Latest news with #FreePractice
1News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- 1News
Liam Lawson delivers double top 10 finish during Spanish GP practice
Kiwi Formula One driver Liam Lawson has made an impressive start to the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, clocking two top 10 finishes between the two practice sessions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The 23-year-old Racing Bulls driver, who scored a career-best finish last weekend in Monaco, was sixth fastest in Free Practice 1, and 10th fastest in Free Practice 2, showing an encouraging pace across the day. Lawson called the result "a good start to the weekend". "It's a good base to build on," he said after practice. "But obviously, tomorrow is what counts." "We'll keep working on improving the car. Everybody is chasing it, everybody's car was probably a little bit further away at the start of FP1, because of the new front wing. ADVERTISEMENT 'For everybody, for every team, it's different. For us, our car is in a good place right now. 'But we expect everybody to keep improving.' Liam Lawson during practice in Spain. (Source: Getty) The Spanish Grand Prix weekend marks the debut of a new technical directive regarding front wing flexibility, with most teams using FP1 largely as a data-gathering mission. The Kiwi driver ran all three tyre compounds during the sessions but didn't set a lap time in his initial run due to the car being fitted with an aero rake — a tool used to analyse airflow during regulation changes. During the final 20 minutes of FP1, Lawson posted a 1.14.339 on a fresh set of soft tires to go sixth fastest, just 0.045s behind championship leader Oscar Piastri. Lawson finished ahead of teammate Isack Hadjar, who ended the session in P8. In FP2, Lawson again looked comfortable and clocked a fasted lap time of 1.13.494, finishing P10 ahead of Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari. ADVERTISEMENT McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri topped both sessions, respectively, with reigning world champion Max Verstappen for Red Bull also remaining near the front. Lawson will be looking to continue his strong form in Qualifying on Sunday morning (2am NZT), where 24 of the last 34 races in Barcelona have been won from pole position. The race will take place Monday morning at 1am (NZT).
1News
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- 1News
Lawson to start at ninth at Monaco after best qualifier of season
New Zealand Formula One driver Liam Lawson has notched his best qualifying result of the season after securing a ninth place start for the Monaco Grand Prix. The result marks the first time this season that the young Kiwi has advanced to the third and final session of qualifying. The Racing Bulls driver credited his team's efforts as a major factor behind his performance. "We were able to unlock the car in Free Practice and I've been feeling pretty comfortable all weekend," Lawson said after qualifying. "It was a strong qualifying for the team, we had a really fast car today but we had even more on the table, as we struggled a little bit with the tyres and had some traffic in Q3." The 23-year-old remained optimistic about his chances in the race, especially given the new two-stop rule that is expected to shake up the usual Monaco procession. Drivers will have to make two pit stops to change tyres. "It will be exciting tomorrow with the new rules," Lawson said. "We are all going to be learning and trying to make the most of every opportunity and the two stops will certainly make it interesting." Lawson was sixth-fastest when he completed his final hot lap in Q3, but fell to ninth after teammate Isack Hadjar, Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon recorded quicker times. Lando Norris secured pole position for McLaren and set a track-record time, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in second and Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri qualifying third.
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Hakim Danish secures double podium despite setbacks
RACE 1 delivered a thrilling spectacle as young Malaysian talent Hakim Danish was handed a Long Lap Penalty following a collision incident with Vietnamese rider Luca Agostinelli. Despite the setback, Danish had an impressive start to the race weekend, having consistently topped the timesheets in Free Practice 1, Free Practice 2, and Qualifying. As the lights went out, Danish made a lightning start into Turn 1 but came under pressure at Turn 3, which pushed him down to fourth place. He quickly regrouped and began chasing the leading group, eventually closing in on race leader Brian Uriarte. On lap 3, Danish served his Long Lap Penalty smoothly, rejoining the race in fifth position. Demonstrating remarkable consistency, Danish worked his way back up and made a decisive move on lap 7 to overtake Brian and take the lead. However, a slight mistake on lap 9 allowed Brian to reclaim the front position. Danish continued to stay close behind, but luck was not on his side as the race was red-flagged on lap 11 due to an incident involving another rider. The final results were based on the standings from the previous lap, confirming Danish's position in second place. A rainy morning set the stage for a dramatic Race 2 held on a wet track. As the red lights went out, Hakim Danish got off to a strong start, but disaster struck at Turn 3 when he crashed and collided with Spanish rider Brian Uriarte. Refusing to give up, Danish quickly got back on his bike and rejoined the race, albeit in 22nd position. From lap 2 onwards, he began overtaking rider after rider, climbing up to 13th place. The race was filled with heart-stopping moments, including a near high-side by Danish and several other crashes due to the slippery conditions. Despite the challenges, Danish maintained an impressively consistent pace, growing faster with each lap. By lap 5, he had worked his way up to fifth place, with several riders close behind. From lap 7, Danish started to pull away, creating a gap from the chasing pack. On lap 12, he moved up to second place following a crash by Carter Thompson. Danish crossed the finish line in second place, a remarkable comeback that showcased his fighting spirit and determination in the face of adversity. The next Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race will take place on 7th and 8th June 2025 at Aragon, Spain.
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Charles Leclerc discovers F1 punishment verdict after Miami GP sprint race crash
Charles Leclerc crashed ahead of the sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix weekend after his Ferrari team made a huge blunder with the tyres they put on his car for a sighter lap Ferrari star Charles Leclerc has avoided a significant penalty for driving his car in an unsafe condition after crashing before the Miami Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday. Heavy rain hit the Miami track ahead of the race, leaving the track soaking wet. The pit lane had just opened to let the drivers go to the grid, and on a very wet track Leclerc hit the wall heavily. The Ferrari man had not even been pushing his car but the heavy rain and standing water caught him out and he skidded into the wall. The crash left his rear right wheel hanging off the car, with Leclerc unable to get it back to the pits, meaning he would not start. The 27-year-old was left devastated by the incident. He said over team radio: "No, no. Ouch. I'll try to go back. Complete aquaplanning. That was complete aquaplanning, I was not even pushing. I don't think I can go back." Despite the rain and the standing water, Ferrari had opted to send Leclerc and team-mate Hamilton out on the intermediate tyres, rather than full wets. That proved to be a catastrophic decision, with Hamilton left fuming at the team. He said over team radio: "I don't know how you put us out on Inters here." Leclerc attempted to return to the pit lane but was eventually forced to pull to the side of the track. The FIA stewards then launched an investigation for potentially driving the car in an unsafe condition. The Ferrari star has avoided further punishment, though, with the stewards hitting him with a reprimand. 'Car 16 hit the wall in Turn 10 and sustained significant damage,' read a statement. 'Nonetheless, the driver continued on track (at a low speed) and only stopped before Turn 14, after being told to do so by the team. The Stewards note that incidents during the Reconnaissance Laps will be regarded in the same way as incidents during Free Practice and therefore a reprimand is considered appropriate.' But while Leclerc suffering misery in the sprint race, Hamilton eventually overcame Ferrari's struggles to finish third in the chaotic event in Miami. The star of the sprint race was Lando Norris, who reignited his stuttering championship challenge by winning a dramatic rain-hit sprint race in Miami. Norris admitted luck was on his side after he cashed in on Fernando Alonso's late shunt in Miami to win Saturday's rain-hit race. Norris' McLaren team-mate and championship rival Oscar Piastri looked on course to take the victory before Alonso hit the wall with just four laps remaining. The safety car was deployed, and with the field neutralised, Norris was able to come in for dry tyres and emerge from the pits in the lead with Piastri relegated to second. Norris took advantage of a safety car period to claim the maiden triumph of his career at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium least year, and the British driver said: 'My luck in Miami seems pretty good. 'It has worked for me two years in a row now. I would have preferred if that happened tomorrow rather than today but I will take it.' Behind the two McLaren stars, Hamilton finished third for Ferrari and Red Bull star Max Verstappen fourth at the chequered flag. However, Verstappen was demoted to 17th and last after he was hit with a 10-second penalty following a collision with pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli in the pits. Verstappen's punishment elevated Alex Albon to fourth, one place ahead of George Russell.
