Innovation has always been part of Le Mans’ DNA, which also combines heritage with the future of endurance racing. “Without the 24 Hours of Le Mans, motor sport wouldn’t be the same and some of the most iconic cars wouldn’t have even been built. “I’m very excited to finally attend what I believe is one of the biggest and greatest motor sport events ever,” Ben Sulayem said. JEDDAH: FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem called the 24 Hours of Le Mans ‘one of the biggest and greatest motor sport events ever’ as he attended the legendary race in France for the first time on its centenary running.īefore the race, Ben Sulayem spoke to French Minister of Sports Amelie Oudea-Castera, CEO of Stellantis Group Carlos Tavares and Akio Toyoda, who was set to drive Toyota’s car in the hydrogen event at the Maison Blanche track.
Sainz was fifth with the Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso sixth and seventh.Īlpine’s Esteban Ocon was eighth, Alfa Romeo’s Guanyu Zhou ninth and Pierre Gasly, who qualified fourth before a six-place grid penalty, took the final point for Renault-owned Alpine.įerrari’s Charles Leclerc, who started from the pitlane after a nightmare in qualifying left him on the back row, finished 11th. “You are just putting in those lap times and comparing it to the guys around you - the Ferraris and Astons - and you are going quicker and quicker.” “It definitely feels better,” he said of the car. Russell went off into the gravel on his way to the grid, where he lined up 12th, but his car was undamaged and his pace strong. This is a real showing for all your hard work.
“Thank you so much to everyone back at the factory, continuing to push. “Mega job guys, mega job,” said Hamilton over the radio. Mercedes moved up to second in the championship on 152 points to runaway Red Bull’s 287 and with Aston Martin dropping to third on 134. The form of the Mercedes drivers, with a re-designed car after a disappointing start to the season, provided a main talking point. McLaren’s Lando Norris, who started third on the grid, suffered a broken front wing on the first lap after contact with Hamilton and had to pit, plunging down the order and finishing 17th. Very well controlled, even though you went over the white lines a few times,” said team boss Christian Horner. Verstappen was also shown a black and white flag for exceeding track limits late in the race but the risk of a five second penalty was hardly going to trouble someone so far up the road from the rest.
Going around the outside at Turn One is always quite difficult but luckily nothing happened.” “I had the harder compound so I knew the start would be a bit tricky. I think it showed again today,” said Verstappen, who fended off Ferrari’s home hero Carlos Sainz at the start in the only challenge of an otherwise straightforward afternoon. “It’s a big pleasure to drive with a car like this. The man who took the first grand prix win of his career at the Spanish circuit in 2016 and also triumphed last year, secured the bonus point for fastest lap to cap a day of domination. The win was Verstappen’s fifth of the season, third in a row, third in Spain and the double world champion’s 40th in Formula One. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s closest rival in a season that looks sure to crown the dominant Dutch 25-year-old for a third time, finished fourth after fighting back from 11th at the start. Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton was second for Mercedes, but a distant 24.090 seconds behind, with team mate George Russell completing the podium on a cloudy but dry afternoon at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. This partnership did not extend down to Toro Rosso.LONDON: Max Verstappen won the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday to stretch his Formula One championship lead to 53 points and continue Red Bull’s sweep of the season with the team’s seventh success in as many races. Crucially, this deal included the rebadging of the Renault engine as a TAG Heuer engine. In 2016, Red Bull signed a deal with TAG Heuer to become the Official Timekeeper, Official Watch and Team Performance Partner of Red Bull.
0 kommentar(er)
