F1

The F1 mathematics: who stands where

With four races " Indian, Abu Dhabi, United States and Brazilian Grand Prix " to go, it's boiling down to between Red Bull and Ferrari for both the Drivers and Constructors championship in the 2012 Formula One season. Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel is leading the championship table with 215 points while Ferrari's Fernando Alonso has 209, which guarantees a battle between the two F1 giants in the final four races...  

Monisha's Sauber is keeping an eye on Force India

New Delhi: Sauber's newly-appointed Indian-origin Team Principal Monisha Kaltenborn, the first woman to reach this position in Formula One, says she is well aware of the competition her outfit faces from Sahara Force India. Sauber (116), overall seventh in the standings, are leading the Indian outfit by 35 points with five races remaining in the season. The way outgoing team Sergio Perez is racing, Sauber have a realistic chance of...  

Jenson Button eyes F1 Constructors' title

Yeongam: Jenson Button has turned his focus on trying to secure McLaren a first Formula One constructors' championship since 1998 after accepting he has little chance of the drivers' title this season. The 2009 world champion is 63 points adrift of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso with five races, worth 125 points in total, still to come. McLaren are second in the constructors' standings with 283 points, 41 behind champions Red Bull...  

Indian GP organisers work on BIC ahead of the race

The organisers said Thursday that a few changes were made to the circuit in Greater Noida in accordance with the FIA guidelines to make the racing event more competitive. ...

Organisers spring into action ahead of second Indian GP

Greater Noida: With just over a couple of weeks to go for the second edition of the Indian Grand Prix, the organisers Thursday showcased their preparedness to host the sporting extravaganza at the Buddh International Circuit here. The organisers Jaypee Sports International Limited (JPSL), said a few changes were made to the circuit in accordance with the FIA guidelines to make the racing event more competitive. The kerb length at...  

Second? I'd rather be fourth, says Raikkonen

Yeongam: Kimi Raikkonen would rather finish fourth in the Formula One world championship than end up second or third because then he can skip the official prize-giving gala in December. The Finn, 2007 world champion with Ferrari and now at Lotus, is third in the current standings after 15 of the 20 races but he made it clear on Thursday that first was all that really counted. "It doesn't matter...  

Bottas' progress has been exceptional, say Williams

Suzuka: Valtteri Bottas could claim truthfully to have been the fastest runner around the Suzuka Formula One circuit this weekend but on race day the Williams reserve was just a spectator. The highly-rated young Finn, a protege of McLaren's double world champion Mika Hakkinen, may not have to endure the situation for much longer however. There is no doubting his fitness, with Bottas quick on his feet on Saturday evening...  

Hamilton admits his mistake at Suzuka qualifying

Suzuka: Lewis Hamilton recognised he had made a wrong decision on Saturday as McLaren's run of four pole positions in a row came to an end at the Japanese Grand Prix. The 2008 Formula One world champion, whose headline-grabbing move to Mercedes in 2013 was announced last week, was referring only to his choice of qualifying setup on a difficult afternoon for his McLaren team. "I chose a direction but...  

Alonso hoping for brighter Suzuka Sunday

Suzuka: Ferrari's Formula One championship leader Fernando Alonso cursed his luck on Saturday after qualifying only sixth for the Japanese Grand Prix while closest title rival Sebastian Vettel put his Red Bull on pole. The Spaniard's final quick lap was wrecked after Kimi Raikkonen's Lotus spun off in the final seconds of qualifying to bring out the yellow warning flags. That forced everyone to slow and left Vettel the unchallenged...  

Red Bull dominate final Japanese GP practice

Suzuka: Double world champion Sebastian Vettel led a Red Bull one-two in the final practice for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix on Saturday. The German, who won his second title in Japan last year and will be chasing his fourth successive Suzuka pole later in the day, lapped the classic figure-of-eight circuit in a best time of 1 minute 32.136 seconds. Australian Mark Webber, who was fastest on Friday,...  

Mark Webber fastest in Friday's second practice at Suzuka

Suzuka: Red Bull driver Mark Webber has set the fastest time in Friday's practice ahead of Sunday's Formula One Japanese Grand Prix. Webber edged McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton by 0.214 seconds while Sebastian Vettel was third giving Red Bull two of the three fastest times in the afternoon practice at the Suzuka circuit. Michael Schumacher " who announced on Thursday that he will retire at season's end " finished 10th....  

Button tops first practice for F1 Japanese GP

Suzuka: McLaren driver Jenson Button set the fastest time in Friday's opening practice session for the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix. Button, who won last year's Japanese GP, edged team-mate Lewis Hamilton by 0.233 seconds with Red Bull driver Mark Webber third in the morning session at the Suzuka circuit. Button has two wins this year in Australia and Belgium, and kept a pulse in his faint title hopes by...  

Hamilton seeks greatness with Mercedes

Tokyo: Lewis Hamilton does not believe he is taking a gamble by leaving McLaren for Mercedes next season, saying the move could catapult him into Formula One's pantheon of greats even if it does not pay out immediately. "No doubt it was one of the most difficult decisions I've faced in my life up to now," the 27-year-old told Reuters in an interview in Tokyo before this weekend's Japanese Grand...  

New US Formula One circuit gets the nod

Austin: The new Formula one circuit being built here has got the FIA approval for the upcoming United States Grand Prix to be held on November 18. The Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Texas was given the green signal after its final scheduled pre-race inspection by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on Tuesday. FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting said he was happy with the construction progress and the overall...  

Singapore GP practice: Force India duo in top 10

Singapore: Sahara Force India's Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg finished in the top 10 in both opening practice sessions for the Singapore Grand Prix, here on Friday. Hulkenberg was seventh in the first free practice with a timing of 1:51.658 while Di Resta finished a place behind after clocking 1:51.943, two days ahead of Sunday's floodlit race. The German pair of Resta and Hulkenberg were sixth and seventh fastest...  

Vettel fastest in Singapore GP practice

Singapore: Red Bull signalled it was ready to resume its fight for the Formula One title with a strong performance in Friday's practice for the Singapore Grand Prix. Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel topped the time sheets in both sessions, while team-mate Mark Webber was fourth in the second practice. Neither driver had finished their previous race, the Italian Grand Prix on September 9. "Overall we can be happy with...  

Rosberg struggling with body clock ahead of Singapore

Singapore: Nico Rosberg has spent hours in Mercedes' futuristic Formula One simulator preparing for Singapore's tricky street circuit but he still found it hard on Wednesday to adjust his body clock to simple things like lunch. The German, like everyone else in the paddock, has no choice but to stay on European time and become a night owl ahead of the weekend's grand prix under the floodlights in the southeast...  

30,000 tickets sold for Indian F1 Grand Prix

Greater Noida: With just over a month left for the second edition of the F1 Indian Grand Prix, the organisers have sold 30,000 tickets, with the maximum sale coming from the corporate bookings. "We have touched the figure of 30,000. We are hoping that the ticket sale will now pick up. The BIC has a capacity to accommodate 95,000 fans," Askari Zaidi, vice-president of corporate communication at Jaypee Group, said...  

Alonso says Italian GP was a 'perfect Sunday'

Monza, Italy: Ferrari's Fernando Alonso finished only third in the Italian Grand Prix but the Formula One leader declared it a "perfect Sunday" drive in the park, after extending his overall lead against the odds. Red Bull's reigning champion Sebastian Vettel, the Spaniard's closest rival before the start, retired along with his Australian team-mate Mark Webber. So too did McLaren's Jenson Button, winner at Spa where Alonso crashed out at...  

Di Resta hires Jenson Button's manager

Monza: Force India Formula One driver Paul Di Resta has appointed Jenson Button's manager Richard Goddard to run his affairs after falling out with Lewis Hamilton's father. "They've been assisting me in a purely advisory capacity, whilst I've been making my decision," the Scot said in a statement issued at the Italian Grand Prix by Goddard's Sports Partnership. "Based on how that's gone and having seen what they've achieved with...