Latest news with #CircuitGillesVilleneuve
RNZ News
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Another big test for Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, 2025. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Racing Bulls will be hoping their cars remain competitive as Formula 1 heads to Canada this weekend. Neither Liam Lawson or Isack Hadjar have raced there before. It is round 10 of the championship with Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve different to most with a number of slow corners. Racing Bulls are sixth in the constructors' standings having picked up 18 points in the last two races. Hadjar finished sixth and Lawson eighth at the Monaco Grand Prix last month which also has a number of slow corners. Lawson was unlucky to miss out on the points in finishing 11th in Barcelona a fortnight ago. "We're eager to see how the VCARB 02 performs on a track that differs from most others," said Racing Bulls Racing Director Alan Permane. "All the corners at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve are low speed but are separated by long straights which means the rear wing choice is a particularly important one. "To be quick here the car needs to be good in braking, ride the kerbs well and have a quick and responsive change of direction, followed by good traction." It is a new circuit for both of their drivers so practice is particularly important for them as well as the set up for the car. "The drivers need maximum confidence in their car, because the best laptime is found by running close to the unforgiving walls," Permane said. Rain has regularly made an appearance at the Canadian Grand Prix, but the forecast is for fine weather on race day. New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson. Photo: MPS AGENCY / PHOTOSPORT Lawson is excited about his first outing in Montreal. "When I was a kid I grew up watching the Canadian GP with drivers having their debut victories here," he said. "I came to Montréal as a reserve driver last year and loved the city, so I'm really looking forward to having the opportunity to race for the first time on track this weekend." In the battle of the teams outside the top four, Racing Bulls trail fifth placed Williams by 26 points. Haas are just two points behind Racing Bulls. In Canada in 2024 Daniel Ricciardo finished eighth and Yuki Tsunoda was 14th. Red Bull's Max Verstappen is the defending champion, but the McLaren's of championship leader Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris should again be the drivers to beat. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Vasseur 'the person to take Ferrari to top'
Canadian Grand PrixVenue: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal Dates: 13-15 June Race start: 19:00 BST on SundayCoverage: Live commentary of first practice, third practice and qualifying on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, with FP2 on Sports Extra. Race is on BBC Radio 5 Live; live text updates on BBC Sport website and app Lewis Hamilton says that Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur "is the person to take us to the top" amid the team's struggles at the start of this have scored just three podium places in grands prix this year through Charles Leclerc, while Hamilton won the sprint race in Briton, 40, finished sixth at the Spanish Grand Prix two weeks ago and afterwards said he had "no idea why it was so bad" and that it was his "worst race (for Ferrari), balance-wise."Speaking in Montreal on Thursday before this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, Hamilton said: "I love working with Fred. Fred's the main reason I'm in this team and got the opportunity to be here, which I'm forever grateful for."We're in this together. We're working hard in the background. Things aren't perfect but I am here to work with the team but also with Fred."I want Fred here. I believe he is the person to take us to the top." The seven-time champion described reports in two Italian newspapers that Ferrari were considering replacing Vasseur as "nonsense".Ferrari said they were not worth commenting on."Most people don't know what's going on in the background," Hamilton said. "That's not part of the discussion."He added: "I don't think that's on the cards as far as I'm aware and it's certainly not something I would be supportive of."Embedding new people, whether it's a driver or engineers or people who run an organisation, it takes time to adjust and the impact can be significant. That is not part of the discussion. I am here to win with Fred and he has my full support."I have just started with Ferrari and I am here for several years. There is no question where my head is at and what I am working towards achieving with this team. There are zero doubts."Vasseur joined Ferrari at the beginning of 2023 after chairman John Elkann removed his predecessor Mattia Binotto following a 2022 season that had started well but took a turn for the worse amid poor reliability, operational errors and lack of development compared with Red year, Ferrari came close to winning the constructors' title for the first time since 2008, ending the year just 16 points behind McLaren, and were expecting this season to be a close fight at the McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have won seven of the first nine races, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen is the only other driver to visit the top step of the podium with wins in Japan and has struggled in his first races with the team, and has generally been a little behind is one place and 23 points behind the Monegasque in the drivers' said: "It's been a whirlwind of a year. Everything outside the race track is going amazing, and I am working as hard as I can to make sure that's reflected in the results."We need to bring more performance to the car. We have had one upgrade in Bahrain. Hopefully soon we will have another."The car I am racing right now is not a car I have had input into developing and evolving over the past four years. I am driving a car Charles has been part of developing. It has its challenges but I am enjoying that challenge."
CTV News
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
F1 drivers, teams arrive in Montreal for Canadian Grand Prix
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia celebrates after winning the Spanish Grand Prix Formula One race at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort) Formula One drivers and teams are rolling into Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix. McLaren tops the constructors' championship with 362 points, well ahead of second-place Ferrari, which has 165. For reference, a race win is worth 25 points. With 186 points, Oscar Piastri leads McLaren teammate Lando Norris by 10 points atop the drivers' standings heading into the 10th event of the 24-race circuit. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, the four-time reigning world champion, is aiming for his fourth consecutive win in Montreal. The 27-year-old Dutchman ranks third in the drivers' championship race with 137 points. He's one penalty away from receiving a one-race ban after colliding with Mercedes driver George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this month. READ MORE: Montreal hopes to repair damaged reputation during Grand Prix weekend Racing begins Friday with two practice sessions, followed by qualification on Saturday and the race on Sunday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025.
Reuters
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Jos is the boss not Max, says Russell of Verstappen clash
MONTREAL, June 12 (Reuters) - George Russell said Max Verstappen tried to show who was the boss when they collided in Spain two weeks ago, but the scare tactics backfired. The Mercedes Formula One driver told British reporters ahead of the 10th round of the season in Montreal that he did not think Red Bull's four-times world champion had tried to deliberately ram him. "He was just trying to get his elbows out and show who's boss. He got it wrong. Jos is the boss," said the Briton, jokingly referring to Verstappen's father who enjoyed that nickname while racing. Verstappen collected three penalty points and was also demoted from fifth to 10th in the race. He now stands one point from a mandatory race ban. The incident remained a talking point at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where the pair lined up together on the front row last year and could be going wheel-to-wheel again on Sunday. Verstappen recognised after Spain that the move was "not right and shouldn't have happened" but Russell, who finished fourth in Spain, said he was not looking for an apology. "I don't think he needs to apologise to me for my side," he said. "His actions cost him and they benefited me. So I should be almost thanking him. "But it's good to see that he took accountability, which I was a bit surprised (about)." "I think he wanted to just sort of scare me a bit but he just misjudged it. It wasn't going to scare me, it was just all a bit surprising." Russell recognised he might also be able to turn the situation to his advantage if Verstappen had to be mindful of suspension. "This weekend if I see him on track, I'm racing the same. I want to win. I'm not going to give him any more space or anything," he said. Russell said he had spoken briefly with his Dutch rival after they "bumped into each other" at the airport when the Briton was flying to Paris to attend the French Open tennis final. "He was there with his newborn (daughter) and we were at the security machine," he said. "We just had a quick chat and then he was busy folding the pram down to put it through the machine." Russell spoke in Spain of his concern about the effect on young racers of Verstappen's driving, prompting the Dutchman to tell reporters he would "bring some tissues" next time. "That was quite funny, to be fair," said the Briton, grinning. "I did have a giggle there."
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Good that Verstappen took accountability
Canadian Grand PrixVenue: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal Dates: 13-15 June Race start: 19:00 BST on SundayCoverage: Live commentary of first practice, third practice and qualifying on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, with FP2 on Sports Extra. Race is on BBC Radio 5 Live; live text updates on BBC Sport website and app George Russell says that it was "good" that Max Verstappen took accountability for colliding with the Mercedes driver during the Spanish Grand Prix - but says he was "a bit surprised" the Dutchman did world champion is one licence point away from a race ban as a result of deliberately hitting Russell's car as his race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya unravelled in the late stages after a safety addition to three licence points, Red Bull's Verstappen was also given a 10-second penalty, which dropped him from fifth to 10th in the said: "His actions cost him, and they benefited me. So, I should be almost thanking him. But it's good to see that he took accountability, which I was a bit surprised."Verstappen, who is conducting his media session for the Canadian Grand Prix later on Thursday in Montreal, said on social media the day after the incident that the move was "not right and shouldn't have happened". Asked what he thought Verstappen was trying to achieve in the manoeuvre at Barcelona's Turn Five, Russell said: "I think he was trying to run me off the road, but I don't think he was trying to intentionally crash into me. I think he just misjudged it."If Verstappen receives one more point on his licence over the next two races in Canada this weekend and Austria at the end of the month, he will be banned for a grand Austria, two points come off his licence, but that still leaves him on nine points - three away from a ban - until the Mexico City Grand Prix in said a ban for Verstappen would be deserved if it came to that."If he gets his 12 points, it wouldn't be unjust, you know," the Briton said. "So that's literally why it's there."He said he thought the penalty Verstappen received in Spain was "fair", but added: "If it took me out of the race, then it needs to be deemed differently."Russell said Verstappen's rivals could benefit from his precarious position at this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix."We have to be smart and use it to our advantage," he said."I'm going to continue racing exactly the same because at the end of the day, that's what I did last week and I benefited from it. And as we said, if you do keep driving like that, you'll accumulate your points and you'll get punished. Ultimately, he got punished for it."So, from my side, kind of long may it continue and for a neutral, it spices things up a little bit."Russell said he had met Verstappen by chance at Nice airport on Sunday on his way to watch the French Open final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannick Sinner."We bumped into each other at the airport a few days ago on Sunday morning when I was going to Roland Garros," he said."To be honest, I totally forgot about Barcelona because he was there with his newborn. And we were at the security machine. So he just had a quick chat and then he was busy folding the pram down to put it through the machine."
