FDA – Mick Schumacher does 70 laps with Alfa Romeo Racing
Posted: 03.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sakhir, 3 April 2019 – It was the second day of Formula 1 testing for Mick Schumacher, the Ferrari Driver Academy Student, currently competing in the Formula 2 championship. The son of the seven times world champion, Michael, completed 70 laps at the wheel of the Alfa Romeo Racing car, setting a best time of 1’29”998, which was the sixth best time of the day.
Aerodynamics and tyres. In the morning, Mick did some aerodynamic testing on the C38 and in the afternoon he worked on a tyre programme with the car that is raced by Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi. The young German’s tally of 70 laps can be added to the 56 he ran on Tuesday in the Ferrari SF90. That makes a total of 126 over the two days, 682 kilometres, equivalent to over two Grands Prix distances.
Mick Schumacher #36. “It has been another beautiful day at an F1 track today, and I can only repeat myself as it is just so much fun to drive these cars. After the first experience I had yesterday I tried to implement what I learned into today’s laps, and I am happy about how it worked. It has been very nice working with the team at Alfa Romeo Racing, gaining confidence with the car and improving steadily. I will definitely fly back with some very beautiful memories and am looking forward to getting myself back into the preparations for the next F2 race in Baku.”
FIA Formula 1 Tests Bahrain – Day 2
Posted: 03.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Vettel rounds off the work in Sakhir with 103 laps on the SF90
Sakhir, 3 April 2019 – Sebastian Vettel wrapped up the two days of the third Formula 1 test of the year at the Bahrain International Circuit. The Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow driver was back at the wheel two days on from Sunday’s race and completed a total of 103 laps, 47 in the morning and 56 after lunch. Over the course of the test, the SF90 therefore completed 159 laps, starting with Mick Schumacher’s 56 on Tuesday, equivalent to 860 kilometres.
The weather was a definite improvement on yesterday and that helped Sebastian get through the planned programme with the team working on set-up and car balance. Before the lunch break, the German did several short runs under 10 laps, to assess the handling of the car in different configurations.
In the afternoon, Sebastian did some race simulation work, so as to analyse in depth the behaviour of the tyres. His fastest lap was a 1’29”319, set in the morning, good enough for third position on the time sheet.
Now, Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow sets its sights on China, which hosts the third Grand Prix of the season next week. This race will also be the one thousandth in the history of Formula 1, the first dating back to the race at Silverstone on 13 May 1950. Ferrari has taken part in more of those races than any other team.
Sebastian Vettel #5
“Today we made the most of the time available thanks to good and consistent track conditions. We were able to try various set-up configurations and evaluate the behaviour of the tyres. I’d say it was a pretty positive day: in the morning, we concentrated on some short runs, while in the afternoon, we simulated various phases of a race. It was an interesting session, because we managed to gather even more information which could be useful in the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix.”
FIA Formula 1 Tests Bahrain – Day 1
Posted: 02.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
56 laps for Mick Schumacher on his Ferrari and F1 debut
Sakhir, 2 April 2019 – It was a day to remember in Bahrain for Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow and all Formula 1 fans. Shortly after nine in the morning, Mick Schumacher, son of seven times world champion, Michael, had his first drive in a Formula 1 car, the Ferrari SF90.
The Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) student, who made his Formula 2 debut over the weekend with the Prema team, jumped in the car for an installation lap, before pitting for the usual checks. A few minutes later, despite the track being extremely dirty following the sand storm that hit the area yesterday, Mick began his first run, putting together a series of laps at a constant pace.
The other newsworthy aspect of the day was the weather, with the occasional rain shower, hardly a usual feature in this part of the world, reducing the amount of track time in the morning for the teams. Before the lunch break, the young German had completed 33 laps, the quickest in 1’32”552. In the afternoon, Schumacher and the other drivers were only able to get back on track around 5pm, given that the rain was still falling in Sakhir.
Mick completed a further 23 laps, as he gradually gained confidence in the SF90, while working on a programme including tyre and set-up work. By the end of his first day in a Formula 1 car, the youngster had run up a total of 56 laps, equivalent to 303 kilometres, one lap less than Sunday’s race distance. His best time was a 1’29”976.
For the second and final day of the Sakhir test, Sebastian Vettel will be behind the wheel for Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow. Mick Schumacher will be in action yet again, switching to the cockpit of the Alfa Romeo Racing car.
Mick Schumacher #29
I really enjoyed today. It felt like home in the garage from the very first moment with a lot of people that know me since I was very young. The SF90 is incredible because of the power it has, but it is also smooth to drive, and that’s why I enjoyed myself so much. I was impressed by the braking power an F1 car has. It seemed to me you could brake later and later and the car would have made the turn anyway. I would like to say thank you Ferrari for this incredible opportunity and I’m looking forward to test the Alfa Romeo tomorrow.
Ferrari F8 Tributo makes its regional debut as the most powerful V8 Ferrari is unveiled in Bahrain
Posted: 31.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Bahrain, 31 March 2019 – Following its recent global launch at Geneva Motor Show, the all new Ferrari F8 Tributo was unveiled yesterday by Euro Motors, the sole authorised dealer of Ferrari in Bahrain, in an exclusive event held at Hotel Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa.
The F8 Tributo is the new mid-rear-engined sports car that represents the highest expression of the Prancing Horse’s classic two-seater berlinetta. It is a car with unique characteristics and, as its name implies, is an homage to the most powerful V8 in Ferrari history.
The F8 Tributo sets the market benchmark for performance, driving pleasure and ease of handling. It makes the exhilarating performance of the best 8-cylinder in the world accessible to all drivers, with unprecedented handling and superior ride comfort.
The F8 Tributo replaces the 488 GTB and, in the range, is the model with the highest performance matched by the greatest driver involvement. There are significant improvements across the board aimed at providing even better control on the limit along with greater on-board comfort.
In the automotive world, Ferrari’s V8 engine is seen as the very epitome of sportiness and driving pleasure. This is particularly the case when it is mid-rear-mounted in a two-seater. Ferrari has been honing the scope of abilities of this architecture, which creates an optimal weight balance, and thus delivers unparalleled thrillingly sporty driving, to perfection for over four decades.
Designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre, the F8 Tributo is essentially a bridge to a new design language that will continue to emphasise Ferrari’s key characteristics of high performance and extreme aerodynamic efficiency. In fact, the F8 Tributo is the most aerodynamically efficient series-production mid-rear-engined berlinetta ever designed.
The F8 Tributo features state-of-the-art aerodynamics, integrating innovations and expertise developed thanks to the company’s involvement in the GT and Challenge championships. The solutions have been honed to create a series-production mid-rear-engined berlinetta with the highest level of performance available.
It was only through close synergy with the Ferrari Styling Centre that the strict aerodynamic constraints could be so flawlessly interpreted and integrated into the car’s design. A good example is the S-Duct at the front and the redesigned blown spoiler system at the rear which are underscored by the car’s clean yet decisive lines.
The cockpit retains the classic, driver-oriented look typical of Ferrari’s mid-rear-engined berlinettas. Every element of the dash, door panels and tunnel has been completely redesigned specifically for the car. The F8 Tributo also boasts a new generation steering wheel and steering wheel-mounted controls as well as new styling on the standard seats.
Overall performance levels are significantly higher than those of the 488 GTB, thanks to the increase in power, weight reduction and improved aerodynamic coefficient. That performance is also now accessible to a larger number of drivers thanks to vehicle dynamics systems that make driving on the limit an easier and more confidence-inspiring experience.
The Ferrari F8 Tributo is expected to be on the roads later this year and is available only through Euro Motors, the sole authorized dealership of Ferrari in Bahrain.
24H Series European Championship 2019 – Round 1 – 5th Hankook 12H Mugello – Ferrari dominate at Mugello
Posted: 31.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
- In the 12H of Mugello the 488 GT3 of Scuderia Praha commands
Maranello, 31st March 2019 – The weekend produced two red letter days for the Ferrari 488 GT3s involved in two arduous endurance races, the California 8 Hours and the 12 Hours of Mugello, which both concluded with the 488 GT3s of HubAuto Corsa and Scuderia Praha heading the leader board.
12 Hours of Mugello. An extraordinary accomplishment for the Scuderia Praha 488 GT3 driven by Jiří Písařík / Josef Kral / Matteo Malucelli in the opening round of the 24H Series European Championship, held at the Mugello circuit. Ferrari led the race with authority, conceding the lead to adversaries on very few of the total 330 laps. The other Ferrari in the A6-PRO class, that of the Wochenspiegel Team Monschau team with Perel-Menzel-Kainz-Weiss, was forced to retire. Just off the podium instead were the three Ferrari 488 GT3s of the Rinaldi Racing team involved in the A6-AM class. Fourth was the number 48 of Ehret-Penttinen-Berry-Scholze, fifth the number 47 of Frers-Montermini-Fontana-Triller who clocked up the fastest lap in the class (1: 50.058), with sixth place going to the number 69 of Hook-Parrow-Lauck.
Honour’s List. These successes take the 488 GT3 win tally to 208 out of 417 races, again reaffirming the car’s great competitiveness and reliability.
Intercontinental GT Challenge 2019 – Round 2 – California 8 Hours – Ferrari and HubAuto Corsa win California 8 Hour
Posted: 31.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Monterey, California | 31 March 2019 – Ferrari has won the 2019 edition of the California 8 hour round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, after an utterly dominant performance from HubAuto Corsa and their Ferrari 488 GT3 machine. Drivers Nick Foster, Tim Slade and Ferrari factory pilot Miguel Molina combined to lead 194 laps of the 327 laps run. In a race that was run entirely under the green flag, consistent pace and flawless pit stop work were required for a good result, and the HubAuto Corsa team, all three drivers and the Ferrari 488 GT3 delivered in spades.
Record distance. Without a single caution period for the entire 8 hour duration, it should come as no surprise that the race set a distance and lap record for the nascent event. The lack of interruption also meant that strategic variation was limited and consistent pace ultimately won the day. To that end, all three Ferrari pilots were able to consistently manage pace and tire degradation, so while their ultimate pace may not have been the fastest, the average lap times generated throughout the stint were far superior. The team also played a crucial role, with seven near-flawless pit stops that minimized the time lost on pit lane.
Laguna novices become expert. All three drivers opened the weekend as Laguna Seca novices, having never been to the Northern California circuit previously. They were able, however, to get up to speed quickly and execute an error free race. Specifically the team put together a set up and strategy that prioritized the race over qualifying position which allowed the no. 27 Ferrari to switch on its Pirelli tires earlier in the race than most of its competitors. This advantage proved decisive as overtaking proved particularly challenging.
Championship Implications. The No. 27 HubAuto Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3 is the only Ferrari that will be contesting all of the rounds of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. After a disastrous opening round at Bathurst, this weekend’s win has put the team firmly back into the championship hunt. The team and drivers find themselves tied for second in the driver’s championship with 25 points while Ferrari is now up to third place with 29 points.
Schedule. With the second round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge complete, HubAuto will again pack everything into a shipping container, which will make its way to Belgium for the 24 Hours at Spa at the end of July. The season will continue with the Suzuka 10 Hour at the end of August and finish with the Kyalami 9 Hour at the end of November.
Intercontinental GT Challenge 2019 – Round 2 – California 8 Hours – Ferrari dominate at Laguna Seca
Posted: 31.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
- Superlative performance from HubAuto Corsa in the California 8H
Maranello, 31st March 2019 – The weekend produced two red letter days for the Ferrari 488 GT3s involved in two arduous endurance races, the California 8 Hours and the 12 Hours of Mugello, which both concluded with the 488 GT3s of HubAuto Corsa and Scuderia Praha heading the leader board.
California 8 Hours. The Ferrari 488 GT3 of the HubAuto Corsa team has triumphed in the 2019 edition of the California 8 Hours, the second round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge disputed this weekend at the historic Laguna Seca circuit in Monterey, California. The series organized by SRO, which includes endurance races on some of the world’s most spectacular and challenging circuits, held its opening date back in February on Australia soil, with the Bathurst 12 Hour. The season will continue at Spa in July before moving on to Suzuka in August and Kyalami in November. Nick Foster, Tim Slade and Miguel Molina, the official drivers of the Competizioni GT, led 194 of the 327 laps raced. In a competition run without interruptions from the Safety Car, both race pace and the work of the pit crew were decisive elements in ensuring such an outstanding result, with the team, drivers and the 488 GT3 living up to expectations. The result puts HubAuto Corsa back in the battle for the championship title. The winners of the race now hold second spot in the general standings, while Ferrari occupies third position in the constructors’ championship with 29 points.
Honour’s List. These successes take the 488 GT3 win tally to 208 out of 417 races, again reaffirming the car’s great competitiveness and reliability.
Intercontinental GT Challenge 2019 – Round 2 – California 8 Hours – HubAuto takes 3rd in California 8 Hour Start
Posted: 30.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Monterey, California | 30 March 2019 – HubAuto and Ferrari factory pilot Miguel Molina took third place at the start of the California 8 Hour round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge. Miguel Molina made an aggressive start in the no. 27 Ferrari 488 GT3 and briefly held third on his way into the Andretti hairpin. The normal scrum for position in the opening corner, however, relegated him back to his original starting position.
The Ferrari, however, would not be denied and over the ensuing 15 minutes leveraged consistent pressure and a slower back-marker to make the pass for third into the T11 hairpin. He then set about chasing down the Acura in 2nd place, closing a four second gap in only 10 minutes. The two are now less than one second apart as the Ferrari 488 GT3 shows its pace at the twisting California circuit.
Fast Start. While there was the expected drama at the middle of the pack, the leading Nissan has jumped ahead, establishing a five second gap over his nearest competitor. That gap, established over the opening three laps, has remained consistent in the opening 20 minutes of this race as competitors settle in to what will be a long 8 hour contest.
Intercontinental GT Challenge 2019 – Round 2 – California 8 Hours – HubAuto Qualifies for Pole Shootout at Laguna Seca
Posted: 30.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Monterey, 30 March 2019 – HubAuto and its three drivers have qualified for the pole shootout for the California 8 Hour race at Laguna Seca. The qualifying format meant times from all three drivers were critically important as the best laps from each driver were averaged together to create the final rankings.
Strong Line Up Delivers. The three HubAuto Corsa drivers all set lap times that were within a couple of tenths of each other. Nick Forester ultimately took the fastest time of the trip with a 1:23.659 in the second of three qualifying sessions, beating out Ferrari factory pilot Miguel Molina. Miguel set his time in the third and final session, with a best time of 1:23.757. Tim Slade was the first to hit the track and also posted the slowest time of the three, but was only four tenths away from Nick with a 1:24.046.
Schedule. HubAuto will return to the circuit at 3:40pm where they will compete with the nine other fastest teams to set the pole sitter for tomorrow’s 8 hour main event.
Intercontinental GT Challenge 2019 – Round 2 – California 8 Hours – HubAuto chasing victory at Laguna Seca
Posted: 29.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Monterey, 29 March 2019 – Ferrari will continue its charge in the Intercontinental GT Challenge as HubAuto Corsa heads to the United States and the historic Laguna Seca circuit in Monterey, California. Organized by the SRO, this world-wide competition began in February in Australia with the Bathurst 12 Hours and will continue on to three additional rounds at world-renowned circuits over the coming year.
Rebound at Laguna. HubAuto drivers Nick Forster and Tim Slade will be joined by Ferrari factory pilot Miguel Molina, replacing Nick Percat, for the second round at Laguna Seca. The team suffered a difficult Bathurst after early contact knocked them out of the running, however they will look to rebound at the classic North American circuit.
Competitive Field. The quality of the competitors at the California 8 Hours has hit a new high compared to the first instance of the event in 2018. 16 drivers among the twenty cars entered have an FIA license level of platinum, indicating they are among the highest caliber of racing driver. HubAuto enters the fray with its own ace pilots. Nick Foster carries a gold license with the FIA and spent numerous years in British Touring Car competition; while Tim Slade, also a gold rated driver, has done nine consecutive Bathurst 1000 races in Australian V8 Supercar competition. Miguel, however, is the only driver of the trio to have raced in the United States previously, but none of them have competed at Laguna Seca previously.
Schedule. On track sessions begin on Thursday with practice at 11:35am, followed by pre-qualifying at 3:05pm. Qualifying will take place from 11:20am on Friday through 12:20, before a final pole shootout at 3:40pm. The race will run from 8:30am to 4:30pm on Saturday.
Endurance Brasil – Round 1 – Curitiba – Podium for Via Italia Racing in Curitiba
Posted: 02.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Curitiba, Brazil | 2 April 2019 – Via Italia Racing took a podium finish on the opening round of the 2019 Brazilian Endurance Championship with their Ferrari 488 GT3. After making their debut in the Ferrari at the 24 Hours at Daytona, the team re-oriented to the championship in Brazil. Straight out of the box, the Ferrari 488 GT3 proved fast and consistent with Daniel Serra taking pole in the GT category with a 1:12.739 second lap.
Challenging Race Start. Via Italia elected to start Chico Longo for the opening two stints, who would then be replaced by Daniel. However, with only thirty minutes elapsed in the race, a small contact with a fellow GT competitor pushed the Ferrari 488 GT3 machine off-track. At the pit stop to repair the damage, a problem with the air jack caused the team to loose additional laps before Chico was able to return to racing in 25th position.
Fight Back. Chico was able to recover several positions over the remainder of his stint, climbing to 18th place. Daniel then took over and powered the Via Italia Racing Ferrari up to 6th overall and 3rd in the GT class by the checkered flag, earning the team its first podium of the young 2019 season and proving that the Ferrari has the pace required to challenge for wins at every race this season. An AJR Prototype took the overall win, while the GT category was won by the Mercedes of Xandy/ Xandinho Negrao.
Quotes. This race was possible to fight for the victory. The car is very faster and competitive. I am sad with the result, but optimistic to the remaining the session”, said Longo.
“The car is perfect. My best lap in Curitiba with an GT Car. The final result does not show our real condition. Is possible to fight for the victory all the race. And this is ours ambition this year”, said Serra.
Schedule. The Brazilian Endurance Championship will return on 25 May in Goiania, Goias for another four hour endurance contest.
Endurance Brasil – Round 1 – Curitiba – Chico Longo Secures Pole for Via Italia in Season Opener
Posted: 30.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Curitiba, Brazil | 30 March 2019
Chico Longo and Via Italia Racing secured pole position in his Ferrari 488 GT3 car the GT3 category in the season opener of Endurance Brazil. This weekend’s opener is being held at the Autodromo Internacional de Curitiba, a 12 turn, 3.7 kilometer circuit located just outside of the city of Curitiba. The famed Brazilian circuit has previously hosted Formula 3 competition and the World Touring Car Championship before welcoming Endurance Brazil in 2019.
Dominant Time. Chico’s fastest time of 1:12.739 was good for pole position by nearly two seconds over his nearest competitor. His time in qualifying bodes well for a strong result in the race tomorrow for Via Italia and Ferrari. Chico earned most of his advantage in the second sector of the 3 kilometer circuit where the strong braking and power application characteristics of the Ferrari 488 GT3 were able to give Chico maximum advantage over his competitors.
Schedule. The opening round of Endurance Brazil will begin at 2pm local time, and will run for four hours. Racing action will be available to view via a live stream at endurancebrazil.com.
Endurance Brasil – Round 1 – Curitiba – Via Italia Racing debuts a Ferrari 488 GT3 in Brazil
Posted: 27.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Maranello | 27 March 2019 – Via Italia racing will make its racing debut for the 2019 season in the Brazilian Endurance series on March 30th at the Autodromo Internacional de Curitiba in Pinhais, Brazil in the Ferrari 488 GT3. The weekend will mark the first of an eight race championship that will culminate on the 21st of December at the 6 Hours of Interlagos. The team, founded by Chico Longo, who will also compete, will look to repeat its championship performance of 2018 with the Ferrari 488 GT3 and Ferrari factory pilot Daniel Serra.
Daytona Debut. This will not be Via Italia’s first time on track in 2019. The team took a remarkable pole position in the GT-Daytona category in the prestigious 24 Hours at Daytona. The team was able to earn a 9th place finish in a rain-soaked edition of the 24 hour race. “The 488 GT3 is a fantastic car. From the first practice at Daytona you have already realized all the qualities of this machine. I’m sure we’ll have a great car to race for the title here in Brazil. The expectation is great, even knowing of the strong opponents, “said Longo. Daniel Serra, Chico Longo’s teammate, is competing in the US aboard a 488 GT3. “It’s an impressive race car. I’m competing in the USA with this same model and I’m already comfortable with the car. We are going to work to develop the 488 on the Brazilian tracks, “said Serra, one the country’s top driver.
Schedule. The schedule begins on Thursday, the 28th with free practice. On Friday, 29 March three official practices and qualifying. On Saturday, March 30, a quick warm-up. The four hour race will begin at 2pm Brasilia Time (GMT -3).
FIA Formula 2 Championship 2019 – Round 1 – Sakhir – Schumacher in the points on debut Bahrain
Posted: 31.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sakhir, 31 March 2019 – The Bahrain Grand Prix weekend has also seen the start of the FIA Formula 2 championship. Three Ferrari Driver Academy drivers, Mick Schumacher, Callum Ilott and Giuliano Alesi, are competing in this feeder series for Formula 1 for the very first time. Drivers and cars were subjected to hot conditions every time they took to the track as, unlike the F1 cars, the Formula 2 sessions and race all took place at the hottest part of the day.
Good start. Schumacher leaves the Sakhir circuit with a good points haul, having finished both races in the points. The 20 year old German started Race 1 from the fifth row of the grid, coming home eighth at the end of the 32 laps. That was a key result as a reversed top eight grid meant that Mick started the Sprint Race from pole position. He kept the lead at the start, but dropped a few places, in difficulty with tyre management, but nevertheless sixth place was a positive end to the weekend.
Uphill all the way. Ilot and Alesi had a bit more of a struggle on their hands. The 20 year old Englishman paid the price of a mistake in qualifying, which meant he started the Feature Race from 18th on the grid. Callum came away from the weekend with a 14th and a 16th place. Alesi started 15th in Race 1, finishing 12th and then in Race 2 he closed on the top ten, but an unplanned pit stop with excessive tyre wear dropped him to 18th at the flag.
FIA Formula 2 Championship 2019 – Round 1 – Sakhir – Three-pronged attack for FDA in Bahrain
Posted: 27.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sakhir, 27 March 2019 – This weekend the Formula 1 Championship will be back on track in Bahrain for the second race of the season. The Sakhir weekend will also host the first round of the FIA Formula 2 series, which opens its 2019 in the Middle East. Ten teams and 20 drivers are all set to do battle after a 2018 championship that confirmed the value of the series, with the promotion to Formula 1 of the top three, George Russell, Lando Norris and Alexander Albon.
New cycle. Formula 2 started a new cycle in 2017, taking over from the GP2 Series and becoming a championship run under by the International Federation. Last year the class saw a significant technical change, with the debut of a new single-seater (updated with the new FIA specifications that included the use of the HALO system) and a V6 turbo engine in place of the previous aspirated 4-litre V8. The other features stay the same: a 12-round calendar, each of which is held on Formula 1 weekends, with two races per weekend. This year’s innovation in Formula 1, the point for the fastest lap, has long been in Formula 2 sporting regulations, which also assigns four points to the poleman.
Giuliano. The Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) will see three of its drivers on track in the 2019 championship, all in their first full season in the class. After completing his two-year stint in the GP3 Series (with the 19-year-old Frenchman notching up four wins in 2017 and 2018), Giuliano Alesi will start his third season with the Trident team. His teammate will be the Swiss Ralph Boschung, in his third season in the series.
Callum. Callum Ilott cannot officially be considered a rookie, given that the 20-year-old Briton raced in one round of the 2017 Championship, but statistics aside, this will be his proper debut season. After finishing third in the last GP3 Series championship, Ilott will start with the Sauber Junior Team by Charouz, with the US driver Juan Manuel Correa as his teammate.
Mick. Mick Schumacher’s debut is also highly anticipated. After winning the European Formula 3 Championship, the 19-year-old German is ready to move up a class, as confirmed by the positive results of the pre-championship tests. Like Alesi, Schumacher has also stayed with the team with which he competed in the previous series, so will race for Prema, flanked by the Indonesian Sean Gelael.
Generational change. This year sees a substantial generational change, with 10 of the 20 drivers about to take part in their first full season in the series. The two test sessions of recent weeks on the Jerez de la Frontera and Barcelona tracks saw Nick De Vries (ART Grand Prix) and Luca Ghiotto (Uni Virtuosi Racing) in the top positions. Both drivers are in their third season in the class. The pair, together with the Brazilian Sergio Sette Camara (DAMS), will be the benchmark for all their opponents as the season gets underway.
Programme. The Bahraini weekend will start on Friday with the free practice session, followed by qualifying for Race-1, which starts on Saturday at 1.10 pm. The starting grid for Race-2, scheduled for Sunday at 2.15 pm, will be an inversion of the top eight positions of Race-1.
Ferrari Challenge Europe – Round 2 – Valencia – Grossmann, Brown, Kirchmayr and Jansen win in Race-2
Posted: 31.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Valencia, 31st March 2019 – After a splendid sunny day yesterday, Race-2 of the second round of Ferrari Challenge Europe in Valencia was disputed in meteorological conditions diametrically opposed. Heavy downpours and temperatures, which never rose above 13 degrees either on the asphalt or in the atmosphere, forced competitors to drive in extreme conditions. The two races ended with Bjorn Grossmann and Jack Brown dominating in the Trofeo Pirelli, while Ernst Kirchmayr and Henrik Jansen commanded in the Coppa Shell.
Trofeo Pirelli. Bjorn Grossmann returns to the highest step of the podium in the race which marks his return to the series. The multi-time Trofeo Pirelli Europa champion (2006, 2015 and 2016) wins his forty-first victory in the Ferrari Challenge after an enthralling race characterized by two Safety Car incursions. The Octane 126 driver took advantage of the restart after the first neutralization to spring attacks on Louis Prette (Formula Racing) which culminated in an overtaking manoeuvre carried out on lap eight. From then on, the German driver kept the pursuers in check even after the last Safety Car which came out 8’46” from the chequered flag and re-entered the pits with a mere 2’ of the race still to run. In the battle for the podium, Niccolò Schirò (Rossocorsa) managed to overtake a tenacious yet correct Prette who nevertheless accrues important points in the general standings. Hot on the heels of the top three were Frenchman Thomas Neubauer (Charles Pozzi – Courage) – on the podium in Race-1 – and rookie Maximilian Mayer (Gohm Motorsport). It was tough day out for Sam Smeeth (Baron Motorsport), forced to start from the final row, who nevertheless staged a fine comeback to finish in sixth ahead of a returning Fabienne Wohlwend (Octane 126).
Trofeo Pirelli AM. At the end of a textbook race, exercising absolute control throughout, Jack Brown successfully completed the race to clinch a maiden victory in the series. The driver from Ferrari UK – Graypaul Nottingham, sixth overall, was unrivalled and worthy of the well-deserved achievement. Behind him, Emanuele Maria Tabacchi (Rossocorsa) made an umpteenth comeback, starting from the ninth row, ahead of Martin Nelson (Scuderia Autoropa) who got lumbered with 25-second penalties which allowed rookie Marian Sufliarsky (MERTEL Italo Cars Nürnberg) to take the third step of the podium. The Slovakian driver managed to claw back positions from the back row start after having had problems on the grid, to become protagonist of an almost identical race to that of fellow-countryman Jan Danis (Scuderia Praha), winner of Race-1, who also started from the back due to grid handicaps. Danis crossed the finish-line in fourth position ahead of Englishman Frank Ruimy (Ferrari UK – HR Owen) and the Danish driver Frederik Espersen (Forza Racing).
Coppa Shell. Ernst Kirchmayr (Baron Motorsport) clinched an authoritative win at the end of Race-2, leading the race from pole to flag without buckling under the pressure put on by Tani Hanna (Formula Racing). He did so after the restart following the Safety Car entrance due to Race-1 winner Eric Cheung (Formula Racing) having come off the track. The battle between the German and Lebanese drivers led to the fastest lap, which according to race rules, merits an additional point, as does the pole position winner. On this occasion, Hanna won the day. On the third step of the podium was Fons Scheltema (Kessel Racing), one of the championship veterans, who made up for a less fortunate race yesterday. Behind the Dutchman, Ken Abe (Formula Racing) kept Corinna and Thomas Gostner (Ineco – MP Racing) in check.
Coppa Shell AM. Henrik Jansen also won the second scheduled race of the weekend in Spain. The Formula Racing driver, fourth overall, finished ahead of Laurent De Meeus (Ferrari UK – HR Owen) who took advantage of a spin by Agata Smolka (Rossocorsa) among the top positions, to take another step forward in the overall standings. Once again on the podium was Giuseppe Ramelli (Rossocorsa – Pellin Racing), who finished on the heels of De Meeus.
Qualifying. The morning qualifying session had allowed drivers to get a feel for the wet track after the races held yesterday in dry conditions. The fastest proved to be Thomas Neubauer (Charles Pozzi – Courage) and Jack Brown (Ferrari UK – Graypaul Nottingham) in the Trofeo Pirelli; Henrik Jansen (Formula Racing) and Ernst Kirchmayr (Baron Motorsport) in the Coppa Shell class. As usual, in order to keep the spectacle as entertaining as possible, grid handicaps had been applied, dictated by the previous race results, causing a reshuffle to the starting grid.
Rankings and upcoming events. In the Trofeo Pirelli: Niccolò Schirò (65), Sam Smeeth (55), Louis Prette (55); in the Trofeo Pirelli AM: Emanuele Maria Tabacchi (76), Jack Brown (67), Jan Danis (31); in the Coppa Shell: Tani Hanna (61), Ernst Kirchmayr (50), Christian Kinch (44); in the Coppa Shell AM: Laurent De Meeus (58), Agata Smolka (50), Henrik Jansen (44); Coppa Team: Formula Racing (209), Rossocorsa (207), Baron Motorsport (101).
The next round of the Ferrari Challenge Europe takes place on 3-5 May in Spielberg, Austria.
Ferrari Challenge Europe – Round 2 – Valencia – Neubauer and Brown in pole for Race-2 of the Trofeo Pirelli
Posted: 31.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Valencia, 31st March 2019 – On a track made very difficult by overnight rain at the Ricardo Tormo track, which intensified further this morning, Thomas Neubauer won a fine pole position, his first in the Ferrari Challenge.
Trofeo Pirelli. Neubauer marked 1: 45.963 on the stopwatch, a very respectable time which nobody else was able to match. Out on a track renowned for its technical difficulties, the driver from the Charles Pozzi – Courage team drove impeccably. There was no shortage of thrills to the rear either, with very contained gaps between the pursuers with five drivers bunched into a one second gap.
The session, which concluded 1’37″ ahead of time after the red flag due to Maximilian Mayer coming off the track, placed a very competitive Bjorn Grossmann once more on the first row at 1″ 1 from the poleman, more determined than ever to make up for the narrowly missed podium yesterday.
Louis Prette held his ground well on a treacherous circuit, finishing in third place ahead of Jack Brown, the first of the Trofeo Pirelli AM drivers. The Englishman distanced himself more than a second ahead of the other drivers in his category and managed to finish ahead of Niccolò Schirò, provisional leader in the championship standings. The Rossocorsa driver managed to get the better of Fabienne Wolhwend by a hair’s breadth. Unexpected difficulties for Sam Smeeth, ninth, yesterday in pole position after the application of grid handicaps.
Trofeo Pirelli AM. Behind Jack Brown, protagonist of two impeccable qualification rounds with the best time in the category of 1: 49.836, was Martin Nelson, fourth in Race-1. The Scuderia Autoropa driver finished ahead of Danish driver Christian Overgaard and Emanuele Maria Tabacchi, looking for more points to consolidate his leadership in the overall standings. Another fine qualifying round for rookie Marian Sufliarsky who outdistanced John Dhillon by almost five tenths of a second.
Alessandro Vezzoni, one of the protagonists of Race-1 and the winner Jan Danis closed the session respectively in seventh and eighth place for a starting grid that will still be shaken up by the grid handicaps. Given the many variables at play, the race remains wide open, with any result possible on the Spanish circuit, not least due to possible further increases in the intensity of the rain.
Ferrari Challenge Europe – Round 2 – Valencia – Jansen dominates, Kirchmayr in his wake
Posted: 31.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Valencia, 31st March 2019 – Henrik Jansen proved to be the fastest by the end of the thirty minutes of qualifying for Race-2. The Danish driver, winner of Race 1 in the Coppa Shell AM, was even able to finish ahead of the drivers from the Coppa Shell class, as he showed great feeling with the Spanish track, even in such extremely difficult conditions.
Coppa Shell. Behind Jansen, but first of the Coppa Shell drivers, was Ernst Kirchmayr who tried to make up for yesterday’s disappointment of missing out on a podium place with a very good lap, was the only other driver, apart from Jansen, to break the one minute and fifty barrier (1: 49.742). Behind the Austrian driver will start Tani Hanna, who was able to record his best time on the last pass. The leader of the provisional ranking precedes his first rival in the ranking, Christian Kinch. The virtual third row sees Fons Scheltema line up alongside the winner of Race-1, Eric Cheung, who also span off bringing the red flag out, due to the dangerous standstill position of his 488 Challenge.
Coppa Shell AM. The time of 1: 49.417 recorded by Jansen gives him outright pole position and allows the Formula Racing driver to open a margin over his adversaries. Polish driver Agata Smolka, at ease in the rain but slowed down by traffic on her fast lap attempts, managed to take second place in the category, sixth overall. The other drivers lagged behind and were more conservative in their approach to qualifying, which led to some lengthy gaps behind the poleman. Third, however was the Frenchman “Alex Fox” who has 143 milliseconds ahead of Italian Giuseppe Ramelli, on the podium yesterday in Race-1.
Ferrari Challenge Europe – Round 2 – Valencia – Smeeth, Danis, Cheung and Jansen command in Race-1
Posted: 30.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Valencia, 30th March 2019 – Sam Smeeth, Jan Danis, Eric Cheung and Henrik Jansen have triumphed in Race-1 of the Ferrari Challenge in Valencia. In front of the thrilled spectators who coloured the paddock and the grandstands, the Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell races guaranteed a surprise-filled show.
Trofeo Pirelli. At the end of a race full of twists and interventions from race authorities, Sam Smeeth (Baron Motorsport) was able to clinch a well-deserved victory. The English driver, who got off to a perfect start at the green light, took command of the race, fending off attacks from Bjorn Grossmann (Octane 126) who remained in his wake throughout, but had to settle for fourth final place due to a five-second penalty imposed for failing to respect track limits. Similar sanctions befell many of the race protagonists – even Smeeth himself – who, in the end, claimed the win with a mere four tenths of a second advantage over Thomas Neubauer (Charles Pozzi – Courage) and 2’2” over Niccolò Schirò (Rossocorsa) who was forced to make another comeback after being lumbered with a grid handicap after the results in Bahrain. As mentioned above, Grossmann posted fourth, followed by Bonacini (Kessel Racing) who produced a very convincing performance to conclude just five seconds adrift of the race winner. Meanwhile, Louis Prette (Formula Racing) finished fifth, another driver who fell foul of race authority sanctions.
Trofeo Pirelli AM. Slovakian driver Jan Danis commanded the Trofeo Pirelli AM, characterized by an extremely fierce battle for the podium positions. The Scuderia Praha driver, on his return to the series, crossed the finish line ahead of Emanuele Maria Tabacchi (Rossocorsa) and Jack Brown (Ferrari UK – Graypaul Nottingham). The championship leader was able to stage a comeback from the back row which was made easier by the duels involving a handful of drivers ahead, spearheaded by Alessandro Vezzoni (Rossocorsa – Pellin Racing). The action ended up facilitating the Italian’s resurgence. Brown, meanwhile, had a very intense race characterized by a prolonged duel with Vezzoni. Likewise, sanctions in this category reshuffled the final standings. At the foot of the podium were Martin Nelson (Scuderia Autoropa), Christian Overgaard (Forza Racing) and rookie Marian Sufliarsky (MERTEL Italo Cars Nürnberg).
Coppa Shell. Displaying flawless race conduct and absolute control, Eric Cheung was able to return to the top step of the podium, snatching a fourteenth victory in the Ferrari Challenge. The Canadian Formula Racing driver was able to repel the attacks, in the initial stages, by Ernst Kirchmayr (Baron Motorsport), who had got off to an excellent start, but span off two laps from the end dropping the driver to fifth position and put paid to his challenges to Cheung. Among the main protagonists were Christian Kinch (Gohm Motorsport), who took the chequered flag in runner-up spot and Thomas Gostner (Ineco – MP Racing). The two had a lengthy no-holds-barred battle for the lower step of the podium, only to find themselves both celebrating after the race. Fourth-placed finisher was Ken Abe, forced to endure a five-second penalty for failing to respect track limits, while Tani Hanna, leader in the championship after Bahrain, finished in sixth spot.
Coppa Shell AM. Henrik Jansen proved to be the protagonist of a perfect race, finishing in third place overall with few rivals capable of ruffling his feathers. The Formula Racing driver finished the thirty-minute race ahead of both Polish driver Agata Smolka (Rossocorsa) who drove a cautious race with eyes set on the championship, and Giuseppe Ramelli (Rossocorsa – Pellin Racing) returning to the series and making a maiden outing at the Ricardo Tormo circuit. The overall championship leader, Laurent De Meeus, finished fourth.
Qualifying. Morning qualifications had rewarded the performances of Louis Prette (Formula Racing) and Jack Brown (Ferrari UK – Graypaul Nottingham) in the Trofeo Pirelli and Eric Cheung and Agata Smolka in the Coppa Shell. As usual, in order to make for a competitive spectacle, grid handicaps had been applied.
Programme and TV. Tomorrow qualifying will be in the morning and the race in the early afternoon. The qualifying session and the races will be visible at https://races.ferrari.com/en/corse-clienti/live/.
Ferrari Challenge Europe – Round 2 – Valencia – Prette, Brown, Cheung and Smolka in pole
Posted: 30.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Valencia, 30th March 2019 – Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit today witnessed a hard-fought, thrilling qualifying round with contained gaps and much jostling for the front positions. By the session end, Louis Prette, Jack Brown, Eric Cheung and Agata Smolka had proved the quickest in their respective classes.
Trofeo Pirelli. Louis Prette notched up the fastest time of the Trofeo Pirelli drivers, thanks to a lap completed in 1:35.186. The Formula Racing driver marked a time just 50 milliseconds faster than Niccolò Schirò (Rossocorsa), practically continuing the duel started in Bahrain. The two were closely tailed by Sam Smeeth (Baron Motorsport), 220 milliseconds behind the poleman and by Thomas Neubauer (Charles Pozzi – Courage), a mere thousandth of second behind the Englishman. Bjorn Grossmann (Octane 126) on his return and Alessandro Bonacini (Kessel Racing) also finished within the same second. Debutant Maximilian Mayer (Gohm Motorsport) posted seventh place.
Trofeo Pirelli AM. Jack Brown (Ferrari UK – Graypaul Nottingham) with seventh outright place clinched pole position (1:36.182) among the drivers in the Trofeo Pirelli AM class. The Englishman got the better of his Slovakian rival Jan Danis (Scuderia Praga) by just 187 milliseconds and Alessandro Vezzoni (Rossocorsa – Pellin Racing) on his return. Emanuele Maria Tabacchi (Rossocorsa), leader of the overall standings, concluded the qualifying round in fourth place ahead of Martin Nelson (Scuderia Autoropa) and Tommaso Rocca (Rossocorsa). Marian Sufliarsky’s (Mertel Italo Cars Nürnberg) notable maiden outing should likewise be highlighted.
Coppa Shell. Canadian Eric Cheung (Formula Racing) grabbed a tenth Ferrari Challenge pole thanks to an excellent 1:36.610 lap, 161 milliseconds quicker than Christian Kinch’s (Gohm Motorsport) best lap. The close matching and the limited breakaways led to eight drivers bunched up within a second of each other. The Gostner (Ineco – MP Racing) family monopolized the second row with Corinna and Thomas, while Ernst Kirchmayr (Baron Motorsport) and Tani Hanna (Formula Racing) will once again line up side-by-side as they had previously done in Bahrain.
Coppa Shell AM. Agata Smolka (Rossocorsa) took pole position (1:38.119) with a margin of just 26 milliseconds over Danish driver Henrik Jansen (Formula Racing), confirming once more the progress made in terms of speed. Behind them were “Boris Gideon” (Formula Racing) and “Alex Fox” (Modena Motors – SLR) ahead of the leader of the general standings, Laurent De Meeus (Ferrari UK – HR Owen).
Ferrari Challenge Europe – Round 2 – Valencia – Neubauer and Cuhadaroglu among the surprises in the free practices
Posted: 29.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Valencia, 29th March 2019 – After the three testing sessions, the late afternoon unfolded with two free practices valid for the Trofeo Pirelli and the Coppa Shell competitions.
Trofeo Pirelli and Pirelli AM. The evenness amongst competitors which had become evident in the opening 2019 races was once again on display at the Ricardo Tormo circuit. Fastest by the end of the scheduled sixty minutes proved to be Thomas Neubauer (1:35.524) who preceded Sam Smeeth, poleman in Bahrain, by almost four tenths of a second. On the second row of the virtual grid were an efficient Jack Brown (first among the drivers of the Trofeo Pirelli AM) and Bjorn Grossmann on his return, who was straight away at ease with the car. No less surprising were the performances of the two debutants Maximilian Mayer and Jan Danis. The first chalked up fine times over fifteen laps, while the Slovakian, signed up to the Pirelli AM class, managed to precede Louis Prette and Niccolò Schirò, winners of the first two races in Sakhir.
Coppa Shell and Shell AM. After a tricky weekend in Bahrain, Turkish driver Murat Cuhadaroglu was bonding well with his Ferrari 488 Challenge on the Valencian circuit, lapping with consistency to clock up a fastest lap (1:36.985) on the nineteenth of twenty-three laps completed. Hot on his heels, just twelve milliseconds adrift was the Austrian, Ernst Kirchmayr, which confirms the fine impression given in Sakhir, two tenths of a second ahead of Danish driver Henrik Jansen, first among the drivers from the Coppa Shell AM class. Fourth place went to Tani Hanna, third in the Coppa Shell, followed by Fons Scheltema and Christian Kinch. Polish driver Agata Smolka, tenth overall, is second in the Shell Am category, ahead of “Alex Fox”.
Ferrari Challenge Europe – Round 2 – Valencia – Return to Europe
Posted: 27.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 27 Mar 2019 – After opening with the Bahrain night race in February, the second round of the 2019 Ferrari Challenge Europe season takes place this weekend at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit.
The championship thus returns to Europe after thrilling races in the dunes of the Sakhir desert that delivered the leadership of the various classes to Niccolò Schirò, Emanuele Maria Tabacchi, Tani Hanna and Laurent De Meeus.
Trofeo Pirelli. In this class, Niccolò Schirò (Rossocorsa) leads Louis Prette (Formula Racing) by just two points and Sam Smeeth (Baron Motorsport) by ten. The identity of the winner is now even less predictable due to the return of Bjorn Grossmann (Octane 126), fresh from second place in the opening round of the VLN and three times Trofeo Pirelli Europe champion, in 2006, 2015 and 2016. Fabienne Wohlwend (Octane 126) also returns to the championship. In 2018 she finished second in the Pirelli AM class and won the world title in the class at Monza. Maximilian Mayer (Gohm Motorsport) will make his debut alongside him. The German driver has experience in the ADAC Formel Masters and the ADAC GT Masters.
Trofeo Pirelli AM. After a perfect weekend, Emanuele Maria Tabacchi (Rossocorsa) could also be the man to beat in Valencia. The most serious threat to him, along with the rivals already faced in Bahrain such as Jack Brown (Ferrari UK – Graypaul Nottingham), could come from an old acquaintance of the Challenge, Alessandro Vezzoni (Rossocorsa – Pellin Racing) winner of the European title in the Trofeo Pirelli-AM, as well as the 2015 Finali Mondiali. German driver Oliver Plassmann (Autohaus Ulrich) and the Slovak Marian Sufliarsky (MERTEL Italo Cars Nürnberg) will make their debuts at the wheel of the 488 Challenge.
Coppa Shell. The class leader, the Lebanese Tani Hanna (Formula Racing), will try to consolidate his ten-point advantage over his nearest rival, the Swede Christian Kinch (Gohm Motorsport). After taking part in the opening round of the Challenge North America at COTA and the Challenge Asia Pacific in Melbourne, James Weiland (Rossocorsa) will not start in Valencia and could, as a result, lose his third position in the standings.
Coppa Shell AM. The great start by Laurent De Meeus (Ferrari UK – HR Owen), who made the most of two incredible races in Bahrain, is also looking to repeat the feat on the Spanish circuit. His most feared opponents are Agata Smolka (Rossocorsa), winner of Race 1 at Sakhir, the returning Dusan Palcr (Scuderia Praha), fifth in 2018, and Giuseppe Ramelli (Rossocorsa – Pellin Racing), who also drove some excellent races last year.
Programme and TV. This track, always much appreciated by drivers and fans who can view the cars most of the way around due to its natural amphitheatre shape, will host an intense programme beginning on Thursday with the test sessions, ahead of the first time trials with the free practice on Friday. On both Saturday and Sunday, qualifying will be in the morning and the race in the early afternoon. The qualifying session and the races will be visible at https://races.ferrari.com/en/corse-clienti/live/.
Ferrari Challenge Europe – Round 2 – Valencia – Challenge Europe and Passione Ferrari take centre stage in Valencia
Posted: 27.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 26 March 2019 – The Ricardo Tormo circuit, a few kilometres outside Valencia, will host a weekend of thrills and excitement from 29 to 31 March. Marked by the exclusivity that only Ferrari can provide the event is dedicated to all Prancing Horse fans and enthusiasts. Set in a sort of natural amphitheatre, Valencia offers the public the chance to follow the cars around most of the circuit, courtesy of the long grandstands that can accommodate over 150,000 spectators.
The programme starts on Friday, but the highlights will be on Saturday and Sunday with the Ferrari Challenge Europe races, which count towards the Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell. After making their debut at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain, the 488 Challenges will once again battle it out along the 4km track that has hosted several editions of the Ferrari one-make championship.
However, there will also be other activities, including the first European stage of Passione Ferrari, an exclusive initiative that gives Prancing Horse customers and enthusiasts unique experiences on and off the track. The new hospitality lounge will make its debut in Valencia, offering guests time to relax between one track activity and another, with the chance to enjoy Italian culinary excellence. Professional Ferrari instructors will help customers and enthusiasts improve their driving techniques, while the new ‘Passion Ferrari Clinic’ will be on hand to give their cars a check-up.
During the week, in particular on 2 and 3 April, tests will take place behind closed doors featuring the cars of the XX Programmes and F1 Clienti. With the help of tutors Marc Gené and Olivier Beretta, more than 20 cars will take to the track, including some of the F1 single-seaters from the Schumacher era. There will also be appearances from the FXX-K Evo and other models, with which some exclusive customers will try their hand at the special role of driver-tester.
Formula 1 – Mick Schumacher to drive the SF90 in Bahrain test
Posted: 26.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 26 March 2019 – Mick Schumacher will drive the Ferrari SF90 for the first time on the first day of the test, Tuesday 2 April, following the Bahrain Grand Prix. The German, who is racing in Formula 2 this year with the Prema team and is a Ferrari Driver Academy member, will drive on both days, as after first driving the Ferrari he will jump into the cockpit of the Alfa Romeo Racing car for the Wednesday.
On the second day of testing at the Sakhir circuit, it will be the turn of Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow driver Sebastian Vettel to continue with testing work. With the race having taken place just a couple of days earlier, this will provide the engineers with a good reference point for their data.
It won’t be long until another FDA driver is seen at the wheel of a Formula 1 car. Callum Ilott, currently racing in Formula 2 with the Sauber Junior Team by Charouz Racing, will be driving the Alfa Romeo Racing car at the forthcoming Barcelona test, on 14 and 15 May.
Mattia Binotto, Team Principal: “We are firm believers in the value of the Ferrari Driver Academy, as a high level training programme for talented youngsters and the decision to give Charles Leclerc a race seat with our team is proof of that. We are therefore very pleased to be able to give Mick and Callum the opportunity to experience driving a Formula 1 car. Mick, who joined the FDA in January, and Callum, who has been with us since 2017, are definitely drivers on their way up and I believe that driving the SF90 in an official setting such as the tests in Bahrain and Barcelona can be very useful at this stage in their career”.
Mick Schumacher, FDA driver: “I am obviously more than excited and would like to thank Ferrari for giving me this opportunity. I am really looking forward to what I’m sure will be a great experience. But for the moment, I am consciously putting all thoughts of the test to one side, because I am also very much looking forward to competing in my first F2 race and would like to focus a hundred percent on the weekend to come”.
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 – Charles slowed by short circuit
Posted: 05.04.2019
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 5 April 2019 – Charles Leclerc will use the same power unit in China that he used for the Bahrain Grand Prix. The unit will be duly fitted on the number 16 car, in which the Monegasque driver had to settle for third place having led the race in style until a few laps from the flag.
Anomaly. Following the race, the Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow technicians and engineers traced the fault on the car to a short circuit within an injection system control unit. This type of problem had never been seen before on the component in question.
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 – Not the expected result
Posted: 31.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sakhir, 31 March 2019 – Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow leaves Bahrain with a feeling of regret after the second round of the Formula 1 World Championship, thinking about what might have been. All weekend long, the SF90 clearly demonstrated it had the potential to win, having rediscovered the competitive pace it had lost in Australia. However, in the end, it had to settle for a third place courtesy of Charles Leclerc and a fifth with Sebastian Vettel.
Sebastian got the better of his team-mate at the start to lead at the first corner. Charles found himself in third behind Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes, but on the second lap, the Monegasque driver got past the Finn and closed on his team-mate. Charles had a better pace and passed Sebastian on lap 5 to take the lead.
On lap 13, Charles came in for his first pit stop, switching from the Soft to the Medium tyres, as did Sebastian on the following lap, the German rejoining behind Hamilton in the Mercedes who had stopped one lap earlier. The German took eight laps to attack and overtake his rival at Turn 4.
On lap 35, Sebastian made his second stop, once again duelling with the Englishman. The German ended up spinning and flatspotted his tyres which resulted in the front wing coming off due to the strong vibrations. He then had to pit again for a new one. Charles also came in again, on lap 36, but kept the lead setting the fastest lap with 1’33″411.
After his unscheduled stop, Sebastian rejoined ninth and charged up the order, passing Kimi Raikkonen then Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg, to claim fifth place.
With 15 laps remaining, Charles’ car suffered a power unit problem which meant his pace slowed dramatically, The two Mercedes thus managed to pass him, but with two laps to go, the Safety Car came out to deal with two cars stopping on track at the same time, which froze the positions, so that Leclerc was at least able to enjoy the satisfaction of his first ever F1 podium finish. He thus equals Louis Chiron, the only other driver from Monaco to have made it to a Formula 1 podium, which he did in his home race in 1950, the race in which Scuderia Ferrari first took part in the World Championship.
Formula 1 is back in action in two weeks time with the Chinese Grand Prix, which will also be the one thousandth Grand Prix in the sport’s history.
Charles Leclerc #16
“It’s part of motorsport, we know that. Sometimes it’s not your day to win and today wasn’t ours. In the final part of the race we had an issue with the power unit and I had to slow down. It’s a shame because the race seemed to me to be under control. The team is disappointed and I am disappointed but there are a lot of positives to take home from this weekend. They gave me an amazing car and that is very much to their credit. The car was very easy to drive and was very good. These things happen in motorsport: we took the best out of it anyway. It’s my first podium even if I’m not enjoying it as much as I wanted. It’s life, it happens, we’ll come back stronger”.
Sebastian Vettel #5
“Not the race we wanted. We started first and second and we didn’t finish there. A disappointing evening. I had a good start but already halfway through the first lap I realised that the car was extremely difficult to drive. I think Charles struggled less as he had no difficulties in passing me. It was quite tough out there. Then we lost P2 at the pitstop but came back. In the second stint on the medium tyres maybe it was a bit better but overall we didn’t have the pace we should have had today. While battling with Lewis I made a mistake at turn 4, which is one of the trickiest corners on the track. I suddenly lost the car and I spun. In doing so, I damaged the tyres so much that I had quite a lot of vibrations, which eventually led to the failure of the front wing. It was Charles’ race today, he got very unlucky. I am sorry for him and for the team”.
Mattia Binotto Team Principal.
“It was a shame for Charles. He was in the lead for much of the race and showed that he was particularly comfortable here in Bahrain, also setting the race fastest lap. He deserved to win and it was only the reliability problem, which we must now investigate, which prevented him from doing so. That is something unacceptable from us and it shows how important it is to get every last detail right in order to win. With regards to Sebastian, these things can happen in racing when you are on the limit, therefore it is more important to consider the car, which today performed well. The team also did an excellent job, producing some really good pit stops. We head home with many positives on which to build for the rest of the season, such as our performance level and the way the team reacted. Clearly there are still various things that we have to learn and we will continue to work on them.”
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 – Ferrari front row lockdown at Sakhir
Posted: 30.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sakhir, 30 March 2019 – Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow secured its 62nd Formula 1 front row lockdown today. Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel were first and second fastest in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix, the second round of the Formula 1 World Championship. It was Charles’ first F1 pole, making him the second youngest ever pole man after Sebastian and the youngest ever Ferrari driver to claim the number one spot on the grid. For the Maranello marque, this is pole number 220.
Q1. Charles and Sebastian comfortably made the first cut. The Monegasque driver did a 1’28”495 on his first run, while Seb did a 1’28”733.
Q2. In the second part of qualifying, traffic played a crucial role. Charles managed to get a clean run amongst the many cars on track, doing a 1’28”046 at his first attempt, which was good enough to put him in the fight for pole. Things did not go as smoothly for Sebastian, who was stuck behind slower cars, which meant he could do no better than 1’29”233, which was potentially not enough to get into the top ten. Therefore the German had to fit a second set of tyres to get through in 1’28”356, which left him with only one set of new tyres for the final shoot-out.
Q3. In the final part, Charles immediately posted an excellent 1’27”958 before pitting and waiting for the track to rubber-in still further, before trying to improve on new tyres. Sebastian made his only run when there were just under five minutes remaining, to go second quickest in 1’28”160. Not long after he crossed the line, Leclerc came along again and despite being sure of starting from pole, improved still further setting a new track record of 1’27”866. The Bahrain Grand Prix starts tomorrow at 18:10 local time (17:10 CET.)
Charles Leclerc #16
“This first pole position brings me a lot of emotions, even if I’m trying to stay as cool as possible, as there are no points for pole position and the race is tomorrow. It has been a great day and a great weekend overall for the team so far, so I hope it will continue tomorrow. I said it was a question of putting everything together for qualifying and it seems I did it, unlike what happened in the first race. It’s an amazing feeling but now we have to focus on the race and try to bring home the best possible result tomorrow. I feel more comfortable in the car lap after lap so I’m satisfied. Before the race we will talk with the team to find the perfect strategy in order to give the Scuderia the best possible result. The start will probably be the key as the track is dirty and it’s easy to have wheelspin”.
Sebastian Vettel #5
“Today we were in the fight. The main thing is we are back where we want to be. It’s tomorrow that counts, but for today we can certainly be very happy as we are in a much better place than two weeks ago. Today it’s about Ferrari and about Charles who did a very very good job and nailed his laps in Q3 and he deserved to be on pole. He’s a good kid, actually, a good man, because once you get a pole in Formula 1 you are a man! It’s a big achievement and I am happy for him. Chapeau! Our one lap pace was there the whole weekend and we were able to confirm this in qualifying. I’m a lot happier today and it’s good to see that we are back on the right track”.
Mattia Binotto Team Principal
We are all very pleased for Ferrari, for Charles’ very first pole, for having locked down the first row and for our comeback after Australia. The team reacted strongly and worked well, united and focused. It’s a great team, a very good team. There’s also an excellent spirit of cooperation between our drivers and Charles is indeed a good kid. Our qualifying pace was good but it was a tough one and it’s tomorrow that really counts. It’s a very long way to the chequered flag and reliability will be important. We need to stay calm and concentrated, as our rivals will be trying to make our life difficult tomorrow. It’s a long season, so let’s take it step by step.
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 – Leclerc ahead of Vettel in FP3
Posted: 30.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sakhir, 30 March 2019 – The third and final free practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix saw the Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow SF90s of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel continue to top the time sheet, as they have done all weekend so far. However, it’s this afternoon that things get serious and the times really count, when qualifying takes place at 18:00 (16:00 CET) to decide the grid for tomorrow’s race, which kicks off at 18:10 (17:10 CET.)
Wind and dust. Overnight rain and strong winds affected the session for everyone, so that times were not as quick as in the Friday practice. Charles Leclerc ran 15 laps, the quickest in a time of 1’29”569, while Sebastian Vettel did one lap more, stopping the clocks in 1’29”738.
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 – The Friday checks
Posted: 29.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sakhir, 29 March 2019 – Today’s free practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix followed a slightly different programme to usual for Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow. In fact, the team’s primary aim was to check the efficiency of measures applied to the SF90s of Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc following the Australian Grand Prix.
FP1. During the first 90 minutes of track time, the team carried out a series of tests to check the work carried out in various areas. The two Ferraris ended up fastest of all: Charles did 20 laps and stopped the clocks in 1’30`’354, while Sebastian did 21 laps with a best of 1’30”617. Both drivers did tyre and set-up work.
FP2. The evening session was run in more relevant conditions for simulation runs, with practice starting at 18:00 (16:00 CET) the same time at which qualifying will start tomorrow and just 10 minutes earlier than the race start on Sunday (17:10 CET). As usual in this session, the cars ran in both race and qualifying trim. On low fuel runs, Sebastian was quickest in 1’28”846, slightly faster than Charles who managed a 1’28”881. Both drivers did 32 laps, bringing their daily total to respectively 52 and 53.
Sebastian Vettel #5. “The car is not yet where it was in Barcelona. Certainly, it’s better today than in Australia. It was a better day overall, but we still need to pick up the pace for tomorrow. I am not entirely happy. It has been quite a tricky day because the track was very slippery and it was difficult to always extract the best from the tyres. We were on a different strategy compared to other drivers and teams, that’s why for tomorrow we still need to improve. I think we have some more potential in the car that we have to unleash for qualifying”.
Charles Leclerc #16. “I think it was a good Friday and balance wise I think we are definitely looking better than in Australia. Having said that, it’s better to keep our feet on the ground. I’m pretty sure our rivals didn’t show their real pace today, so tomorrow will not be an easy day for sure. Overall I’m satisfied as we were able to run our full programme, including some fast laps in the second session, as FP3 will not be that representative because of the temperatures. I felt more comfortable in the car lap after lap. Now it’s all about putting everything together tomorrow”.
Mattia Binotto Team Principal. “Today we concentrated mainly on the problems we had in Australia, running a programme aimed at checking if the measures we introduced had fixed them. That’s why I think it’s difficult to compare our performance to our competitors today. I think we are in better shape than in Australia. However, I still think our rivals are very strong and that the performance levels in qualifying and the race will be very close.”
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 – Vettel ahead of Leclerc in second practice
Posted: 29.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sakhir, 29 March 2019 – Once again in the second free practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix, the two Ferrari drivers were fastest of all, this time with Sebastian Vettel ahead of Charles Leclerc. On the job sheet for the second 90-minute Friday session were tyre and set-up evaluation taking into consideration the drop in temperature.
Simulations. As usual in the second free practice session, the drivers ran different tyre types and various fuel loads to simulate different parts of qualifying and the race. Both Sebastian and Charles did 32 laps, with best times of 1’28”846 and 1’28”881 respectively.
Qualifying and race. Tomorrow’s action starts with the third free practice session at 15:00 (13:00 CET) with qualifying following at 18:00 (16:00 CET.) The race gets underway on Sunday at 18:10 (17:10 CET.)
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 – Ferrari tops the time sheet in first free practice
Posted: 29.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sakhir, 29 March 2019 –Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel were first and second fastest respectively in the first free practice session for the Bahrain GP, at the wheel of their SF90s.
20 and 21 laps. Slow lap times were the order of the day early in the session as windy weather in the past few days had blown sand across the track, but as the racing line was gradually cleaned, the times began to tumble. Charles Leclerc did 20 laps, with a best time of 1’30”354 while Sebastian Vettel did 21 laps and stopped the clocks in 1’30”617. The second session gets underway at 18:00 local time (16:00 CET.)
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 – “The team mentality is the right one”
Posted: 28.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sakhir, 28 March 2019 – As usual, Thursday was the time for media work for the Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc, who tomorrow take to the track for free practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the second round of the Formula 1 World Championship.
Sebastian. A relaxed Sebastian Vettel was first up to meet the press in the team hospitality and he tackled a variety of topics, including the performance of the SF90 and expectations for the upcoming Grand Prix. Sebastian won here last year and he has good memories, including tangible ones such as the trophy. “I love the trophy here in Bahrain. I think it’s the best of the season. It’s big and heavy, that’s the way it should be!” he said. The German even engaged in a discussion on his recently acquired and highly visible moustache. Someone referenced a resemblance to Nigel Mansell, a former Scuderia driver and the 1992 World Champion. “If I was inspired by Mansell? Well, maybe it is! I like Nigel! I think he is a great person and was a Lion in the car. I like old Nige!”
Charles. Then it was Charles Leclerc’s turn, as he was on the panel in the first official press conference of the weekend. Asked to look back at his first race with Scuderia Ferrari in Australia, Charles had this to say: “Of course, it’s something special for a driver, but I didn’t feel under any particular pressure. Actually, here, more than anything I am focussed on performing better than I did in Australia. It was not an easy weekend, as we expected more after the positive outcome of the Barcelona test. I believe our package is strong and we found the answers to our lack of performance in Melbourne, although maybe not all of them. Here we will see if the Australian performance was down to a track specific issue or something else. The team mentality is the right one”, Charles added, “and we must keep it through the year. There is a lot of work to do but I am confident the team will do everything to improve the car. We are all working together as a team and that’s good.”
Free Practice. Now the track will give its verdict with two free practice sessions on Friday starting at 14:00 and 18:00 local time (12:00 and 16:00 CET.)
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 – Seb and Charles’ expectations
Posted: 26.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Sebastian Vettel #5
“From a driver’s point of view, I would describe the level of difficulty for this circuit as basically ‘normal’. However, it is hard to find the right rhythm in the desert, mainly because of the sand that the wind blows onto the track. Therefore every lap is different, which can be a decisive factor, especially in qualifying. If you move just a few inches off the ideal line, you start to slide and you can throw your lap in the bin, because you just can’t make up the time you lose at this point. Therefore, the rate of mistakes is significantly higher than at other circuits. You need to be patient before overtaking, maybe waiting for the driver in front of you to have a small slide. There are two very good overtaking opportunities: at the first corner and at corner 14, after the long straight”.
Charles Leclerc #16
“Bahrain is a pretty technical track with quite extreme conditions. So it’s always interesting for us to try different things on the car during free practice, in order to be as well prepared as possible for all the various situations that we might experience in the race. It’s a track which I really enjoy driving. I also have some very good memories here. I started here in Formula 2 and had some great races, although last year was a little bit harder as I was just at the beginning of my career in Formula 1. I can’t wait to race there with Ferrari, hopefully bringing home a good result”.
Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 – Binotto: “Traction and braking key factors at Sakhir”
Posted: 25.03.2019
Source: Ferrari
Maranello, 25 March 2019 – The second round of the 2019 Formula 1 World Championship takes place in Bahrain at the Sakhir circuit. The track is 5.412 kilometres long and the race is run over 57 laps. It is well known for its long straights and the heavy demand it places on the braking system, the two most difficult points being at turns 1 and 14.
Six wins. Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow has won six times in Bahrain. The first victory came in the inaugural edition of the race in 2004, courtesy of Michael Schumacher, before Felipe Massa won in 2007 and 2008. 2010 was the only year in which the race was run on the 6.299 kilometre “endurance” layout of the track and the winner was Fernando Alonso, making his debut with Ferrari, thus joining an exclusive club made up of Juan Manuel Fangio, Giancarlo Baghetti, Mario Andretti, Nigel Mansell and Kimi Raikkonen. Sebastian Vettel has won for Ferrari in both the past two years.
Two DRS Zones. The track has two sections where the moveable rear wing can come into play: one before turn 1 and the other in the section made up of turns 10 to 11. Qualifying are at 18 local time (16 CET) while the race start is at 18:10 local time (17.10 CET), making it a night race, run under floodlights every bit as bright as the sun. The track temperature therefore drops throughout the race as night falls. Pirelli is bringing its C1, C2 and C3 compounds, the hardest three in use this season.
Mattia Binotto Team Principal
“The Bahrain Grand Prix is the second round of what will be a very long and demanding season. The Sakhir circuit has very different characteristics to the Australian one, with traction and braking being key factors. In Bahrain, as a team, we will have to ensure that we have understood and rectified the areas where we were weak in Australia, which therefore meant we were unable to fully exploit our car’s potential. In Bahrain, we expect to see the effect of the corrections we have made, although we are well aware that our competitors will once again be very strong. With that in mind, we are keen to get back on track and face up to them.”