Sauber Aiming For Further Points Finish At India

Both Sauber drivers of Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez are aiming for further points finishes at next weekend’s Indian Grand Prix, as the Swiss outfit continue to hunt down Mercedes for fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship. With only 20 points separating the two teams, the final four races will be extremely important.

At the Korean Grand Prix last time out, both Mercedes and Sauber failed to score a single World Championship point, with only one driver from each team eventually finishing the 55-lap race. Throughout the opening stages of the race, both Nico Rosberg and Kamui Kobayashi retired, with the latter colliding with the Mercedes of Rosberg and damaging his radiator.

Kamui Kobayashi is hopeful that the Buddh International Circuit will be less dusty than last season’s inaugural running of the event, a race which the Japanese star retired from on the opening lap. With Kobayashi striving to retain his seat with Sauber, he’ll unarguably be hoping for a much more competitive race weekend which will include a further points haulage to help reel in Mercedes.

“I am keen to see what the circuit will be like when we arrive there for the second time.” Explained Kamui Kobayashi, “Last year everything was new and the surface was very dusty. The track lay out as such should probably mean our performance will be average, which means we should be able to score points there.”

Sergio Perez has unquestionably been the more competitive driver for Sauber this season, with three podiums already to his name. His superlative display of driving has hardly gone unnoticed, as he will move to McLaren next season to replace Lewis Hamilton. With only four races left as a Sauber driver, Sergio Perez is still focused on scoring as many points for the Hinwil-based outfit and catching Mercedes.

“I cannot believe we have only four races left, so the season will now end quite soon.” Said Sergio Perez, who nearly won the Malaysian Grand Prix earlier in he year. “To make up 20 points to finish fifth in the Constructors’ World Championship means we have quite a job to do. The race in India should be a bit better for us than in Korea, and our car will be quicker there.”

Mercedes have failed to score a single World Championship point since the Singapore Grand Prix last month, when Nico Rosberg managed to finish 5th. Since then, Sauber have finished on the podium, and have remained incredibly confident on catching the German marque in the remaining races. With Red Bull looking dominant out in front, the battle is far from over for fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship.

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Button Believes Hamilton’s Move A Bad Decision

Jenson Button has explained how he believes current team-mate Lewis Hamilton’s move to Mercedes for next season is a bad decision, amid one of the most talked about driver changes in the history of the sport. With Lewis Hamilton leaving McLaren for Mercedes, Sergio Perez has been signed as the Briton’s replacement alongside Button.

Despite recent turbulence within the McLaren outfit, which has included several disappointing results and another Lewis Hamilton rant on Twitter, speculation has begun to gather momentum that the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and the team, which brought him into the world of Formula 1, has begun to deteriorate. However, Jenson Button has been quick to deny these allegations, stating that the atmosphere within the Woking-based outfit is fantastic.

“The atmosphere in the team is fantastic.” Confirmed Jenson Button to British newspaper The Guardian, “As far as I can see with Lewis, he is focused and wants to win races. Nothing has changed, it is just the view of a few people with a wide audience and they need to get their facts straight.”

In recent races since Lewis Hamilton’s announcement confirming his move to Mercedes next season, the 2008 World Champion has endured some utterly disastrous results. Although Hamilton finished in the points at both the Japanese and Korean Grands Prix, the Briton has failed to challenge for race victories or even podiums. Hamilton finished 5th at the Japanese Grand Prix, after further setup woes similar to that witnessed at the Belgian Grand Prix, whereas at Korea last weekend Hamilton could only manage 10th after a rear anti-roll bar failure.

With Mercedes currently also struggling greatly, having been unable to score a point at either of the previous two races, many have questioned Lewis Hamilton’s decision to move to the German marque. After remaining silent on the topic over the recent race weekends, Jenson Button has finally expressed his opinion on his team-mate’s move, which will subsequently end what has been an intriguing three-year partnership at McLaren.

“He has chosen to go his own way at the end of the year.” Continued Jenson Button, “It is his decision, although I personally don’t think it is the right decision. The team will give Lewis everything they can because Lewis can give the team chances of winning races, as I can. The team care about the drivers, but also they care about winning. There will not be any change in this team at all in the way we go racing with two drivers.”

After the Korean Grand Prix, both McLaren drivers confirmed that their realistic Championship hopes were now over after a race weekend which only yielded one World Championship point for the whole team. Regardless of this fact, both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton will unquestionably be striving for further race victories in the final four races of the season.

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Alonso Prepared For The Beginning Of “Mini-Championship”

Fernando Alonso has stated that the remaining five races this season will feel like a “mini-Championship”, as the reigning Champion of Sebastian Vettel reduced the Spaniard’s lead at the top to only four points. Alonso hasn’t led a race since the German Grand Prix back in July, a race he won for Ferrari

After retiring from the Japanese Grand Prix on the opening lap, Fernando Alonso failed score any valuable World Championship points whilst major rival Sebastian Vettel romped to a dominant race victory. Although the Ferrari driver still leads the Drivers’ Championship, a similar result next weekend at Korea would see Alonso loose his lead at the top.

With only five races remaining in the season, many believe the Championship fight has become a two-horse race between the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso and the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel. Alonso believe’s this is the start of a “mini-Championship”, in which the Spaniard aims at scoring at least one point more than his nearest rivals at each of the remaining race weekends.

“Today, we were very unlucky: to finish a race like this, at the very first corner is really a shame.” Explained Fernando Alonso, remains in the lead of the Drivers’ Championship by only four points. “Contact from Raikkonen caused a puncture to the left rear tyre and my race ended there. Clearly, we must work a lot on the development of the car: I’m not worried, but we must react to the step forward that the other competitors have made. Now we start a sort of mini-championship, run over five Grands Prix. The aim will be to score at least one point more than all the others. What happened to us today could happen to the others next time: the wheel turns and that is what races are all about.”

With Red Bull supposedly mastering their own rendition of the Double-DRS device, Mark Webber and in particular Sebastian Vettel could be become unstoppable at the front in the closing stages of the season. Fernando Alonso won the inaugural Korean Grand Prix back in 2010, and will be striving to win once again next weekend as this unique season comes to a conclusion.

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Daniel Ricciardo Relishes Michael Schumacher Battle

Daniel Ricciardo has relished his battle with Michael Schumacher during the closing stages of the Japanese Grand Prix, in which the Australian driver was able to defend against the seven-time World Champion’s onslaught. With the assistance of KERS, Ricciardo remained in 10th and was able to bring home one point for Toro Rosso.

After running as high as 5th throughout the race, Daniel Ricciardo was able to fend off the much quicker Mercedes of Michael Schumacher during the final stages of the 53-lap race. The German had started the race from 23rd on the grid after incurring a 10-place grid penalty due to his collision with Jean-Eric Vergne at Singapore. Daniel Ricciardo started from 14th, but after the first lap carnage including Fernando Alonso and Nico Rosberg, the Australian driver was able to benefit greatly and enjoy a relatively competitive remainder of the race.

“It was an eventful race.” Enthused Daniel Ricciardo, after finishing 10th. “The last two stints were good, at first having a battle with Webber who was on a different strategy. Then right at the end, I was holding off Michael and I was really pleased to have won that battle. It’s always tougher when you are the slower car in a duel, but with good advice from the pit wall on how to use the KERS to defend in the DRS zone, I managed it. It’s not every day you have a seven times World Champion on your tail and given he only has a few more races, it was nice to have a battle with him to put in my scrapbook!”

This was Daniel Ricciardo’s second points finish in succession, after finishing the Singapore Grand Prix last time out in 9th. After a difficult start to the season for the Faenza-based outfit, Toro Rosso have finally begun scoring points on a regular basis, as the F1 circus heads to Korea next weekend.

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Williams Expecting Strong Performance At Suzuka

Williams are expecting yet another strong performance at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, following on from their relative competitiveness at the Singapore Grand Prix last time out. Although both drivers failed to finish the Singapore race, the team was encouraged by their qualifying and race performances.

As the Formula 1 fraternity heads to the famous Suzuka circuit, the Grove-based outfit are targeting another strong race weekend. After Pastor Maldonado and Bruno Senna both retired from the Singapore Grand Prix due to mechanical issues, Williams are hopeful that those reliability issues do not return throughout the remaining races. Like many of the drivers up and down the grid, both Pastor Maldonado and Bruno Senna rate the Suzuka circuit as one of their favorites, and can’t wait for the track action to start.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to Japan this week.” Explained Pastor Maldonado, “I think everyone in the paddock looks forward to this race, as the fans in Japan are some of the best in the world and give us all such a warm welcome. I also enjoy the track as it’s one of the historic circuits in Formula One. There is a good combination of high speed corners and we run close to the maximum amount of downforce. It’s a great challenge as a driver.”

Bruno Senna is equally positive with regards to the Suzuka circuit, a track which saw his uncle, Ayrton Senna, carry out some of F1’s most iconic moments including two controversial collisions with arch-rival Alain Prost. Bruno Senna, however, likens the Suzuka circuit to that of Spa-Francorchamps, another legendary circuit revered by many within the paddock.

“I’m really looking forward to the Japanese Grand Prix.” Enthused Bruno Senna, “It’s one of my favorite tracks of the season and it’s very fast and flowing but quite narrow compared to some of the other circuits we visit. It is similar to Spa-Francorchamps so it’s a real drivers’ track. You can get variable weather in Japan ranging from warm and sunny to rain that stops qualifying. It’s always exciting though and we have a good potential to be strong there.”

With Pastor Maldonado still yet to score a single World Championship point since his win back in May, and Bruno Senna striving to enjoy an incident-free race weekend, Williams are most certainly aiming for further points at the Japanese Grand Prix. However, with the unforgiving characteristics of the Suzuka circuit, the Japanese Grand Prix weekend will be tough for all the drivers up and down the grid.

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Jean-Eric Vergne Positive After Michael Schumacher Incident

Jean-Eric Vergne has remained positive after he was taken out of the Singapore Grand Prix in a violent incident with the Mercedes of Michael Schumacher, in which the German driver out-broke himself heading into turn 14 and slammed heavily into the rear of the Toro Rosso.

After what had been a competitive race for the Frenchman, Jean-Eric Vergne has remained focused on the positives after the Singapore Grand Prix weekend. The rookie was satisfied with his race strategy, as well as the progress he made throughout the race weekend. This was Vergne’s first taste of the Marina Bay street circuit, and is looking to move on from his disappointing end to the race with Schumacher.

Jean-Eric Vergne received a nasty shock from the Mercedes of Michael Schumacher.

“Our strategy worked very well and the Safety Car also played out in our favor.” Explained Jean-Eric Vergne, “My pace was very good, lapping as quickly as the front runners, so it was much better than we had expected. Overall, I am very happy with the way this weekend went, because I personally made a lot of progress from Friday through to tonight. As for the accident, I was focussing on catching Perez at that point, trying to brake late to catch him, so I am not too sure what happened exactly, but I assume Michael braked a bit too late and could not avoid running in to me. There is no sense in being angry about it, because these things happen in racing and even the most experienced driver on the grid can make mistakes! He said sorry and that’s the end of it.”

Jean-Eric Vergne could well have finished within the points had he not been collected by Michael Schumacher, in what could have been Toro Rosso’s second double points finish of the season. As it transpired, Toro Rosso could only manage two points after Daniel Ricciardo finish 9th.

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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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Williams Confident Singapore Will Suit FW34

The Williams duo of Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado are both confident that the tricky Marina Bay street circuit will suit their FW34 machine, mainly due to the high downforce of the track. With the aerodynamic characteristics similar to that of Barcelona, Maldonado in particular is confident he can finally score further World Championship points.

Since Pastor Maldonado’s superlative victory at the Spanish Grand Prix back in May, the Venezuelan driver has failed to score any further World Championship points. Instead, Maldonado has become embroiled in several on track misdemeanors, and has unquestionably visited the stewards more times than any other driver this season. At the Belgian Grand Prix, Maldonado incurred three penalties for blocking Hulkenberg during qualifying, jumping the start and then colliding with the Marussia of Timo Glock during the race.

However, with the aerodynamic settings on the car similar to that used at the Spanish Grand Prix, Pastor Maldonado is confident that he and team-mate Bruno Senna can enjoy a competitive race weekend. This will be Maldonado’s second Singapore Grand Prix, after finishing last year’s race 11th.

“The Singapore Grand Prix is unique because it takes place at night and you have to adapt to the temperature change and of course the time difference because we stay on European time all week.” Explained Pastor Maldonado, “The track requires high downforce which is good for us and it’s similar to Barcelona in terms of aerodynamics so this should be a track where we can show the potential of our car.”

Bruno Senna is also confident that the Marina Bay street circuit should suit his Renault-powered Williams FW34. This weekend will be the Brazilian’s third race under the lights at Singapore, and he is aiming to once again finish in the top ten. Since Maldonado’s victory, all the points scored by the Grove-based outfit have come from Bruno Senna.

“Singapore should suit our car because it’s a high downforce and load circuit and that’s where the car feels at home the most.” Said Bruno Senna, “Of course it’s hard to judge where we will be as others teams are improving all the time, but if we can score points in Monza then we should be looking to get further into the top ten in Singapore. I had a good performance there last year as well so that always gives you a boost before a race.”

With Toto Wolff stating that the Williams driving line-up is still wide open for 2013, both Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado will be unquestionably striving to show their worth within the team for the future. Although Maldonado has already been victorious this season, Bruno Senna has certainly been the more consistent driver for the team this season.

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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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Bruno Senna Aiming For Points Finish At Monza

Bruno Senna is aiming for a decent points finish at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, after narrowly missing out on scoring any points at last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix as the Williams driver finished the race in 12th position. Pastor Maldonado once again failed to finish the race, and will incur a 10-place grid drop this weekend at Monza.

Since the team’s illustrious victory at the Spanish Grand Prix back in May, Williams have struggled to string together consistent points finishes, with Bruno Senna the only driver to have scored any points for the team since Maldonado’s victory. The Venezuelan driver has since made many on track errors, and has visited the stewards on numerous occasions so far this season. However, Williams are hopeful this trait will come to an end this weekend, as the Grove-based outfit strive for more important points at the Italian Grand Prix.

“While we didn’t finish in the points the car showed good pace at Spa, particularly on the long straights, so the signs are looking good heading into Monza.” Explained Bruno Senna, “It’s a very fast circuit and is a real old fashioned test for the driver’s so I’m looking forward to the race. The team is working very hard to get the maximum out of the car and if we can get qualifying right we should be looking for a points finish.”

Williams have only recorded one double points finish so far this season, at the Chinese Grand Prix back in April. Since then Maldonado has only finished in the points once, when he won at Barcelona. Bruno Senna has finished in the points a further four times since the Chinese Grand Prix, however it’s undeniable that both Maldonado and Senna need to finish in the points together if they have any desire on beating the likes of Force India and Sauber this season.

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