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Raikkonen and Ricciardo hit with grid penalties

Kimi Raikkonen and Daniel Ricciardo have both hit with grid penalties for the start of the Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

The stewards found that both drivers had breached pit lane protocol, that warranted them being penalised with a two place drop each. However, with the drivers having to start alongside each other on the 5th row of the grid originally and the way the penalties are being imposed, each driver will effectively lose only a single place each.

Kimi Raikkonen will now start from 10th place on the grid and Ricciardo will start from 11th. Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg who would have started 11th, will now start from 9th despite having originally missed Q3.

Here is the revised grid for the start of the Canadian Grand Prix.

Five drivers were summoned to explain their actions to the stewards following the chaotic Q2 restart after the red flag for Felipe Massa’s accident. Raikkonen and Ricciardo, Jean-Eric Vergne, Pastor Maldonado and Sergio Perez were all called in to answer for their actions – all five of them cited for allegedly breaching Article 23.6 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.

Drivers countered allegations that they had not started from the “fast lane” of the pit exit with the defence that they had intended to make practice starts from the left hand side of the pit lane, which is permitted in the rules.

The stewards accepted the defence but stated that they still needed to leave in the order they arrived in the pit lane so Raikkonen – who left 2nd after arriving 4th, and Ricciardo who left 4th after arriving 6th, were still left with a two place penalty each.

Raikkonen also had to explained why he swerved around Mark Webber to overtake him in the queue as we all saw at the restart.

According to the stewards’ statement, “The driver claimed he intended to make a practice start from the left hand side of the pit exit, as permitted. The driver claimed he was unduly delayed by Car 2 [Webber].”

“Car 2 did remain stationary for almost 2 seconds following the start of Q3 and the Stewards conclude in the circumstances this qualifies as ‘unduly delayed,’” read their statement, concluding that no further action would be taken regarding the matter.

Raikkonen’s penalty is served first, dropping him from 9th to 11th behind Hulkenberg. Ricciardo’s penalty is then served dropping him from 9th to 11th meaning that they each effectively only lose one spot.

Click here to see the revised grid for the start of the Canadian Grand Prix.

June 9, 2013
Revised starting grid for the Canadian Grand Prix

Following penalties for Kimi Raikkonen and Daniel Ricciardo, as well as Romain Grosjean’s penalty for causing an accident in Monaco, here is the revised starting grid for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal this afternoon.

Row 1
1. Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull-Renault
2. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes-Mercedes

Row 2
3. Valtteri Bottas – Williams-Renault
4. Nico Rosberg – Mercedes-Mercedes

Row 3
5. Mark Webber – Red Bull-Renault
6. Fernando Alonso – Ferrari-Ferrari

Row 4
7. Jean-Eric Vergne – Toro Rosso-Ferrari
8. Adrian Sutil – Force India-Mercedes

Row 5
9. Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber-Ferrari
10. Kimi Raikkonen – Lotus-Renault *2 place penalty for pit lane rule infraction

Row 6
11. Daniel Ricciardo – Toro Rosso-Ferrari *2 place penalty for pit lane rule infraction
12. Sergio Perez – McLaren-Mercedes

Row 7
13. Pastor Maldonado – Williams-Renault
14. Jenson Button – McLaren-Mercedes

Row 8
15. Esteban Gutierrez – Sauber-Ferrari
16. Felipe Massa – Ferrari-Ferrari

Row 9
17. Paul di Resta – Force India-Mercedes
18. Charles Pic – Caterham-Renault

Row 10
19. Jules Bianchi – Marussia-Cosworth
20. Max Chilton – Marussia-Cosworth

Row11
21. Giedo van der Garde – Caterham-Renault
22. Romain Grosjean – Lotus-Renault *10 place penalty for causing an accident in Monaco

June 9, 2013
F1 2013 – Canadian GP Qualifying Round-Up

The Canadian Grand Prix weekend is famous for many things including changeable weather conditions.

The Formula 1 pack had to contend with tricky track conditions as the rain rendered the use of slick tyres completely out of the question. The first session of qualifying sported the beginnings of a dry racing line but no driver was brave enough to venture out onto slicks.

Drivers filed out of the pitlane on the red-walled supersofts but conditions demanded a quick return to the pits and set of intermediates to negotiate the circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Paul di Resta and Romain Grosjean were the biggest causulties in the first session of qualifying as neither made the cut. Scot di Resta was especially critical of his team who he said chose the wrong time to ‘fix an issue’ with the car. Grosjean’s qualifying session was brought to an end as the Frenchman encountered a yellow flag and a tad too much rain on his final run. Grosjean will start the race in last place due a 10 place grid penalty incurred from the Monaco GP.

The second session of qualifying was no less dramatic as Felipe Massa binned his Ferrari in the barriers of turn 3. The Massa incident brought out the red flag with just about two minutes left on the clock. As the drivers scrambled to the pit exit it was Adrian Sutil and Daniel Ricciardo who made the most of conditions; both securing a passage into Q3.

Meanwhile, McLaren’s Jenson Button painfully missed the chequered flag by a couple of seconds and was cemented in 14th place while teammate Sergio Perez was 12th. After stating his feelings about a poor start to the season earlier in the week Williams’ Valtteri Bottas sensationally advanced to the final top-ten shootout.

It was Sebastian Vettel who judged it best in the final part of qualifying. As conditions continued to fluctuate throughout the final ten minutes of qualifying Vettel set a time of 1:25:425s in the opening minutes. Only Lewis Hamilton came within striking distance of the German setting a time just 0.086s slower than Vettel. As the big guns duked it out for the front row it was rookie driver Bottas who stole the spotlight. The Williams driver, flying throughout the hour, set the third fastest time overall.

A noteworthy mention to Toro Rosso as both Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo qualified in the top ten for Sunday’s race.

Championship contenders Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen qualified in 6th and 9th respectively.

June 8, 2013
Mark Webber fastest in a 30 minute FP3 in Canada

The third practice session in Canada was delayed for half an hour before getting started due to barrier repairs that needed to be completed before the session could begin. Due to the fact that there needs to be a 2 hour gap between FP3 and Qualifying, the practice session was shortened and drivers only had 30 mins to run.

The track was also damp, so the first slicks only made an appearance with just over 5 mins to go in the session. Finally with 2 minutes left of the session, all drivers were out on track.

It was Mark Webber who went fastest in third practice after the final dash with a time of 1.17.895 followed closely by Adrian Sutil and Lewis Hamilton.

Here is the results timesheet after FP3 in Canada:

June 8, 2013
Christian Horner says Red Bull said no to Pirelli F1 tyre tests for fear of breaking rules

Christian Horner revealed during a Team Principals press conference that Red Bull were approached to take part in the Pirelli tyre tests in Barcelona but the team refused, fearing that it would breach Formula One FIA regulations.

This will a key aspect when the Pirelli testgate saga goes to the FIA International Tribunal as the FIA has already said that Pirelli should have invited all other teams to carry out tyre test with Pirelli.

Lotus and Force India both confirmed that they had not been approached by Pirelli, but Horner’s revelation adds new perspective to the ong-going saga.

“We believe it is the responsibility of the entrant to comply with the regulations, so when it came to light that a test with the current car had taken place, our interpretation of the rules was that that was in clear breach of them. Therefore we raised a protest prior to the race for it to be dealt with by the FIA,” said Horner during a very tense press conference of the Team Principals following Friday’s second practice session in Canada.

“It is really an issue between the team and the FIA and obviously Pirelli have asked several teams to test – ourselves included – but we have declined to do so as we felt it wasn’t in line with the regulations, certainly with the current car. So that is the situation, it has gone to the tribunal and we trust the FIA to make the appropriate decision regarding it.”

“The important thing is that there needs to be absolute clarity in what you can do and what you can’t do, what I testing and what isn’t testing and I think that that is more crucial than anything to be fully resolved.”

Mercedes continue to insist that they did not learn anything from the test and merely assisted Pirelli. Horner however, is steadfast in his few that the extra mileage the Mercedes F1 team got out of the testing will have been of great benefit to the team.

“I think that whenever you have limited testing with the rules written as they are, then when you run a current car with the amount of technology and the amount of data analysis there is then you are always learning – whether it is reliability, whether it be endurance, whether it be performance,” he said.

“So of course even if you are testing a component for another supplier you are learning. Formula 1 has moved an awfully long way over the last few years to ensure fairness and equality to all of the entrants and I think if a team does carry out an extra 1000km with a current car then you are going to learn something.”

Horner was also unimpressed with the fact that the F1 tyre test was carried out in secret saying, “I think the lack of transparency has been disappointing. If a supplier has issues then they obviously have to deal with them, but if all entrants are supposedly equal, I think it is important that that information is made perfectly clear.”

Mercedes will face the FIA International Tribunal later this month with Ross Brawn seeming very confident and sure that the team are in the clear.

June 8, 2013
F1 Video: FIA Team Principals Press Conference after FP2 Canada

Comments from Ross Brawn and Christian Horner regarding the “secret” Pirelli tyre testing at the Team Principals Press Conference after Free Practice to in Canada. Brawn refused to go into any detail but seemed very confident that once all the facts are revealed at the Tribunal, Mercedes would be cleared of any wrong doing.

June 8, 2013
Ross Brawn puts his head on the chopping block in Pirelligate

A very interesting team principal press conference followed the second practice session ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix today.

Most notably, Ross Brawn revealed that it was him who made the decision to go ahead with the controversial Pirelli tyre testing in Barcelona following the Spanish Grand Prix.

Playing it very cool, calm and collected, Ross stated, “”It was my decision to do the testing, that is a fact, and let’s see what happens at tribunal and we go from there.”

The Brackley-based Mercedes F1 team is to face an FIA disciplinary hearing at the International Tribunal later this month to answer charges that it may have broken Formula 1 regulations by using its W04 2013 car during the Pirelli test.

Brawn was also quick to state that there was nothing “secret” about the test but that it was merely a “private” test.

Ross seemed very confident, almost as though he has an Ace or two up his sleeve. He was not willing to divulge why the team is so certain that it is in the clear after testing their 2013 car with Pirelli, but he said that he is eager for the facts of the case to come out so that Mercedes can clear its name.

“I wouldn’t say it is very pleasant at the moment but again I am comfortable and confident that once when we get to the tribunal the facts will become apparent and people can make a better judgement.”

“I think we would not have done the Pirelli test unless we believed we could do the Pirelli test. When we get to the tribunal you will have your answers,” he said.

Pirelli boss Paul Hembery, meanwhile, was absent from the press conference following advice from Pirelli lawyers not to attend.

June 7, 2013
Fernando Alonso goes fastest in FP2 in Canada

Fernando Alonso just pipped Lewis Hamilton to go fastest in FP2 ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. Alonso’s Ferrari finished the session just 0.012 seconds ahead of Hamilton with a time of 1:14:818.

Rain stayed away for the session, threatening with only a few drops near the end of the session, giving teams a lot more running than they had during FP1.

Here is the timesheet for the second practice session for the Canadian Grand Prix weekend.

June 7, 2013
Di Resta Tops the Time Sheets in FP1 – Canadian Grand Prix

Force India’s Paul Di Resta was the surprise of the First Free Practice session at the Canadian GP.

Di Resta finished top of the time sheets with a 1:21.020 ahead of McLaren’s Jenson Button who was 0.088s off his pace with a 1:21.108. Lotus’ Romain Grosjean finished P3 with a 1:21.258, 0.238s off the P1 time.

June 7, 2013
A fan’s Monaco F1 Grand Prix Experience

Almost every Formula One fan dreams of going to Monaco one day. Well Claire Jane Earley was lucky enough to do just that – and not just once either! She shared with us her experience at the 2013 F1 Monaco Grand Prix weekend and I’ll tell you now, we are all super envious! This lady clearly had a weekend to remember – pit pass and all! She’s also sent us a whole gallery of photos to share with you which you can find here.

Follow Claire on Twitter: @ClaireEarleyF1

Here is Claire’s post about her Monaco F1 GP weekend. Have you been to a Monaco GP or do you still dream of going? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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I have always loved Formula One, right from the get-go. So when the chance came to travel to the Monaco GP six years ago, I jumped at it. And I’ve been jumping at it ever since.

As the intro suggests, this recent trip to Monaco was my sixth. I know that some of you will be saying that I’m spoilt, but consider that I have friends there, so I invariably stay for free, and all I have to cover are my flights. I also work there (on a yacht most recently, which is an awful lot harder than it sounds), so it’s not all fun and games 😉

There is something intrinsically special about Monte Carlo. Something that stems from the tiny country being packed to capacity for a week, as the jet set fly in and celebrate the Grand Prix in style. It is impossible not to be stylish in Monaco. You can’t help yourself. Everywhere you turn beautiful people, beautiful cars, beautiful yachts, and beautiful scenery surround you. You naturally up your game. It’s also impossible to take in Monaco completely during Grand Prix week, which is why I keep having to go back 😉

Now let’s be honest, no matter how much of an F1 fan you consider yourself to be, you don’t go to Monaco for the race. The race is almost an afterthought. There are so many other things going on (parties, parties and more parties) that when Sunday finally rolls round you can barely keep your sunglasses on straight. Luckily, Monaco always turns out to be a bit of a procession race unfortunately; and although there was some drama this year, it really did very little to add to the race itself, so you didn’t have to concentrate too much.

Thursday passed in a bit of a blur for me. I was lucky enough to be stationed on the Sylvia M yacht so I spent the whole day chilling on the top deck watching Free Practice with a bunch of really cool Aussies on their first trip to the GP. Being pretty comfortable with Monaco I showed them around when the sessions were over and partied a little with them at the legendary Rascasse that night. Rascasse is something of a party central, with there being around ten different bars and nightclubs you can go to along that whole strip between Swimming Pool and Rascasse.

That is the one thing most people forget about Monaco, but all the parties happen on the track. It’s quite surreal to watch the cars race round all day, and then spend all night partying on corners like Rascasse and Swimming Pool. You can literally sit in the grandstands opposite where you were partying the night before. Nowhere else in the world can offer this kind of opportunity, and every year without fail, I take the customary “Me on the start line” photo!

This year I was fortunate enough to have a pit pass for the Friday, something I’ve never done before, so I was super excited! Sadly Fernando Alonso wasn’t waiting at the gate to greet me, but I did get the signatures of Giedo Van Der Garde, Max Chilton and Jules Bianchi! I also watched Force India practice their pit stops numerous times (and developed my new life ambition to be the person who sits in the car as it gets pushed in for tyre change practice), and watched the two Mercedes’ undergo FIA testing. It was pretty special for me.

I went out on the Friday night with some friends, and it ended up being a bit of a late one (whoops!), but it did give me the chance to walk home on the Saturday morning, on the empty track, as the sun rose over the port. Amazing. Nothing like having one of the most famous race tracks in the world to yourself.

Later that day I found myself back on the Sylvia M watching some GP2 action and some Porsche Supercup. When you’re on the yacht you don’t actually realise how close you are to the action, but it is right there in front of you! You can almost touch it! For me, that is another reason why Monaco is so special, because you are never more than two meters from the track.

Saturday night I was lucky enough to have access to a party on the Quid Pro Quo yacht where a French musician was giving a private party on the inside deck, and DJ was playing on the upper decks. The food and drinks were free, so needless to say the champagne was flowing (when in France and all that…), and I met some awesome guys from Essex who were extremely entertaining and good fun to hang out with so I had a good time.

Race Day dawned nice and hot after the rain on Saturday, and I was sent off in my tender to the Talila yacht. You need to catch a tender from Fontvielle to Monaco Port if you’re ever there. The view is like nothing else and it gives you an opportunity to see just how beautiful the place actually is. It truly is something special.

The Talila was moored right in front of where Pastor Maldonado crashed out. The crash itself I didn’t see until all the people on my yacht started sprinting to the trackside. I have seen red flags before in Monaco, but never for a crash like that, and although I am not a Maldonado fan, I am glad that he walked away from it uninjured. Once all the excitement died down, and Rosberg took the top step, it was time to get back on dry land.

Wandering around the streets after the race I bought some gifts and things for the family, whilst watching how quickly Monaco returns too normal. It takes a month to put all the barricading and stands up for the race, and only two weeks to get it all down again. By the time I left on Tuesday, half of the grandstands were already down, and most of the barricading along the main road was down as well. Each piece of metal is specifically numbered to ensure that set up next year is smooth and efficient.

I love Monaco. I love watching how it changes for the race, and how quickly things go back to normal. Every time I leave to come home I think I leave a small piece of me there, and I can’t wait to go back next year!

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Click here for Claire’s gallery of photos from her Monaco Grand Prix experience.

June 6, 2013