McLaren Expecting Competitive Qualifying At Suzuka

Both McLaren drivers are expecting a competitive fight for qualifying, after a productive day in practice for both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. The McLaren duo topped the opening practice session, however the Red Bull of Mark Webber thwarted the Woking-based outfit in second practice, as Button suffered from balance issues.

With Lewis Hamilton yet to win a race around the superb Suzuka circuit, the Briton will unquestionably be striving pole during qualifying tomorrow. However, with the likes of team-mate Jenson Button, reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel and current Championship leader Fernando Alonso all in the mix, both McLaren drivers understand that the fight for pole will be extremely competitive.

“Suzuka is such a phenomenal circuit!” Enthused Lewis Hamilton, after finishing 2nd in both practice sessions. “The first lap out of the pits felt great. Just driving through the first couple of corners and feeling the acceleration, it takes a few laps to get warmed up, but you keep getting faster and faster as you push the limits. As always, we’ll be fine-tuning the car tonight ahead of tomorrow’s sessions, but it looks very close between ourselves and Red Bull. I feel comfortable with our car – it’s the best that it’s ever been around here. It’s going to be very close in qualifying tomorrow.”

Jenson Button echoed his team-mate’s predictions with regards to a competitive qualifying session, after the Briton ended the opening session fastest overall. However, balance issues with the car during the second session hindered the 2009 World Champion’s track time, however he remains confident ahead of qualifying at Suzuka.

“I didn’t do too many laps in FP2: the balance wasn’t quite right and we knew we couldn’t go back on the changes we’d made until after the session, so there wasn’t any point doing too much running.” Explained Jenson Button, “Still, we know how to dial the car in for FP3 tomorrow, and that’s the important thing. The car felt good this morning, so we’ll go back to something similar with just a few detail changes. Overall, the car is working well here. Qualifying will be very competitive, but I think we’ll be up there.”

With Jenson Button set to incur a five-place grid penalty due to a gearbox change prior to the race weekend, Lewis Hamilton remains McLaren’s only true hope of starting Sunday’s 53-lap race from the front. Button can only qualify as high as 6th due to his penalty, but will remains positive of a competitive race result.

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Sergio Perez Aiming For Victory At Suzuka

Sergio Perez has announced he is aiming for victory at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, as the Mexican driver prepares to start his final six races with the Sauber outfit. After recently being announced as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at McLaren, Perez is confident he and team-mate Kamui Kobayashi can be competitive around the Suzuka circuit.

Last season saw Sergio Perez perform another of his sensational drives through the field, after starting a lowly 17th. The Mexican driver was able to scythe through the field during the race and finish 8th, a trait which has this season greatly assisted his move to McLaren. This season has seen Sergio Perez become renowned for mastering the tyres and finishing competitively, despite several poor qualifying performances.

“I think it’s a really good circuit for our car.” Explained Sergio Perez, ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. “Last year we didn’t have such a good car as this year and still we managed to come from the back of the grid – we had a failure, a problem in qualifying in Q1, so we start really from 17th and managed to do a good race, a good strategy. So I’m looking forward a lot of fighting for the victory here. I think we’ve got a very strong car at this circuit.”

Sergio Perez has come agonizingly close to victory on several occasions this season, most notably at the Malaysian Grand Prix earlier in the year. Although Sauber have enjoyed relatively competitive race results this season, qualifying has remained the teams achilles-heel. However, a competitive qualifying performance at Suzuka could well enable Sauber and Sergio Perez in particular the opportunity for an equally competitive race result.

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Kamui Kobayashi Focusing On Remaining Races

Kamui Kobayashi is remaining focused on the remaining six races of the season, as speculation rumbles on regarding the Japanese driver’s future in the sport. With Sergio Perez replacing Lewis Hamilton at McLaren for 2013 after a highly competitive season, Kamui Kobayashi’s future with the team is still unconfirmed.

Whereas Sergio Perez has stormed to three podium finishes this season, Kamui Kobayashi has as of yet been unable to replicate his team-mate’s success. Although the Japanese driver qualified on the front row of the grid at the Belgian Grand Prix, Kobayashi has failed to enjoy the same amount of success as Perez throughout 2012. Largely due to Perez’s superlative pace for Sauber, the Mexican driver will next year find himself racing for a World Championship winning outfit in McLaren, whereas Kobayashi continues to fight for his future at Sauber.

However, with pressure on Kamui Kobayashi to perform well in the remaining six races of the season, the 26-year-old has stipulated that he is remaining focused on producing competitive results for the Hinwil-based outfit in the remaining six races. Kobayashi’s personal best result so far this season was 4th at the German Grand Prix, however a podium finish in the remaining races would certainly be welcomed by both himself and the team.

“I have no idea [who he’ll be driving for in 2013]. I think we still have six races left to race and Suzuka for me is pretty important, so I just try to focus and think later.” Explained Kamui Kobayashi, who’s personal best result on home soil was 7th in 2010. “These two drivers [Hamilton and Perez] are the first movement [in the driver market] so this is quite exciting for the rest of the time.”

When asked whether Kamui Kobayashi viewed racing in front if his adoring home fans as a distraction or an encouragement, the Japanese driver was quick to confirm that he saw it as more of an encouragement. Like many drivers up and down the grid, Kobayashi views his local support as positive, and is eager to reward them with a competitive result this weekend.

“I think it’s more an encouragement, that means it’s great to be here, back to Suzuka, which is a really great circuit and my favorite as well.” Confirmed Kobayashi, “And definitely our car could be competitive here as well. After Singapore, which is a little bit difficult circuit for us, back to Suzuka which is our best track, I think it will be great. Really, there will be a big amount of power from a lot of fans and the Japanese people at the race.”

The last Japanese driver to step onto the podium was Takuma Sato at the 2004 French Grand Prix, however it is unquestionable that Kamui Kobayashi is striving to change that stat as the 2012 seasons draws to a conclusion. It’s clearly evident that the Ferrari-powered Sauber C31 can produce competitive results, however it has so far only been Sergio Perez who has unlocked its true potential.

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Sauber Reveals Interest In Michael Schumacher

Sauber have confirmed that they would consider signing seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, who will be replaced at Mercedes by Lewis Hamilton for the 2013 season. The German’s return with Mercedes has unquestionably been less successful than his former career, however he is still reluctant to finally stop racing.

After Mercedes confirmed the controversial signing of Lewis Hamilton from McLaren, it quickly became apparent that this would leave Michael Schumacher without a drive for 2013. However, with Sergio Perez announced as Hamilton’s replacement at McLaren, an opening could well have emerged for 43-year-old German at the Hinwil-based out. This move would incidentally see Schumacher return to the team he raced for back in the early 1990s, during his short stint in Sportscar racing.

“Of course it’s nice to think of such a possibility, that we can ask ourselves if we can get a seven-time world champion when he is on the market,” explained Sauber CEO, Monisha Kaltenborn, to Bild. “Michael has until now been with just big stables which we can’t compare ourselves to.”

Earlier in the season, Peter Sauber stated that he would “immediately” sign Michael Schumacher, should the F1 veteran be without a drive heading into the 2013 season. Although Michael Schumacher remains focused on his final few races with Mercedes, his future within the sport remains a top talking point throughout the paddock. Either way, Sauber have a vacancy to fill, and they have blatantly stated their interest in signing unarguably the most successful driver in the sport.

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Pastor Maldonado Confident Ahead Of Race Day At Singapore

Pastor Maldonado is confident that he can be competitive in tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix, after yet another stunning qualifying effort from the Venezuelan driver which will see him start tomorrow’s race from 2nd on the grid. He will start alongside sparring partner Lewis Hamilton, in what should be a highly entertaining race.

After many predicted that the front row for the race would be a battle between McLaren and Red Bull, many were surprised when the Williams of Pastor Maldonado slotted his Renault-powered FW34 machine into 2nd position. The 27-year-old Venezuelan driver has failed to score a point since his illustrious victory at the Spanish Grand Prix back in May, and is aiming to change that particular stat during tomorrow’s 61-lap race.

“We were working very hard because at the beginning of the weekend and during the practice we were a little bit lost with the setup and yeah, we were improving during the qualifying just trying to adapt the car to my style.” Explained Pastor Maldonado, “We find naturally very well balanced, especially in Q2 and then Q3. I’m really looking forward to the race because yesterday we showed very good pace, very consistent so I think it’s going to be a good one for us this time.”

Pastor Maldonado has suffered several utterly disastrous races since his victory in Spain, and has visited the stewards on numerous occasions due to his many on track misdemeanors. Although Maldonado failed to truly shine during practice earlier in the weekend, the Venezuelan driver is confident he can remain competitive throughout the race.

“We were struggling a little bit to put the car together but, including the qualifying, we managed to find a very good balance and we are really looking forward to tomorrow.” Continued Maldonado, “Yesterday we did a couple of long runs and it’s looking pretty good for us. The tyre degradation I mean. We have all the tools to be competitive tomorrow, so it should be a good race for us.”

With Pastor Maldonado and Lewis Hamilton having come together numerous times throughout their careers’, fireworks are most certainly a possibility on the run down to turn 1 during the start of tomorrow’s race. Maldonado will be striving to take the lead, whereas Hamilton will be looking to open a sizable gap to the Venezuelan. Both must remember that a race can’t be won on the opening lap, but can most certainly be ruined.

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Narain Karthikeyan: “I Completed An Almost Perfect Lap”

Narain Karthikeyan enjoyed yet another competitive qualifying session today around the Marina Bay street circuit, in preparation for tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix. Although the Indian driver will start the race from a lowly 23rd on the grid, it was the second race weekend in succession where he out-qualified his team-mate.

This weekend has seen HRT introduce several new upgrades to their car, including a new floor. With Pedro de la Rosa set to incur a 5-place grid penalty due to a gearbox change, it was a forgone conclusion that the Spaniard would start tomorrow’s race from 24th and last. However, Narain Karthikeyan completed what he regarded as an almost perfect lap around the tricky confines of the Marina Bay street circuit to beat his vastly experienced team-mate.

“I’m happy because in qualifying I completed an almost perfect lap.” Explained Narain Karthikeyan, “I’m pushing very hard and I think that right now I’m driving very well. I’m very comfortable within the team, they help me a lot and make me feel at home, and when the atmosphere is that good it’s easy to perform well. I’ve done two good consecutive qualifying sessions and I hope to keep that momentum. Tomorrow’s race will be tough physically and mentally but we will fight to achieve the best possible result.”

With speculation ripe within the F1 paddock this weekend that HRT’s reserve driver Dani Clos could receive a promotion within the team and replace Karthikeyan next season, the Indian driver is certainly proving his worth to the team behind the wheel of the F112. Although tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix will be exceedingly tough on the teams and drivers, Karthikeyan will be striving for a competitive result at the back of the pack.

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Nico Hulkenberg Positive Ahead Of Singapore Grand Prix

Nico Hulkenberg is confident that Force India will be competitive at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, after two strong races at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza for the Silverstone-based outfit. With the slow nature of the Marina Bay street circuit, Hulkenberg believes the track should suit the VJM05 better than recent high-sped tracks.

Although the Singapore Grand Prix is usually one of the longest and most physically demanding races of the year, usually reaching the two-hour mark, Nico Hulkenberg believes he and team-mate Paul di Resta will finish the 61-lap race within the top ten. Last season saw Force India finish the Singapore Grand Prix 6th and 8th, a result both Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta will be striving to emulate once the track action gets underway this weekend.

“I think if anything this kind of circuit should suit us a bit more – quite a lot of slow-speed corners. There’s not really one high-speed corner here. That is in our favor a little bit more than at Spa and Monza, the two last races, so I think we should be all right. As usual I think we’ll be around the top 10 and hopefully inside.”

With future contracts very much a talking point within the paddock this weekend, rumor has it that Nico Hulkenberg will remain a Force India driver next season. However, with speculation ripe that Paul di Resta could be on the move, it is currently uncertain who Hulkenberg’s team-mate at Force India would be in 2013, regarding the German remains a Force India driver.

“Well, there’s a good chance I’ll be with Force India next year but as you know nothing has been announced yet.”

Both Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta have been hinted at a possible move to Ferrari next season in place of the struggling Felipe Massa, however both parties have remained coy on the subject. With Paul di Resta’s connections with Mercedes [due to his former DTM career with the marque], speculation has also placed the Scot with a potential drive at either McLaren or Mercedes. Whether or not the Force India line-up next season stays the same remains to be seen, with the likes of Kovalainen and Alguersuari also rumored to be possible candidates for a vacant Force India seat.

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Force India Positive Despite di Resta Penalty & Hulkenberg Issue

Force India have remained positive despite several negatives throughout the qualifying hour ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, with Paul di Resta set to incur a 5-place grid penalty and Nico Hulkenberg failing to set a time due to a fuel pressure issue. These setbacks aside, the team are confident after a competitive weekend so far.

Although Paul di Resta will start tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix from 9th on the grid after being issued a 5-place grid drop for a gearbox change, the Scot has remained upbeat after showing decent pace at the sharp end of the field. Paul di Resta ended the final practice session prior to qualifying 3rd overall, only two tenths off the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton. This pace was then visible once again in qualifying, as di Resta ended the top-ten shootout 4th.

“I’m very happy with my Q3 lap, which was my quickest lap so far – so we maximized it when it mattered.” Explained Paul di Resta, “I think the entire team has done an excellent job to get us in this position – we’ve trusted our instincts and just worked away at dialing the car into the track. I knew I was going to have a grid penalty for the gearbox change, which is frustrating, but at least I will start inside the top ten. The challenge now is to make sure we have the race pace and use the strategy to come away with points.”

Nico Hulkenberg could’ve made it a perfect qualifying session for Force India, however the German driver suffered a mechanical issue only moments into the opening session of qualifying. This means Nico Hulkenberg will start tomorrow’s race from 24th and last on the grid, after being unable to set a timed lap during the session. However, the 25-year-old German remans positive, as he aims to scythe his way through the field during the race.

“A very short and disappointing session for me.” Said Nico Hulkenberg, “I was about to start my first timed lap in Q1 when I suddenly lost drive. I pulled over at the first chicane and the team told me to switch off the car. It’s a shame this happened on a day when the car looks so competitive, but that’s racing. Starting so far back tomorrow will be tough, but I will try and push through so that we can hopefully come away with something from the race.”

Force India enjoyed a relatively competitive race last time out in Belgium, where Nico Hulkenberg finished a career best 4th and Paul di Resta finished 10th. The Silverstone-based outfit will be eager to replicate such success tomorrow, on a circuit which has benefited the team in the past.

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Formula 1 Gran Premio Santander d’Italia 2012 Preview

Only several days after the highly entertaining Belgian Grand Prix at the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, the Formula 1 fraternity has moved swiftly on to yet another equally historic circuit. This weekend, the wonderful Autodromo Nazionale Monza plays host to the 81st running of the Italian Grand Prix.

First held back in 1921 (a race won by Jules Goux) the Italian Grand Prix has played host to some of the most iconic moments in the history of the sport, and has been a part of the Formula 1 World Championship every year since its inception back in 1950. Although the Monza circuit has undergone several redesigns since the first official race back in 1950, the circuit has hosted every running of the event apart from the 1980 Italian Grand Prix which was held at Imola.

Prior to the inception of the official Formula 1 World Championship, the Italian Grand Prix was hosted at several other circuits, such as Valentino Park, Milan, Livorno and Brescia. However, the majority of all the Italian Grands Prix have been held around the iconic Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Built back in 1922 by architect Alfredo Rosselli, the original circuit also feature a 30 degree banked oval, which played host to a series of races known as the Monzanapolis back in the 1950s. The legendary oval was used several times as part of the F1 race, and was won by Sir Stirling Moss and Phil Hill on two separate occasions when the oval track was used in 1955, 1956, 1960 and 1961.

Although the oval track still remains to this very day, the Formula 1 cars race on a modernized version of the original circuit, which features 11 turns (the least of the season), and consists of a total length of 5.793km (3.600 miles). Veteran of the sport Rubens Barrichello currently holds the official lap record, set back in 2004 of a 01:21.046. However Juan-Pablo Montoya recorded a even quicker time during the same race weekend, which unfortunately didn’t count which consisted of a 01:19.525.

Jerome D’Ambrosio will this weekend stand in for the banned Romain Grosjean at Lotus.

This weekend sees Formula 1 visit Monza with the repercussions of last time out in Belgium still reverberating around the paddock, after Romain Grosjean’s one race ban for causing the opening lap incident between himself, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez. With the race stewards at Spa-Francorchamps imposing a one race ban, Lotus have called upon the services of reserve driver Jerome D’Ambrosio to fill his place. This weekend will also see the HRT of Pedro de la Rosa reach the milestone of 100 races, after the Spaniard made his debut back in 1999 with Arrows.

Like with many circuits on the 2012 F1 calendar, Michael Schumacher currently holds the record for the most amount of victories recorded at the Italian Grand Prix, with five wins throughout his lengthy career (’96, ’98, ’00, ’03 and ’06). All of these victories came with local heroes Ferrari, whose adoring Tifosi masses visit the race weekend in their droves in unrelenting support of the Scuderia. It’s Ferrari who have the mot amount of victories as a Constructor at the Italian Grand Prix, with a staggering 19 victories recorded at the race (’49, ’51, ’52, ’60, ’61, ’64, ’66, ’70, ’75, ’79, ’88, ’96, ’98, ’00, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’06 and ’10).

Emanuele Pirro, on the podium after winning the American Le Mans Series Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg in 2008. (far left)

This weekend will see local ex-F1 driver Emanuele Pirro reprise his role as the FIA driver steward, a role previously held by Eliseo Salazar at the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend. Throughout Pirro’s three seasons in F1, he was only able to finish once at his home race at Monza. Since F1, Emanuele Pirro has enjoyed a very successful career in sportscar racing with a stunning five Le Mans victories, two Sebring 12 Hours victories and a victory at the Daytona 24 Hours.

This weekend’s Italian Grand Prix will also feature two DRS zones, in similar fashion and similar locations as last season. With the high-speed nature of the Monza circuit, DRS isn’t always required to complete an overtake, but it’s unquestionable that the device makes overtaking a lot easier. The first zone is naturally located on the start/finish line, with the activation zone positioned just 115 meters after the finish line. This will provide an excellent overtaking opportunity into the tight turn 1 and 2 chicane. The second DRS zone is situated just 210 meters after turns 4 and 5 (Curve di Lesmo), and will offer yet another perfect passing opportunity into turn 7 (Variante Ascari).

The last time a Ferrari driver prepared to compete in the Italian Grand Prix leading the Drivers’ Championship was Michael Schumacher back in 2004, one race after he clinched his record breaking seventh Drivers’ Title. Fernando Alonso enters this weekend leading the Drivers’ Championship, however the Spaniard is in hot pursuit by the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. With the adoring Tifosi masses willing Alonso to win this weekend, it would be a brave man to snatch victory away from the Scuderia in their own back yard.

This, coupled with the sheer uncompetitiveness of the 2012 season, offers us with a mouthwatering Italian Grand Prix around one of the most legendary circuits on the Formula 1 calendar. Ferrari are the most successful team on Italian soil, however will they end the weekend victorious? There’s only one way to find out…

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Jean-Eric Vergne Hints At Frustration Within Toro Rosso

Jean-Eric Vergne has described a sense of frustration with the STR7, which has visibly held both himself and team-mate Daniel Ricciardo back throughout the duration of the 2012 season. The Faenza-based outfit currently have only six points in the Constructors’ Championship, despite positive improvements from their two drivers.

Toro Rosso’s only points to date came during the opening two rounds of the season, at the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix. Since then, it has unquestionably been a tough season for Daniel Ricciardo and F1 rookie Jean-Eric Vergne. The two drivers have definitely made improvements throughout the season, however the underperformance of the Ferrari-powered STR7 has undeniably overshadowed their season.

Jean-Eric Vergne enjoyed a particularly successful season in the World Series by Renault last year, winning five races including one at Spa-Francorchamps on his way to 2nd in the Drivers’ Championship. This helped the Frenchman land a drive at Toro Rosso alongside Daniel Ricciardo, after Toro Rosso elected to change both drivers for the 2012 season. Although Vergne and Ricciardo have finished in the points on less occasions than their predecessors so far this season, Vergne is adamant he is improving as the season progresses.

Jean-Eric Vergne has suffered a tough debut season so far.

“To be honest it is a bit difficult.” Explained Jean-Eric Vergne, when asked how satisfied he is with the team in an interview with Formula1.com. “I know that I am improving myself but when you look at the results it does not show. That’s a bit frustrating. I was almost in Q3 in Australia and I performed well in Malaysia so we all had the impression that I was on a good upward curve. But as I have just said the results do not show that. The car is not really moving forward. From my side I can only do my best over a race weekend and hopefully the car will follow.”

When asked whether he could’ve scored better results had the car been performing better this season, the Frenchman adamantly stated the Monaco Grand Prix as a missed opportunity. Jean-Eric Vergne was running in 7th position after starting 18th during the race, but tyre wear towards the end of the race ruined his chances of a competitive result at the Principality.

Jean-Eric Vergne very nearly finished what would’ve been a career best 7th at Monaco.

“Definitely in Monaco!” Enthused Jean-Eric Vergne, “I was running seventh and started from P18. The performance in the race was amazing. I kept the Force Indias behind me and was nearly as quick as the guys who later made it onto the podium. But the fact was that I had the oldest tyres in the field and a drop of water finished them immediately. That was a big shame and a big opportunity missed.”

Jean-Eric Vergne has definitely proved his worth so far this season, regardless of the fact he’s remained towards the back of the pack during many of the recent race weekends. Consistency isn’t Toro Rosso’s or Jean-Eric Vergne’s issue, as the Frenchman has finished every race except the European Grand Prix so far this season. However, with points so important in Formula 1, the Frenchman and his Italian outfit desperately need to find some form in the closing races of this thrilling 2012 season.

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