Toro Rosso faz o lançamento do STR10.

Neste domingo (1º) de fevereiro, as equipes da Fórmula 1 irão começar os testes coletivos para a temporada 2015, o palco será o tradicional circuito de Jerez de la Frontera, na Espanha. A escuderia Toro Rosso apresentou neste sábado (31), o “STR10”, o novo carro do time de Faenza apresenta novidades no bico, a peça é mais larga e longa que o modelo anterior, porém, tem uma forma achatada.

As cores da máquina continuam sendo o azul e vermelho, com o touro vermelho do patrocinador Red Bull estampado na lateral. Outra novidade foi a nova dupla de pilotos, os mais jovens da história da categoria, formada pelo holandês Max Verstappen, de 17 anos, sensação da temporada 2014 da F3 Euro Series e pelo espanhol Carlos Sainz Jr, de 20 anos.

O chefe da equipe Franz Tost, garantiu total confiança em seus novos pupilos. Segundo ele: “A temporada de 2015 é um novo desafio para todos nós. Nós trabalhamos muito na construção do “STR10” e estamos convencidos de que teremos um ano de sucesso. Nosso objetivo é terminar no quinto lugar do Mundial de Construtores e estamos prontos para fazer o melhor para conseguir. Nosso fornecedor de motores, a Renault, também trabalhou bastante para apresentar novas modificações, e eu estou certo que nosso trabalho nos dará um conjunto que vai certamente ser muito competitivo”.

- Todos por todos, nós temos uma equipe mais forte, um “STR10” competitivo e pilotos rápidos. É uma ótima combinação, outro ponto que me deixa contente é que temos pilotos qualificados, o que torna esta temporada ainda mais animada. Os dois mostraram performances fantásticas ao longo das carreiras deles, ganhando corridas e campeonatos, e é por causa das habilidades deles que chegaram à STR. Eu acredito, realmente, que eles estão preparados para este desafio, igual ao resto do time. Estamos prontos” - concluiu.

A temporada 2015 da Fórmula 1 começa com o Grande Prêmio da Austrália, no dia 15 de março, em Melbourne. A categoria realizará três sessões de testes coletivos antes da abertura do campeonato, uma em Jerez e duas em Barcelona.

Fotos: Scuderia Toro Rosso - divulgação

F3 Euro Series: A pair of pole positions for Tom Blomqvist.

Tom Blomqvist (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) got himself into a good position for the battle for second place in the final drivers’ standings. With two positions for season races 32 and 33 of the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship, he was fastest in second qualifying of the weekend. His fiercest rival Max Verstappen (Van Amersfoort Racing), who has already signed a Fórmula 1 contract for next season, has to make do with ninth and eighth place on the grid. On the starting grid for the 32nd race of the season, Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin), Lucas Auer (Mücke Motorsport) and Jordan King (Carlin) will follow behind Blomqvist. For the final race of the season at the 4.574 kilometres long Hockemnheimring Baden-Württemberg, Auer, Felix Rosenqvist (Mücke Motorsport) and Giovinazzi will follow behind the 20-year-old Brit. Next to Blomqvist and Verstappen, Auer also still has chances to claim runner-up spot in the championship. With Esteban Ocon (Prema Powerteam), the FIA Fórmula 3 European Champion has already been known for a week.

Starting grid race 2

Tom Blomqvist (1:31s817), who came to Hockenheim three points down on Max Verstappen, was already on top at the halfway point, but initially had to give up that position again. He dropped back to sixth place, but then started his final attack. First of all, the young Brit improved to third place and then moved up into the lead again. On his final lap, he improved once more and was delighted with his clear pole position. Antonio Giovinazzi (1:32s152) ensured that there are two drivers of the Jagonya Ayam with Carlin team on the front row of the grid for the 32nd race. Lucas Auer (1:32s245), Jordan King (1:32s403), Felix Rosenqvist (1:32s414) and the already-crowned FIA Fórmula 3 European Champion Esteban Ocon (1:32s422) were classified in third to sixth place.

Starting grid race 3

In the classification of the second-fastest laps, Tom Blomqvist (1:31s987) was unbeatable as well. Lucas Auer (1:32s286) claimed second place from Rosenqvist (1:32s429), Giovinazzi (1:32s545), King (1:32s669) and Ocon (1:32s710).

Tom Blomqvist (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin): “Qualifying was good. Prior to the red flags that came out after Nick Cassidy had crashed, it didn’t look too good, but at that time, I had only done one lap. However, I knew that I had the speed. My car was really good and I managed to do two very good laps towards the end of the session. Of course, I am happy with that. Now, I want to enjoy the final three races of the season and I want to have fun. I like Hockenheim and in the past, I was usually quick here”.

Photo: FIA F3 Euro Series

F3 Euro Series: Max Verstappen claims pole position at Hockenheim.

Max Verstappen set the fastest time in first qualifying and thus claimed pole position for the 31st season race of the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship. The 17-year-old is one of the three candidates who are battling for second place in the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship. On his best lap of the 4.575 kilometres long Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, he was 0s018 seconds faster than Lucas Auer (Motorsport, 1:32s020). Tom Blomqvist (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin, 1:32s076), who also still has chances of claiming second place in the drivers’ standings, follows in third place, 0s074 seconds down on pace-setter Verstappen.

Halfway through first qualifying, the battle for pole position became intense: Blomqvist had just claimed the top position from Verstappen and Auer was biding his time in third place. Soon after that, the 20-year-old Austrian moved up into the lead, but Blomqvist and Verstappen also continued to run fast. Six minutes later, the Dutchman succeeded in toppling Auer from the leading position while Blomqvist stayed in third place. This order remained unchanged until the end of qualifying, so that Verstappen secured himself pole position for the first race of the final weekend of the 2014 FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship.

Italian Antonio Giovinazzi and Jordan King from Great Britain in fourth and fifth place also succeeded in keeping the already-crowned FIA Fórmula 3 European Champion, Frenchman Esteban Ocon at bay. Swede Felix Rosenqvist (Mücke Motorsport, 1:32s485) ended up seventh from Indonesian Sean Gelael (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin, 1:32s535), Felix Serralles from Puerto Rico and US-American Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing, 1:32s760) rounded out the top ten.

Max Verstappen (Van Amersfoort Racing): “Qualifying went well. It was pretty close between the three of us in front, but my lap time wasn’t so bad and, of course, I am delighted with my pole position. The track is very demanding for the tyres, so you don’t have many laps to set a fast time. For me, it worked out quite well today”.

Photo: FIA F3 Euro Series

F3 Euro Series: Verstappen wins, Ocon is the 2014 FIA Fórmula 3 European Champion.

Max Verstappen (Van Amersfoort Racing) claimed his ninth victory in the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship in an action-packed 30th race of the season. At the 4.909 kilometres long Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, the 17-year-old Dutchman won from Italian Antonio Fuoco (Prema Powerteam) and Esteban Ocon (Prema Powerteam). For 18-year-old Frenchman Ocon, who is backed by the Lotus Fórmula 1 team, third place was enough to win an early title in the 2014 FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship. As a reward, he will do a test with a Ferrari Fórmula 1 car at the Fiorano circuit on October 29.

Antonio Fuoco already took the lead from Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon before the first corner. With a very good start, he thus managed to move up from third on the grid to first place. Later on the opening lap, Edward Jones (Carlin) ploughed through the gravel trap and hit Antonio Giovinazzi’s (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) car as he swerved back onto the track. The Italian spun and retired and so did Jones. The race director sent the safety car out after the incident.

Only a few laps later, an off-track excursion by Sandro Zeller (Jo Zeller Racing) prompted the second safety car intervention. At the restart on lap nine, Verstappen overtook race leader Fuoco and claimed back first place. On lap eleven, the safety car was deployed again after Felix Rosenqvist (Mücke Motorsport) had collided with Jordan King (Carlin) and couldn’t avoid an impact into the barriers.

Max Verstappen also held on to his first place after the third restart of the race. He then safely brought this position home after the remaining laps and celebrated his first win of the weekend. Antonio Fuoco took the flag in second place and his many fans hailed him as the best-placed Italian in the race. Esteban Ocon was buoyant as well as his third place was enough to wrap up the 2014 FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship title early. Nicholas Latifi (Prema Powerteam) finished fourth in the final race of the Imola round, followed by Tom Blomqvist (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) and William Buller (Signature). Thus, Buller scored not only his first points of the season, but also the first points for the Signature team that contested its first race weekend of the 2014 season at Imola. Jake Dennis (Carlin), Lucas Auer (Mücke Motorsport), Felix Serralles (Team West-Tec F3) and Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing) rounded out the top ten.

Max Verstappen (Van Amersfoort Racing): “I lost a position after the start, but I knew that my car was fast and that the race was long. Therefore, I kept cool and I waited for an opportunity. My car was already fast on the two days of testing and that was the case today as well”.

Antonio Fuoco (Prema Powerteam): “I am happy with second place and I am not disappointed for having missed out on victory. It was clear to me that Max was quicker and that I wouldn’t have had a chance against him. I wasn’t happy with my first two races, but now, I am glad by my podium finish in my home round. I would like to dedicate this second place to my friend Jules Bianchi”.

Esteban Ocon (Prema Powerteam): “I am really happy that I am the new FIA Formula 3 European Champion. It is unbelievable, I simply don’t know what to say. I will celebrate the title in style with my team tonight. My race wasn’t too bad. I didn’t want to take too many risks in the first corner and I slotted into third place. Later on, I simply followed my team-mate Antonio, who was in second place. I knew that third place would be enough for me, too”.

Photos: FIA F3 Euro Series

F3 Euro Series: Max Verstappen unbeatable in second qualifying.

After Max Verstappen (Van Amersfoort Racing) didn’t make it to the finish in the 28th season race of the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship at the 4.909 kilometres long Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, he showed his class in the second qualifying a few hours later. The 17-year-old came out on top both in the ranking of the fastest and of the second-fastest laps. Tom Blomqvist (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin), Esteban Ocon (Prema Powerteam) and Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) were in second to fourth place in the classification of the fastest lap times. In the result list of the second-fastest laps, Verstappen, who completed his first free practice in Fórmula 1 last week, was followed by Ocon, Antonio Fuoco (Prema Powerteam) and Blomqvist.

Starting grid race 2

After the first few minutes of the second qualifying, Swede Felix Rosenqvist (Mücke Motorsport, 1:37s971) was still in front, but the stalwart didn’t manage to hold on to his position for a long time. Instead, it was Max Verstappen (1:36s816) who toppled him, only to be outpaced by Esteban Ocon (1:37s155) himself. The 18-year-old Frenchman didn’t stay in first place for a long time either as Verstappen improved his lap time once more. Soon after that, Tom Blomqvist (1:37s125) also was faster than the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship points’ leader and moved up into second place behind Verstappen, the youngest-ever Fórmula 1 driver.

With approximately 6:30 minutes remaining, Edward Jones (Carlin, 1:37s886) lost control of his car and crashed into the tyre stacks. The driver from the United Arab Emirates was transferred to the medical centre for a check-up, but he was found to have escaped unscathed. As darkness was setting in, qualifying didn’t resume. Thus, Verstappen remained on top from Blomqvist, Ocon, Giovinazzi (1:37s196), Fuoco (1:37s221) and returnee William Buller (Signature, 1:37s312). As Verstappen still has to serve a ten-place grid penalty following an engine change from the previous meeting at the Nürburgring, he will start from eleventh place on the grid while Tom Blomqvist will be on pole position.

Starting grid race 3

Max Verstappen (1:37s106) also set the best second-fastest lap time. Esteban Ocon (1:37s303), Antonio Fuoco (1:37s326), Tom Blomqvist (1:37s456), Willam Buller (1:37s497) and Nicholas Latifi (Prema Powerteam, 1:37s540) rounded out the top six.

Max Verstappen (Van Amersfoort Racing): “I am really happy that I was fastest again in second qualifying. The two test days on Tuesday and Wednesday prior to the race weekend really went well for us, but in first qualifying, things weren’t really going as we had planned. In the first race this morning, we had a good speed again and so we did in second qualifying. I really like the Imola circuit. Driving skills mean a lot here. Finding the limit is difficult here, which is a great challenge for us as the drivers”.

Photos: FIA F3 Euro Series

F3 Euro Series: Max Verstappen on top after second day of testing at Imola.

Although Max Verstappen (Van Amersfoort Racing, 1:36s553) has already signed his Fórmula 1 contract and also has taken part in his first free practice session in the category, he keeps on pushing in the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship. On the second day of the official mid-season-test at the 4.909 kilometres long circuit of Imola, he came out on top. Jake Dennis (Carlin, 1:36s836) followed behind the Dutchman while Sean Gelael (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin, 1:37s049) was classified third at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari ahead of his team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin, 1:37s055).

With his fourth place, Giovinazzi was the fastest of the three Italian drivers competing in this year’s FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship. “We have tested and sorted out many things. I am quite happy with the progress we have made on these two days and I am now looking forward to the race weekend,” he commented afterwards. Giovinazzi ranked just ahead of Antonio Fuoco (Prema Powerteam, 1:37s071), the second Italian in the ranking. Gustavo Menezes (Van Amersfoort Racing, 1:37s108) followed in sixth place and also drew a positive verdict: “It was important and also necessary to have these two days of testing after the long summer break. Now, we are all back in the right rhythm for this weekend, when we are racing for points. My team-mates and I had a good speed, our car was running well and we are ready for the three races at this circuit”.

Nick Cassidy (ThreeBond with T-Sport, 1:37s116), Jordan King (Carlin, 1:37s144), Lucas Auer (Mücke Motorsport, 1:37s162) and Felix Rosenqvist (Mücke Motorsport, 1:37s273) rounded out the top ten.“This track really is great fun to drive,” Rosenqvist said. “But on a really fast lap, you are also on the verge of crashing all the time. Getting close to the limit, but not over it is a huge challenge”. The Swede was happy with his test day: “I think that we made the car faster”.

Felix Serralles (Team West-Tec F3, 1:37s341) was classified eleventh. “I reckon that we have the speed to finish on the podium,” the young driver from Puerto Rico said. “During the season so far, my car has never been this good. In the summer break and with this test, we have made a step forward and we are working into the right direction”. Esteban Ocon (Prema Powerteam, 1:37s342) had to make do with twelfth place, but the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship points’ leader remained totally unfazed: “We just concentrated on completing our test programme and we didn’t go for any fast lap times. We will leave that for the weekend, when we are competing for points and positions again,” the 18-year-old Lotus Fórmula 1 junior driver said calmly.

Photos: FIA F3 Euro Series

Max Verstappen is making his Fórmula 1 debut.

A few weeks ago, Max Verstappen, (Van Amersfoort Racing) signed his first Fórmula 1 contract and this Friday, he already took part in his first official Free Practice session for the Toro Rosso team. The Dutchman, who only turned 17 a few days ago and is currently second in the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship drivers’ standings, put in a solid performance at the challenging Suzuka race circuit and was classified twelfth.

“Today, my main goal was gaining experience”. Max Verstappen summed up after his first official outing in Fórmula 1 that came to a halt a few minutes before the end of the session due to a technical problem. “The Fórmula 1 car is bigger than my Fórmula 3 car and there is much more to do while driving. I needed some laps to adapt myself to it. I deliberately avoided taking any risks because I wanted to rack up as many kilometres as possible. This outing on Friday was a nice opportunity for me to prepare for next year even better and I am very thankful to Red Bull and Toro Rosso for this. The team is great and I am feeling really well there. I hope that I get some more chances to run on Fridays at Austin, São Paulo and Abu Dhabi, because I can hardly await getting back into the car again”.

Even though Max Verstappen didn’t say anything about his performance, his team was impressed. “Max’s performance in his first Free Practice in Fórmula 1 was fantastic. We are really happy with him, because he did lap times that we didn’t expect on the first day with this car”. Toro Rosso’s chief race engineer Phil Charles said about his latest and youngest protégé.

F3 Euro Series: Lucas Auer claims the winner’s trophy at the Nürburgring.

Lucas Auer became the winner of the 27th season race of the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship. In a tight battle, the Austrian came out on top from Tom Blomqvist and thus claimed the first win for his team Mücke Motorsport since the weekend at Pau, early May. Max Verstappen, (Van Amersfoort Racing), who was dropped ten places on the grid following an engine change and thus started twelfth, ended up third at the 3.629 kilometres long Nürburgring sprint circuit. In the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship drivers’ standings, the 16-year-old Dutchman remains in second place behind Esteban Ocon, (Prema Powerteam). The Frenchman already retired after a collision on the opening lap, but still has a 77 points’ lead from Verstappen, who recently was integrated into the Red Bull Junior Team.

The opening stage of the race already provided plenty of action with an accident in the first corner. Antonio Giovinazzi, (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) and Esteban Ocon collided and spun. Nicholas Latifi, (Prema Powerteam) couldn’t avoid the two cars and Dennis van de Laar, (Prema Powerteam), damaged the rear of his car after contact with Latifi. After the incident, the safety car was deployed.

Racing resumed at the start of lap five. Lucas Auer took the opportunity and mounted an attack on Blomqvist, after which he was able to overtake him. On lap ten, the Austrian briefly had to slot in behind Blomqvist again, but he successfully countered straight away and claimed back the lead. He defended his first place until the chequered flag was out. Behind Auer and Blomqvist, Max Verstappen kept Antonio Fuoco under pressure in the battle for third, but initially, the Italian stayed in front. Only two laps before the end, Verstappen managed to overtake Fuoco and bring home third place. Behind Fuoco, the protégé of the Ferrari Driver Academy, in fourth, Jordan King crossed the line to finish fifth.

The battle for the positions in the midfield was also highly entertaining. Roy Nissany, (Mücke Motorsport) attacked Felix Serralles, (Team West-Tec F3), several times and eventually managed to overtake the driver from Puerto Rico to finish sixth. Behind Serralles, Tatiana Calderón, (Jo Zeller Racing), the only lady racer in the field, took the flag in eighth place. Jake Dennis, (Carlin) and Jules Szymkowiak, (Van Amersfoort Racing) rounded out the top ten.

Lucas Auer, (Mücke Motorsport): “I made a good start, after which I was able to move up into second place right away. During the safety car phase, it was clear that my only chance to overtake Tom would be to mount an attack right after the restart, and that is what I did. But even though I have won here, we are still lacking the speed to be in contention for victory on a regular basis”.

Tom Blomqvist, (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin): “Second place is a nice result for us, although I am slightly disappointed with it. After all, I would have liked to win the race after starting from pole position. I briefly overtook Lucas, but then I ran wide and Lucas went past again”.

Max Verstappen, (Van Amersfoort Racing): “My engine blew in the second race, so that the engine had to be replaced and I was dropped ten places on the grid in accordance with the regulations. In the race, I had a really good pace and I tried everything to move up through the ranks. I reckon that I can be happy with having made it all the way from twelfth on the grid to a podium finish”.

Photos: FIA F3 Euro Series

F3 Euro Series: Antonio Giovinazzi wins from Tom Blomqvist.

At the 3.629 kilometres long Nürburgring, Antonio Giovinazzi, (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin), celebrated his second FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship of the season. The Italian benefited from the retirement of long-time leader Max Verstappen, (Van Amersfoort Racing), who stopped due to a technical problem with five laps remaining. Brit Tom Blomqvist, (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) and Frenchman Esteban Ocon, (Prema Powerteam), claimed the remaining slots on the winners’ podium. In the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship standings, Lotus Fórmula 1 junior driver Esteban Ocon has extended his lead from second-placed Verstappen again. Ocon now has 92 points more than Verstappen, who was included into the Red Bull Junior Team early last week.

At the start, Max Verstappen took the lead from second place on the grid while Tom Blomqvist, who started from pole position, dropped back to third behind Verstappen and Antonio Giovinazzi. Later on, Blomqvist had to battle for third with a charging Esteban Ocon. At the same time, Antonio Giovinazzi put Max Verstappen under pressure in the duel for the lead. Initially, both Verstappen and Blomqvist were able to defend their respective positions. On lap 20, however, the 16-year-old Dutchman suddenly slowed down and stopped and the four years older Antonio Giovinazzi inherited the lead. Eventually, the Italian scored his second victory of the season from team-mate Tom Blomqvist and Esteban Ocon.

Antonio Fuoco, (Prema Powerteam), took the chequered flag in fourth place, followed by Lucas Auer, (Mücke Motorsport), Jordan King, (Carlin), Felix Rosenqvist, (Mücke Motorsport) and Edward Jones, (Carlin). Tatiana Calderón, (Jo Zeller Racing), was classified ninth. Thus, the only lady racer in the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship field scored points for the fifth time this season already. Nicholas Latifi, (Prema Powerteam) concluded the 26th race of the season in tenth place.

Antonio Giovinazzi, (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin): “My start was really good, I was able to overtake Tom straight away and then I was behind Max. When Max suddenly stopped, I could take the lead. I feel sorry for Max, but that is racing. On the other hand, I don’t think I would have been able to overtake him had it not been for his problem”.

Tom Blomqvist, (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin): “On one hand, I am happy with second place, because it brings many points. On the other hand, it is also disappointing, because I started from pole position and, of course, I wanted to win. The problem was my start, which wasn’t good”.

Esteban Ocon, (Prema Powerteam): “I was fourth for a long time, but I kept Tom under pressure throughout the race. When Max retired, I was able to take third place. Before this race, we managed to improve my car once again, but it’s still not perfect. Therefore, I reckon I can be happy with my result”.

Photos: FIA F3 Euro Series

F3 Euro Series: Eighth win of the season for rookie Max Verstappen.

Max Verstappen, (Van Amersfoort Racing), had a perfect start as a Red Bull Junior Team member: at the Nürburgring, the 16-year-old won his first outing in the colours of the Austrian Fórmula 1 World Championship-winning team. At the 3.629 kilometres long sprint circuit, he won the entertaining 25th FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship season round from Antonio Fuoco, (Prema Powerteam) and Antonio Giovinazzi, (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin). At a drying track, the Dutch rookie driver scored his eighth win of the season and was thus able to reduce the gap to the championship leader. Frenchman Esteban Ocon, (Prema Powerteam), who finished sixth in the Nürburgring race, remains on top in the drivers’ standings.

The race started at a still wet, but already drying track. Nevertheless, three drivers took the risk of starting with rain tyres: Richard Goddard, (ThreeBond with T-Sport), series’ novice Wing Chung Chang, (Team West-Tec F3) and Michele Beretta, (Eurointernational). Especially Goddard, who had started from 20th place, benefited from his initial tyre advantage and took the lead on lap seven. On lap 13, he lost it again because his rain tyres degraded and in spite of a spirited drive, he was left without a chance against the faster Max Verstappen. In the remainder of the race, the Australian dropped back more and more and eventually crossed the finish line in 19th place.

Out in front, Verstappen only managed to pull clear from his main rival Antonio Fuoco, while the latter had his compatriot Antonio Giovinazzi in his rear-view mirrors until the end of the race. Jordan King, (Carlin), took the chequered flag in fourth place from Tom Blomqvist, (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) and Esteban Ocon, who battled for a long time. Lucas Auer, (Mücke Motorsport), Felix Rosenqvist, (Mücke Motorsport), Santino Ferrucci, (Eurointernational) and Edward Jones, (Carlin) rounded out the top ten in a race that had plenty of excitement.

Max Verstappen, (Van Amersfoort Racing): “We knew that the track here dries out quickly, so therefore we opted for slick tyres. I reckon that this was the right choice, even though the first few laps with slicks weren’t easy. When Richard Goddard overtook me, I was well aware that his rain tyres wouldn’t last that long anymore, because at that time, he was already trying to cool his tyres all the time. Therefore, I didn’t defend my position too heavily against his attacks and I just tried not to let him pull away too much”.

Antonio Fuoco, (Prema Powerteam): “I had a good start and I even managed to take the lead in the second corner. Being in front at the slippery track, however, wasn’t easy. When I ran too wide in a corner, Max was able to overtake me again. But I am also very happy with second place”.

Antonio Giovinazzi, (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin): “My start was really good, too, I already managed to move up to third on the opening lap. In the final stages, I was even able to close up to Antonio Fuoco, but I wasn’t close enough to mount an attack. However, I am very happy with third place, especially having started from seventh on the grid”.

Photos: FIA F3 Euro Series

F3 Euro Series: Max Verstappen unbeatable in the rain.

In qualifying for the 25th season race of the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship, Max Verstappen, 1:37s036, came out on top and claimed pole position on a rain-soaked track. The 16-year-old Dutchman, who was appointed a member of the Red Bull Junior Team only a few days ago, completed the 3.629 kilometres long Nürburgring sprint circuit 0s649 seconds faster than second-placed Edward Jones, 1:37s685. Santino Ferrucci, 1:38s079, claimed third place, his best classification in a FIA Fórmula European Championship qualifying to date. The youngest driver in the field was 0s074 seconds faster than Lotus Fórmula 1 junior driver Esteban Ocon, 1:38s153, who had to make do with fourth place.

Max Verstappen dominated the entire first qualifying and eventually claimed first place. Edward Jones only moved up into second place in the final seconds of the session. Santino Ferrucci also set his personal fastest time in the closing stages and moved up to third place. As a result, Esteban Ocon, the FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship points’ leader, dropped back from second to fourth place just before the end of the session. Antonio Fuoco and Lucas Auer, also lost two positions in the closing stages. They ended up fifth and sixth respectively.

Seventh place behind Austrian driver Auer went to Italian Antonio Giovinazzi, who scored his maiden FIA Fórmula 3 European Championship race win at the Red Bull Ring a fortnight earlier. His team-mate Tom Blomqvist was classified eighth from Roy Nissany and Felix Rosenqvist, (Mücke Motorsport, 1:38s735).

Max Verstappen, (Van Amersfoort Racing): “My qualifying was quite good, but it wasn’t too difficult. I like the Nürburgring and I really like to drive here. On top of that, my car was perfect, the only thing I had to do is drive it without any accidents. Claiming pole position in my first qualifying as a Red Bull Junior Team member is a great feeling”.

Photos: FIA F3 Euro Series

Toro Rosso apresenta o STR9.

Toro Rosso é a quarta equipe a apresentar a nova máquina para a temporada 2014 da Fórmula 1, na tarde desta segunda-feira (27), em Jerez, a escuderia de Faenza revelou o “STR9”, o carro será pilotado este ano pela dupla: Jean-Eric Vergne (francês) e Daniil Kvyat (russo).  

Daniil Kvyat irá tirar a super licença na Itália.

O russo Daniil Kvyat que correrá a temporada 2014 da Fórmula 1 pela equipe Toro Rosso, irá tirar sua super licença esta semana na Itália, ele guiará um carro da Toro Rosso de dois anos atrás. Segundo Franz Tost, seu novo pupilo, após a bateria de testes receberá a licença, depois disso, ele se juntará ao time e participará de duas sessões de treinos livres na sexta-feira pela manhã, em Austin e Interlagos.

Tost acrescentou: “É claro, teremos também o período de inverno, durante o qual ele vai trabalhar duro sua condição física e mental no simulador, de modo que seja possível, ficar preparado para desempenhar a sua primeira temporada na categoria. Estou confiante de que ele vai fazer um bom trabalho, porque é um piloto que tem boas habilidades. Para nós, para a Red Bull e Toro Rosso é um piloto talentoso e eu acho que ele promete ter um futuro brilhante”.

Apesar de muitos críticos não terem gostado da escolha de Kvyat, por ser muito novo e sem experiência em carros tão potentes, é certo que o jovem piloto russo têm talento e creio que poderá surpreender. Kvyat fez uma excelente temporada na GP3 e confirmou isto sagrando-se campeão na etapa do último final de semana em Abu Dhabi, além disso, participou de algumas etapas da F3 Euro Series, vencendo uma corrida e marcando várias poles position. Se irá fazer sucesso na F1 ainda é cedo para prever, porém, têm tudo para cair no gosto dos torcedores, pois é carismático e muito rápido dentro das pistas.  

Daniel Ricciardo será piloto da RBR em 2014.

Fim do suspense, nesta segunda-feira (2), a equipe RBR anunciou que o piloto australiano Daniel Ricciardo será o novo companheiro do alemão Sebastian Vettel na equipe a partir da próxima temporada, o contrato de Ricciardo será inicialmente de três anos. O anúncio foi feito ao vivo pelo consultor do time, Helmut Marko, na Servus TV, emissora da RBR.

A expectativa pelos nomes de Kimi Raikkonen ou Fernando Alonso caiu por terra quando Mark Webber após o GP da Bélgica dar declarações afirmando que seu substituto no time austríaco seria Ricciardo. Horner destacou que a escolha é um tanto quanto lógica, já que seu novo pupilo é membro da academia de jovens talentos da RBR desde 2008. “É fantástico confirmar Daniel como titular. Ele é um jovem talentoso e comprometido, tem atitude. Ele se destacou em todas categorias por onde passou. Ele tem todos os atributos necessários para conduzir para nossa equipe: grande habilidade natural, boa personalidade e bom para trabalhar em equipe”.

Já Ricciardo falou um pouco sobre sua nova equipe: “Sinto-me muito, muito bem neste momento. Desde que me juntei à Fórmula 1 em 2011, torcia para que isso acontecesse. Há algum tempo, esta crença começou a crescer dentro de mim. Tenho alguns bons resultados e a RBR tomou essa decisão. Ano que vem estarei com a equipe campeã, indiscutivelmente a melhor, e a expectativa é que eu corresponda. Estou pronto para isso. Não estou aqui para correr em décimo lugar. Quero obter os melhores resultados para mim e para o time. Gostaria de agradecer pela oportunidade e mostrar o que posso fazer. Conheço a equipe desde que fui piloto reserva em 2010, o que deve fazer a transição ser mais fácil. Meu objetivo é terminar esta temporada da maneira mais forte possível pela STR. Uma vez que a temporada tenha acabado, estarei totalmente focado no próximo ano e no próximo estágio da minha carreira”.

Ricciardo era o favorito na disputa pela vaga de companheiro de Sebastian Vettel, que também recentemente renovou contrato com a RBR até o fim a da temporada de 2015. O francês Jean-Eric Vergne deve logicamente prorrogar seu contrato com a Toro Rosso. A partir de agora começam as especulações sobre quem será o novo piloto da STR em 2014? O brasileiro Felipe Nasr entra na briga com o português Antonio Felix da Costa, mas a equipe disse que não tem pressa para anunciar os nomes da dupla para 2014.  

Toro Rosso apresenta o STR8.

Toro Rosso fez o lançamento do 8º carro para a temporada 2013 da F1, o “STR8” desenvolvido pelo time de Faenza em conjunto com o novo diretor técnico James Key, ex-Sauber, é a aposta do time 'B' dos touros vermelhos para voltar a ser competitivo, a apresentação foi realizada nos boxes de Jerez de la Frontera, na Espanha.

A equipe italiana manteve as cores da pintura dos anos anteriores e inovou no bico do carro, usando uma peça que disfarça o “degrau”, além disso, modificou as entradas de ar das laterais, e os escapamentos estão em posições mais baixa que a versão anterior. A dupla de pilotos permanece a mesma de 2012, o australiano Daniel Ricciardo e o francês Jean-Eric Vergne.  

Fotos © Toro Rosso

Toro Rosso renova contrato com Vergne e Ricciardo.

A equipe de Faenza resolveu continuar com a dupla de pilotos atuais e renovou o contrato com os pilotos: Daniel Ricciardo (Austrália) e Jean-Eric Vergne (França), para a temporada 2013 da F1. Mesmo a dupla não apresentando os resultados esperados, o time “B” da RBR, não quis correr o risco de apostar em uma nova mudança, situação que aconteceu este ano e pouca coisa mudou em relação aos resultados dos ex-pilotos do time - Buemi e Alguersuari.

Para 2013 a Toro Rosso, ou STR, como alguns preferem dizer, aposta na evolução da nova máquina que ficará sob o comando do novo diretor técnico James Key, ex-Sauber. A equipe ocupa apenas o nono lugar no mundial de construtores, conquistando até agora 21 pontos, pouco para um time que têm uma boa base e um carro com motor Ferrari.

Mas a expectativa é que nestas últimas três provas a equipe possa marcar mais pontos, já que após as férias de verão o time evoluiu de forma satisfatória. Para o australiano Ricciardo, continuar na equipe é ótimo, ele disse que tem uma relação muito boa com todos os engenheiros e ficou feliz com o novo acordo.

Jean-Eric Vergne é estreante na categoria e membro do programa de desenvolvimento de jovens pilotos da RBR, em 2011 ele participou dos testes em Abu Dhabi e foi o destaque. Em sua primeira temporada marcou 12 pontos em 17 etapas, sendo três a mais que o companheiro Daniel Ricciardo. Com a confirmação das vagas, o piloto brasileiro Luiz Razia vê diminuir uma de suas opções para o grid de 2013.

Fotos Getty Imagens

Toro Rosso faz o lançamento do STR7.

Oitava equipe a apresentar o novo carro para 2012, a Toro Rosso lançou o “STR7”, nesta segunda-feira (6) em Jerez, madrugada de terça-feira aqui no Japão. A equipe italiana tem como maior patrocinador à Red Bull e, o novo modelo é uma evolução do (STR6) e mantém o tradicional “touro vermelho” estampado na traseira.

A Toro Rosso ou STR como algumas pessoas gostam que seja chamada, construiu o novo modelo seguindo as novas regras sobre a altura do bico do carro, como a maioria das equipes apresentou um bico rebaixado, porém discreto e a traseira um pouco menor. Outra mudança anunciada pelo diretor técnico, Giorgio Ascanelli, foi a alteração entre o motor e a caixa de câmbio que agora tem uma distância maior.

O (STR7) ganhou uma nova entrada de ar sobre a carenagem do motor, bem parecida a solução encontrada pela Ferrari no (F2012), os sidepods tiveram uma pequena mudança, além da asa traseira que apresenta um desenho diferente o cockpit esta mais baixo. 

A equipe de Faenza, mudou sua dupla de pilotos para a temporada 2012 e terá o francês Jean-Eric Vergne e o australiano Daniel Ricciardo, tentando conseguir uma melhor posição no mundial de construtores. Ricciardo, será o primeiro a testar a nova máquina nesta quarta-feira em Jerez de la Frontera, na Espanha.

Fotos divulgação Toro Rosso

Daniel Ricciardo fará sua estreia na Hispania...

O australiano Daniel Ricciardo, piloto reserva da Toro Rosso, fará sua estreia como titular na Fórmula 1, segundo a Autosport o jovem promissor piloto irá substituir o indiano Narain Karthikeyan, até o final do ano como exceção do Grande Prêmio da Índia, onde o italiano Vitantonio Liuzzi, ficaria de fora.

Ricciardo, já vem participando das sessões de treinos livres nas sextas-feiras com bons resultados na Toro Rosso, andando em certas oportunidades mais rápido que a dupla titular. Mas fazer a estreia na pior equipe do grid não será fácil, lembrando que o brasileiro Bruno Senna, sofreu muito no ano passado com o péssimo carro da Hispania.

Certamente Ricciardo tem mais talento que o indiano Karthikeyan, alguns críticos dizem que ele é melhor que a atual dupla da Toro Rosso, quem sabe? Talvez seja a oportunidade do piloto para adquirir mais quilometragem e no próximo ano correr por uma equipe melhor, há "rumores" onde o nome de Ricciardo é dado como certo substituto do compatriota Mark Webber, na RBR. Veremos!

Red Bull fará uma exibição nas ruas da cidade de Yokohama...

A Red Bull Energy, está acostumada a executar demonstrações com seus carros da Fórmula 1 em vias públicas, uma estratégia de marketing que atrai a atenção de vários públicos não só dos amantes da F1.

A empresa de bebidas energéticas é patrocinadora de vários esportes e na categoria mais famosa do automobilismo mundial, tem sua marca estampada nas equipes Red Bull Racing,(RBR) e na Toro Rosso,(STR).

No sábado 4 de Julho, a partir das 15:45 horas, durante o Festival Big Beach, que será realizado no Makuhari Sea Park, em Chiba, o piloto suíço Sébastien Buemi, da (Toro Rosso), fará uma exibição e no domingo (5) as 9:00 horas, a cidade de Yokohama, pela primeira vez verá um carro de Fórmula 1 circulando pelas ruas.

O evento de demonstração pública, será uma grande oportunidade para ajudar as vítimas do terremoto e tsunami que devastou a região nordeste do país, pois serão vendidas camisetas promocionais das equipes e a renda será destinada a ajudar as vítimas. Abaixo um vídeo de uma das exibições na RBR com o piloto Mark Webber, na Austrália.

Toro Rosso apresenta o seu novo carro STR6 ...

A equipe italiana Toro Rosso, lançou seu carro em Valência, o STR6  foi o carro que até agora não apresentou grandes mudanças em relação ao seu antecessor, a escuderia parece que adotou uma postura conservadora. Os novos carros para a temporada 2011 , seguem a tendência do bico alto e o modelo da STR é um deles.

Os pilotos da STR, são os mesmos da última temporada, o suíço Sebastien Buemi e o espanhol Jaime Alguersuari. O chassis é o segundo à ser produzido de forma independente, e conta com motor Ferrari, a escuderia co-irmã da RBR, tem como objetivo fazer uma temporada melhor do que o ano anterior.

O australiano Daniel Ricciardo, será o piloto de testes da equipe, campeão da Fórmula 3 ele participou dos testes para jovens pilotos em Abu Dhabi, após o fim da temporada 2010, sendo o mais rápido nos testes.