F1 Madness

Tag: 2016

  • F1 2015: Red Bull Confirms Engine Deal

    F1 2015: Red Bull Confirms Engine Deal

    Red Bull Racing has finally confirmed that it has finalised a 2016 power unit supply deal.

    After months of negotiating the Red Bull Racing F1 team has finally put pen to paper on a power unit for the 2016 season. After spectacularly falling out with Renault mid way through the season the team went shopping at Ferrari and Mercedes only to come up empty handed. A rumoured attempt at securing Honda power even made the rounds but eventually a reconciliation with Renault was the team’s only option.

    Despite not confirming that the soon to be announced deal is with Renault the French manufacturer is the only plausible supplier at this late stage.

    “Next year will be a transitional year,” Red Bull principal Christian Horner told Autosport. “We have an agreement with an engine [supplier] for next year which hopefully will be confirmed in the coming days.”It will have a development path, which ironically, in a way, is what we were trying to achieve 12 months ago, and we’ll see how that goes.”

     

  • F1 2015: Marussia Lines Up King and Haryanto For Test

    F1 2015: Marussia Lines Up King and Haryanto For Test

    As the Formula 1 season draws to a close focus will shift to the all important winter testing season. The first test will take place after the season-ending Abu Dhabi grand prix.

    On this occasion the test around the Yas Marina circuit will be a Pirelli tyre test. The one day test will run for twelve hours and will be used in preparation for the Italian tyre manufacturer’s 2016 compounds.

    The Manor Marussia team has announced that, for them, duties on the day will be split by GP2 drivers Rio Haryanto and Jordan King. “For Jordan, this is a planned part of his 2015 role as development driver, following a season spent with the team in an educational capacity. Rio has of course driven two of our cars in previous tests. In 2010, he was considered to be at the very tender age of 17 years old, but we knew he had an exciting future ahead of him,” says Marussia team principal John Booth.

    King currently sits in twelfth position in the GP2 standings while Haryanto is fourth ahead of the final race in Abu Dhabi. “Both drivers have extensive experience of running Pirelli tyres in GP2, and specifically the many GP2 tests that have been held in Abu Dhabi, so this leaves them well placed to help us play our part in Pirelli’s evaluation programme next week,” says Booth.

    The Pirelli tyre test will take place on December 1st.

  • F1 2015: Force India Confirm Perez For 2016

    F1 2015: Force India Confirm Perez For 2016

    The Force India team has confirmed the re-signing of driver Sergio Perez to the team for the 2016 season.

    The Mexican driver joined the Force India team in 2014 after completing a year at McLaren and is happy to continue his time with the Silverstone based team.

    “I am very happy to confirm that I will be staying with Force India,” said Perez to Autosport. “It means I can simply focus on the important stuff – driving the car and scoring points for the team. “Since coming here I’ve really grown as a driver and I feel I’m performing at my best.

    “I can feel the potential in the team and there is a good energy, which gives me confidence for next year. “I think we can continue to deliver strong results and I will do my best to help drive the team forward.”

    Sergio Perez will be partnered by the already confirmed German driver Nico Hulkenberg for the 2016 season.

  • F1 2015: Hulkenberg – “I’ll be in a good car next year”

    F1 2015: Hulkenberg – “I’ll be in a good car next year”

    German Formula 1 driver Nico Hulkenberg says that he has “good options” for 2016.

    The 24 Hour Le Mans winner is F1’s perennially overlooked but highly rated driver but despite this believes that he has a few options to consider for 2016. “There are a few good options out there, and I’m pretty confident I can put something good together and that I’ll be here next year in a good car,” says Hulkenberg.

    Hulkenberg’s F1 career started with Williams in 2010 before moving to Force India for the 2011 and ’12 seasons. He spent the 2013 season as a Sauber driver before returning to Force India at the beginning of 2014. Hulkenberg’s year at Williams wasn’t a stellar one by any means but a return to the Williams team isn’t out the question. The British team, who holds the option to extend Valtteri Bottas’ contract, has not yet announced its driver line-up for 2016.

    The 28-year-old was linked with a possible to Ferrari but never expected to make the move to the Italian team.

  • Raikkonen To Remain At Ferrari For 2016

    Raikkonen To Remain At Ferrari For 2016

    Ferrari driver Kimi Raikknen will retain his seat with the Italian team for the 2016 season.

    The Finn, who rejoined the team in 2014, has been re-signed by Ferrari and will partner Sebastian Vettel for a second year. Much speculation surrounded the 2007 champion’s future with the famous team whilst several drivers were mentioned as potential replacements.

    “What can I say. For me, to be able to stay another year at Ferrari means that the dream goes on,” said Raikkonen.

    “The Scuderia is my family, as I always said, it’s here I want to end my career.

    “I am more committed than ever and I want to say thank you to the people who gave me this chance.

    “Also, a big thank you goes to all my Ferrari fans, for their continuous support”.

    “We believe that extending Kimi’s contract into the next season will provide further stability to the team,” added Team Principal Maurizio Arrivabene

    “This has been our guideline, also considering the very good relationship between Kimi and Seb.

    “On our side, this shows our great confidence in him, and I expect this confidence to be well rewarded”.

    The rest of the driver market, which many suggested hung on Raikkonen’s future, is likely to now fall into place.