Red Bull Reveal New RB9 Car
Red Bull have revealed the machine they hope will be able to retain the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship, after a slightly secretive unveiling at their factory in Milton Keynes ahead of the new season. The team will run the car for the first time this coming week at the first pre-season test at Jerez, with Mark Webber behind the wheel on day one.
The reigning Constructors’ Champions became the fifth consecutive team to unveil their car earlier today, following on from McLaren, Ferrari, Force India and Sauber. Although very few images of the RB9 have been officially released, illustrations of the new car reveal slightly slimmer sidepods reminiscent of Sauber, a minor step in the nose in comparison to the RB8 and no “letterbox” slot on the nose of the car which was one of the major attractions this time last year.
With Red Bull securing a more prominent collaboration with Japanese car manufacturer Infiniti, the new RB9 features an increased amount of Infiniti logos on the car, most visibly across the sidepods. The car has also undergone a slight color change during the winter period, with the new RB9 now featuring an increased amount of purple along with the traditional blue.
“Our stronger link with Infiniti from 2013 is part of the natural evolution of our team and demonstrates its growth.” Explained Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, “We are still a young racing outfit and this title partnership is a very welcome aspect of our development. I firmly believe it will prove to be of enormous benefit on both sides over the coming years.”
The new RB9, like with many other new machines already unveiled up and down the grid, is not hugely different to its predecessor. This is largely due to the lack of regulation changes for the forthcoming season, which has therefore forced Adrian Newey to design what he has dubbed an evolution of the successful RB8 machine. The new challenger features only subtle modifications in comparison to last year, but is still regarded as the car to beat in 2013.
“It’s an evolutionary car.” Said Adrian Newey, “There were no big regulation changes over the winter. The most significant change is not the regulations, it’s the new Pirelli tyres. We had a quick test in P1 in Brazil but it was very hot and on a green track and in truth we didn’t learn a lot. It’s really been a case of refining the RB8. There are no huge changes. It’s very much an evolutionary car. All the principles [are] the same as last year. The devil has very much been in the detail with this car. We’ve tidied up some bits that we felt could be improved on. Development is now the key through the year.”
The Milton Keynes-based outfit will run the new RB9 machine for the first time during testing at Jerez in Spain, which gets underway in only a couple of days time. This will be the majority of the teams’ first chances to run their new challengers, as they strive to prepare for the coming season. Mark Webber will get the first taste of the new Red Bull on Tuesday, before handing over to team-mate and reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel on Wednesday.
Picture Copyright © Getty Images for Red Bull Racing
Jack Harvey Joins Lotus For 2013 GP3 Season
Newly-crowned British Formula Three International Series Champion Jack Harvey will join Lotus GP for next year’s GP3 season, joining the outfit which has won all three Constructors’ Championships in the history of the Series. The Briton got his first taste of GP3 machinery at the Estoril test in November, and greatly impressed the Lotus outfit.
The 19-year-old began his open-wheel motor sport career in 2009 in the Formula BMW Pacific and European Series with Fortec Motorsports, which saw him take only one victory in the European Series. For 2010, Harvey continued with just the Formula BMW Europe Series, this time stamping his authority over proceedings with seven victories on his way to 2nd in the Championship standings. In 2011, the Briton progressed to the British Formula Three Series and in 2012 became the Champion of the prestigious Series with Carlin.
This sensational performance in the British Formula Three Series saw Jack Harvey land himself with a drive at the GP3 Series post-season test with both Carlin and Lotus. The Briton impressed both outfits during the two tests at Jerez and Estoril, no doubt assisting in his “graduation” to a full-time drive with Lotus for next season. Harvey has intentions in following in the footsteps of fellow countryman James Calado, who also drove for the Lotus GP outfit in GP3 prior to his progression to GP2 with the same team.
“The relationship with Lotus GP is fantastic and I’m proud to have the opportunity to enter the GP3 Series with them.” Explained Jack Harvey, “I would like to follow in the steps of another Racing Steps Foundation-backed Lotus GP driver, my fellow countryman James Calado, who was GP3 runner-up in 2010. We learned a lot during testing and coming to grips with the new tyres will be very important. I am looking forward to the challenge of being in GP3 and especially with Lotus GP, because the team has a great heritage. Our aim has to be to push for the championship.”
Both Esteban Gutierrez and Valtteri Bottas drove for the Lotus GP outfit during their time in the GP3 Series, and both have since progressed to Formula 1 for the 2013 season. Jack Harvey will unquestionably be striving to emulate the results of these two drivers, as he aims to rise through the motor sport echelon to Formula 1.
Picture Copyright © LAT Photographic
Collision With Jean-Eric Vergne Destroyed Timo Glock’s Race
Timo Glock’s hopes of retaining tenth position in the Constructors’ Championship for Marussia were destroyed during the Brazilian Grand Prix, after a collision with the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne upon the restart after the first safety car period. This forced Glock to pit, and saw him plummet to the back of the pack.
As utter mayhem ensued throughout the early stages of the Brazilian Grand Prix, the Marussias and Caterhams slowly rose through the order as they opted to remain out on track as the rain continued to fall. This saw the likes of Glock, Kovalainen, Petrov and Pic race competitively within the top ten as the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber and Felipe Massa all struggled in the treacherous conditions and decided to pit for wet tyres.
Eventually the safety car was deployed as the amount of debris on the track rose due to the numerous collisions throughout the opening few laps, therefore allowing the marshals to clear the track. Upon the restart, the difference in speed between the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne and the Marussia of Timo Glock was so great that the two collided, with Glock being forced to pit after the incident. The German driver was understandably upset, as this practically ended Marussia’s chances of retaining tenth in the Constructors’ Championship.
“There isn’t much we can say really; the result speaks for itself and we were just not lucky today.” Explained a dispirited Timo Glock, “It is a crying shame for everyone associated with the team as we have all worked so hard together to come this far. It’s so sad to lose 10th like this because we were right on it and we had everything lined up to stay ahead of the other guys. Unfortunately, Vergne crashed into the back of my car and destroyed the race for me because it was right at the restart and I had to pit under the green flag. I went straight to the back of the field and worked hard from there, but there was very little we could do.”
Jean-Eric Vergne was very apologetic to Timo Glock after the race, which saw the Frenchman eventually finish 8th and in the points. The rookie has finished in the points four times this season, interestingly finishing each race in 8th position. Vergne coped well in the inclement weather conditions, despite running on dry tyres on a very greasy track surface.
“At the restart after the safety car came in, I was hanging back to get a run on Glock,” said Jean-Eric Vergne. “But as I caught up, those in front were braking hard and I ran into him and I’ve already apologized to him for that. My pace on the slick tyres in the damp conditions was very good and it’s nice to finish the final race of the season in the points.”
Both Timo Glock and Jean-Eric Vergne will be aiming for a much more competitive season in 2013, as they both struggled greatly throughout this past year. Glock was both out-qualified and out-raced by rookie team-mate Charles Pic on numerous occasions, and Jean-Eric Vergne has struggled with the pace of his Toro Rosso. Both will return in 2013, and both will be after improvements from their respective outfits.
Picture Copyright © Getty Images
Petrov Thrilled With Clinching Tenth In The Championship For Caterham
Vitaly Petrov is thrilled with clinching tenth in the Constructors’ Championship with Caterham, after a tough 71-lap Brazilian Grand Prix in utterly treacherous conditions. Heading into the race saw Caterham behind Marussia in the Championship, however a superlative 11th from Vitaly Petrov saw them leapfrog their Anglo-Russian competitors.
Throughout the final part of the 2012 season, Caterham have remained adamant they would eventually catch Marussia in the Championship. Seeing as the three bottom teams in the Championship failed to score any points throughout the season, their Championship positions were determined by their highest finishing position outside the points. This meant Caterham needed to somehow finish the race 12th or higher to thwart their opposition, something which Vitaly Petrov managed to achieve after a tense season finale.
Although neither Caterham, Marussia or HRT scored any points this season, finishing tenth in the Constructors’ Championship is worth in excess of $10 million for the lucky team. For the majority of the second half of the season, it has looked as though Marussia would once again finish tenth, however the unrelenting Caterham outfit failed to loose sight of their nearest competitors, and finally finished high enough to clinch that all important position in the Championship.
“What an incredible race.” Enthused a thrilled Vitaly Petrov after the race, “I’m so pleased for the whole team and I want to thank every single one of them for doing such a fantastic job in the conditions today. Seeing what regaining tenth place in the Championship meant to everyone when I got back to the garage was really special and I think we deserve it after all the hard work we’ve put in throughout the whole year. On track it was one of the hardest races I’ve ever been in, but also one of the best.”
The extra income which the team will receive for clinching tenth in the Championship could well see either Vitaly Petrov or Heikki Kovalainen be retained by the outfit for next season, despite neither drivers apparently set to bring a huge amount of sponsorship money to the team in 2013. The lucky candidate will team-mate Charles Pic next season, regarding the team decide against lucrative offers from other candidates up and down the grid.
Picture Copyright © Caterham F1 Team
Lewis Hamilton Takes Historic Victory At Austin
Lewis Hamilton has taken a historic victory at the brand-new Circuit of the Americas, in what was an absolutely enthralling United States Grand Prix. The Briton was followed home by Sebastian Vettel, with Fernando Alonso a distant 3rd. Red Bull have therefore secured their third Constructors’ Championship.
At the start Sebastian Vettel stormed into a comfortable lead, as fellow Championship rival Fernando Alonso enjoyed a sensational start from the clean side of the grid and catapulted himself up to 4th position after starting from 7th. Lewis Hamilton dropped from 2nd to 3rd, as Jenson Button fell backwards as the field negotiated the tricky opening sector. Michael Schumacher, Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen became locked in a grueling battle for 6th, which the Frenchman won as he progressed after his initial gearbox penalty.
Lewis Hamilton instantly challenged Mark Webber for 2nd position, however the Briton’s initial overtaking maneuver failed to stick as he ran wide and allowed Webber back through. However, the 2008 World Champion managed to make the move stick on the next lap, surging up the inside of the Red Bull driver at Turn 12. Romain Grosjean’s early pace was thrown away on Lap 7, as the Frenchman spun at the ever-tricky Turn 19 and lost many positions. Grosjean rejoined right in the middle of the melee for 9th position with Michael Schumacher, however the Frenchman continued to plummet through the order.
Several laps later and Romain Grosjean decided to pit after loosing many positions since his earlier spin, with the Frenchman now lapping towards the back of the pack. As Grosjean pitted, Lewis Hamilton began piling immense amounts of pressure on race leader Sebastian Vettel. Kamui Kobayashi and Michael Schumacher became the next drivers to make a scheduled pit stop, as Hamilton entered the all-important DRS zone and began to challenge for the race lead.
Jean-Eric Vergne became the first retirement of the race, as the Toro Rosso driver came to a halt on the grass at Turn 7 due to a steering issue on his car. Mark Webber was quick to follow the Frenchman into retirement, as the Red Bull driver picked up yet another alternator failure on his car only moments after suffering with a KERS failure. Nico Hulkenberg decided to pit as the Australian driver retired, whilst Lewis Hamilton began to loose out to Sebastian Vettel as his tyres began to wear out.
The McLaren driver was almost instantly brought into the pits, with Fernando Alonso following the Briton and also pitting on Lap 21. Sebastian Vettel was therefore forced to pit as well, with the Red Bull mechanics performing an utterly unbelievably quick stop on the German’s car. Kimi Raikkonen therefore found himself between race leader Sebastian Vettel and the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton as the Finn decided against pitting with the race leaders. Eventually the Finn was overtaken by Hamilton, before he decided to pit from 3rd.
Whilst the gap between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton changed every lap, Fernando Alonso has silently risen to 3rd position. This would therefore deny Sebastian Vettel the Championship crown this weekend, and would see the Championship go down to the wire at Sao Paulo next weekend.
As the race entered it’s closing stages, Lewis Hamilton once again began to reel in race leader Sebastian Vettel and on Lap 42 the Briton used his DRS-advantage to full effect and stormed around the outside of the reigning Champion for the lead. The maneuver slightly flustered Vettel, who immediately vented his disbelief at being overtaken over the team radio.
After taking the lead, Lewis Hamilton wasted no time in opening up a comfortable gap to the Red Bull driver. Sebastian Vettel strove to close down the gap to the McLaren driver in the closing laps, however Hamilton remained uncatchable out in front and eventually crossed the line to take a historic inaugural victory around the stunning Circuit of the Americas. Hamilton was followed home by just under a second by Sebastian Vettel, with Fernando Alonso a distant 3rd therefore keeping his Championship hopes alive with the final race in Brazil next weekend. Red Bull have therefore secured their third Constructors’ Championship, making history by becoming the first team to win their first three Constructors’ titles in a row.
The 2012 Championship has been one of excitement and unpredictability, and is poised with a mouthwatering finale next weekend around the legendary Interlagos circuit at Sao Paulo. Rain is always a threat around the tricky circuit, and could well plague proceedings next weekend.
PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS The USA Grand Prix Circuit of the Americas, USA; 56 laps; 308.896km; Weather: Sunny. Classified: Pos Driver Team Time 1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1h35:55.269 2. Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 0.600 3. Alonso Ferrari + 39.200 4. Massa Ferrari + 46.000 5. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 56.400 6. Raikkonen Lotus-Renault + 1:04.400 7. Grosjean Lotus-Renault + 1:10.300 8. Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes + 1:13.700 9. Maldonado Williams-Renault + 1:14.500 10. Senna Williams-Renault + 1:15.100 11. Perez Sauber-Ferrari + 1:24.300 12. Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1:24.800 13. Rosberg Mercedes + 1:25.500 14. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 1 lap 15. Di Resta Force India-Mercedes + 1 lap 16. Schumacher Mercedes + 1 lap 17. Petrov Caterham-Renault + 1 lap 18. Kovalainen Caterham-Renault + 1 lap 19. Glock Marussia-Cosworth + 1 lap 20. Pic Marussia-Cosworth + 2 laps 21. De la Rosa HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps 22. Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps Fastest lap: Vettel, 1:39.347 Not classified/retirements: Driver Team On lap Webber Red Bull-Renault 17 Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 15
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Sergio Perez Targeting Championship Glory With McLaren
Sergio Perez has confirmed that he is targeting Championship success with McLaren immediately, ahead of his departure from Sauber after this season as the replacement of Lewis Hamilton at the Woking-based outfit. The Mexican driver will team-mate Jenson Button next season, as Hamilton moves to Mercedes.
Despite mixed opinions with regards to McLaren’s decision to replace Lewis Hamilton with Sergio Perez, with even Martin Whitmarsh confirming doubts over his decision in signing the young Mexican, Sergio Perez is remaining focused on immediately winning races for McLaren. Throughout the 2012 season, Perez has enjoyed several sensational podium finishes for Sauber, which included a near-victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix at the start of the season.
It’s unarguably feasible that if Sergio Perez starts next season with McLaren with as much competitiveness witnessed at the start of this season, he will definitely be a contender for victory should McLaren design another race-winning machine. It’s fair to say McLaren could and should have won several more races this season, however technical gremlins have plagued them throughout. Should these issues be ironed out for next season, Sergio Perez and Jenson Button could well be a formidable pairing at McLaren.
“My target straight away is to win the World Championship,” insisted Sergio Perez to CNN. “I need to get wins to do that. I know it will be very hard to win the Championship but it’s the challenge I want.”
With Lewis Hamilton departing from McLaren at the end of the season, Jenson Button will undoubtedly assume the lead driver role within the team. Sergio Perez is looking forward to racing alongside the 2009 World Champion, and has admitted that he is a tough driver to beat.
“I’ve spoken to Jenson a bit since I signed for McLaren,” continued Sergio Perez. “He seems to be a great guy and I think he’ll be good fun as a team-mate. He’s a very tough guy to beat and is very experienced. He’s one of the fastest guys out there.”
Despite Sergio Perez’s insistence that he aims to start his career at McLaren in winning form, many still continue to believe McLaren have made a mistake in replacing someone like Lewis Hamilton with a driver still relatively new to the world of Formula 1. If anything, these comments will surely only serve as fuel for Perez to silence his critics once the action gets underway next March at Melbourne.
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Williams Aiming To Catch Force India In Constructors’ Championship
Williams are aiming to catch and pass Force India for seventh in the Constructors’ Championship, as the 2012 Formula 1 season draws to a conclusion with the final two races at the United States and Brazil. Williams are currently 22 points behind Force India, and are aiming to continue introducing upgrades at each of the remaining race weekends.
As Williams prepare for this weekend’s highly anticipated United States Grand Prix around the brand-new circuit in Austin, Texas, the Grove-based outfit are looking to once again introduce several updates with an aim of continuing their competitiveness witnessed at Abu Dhabi. During the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, Pastor Maldonado was able to qualify a very competitive 4th and finished the race 5th with team-mate Bruno Senna 8th.
“On the back of a good result in Abu Dhabi the whole team is really looking forward to the last two races of the season.” Explained the team’s Chief Operations Engineer, Mark Gillan. “We will be pushing hard right to the end with further updates in order to try to secure seventh position in the Constructors Championship. As this is a new track, with no historic database of information to call upon, it places even more importance on one’s circuit simulation tools and simulator to ensure that we’re fully prepared in terms of both car set-up and proposed run programme.”
Pastor Maldonado, who won the Spanish Grand Prix back in May, is eager to continue the recent competitiveness of the team this weekend. Despite his superlative victory earlier in the season, Maldonado has struggled throughout the majority of the season, and will be striving to end the season on a positive note for the Grove-based outfit.
“After a good performance in the last race in Abu Dhabi I’m looking forward to getting in the car again and seeing what we can achieve in Austin.” Said Pastor Maldonado, “The team has worked very hard to get the car back to the sort of pace that can consistently challenge for points and that is what we will be looking for in this race. The track is new so it will be challenging to get the right set up, but that is the same for all the teams. It looks like a fun and challenging track to drive from the work we have done in the simulator.”
Although there is only 22 points between Williams and Force India in the Constructors’ Championship, both teams have cars capable of consistently finishing within the points. With Sauber striving to catch Mercedes and Caterham also aiming to catch Marussia in the Constructors Championship, the season is far from over throughout the majority of the paddock.
Picture Copyright © Williams F1 Team
Vettel Believes The Driver Who Deserves It Most Will Be Champion
Sebastian Vettel has explained how he believes the driver who deserves to win the Drivers’ Championship the most will eventually be crowned Champion, with both himself and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso still in contention to clinch the prestigious title. Only two races remain in the season, with the leading duo separated by only ten points.
The favorite to clinch the Drivers’ Crown is reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel, who will this weekend compete in his 100th Formula 1 race. The German driver made his first appearance in the world of Formula 1 back in 2007 for BMW Sauber as a replacement for the injured Robert Kubica. Vettel immediately impressed, finishing within the points during his first race and switching to Toro Rosso for the Hungarian Grand Prix in place of Scott Speed.
Since his inaugural season in Formula 1 back in 2007, the German driver has since moved to Red Bull and has quickly asserted dominance over proceedings. At each event, it is clear that Vettel strives to not only win, but to do so in dominating style by securing pole position and the fastest lap as well. However, this season saw a drastic change from recent years, with Sebastian Vettel failing to win until the Bahrain Grand Prix in April. Since then, the 25-year-old has gradually returned to his formidable dominance and won four races in quick succession at Singapore, Japan, Korea and India.
Despite Sebastian Vettel’s recent resurgence, Fernando Alonso has continued to remain the German’s biggest rival. Although Alonso spun out of the Japanese Grand Prix on the opening lap, the two-time Champion has successfully finished on the podium throughout the last three races, after starting no higher than 4th on the grid.
“If you look at the races we’ve done so far I think Fernando’s and my DNF’s or calamities are equal.” Explained Sebastian Vettel, ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix. “I still believe that the driver who deserves it most will be champion. No doubt we are in a very good position now and I hope we do well until the very end to make sure that we deserve the glory.”
Although this past season has been one of the most unpredictable and competitive in recent decades, Sebastian Vettel has admitted how he would have preferred a more “boring” season. Unlike last season, Sebastian Vettel has been unable to assert as much dominance as previously seen, with the first seven races of the season won by seven different drivers including the likes of Pastor Maldonado and Nico Rosberg.
“I personally would have loved it to be a little bit more boring at some stages.” Admitted Sebastian Vettel, “When you think back some years ago, when you were in the lead and had only ten laps to go you could have been pretty sure that the race was yours. Today anything can happen until the moment you pass the checkered flag. The tyres keep results up in the air until the very last meters of the race. When you are in the hunt you still can turn it around – and when you are in the lead you can still lose it!”
Sebastian Vettel will unquestionably be looking to win the Championship this weekend around the Circuit of the Americas at the United States Grand Prix, instead of allowing the Championship to go down to the wire at the Brazilian Grand Prix around Sao Paulo’s tricky Interlagos circuit. With rain always a threat at Sao Paulo, proceedings could once again become unpredictable should the Championship be decided during what would be a thrilling 71-lap finale!
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Sergio Perez Regarding United States Grand Prix As Home Race
Sergio Perez is treating next weekend’s United States Grand Prix as a home race, seeing as the Texas venue will be the closest to his home town in Guadalajara for eight years. Mexico last hosted a Formula 1 event back in 1992 at Mexico City, a race which was won by Nigel Mansell.
With Sergio Perez enjoying a tremendously competitive 2012 season with Sauber, the Mexican driver is hopeful that many Mexicans will journey to the brand-new Circuit of the Americas for the inaugural race next weekend. Sergio Perez is preparing to start his final two races for Sauber, before switching to McLaren to replace Lewis Hamilton for the 2013 season.
“I am very much looking forward to this race!” Enthused Sergio Perez, “I think it is the closest race for eight years for me to my home town of Guadalajara. I expect many Mexican Formula One fans to attend and this, for sure, will give me an extra boost. Of course I also hope there will be a Mexican Grand Prix one day, because I am aware of the great enthusiasm for Formula One in my country, but for now I regard the race in Austin as my home Grand Prix.”
The United States Grand Prix will be a leap into the great unknown for all of the 24 drivers next weekend, as they strive to learn the brand-new state-of-the-art Circuit of the Americas quickly throughout the due course of the race weekend. However, Sergio Perez has no worries he’ll be able to quickly learn the new circuit, after spending the majority of his debut season last year learning many of the circuits on the calendar.
“I have no issues about learning new tracks quickly.” Explained Sergio Perez, “In my first Formula One season, which was only last year, I had many tracks to learn. I am sure we will have a good crowd there and I definitely want to put in a strong result for both the Sauber F1 Team and myself.”
Sauber are currently only 12 points behind Mercedes in the Constructors Championship, and remain confident they can catch and overtake the German marque in the remaining two races. Mercedes have failed to score a single World Championship point since the Singapore Grand Prix, and Sauber are hoping to capitalize on this lack of consistency from their nearest competitors.
Picture Copyright © Sauber Motorsport AG
Kamui Kobayashi Pleased With Race Effort Despite KERS Issue
Kamui Kobayashi has voiced satisfaction after a relatively competitive performance during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, especially after the Japanese driver struggled with a KERS issue largely due to a problem with his downshifting. Kobayashi eventually finished 6th, bringing home eight valuable points for Sauber.
With Sauber still aiming to catch and pass Mercedes for fifth in the Constructors’ Championship, Kamui Kobayashi’s 6th place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will have been warmly welcomed, especially as Mercedes once again failed to score a single World Championship point. This result has reduced the gap between Sauber and Mercedes to only 12 points, with two races still remaining in the Championship.
However, Kamui Kobayashi did not have the ability use the full pace of the car during the 55-lap race, as his car was plagued with a downshift issue which in turn effected the KERS harvesting system on his Ferrari-powered Sauber C31. Regardless of this minor setback, the Japanese star still finished competitively within the points, as he strives to retain his seat at Sauber.
“It was a very tough race and I am really happy I was able to get those eight points for the team.” Explained Kamui Kobayashi, “To fight for fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship in the remaining two races will be very exciting. Unfortunately today I could not use the full performance of the car. There was a problem with downshifting, which meant I could not recharge the KERS properly and didn’t have full boost. Otherwise my race went well.”
Whereas Kamui Kobayashi finished an impressive 6th, team-mate Sergio Perez endured yet another frustrating Grand Prix. The Mexican driver was involved in a multi-car incident with Paul di Resta, Romain Grosjean and Mark Webber on lap 37, which resulted in Perez being issued a ten second stop-and-go penalty for causing the melee. Eventually, the future McLaren driver was able to finish 15th.
Picture Copyright © Sauber Motorsport AG
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