INDIA in F1

Tag: Silverstone

  • Marco Bezzecchi, who won the Indian GP in 2023, wins again at an epic Silverstone race: MotoGP

    Marco Bezzecchi, who won the Indian GP in 2023, wins again at an epic Silverstone race: MotoGP

    Silverstone, 25 May 2025: As they say, timing is everything in sport and for Aprilia Racing, Marco Bezzecchi’s victory at the Tissot Grand Prix of the United Kingdom couldn’t have come at a better time. The rider who last won at the Indian Grand Prix in 2023, took the victory again. In a drama-filled Sunday at Silverstone that saw Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) crash, and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) suffer a heartbreaking technical issue while leading, it was Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) who clinched a fantastic P2 finish behind the Italian. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez, following a red-flagged stoppage, was able to bounce back and pick up P3 in a podium fight then went down to the wire in an unforgettable Silverstone encounter. 

    In 2023, Bezzecchi took his first ever MotoGP win at the Argentine Republic Grand Prix in rainy conditions, and thus took the championship lead for the first time in the premier class. He won the 1000th MotoGP Grand Prix at the French Grand Prix, his second win of the season. A third win came in India, as he rounded out a breakthrough season in 3rd place.

    DRAMA, DRAMA AND A BIT MORE DRAMA
    Straight from lights out, drama unfolded. From the middle of the front row, Alex Marquez got a fantastic launch and led but once the front brake was applied heading into Turn 1, the front end folded without an ounce of warning. Like a flash, the #73 was down and out of the Grand Prix – or so we thought at the time – as Marc Marquez gained the lead ahead of Quartararo and Bagnaia.

    At the end of the first lap, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Aleix Espargaro (Honda HRC Test Team) crashed together at the Vale chicane, which would eventually bring out the red flags due to an oil spillage. But before we learned that, Grand Prix leader Marc Marquez was down at Turn 11! The top two in the World Championship both suffered crashes but because there hadn’t been three laps completed, all riders were eligible for the restart which would be a 19-lap Grand Prix. Was it a get out of jail free card for the Marquez brothers? Yes. But they’d both be starting on their not-so-preferred number two machines.

    THE RESTART
    Take two saw Bagnaia grab the holeshot into Turn 1 but at Turn 3, Quartararo struck to pounce into an early lead. Marc Marquez was passed Alex Marquez and then so was Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) at Brooklands.

    1.2s was Quartararo’s advantage at the end of Lap 1 and at Turn 3, Miller carved his way past Marc Marquez for P3 and then at Brooklands, we had a Yamaha 1-2. The Australian launched it up the inside of Bagnaia and then Marc Marquez ran wide at Copse, which dropped him behind Zarco.

    2.4s was now Quartararo’s advantage and we then had Zarco pass Pecco for P3. And sniffing an opportunity, Marc Marquez was through too. Then, Copse caught out both factory Ducatis. Marquez and Pecco were wide after separate moments, and that saw them drop to P9 and P10. Work to do.

    Things then went bad to worse for Pecco. Going through Luffield, the front end said no more and that was the Italian’s Grand Prix over. Meanwhile, Bezzecchi was now P3 ahead of Zarco, Alex Marquez was P5 while Quartararo held a 3.9s gap over Miller. What a Grand Prix this was.

    One thing to note was this: the current front four – Quartararo, Miller, Bezzecchi and Zarco – were on the soft front Michelin tyre. A compound that hasn’t yet completed a race distance, so would it hold up?

    On Lap 6 of 19, Bezzecchi and Zarco got the better of Miller as the latter dropped from P2 to P4 in a couple of seconds. Now, what kind of pace did Bezzecchi have up his sleeve? The gap to Quartararo was 5.3s. That was then five seconds flat as Bez shaved three tenths off the disadvantage in clean air.

    Elsewhere, Marc Marquez was now right behind Alex Marquez – the top two were P6 and P7, behind Morbidelli and Miller, and just ahead of Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol). The #93 then sliced his way through on the #73 at Vale, and on the next lap, the Championship leader picked off Miller. On the same lap, Alex Marquez made a mistake at Vale and that cost him both time and a place – Mir was now ahead.

    The fastest lap of the race, a 1:59.770, was slammed home by Bezzecchi as the Italian ate into Quartararo’s lead. On Lap 10 of 19, the gap was down to 4.7s and on the next lap, it was down to 4.4s. Elsewhere, Marc Marquez was now P4 ahead of Morbidelli and now had three seconds to make up to get onto the rear wheel of Zarco for the podium places.

    QUARTARARO’S HEARTBREAK
    Suddenly, we saw Quartararo with his arm raised. What had happened? It looked like a technical issue meant the rear ride height device was stuck and despite the efforts of trying to disengage it for more than half a lap, the YZR-M1 was having none of it. Heartbreak for Quartararo and Yamaha. A potential return to the top step snatched away in such cruel circumstances.

    However, Quartararo’s gut-wrenching end to the Grand Prix was Aprilia’s gain because that was the lead handed on a plate to Bezzecchi.

    THE RACE TO THE CHEQUERED FLAG
    The Italian was 2.9s up the road from Zarco, who in turn was two seconds clear of Marc Marquez. But it wasn’t a comfortable P3 for the title chase leader. Miller, Morbidelli, Marquez and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) were all in with a shout of claiming a Silverstone podium with five laps to go.

    In that podium fight, Miller and Alex Marquez were treating us to a brilliant battle as Morbidelli tried to cling onto Marc Marquez who was now eight tenths clear of the chasing pack. At the front, Bezzecchi was four seconds clear as Zarco kept Marquez just over a second adrift.

    Last lap time at Silverstone. Bezzecchi was 4.6s clear but plenty of focus was on the podium fight. Turn 3 saw Morbidelli pass Marquez but the latter bit straight back. Could Morbidelli respond? Yes he could. Copse corner was the chosen place, now the question was on Marc Marquez to have a say.

    And he did. A great run out of Turn 14 allowed Marquez to get the inside line at Stowe – but it wasn’t over yet. Morbidelli slammed his Ducati down the inside at Vale, but running wide, his exit was compromised and Marquez managed to shove his way back through on the cutback to just, and we mean just, earn a P3 as Alex Marquez finished right behind his brother and Morbidelli in that fantastic fight.

    Up the road though, elation for Bezzecchi and Aprilia. A debut win in Noale colours came for the Italian and after his French GP heroics, Zarco claimed another fantastic result in P2. Chapeaux to the top two.

    Acosta delivered some cracking middle to late race pace to finish in P6 ahead of Miller, as Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) clinched an equal-best Honda result in P8 – but that was wiped away post-race due to a 16-second tyre pressure penalty. That meant Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Mir rounded out the top 10, with Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and the penalised Marini the final points scorers in the UK.

    NEXT UP: ARAGON
    Wow. What a Sunday that turned out to be. Drama aplenty and a first victory for Aprilia in 2025—Silverstone, you delivered. Next, we head to MotorLand Aragon to do it all over again. What lies ahead in Spain? Who knows? That’s the beauty of this sport.

    For full results, click HERE!

  • Bastianini storms to Tissot sprint victory: MotoGP

    Bastianini storms to Tissot sprint victory: MotoGP

    Silverstone, 3 August 2024: Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) stormed to an incredible Tissot Sprint victory at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix, taking his first Saturday podium in some style: on the top step. Beast mode was very much engaged as the #23 denied Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), although the #89 claws back some crucial Championship points after drama for points leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) saw the reigning Champion slide out.

    Completing the rostrum on Saturday was polesitter Aleix Espargaro as the Aprilia Racing rider ran the top two close, escaping the attentions of Bagnaia and having pulled ahead of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) on the chase. The eight-time World Champion then also slid out late on to cede third overall in the Championship to Bastianini in a dramatic afternoon at Silverstone.

    As the lights went out it was a fantastic launch from Bagnaia, who pushed Espargaro wide on the entry to Turn 1. It was an immediate melee at the front, however, and Martin was able to sneak through and snatch the Sprint lead on the opening lap at Silverstone.

    There was drama behind too as Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) crashed on the opening lap after the former overshot Turn 1 and sent both sliding out. Both passed fit, but Morbidelli given a double Long Lap penalty to serve on Sunday.

    There was soon more drama in the fight just behind the podium battle too as Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) clashed, with no harm done to either but a confetti shower of winglets sent into the air. The clash was also just enough for Marc Marquez to pry the door open and slice past both, needing no second invitation and at least briefly getting past the duo.

    At the front, Martin continued to lead from the chasing Bastianini, with the Italian hanging on to the tail of the #89 as Espargaro and Bagnaia shadowed the duo.

    The first title fight drama then unfolded, with Bagnaia losing the front on Lap 5 at Turn 4. Rider ok, but that was all she wrote and the Italian was forced to watch from the sidelines as teammate Bastianini started to harry Martin. Polesitter Espargaro was released from the pressure of having the reigning Champion sat on his tail too, and with Martin still at the front the #1 looked to have lost the Championship lead.

    However, after one failed attempt that saw Martin hit back immediately, the Beast then sliced through to the lead on Lap 6 and attempted to stretch away almost instantly. The #23 put together a series of impressive times inside the 1:58 bracket with a handful of laps remaining, gaining a little breathing space but Martin still very much in touch. A Bastianini win was a 1-point lead for Bagnaia in the title fight, a Martin win was the #89 back on top.

    Then, further drama for the top echelons in the standings: Marc Marquez lost the front at Turn 16. That brought an end to the Spaniard’s chance to earn some vital Championship points as he retired to the pitlane, leaving it as a KTM-GASGAS battle for fourth and likely about to drop out the top three in the standings given Bastianini was now holding station at the head of the field.

    With one lap remaining, all that was coming in was perfection from Bastianini. The #23 extended his lead from a handful of tenths to one second and that was that – a first ever Sprint victory secured at Silverstone. Martin consolidated second nevertheless, clawing back crucial Championship points to now sit just one behind Bagnaia. And behind him is now Bastianini in third.

    Binder and Acosta’s battle didn’t stop as they continued their fight until the line, with the South African pipping the rookie for fourth after the 10-lap dash. Alex Marquez took sixth, having homed in but not able to get the better of the two.

    It was a competitive battle for seventh place and the final point-scoring positions as Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crossed the line just 0.185s ahead of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), with the latter taking that final point on Saturday.

    Now all eyes turn to Sunday for the British Grand Prix, with Bagnaia and Marc Marquez aiming for redemption and Martin well within striking distance of the lead. Who will come out on top on for 25 points? The stage is set, the style will be vintage and the action is guaranteed to be a modern spectacle. So make sure you join us at 13:00 local time (UTC +1)!

  • George Russell takes pole at home Grand Prix ahead of Hamilton: F1

    George Russell takes pole at home Grand Prix ahead of Hamilton: F1

    Silverstone, 6 July 2024: George Russell led an all-British top three in qualifying for the British Grand Prix with the Mercedes driver beating team-mate Lewis Hamilton by just under two tenths of a second as Lando Norris took third for McLaren. Drivers’ Championship leader Max Verstappen will start fourth after his qualifying was compromised by floor damage sustained in an early off. 

    At the start of Q1, on a damp track and on Intermediate tyres, Verstappen took top spot with a lap of 1:37.518, with Norris a tenth off in P2. They were soon shuffled back by Mercedes George Russell who took top spot with his second flyer, but the track was rapidly drying and Charles Leclerc quickly headed back to the pits for a set of slick Soft tyres. 

    That prompted Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez to make the same switch but on a still slippery track he suffered a snap of oversteer going into Copse corner and though he managed to save that he lost control in the run-off and slid backwards into the gravel where he exited the session and the red flags came out. 

    After a nine-minute halt the session resumed with all drivers on Softs. But as McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took P1 with a lap of 1:30.895, Verstappen almost suffered the same fate as his team-mate. A snap in Copse sent the Red Bull driver off track and though he was able to keep going, a thumping trip through the gravel trap caused floor damage that would have a major impact on the rest of his session. 

    With improvements flooding in elsewhere, the Dutch driver sank down the order and with the clock counting down he had to immediately make another attempt and as Hamilton took top spot ahead of Russell, Leclerc and Sainz, the world champion limped through in a relatively lowly P11 thanks to a lap of 1:31.242. 

    Out, though went Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas in P11 ahead of Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, Checo, in P19, and last placed Pierre Gasly in the second Alpine. 

    In the early exchanges of Q2 it was Norris who took top spot, with the McLaren driver posting a lap of 1:27.432 to sit a tenth clear of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. Verstappen, meanwhile, was again suffering and after claiming fourth with a time of 1:27.799 he soon slid back to 10th as drivers stayed out and improved. It was a similar story after his second flyer and after initially rising to third he dropped to an eventual sixth as Norris took P1 ahead of Russell and Alonso.

    However, while Verstappen avoided becoming the major casualty of Q2, Leclerc was unable to avoid that fate and battling porpoising in his Ferrari, the Monegasque driver was ruled out in P11 ahead of Williams’ Logan Sargeant, RB’s Yuki Tsunoda, Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu and the second RB of Daniel Ricciardo. 

    In the opening runs of Q3 Russell led the way by just 0.006s over Norris, as Hamilton and Piastri were both within touching distance in the battle for pole and with Verstappen down in fifth it was shaping up to be a duel between Mercedes and McLaren. 

    Neither Hamilton nor Russell improved on their first sectors, but both improved later in the lap and, first across the line, Hamilton jumped to top spot with 1:25.990s. Russell was finding more time, however, and when Norris made a mistake in Turn 14, Russell’s improved time of 1:25.819 was enough to clinch his third F1 pole.

    Norris preserved his place in that top three, but couldn’t improve on his final run and ceded one position to Hamilton to lead the second row alongside Verstappen. Behind the Red Bull man, Piastri qualified fifth ahead of Hülkenberg, while Sainz took seventh ahead of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, Williams’ Alex Albon and the second Aston of Fernando Alonso.

    2024 FIA Formula 1 British Grand Prix – Qualifying 
    1 George Russell Mercedes 1:25.819 – –
    2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:25.990 0.171 
    3 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:26.030 0.211 
    4 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:26.203 0.384 
    5 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1:26.237 0.418 
    6 Nico Hülkenberg Haas/Ferrari 1:26.338 0.519 
    7 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:26.509 0.690 
    8 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:26.585 0.766 
    9 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1:26.640 0.821 
    10 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:26.917 1.098 
    11 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:27.097 1.278 
    12 Logan Sargeant Williams/Mercedes 1:27.175 1.356 
    13 Yuki Tsunoda RB/Honda RBPT 1:27.269 1.450 
    14 Zhou Guanyu Sauber/Ferrari 1:27.867 2.048 
    15 Daniel Ricciardo RB/Honda RBPT 1:27.949 2.130 
    16 Valtteri Bottas Sauber/Ferrari 1:32.431 6.612 
    17 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 1:32.905 7.086 
    18 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 1:34.557 8.738 
    19 Sergio Pérez Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:38.348 12.529 
    20 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 1:39.804 

  • Aleix Espargaro snatches victory in a last lap barnstormer: British GP

    Aleix Espargaro snatches victory in a last lap barnstormer: British GP

    The Aprilia rider pips Pecco to the post ahead of Binder, Oliveira and Viñales as Bezzecchi crashes out of contention.

    Silverstone, 6 August 2023: MotoGP came back with a bang as the Monster Energy British Grand Prix delivered an instant, last lap classic. With spots of rain falling towards the end of the race, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) mastered the changing conditions to put himself in the perfect position for a last-lap attack on Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). The Italian had led the majority of the race and withstood both serious pressure and the difficult conditions, but Espargaro studied his prey and pounced late on for Aprilia’s second ever premier class win. Reigning Champion Bagnaia will be happy to take 20 points, however, as his title rival Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) crashed out whilst following Bagnaia earlier in the race, with that dropping back to third overall.

    For third in the race, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had his hands full with the Aprilias of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) as the South African fought hard but got the job done to take that podium after it evaded him in Assen. Oliveira, meanwhile, took P4 as top Independent Team rider.

    MotoGP™ springs back into life at Silverstone
    The grid settled at Silverstone as the 2023 MotoGP™ rollercoaster of a season was set to return to action after a long summer break. The Monster Energy British Grand Prix marks the start of the second half of the season as the title trio prepared to resume battle, and the track was bone-dry but a chance of rain added to tension on the grid.

    Bezzecchi started on pole position, but as the revs rose and the grid flew off the line it was a lightning start from Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) from the middle of the front row with Bezzecchi eyeing up a way through on the Aussie. Meanwhile, Bagnaia shot up to P3 from 4th on the grid as he had Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Viñales in his wheel-tracks.

    Bagnaia did not hesitate in getting past his title rivals as he took his first opportunity to pass Bezzecchi, with his sights set on Miller in the lead. Bezzecchi wasn’t letting Bagnaia have it easy though as he fired it back up the inside. That ignited the fire in the Championship leader as Bagnaia pulled off an incredible move around the outside of Bezzecchi and used his momentum to take the lead away from Miller at the next corner.

    Bezzecchi followed pursuit and pushed the Aussie back to P3 into the clutches of Alex Marquez, and once through Bagnaia and Bezzecchi began to break away, the title rivals locked together at the front.

    Aleix Espargaro was a man on a mission with 16 laps remaining as the Aprilia rider pushed his way through on Marquez into 3rd place, however, and was the fastest rider on circuit.

    Small error, big consequences
    Bezzecchi had rushed into turn Stowe corner with 15 laps remaining, running himself slightly wide. If that was a warning it wasn’t heeded, as one lap later the VR46 rider made the same mistake, but this time the Silverstone Circuit wasn’t as kind to the title contender as he tucked the front and went down and out of the British Grand Prix. Rider ok, but with Bagnaia in the lead, this was proving to be a big dent in Bezzecchi’s Championship charge.

    The Italian’s crash promoted Espargaro to 2nd place and Brad Binder up into 3rd, with the Spaniard putting the hammer down to reel in the number one plated Ducati out the front. Bagnaia did respond and upped the pace at the front, but the Aprilia was able to hang onto his coattails, initiating an intense battle for the victory that went right to the flag.

    Rain flags and several plot twists…
    Meanwhile, Viñales had made his way through on Binder with 11 laps to go, making it two Aprilias inside the top 3. Viñales then proceeded to catch the leading group with Binder latched onto his rear wheel. It became a true group of 4 at the front with seven laps remaining, and the white flags were displayed with light spots of rain dropping onto the Silverstone Circuit. And when the rain picked up at turn 15, the Aprilias backed off slightly allowing Binder to fly his way through as the South African was as committed as ever.

    The yo-yo in the group continued though, and Espargaro made his way back through on Binder with 4 laps to go as Bagnaia was putting down a strong pace out the front. Espargaro was then able to latch back onto the Italian as Binder began to drop back, with Oliveira then throwing his name into the mix as he came out of seemingly nowhere to catch the leading group. 

    Oliveira wasted no time in getting past Binder and Viñales as the Portuguese rider pulled off an incredible two-in-one move to make his way into P3. 

    By last lap time, Binder had gotten the better of Oliveira to slot himself back into P3 as Bagnaia stretched out the group in the first sector, edging a few tenths ahead of Espargaro on the chase. Was there time left for a move? There was. Espargaro dug in and got back on terms with the Ducati before making an incredible move on the power at the exit of Copse Corner to blast past the Italian. The Spaniard went defensive down the Hangar straight too, with Bagnaia desperate to get past the Aprilia, but there was no way through. Espargaro left no room for the reigning Champion, leaving him forced to settle for 2nd place. A historic second win for Aprilia and a ninth different winner in a row at Silverstone, but an extended Championship lead for Pecco.

    Binder also put on an impressive defensive display as he fended off Oliveira for the final podium spot. Viñales came home in 5th place, making it three Aprilias inside the top five after a storming Silverstone for the Noale factory. It’s also the first time Aprilia, Ducati and KTM have shared the podium.

    Behind that fight, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) took P6 as he gained significant ground on Bezzecchi for P2 in the standings, the Pramac also having earlier been sent quite wide with Binder after the South African found himself in a Lap 1 sandwich.

    Alex Marquez retired from the front group with a mechanical issue, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) pulled in to retire too after earlier contact in a crash for Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).

    Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) put in a storming first half of the race from the back of the grid but then tangled with Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) before running over his own strewn fairing. He then pitted to change to his second bike on wets to try his luck, and did take the final point as a couple of others gambled too.

    Marini took P7 just ahead of Miller, who was sent well wide in an earlier tangle with Viñales, with Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) in P9 ahead of Raul Fernandez (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) to make it all Aprilias in the top ten.

    It was an important weekend for Aprilia Racing as the Noale manufacturer returned to victory at a Silverstone Circuit that has been both cruel and kind to Aleix Espargaro. But MotoGP™ now turns its attention to the Red Bull Ring in Austria for the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich set to take place from the 18th to the 20th of August… KTM home turf and Ducati’s happy hunting grounds. Can they hit back? We’ll find out soon.

  • Espargaro heads a front row covered by just 0.036

    Espargaro heads a front row covered by just 0.036

    The Repsol Honda rider pips Bagnaia and Quartararo as hundredths split the top three over nearly 6km of Silverstone
    Silverstone, 28 August 2021:     Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) is back in business! After a tougher time of late, the Spaniard has hooked it up so far at Silverstone and in Q2, the number 44 hit a landmark run to take his first pole position since joining the Repsol Honda Team. It was incredibly close at the top, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) just 0.022 back and Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) locking out a top three split by just 0.036. Over a near 6km lap, it could hardly be any closer.

    Q1
    Q1 had a few fast faces looking to move through, not least of all 2019 Silverstone winner Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar). But after the first runs it was Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) leading the way, with a couple of tenths in hand over Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing).

    The key drama then also came from Bastianini as the Italian, on another hot lap, lost the rear but somehow didn’t quite highside, nevertheless sliding out and that bringing out the Yellow Flags – cancelling the laps of Rins and Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol). Bastianini was up and ok and the track went green again, leaving one final push for those behind to try and oust the Italian.

    Zarco and Rins did just that, the Suzuki taking over on top first before the Pramac rider pipped him, both leapfrogging Bastianini’s best to deny him a place in Q2. 

    Q2
    After the first runs, Quartararo led Bagnaia led Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing), but there was some drama left in the tank. The first rider setting red sectors was Pol Espargaro and he took over on top, but Martin was on an absolute stunner – and shaved nine tenths off the number 44’s best in one fell swoop. But gaining over a second in one sector seemed a lot, even for the rookie sensation, and it turned out to be too much: Martin had cut the track, and the laptime was cancelled. So Pol Espargaro completed his impressive weekend so far with a first pole position at Repsol Honda, bouncing back in style from a difficult two weekends in Austria to pip ‘Pecco’ by just 0.022.

    Bagnaia was bumped back up to second as Martin’s lap was cancelled, with Quartararo completing the front row after losing a little ground on Run 2, not able to find the grip he was expecting but still within an infinitesimal 0.036 of pole. Martin, nevertheless, takes fourth – and is therefore also top Independent Team rider. 

    The Grid 
    Pol Espargaro, Bagnaia and Championship leader Quartararo head up the grid, putting ‘Pecco’, the closest challenger, in a good position to try and deny El Diablo on Sunday. Martin heads up Row 2 ahead of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), the eight-time World Champion beaten to it by just 0.012. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) completes the third row.

    Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) had a tougher qualifying to line up seventh, 0.479 off the top, and the Aussie will be looking to make gains on Sunday. He’s joined by Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) as the Doctor continues a good vein of form at Silverstone, taking P8, with Johann Zarco forced to settle for ninth.

    That leaves Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins and Joan Mir down in P10 and P11, respectively, with the 2019 Silverstone winner and the reigning Champion looking for a classic quick comeback into the podium fight tomorrow. Austrian GP winner Brad Binder (Red Bull KM Factory Racing) is P12.

    Then come Bastianini, Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Avintia) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) in 15th.

    FULL RESULTS

    That’s all she wrote on Saturday at Silverstone, all that’s left to do now is race. Tune in at the earlier time of 13:00 (GMT +1) on Sunday as MotoGP™ does battle in the Monster Energy British Grand Prix. Is it Quartararo’s to lose? Or does someone have something more up their sleeve?
    MotoGP™ front row
    1 Pol Espargaro – Repsol Honda Team – Honda – 1:58.889    
    2 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – +0.022
    3 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – +0.036

    Top Independent Team rider
    4 Jorge Martin – Pramac Racing – Ducati – +0.185
  • Yes, they are not F1 drivers, they are MotoGP riders

    Yes, they are not F1 drivers, they are MotoGP riders

    One of Formula 1’s most successful-ever teams welcomes MotoGP defending champ Mir and Suzuki teammate Rins for a tour ahead of the British GP

    Silverstone, 26 August 2021: Ahead of action stations at Silverstone for the Monster Energy British Grand Prix, Team Suzuki Ecstar riders Joan Mir and Alex Rins enjoyed a different kind of motorsport experience: a tour of Williams Racing. One of the most decorated teams in the history of Formula 1, Williams Racing were founded by motorsport legend Sir Frank Williams in 1977 and have won nine constructors’ titles, seven drivers’ titles and 114 Grands Prix so far. All in all, a perfect taste of British heritage and speed ahead of Mir and Rins taking on Silverstone on two wheels, with the riders getting to see some of the most emblematic Williams cars before trying their hand at some sim racing too. 

    The tour started with a look at the FW43B, which is the 2021 Williams Racing car driven by George Russell and Nicholas Latifi. An overview of the aerodynamics concept, fuel, engine and rear impact structure gave Mir and Rins a deeper delve into what makes these machines tick (and stick), before it was next stop: Experience Centre. 

    There the riders got to know the FW40, raced in 2017 by Felipe Massa. They also got a closer look at the steering wheel and the incredible array of different functions and buttons drivers have at their disposal before a look through the different tyre compounds used throughout an F1 weekend – two things where a shared experience of speed diverges for MotoGP™ riders and F1 drivers. 

    Mir and Rins then headed for the museum to see a little more of Williams’ incredible history, back to the start in the 1970s and even the very first winner: the FW07, driven by Clay Regazzoni to the team’s first Grand Prix victory in 1979 at the one and only Silverstone Circuit. From there the focus turned back towards the engineering side with the FW14B, the car that Nigel Mansell drove to the World Championship crown in 1992. The car was a gamechanger with its active ride suspension, again making for an interesting contrast between two and four wheels. 

    Next up Mir and Rins were shown the FW16, the car driven by legendary three-time F1 World Champion Ayrton Senna in 1994, before they then got to sit in the FW16B from the same season. The FW16B was driven by Damon Hill, who would go on to claim the crown with Williams in 1996. 

    After a trip to the Heritage Workshop to see how this incredible history is maintained and serviced, it was then time for Mir and Rins to get back to what they know best: racing. In the Williams E-Sports lounge, the two riders tried their hand at sim racing in an F1 car. Taking on Williams F1 Esport driver Alvaro Carreton and Team Suzuki Ecstar’s MotoGP™ eSport rider Cristian Montenegro, the virtual venue was – where else? – Silverstone. To round out the event they then put in a few laps on their GSX-RRs on the MotoGP™21 videogame to compare two and four wheels.

    That’s a wrap on an incredible experience for the reigning MotoGP™ team Champions. Make sure to tune in as Mir and Rins take on the behemoth that is Silverstone this weekend, with lights out for MotoGP™ set for 13:00 (GMT +1) on Sunday 29th August! 

  • Piastri takes maiden pole; Jehan Daruvala P12: F2

    Piastri takes maiden pole; Jehan Daruvala P12: F2

    Silverstone, 16 July 2021: Oscar Piastri became the fourth different polesitter in as many rounds with a dominant performance at Silverstone, setting the fastest lap of the session in the first stint, before a Robert Shwartzman crash brought out a Red Flag and ended Qualifying prematurely.

    Indian racing ace Jehan Daruvala could only qualify P12 due to the Red Flag situation but is looking to do better in the races. “P12 is not my best out there today. I will keep working hard to make sure we can do better tomorrow, the Carlin team Red Bull junior said on twitter after the race.

    Championship leader Guanyu Zhou snuck into second with a late lap, but was 0.221s off Piastri’s poletime of 1:39.854. MP Motorsport’s Richard Verschoor scored his best Qualifying position with third, just over four-tenths off the leader.

    Christian Lundgaard escorted the field out onto a hot and sunny Silverstone circuit, with a track temperature of 42 degrees. Lapping at 1:40.962, Felipe Drugovich led the first round of fast runs, beating Dan Ticktum’s Free Practice topping time by more than a second.

    There was enough life left in the medium Pirellis for another flyer and Piastri was determined to make the most of it, lunging to first with 1:39.854. Meanwhile, Drugovich was bumped down to third by Ticktum, although the Carlin driver remained half a second off Piastri.

    After a stint in the pits for fresh rubber, the field returned to the track with just a second separating the top 12. Piastri couldn’t make any improvements on his quickest time, but neither could his rivals, with the Australian retaining his half a second buffer in first.

    Zhou was left thanking his lucky stars as the UNI-Virtuosi racer crossed the line just moments before a Red Flag ended the session. And it was a significant improvement too, with the Chinese racer leaping from 10th to second in the order, thanks to a purple first sector and a personal best second sector.

    The session-ending Red Flag came when Shwarztman spun and beached his PREMA in the gravel at Stowe with just two minutes to go. Although, the Russian could consolidate himself with a solid finishing position of P7.

    Like Zhou, Verschoor had also managed to beat the Red Flag and nabbed himself a top-three spot, setting 1:40.259s to drop Ticktum down to P4.

    Théo Pourchaire completed the top five for ART Grand Prix, ahead of early pacesetter Felipe Drugovich. Roy Nissany scored eighth for DAMS, as Jüri Vips and Lundgaard completed the top 10.

  • Championship lead is a big boost, but I want to win races, says Daruvala

    Championship lead is a big boost, but I want to win races, says Daruvala

    THOUGHTS FROM VIPS, DARUVALA AND ARMSTRONG

    Jehan Daruvala (left) at the FIA post-race F3 press meet on Saturday. An FIA image

    FIA Formula 3: Hello and welcome to today’s FIA Formula 3 press conference following Race 1 here at Silverstone. Joining us today we have our top three finishers from the opening race – our race winner Jüri Vips from Hitech Grand Prix, in second place Jehan Daruvala from PREMA Racing and in third place Marcus Armstrong from PREMA Racing. Jüri congratulations. A magnificent lights to flag victory out there today, highlighted by a really intense fight with Jehan at the front of the field. Could you talk us through that battle with him and some of the defensive moves?

    Jüri Vips: I think I was struggling with my rear tyres a bit more than them through the whole race so first of all it was almost impossible to break the DRS without safety cars and everything. It was tough in the corners, very tough, and I really had to defend and fight for the victory but in the end I’m really happy that I got it. I’m really happy at the progress we’re all making, myself and Hitech, to start putting these weekends together and really have a clear direction on how to close the gap to the PREMA drivers. I’m really happy.

    FIA Formula 3: The safety car towards the end of the race cooled the battle down a little bit but it set things up for a final sprint to the flag. How did you deal with that? I guess it was quite an intense pressure towards the end?

    Jüri: Yeah. I think I did a better job with warming up the tyres and I think the safety car also kind of saved me because I got to cool down my rear tyres which were much hotter than the PREMA drivers behind me. I think that helped me to win and the tyres were a bit more ready, especially the front tyres at the safety car restart. I managed to pull a little gap in the last few laps and I don’t think Jehan got to attack after the safety car so that was good.

    FIA Formula 3: Congratulations. Jehan moving on to you now. Another podium finish and a hard fought race. Could we get your view of the fight with Jüri out there?

    Jehan Daruvala: It was a good battle. All race long I was close but just not close enough when I was catching him right at the end of the straight with the DRS. The virtual safety car was disappointing because that was the closest I was all race when coming out of Maggotts and Becketts. I thought that would be my best opportunity to overtake him but in the end, after the virtual safety car, I could stay within his DRS but I think he was pretty clever when he was in Maggotts and Becketts making sure he was always fast on the exit. Then we’d come close in the middle but I didn’t really have enough downforce on the last part of the circuit. He drove well. He didn’t really make any mistakes apart from one on the opening lap where he went off in Maggotts Becketts but he had a safe gap at that point. To be honest the car was great, I could follow him a bit better than I thought in all the corners except the most crucial corner.

    FIA Formula 3: Another podium though, and that puts you into the lead of the Drivers’ Championship now. How much of a boost has this recent run of podiums and high finishes been for you?

    Jehan: It is a boost, but like I said yesterday my main focus was to win the race. I wasn’t thinking at any time that I wanted to finish second even though I knew Robert was sixth at one point. Obviously, I’m fighting Jüri and Marcus for the championship as well so my goal was to try and take the lead. I tried a couple of times but his defence was quite strong.

    FIA Formula 3: Well done today. Marcus moving on to you now. You recovered after dropping off the front row at the start to get into that fight for the lead at one point, how much did that safety car stump your charge? You were so close but did it pull you back a little bit?

    Marcus Armstrong: Yeah. As a whole it’s a bit of a disappointing race. The start was strange. I sort of had a shocking launch and everyone just went past me. To be honest I wasn’t too worried at the time because I knew that we had the pace. Obviously quali was quite strong so it wasn’t the end of the world. Once I got past [Christian] Lundgaard quite early in the race it was clear that the car was good and the pace was strong. Then I think there was a VSC straight after that just as I was starting to get on the back of these guys. I think the two, the virtual safety car and the safety car, was not ideal for me just because it kept, as you say, stunting the momentum that I had. In saying that it is difficult to overtake once you arrive to the front two. As Jehan said, Jüri’s not making many mistakes and obviously Jehan’s not making many mistakes, so it was never going to be an easy fight to get past.

    FIA Formula 3: We spoke yesterday about it possibly being a race of management out there, how did that match up with your expectations?

    Marcus: It wasn’t mental. It’s pretty cold outside so it wasn’t dramatic. In the end I don’t think I’d do anything differently. It was quite a predictable race which is not what I expected yesterday.

    FIA Formula 3: Well done on your result. Jüri back to you now. You received high praise from both of your fellow drivers here, how much are you enjoying this fight against PREMA? It’s a really intense battle that we’re seeing at the front of the championship right now.

    Jüri: The first few races not so much because the battle for the championship didn’t look so good then, but I’m really happy with how things went at the Red Bull Ring. We put a very strong weekend together and I know we still have Race 2 to go but this is also looking like a very strong weekend, or maybe even better because we got pole position as well. There’s still little things to improve, the pace wasn’t as good as I wanted, but I need to check the data and improve for Race 2 because tomorrow will also be very crucial to make up as many positions as possible and gain as many points on these two as possible to close the gap in the championship. That’s my aim.

  • Jehan Daruvala clocks 10th fastest time in Friday morning practice: F3

    Silverstone, 12 July 2019: Indian racing sensation Jehan Daruvala of Prema Racing, who is running second in the F3 Championship table, finished 10th on the timesheets in Friday practice even as Max Fewtrell ensured the British race weekend got underway with a countryman on top, lapping quickest around the freshly laid Silverstone circuit to top the times in this morning’s FIA Formula 3 Free Practice.
    The ART Grand Prix man ran ahead of Trident’s Devlin DeFrancesco and teammate David Beckmann, who both secured their highest practice positions of the campaign to date.
    It was the third ART machine which got the session underway, as Christian Lundgaard set the early pace in cool 17-degree temperatures. Fellow Englishman Jake Hughes and Leonardo Pulcini then exchanged places at the top, as the grid warmed up their tyres.
    There was plenty of traffic on track in the opening minutes as the cars got a taste of the new tarmac and PREMA soon took control of the session with Championship leaders Robert Shwartzman and Jehan Daruvala leading the times.
    That was as good as it got for the PREMA duo who quickly dropped down the order. Pulcini and Beckmann began to battle it out in first, but Fewtrell then emerged as the frontrunner in front of his home crowd.
    Ye Yifei briefly claimed first ahead of the ART man, but the latter bounced back by breaking the 1m 46s barrier with just two minutes on the clock. DeFrancesco was able to set a time good enough for second, while Beckmann couldn’t improve on his teammate’s time and nestled in at third ahead of Yifei and Lirim Zendeli. Yuki Tsunoda, Lundgaard, Raoul Hyman, Pulcini and Daruvala completed the top ten.
    Fewtrell will look to keep up his early weekend pace when the cars return to the track for Qualifying at 4.50pm (local time).
    FIA Formula 3 – Silverstone Free Practice classification
    DRIVER
    TEAM
    LAPTIME
    LAPS
    1
    Max Fewtrell
    ART Grand Prix
    1:45.264
    18
    2
    Devlin DeFrancesco
    Trident
    1:45.487
    18
    3
    David Beckmann
    ART Grand Prix
    1:45.583
    19
    4
    Ye Yifei
    Hitech Grand Prix
    1:45.606
    20
    5
    Lirim Zendeli
    Sauber Junior Team by Charouz
    1:45.672
    19
    6
    Yuki Tsunoda
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:45.779
    20
    7
    Christian Lundgaard
    ART Grand Prix
    1:45.998
    19
    8
    Raoul Hyman
    Sauber Junior Team by Charouz
    1:46.185
    19
    9
    Leonardo Pulcini
    Hitech Grand Prix
    1:46.222
    15
    10
    Jehan Daruvala
    PREMA Racing
    1:46.264
    15
    11
    Fabio Scherer
    Sauber Junior Team by Charouz
    1:46.270
    20
    12
    Robert Shwartzman
    PREMA Racing
    1:46.396
    16
    13
    Felipe Drugovich
    Carlin Buzz Racing
    1:46.428
    17
    14
    Juri Vips
    Hitech Grand Prix
    1:46.553
    17
    15
    Niko Kari
    Trident
    1:46.578
    16
    16
    Pedro Piquet
    Trident
    1:46.681
    16
    17
    Sebastian Fernandez
    Campos Racing
    1:46.743
    18
    18
    Logan Sargeant
    Carlin Buzz Racing
    1:46.767
    17
    19
    Andreas Estner
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:46.843
    21
    20
    Marcus Armstrong
    PREMA Racing
    1:46.850
    14
    21
    Alex Peroni
    Campos Racing
    1:47.096
    17
    22
    Liam Lawson
    MP Motorsport
    1:47.201
    17
    23
    Simo Laaksonen
    MP Motorsport
    1:47.220
    16
    24
    Richard Verschoor
    MP Motorsport
    1:47.235
    16
    25
    Teppei Natori
    Carlin Buzz Racing
    1:47.477
    18
    26
    Jake Hughes
    HWA RACELAB
    1:47.637
    18
    27
    Federico Malvestiti
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:47.876
    21
    28
    Keyvan Andres
    HWA RACELAB
    1:48.315
    19
    29
    Bent Viscaal
    HWA RACELAB
    1:48.946
    19
    30
    Alessio Deledda
    Campos Racing
    1:49.124
    20
  • Ace Indian driver Jehan Daruvala raring to go: F3

    Ace Indian driver Jehan Daruvala raring to go: F3

    All of the vital information ahead of F3’s fourth round of 2019

    File photo of Jehan Daruvala, Prema Racing. FIA Formula 3 Championship, at the Austria round in June. Credit: Team Daruvala

    Silverstone, 11 July 2019: Ace Indian driver Jehan Daruvala, touted as the next best chance of an Indian in F1, will begin the Round 4 after his triple podium in a positive manner. Daruvala (82) is just eight points behind his Prema Racing teammate Marcus Armstrong (90) in the championship standings and is raring to go.

    Daruvala came second in the Sprint race and his strong performance in both races of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, the Round 3, saw him close the gap to 8 points, remaining second in the FIA F3 Championship behind Schwartzman from Russia. This weekend at the famed Silverstone circuit will be a support event to the iconic British Grand Prix, which will remain in the calendar for another six years and agreement paved the way for meaningful financial dealings for the race hosts.

    Another Indian Arjun Maini will also be seen in action at the Silverstone F1 weekend as he will race in the F2 along with compatriot Mahaveer Raghunathan, who returns after being kept out for one event.

    The Stakes       
    Two weeks after the amazing action in Austria’s mountains, the F3 paddock rolls into the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire countryside for Round 4 of the FIA Formula 3 Championship at Silverstone.
    PREMA Racing’s Marcus Armstrong had the early pace at the Red Bull Ring, going fastest in practice and then nabbing pole position in qualifying, but it was Hitech Grand Prix’s Jüri Vips who took the win in Race 1 after a measured drive to stand on the top step of the podium for the first time this season. Armstrong and Championship leader Robert Shwartzman looked on course to return PREMA to winning ways in Race 2, only for the teammates to break the golden rule of racing and collide on the final lap. The New Zealander suffered a puncture and ended up P19, while the Russian was relegated to third after a time penalty meaning Jake Hughes landed his and HWA RACELAB’s first F3 win.
    Shwartzman (90 points) still leads the way in the Drivers’ Championship, though his lead has been cut to just eight points by teammate Jehan Daruvala (82) in second place. Vips (63) leaps up to third after bagging 31 points in Austria, more than any other driver. PREMA (226) are still sitting pretty at the top of Teams’ Championship, 150 points in front of second-placed ART Grand Prix (76). Hitech (71) are just five points behind in third.
    Silverstone Circuit is the venue for the fourth round of the championship. Famed for its high speeds, fast corners and long straights, the drivers will look to fly around the former airfield on Pirelli’s hard compound tyre. With 30 cars ducking and diving around the track, they’ll have to remain grounded if they are to come out on top during another incredible weekend of racing.
    Warm Up // Jüri Vips – Hitech Grand Prix
    “Silverstone is one of my favourite circuits on the calendar. I really love the fast sections of corners and everything is combined so it’s very fast but very technical at the same time. That fits me just perfectly. It’s one of the rounds that I look forward to the most.
    “Every corner is a challenge, some more than others, but it probably has the most challenging section of corners on the calendar. Out of the first four corners, Maggotts and Becketts are some of the hardest of the season. You have to drive perfectly. It’s the easiest place to make a big time difference in that sense, which I like a lot.
    “Silverstone is definitely a driver’s track. Last year, overtaking was very difficult but I think this year it will be easier because after Maggotts/Becketts it’s not that difficult to follow a car and we have a DRS zone there.
    “If you get hot temperatures and your car has oversteer and slides a lot you can get quite tired, not physically but mentally, because you’re fighting the car quite a lot. It’s not that your muscles get overloaded, it’s just that you have to think about what the car is going to do a lot more so it’s harder.
    “Tyre degradation is probably going to be quite high, especially on the front tyres, so we’ll have to set up the car for that and take care of that during the race. It’s an interesting new set of skills that we have to learn in F3.
    “I can’t wait, I’m really looking forward to it. I’m going to get pole position and win both races, or at least that’s what I’m planning for!”
    Mario Isola, Pirelli Head of F1 and Car Racing
    “Silverstone is known as the ‘home of British motorsport’ so it’s a very significant race for many teams and drivers in the F3 championship. The biggest question mark will be the new asphalt, which nobody has had a chance to drive on yet, while the weather in England at this time of year is also often variable. The 30 Formula 3 drivers will all be fighting on the hard tyre and will need to manage them to the end on this demanding circuit.”
    Season Stats
    8 The gap between Robert Shwartzman and PREMA Racing teammate Jehan Daruvala at the top of the Drivers’ Championship.
    31 The number of points Jüri Vips took from Round 3, the most of any driver.
    7 The number of different drivers who have led races so far this season.
    235 The total race distance in kilometres a driver will cover at Silverstone in Round 4.
    Noteworthy
    Hitech Grand Prix’s Jüri Vips became the first non-PREMA Racing driver to win a race this season when he was victorious in Race 1 in Austria
    Vips, Lirim Zendeli and Marcus Armstrong all led an FIA Formula 3 race for the first time at the Red Bull Ring
    Six drivers from five different teams have earned a bonus point for setting the fastest lap so far; PREMA’s Armstrong and Jehan Daruvala, Vips of Hitech, Jenzer Motorsport’s Yuki Tsunoda, Jake Hughes of HWA RACELAB and ART Grand Prix’s Christian Lundgaard
    Just eight points separate Robert Shwartzman and Daruvala at the top of the Driver’s Championship
    19-year-old Italian racer Federico Malvestiti will make his F3 debut when he drives Jenzer Motorsport’s number 15 car at Silverstone
    Nine different drivers have stood on the podium in the opening three rounds
    Seven different drivers scored points in both races of Round 3 – Shwartzman and Daruvala of PREMA, Vips and Leonardo Pulcini of Hitech Grand Prix, ART Grand Prix’s Max Fewtrell, Jake Hughes of HWA RACELAB and Zendeli of Sauber Junior Team by Charouz
    Data (GMT+1)
    Friday
    Free Practice: 08.35 – 09.20
    Qualifying: 16.50 – 17.20
    Press conference: 18.30
    Saturday
    Race 1: 09.25 (20 laps)
    Press conference: 10.25
    Sunday
    Race 2: 1.05pm Indian Standard Time (20 laps)
    Local time: 08.35 am

    Following are the Indian Times

    QUALIFYINGFRI 12 JUL 2019, 21:20 (GMT+5.5)

    RACE 1SAT 13 JUL 2019, 13:55 (GMT+5.5)

    RACE 2SUN 14 JUL 2019, 13:05 (GMT+5.5)