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Tag: Spanish GP
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Spanish GP: Leclerc takes pole despite spin; Verstappen faces issues
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took pole in F1 Spanish GP despite a spin with teammate Carlos Sainz third behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Q1:
The first part in F1 Spanish GP qualifying saw an unsafe release at the start between McLaren’s Lando Norris and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll which will be investigated after the session. On track, it was Ferrari 1-2 with Charles Leclerc leading Carlos Sainz.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was third but teammate Sergio Perez was eighth after an off moment in the gravel. The knockout zone saw a big casualty in Alpine’s Fernando Alonso (1m21.043s) who was only 17th behind Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel (1m20.954s).
The German was not happy to miss out on a Q2 spot, while replays showed a possible impeding between Norris and Alonso which was cleared by the stewards. The other Aston Martin of Stroll slotted in 18th after a 1m21.418s lap.
The final row on the grid saw Williams pair of Alexander Albon (1m21.645s) and Nicholas Latifi (1m21.915s) in 19th and 20th.
Q2:
The second part in F1 Spanish GP went smoothly mostly with no incidents as a late lap from Red Bull’s Verstappen put him on top from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Mercedes’ George Russell with both the Haas drivers in the Top 10.
McLaren’s Norris (1m20.471s) initially finished inside the Top 10 but his lap time was deleted due to track limits which helped Mick Schumacher to make it inside. The Brit eventually finished 11th with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (1m20.638s) in 12th.
The two AlphaTauri pair followed with Yuki Tsunoda (1m20.639s) ahead of Pierre Gasly (1m20.861s) in 13th and 14th, while Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu (1m21.094s) was 15th.
Q3:
The third part in F1 Spanish GP saw a bit of shock start for Ferrari’s Leclerc who had a spin at Turn 14 which ruined his first flying lap as he dived into the pitlane. Red Bull’s Verstappen took provisional pole with a 1m19.073s lap.
Ferrari’s Sainz slotted in second with Red Bull’s Perez in third. The game changed in the second run where Leclerc smashed the standings with a 1m18.750s lap to take pole in F1 Spanish GP with Verstappen ending up second due to power issues (which was later clarified to be a DRS issue).
He couldn’t improve his lap time but remained second, with Sainz (1m19.166s) in third from Mercedes’ Russell (1m19.393s) as he demoted Red Bull’s Perez (1m19.420s) to fifth and Mercedes’ Hamilton (1m19.512s) to sixth.
Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas (1m19.608s) was seventh where he beat the Haas pair with Kevin Magnussen (1m19.682s) in eighth and Schumacher (1m20.386s) 10th behind McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo (1m20.297s).
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Spanish GP: Leclerc remains on top in FP2 from Mercedes duo
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc stayed on top in FP2 of F1 Spanish GP with Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton doing a better job in second and third.
Much like how FP1 was, the FP2 session in F1 Spanish GP was sedate as well with Ferrari’s Leclerc leading the standings after setting a 1m19.670s lap. He led the two Mercedes duo in a surprise finish with Russell (1m19.787s) second and Hamilton (1m19.874s) third.
Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz (1m19.990s) slotted in fourth with the first of Red Bull of Max Verstappen (1m20.006s) in fifth whereas his teammate Sergio Perez (1m20.632s) was seventh behind Alpine’s Fernando Alonso (1m20.203s).
The Mexican had his first chance this weekend after Juri Vips got his chance in FP1. After a difficult first part Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel (1m20.703s) was eighth from Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (1m20.745s) and Haas’ Mick Schumacher (1m20.757s) in the Top 10.
The German’s teammate Kevin Magnussen was 12th behind AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly with his teammate Yuki Tsunoda in 14th behind Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll. McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo slotted in 15th with Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas in 16th.
The Finn though couldn’t see-through the season due to engine issue as he stopped on track causing a Virtual Safety Car. He was ahead of his teammate Guanyu Zhou as he led Williams pair of Alexander Albon and Nicholas Latifi.
The Thai racer is under investigation for impeding Sainz earlier in the session. The standings was rounded out by McLaren’s Lando Norris whose off moment damaged his floor and for that he couldn’t do more than three laps in the session.
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Johann Zarco joins Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for 2019 and 2020 MotoGP™ seasons
Making moves…..Johann Zarco. Photo: Twitter Jerez, 4 May 2018: Johann Zarco, currently with Monster Yamaha Tech 3, has been announced as Pol Espargaro’s teammate at Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for 2019 and 2020, confirming the strong rumors that had surrounded the Frenchman’s ride for 2019 and beyond.
Zarco, who was crowned Rookie of the Year in 2017, has been a consistent frontrunner since his graduation to the premier class after his two Moto2™ World Championships.
Johann Zarco. Photo: Twitter “There has always been a good contact with Johann and since the Red Bull Rookies Cup,” says Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director. “We supported the Moto2 project through WP and our Moto3 Team Manager Aki Ajo is a good friend of him. We also have a nice connection with his manager Laurent Fellon. It was a group effort to get this done.
“We had to trust in our capability to build a winning bike and Johann would not come over if he did not see and feel that trust. We feel very responsible now to get that package strong enough so that he can continue on the level where he is. It is our big target.
“It is clear that we want to take another step in MotoGP. The first two years were about building up the project and to get everything running. You always want to get the best possible riders on board and it’s obvious with Johann beating the factory guys on satellite machinery and consistently qualifying on the front row means he is a strong fighter with a strong sprit. I’m convinced we can reach the next level with a rider like Johann with us.”
Zarco said on his twitter account: “My carreer will continue where everything begins, from RedBull Rookies Cup to the conquest of the MotoGP title. You understand it. I join @KTM Racing for the next two years. I’m very happy to ride this KTM, which we have the same ambitions: Ready to race! @Michelin Sport.”
#VR46WorldLap: a milestone for Rossi in Jerez
Rossi…another milestone. Photo: Movistar Yahama MotoGP In his 369th Grand Prix, Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) will be completing his 8730th overall lap on the 15th of the Spanish GP, here this weekend. What is so special about that, more than the incredible longevity? Upon completing Lap 15, the ‘Doctor’ will be reaching a remarkable milestone – racing the equivalent distance of a lap of the World, 40,075kms.
What kind of lap of the World? The circumference of the Earth; and it has taken Rossi 23 seasons to race it, in which he’s taken 115 wins, 228 podiums and nine World Championships across four categories. A World of success – quite literally!
Source: Motogp.com
