By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer
SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) – Sebastian Vettel is back on top of the Formula One standings and his Ferrari team is bursting with ambition again.
A couple of hours after Vettel had held off his Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton to win an exciting Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday - the German driver's second victory in three races - Ferrari's chairman spoke with new-found confidence.
"It is, of course, hugely satisfying to be back on the top step of the podium," Sergio Marchionne said. "More importantly, however, we are now completely confident that our victory in Melbourne wasn't just a one-off and that we will be at the forefront of this world championship until the last (race)."
Fighting talk from Ferrari, at long last.
Vettel is chasing his fifth world title and is seven points ahead of three-time champion Hamilton in the drivers' standings, while Ferrari is three points in front of Mercedes in the constructors' race.
The renewed optimism is in contrast to last year, when Ferrari did not even win a race and where Vettel drew more attention for his frustrated outbursts during actual races rather than his driving.
Ferrari won the last of its 15 drivers' titles through Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, and the last of its 16 constructors' titles a year later. A demoralizing drought for such a fiercely proud team, certainly, but this year promises to be different.
"We finally have a competitive car to count on and it is important to recognize the speed with which we implemented the developments," Marchionne said. "My compliments not just to Seb for his achievements in Bahrain, but also to the whole team."
It is the first time Ferrari has won two of the first three races of the season since Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa in 2008, while the last time a single Ferrari driver won two of the opening three races was Michael Schumacher in 2004.
Vettel's 44th career win puts him in command, heading into the Russian GP in Sochi in two weeks' time.
"We just have to make sure we keep it going," Vettel said. "But for now the team has done a really, really great job."
As Sunday's race was drawing to a close under floodlights, Hamilton was catching fast but ran out of time and finished almost seven seconds behind.
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas finished third after starting from pole position for the first time. It was his 11th podium.
"I didn't have enough pace today and we have to find the reasons why," the Finnish driver said.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was fourth.
Bottas made a clean start but Hamilton was beaten for pace by Vettel, who overtook him heading into the first corner.
"Sebastian was in my blind spot so I didn't know where he was," Hamilton said.
Hamilton's hopes were also hit when the British driver was given a five-second time penalty early into the race for driving too slowly in the pit lane and holding up Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, who finished fifth.
"The pit lane was really my fault so apologies to my team," Hamilton said. "Losing points for the team is definitely painful."
Vettel completed the 57 laps of the 5.4-kilometer (3.4-mile) track in 1 hour, 33 minutes, 53 seconds, for his third win in Bahrain after success with Red Bull in 2012 and 2013.
Vettel came in for new tires on lap 11, prompting Red Bull's Max Verstappen to pit on the next lap.
But moments later, the Dutchman's brakes failed and he drifted across the track and into the wall, his race over. The 19-year-old Verstappen climbed out and kicked the barriers in frustration. The incidents were coming fast, with 18-year-old Lance Stroll hit from the side on lap 13 by Carlos Sainz Jr. - forcing the safety car to come out.
Both Mercedes drivers used the safety car incident to pit for new tires, but Hamilton held up Ricciardo.
When the race began in earnest again on lap 17, Vettel brilliantly defended the corner twice to fend off Bottas.
By the halfway point, Vettel's lead was six seconds over Hamilton, who had just passed Bottas.
With Hamilton gaining fast, Vettel came in for his second tire change on lap 34 and came out fourth behind Raikkonen.
Hamilton was now the new race leader, but with more than 20 laps to go, a time penalty still to take, and with Vettel on new tires, it was a precarious lead.
Hamilton came in for a tire change soon after and took his time penalty. This put Bottas in second place, but he then backed off to let the quicker Hamilton through to chase Vettel down.
"Thanks to Valtteri for being a gentleman," said Hamilton, who endured a much more difficult relationship with Nico Rosberg, his former Mercedes teammate.
Meanwhile, there was more misery for McLaren. Fernando Alonso retired one lap from the end, while his teammate Stoffel Vandoorne did not even start because of engine failure.
McLaren was once a proud team like Ferrari is now, but with no points from three races it is a long way off from turning the corner.
Monday, April 17, 2017
Monday, April 10, 2017
Verstappen passes 9 cars in one lap in masterful China race
By JUSTIN BERGMAN
Associated Press
SHANGHAI (AP) Red Bull's Max Verstappen was down on power due to an engine problem during qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix and finished next to last - an uncharacteristically poor result for one of F1's most promising young drivers.
No matter. Verstappen made up most of the ground in the opening lap of Sunday's race - passing a remarkable nine cars - and earned an unlikely spot on the podium with a gutsy third-place finish.
"That was a very special race," the 19-year-old Dutch driver said afterward, a huge grin plastered on his face. "When I woke up this morning I never expected to be on the podium."
Of course, it was entirely possible given how well the talented Verstappen has been driving since making a huge splash at last year's Spanish Grand Prix, which he won in his first start for Red Bull after being promoted from feeder team Toro Rosso.
Since then, Verstappen has had seven podium finishes and established himself as a future star of the sport, eclipsing at times his more experienced teammate, Daniel Ricciardo.
His maneuvers on Sunday impressed even three-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who led from start to finish to claim his fifth victory in Shanghai.
"I quite like him up here next to us - makes me look younger," Hamilton said. "Max has obviously done a fantastic job since he's been in the sport and I think he's been a real breath of fresh air for everyone."
Verstappen got a little lucky Sunday when three drivers who finished ahead of him in qualifying were penalized, lifting the Dutchman to 16th on the starting grid. Then, during a wild opening lap on a slick track, he found enough holes to vault all the way up to seventh.
"Trying to go around the outside in Turn 1, I got another car, then inside Turn 2, another car, outside Turn 3 because there was space," said Verstappen, whose father Jos is the only other Dutchman to secure an F1 podium, back in 1994. "Also, Turn 6, 7, 8, always trying to go around the outside or inside. And it worked."
By the final lap, Verstappen's tires were beginning to wear, but he managed to hold off a fast-closing Ricciardo with more nervy driving to secure his spot on the podium. Now, he's sitting in third place in the drivers' standings after two races behind Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.
Even though Red Bull is still off the pace of the Mercedes and Ferrari cars, Verstappen believes his team could contend for victories again soon. Particularly if he continues finding holes the way he did on Sunday.
"I think at the moment, we're a bit in a lonely competition because in front of us, they are too quick, and behind us, (the other teams) are too slow," he said. "We are working really hard and trying to close the gap."
Associated Press
SHANGHAI (AP) Red Bull's Max Verstappen was down on power due to an engine problem during qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix and finished next to last - an uncharacteristically poor result for one of F1's most promising young drivers.
No matter. Verstappen made up most of the ground in the opening lap of Sunday's race - passing a remarkable nine cars - and earned an unlikely spot on the podium with a gutsy third-place finish.
"That was a very special race," the 19-year-old Dutch driver said afterward, a huge grin plastered on his face. "When I woke up this morning I never expected to be on the podium."
Of course, it was entirely possible given how well the talented Verstappen has been driving since making a huge splash at last year's Spanish Grand Prix, which he won in his first start for Red Bull after being promoted from feeder team Toro Rosso.
Since then, Verstappen has had seven podium finishes and established himself as a future star of the sport, eclipsing at times his more experienced teammate, Daniel Ricciardo.
His maneuvers on Sunday impressed even three-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who led from start to finish to claim his fifth victory in Shanghai.
"I quite like him up here next to us - makes me look younger," Hamilton said. "Max has obviously done a fantastic job since he's been in the sport and I think he's been a real breath of fresh air for everyone."
Verstappen got a little lucky Sunday when three drivers who finished ahead of him in qualifying were penalized, lifting the Dutchman to 16th on the starting grid. Then, during a wild opening lap on a slick track, he found enough holes to vault all the way up to seventh.
"Trying to go around the outside in Turn 1, I got another car, then inside Turn 2, another car, outside Turn 3 because there was space," said Verstappen, whose father Jos is the only other Dutchman to secure an F1 podium, back in 1994. "Also, Turn 6, 7, 8, always trying to go around the outside or inside. And it worked."
By the final lap, Verstappen's tires were beginning to wear, but he managed to hold off a fast-closing Ricciardo with more nervy driving to secure his spot on the podium. Now, he's sitting in third place in the drivers' standings after two races behind Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.
Even though Red Bull is still off the pace of the Mercedes and Ferrari cars, Verstappen believes his team could contend for victories again soon. Particularly if he continues finding holes the way he did on Sunday.
"I think at the moment, we're a bit in a lonely competition because in front of us, they are too quick, and behind us, (the other teams) are too slow," he said. "We are working really hard and trying to close the gap."
Lewis Hamilton coasts to fifth title at Chinese Grand Prix
By JUSTIN BERGMAN
Associated Press
SHANGHAI (AP) With Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel starting side-by-side on the front row at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, the stage was set for a wheel-to-wheel duel between long-dominant Mercedes and a newly competitive Ferrari.
A chaotic start to the race on a wet track, however, scuttled the highly anticipated showdown as Hamilton coasted to victory for his fifth title in Shanghai and first of the new Formula One season.
Starting from pole position, Hamilton led from beginning to end to capture the race in 1 hour, 37 minutes, 36.158 seconds and pull even with Vettel atop the driver's standings with 43 points.
Two weeks after beating Hamilton at the season-opening Australian GP, Vettel had to settle for second place this time, finishing 6.2 seconds behind his rival.
With both teams showing equal pace at the top, there will likely be plenty of other opportunities for close races this season.
"I'm fighting up against a four-time world champion (and) he is at his best and he is phenomenally quick. And Ferrari are at their best in years," Hamilton said. "And we're at our best as a team and I feel like I'm at my best."
"The ultimate fighter always wants to go up against the best battle you can have. Because then when you come out on top, it's so much more satisfying."
Red Bull's Max Verstappen drove a masterful race through traffic to move up from 16th position on the starting grid to third place, fighting off a spirited challenge from teammate Daniel Ricciardo on the final lap.
Ricciardo finished fourth, followed by Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen and Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas in sixth.
The drama-filled start after a rainy morning set the stage for Hamilton's victory and Mercedes' recovery after Vettel surprisingly triumphed in Australia and signaled that Ferrari had the pace this year to challenge the silver cars.
The drivers had barely left the starting grid when Williams' Lance Stroll bumped against Sergio Perez of Force India and spun off the track into a bed of gravel. A short time later, on the fourth lap, Antonio Giovinazzi hit a wet patch and slammed into the wall, severely damaging his Sauber car and bringing the race to a halt again.
During the safety-car slowdowns to remove both cars from the track, the top drivers pitted to change to softer tires, reshuffling the starting order. Hamilton emerged from the fray with a hold on the lead, but Vettel and Bottas slipped back several places and had to fight to catch up.
After Vettel's victory on the Albert Park street circuit in Melbourne, Ferrari showed it can also match Mercedes' pace on a traditional track with long straights following the off-season F1 rule changes that ushered in faster cars with wider tires, better aerodynamics, bigger fuel loads and increased downforce.
The goal was to increase the competition at the front of the grid - and two races into the season, the changes have certainly had an impact.
"If we can challenge Mercedes again (going forward), that's very good news," Vettel said. "They've had a very, very strong run the last couple of years. This year, as well. If we can be close, that's good."
Verstappen, meanwhile, made clear that Red Bull isn't that far behind. The young Dutch driver passed nine cars on the opening lap and was even threatening Hamilton at one point, but fell back and eventually lost second place to Vettel.
"I had a good start and I got a bit of luck," he said. "Nine cars is quite a lot in one lap, but of course very happy that it worked."
The first half of the race brought plenty of daring passes as the Ferrari and Red Bull cars jockeyed for position behind Hamilton. Vettel made two brilliant passes of the Red Bull cars - bumping wheels slightly with Ricciardo - but couldn't close the gap with Hamilton in the end.
"Obviously, we were a little unfortunate with the safety car early on," Vettel said. "But even if it wasn't there, you never know how it could have impacted on the race."
Also earning points were Carlos Sainz of Toro Rosso in seventh, Kevin Magnussen of Haas in eighth, and the two Force India cars, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon, in ninth and 10th.
A number of drivers failed to finish. Stroll and Giovinazzi never returned after their early mishaps, and they were joined on the sidelines by McLaren's Stoffel Vandoorne and Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat, who retired with mechanical problems.
McLaren's other driver, Fernando Alonso, was also forced to stop on lap 34 with a driveshaft problem. The veteran Spanish driver had been running eighth at the time, a strong performance given McLaren's considerable technical issues in preseason testing.
Associated Press
SHANGHAI (AP) With Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel starting side-by-side on the front row at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, the stage was set for a wheel-to-wheel duel between long-dominant Mercedes and a newly competitive Ferrari.
A chaotic start to the race on a wet track, however, scuttled the highly anticipated showdown as Hamilton coasted to victory for his fifth title in Shanghai and first of the new Formula One season.
Starting from pole position, Hamilton led from beginning to end to capture the race in 1 hour, 37 minutes, 36.158 seconds and pull even with Vettel atop the driver's standings with 43 points.
Two weeks after beating Hamilton at the season-opening Australian GP, Vettel had to settle for second place this time, finishing 6.2 seconds behind his rival.
With both teams showing equal pace at the top, there will likely be plenty of other opportunities for close races this season.
"I'm fighting up against a four-time world champion (and) he is at his best and he is phenomenally quick. And Ferrari are at their best in years," Hamilton said. "And we're at our best as a team and I feel like I'm at my best."
"The ultimate fighter always wants to go up against the best battle you can have. Because then when you come out on top, it's so much more satisfying."
Red Bull's Max Verstappen drove a masterful race through traffic to move up from 16th position on the starting grid to third place, fighting off a spirited challenge from teammate Daniel Ricciardo on the final lap.
Ricciardo finished fourth, followed by Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen and Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas in sixth.
The drama-filled start after a rainy morning set the stage for Hamilton's victory and Mercedes' recovery after Vettel surprisingly triumphed in Australia and signaled that Ferrari had the pace this year to challenge the silver cars.
The drivers had barely left the starting grid when Williams' Lance Stroll bumped against Sergio Perez of Force India and spun off the track into a bed of gravel. A short time later, on the fourth lap, Antonio Giovinazzi hit a wet patch and slammed into the wall, severely damaging his Sauber car and bringing the race to a halt again.
During the safety-car slowdowns to remove both cars from the track, the top drivers pitted to change to softer tires, reshuffling the starting order. Hamilton emerged from the fray with a hold on the lead, but Vettel and Bottas slipped back several places and had to fight to catch up.
After Vettel's victory on the Albert Park street circuit in Melbourne, Ferrari showed it can also match Mercedes' pace on a traditional track with long straights following the off-season F1 rule changes that ushered in faster cars with wider tires, better aerodynamics, bigger fuel loads and increased downforce.
The goal was to increase the competition at the front of the grid - and two races into the season, the changes have certainly had an impact.
"If we can challenge Mercedes again (going forward), that's very good news," Vettel said. "They've had a very, very strong run the last couple of years. This year, as well. If we can be close, that's good."
Verstappen, meanwhile, made clear that Red Bull isn't that far behind. The young Dutch driver passed nine cars on the opening lap and was even threatening Hamilton at one point, but fell back and eventually lost second place to Vettel.
"I had a good start and I got a bit of luck," he said. "Nine cars is quite a lot in one lap, but of course very happy that it worked."
The first half of the race brought plenty of daring passes as the Ferrari and Red Bull cars jockeyed for position behind Hamilton. Vettel made two brilliant passes of the Red Bull cars - bumping wheels slightly with Ricciardo - but couldn't close the gap with Hamilton in the end.
"Obviously, we were a little unfortunate with the safety car early on," Vettel said. "But even if it wasn't there, you never know how it could have impacted on the race."
Also earning points were Carlos Sainz of Toro Rosso in seventh, Kevin Magnussen of Haas in eighth, and the two Force India cars, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon, in ninth and 10th.
A number of drivers failed to finish. Stroll and Giovinazzi never returned after their early mishaps, and they were joined on the sidelines by McLaren's Stoffel Vandoorne and Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat, who retired with mechanical problems.
McLaren's other driver, Fernando Alonso, was also forced to stop on lap 34 with a driveshaft problem. The veteran Spanish driver had been running eighth at the time, a strong performance given McLaren's considerable technical issues in preseason testing.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)