points ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. "We were ahead, then we fell behind, and now we're back in […]
Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost says that 2015 signing Max Verstappen should make his Formula 1 weekend debut at the next round in Japan. 16-year-old Verstappen will race for Toro Rosso in 2015 and the team had intended to hand Verstappen track time across the final three races of the current campaign. But the Italian squad now intends to bring forward Verstappen's practice runs, meaning that the Dutch youngster could appear behind the wheel of the STR9 at Suzuka in two weeks' time, although […]