F1 Features

Ferrari sparked controversy in Sunday's Russian Grand Prix as it used team orders with  Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc to try and orchestrate a one-two finish, only to trip over itself and leave its drivers frustrated.

- The big news coming out of Saturday in Sochi was confirmation of McLaren’s switch from Renault to Mercedes power units from 2021, following the emergence of reports through Friday.

It may have been just the sixth pole position of Charles Leclerc’s fledgling Formula 1 career, but his performance on Saturday only furthered his case for being the best qualifier on the grid right now.

- Max Verstappen led the way for Red Bull in Friday’s practice running, taking heart from the team’s competitive pace in all three sectors of the circuit.

- Honda confirmed on Thursday morning that all four of its cars would be taking engine-related grid penalties in Sochi.

After three consecutive victories and a surprising performance in Singapore, can Ferrari continue its recent resurgence in the 2019 Formula 1 season at this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix?

Ferrari bids to make it four in a row as Formula 1 arrives in Sochi for this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix.

Sebastian Vettel’s fifth career victory at Formula 1’s Singapore Grand Prix might just have been his most important yet.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes – 9

- Sebastian Vettel scored his first victory of the 2019 Formula 1 season on Sunday in Singapore after undercutting Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, leading Ferrari home for a one-two finish.

The instant nature of the modern, social media-driven world meant it took mere seconds for judgement to be passed down on Ferrari’s strategy call when its impact became clear.

- Charles Leclerc scored his third straight pole position in qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday, edging out Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel with his final lap in Q3.

The good times may have come back to Maranello thanks to Charles Leclerc’s back-to-back victories from pole at Spa and Monza, but upon arrival in Singapore, it seemed Ferrari would be brought back down to earth as normal service for 2019 resumed.

- Lewis Hamilton closed out Friday’s running in Singapore quickest for Mercedes, edging almost two-tenths of a second clear of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen under the lights in FP2.

Thursday in Singapore yielded two important announcements that will help define how the final few pieces of the Formula 1 driver market puzzle will fall into place for 2020.

- Media day at the Marina Bay Street Circuit brought about two driver announcements for 2020. Haas started the day by announcing that it would be retaining Romain Grosjean for next season alongside Kevin Magnussen, extending the Frenchman’s stint with the team into a fifth year.

Formula 1 leaves Europe and heads to Asia for the first race of the flyaway leg of the 2019 season with the prospect of a tight battle on the streets of Singapore.

Formula 1 delivered another brilliant spectacle as Charles Leclerc claimed a monumental victory at Monza on a day of contrasting fortunes for Ferrari’s drivers.

The word “Tifosi” is best-known in Formula 1 in reference to Ferrari’s loyal tribe of fans that follow the team all over the world, with its largest congregation appearing at Monza each year for the Italian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes – 9

- Charles Leclerc scored the second victory of his Formula 1 career on Sunday at Monza, soaking up heavy pressure from Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to hold on for the win.

History almost repeated itself at Monza on Sunday.

- Qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix descended into one of the more farcical sessions in recent Formula 1 history as a cat-and-mouse game between the drivers to avoid giving their rivals a tow caused seven of them to miss out on a final flying lap in Q3.

It’s all a bit dull really. Grid penalties; stewards’ summons; blah blah blah. It’s all red tape that serves to detract from much of Formula 1’s lustre and allure.