McLaren’s woeful pre-season continued on the final day of the Barcelona test as Fernando Alonso’s MCL32 twice ground to a halt at the Circuit de Catalunya. The former world champion’s team and engine suppliers Honda have been plagued by problems which showed no signs of improving, with the first race of the season in Australia just over two weeks away.
Category: Ferrari
MOTORSPORT: Felipe Massa’s on song for Williams in testing
FELIPE Massa made it two encouraging days in a row for Williams in the final Formula 1 pre-season test in Barcelona. The Brazilian clocked the quickest lap on Tuesday and the Grove-based team were further boosted as he was second fastest yesterday morning, when he was only edged out by Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari could be favourites for new F1 season
Hamilton’s Mercedes team boasted greater mileage than any of their rivals and posted the fastest time at last week’s first winter test in Barcelona. But Ferrari, who failed to record a single victory last year, were evenly matched with the sport’s all-conquering team.
F1 ACCESS03 Mar 2017 Food for thought – Eric Boullier on McLaren’s start to 2017
With Honda’s 2017 power unit featuring fundamental changes over its predecessor, it was perhaps inevitable that McLaren would experience a few teething problems with their MCL32 car at this week’s first pre-season test in Spain. We caught up with racing director Eric Boullier for an exclusive chat about what went wrong, what went right, and where they go from here Q: Eric, keeping expectations in check, the McLaren Technology Group’s Executive Director Zak Brown previously indicated that wins are pretty much out of the question this season.
McLaren suffer further reliability problems as frustration grows in Barcelona
McLaren’s troubled pre-season campaign showed little sign of abating in Barcelona as further reliability issues plagued their second day of testing. While Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas pounded around the Circuit de Catalunya as Mercedes showed off the astonishing reliability they hope will fire them to yet further glory, McLaren were restricted to 40 laps.
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes set blistering pace during testing in Barcelona
Lewis Hamilton started the new Formula One season where he left off as Mercedes set a blistering pace on the opening day of testing in Barcelona on Monday. Hamilton – winner of the final four grands prix of last year, but who finished runner-up to the now retired Nico Rosberg – had to wait until after lunch to get his first real taste of the car which he hopes will fire him to a fourth world championship.
Mercedes shows no let up to start Formula One preseason
Mercedes dominated the first day of Formula One preseason testing on Monday, sending a message that the overhaul of regulations may not derail the three-time defending champion. Mercedes shows no let up to start Formula One preseason Mercedes dominated the first day of Formula One preseason testing on Monday, sending a message that the overhaul of regulations may not derail the three-time defending champion.
Faster cars set for track in Barcelona ahead of new season
… the grid with 20 cars. Bernie Ecclestone is gone after nearly four decades as F1’s boss. In charge now is U.S. sports and entertainment firm Liberty Media, which took over to try to win back dissatisfied fans and make the series thrilling again. The …
Pascal Wehrlein will miss the first test in Barcelona with a back injury
German driver Pascal Wehrlein has been ruled out of the first Formula One test of the season following a back injury he sustained after a huge crash in Miami. Wehrlein spectacularly rolled his car following a collision with Felipe Massa at the end-of-season Race of Champions exhibition event in January.
2017 F1: Vandoorne to ‘fight and work with’ Alonso
F1 rookie Stoffel Vandoorne agrees with his McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso that their head-to-head fight will not be too intense in 2017. But Alonso said of his new Belgian teammate: “He is not a driver to fight for the title against me now, because our goal is something else.
2017 F1: Vandoorne to ‘fight and work with’ Alonso
F1 rookie Stoffel Vandoorne agrees with his McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso that their head-to-head fight will not be too intense in 2017. But Alonso said of his new Belgian teammate: “He is not a driver to fight for the title against me now, because our goal is something else.
Bottas replaces Rosberg at Mercedes, Massa back at Williams
With Bottas moving on, F1 team Williams said Monday that Felipe Massa will come out of retirement to race for a fourth consecutive season. Rosberg retired only five days after beating Hamilton to his first world title in November.