It's been confirmed on the eve of Qualifying at the Russian Grand Prix (29/9/18), Daniil Kvyat will return to Formula 1 next season with his old team Toro Rosso.
This will be Kvyat’s third spell at Toro Rosso, having raced for the team in 2014 and then again from early-2016 after being demoted from the senior Red Bull team.
He was dropped from Toro Rosso after the 2017 United States Grand Prix and joined Ferrari as a development driver for 2018, but has been freed up to return to his original team, because Pierre Gasly is promoted to Red Bull next season replacing Renault bound Daniel Ricciardo.
In my opinion, this is not a big surprise this news happen. It has been strongly rumoured since the Italian Grand Prix that Kvyat would return to Toro Rosso next season. No word who will be Kvyat's team-mate at Toro Rosso next season, it could be either current Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley or Mercedes reserve driver and former Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein.
It was confirmed before practice at the Russian Grand Prix on Friday (28/9/18), that Haas team will retain both Kevin Magnussen through to the end of the 2020 Formula 1 season alongside Romain Grosjean for the 2019 F1 season, on a one year deal.
Magnussen currently sits ninth place in the Drivers' standings, best finish of two fifth place finishes so far this season. While Grosjean sits fourteenth place in the Drivers' standings, best finish of fourth place at the Red Bull Ring back in July.
Overall, a very good decision from Haas to keep both Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean for next season. Although, I was surprise that Romain Grosjean only got a one-year deal to Kevin Magnussen's two-year deal, which could give the team opportunity for other drivers for the seat for 2020.
Overall, the right choice for Haas going into 2019.
It's been confirmed yesterday (25/9/18), current Ferrari and Sauber reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi will race with the Sauber F1 Team, for the 2019 Formula 1 season.
Giovinazzi, who has spent 2018 as a reserve driver for both Ferarri and Sauber teams, with two Friday Morning Practice sessions so far this season with the Sauber team, is stepping up to a race seat alongside Kimi Räikkönen for next season, leaving current Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson would be kept on in the role of "third driver and brand ambassador" alongside Raikkonen and Giovinazzi next season.
Giovinazzi who already driven for the team last season replacing the injured Pascal Wehrlein for the first two rounds.
Great News to see Antonio Giovinazzi stepping up to a full F1 drive at Sauber next season, well earned. I thought Marcus Ericsson would retain his drive for another season.
Meaning only eight drives are left for 2019 F1 season and going fast.
Review of Round Nine of the 2018 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season was held at Red Bull Ring, Spielberg in South East Austria.
On Saturday's race, Audi Sport Team Rosberg driver and Current DTM Champion René Rast took the race win in his Audi RS5 DTM. Second was Audi Sport Team Phoenix driver Mike Rockenfeller in his Audi RS5 DTM, he was three seconds behind Rast in the end. While, third place was Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline driver Nico Müller in his Audi RS5 DTM to complete an Audi podium whitewash, he was four seconds behind Rast in the end.
On Sunday's race, Audi Sport Team Rosberg driver and Current DTM Champion René Rast took the race win in his Audi RS5 DTM. Second was Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline driver Nico Müller in his Audi RS5 DTM, he was half a second behind Rast in the end. While, third place was Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Petronas driver Gary Paffett in his Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM, he was five seconds behind Rast in the end.
Next stop Hockenheimring, Baden-Württemberg in Germany for Round Ten and the final round of the 2018 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters in three weeks time.
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix at Sochi Autodrom near Sochi.
So Predictions for the race, for the win, I predict Lewis Hamilton for the race win in the Mercedes, Sebastian Vettel second in the Ferrari, and third place for Kimi Räikkönen in the other Ferrari. Don't forget Valtteri Bottas, the Red Bull drivers, the Force India drivers, the Renault drivers and the Haas drivers as well for a podium place.
Review of round fourteen of the 2018 MotoGP season at Motorland Aragón, on the outskirts of Alcañiz in east of Spain for the Aragon GP.
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Repsol Honda Team rider and current MotoGP champion Marc Marquez on his works Honda RC213V.
Second place was Ducati Team rider Andrea Dovizioso on his works Ducati Desmosedici GP18, he was six tenths of a second behind Márquez at the end.
While, third was Team Suzuki Ecstar rider Andrea Iannone on his works Suzuki GSX-RR, he was twelve tenths of a second behind Márquez at the end.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-four 600 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Brad Binder on the KTM. Second was Sky Racing Team VR46 rider Francesco Bagnaia on the Kalex, he was fifteen tenths of a second behind Binder at the end. While, third was Pons HP40 rider Lorenzo Baldassarri on the Kalex, he was two seconds behind Binder at the end of the race.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Del Conca Gresini Racing Moto3 rider Jorge Martín on the Honda. Second was Redox PrüstelGP rider Marco Bezzecchi on the KTM, he was five and half seconds behind Martín at the end of the race. While, third was Leopard Racing rider Enea Bastianini on the Honda, he was six seconds behind Martín at the end of the race.
With the Singapore Grand Prix has gone for another season. With recent news from July that Current Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton staying at Mercedes till 2020 and Valtteri Bottas staying at Mercedes for another season. The main question I am writing on this blog is who's goes where in 2019? with a few predictions of my own.
With Ferrari, Red Bull, Renault and McLaren have confirmed their drivers for 2019. While the other five teams have either one or no drivers signed yet, so far there is still nine drives available, so lets start with the first team Sauber.
At Sauber, with the confirmation that Kimi Räikkönen will return to the team on a two-year deal, The second seat is the question it will be either Marcus Ericsson retain for another season or Ferrari Academy driver Antonio Giovinazzi will take his place, my guess Antonio Giovinazzi will get the drive.
Next is Haas, they will keep both Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen for another season.
Next is Force India, they will keep Sergio Perez for another season. But, with the new owners led by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll who is the father of Williams F1 driver Lance Stroll. Means Lance Stroll will likely get the drive, forcing Esteban Ocon out of the team.
Then, there's Williams, they will more than likely keep Sergey Sirotkin for another season. The second seat is the question it will be decently a Mercedes junior driver, it would be either Force India driver Esteban Ocon or F2 Championship leader George Russell, my guess Esteban Ocon will get the drive, despite almost getting drives at Renault and McLaren for next season before taken away from him. Meaning Russell will be a reserve driver at Mercedes next season.
Finally Toro Rosso, with Pierre Gasly promoted to the Red Bull next season, uncertainty on if Brendon Hartley will be retain, my guess Hartley contract will not be renewed. Strong rumour that former Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat may return to Formula 1 with his former team Toro Rosso next season if not already signed with the team going into 2019 he will properly one of their drivers.
Their second driver could be different story, with no Red Bull Junior drivers looking to be promoted for a few years which include FIA European F3 Championship leader Dan Ticktum who will not get the FIA Super Licence due to not enough points if he wins the championship. If not, my prediction could be the guy who is second in FIA European F3 Championship standings who could still win the championship to get enough points for the FIA Super Licence could be Mick Schumacher, the son of former seven times F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher.
The reason is this, Mick Schumacher is not associated to either Ferrari, Renault or Mercedes junior teams and will more than likely get the FIA Super Licence by the end of the end of the season, meaning he can race in F1 next season and his a free agent too. And it not the first time a gamble for this sort of driver would be either for the team, Toro Rosso hired Max Verstappen back in 2015 after the brand hired him as a junior driver in the middle of 2014 after strong showing in his first season in F3, although this is just a thought in my mind folks this more than likely is may not happen.
Those are just a few of my predictions who will go were in 2019. Some may not happen and some of that will be confirmed in the months to come.
Review of Round Nine of the 2018 World Rallycross Championship season was the World RX of Latvia, at Biķernieku Kompleksā Sporta Bāze on the outskirts of Riga, Latvia.
In the four Heats, those were won by Timmy Hansen, and Current World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson (winning three times)..
In the first semi-final that was won by PSRX Volkswagen Sweden driver and Current World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson in his Volkswagen Polo R. Second was EKS Audi Sport driver Mattias Ekström in his Audi S1, he was three seconds behind Kristoffersson in the end. While, third was GRX Taneco Team driver Niclas Grönholm in his Hyundai i20, he was seven seconds behind Kristoffersson in the end.
In the second semi-final that was won by Team Peugeot Total driver Sébastien Loeb in his Peugeot 208. Second was Team Peugeot Total driver Timmy Hansen in his Peugeot 208, he was two second sbehind Loeb in the end. While, third was Team Peugeot Total driver Kevin Hansen in his Peugeot 208, he was four seconds behind Loeb in the end.
In the final race, PSRX Volkswagen Sweden driver and Current World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson took the race win in his Volkswagen Polo R. Second was EKS Audi Sport driver Mattias Ekström in his Audi S1, he was two seconds behind Kristoffersson in the end. While, third was Team Peugeot Total driver Sébastien Loeb in his Peugeot 208, he was three seconds behind Kristoffersson in the end.
Next stop World RX of the United States at Circuit of the Americas, Austin for Round Ten of the 2018 World Rallycross Championship season in two weeks time.
Review of Round Nine of the 2018 British Touring Car Championship season was on the National Circuit at Silverstone, in Northamptonshire.
In the first race, Team GardX Racing with Motorbase driver Sam Tordoff took the race win in his Ford Focus RS and also took Independents class win. Second was Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher driver Tom Chilton in his Ford Focus RS, he was half a second behind Tordoff in the end. While third place was Team BMW driver Ricky Collard in his BMW 125i M Sport and also took Jack Sears Trophy (for drivers yet to record an overall podium finish or won outright the Jack Sears Trophy championship) win, he was four seconds behind Tordoff in the end.
Meanwhile in the second race, Speedworks Motorsport driver Tom Ingram took the race win in his Toyota Avensis and also took Independents class win. Second was Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport driver Adam Morgan in his Mercedes-Benz A-Class, he was six seconds behind Ingram in the end. While third place was Team GardX Racing with Motorbase driver Sam Tordoff in his Ford Focus RS, he was seven and half seconds behind Ingram in the end.
While, Jack Sears Trophy was won by Team BMW driver Ricky Collard in his BMW 125i M Sport, he finished in fourth place and was eight seconds behind Ingram in the end.
Finally in the third race, Laser Tools Racing driver Aiden Moffat took the race win in his Mercedes-Benz A-Class and also took Independents class win. Second was Speedworks Motorsport driver Tom Ingram in his Toyota Avensis, he was two tenths of a second behind Moffat in the end. While third place was Team BMW driver Colin Turkington in his BMW 125i M Sport, he was three tenths of a second behind Moffat in the end.
While, Jack Sears Trophy was won by Halfords Yuasa Racing driver Dan Cammish in his Honda Civic Type R (FK8), he finished in eighth place and was three seconds behind Moffat in the end.
Next stop Brands Hatch for Round Ten and the final round of the 2018 British Touring Car Championship season in two weeks time.
Recap of the last round of WRC from last weekends Round Ten of Rally Turkey.
Last weekend was the tenth round of the World Rally Championship at Rally Turkey (13th - 16th September) was won by Ott Tänak in the works Toyota Yaris WRC.
While, Jari-Matti Latvala finished second in his works Toyota Yaris WRC to complete a Toyota one-two finish, Latvala was twenty-two seconds behind Tänak at the end. Meanwhile, Hayden Paddon finished third in his works Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC, Paddon was two minutes behind Tänak at the end of the rally.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Group R5, R4, Super 2000 and Group N4 spec cars), that was won by Škoda Motorsport II driver Jan Kopecký in his Škoda Fabia R5. Jan Kopecký finished in seventh place overall, he was eighteen and half minutes behind Tänak at the end of the rally.
While in WRC-3 class (Group R1, R2 and R3 cars) that was won by Emil Bergkvist in his own backed Ford Fiesta R2T. Emil Bergkvist finished in seventeenth place overall, he was forty-one minutes behind Tänak at the end of the rally. With that result, Emil Bergkvist did clinched the J-WRC Championship this season in his own backed Ford Fiesta R2T, contracts to Emil Bergkvist for winning the J-WRC championship.
Highlights of the rally below, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Eleven of the 2018 WRC season for Wales Rally GB in three weeks time.
Review of the fifteenth round of the 2018 F1 season at Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore for Formula 1's only night-time street race of the season, for the Singapore Grand Prix.
The race itself was a good race to watch and the race where Current Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton controlled it. Hamilton took the lead at the start with Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel behind him and didn't look back leading most of the laps to conclude with a race win at this seasons Singapore Grand Prix for Lewis Hamilton's seventh race win of the season.
While, Max Verstappen finished in second place in the Red Bull, Verstappen was nine seconds behind Hamilton at the end.
Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel finished in third place in the Ferrari to complete the podium, Vettel was forty seconds behind Hamilton at the end of the sixty-one lap race.
With Lewis Hamilton's win in Sinapore and Sebastian Vettel only managing a third place finish, but the gap is now improved from thirty points to forty points in the standings with six races to go.
While Mercedes still leads F1 Constructors' Standings, the gap is now gained from twenty-five points to thirty-seven points for Ferrari who are second in the Constructors' Standings with six races to go.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Rate the Teams and Drivers
Mercedes - 8
Lewis Hamilton - 10 (pole, race win)
Valtteri Bottas - 7 (finished fourth)
Ferrari - 7
Sebastian Vettel - 8 (finished third)
Kimi Räikkönen - 7 (finished fifth)
Red Bull Racing - 8
Daniel Ricciardo - 7 (finished sixth)
Max Verstappen - 10 (finished second)
Force India - 5
Sergio Pérez- 4 (finished sixteenth, lap down)
Esteban Ocon- 6 (DNF, Collision with Pérez)
Williams - 4
Lance Stroll - 5 (finished fourteenth, lap down)
Sergey Sirotkin - 3 (finished nineteenth, two laps down)
Renault - 6
Nico Hülkenberg - 6 (finished tenth, lap down)
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 6 (finished eighth, lap down)
Toro Rosso - 4
Pierre Gasly - 5 (finsihed thirteenth, lap down)
Brendon Hartley - 4 (finished seventeenth, lap down)
Haas - 4
Romain Grosjean - 5 (finished fifteenth, lap down)
Kevin Magnussen - 3 (finished eighteenth, two lap down; fastest lap)
McLaren - 7
Fernando Alonso - 10 (finished seventh)
Stoffel Vandoorne - 5 (finished twelfth, lap down)
Sauber - 7
Marcus Ericsson - 6 (finished eleventh, lap down)
Charles Leclerc - 8 (finished ninth, lap down)
Next stop Sochi Autodrom, Sochi in two weeks time for the Russian Grand Prix.
It was confirmed on Wednesday morning (12/9/18), that Channel 4 will retain the terrestrial home of Formula 1 television coverage in the UK for the 2019 season will broadcast the 2019 British Grand Prix live to UK viewers, with the other 20 Formula 1 races shown as highlights in a new deal with Sky.
Sky has exclusive rights to screen all F1 races live in the UK from the start of next season as the shared agreement it has had with terrestrial stations on the BBC and Channel 4 since 2012 ends following the 2018 season.
Channel 4 has stepped up to take the terrestrial rights in 2016 after the BBC relinquish the deal, despite having three years left on their deal from 2011.
In my opinion good for Channel 4, in the end of the day the damaged was done when the 2019 to 2024 contract between Sky and FOM was confirmed in March 2016, when Bernie Ecclestone was still at the helm. For Channel 4 it was the only deal on the table for them to continue sadly.
Review of Round Eleven of the 2017 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California.
Tequila Patrón ESM team won the race overall and Prototype class too of Pipo Derani and Johannes van Overbeek in their Nissan Onroak DPi, Nissan VR38DETT 3.8 L Turbo V6. While, CORE Autosport team finished second in their Oreca 07, Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8; the of Jon Bennett and Colin Braun; they were eleven seconds behind the leaders. Meanwhile, Acura Team Penske finished in third place in their Acura ARX-05, Acura AR35TT 3.5 L Turbo V6; the team of Dane Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya; they were over thirteen seconds behind the leaders.
In GT Le Mans Class, BMW Team RLL won GT Le Mans Class and finished in tenth place overall in their BMW M8 GTE; with the drivers of Connor De Phillippi and Alexander Sims; they were three laps behind the leaders.
In GT Daytona Class, Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian team won GT Daytona Class and finished in sixteenth place overall in their Acura NSX GT3; with the drivers of Katherine Legge and Álvaro Parente; they were six laps behind the leaders.
Next Stop Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in four weeks time for Round Twelve and the final round of the 2018 season of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Review of Round Eight of the 2018 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season was held at Nürburgring, west of Germany.
On Saturday's race, Audi Sport Team Rosberg driver and Current DTM Champion René Rast took the race win in his Audi RS5 DTM. Second was BMW Team RBM driver Bruno Spengler in his BMW M4 DTM, he was nine tenths of a second behind Rast in the end. While, third place was Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Petronas driver Gary Paffett in his Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM, he was seven seconds behind Rast in the end.
On Sunday's race, Audi Sport Team Rosberg driver and Current DTM Champion René Rast took the race win in his Audi RS5 DTM. Second was Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Remus driver Paul di Resta in his Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM, he was three seconds behind Rast in the end. While, third place was BMW Team RMG driver Marco Wittmann in his BMW M4 DTM, he was three and half seconds behind Rast in the end.
Next stop the Red Bull Ring, Spielberg in Austria for Round Nine of the 2018 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters in two weeks time.
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix on the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore. For Formula 1's only night-time street race of the season.
So Predictions for the race, for the win, I predict Sebastian Vettel for the race win in the Ferrari. Daniel Ricciardo second in the Red Bull, and third place for Kimi Räikkönen in the other Ferrari. Don't forget Max Verstappen, the Mercedes drivers, the Force India drivers, the Renault drivers and the Haas drivers as well for a podium place.
It was announced on Tuesday (11/9/18), Charles Leclerc will replace Kimi Räikkönen at Ferrari next season, with Räikkönen returning to Sauber on a two-year deal.
Leclerc will join Sebastian Vettel in 2019, Leclerc is a Ferrari Driver Academy graduate and will become the first product of the programme to drive for the Italian team in F1. He will also be the second-youngest driver in history to race for Ferrari, older only than Ricardo Rodriguez.
Meanwhile, Räikkönen who made his debut in F1 with Sauber in 2001, before joining McLaren the following season, and will return to the Swiss team next season in what is expected to be a straight swap with Leclerc.
No word who would be Räikkönen team-mate next season at Sauber, either it would be likely be current Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson to complete a Scandinavian line up next season or Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi, who already driven for the team last season replacing the injured Pascal Wehrlein for the first two rounds.
Overall, happy for Charles Leclerc, rumoured since the Austrian Grand Prix that Leclerc has got the drive for next season, despite some rumours that Räikkönen has already signed for another season at Ferrari.
However, quite surprise that Kimi Räikkönen has signed for Sauber next season, let alone signed a two-year deal. I though it would be the best time for Räikkönen to leave Formula 1 if his contract wasn't renewed at Ferrari. I am guessing that he has unfinished business at the team where he started his F1 career.
Its great news for Ferrari as they have got a talented Grand Prix driver in Charles Leclerc. As for Sauber, they have got a driver in Kimi Räikkönen that might move the team forward with his knowledge and experience, seventeen years after he left the team.
Review of round thirteen of the 2018 MotoGP season at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, on the outskirts of Misano Adriatico in east of Italy for the San Marino GP.
In the MotoGP race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Ducati Team rider Andrea Dovizioso on his works Ducati Desmosedici GP18.
Second was Repsol Honda Team rider and current MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez on his works Honda RC213V, he was three seconds behind Dovizioso at the end.
While, third was LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow in his Honda RC213V, he was seven seconds behind Dovizioso at the end of the race.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-four 600 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Sky Racing Team VR46 rider Francesco Bagnaia on the Kalex.
Second was Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Miguel Oliveira on the KTM, he was a three seconds behind Bagnaia at the end of the race. While, third was Dynavolt Intact GP rider Marcel Schrötter on the Kalex, he was four seconds behind Bagnaia at the end of the race.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Leopard Racing rider Lorenzo Dalla Porta on the Honda. Second was Del Conca Gresini Racing Moto3 rider Jorge Martín on the Honda, he was only six hundredths of a second behind Dalla Porta at the end of the race. While, third was Del Conca Gresini Racing Moto3 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio on the Honda, he was only twelve hundredths of a second behind Dalla Porta at the end of the race.
It was confirmed last month (23/8/18) Ángel Nieto Team rider Alvaro Bautista will race in World Superbikes next season with the works Ducati team.
Bautista currently sits twelfth in the MotoGP Standings, with a best finish of fifth place at the Sachsenring in July.
It was confirmed on Wednesday (5/9/18) Ángel Nieto Team rider Karel Abraham have signed for Reale Avintia Racing team for the 2019 MotoGP next season on a two-year deal.
Abraham currently sits twenty-third in the MotoGP Standings, with a best finish of thirteenth place at Barcalona in June.
It was confirmed on Friday (7/9/18) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Bradley Smith have signed for Aprilia Racing Team Gresini for the 2019 MotoGP next season as a test-rider which include multiple wild card appearances next season.
Smith currently sits nineteenth in the MotoGP Standings, with a best finish of tenth place at the Sachsenring in July.
Finally, it was confirmed on Monday (10/9/18) Repsol Honda Team rider Dani Pedrosa have signed for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for the 2019 MotoGP next season.
Pedrosa currently sits eleventh in the MotoGP Standings, with a best finish of two fifth place finishes.
Review of Round Eight of the 2018 World Rallycross Championship season was the World RX of France, at Circuit de Lohéac located in Lohéac, in North-West France.
In the four Heats, those were won by Mattias Ekström, and Current World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson (winning three times).
In the first semi-final that was won by EKS Audi Sport driver Mattias Ekström in his Audi S1. Second was PSRX Volkswagen Sweden driver and Current World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson in his Volkswagen Polo R, he was three tenths of a second behind Ekström in the end. While, third was Team Peugeot Total driver Timmy Hansen in his Peugeot 208, he was a second behind Ekström in the end.
In the second semi-final that was won by EKS Audi Sport driver Andreas Bakkerud in his Audi S1. Second was Team Peugeot Total driver Sébastien Loeb in his Peugeot 208, he was fourteen tenths of a second behind Bakkerud in the end. While, third was PSRX Volkswagen Sweden driver Petter Solberg in his Volkswagen Polo R, he was four seconds behind Bakkerud in the end.
In the final race, PSRX Volkswagen Sweden driver and Current World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson took the race win in his Volkswagen Polo R. Second was EKS Audi Sport driver Andreas Bakkerud in his Audi S1, he was three tenths of a second behind Kristoffersson in the end. While, third was PSRX Volkswagen Sweden driver Petter Solberg in his Volkswagen Polo R, he was eight tenths of a second behind Kristoffersson in the end.
Next stop World RX of Latvia at Biķernieku Kompleksā Sporta Bāze for Round Nine of the 2018 World Rallycross Championship season in two weeks time.
It's been confirmed yesterday (3/9/18), 2017 FIA Formula 3 European Champion and current McLaren reserve driver Lando Norris will race with the McLaren F1 Team, for the 2019 Formula 1 season.
Norris, who has spent 2018 as a reserve driver with the team, with two Friday Morning Pratice sessions so far this season while currently sits second in FIA Formula 2 Standings, is stepping up to a race seat alongside Carlos Sainz Jr. for next season, leaving current McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne without a drive going into 2019.
Great News to see Lando Norris stepping up to a full F1 drive at McLaren next season, well earned. I thought Stoffel Vandoorne would retain his drive for another season or driver like Esteban Ocon would have got the drive. Also, rumoured that Toro Rosso wanted Norris for next season, McLaren acted quickly to sign Norris for a full-time driver rather than relinquish him to Toro Rosso for 2019.
So what's next for Vandoorne? There is still seven realistic drives left for the 2019 season, with two at Sauber, two at Toro Rosso, one at Williams, two at Haas. Two at Sauber will likely to retain both Marcus Ericsson and Charles Leclerc will likely for next season. The remaining seat at Williams will likely go between Mercedes junior drivers Esteban Ocon and George Russell. The remaining seats at Haas will like to retain both Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen for another season.
Vandoorne best bet for a drive would be at Toro Rosso, with Pierre Gasly promoted to the Red Bull next season, uncertainty on if Brendon Hartley will be retain, also no Red Bull Junior drivers looking to be promoted for a few years. Vandoorne might be the only choice for the team, although there are rumours that former Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat may return to Formula 1 with his former team Toro Rosso next season if not already signed with the team going into 2019.
Great to see another British driver on the grid for next season with Lando Norris.
Review of the fourteenth round of the 2018 F1 season at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, near Milan, for the Italian Grand Prix.
Overall, it was a thrilling Grand Prix from start to finish, Kimi Räikkönen surprisingly on pole for Sundays race ahead of both team-mate Sebastian Vettel and Current Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton. On a dry Sunday race, Räikkönen took the lead at the start, by the Variante chicane on the first lap both Hamilton and Vettel touch resulting Vettel to spin and restart last meaning an overtaking class throughout the race for Vettel to finish fourth in the end.
While out the front it was Räikkönen and Hamilton battling the lead in cat and mouse games for the lead. By lap 44, Räikkönen who was leading on worn tyres against Hamilton who was on fresh tyres took the lead and never looked back to conclude with a race win in this seasons Italian Grand Prix for Lewis Hamilton's sixth race win of the season.
While, Kimi Räikkönen finished in second place in the Ferrari, Räikkönen was nine seconds behind Hamilton at the end.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen finished in third place in the Red Bull to complete the podium, However Verstappen has been given a five-second time penalty following the race after causing a collision with Valtteri Bottas. Relegating Verstappen to fifth place.
Meaning Valtteri Bottas finished in third place in the Mercedes to complete the podium, Bottas was fourteen seconds behind Hamilton at the end of the fifty-three lap race.
With Lewis Hamilton's win at Monza and Sebastian Vettel only managing a fourth place finish, but the gap is now improved from seventeen points to thirty points in the standings with seven races to go.
While Mercedes still leads F1 Constructors' Standings, the gap is now gained from fifteen points to twenty-five points for Ferrari who are second in the Constructors' Standings with seven races to go.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Rate the Teams and Drivers
Mercedes - 8
Lewis Hamilton - 9 (race win, fastest lap)
Valtteri Bottas - 7 (finished third)
Ferrari - 8
Sebastian Vettel - 8 (finished fourth)
Kimi Räikkönen - 9 (pole, finished second)
Red Bull Racing - 6
Daniel Ricciardo - 6 (DNF, Clutch)
Max Verstappen - 7 (finished fifth)
Force India - 8
Sergio Pérez- 7 (finished seventh)
Esteban Ocon- 9 (finished sixth)
Williams - 6
Lance Stroll - 7 (finished ninth, lap down)
Sergey Sirotkin - 6 (finished tenth, lap down)
Renault - 6
Nico Hülkenberg - 5 (finished thirteenth, lap down)
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 7 (finished eighth)
Toro Rosso - 5
Pierre Gasly - 5 (finished fourteenth, lap down)
Brendon Hartley - 5 (DNF, Collision with Ericsson)
Haas - 6
Romain Grosjean - 8 (DSQ, Illegal floor; originally finished sixth)
Kevin Magnussen - 4 (finished sixteenth, lap down)
McLaren - 5
Fernando Alonso - 5 (DNF, Electrics)
Stoffel Vandoorne - 5 (finished twelfth, lap down)
Sauber - 5
Marcus Ericsson - 5 (finished fifteenth, lap down)
Charles Leclerc - 6 (finished eleventh, lap down)
Next stop Marina Bay Street Circuit in two weeks time for the Singapore Grand Prix.
