Latest news with #FormulaOneAustralianGrandPrixQualifying
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
Norris fastest in first Spanish GP practice
McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after qualifying in pole position in the Formula One Australian Grand Prix Qualifying at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne on March 15. PHOTO: REUTERS McLaren's Lando Norris followed up his victory in Monaco by lapping fastest in first practice for the Spanish Grand Prix on Friday, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen ending the session as his closest rival. The Briton, winner last Sunday to close to only three points behind championship-leading teammate Oscar Piastri after eight of 24 rounds, set a best time of one minute and 13.718 seconds at the Circuit de Catalunya. Verstappen was 0.367 slower but missed some 20 minutes of the session with mechanics working to change the car's rear suspension. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton -- winner a record-equalling six times in Spain -- was third on the timesheets, 0.378 off the pace and ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc (+0.520) with Piastri fifth (+0.576). The session was the first in which teams used new front wings to meet stricter flex tests introduced for the Spanish weekend, but there was no immediate sign of any significant change. Liam Lawson was sixth fastest for Racing Bulls with Oliver Bearman seventh for Haas, Isack Hadjar eighth for Racing Bull and Verstappen's teammate Yuki Tsunoda ninth. Alpine's Pierre Gasly completed the top 10. Mercedes, McLaren's closest rivals in the constructors' standings, had George Russell 11th and Kimi Antonelli 18th. The session featured two young drivers gaining experience, with Frenchman Victor Martins replacing Alex Albon at Williams and Japanese Ryo Hirakawa for Esteban Ocon at Haas. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who was 13th in his Aston Martin, launched an impassioned defence, meanwhile, of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya which appears set to be ditched after 33 years of hosting the Spanish Grand Prix. A new street circuit in Madrid is expected to be confirmed soon as host of the 2026 edition. "I don't think that we will lose Barcelona, that's my opinion and my wish as well," said Alonso who is an ambassador for Barcelona F1. "I think it's good to have new venues and countries, but we need to keep some traditional circuits where the history of F1 has been written." Russell says Albon has more to pay after lobster dinner George Russell says Alex Albon still owes him because the tab for a lobster pasta dinner picked up by his friend and Formula One rival after the Monaco Grand Prix was not enough to make amends for the race. Mercedes driver Russell finished 11th last Sunday with Albon ninth and Williams teammate Carlos Sainz 10th, the pair using strategy to defend their scoring positions on an afternoon without overtaking. Russell, who had scored points in every round up to Monaco, said afterwards that Albon would be paying for dinner and the Thai obliged. "He ordered the most expensive thing on the menu," Albon told reporters hungry for more detail at the Spanish Grand Prix. "He did, actually. It was the lobster pasta. "Lobster pasta, in Monaco... Monaco is not cheap. On race weekends, they bump up the prices everywhere." Albon said he chose a carbonara, admittedly with wagyu beef, and Russell skipped dessert. Asked whether it had been an expensive restaurant, Russell suggested Albon escaped lightly. "Not expensive enough. So, the bill is definitely not even just yet," he said.
Express Tribune
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
McLaren's Lando Norris wins Monaco Grand Prix
McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after qualifying in pole position in the Formula One Australian Grand Prix Qualifying at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne on March 15. PHOTO: REUTERS Lando Norris secured his second Formula One victory of the season at the Monaco Grand Prix, converting pole position into a commanding win at the iconic street circuit. The McLaren driver was followed by home favorite Charles Leclerc in second, while Norris's teammate Oscar Piastri completed the podium in third. For the first time in Monaco's history, all drivers were required to make two mandatory pit stops. This rule change introduced new strategic challenges, although its impact was somewhat lessened by team tactics that saw some drivers deliberately slow down to create gaps for their teammates to pit efficiently. The race began with Leclerc challenging Norris into the opening corner. Despite locking up his front tyres, Norris maintained his lead. Early drama unfolded when Gabriel Bortoleto crashed into the barrier, prompting a virtual safety car. Several drivers, including Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly, pitted during this period. However, Gasly later collided with Tsunoda, damaging his car but managing to return to the pits. During the first round of pit stops, teams employed strategic games. For instance, Isack Hadjar used his teammate Liam Lawson's deliberate slow pace to clear a gap, allowing Hadjar to complete both mandatory stops by lap 20. Similarly, Williams orchestrated position swaps between Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz to optimize their pit sequences. Despite some hiccups, such as Lewis Hamilton's slow stop, the top contenders remained largely unchanged after the first stops, with Verstappen last among them to pit and maintaining a strong position. As the race progressed, retirements and penalties influenced the order. Alonso retired with power unit issues, while George Russell received a drive-through penalty after overtaking off-track. Verstappen extended his stint but eventually dropped to fourth after his final stop, leaving Norris, Leclerc, and Piastri to battle for the podium. Hamilton finished fifth, ahead of rookie Hadjar, who achieved his best result to date. Esteban Ocon and Lawson also scored well, with Williams rounding out the top ten. Norris's win narrows the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri to just three points, setting up an exciting title battle as the season moves to its next round in Spain.
Express Tribune
16-03-2025
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
Norris leads McLaren in Aus GP qualifying
McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after qualifying in pole position in the Formula One Australian Grand Prix Qualifying at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne on March 15. PHOTO: REUTERS McLaren's Lando Norris kept his cool on a sweltering afternoon at Albert Park to take pole position at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Saturday as his teammate Oscar Piastri joined him on the front row. Defending champion Max Verstappen will start his Red Bull car third on the grid ahead of fourth-placed Mercedes driver George Russell but it was a disappointing session for Ferrari with Charles Leclerc to start seventh and Lewis Hamilton eighth. Briton Norris lapped the lakeside circuit in one minute, 15.096 seconds, 0.084 ahead of Melbourne native Piastri, who will hope to become Australia's first home winner since the race joined F1's global calendar in 1985. "It's the perfect way to start the year," said Norris. "I'm never going to get ahead of myself, I'm not that kind of guy. I'm confident the car is in a great position but we've also never run in the wet." Rain forecast for Sunday could make the race a lottery but McLaren were delighted with their raw pace in the dry. Verstappen, bidding for a fifth consecutive drivers' title, had struggled with handling problems through free practice so he was also glad to be near the front for Sunday. "Yesterday was quite tough so for us to be in P3 today I will take that," he said. "For me dry or wet is fine, in the weather there is always some crazy things that can happen and especially around here it can be quite slippery." Racing Bulls were buoyed to have a car fifth on the grid as Yuki Tsunoda drove like a man with a point to prove after missing out on a Red Bull seat to New Zealander Liam Lawson. Williams also landed a blow in the mid-field battle, with Alex Albon sixth, four places better than teammate Carlos Sainz. Much to dissect Ferrari's underwhelming pace was a surprise to their rivals and to Hamilton, whose quickest lap in the final qualifying session (Q3) was nearly nine-tenths of a second slower than Norris's. He also lost control and spun in the middle of the track at one point during Q2. "I didn't know we'd be nine-tenths off or eight-tenths off today but there is a lot to dissect, for sure," Hamilton said. "Tomorrow's going to be a challenge, I've never driven this car in the rain. I don't even know the rain settings so I've got to go and study that tonight." Pierre Gasly was ninth for Alpine, comfortably out-qualifying his new teammate Jack Doohan (14). Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar was 11th, the best of the six drivers in Australia starting a Formula One season for the first time. It was a mixed bag for the others, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto 15th after scraping into the second session of qualifying. Having triggered two red flags in two days of practice, Haas rookie Oliver Bearman suffered a gearbox problem in his out-lap and had to return to the garage, unable to post a time. His teammate Esteban Ocon will be at the back of the grid after qualifying 19th. Lawson's Red Bull debut was forgettable, having been knocked out of Q1 after sitting out the final practice earlier in the day due to a power unit problem. Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli also missed Q2, knocked out of the top 15 by a last-ditch lap from Bortoleto. REUTERS
