Formula 1 grand prix
Ferrari newcomer Charles Leclerc says F1 rivals are ‘sandbagging’
The sport’s oldest and most successful team have also covered an impressive amount of mileage in their new SF90 car.
For Daniel Ricciardo, his home Australian Grand Prix has been an exasperating mix of desperately willing fans and mostly unwilling cars.
The battle between the two four-times world champions promises to be the storyline of the season starting in Australia on 25 March.
Most of the Formula One teams have contracts that expire at the end of 2020 and Marchionne said Ferrari would be able to walk away.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit went into the weekend with their sights set squarely on victory, as the tight twists of the 23-turn Marina Bay street circuit played to their strengths.
Lewis Hamilton was quickest in a cloudy morning session, clocking a lap of one minute 21.537 seconds while Bottas was second. But the tables were turned in the dry afternoon running.
The triple world champion lapped more than a second quicker than Ferrari’s championship leader Sebastian Vettel.
Chandon stepped in as the replacement for Mumm without fanfare and was used last season.
Jackie Stewart also says Lewis Hamilton was wrong to stay away from the major promotional event in the capital.
The victory from pole position was the second of the season and of his career for Bottas, who joined Mercedes in January.
Hamilton also denied the accusation that he had deliberately “brake-tested” his rival, arguing that he was merely “controlling the pace.”
Vettel said his focus was on this season, but the absence of an outright denial may do little to dampen the rumours.
Vettel dashed Mercedes’ hopes of extending their spell of dominance into a 4th straight season by winning the opening round in Australia.
Melbourne has thrown up a few surprises but Bottas is not banking on breaking his duck at Albert Park, however much he would love to.
We can think about human creativity in the context of four components.
Mercedes have been seeking a replacement for Nico Rosberg since he announced his retirement five days after Abu Dhabi.
Ferrari, the oldest, most glamorous and successful team in the sport, failed to win a race this year.
Profile of Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg.
The 36-year-old Briton will be replaced at McLaren by Belgian rookie Stoffel Vandoorne next season.