F1 Madness

Tag: pierre gasly

  • Gasly In, Kvyat Out at Toro Rosso

    Gasly In, Kvyat Out at Toro Rosso

    The Toro Rosso Formula One Team announced today that young rookie Pierre Gassly will replace Daniil Kvyat at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

    This will be the Frenchman’s debut as a Formula 1 driver and will be in the driving seat for the next few races.

    Speaking about Gasly’s debut Toro Rosso Team Principal Franz Tost: “Scuderia Toro Rosso was established by Red Bull to bring youngsters from its Junior Programme into Formula 1 and that’s what we are doing by giving Pierre this chance.

    “He is the next in line at Red Bull for this opportunity and he has shown that he deserves it, having taken the 2016 GP2 title and this year being very competitive in the Super Formula series in Japan. He really has a valid chance of winning the title, as he is only half a point behind the leader.

    It is, however, not the end of the road for Kvyat according to Tost saying that the Russian has his fair share of bad luck, and that his mistakes that he has made so far has hindered his ability to show his potential.

    “The driver switch gives us an opportunity to make a more informed decision regarding our 2018 driver choices,” added Tost.

    “For a variety of reasons, some of them due to technical problems, but others being mistakes of his own making, Daniil Kvyat has not really shown his true potential so far this year, which is why we are standing him down for the next races.

    “This will give us the opportunity to evaluate Pierre on track during a proper race weekend.”

    According to reports, Gasly would have been at Toro Rosso sooner had Renault’s Jolyon Palmer accepted an early exit deal from Renault. This move would’ve allowed Carlos Sainz to switch to Renault freeing up the space left by Sainz for Gasly. With Palmer reluctant to give up his seat, this was the next alternative for Toro Rosso.

    “I would like to thank everyone who has helped me get this chance in my motor racing career and specifically, Red Bull, Dr. Helmut Marko and Scuderia Toro Rosso…this is a great opportunity for me,” said Gasly.

    “I feel as ready as I can be, having had to be prepared for anything in my role as Red Bull Racing’s third driver this year. I will do my best to perform well with Scuderia Toro Rosso during these coming races.”

     

    Photo credit: Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula One

  • Wehrlein Tops The Time Sheets on Day 1 of Rain Hit Austria In-Season Test

    Wehrlein Tops The Time Sheets on Day 1 of Rain Hit Austria In-Season Test

    Mercedes reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein ended on top of the time sheets after the first day of the final in-season test at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

    The young German set a best time of 1:11.005, 0.187s clear of Force India’s Esteban Ocon who’s best time was 1:11.192.

    The session got off to a very wet start on Tuesday morning with just Ferrari Academy driver Antonio Fuoco and McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne heading out for installation laps on full wets. The track remained quiet for the rest of the morning. The session was red-flagged 30mins in due to the heavy rains that showed no sign of letting up.

    There was much deliberation between the teams to cancel running for the day and extend the test for an extra day to Thursday. It was eventually decided, as the rain started to ease up, that Monday’s running should be extended by 2 hours.

    Cars started firing up and heading out after the lunch break. First on full wets and then on intermediates as the track quickly dried up. Not long after that it was time for dry weather tyres and we were able to see more cars on the track.

    Finishing 3rd fastest for the day was Toro Rosso’s Max Verstappen. He set a best time of 1:11.328 clocking up 97 laps, the most from all the drivers on the day.

    Ferrari Academy driver Antonio Fuoco’s fastest time was 1:11.331 which was 0.326s off Wehrlein’s pace. He’s lap time steadily climbed all afternoon but a slight mistake into Turn 1 saw him spin off the track and hit the wall damaging the front end of the SF15-T. “I am very angry with myself for making a mistake today,” commented Fuoco. “But getting behind the wheel of a Ferrari has always been my dream and today it finally came true. All the same, I am pleased with the work I was able to do, gathering useful data for the team, even if the rain affected our programme today.”

    GP2 driver Stoffel Vandoorne ended his day for McLaren 8th fastest 1.525s off the pace with a fastest time of 1:12.530 and managed to rack up 76 laps for the dayLotus’ Romain Grosjean ended his day 5th fastest ahead of Red Bull’s Peirre Gasly. Another Ferrari Academy driver Raffaele Marciello was in the driving seat at Sauber. He racked up 53 laps for the Swiss based team with his fastest time of the day of 1:11.826.

    Williams test driver Susie Wolff was 9th fastest for Williams with a best time for her of 1:13.248. Wolff says that her runs in the dry were mainly for aerodynamic evaluations and preparation work for Silverstone. The Williams did emerge from the pits with interesting looking winglets ahead of the rear wheels which, if deemed legal, could provide the team with a really big advantage come Silverstone.

    Force India were trailing parts for their B-spec car which they hope to run in Silverstone. Deputy Team Principal Robert Fernley says that the team hopes to have two complete B-spec cars ready for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. At the moment, he says they are on track to meet their deadline.

    Wednesday’s driver line up:

    Mercedes Nico Rosberg
    Ferrari Esteban Gutierrez
    Williams Valtteri Bottas
    Red Bull  Daniel Ricciardo
    Force India Pascal Wehrlein
    Lotus Jolyon Palmer
    Sauber Felipe Nasr
    Toro Rosso  Marco Wittmann
    McLaren Fernando Alonso

     

    Below is the unofficial timing sheet for Day 1 of the Austrian in-season test.

    Pos
    Driver
    Team
    Laps
    Time
    		 Gap
    1
    Pascal Wehrlein
    Mercedes
    67
    1:11.005

    –
    2
    Esteban Ocon
    Force India
    76
    1:11.192
    		 +0.178
    3
    Max Verstappen
    Toro Rosso
    97
    1:11.328
    		 +0.323
    4
    Antonio Fuoco
    Ferrari
    71
    1:11.331
    		 +0.326
    5
    Romain Grosjean
    Lotus
    45
    1:11.509
    		 +0.504
    6
    Pierre Gasly
    Red Bull
    80
    1:11.757
    		 +0.752
    7
    Raffaele Marciello
    Sauber
    53
    1:11.826
    		 +0.821
    8
    Stoffel Vandoorne
    McLaren
    76
    1:12.530
    		 +1.525
    9
    Susie Wolff
    Williams
    39
    1:13.248
    		 +2.243
  • Rosberg Takes Charge of Day 1 of Barcelona In-Season Test

    Rosberg Takes Charge of Day 1 of Barcelona In-Season Test

    Nico Rosberg picked up right where he left off for Mercedes on Tuesday in testing after victory at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday. 

    Rosberg’s fastest lap of 1:24.374 came in the morning session with an unmarked Pirelli compound was 0.307s quicker than his pole setting time for the Spanish Grand Prix. He also clocked up 146 laps around the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona, the most of any driver for the day.

    Marcus Ericsson at the wheel of the Sauber was second quickest on the day. His time of 1:26.624 pushed Ferrari Academy driver Raffaele Marciello down to 3rd fastest after he held second spot for most of the day for Ferrari. Both drivers completed 98 and 125 laps for their respective teams. Ericsson will make way for Marciello on Wednesday at Sauber while Esteban Gutierrez will get his first drive in the Ferrari SF15-T.

    Despite reliability problems throughout the season so far, the Red Bull of Daniil Kvyat made it around the track 101 times with the 4th fastest time of the day. Pastor Maldonado in the Lotus had a trouble free day to finish his day 5th fastest for Lotus.

    Nick Yelloly made his debut for Force India, albeit a day early. He was called up when Pascal Wehrlein fell ill and was forced to pull out of the test. Yelloly enjoyed his day out in the car finishing 6th fastest with a time of 1:27.396 and clocking up 109 laps for the day.

    “It felt really good to finally get my chance in a Formula One car. I’ve been working towards this day for a long time and I need to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone at Sahara Force India for giving me this opportunity,” said Yelloly.

    Motor Racing - Formula One Testing - Barcelona Test - Day One - Barcelona, Spain“The first few laps felt a bit unusual, but I soon got comfortable in the car.

    “I’m feeling really positive about the day and I hope it’s been useful for the team.”

    Wehrlien is scheduled to drive for Mercedes on Wednesday. They are hopeful that he’ll be fit to drive for the team.

    Another F1 debutant was GP2 driver Pierre Gasly. He was at the wheel of the Toro Rosso and racked up a marathon 131 laps. He ended the day 7th fastest with a 1:27.639. Felipe Massa in the Williams was 8th fastest for the day and completed just 54 laps.

    McLaren’s Oliver Turney was 9th fastest on the day with a 1:28.542 and clocked up 68 laps. McLaren were trailing a whole host of new parts at the track today and were trying to make the most of their time by testing as much as they could.

    As the test goes on, Formula 1 Tyre supplier Pirelli are, with the help of Mercedes, Ferrari, Toro Rosso and Red Bull, testing out new compounds.

    Pos Driver Car Time Gap Laps
    1 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:24.374 – 146
    2 Marcus Ericsson Sauber/Ferrari 1:26.624 2.250s 98
    3 Raffaele Marciello Ferrari 1:26.648 2.274s 125
    4 Daniil Kvyat Red Bull/Renault 1:26.904 2.530s 101
    5 Pastor Maldonado Lotus/Mercedes 1:27.338 2.964s 60
    6 Nick Yelloly Force India/Mercedes 1:27.396 3.022s 109
    7 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso/Renault 1:27.639 3.265s 131
    8 Felipe Massa Williams/Mercedes 1:27.911 3.537s 54
    9 Oliver Turvey McLaren/Honda 1:28.542 4.168s 68

     

    Testing line up for Wednesday 13 may 2015 available here

     

    Photo credits: Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team, Sahara Force India Formula One Team

  • 2015 In-Season Barcelona Test Line Up

    2015 In-Season Barcelona Test Line Up

    The first in season test for 2015 will be held at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona from the 12th – 13th May 2015.

    Most of the teams have already confirmed their driver line up for the test apart from Manor, who will not be participating in the test.

    Below is the line up for both days for the Barcelona test

    Mercedes
    Tuesday: Nico Rosberg
    Wednesday: Pascal Wehrlein

    Ferrari
    Tuesday: Raffaele Marciello
    Wednesday: Esteban Gutierrez

    Red Bull
    Tuesday: Daniil Kvyat
    Wednesday: Pierre Gasly

    Williams
    Tuesday: Felipe Massa
    Wednesday: Alex Lynn

    McLaren
    Tuesday: Oliver Turvey
    Wednesday: Jenson Button

    Lotus
    Tuesday: Pastor Maldonado
    Wednesday: Jolyon Palmer

    Force India
    Tuesday: Pascal Wehrlein Nick Yelloly
    Wednesday: Esteban Ocon

    Toro Rosso
    Tuesday: Pierre Gasly
    Wednesday: Carlos Sainz Jr

    Sauber
    Tuesday: Marcus Ericsson
    Wednesday: Raffaele Marciello