Formula 1 News

MONTREAL, Canada- Lewis Hamilton has been kind to Canada and Canada has always been kind to Lewis Hamilton. And despite last season’s non- race day finish, the Englishman proved on Sunday afternoon at the Grand Prix of Canada that he can still make things work, as he became the seventh different race winner of the year at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Lotus driver Romain Grosjean finally found his form and took second, while Mexican Sergio Perez finished his Sauber on the podium for the second time this season in third.

MONTREAL, Canada- For the last two seasons here at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Lewis Hamilton has achieved maximum results, with one race win, two poles and an unexpected retirement in the event, but on Friday afternoon, the Briton dominated both practices in preparation for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Canada in Montreal.

VALENCIA, Spain- While his nation celebrated their national soccer team reaching the semi- finals of the European championships the night before, Home hero Fernando Alonso began the Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia, Spain Sunday from 11th position, made his way up the field, and took advantage of the retirements of Sebastian Vettel and Romain Grosjean to win by 6.4 seconds over Kimi Raikkonen and lead the World Formula One driving Championship after eight rounds. After making a comeback in the sport two years ago, Michael Schumacher finally got his reward for all his patience by finishing in third.

MONTE CARLO, Monaco- Despite having to be moved back to the fifth grid slot because of an incident with Bruno Senna two weeks ago in Spain, Michael Schumacher set a fast lap time at the very last second to win his first pole position Saturday at the Grand Prix of Monaco in Monte Carlo. For the former seven time world champion, it was his 69th pole of his career and his first since the 2006 French Grand Prix. Mark Webber finished in second, and officially, the Australian will start in first on race day, while Schumacher’s teammate, Nico Rosberg took third.

BARCELONA, Spain- Ever since their last victory in 2004, Team Williams was hoping for something that would give their cash-strapped team a boost. On Sunday afternoon at the Grand Prix of Spain at the Circuit de Catalunya, Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado gave the team this wish by just edging home hero Fernando Alonso to win his first and his nation’s maiden race. Kimi Raikkonen, after a last pit stop, made up seconds and just finished in third by six tenths of a second behind Alonso.

MONTE CARLO, Monaco- After taking advantage of pole position through a penalty by Michael Schumacher, Mark Webber took the race lead on lap 47, and managed to hold off a line of cars on a damp Sunday afternoon to win his second Grand Prix of Monaco in Monte Carlo. Nico Rosberg was second in his Mercedes, while Fernando Alonso placed third in his Ferrari and now holds a three point lead over both Webber and Sebastian Vettel in the World Championship standings.

MONTE CARLO, Monaco-  A huge amount of smoke in the tunnel, followed by a late shower headlined Thursday practice for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Monaco, with Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button setting the fastest times in the opening two sessions, respectively.

MICHAEL ANDRETTI, VIDAN TO BE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME

Driver Michael Andretti and longtime Indianapolis 500 Chief Starter Pat Vidan are the 2012 inductees to the Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony is Thursday, May 24 at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.

SHANGHAI, China- One day after he took his team’s first pole in six decades, Nico Rosberg followed up on Sunday by taking his maiden and the manufacturer’s first win since 1955 by dominating the Grand Prix of China at the Shanghai International circuit. In a huge fight for the last two podiums, McLaren teammates Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton took second and third places, respectively.

SHANGHAI, China- For the first time in a formula one race since 1955, when five time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio put his Mercedes on pole position at Monza, Nico Rosberg took the German marquee’s next step on Saturday by taking the fastest time in qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix of China at the Shanghai International Circuit. Lewis Hamilton finished second, and Rosberg’s Mercedes teammate Michael Schumacher took third.

SHANGHAI, China- Taking advantage of damp weather on Friday following a long, three week break, Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher held the quickest times for the 1st and 2nd practice sessions, respectively, for Sunday’s Grand Prix of China at the Shanghai International Circuit.

SAKIR, Bahrain-  After having to struggle in the last three rounds, defending World Champion Sebastian Vettel finally found his form Saturday afternoon, to post a pole position time of 1:32:422 for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Bahrain in Sakir. Lewis Hamilton continued his good form by placing second, while Mark Webber returned to the competition by placing third.

SAKIR, Bahrain-R.I.S.- Once being partners as well as former competitors in GP2 years ago, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg sets the fastest practice times on Friday in preparation for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Bahrain at Sakir.

SEPANG, Malaysia- At the beginning of the season, Ferrari assumed that they had a horrible race car and figured that it could improve throughout this season. But on Sunday afternoon at the Grand Prix of Malaysia after a 45 minute rain delay, Fernando Alonso took the lead on lap 17, and held off an aggressive Sergio Perez and his Sauber at the end to win his first race of the year by just over two seconds. Lewis Hamilton, who took the pole the day before, finished in third.

KUALA LUMPUR – RIS – Lewis Hamilton, driving for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes made it two pole positions in a role in his quest for the Formula 1 World Championship at the Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Saturday. Jenson Button, his teammate and Australian Grand Prix winner will accompany him on the front row.

Melbourne, Australia – RIS – Jenson Button praised his Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team for his dominating victory March 18 in the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.  He led all but three of the 58 laps.

“I think, as we all know sat here, every win means a lot to you,” the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion said after his win. “And for us as a team it really shows how important the winter is. We’ve had a strong winter – yesterday’s qualifying really showed that – so it’s nice to come away with a victory today (at the) first race of the new season.

SEPANG, Malaysia-Following his failure to beat his teammate Jenson Button one week ago in Melbourne, Lewis Hamilton proved that it was just a situation of bad luck as the 2008 world champion set both fastest times of Friday practice for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Malaysia.

SEPANG, Malaysia- Following his huge success in practice just a  day ago, Lewis Hamilton remained the fastest man on the grid as the Briton recorded a 1:36:219  to take his second consecutive pole this season for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates- R.I.S- Just when many had thought that Lewis Hamilton, who had a very convincing week would take his second pole of the season, Sebastian Vettel recorded a 1:38:481 best lap Saturday night to eclipse the Englishman’s best time to take pole for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at the Yas Marina Circuit. For the German, it is his 14th pole of the season, which ties Nigel Mansell’s record set back in 1992. Jenson Button took third.

BUDDH, India -RIS - Even a circuit that has never been used before did not stop Sebastian Vettel from taking his 13th pole of the season as the German recorded a 1:24:178 best lap for Sunday’s inaugural Grand Prix of India at the Buddah International Circuit. Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber finished second and third, respectively.

When the 2011 Formula One season began back in March, Sebastian Vettel had been enjoying the fruits of winning his first World title just months before in Abu Dhabi. However, by the end of the season in Brazil just days ago, the German had never realized that his second title was more like a domination- something that had not occurred since 2004, when his mentor Michael Schumacher had clinched the title at Spa.

SAO PAULO, Brazil- R.I.S.-  There have been many races this season which Red Bull racing have finished in a 1-2 fashion, but Sunday at the Grand Prix of Brazil at the famed Interlagos circuit, it was a little different as Sebastian Vettel encountered gearbox trouble, enabling teammate Mark Webber to pass him on lap 16 and go on to win his first race of the season, his seventh of his career. Vettel nursed his car home to take second, while Jenson Button finished third in his McLaren to take second overall in the World Championship.

SAO PAULO, Brazil- It would only be a matter of time, and it was the last chance for Sebastian Vettel to make history. But the current World Champion wasted no time and despite the threat of rain, which fortunately never came, the German recorded the fastest time of the week, a 1:11:918, to take pole for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Brazil at Interlagos.

SUZUKA, Japan- RIS - Taking advantage of a safety car period, when Felipe Massa lost parts of his Ferrari onto the track, Jenson Button took the lead and held Fernando Alonso off by over a second, to win the Japanese Grand Prix Sunday at Suzuka. But needing only one point to clinch his second world title, Sebastian Vettel took third, to become the youngest two time world title holder.

SUZUKA, Japan-R.I.S- Edging ever so close to the all-time pole record held by Nigel Mansell, Sebastian Vettel put in one good final lap of 1:30:466, to win his 12th pole just by nine thousands of a second ahead of McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Japan at the legendary Suzuka circuit.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates- R.I.S.- After seeing Sebastian Vettel spin out of the race on the first lap because of a rare puncture, Lewis Hamilton kept his cool and easily cruised to his third victory of the season, with an eight second victory over Fernando Alonso Sunday night at the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at the Yas Marina International Circuit. Jenson Button was third.

YEONGAM, South Korea- R.I.S.- Midway through the first lap, Sebastian Vettel passed pole sitter Lewis Hamilton and took control of the race, winning his 10th grand prix of the season by 11 seconds over the Englishman Sunday at the Grand Prix of Korea at Yeongam. Mark Webber took third to give Team Red Bull their second consecutive constructor’s championship.

BUDDH, India- R.I.S. - Driving his Red Bull Renault on a Sunday afternoon in hazy conditions, Sebastian Vettel dominated the entire weekend by taking pole, achieving fastest lap, and an easy light to flag victory in the inaugural Grand Prix of India at the Buddh International Circuit. Jenson Button took second and gave McLaren second place in this year’s constructor’s championship, while Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was third.

(WEEHAWKEN, NJ - OCT. 25, 2011 - RIS) In June, 2013, Weehawken and West New York, New Jersey will be the scene of the newest Formula 1 Grand Prix race on the East Coast. The event announced today is on a street course along the Palisades overlooking the Hudson River, with a spectacular backdrop of Manhattan.

YEONGAM, South Korea- After having to witness many pole position taken by Sebastian Vettel, Saturday afternoon saw a real change as Lewis Hamilton recorded a 1:38:820 best lap to win his first pole of the season for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Korea at Yeognam. Vettel himself finished second, while Jenson Button was third.

LONDON, England- In a modern and newly economical mode, the Caterham squad became the first team to launch their 2012 Formula One challenger by showing their car, the CTO1, in F1 Racing Magazine Thursday.

WOKING, England- Following a quick surge at the end of the previous season with six victories in tow, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes launched their MP4 -27 car on February 1st at the McLaren Technology Center.

MARENELLO, Italy- R.I.S.- Despite having heavy snow outside which prevented the Scuderia Ferrari team from testing their new F2012 formula one challenger to all of the waiting media Friday morning, the Italian team nonetheless made an online presentation with a car that was not very impressive as far as looks were concerned, but according to Team manager Stefano Dominicali, it is not looks that makes the difference, but how the car will perform against the others.

SILVERSTONE, England- Following a very consistent season in 2011, with many top 10 finishes, the newly sponsored Sahara Force India team launched the new VJM05 challenger at the team’s popular Northampshire venue on Friday with the aim of moving up the grid for possible podium finishes.

MONZA, Italy- R.I.S.-  Continuing with his domination of the 2011 Formula One season, Sebastian Vettel recorded a  1:22:275 final lap time to win his 10th pole of the season for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Italy at Monza. McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were second and third, respectively.

SINGAPORE- Even a night drive on Saturday in hot conditions, along with a tight track with no runoff, did not deter Sebastian Vettel from winning his 11th pole of the season with a time of 1:44:381 ahead of teammate Mark Webber and McLaren’s Jenson Button for the following evening’s Grand Prix of Singapore.

SPA-FRANCHORCHAMPS, Belgium- Becoming only the fourth driver ever to win from pole position, Sebastian Vettel passed Fernando Alonso on lap 18 in Sunday’s Grand Prix of Belgium at Spa Franchorchamps to lead a Red Bull 1-2 with Mark Webber in second and McLaren’s Jenson Button in third. The win by the German extends his lead to 92 points over his Australian teammate in the cahmpionship.  

SINGAPORE- R.I.S- As he has done most of the year so far, Sebastian Vettel managed to get a great start Sunday night in the Grand Prix of Singapore to cruise to a flag to flag victory and come within one point from clinching his second consecutive world driving championship. Jenson Button finished second, while Mark Webber after a poor start, took third.