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Saturday, September 5, 2015
Friday, September 4, 2015
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Williams confirm Massa and Bottas for 2016
Williams have announced that drivers Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas will be retained by the team for a third season in the 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship.
Massa joined Williams for the 2014 season and has scored four podium finishes and one pole position with the squad, while Bottas, widely regarded as one of F1 racing’s most promising talents, has taken seven podiums over the last two seasons.
“I am very happy to be a part of the Williams family,” said Massa. “I am in my second year here and am so pleased to be staying as we are working very well together as a team. They respect me a lot and the results are there, and it has been so nice to be part of the big turnaround the team has seen since the end of 2013.
“I can’t wait to carry on and continue pushing even more for the team, and for myself. Thank you to Frank, Claire, Mike, Pat and the whole Williams team for their ongoing support and belief in me, as we build on what is already a great relationship.”
Bottas added: “I am really pleased to be staying with the team for a fourth F1 race season. We have been getting stronger as a team and I look forward to what next year will bring, as I believe we can achieve even stronger results than what we have seen so far.
“I can’t wait for 2016, however I am still fully focused on this season as we still have plenty of challenges to achieve. I must thank Frank, Claire, Mike, the Board, and everyone at Williams for their continued trust in me.”
Sir Frank Williams, founder and team principal, commented: “I’m delighted to confirm that Felipe and Valtteri will be racing for Williams once again next year. Stability is key for any team to thrive in Formula One, so to be able to enter a third season with one of the strongest driver line-ups on the grid puts Williams in a fantastic position to continue its momentum towards the front of the grid in 2016.
“Felipe’s blend of experience and raw speed is a rare attribute in Formula One. Felipe thrives in an environment where he is valued and can build a long-term relationship and we are delighted that he has become such an important part of the Williams family.
“Valtteri has become such a staple of Williams that we are as excited about the prospect of his potential as a championship contender as we are about returning the Williams name to the top of Formula One.
“Felipe and Valtteri quickly developed an exceptional working relationship from the beginning of 2014 and, while they remain fiercely competitive as rivals, they have always recognised the value of their collaboration in driving the team up the grid. Their shared work has given the technical team at Williams the best possible guidance in how to deliver the performance needed to carry the team forward, and both drivers have played a pivotal role in the rejuvenation of Williams.
“The successes we’ve enjoyed over the past two seasons would not have been possible without them, and they will play an essential role in the targets we aim to deliver in the future.”
Massa and Bottas lie fifth and sixth in the current driver standings, on 82 and 79 points respectively. Williams' best results of 2015 to date have been Massa’s third place in Austria and Bottas’s identical placing in Canada.
(source: f1.com)
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
FIA press conference schedule - Italy
World championship hopefuls Nico Rosberg - who became a father for the first time last week - and Sebastian Vettel, a two-time winner at Monza, will be among the drivers facing the press in Italy on Thursday. On Friday meanwhile Ferrari's Maurizio Arrivabene and Pirelli's Paul Hembery will be among the senior personnel answering questions from the media. The line-ups in full...
Thursday, September 03, 1500 hours local time (1300 hours GMT)
Marcus Ericsson (Sauber), Felipe Massa (Williams), Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari).
Friday, September 04, 1600 hours local time (1400 hours GMT)
Maurizio Arrivabene (Ferrari), Eric Boullier (McLaren), Matthew Carter (Lotus), Robert Fernley (Force India), Paul Hembery (Pirelli), Christian Horner (Red Bull).
The qualifying and post-race conferences with the top three drivers will take place immediately after the respective sessions.
(source: f1.com)
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Nico Hulkenberg extends contract with Force India
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| I took this photo myself in 2013 when he was driving for Sauber. |
Nico Hulkenberg has agreed a two-year contract extension with Force India, tying him to the team until at least the end of the 2017 season.
The German's future had been the subject of widespread media speculation over the summer, with his name being linked to newcomers Haas and also to a full programme in the World Endurance Championship with Porsche, with whom he won the Le Mans 24 Hours this year.
Hulkenberg, however, said his knowledge of Force India, and his belief in their long-term future, made extending his current deal the obvious choice.
"I'm very pleased to finalise and announce my plans for the future," he said. "I know this team inside out and I feel at home here so it made perfect sense to make a long-term commitment.
"The progress the team has shown over the last two years has really impressed me and gives me confidence for the future. It’s a great group of people who are hungry for success and want to keep improving year-on-year.
"I think we have the important things in place going forward and I want to continue growing with this team as we move even further up the grid."
Force India team principal and managing director Vijay Mallya hailed the announcement, adding: "I make no secret of being one of Nico’s biggest fans and so it’s fantastic to confirm him as our driver for the next couple of seasons.
"He has spent almost four years with us already and in that time we’ve seen him develop into one of the best racing drivers in the world. Nico has the speed, the technical knowledge and the maturity to help us achieve some great results in the years ahead. We will do everything we can to continue delivering a car to match his talent."
Hulkenberg first joined Force India as their reserve driver in 2011, before graduating to a full-time seat the following season. After a one-year hiatus at Sauber, he rejoined the squad ahead of their 2014 campaign. His best result for the team remains the fourth place he scored in Belgium in 2012, although he has led two Grands Prix in Force India colours, most recently in Brazil last year.
Hulkenberg's deal is the first move in the driver market since last month's news that Kimi Raikkonen has agreed a one-year extension with Ferrari.
(source: f1.com)
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