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F1 News - Not so home sweet home for Red Bull: all you need to know about Austria
https://ift.tt/2KnWUG4  Red Bull have had a sobering weekend on their home track, arguably their worst weekend in terms of pace over the whole year and a spat between drivers during qualifying into the bargain. The spat first. Daniel Ricciardo, who has generally been a tad slower than team-mate Max Verstappen all weekend, did not take kindly to being asked to run in front of his team-mate throughout final qualifying. Red Bull take it in turns race to race for one driver to run in front, which gives the driver behind an advantage because he gets a slipstream to boost his straight-line speed. Verstappen had done it in France last weekend, he pointed out; this week it was Ricciardo's turn. "Discipline," the Dutchman said, and refused an ad hoc request from his engineer to move over. The team backed up Verstappen's version of events. What made Austria different was that normally drivers do two runs in qualifying; this weekend the shortness of the track means they can fit in three. Ricciardo's view was that, fine, it was his turn, but couldn't he have at least one of the laps in front, especially as a tow was worth about 0.2secs, which was about the difference between the two drivers? By the time of his news conference with the written media, Ricciardo had cooled off, admitting he should have talked it through more effectively with the team first, rather than assuming they understood he would feel aggrieved. The widespread feeling in F1 is that Red Bull's management are more behind Verstappen than they are Ricciardo. They would dispute it, but the impression is there nonetheless. And the fact Verstappen was given a lucrative new contract last season when the team believed Mercedes were after him, to make him the third best paid driver in F1, only enhances it. Many assumed this might have been the root of Ricciardo's grievance. He is in the middle of contract negotiations with the team, after all. But he insisted after qualifying that the idea of the team favouring Verstappen was "in my head not a concern". As for their performance, Red Bull as usual were keen to claim that the entire deficit to the front was down to the Renault engine. But some were sceptical about that. The gap between Verstappen in fifth and Bottas on pole was 0.71secs. Using the calculation engineers have for a ballpark conversion of the effect of power on lap time, that equates to nearly 45bhp. That's about what Red Bull think the power deficit is between their Renault and the Mercedes in qualifying. But others disagree and think it is more like 30bhp. Are Red Bull in denial in a similar - but nowhere near as extreme - a fashion as McLaren were before they switched from Honda last year to Renault this? Red Bull will say no. But you can bet there are some people at Mercedes who think the answer to that question is yes. "We haven't been that quick," Ricciardo said. "We are losing out more down the straights than we thought and not having that much in the corners. I don't really know why. We just haven't got a fast package on this track." Are Mercedes edging clear?The 2018 Formula 1 season has been very tight so far, arguably the closest fight at the front for six years, but the momentum suddenly looks to be very much with Mercedes. Over the opening races of the season, the advantage swung back and forth between the world champions and Ferrari, and results were being decided on the tiniest twists of fate. But in the last two grands prix, in France and now Austria, Mercedes seem to have edged ahead. Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas locked out the front row at Paul Ricard last weekend for the first time this season, and they have done it again at the Red Bull Ring in Austria's lovely Styrian mountains, albeit the other way around. More than that, though, was the margin between them and their pursuers. Bottas, just 0.019 seconds clear of Hamilton, was 0.334secs ahead of Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel - a huge advantage around the shortest timed lap of the season, which features only seven corners. Add an upgraded engine introduced in France to a major aerodynamic revision taken to Austria, and Mercedes appear, for now, to have taken a decisive step. Afterwards, Vettel admitted: "They were a little bit out of range. It seems that in quali at least we are a little bit behind right now." And now, for Sunday's race, the pressure is really on the Ferrari driver, especially after he was dropped from his third place on the grid to sixth after being found guilty of impeding Renault's Carlos Sainz. Vettel is already 14 points adrift of Hamilton. The Ferrari driver should be able to get on to the podium from sixth, assuming a little help from team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, but even then he is likely to drop a chunk of points to Hamilton - and quite a big chunk if Hamilton can find a way past Bottas and win. If Hamilton is going to win, he will have to do it on his own. Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff said there would be no tactics to boost Hamilton's title bid at the expense of Bottas at this stage of the season. "We have discussed that internally already," Wolff said. "It is race nine and there is a long way to go and I think we owe it to the fans and it is the racing mindset we have that we won't be playing for a drivers' championship in June. Obviously towards the end of the season you need to look at the situation, but not now." And next comes Silverstone, where Mercedes' advantage in fast, sweeping corners is likely to put them even further out of reach. If Hamilton wins at home, as he so often does, he could be nearly a win clear by the end of next weekend. At the same time, Vettel cannot afford another mistake such as he made at the start in France, colliding with Bottas and consigning both to a fight through the field from the back. "We need to make sure we are a bit stronger in the race," Vettel said before his penalty, apparently sensing the growing concern. "I believe the car is stronger in relative pace for the race, so it should be a close fight. We're starting again on different tyre compounds, so let's see what we can do." Bottas back on topBottas was stunning in qualifying in taking his first pole position since last season's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when he was riding a wave given momentum by a dip in form by Hamilton after the Briton had clinched his fourth world title. Bottas has driven strongly all season and, as BBC F1 analyst Jolyon Palmer pointed out in his column this week, could be much closer to the title fight between Hamilton and Vettel had he not been hit by some bad luck. His pole on Saturday was a peach - a spectacular first lap, while both Hamilton and Vettel made mistakes, the world champion at what is officially called Turn Three but is actually the second corner, and the German at Turn Four (really the third). That put Hamilton on the back foot for his final run, as a driver who messes up his first run cannot afford to throw caution the wind on his second. Hamilton's second run was also superb, but not enough, as Bottas eked out a little more as well. "If I had done that lap on the first lap," Hamilton said. "I would have had a chance to shoot for pole but once you don't have the banker lap in, you are screwed for the second one. "He did the job and I will have to try to do what I can tomorrow. It is going to be hard to beat him but I will give it everything I can." Bottas is overdue a win this year - he should have them in both China and Azerbaijan, and would have had it not been for a safety car in Shanghai and a puncture in Baku. His performances are almost certainly good enough to earn him a new contract at Mercedes for 2019 and beyond - although this has not yet been confirmed. And as for the win in Austria, he is not taking anything for granted. "For sure it is a good feeling," he said. "But we start from zero tomorrow." Haas quicker than ever; grumbles familiarRomain Grosjean has had a torrid season, and while he still has every possibility to mess things up again on Sunday in Austria, so far he is having his best weekend of the season. The inconsistent Frenchman - very fast at his best; very wild at his worst - has split the Red Bulls on the grid and will start fifth. Haas have been impressing their rivals with their pace all season, yet somehow Grosjean has managed to score no points. Largely this has been down to his own errors - crashing behind the safety car in Baku; an unthinking decision to spin deliberately across the pack on the first lap in Spain; a crash in qualifying in France and then a series of incidents on the first lap. But the team has also had its share of problems, too. When it all comes together, though, the car is very quick. And this result will only further anger those rivals who believe that Haas' relationship with Ferrari is closer than it should be. Haas are the smallest team on the grid and have a different business model than all other customer teams. They buy all the parts they can from Ferrari - which means all but the chassis and aerodynamic surfaces - but some feel the grey car resembles the red one too closely. As Hamilton said after qualifying: "I don't know where their pace came from but we do know it is basically a Ferrari so it is no surprise they have eventually got it together." Haas reject this accusation and governing body the FIA has given the team the all-clear. The grumbling, though, will not go away. Choose your top three drivers from the list below #F1 via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6 June 30, 2018 at 01:57PM
MotoGP News - Johann Zarco only now over 'stress' of Le Mans MotoGP crash
https://ift.tt/2tTgM95  Johann Zarco says the Dutch TT is the first MotoGP round where he has been able to overcome the "stress" of crashing out of his home grand prix last month... Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei June 30, 2018 at 12:10PM
Motorcycle News - Alta Motors HQ Tour Top 10
https://ift.tt/2yUHhAv  Alta’s co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Derek Dorresteyn, is a motorcycle racer, and in his prime during the early 2000s, he was trying anything he could to squeeze more power and performance out of his YZ450F, but any gains he got somewhere, he lost elsewhere. Derek and his riding buddy Jeff Sand, another eventual co-founder and current Chief Development Officer, would get together and talk shop all the time, and they loved the idea of a smooth and perfectly responsive torque curve, but understood how difficult this was to achieve with a gas-powered bike. So, with a few decades worth of fabrication, engineering and design expertise between the both of them, they started tinkering with the idea of building their own electric motorcycle, a motorcycle that could not only deliver power in a way in which a gas bike couldn’t, but a bike that could be easier to ride, too. In 2007, the first sketches of the original Redshift started coming together on bar napkins in San Francisco. Enter Marc Fenigstein, the company’s third co-founder and current CEO. Between the three of them, they had the vision and means to create Alta, and Alta Motors was conceived on October 21, 2010 after a few rounds of whiskey – a story as old as time. We got the opportunity to check out and tour Alta’s whole operation in Brisbane, CA, a small town just south of San Francisco, and below are ten cool/neat/interesting things we saw while there. Enjoy. The “OG” first Redshift and the Alta Family Tree
Every story has its beginning, so let’s start there with the first Alta Redshift prototype. This first Redshift was a mishmash of a few different dirtbike parts, but the core was all Alta. The battery, motor, front and rear bulkheads, which serve as the motorcycle’s primary chassis, aren’t all that different from the first generation of production Redshift models. This “OG” Redshift is of course much less refined than what would roll off an OEM production line, but it’s incredibly impressive for three guys working out of a garage.
From left to right: the original Redshift prototype, the Redshift SM, MX, MXR and EX. We just rode their all-new EXR, so look for a first ride review next week. 98% of Alta Employees Ride
Alta has less than 100 total employees, which by my math means there’s only one worker who’s either holding out on riding, or is physically unable to do so. Of the 90-something people that work there, more than half are engineers and just about everybody either rides their motorcycles to work, or they pedal their bicycles. But everybody is in one shape or another a motorcycle enthusiast. Weekend Loaner Bikes
One of the perks of working at Alta is that they have a loaner fleet of bikes that anyone can check out over the weekend to go out and ride. As you might expect, Alta’s employees take full advantage of this – why wouldn’t you? – and there’s very few bikes left on Friday afternoons. It’s great because not only are the employees becoming better acquainted with the motorcycles they’re building and selling, but it also serves as another form of in-house R&D. The Assembly Line
Just about every step of the design, manufacture and assembly process is done under one roof in Northern California’s Bay Area. The assembly line is designed to run with just eight skilled technicians and they can build 10 Redshifts a day in Alta’s Brisbane, CA factory. They’ve optimized each station to be balanced for cycle time, using tablets with step-by-step work instructions, with associated part numbers, torque requirements and quality control notes. Their assembly process is as simple as it gets. Tool Stations
Each tool station along the assembly line has only the tools you need and none you don’t, which leaves very little room for error. Even the drills and impact drivers are wirelessly synced to know which drill bits they’re using and what torque spec to tighten to. Once tightened, the drill then sends the torque spec down to the degree of rotation after seating to a database that houses each and every single piece of information pertaining to each individual bike ever made. If there’s ever any sort of issue or malfunction, by looking up the bike’s VIN, Alta can pull up just about anything about the bike’s build history to help determine and fix the problem. Front and Rear Bulkhead
Derek explained John Britten’s theory of part engineering, which included that each and every motorcycle part needs to serve at least two purposes. John Britten was a legendary motorcycle mechanical engineer and designer from New Zealand who built the Britten V1000 that went on set numerous world records. Following Britten’s model, Derek explained that the rear bulkhead serves at least 10 different roles. The rear bulkhead functions as one of the Redshift’s structural hubs, serving as the bike’s chassis core, outer motor casting, cooling circuit for the motor and inverter as well as the transmission case for the gear reduction – just to name a few. The front bulkhead is made from forged 6061-T6 aluminum alloy. It not only forms the front of the Redshift chassis, but also acts as a heat sink for the Redshift system with cooling lines running throughout.
Stress Testing Table
Each piece Alta designs is engineered to exhibit extreme tolerance in the most severe conditions so riders remain safe and bikes maintain their integrity. The steel structure you see above is something Alta is in the process of building to try and destroy each component they make. The table will be used as an anchor to crank down on bikes’ frames and chassis to the point of failure to see just how much shear strength and tensile force is needed to compromise certain parts. Alta also performs a drop test on its bikes by kissing them goodbye off a four-story platform. When testing against other OEM’s bikes, Alta claims theirs are much stronger and resistant to damage than other manufacturers’, especially when dropped from 40+ feet. The Dyno
Every bike is quality-control tested on the dyno to make sure everything is up to snuff in the power delivery department. One thing we learned was that due to fewer moving parts and the reduction, or almost total elimination, of engine wear compared to a gas-burning motorcycle, an Alta continues to make and deliver the same amount of power and torque over the course its lifespan. Alta claims that they dynoed one of their bikes that had 300 hours on it and it delivered the same output numbers as it did off the assembly line. They were able to verify this thanks to their comprehensive database of each and every individual spec and number tied to each bike’s VIN. Additionally, the Redshift’s service interval is every 1,000 hours (save for typical wear parts like chains, sprockets, brake pads and tires). Jeffrey Carver Jr. Flat Tracker
Jeffrey Carver Jr. is a top-10 American Flat Track racer who’s no stranger to finishing on the podium, and he’s been riding and testing a special Alta Redshift flat tracker in his free time. Carver normally competes in the AFT Twins class, but could potentially be racing this Alta in the AFT Singles class as well. Alta is committed to racing their motorcycles because they believe racing is the true benchmark of progress as well as a clear marker of where the company stands relative to its gas-powered rivals.
Concept Flat Tracker
This is the first thing you see when you walk into Alta HQ and the last when you leave. With its minimal bodywork and carbon fiber wheels, it’s one slick ride. Alta’s whole deal is to build motorcycles that make you tingle when you look at them, giggle when you ride them, and even scare you just a little bit. This bike is essentially a motor with handlebars – everything else is a light and minimal as possible. Altas normally come with the option to flip through four different map settings from mild to wild. This one is specially programed to only run in map four, or the “Overclocked” map as Alta calls it. This map gives you all of the motor’s 50 ponies, which might not sound like a lot, but paired with its 147 lb-ft of torque and the bike’s light weight, you’ll want to make sure you’re hanging on when you crack the whip.
The post Alta Motors HQ Tour Top 10 appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy June 29, 2018 at 05:57PM
Motorcycle News - Norton Atlas Sketches Tease New 650cc Scrambler
https://ift.tt/2tGiwmO  Norton revealed two sketches showing a new scrambler that will debut in November. The 2019 Norton Atlas will be powered by a new 650cc Twin powerplant with a target price of about £10,000 (US$13,200). The Atlas revives a name from Norton’s past. The original Norton Atlas was introduced in 1962, with an aircooled 745cc Twin. At the time, it was the largest engine the company had ever produced, thanks to an increase in bore and stroke from the Norton Dominator‘s 497cc engine.
Ironically, the new Atlas will use what will be Norton’s smallest current engine. The 650cc Twin is actually based on the Norton V4 RR‘s engine, minus the rear cylinders and the stroke lengthened. Norton is reportedly working on three different versions of the engine, a low-powered 70 hp version, a regular 100 hp tuning, and a supercharged version claiming 175 hp (expect the Atlas to remain naturally aspirated.) The sketches reveal a steel tube frame, rising exhaust, wire-spoke wheels, twin front disc brakes and an upside-down fork. The circular headlight is bracketed by a pointy beak of a fender and a small windscreen. Having said that, some details may change between now and when the Atlas will make its public debut in the fall at the U.K.’s NEC show. The post Norton Atlas Sketches Tease New 650cc Scrambler appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy June 29, 2018 at 05:57PM
Motorcycle News - AMA Opposes Increase of Additional Federal Ethanol Mandates
https://ift.tt/2lFnEmG  The EPA wants to put more ethanol in our gas, which could potentially lead to lower fuel cost, but the higher ethanol content is detrimental to motorcycle engines. So, be aware of what your putting in your bike and check your pump before fueling to avoid potential costly damage to your motorcycle. AMA: EPA proposes 590 million gallons of additional ethanol in nation’s fuel supply PICKERINGTON, OH – June 29, 2018 – The American Motorcyclist Association opposes a proposal from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to increase the amount of ethanol in the country’s fuel supply by nearly 600 million gallons in 2019. The 2019 renewable volume obligations announced by the EPA June 26 call for 19.88 billion gallons of ethanol to be blended into the nation’s vehicle fuel supply in 2019, up 3 percent from the 19.29 billion gallons mandated for 2018. All of the proposed increase is in advanced biofuels-those made from non-food sources-while the amount of ethanol derived mainly from corn remains flat at 15 billion gallons. “If these mandates are adopted, it could lead to an increase in the number of stations selling E15, which places motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle owners in greater jeopardy of misfueling their vehicles,” said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president of government relations. “The AMA opposes any increase in the amount of ethanol the government mandates for U.S. vehicle fuels, because none of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and ATVs currently in use are approved by the EPA to use fuels containing more than 10 percent ethanol by volume. “The AMA also fears that higher-ethanol blends, such as E15, will begin to push ethanol-free and E10 fuel out of the marketplace, much the way E10 has marginalized E0, the fuel required for older and vintage machines,” Allard said. The ethanol industry has been pressing the EPA to relax rules that prohibit E15 sales during the summer. And President Donald Trump has indicated he supports year-round E15 sales. Studies show that most consumers shop for fuel by price, rather than ethanol content. And blends container larger amounts of ethanol by volume typically cost less at the pump than E0 or E10. It is illegal to use fuel containing more than 10 percent ethanol in motorcycles and ATVs, and ethanol can damage fuel systems and engine components and may void a manufacturer’s warranty. The AMA recommends using the fuel specified in the vehicle owner’s manual. The AMA also supports the passage of legislation to reform the federal Renewable Fuel Standard to better reflect the needs of motorcyclists and to protect their access to safe fuel. AMA Opposes Increase of Additional Federal Ethanol Mandates appeared first on Motorcycle.com News. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy June 29, 2018 at 05:09PM
Motorcycle News - New Harley-Davidson Softail Holdfast Two-Up Luggage Rack
https://ift.tt/2KrIPXB  Got stuff? Sure you do. Bring it along on your 2018 Harley-Davidson Softail with the new Holdfast Two-Up luggage rack. H-D: CARRY EVERYTHING NEEDED FOR DAILY COMMUTES Motorcyclists can ride comfortably and with style while carrying everything needed for daily adventures with Harley-Davidson’s new Holdfast Two-Up Luggage Rack for 2018 Softail models. Designed so riders can stay versatile, the rack’s exclusive latch system can be easily installed and/or removed in seconds without the need of a sissy bar.
The low-profile style makes for a simple and sleek accessory that features on the leading edge of the rack a flip design that keeps your luggage from sliding forward. The rack also can serve as a tie down attachment point to keep items secure allowing for worry-free travel. The Holdfast Two-Up Luggage Rack is available for 2018 Harley-Davidson Softail models in either chrome or gloss black finishes. Upon installation, the rack glides onto the docking points and latches into place ensuring it is secured. Installation requires separate purchase of a model-specific docking hardware kit.
New Harley-Davidson Softail Holdfast Two-Up Luggage Rack appeared first on Motorcycle.com News. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy June 29, 2018 at 04:53PM
Motorcycle News - MotoAmerica Series Now Worldwide on YouTube
https://ift.tt/2IHpo8g  Now, no matter where you are in the world you can catch some MotoAmerica racing! Begin press release: Are you a fan of Toni Elias who lives in Spain? How about a Valentin Debise fan in France? Maybe you live in South Africa and want to watch Mathew Scholtz race in the MotoAmerica Series from the comfort of your home? Well, hola Spain. Bonjour, France. Howzit, South Africa. Now you can all watch MotoAmerica. How so? Well, beIN SPORTS, MotoAmerica’s broadcast partner, has announced that it has lifted the Geo block from its YouTube coverage of the 2018 MotoAmerica Series, which means the series now has worldwide coverage of its races. The MotoAmerica Series races are available the week after each round on beIN SPORTS USA’s YouTube channel beginning with the Motul Superbike races that are featured on YouTube.com on the Mondayfollowing Sunday’s race two. The new worldwide feature is in effect now, meaning fans from around the world can catch up with the previous rounds as well as staying tuned for the remaining five rounds of the 2018 MotoAmerica Series. “We’re happy that beIN has been able to lift the Geo block from the MotoAmerica races,” MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey said. “We have fans from all over the world who have been wanting to watch our races. Now they can, and it doesn’t matter where they live. This will not only help increase the popularity of our series, but it’s also awesome for our foreign riders as their fans will now be able to follow their seasons from start to finish.” To watch the latest Motul Superbike race from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on beIN Sports USA’s YouTube channel, click here. MotoAmerica Series Now Worldwide on YouTube appeared first on Motorcycle.com News. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy June 29, 2018 at 01:41PM
Motorcycle News - Very Boring Rally 4 Flyer
https://ift.tt/2lH8LjJ  This will be fun. I remember asking Aerostich principal Andy Goldfine if you can swim in Lake Superior in the summer? Yes, he said, as long as you only swim in the top six inches. Bracing!
Very Boring Rally 4 Flyer appeared first on Motorcycle.com News. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy June 29, 2018 at 12:46PM
Motorcycle News - New Suzuki Plant in Japan Nearly Finished
https://ift.tt/2KuLT1S  New Suzuki plant will consolidate production from three separate facilities into one. Begin Press Release: Suzuki Nears Completion of New Motorcycle Manufacturing Plant in Japan Brea, CA (June 26, 2018) – Suzuki Motor of America, Inc (SMAI), is happy to announce the creation of a new manufacturing plant in Hamamatsu, Japan, home to its parent company, Suzuki Motor Corp. (SMC). The new facility will combine engineering, development, engine production and vehicle assembly into one location and will increase efficiency in the production and delivery of Suzuki’s ever-diversifying motorcycles. Originally announced in 2014, this five-year consolidation plan is near completion. Previously, Suzuki motorcycles were developed and manufactured across three locations in Japan – product engineering and development teams worked at the company’s Ryuyo facility; Suzuki produced engines at its Takatsuka plant; and motorcycle assembly lines operated at its Toyokawa plant. These three operations will now be centralized into the new Hamamatsu Plant in the Miyakoda district, in a nearly 700,000 square foot facility on a site covering more than 40 acres. This all new facility will produce the majority of Suzuki two-wheeled products for U.S. distribution. The site of the facility was chosen in part due to its geographically desirable location and proximity to Suzuki headquarters. “This action underlines Suzuki’s commitment to engineering and manufacturing motorcycles at the forefront of performance and innovation,” said Kerry Graeber, Vice President MC/ATV Sales and Marketing for SMAI. “Suzuki Motor Corporation in Japan, along with Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., will be even better equipped to meet the unique needs of American motorcycle buyers.” Suzuki also operates an All-Terrain Vehicle assembly plant in Rome, Georgia. Active since 2001, Suzuki Manufacturing of America (SMAC) exclusively builds Suzuki’s award-winning line of utility-focused ATVs for worldwide distribution. Suzuki launched all-new versions of its KingQuad 750 and KingQuad 500 in May. New Suzuki Plant in Japan Nearly Finished appeared first on Motorcycle.com News. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.comMotorcycle.com https://ift.tt/Xzx9iy June 29, 2018 at 12:46PM
F1 News - Formula 1: Sauber's Charles Leclerc poised to join Ferrari
https://ift.tt/2IEyWR9  Sauber's Charles Leclerc is poised to move to Ferrari next season. The 20-year-old has agreed, but not signed, a two-year deal to be Sebastian Vettel's team-mate until 2020, according to a source close to Ferrari. The move comes after an impressive start to Leclerc's F1 career this year with Sauber, including points finishes in four of the last five races. If the deal is confirmed, it would mean the end of 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen's five-year stay at Ferrari. The team said it declined to comment on what it described as "media speculation". Leclerc, who comes from Monaco and is a member of the Ferrari driver academy, is the reigning Formula Two champion and was given his Sauber seat this year with the intention of blooding him for a future at Ferrari. The plan was to promote Leclerc after one season as long as he delivered on his obvious potential, and he has done exactly that. After a shaky start to the season with mistakes in the first three races, Leclerc took a step forward at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in April, where he took the unfancied Sauber to sixth place. Since then, he has finished 10th at the Spanish, Canadian and French Grands Prix, and demonstrated impressive race-craft, including holding off two-time champion Fernando Alonso's McLaren for half the race in Barcelona. Leclerc - the godson of former F1 driver Jules Bianchi, who died in 2015 from injuries sustained in the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix - told BBC Sport at last month's Monaco Grand Prix: "It is a dream since [I was] a child to drive for the red cars so hopefully this will happen one day. "I will give everything for it to happen next year but the decision is not in my hands and the only thing I can do is give the best of myself on track and then hopefully it will be enough to consider me for the seat next year." Assuming the Leclerc deal is finalised, Raikkonen's career is in danger of being over. There have been reports this week linking the 38-year-old Finn with a move to McLaren, but their priority is to keep Fernando Alonso as their lead driver. The Spaniard won Le Mans this year and is two-thirds of the way towards completing his ambition of winning motorsport's unofficial 'triple crown' of the Monaco Grand Prix, which Alonso has won twice, Le Mans and the Indianapolis 500. Alonso is weighing up between two main options: staying in F1 with McLaren but taking part in the Indy 500; or moving full time to Indycars in 2019. On Thursday, the two-time champion said: "To win the Indy 500 you have only one chance each year. Even if you do the whole championship, you have only one race and 200 laps to do it." If Alonso chooses to leave F1, McLaren's second option is Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, although the Australian is tipped to stay where he is. #F1 via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6 June 29, 2018 at 12:15PM |
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