Race Weekend Central

F1: Sebastian Vettel Scores His First Pole of 2018

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Sebastian Vettel contemplating retirement? (credit: Getty Images)

The Ferraris had looked strong in practice, topping the timing charts in both FP2 and 3.  Even if they benefited from Lewis Hamilton crashing out during that second practice, they were still managing to keep up with their Mercedes rivals.   Perhaps Mercedes were nervous, or perhaps Ferrari just have a car better suited for …

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F1 Midweek: The Season Story, Mercedes and Then…

Hamilton Pack Monaco

(Photo: FIA Images)

This past weekend featured one of the crown jewels of the racing calendar with Formula 1 hosting the Monaco Grand Prix. In what has become normative Monaco tradition, the race was more of a parade than it was a testament to outright competition. Aside from seeing whether or not Max Verstappen might go crazy and …

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Lewis Hamilton Claims Tame Monaco Grand Prix

Hamilton Monaco

Lewis Hamilton drove an efficient race on his way to his third Monaco GP win (credit: FIA Images)

Lewis Hamilton used his pole starting position to beat teammate Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen to the first turn, then followed the one-stop strategy to hold on with medium compound tyres to earn his third Monaco Grand Prix.  Verstappen crossed the finish in second but was relegated to fourth, leaving Ferrari’s Sebastian …

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F1: Brazilian Grand Prix Switching Sites to Rio

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Interlagos is being replaced in 2020 by an as-yet-to-be-built track in Rio (Photo: Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace)

The track Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Brazil, or more commonly known as Interlagos, is being targeted to be off the schedule for 2020.  Since 1990, Interlagos has continually held a race and has become the late-season stage for memorable moments – like Jesnon Button clinching his championship in 2009, or Lewis Hamilton earning his …

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F1 Midweek: McLaren Awakening from Reality Show Nightmare

2018 Mclaren Mcl33 Formula 1 Race Car 100643869 H

(Photo: Getty Images)

For the past four years, McLaren have been known more for their off-track drama than doing anything of note on the racing surface.  Though they sported a driver who is considered one of the all-time greats in Fernando Alonso, they squandered the twilight of his racing career by supplying him with underpowered cars and unqualified …

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F1 Midweek: What the Australian GP May or May Not Have Shown

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Sebastian Vettel being Sebastian Vettel in Australia (credit: FIA media)

The Formula 1 season enjoyed lights out for the first time in 2019, with the season getting underway in Melbourne, Australia last weekend.  The race may not have featured a sterling amount of drama, or for some people, any at all.  There may be a lot to be gleaned from the race or nothing at …

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F1: Valtteri Scores Win in Season Opener in Melbourne

Bottas Aussie Win

Valtteri Bottas celebrates his Australian GP win (credit: FIA media)

Valtteri Bottas started second at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne’s Albert Park on Sunday (March 17) but edged teammate, and reigning champion, Lewis Hamilton, by the first turn to sprint out to what would become a dominating victory.  The win was the fourth of the Finn’s career and first since 2017. Hamilton finished second …

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F1: Lewis Hamilton Qualifies for the Australian GP Where He Ended in 2018

Hamilton Bottas Australia

Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas celebrate the start of the 2019 season with a front row qualifying lock-out (credit: F1 media)

Lewis Hamilton starts where he left off from the 2018 season by claiming his sixth pole position at Melbourneʻs Albert Park. If you donʻt recall, Hamilton closed out last year by claiming pole and winning the race at Abu Dhabi to add an exclamation point to his fifth championship. After testing in Barcelona, it appeared …

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F1 Recaps: Toro Rosso Underwhelm, Renault Surprises

Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso

Pierre Gasly will be a reserve driver next year (credit: FIA images)

Scuderia Toro Rosso – 9th in the Constructors Championship The beginning of the Formula 1 season brought some promise to the Toro Rosso team in preseason testing.  Having switched from a warmed-over Ferrari engine to Honda for the year – the same manufacturer that plagued McLaren for two seasons – Toro Rosso looked like they …

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