It's been confirmed yesterday (28/11/19), current Williams reserve driver Nicholas Latifi will race with the Williams F1 Team, for the 2020 Formula 1 season.
Latifi, who has spent 2019 as a reserve driver with the team, with six Friday Morning Practice sessions so far this season while currently sits second in FIA Formula 2 Standings, is stepping up to a race seat alongside George Russell for next season.
In my opinion, this was no big surprise this news happen, with the news of Robert Kubica leaving Williams at the end of the season, Latifi was more than likely to replace him at Williams as he brings sponsorship form Canada replacing Kubica money from Poland.
Hopely Williams team will have a stronger 2020 F1 season.
It was confirmed on Wednesday (27/11/19), both Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso has signed a new engine partnership deal with with Honda to supply both teams their Power-units till 2021.
Both teams already committed to Honda for next season, both teams have signed a new agreement going into 2021.
The Japanese company is still negotiating with both Red Bull teams over the period after 2021.
F1 is heading into a new era in 2021 after the agreement of new technical rules aimed at making racing closer.
In my opinion, this is no major surprise that the news has happen; three Grand Prix wins from Max Verstappen in the Red Bull this season and two podiums for Toro Rosso team with Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat each giving a podium, giving Honda a great reason to stay in Formula 1 another season at least.
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit outside of Abu Dhabi for the final round of the 2019 Formula 1 season.
So predictions for the race itself, for the win, I predict that, Lewis Hamilton for the win in the Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas second in the other Mercedes, and Max Verstappen third in the Red Bull. Don't forget Alexander Albon, the Ferrari drivers, the McLaren drivers, the Toro Rosso drivers' and the Renault drivers as well for a podium place.
Review of Round One of the 2019-20 Formula E season held on the Riyadh Street Circuit in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, for two races that weekend.
On Friday's race, that was won by Envision Virgin Racing driver Sam Bird in his Spark-Audi. Second was TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team driver André Lotterer in his Spark-Porsche, he was thirteen tenths of a second behind Bird in the end. Meanwhile, third was Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team driver Stoffel Vandoorne in his Spark-Mercedes, he was seventeen tenths of a second behind Bird in the end.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
On Saturday's race, that was won by BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver Alexander Sims in his Spark-BMW. Second was Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler driver Lucas di Grassi in his Spark-Audi, he was three seconds behind Sims in the end. Meanwhile, third was Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team driver Stoffel Vandoorne in his Spark-Mercedes, he was four seconds behind Sims in the end.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Two of the 2019-20 Formula E season in Santiago, Chile for the Santiago ePrix in eight weeks time.
It was confirmed on Wednesday (20/11/19), that Citroen has quits World Rally Championship with immediate effect, with the brand blaming the exit on Sebastien Ogier as the cause for its withdrawal, as he agreed a deal to race with Toyota next season.
There had been speculation that Citroen was unlikely to continue in the WRC beyond 2020, however on Wednesday morning the French manufacturer confirmed its exit with immediate effect, blaming it on "the absence of a first-class driver" being available for next season.
However, they will remains committed to supporting its customer teams next year, will continue to support the R5 variant of the Citroën C3 WRC in the championship's support categories.
Citroen won one hundred and two WRC rounds, won eight WRC Manufacturer titles since 1999 and winning nine WRC Drivers' titles with Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena.
My opinion I think it's a sad decision from Citroen that they are leaving the WRC. The excuse was cheap to blame it on Sebastien Ogier leaving for Toyota. I do believe that Citroen reason is (they properly won't say) is focus more on their budget onto the Formula E program and some of their budget is possibly removed from Citroen's parent company, PSA, to focus on their return to the World Endurance Championship from 2021 with Peugeot meaning they have to focus on one rather than the other.
I do hope that Citroen does return to the WRC one day, I believe Citroen is a great brand for the WRC. At least Toyota, M-Sport (Ford) and Hyundai are going no where from the WRC at least for another year.
Review of Round Nine of the 2019 World Touring Car Cup season was the Guia Race of Macau, at Guia Circuit, Macau, South-East of China.
In the first race, Cyan Racing Lynk & Co driver Yvan Muller took the race win in his Lynk & Co 03 TCR. Second was BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse driver Norbert Michelisz in his Hyundai i30 N TCR, he was four tenths of a second behind Muller in the end. While third place was Team Mulsanne driver Kevin Ceccon in his Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR, he was sixteen tenths of a second behind Muller in the end.
Meanwhile in the second race, Cyan Racing Lynk & Co driver Yvan Muller once again took the race win in his Lynk & Co 03 TCR. Second was Cyan Racing Lynk & Co driver Thed Björk in his Lynk & Co 03 TCR, he was half a second behind Muller in the end. While third place was Team Mulsanne driver Kevin Ceccon in his Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR, he was nine tenths of a second behind Muller in the end.
Finally in the third race, Cyan Performance Lynk & Co driver Andy Priaulx took the race win in his Lynk & Co 03 TCR. Second was SLR VW Motorsport driver Robert Huff in his Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR, he was four tenths of a second behind Priaulx in the end. While third place was Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport driver Jean-Karl Vernay in his Audi RS 3 LMS TCR, he was eleven tenths of a second behind Priaulx in the end.
Next stop Race of Malaysia at Sepang International Circuit, Sepang, Malaysia for Round Ten and the final round of the 2019 World Touring Car Cup season in four weeks time.
Review of round nineteen and the final round of the 2019 MotoGP season at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia for the Valencia 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 was Petronas Yamaha SRT rider Fabio Quartararo on his Yamaha YZR-M1, he was a second behind Marquez at the end.
While, third was Pramac Racing rider Jack Miller on his Ducati Desmosedici GP19, he was two and half seconds behind Marquez at the end of the race.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-three 765cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Brad Binder on the KTM.
Second was Dynavolt Intact GP rider Thomas Lüthi on the Kalex, he was seven tenths of a second behind Binder at the end. While, third was +Ego Speed Up rider Jorge Navarro on the Speed Up, he was a second behind Binder at the end.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Estrella Galicia 0,0 rider Sergio García on the Honda. Second was WorldWideRace rider Andrea Migno on the KTM, he was five thousandth of a second! behind García at the end.
While, third was Leopard Racing rider Xavier Artigas on the Honda, he was two tenths of a second behind García at the end.
Finally in the MotoE races (a single make class with all the riders riding the Energica Ego MotoE bike; new for 2019), Saturday's race was won by Avintia Esponsorama Racing rider Eric Granado. Second was One Energy Racing rider Bradley Smith, he was seven tenths of a second behind Granado at the end. While, third was Trentino Gresini MotoE rider Matteo Ferrari, he was three seconds behind Granado at the end.
For Sunday's race was won by Avintia Esponsorama Racing rider Eric Granado. Second was One Energy Racing rider Bradley Smith, he was half a second behind Granado at the end. While, third was Tech3 E-Racing rider Héctor Garzó, he was four seconds behind Granado at the end.
Finally, Trentino Gresini MotoE rider Matteo Ferrari finished in fifth place, he was seven and half seconds behind Granado at the end. Fifth place finish was enough to give Matteo Ferrari the 2019 MotoE title. Matteo Ferrari was 11 points ahead of Bradley Smith. Contracts to Matteo Ferrari for winning the MotoE championship.
Finally It was confirmed on Monday (18/11/19), Repsol Honda Team have sign Current Moto2 Champion Álex Márquez to replace Jorge Lorenzo who will leave the team and MotoGP at the end of the season when it was announced last week.
Márquez has sign on a one-year contract will join his brother MotoGP Champion Marc Márquez at the works Honda team going into 2020.
And so who won what in which class, MotoGP Champion: Marc Márquez, MotoGP Manufacturers' Champion: Honda, MotoGP Teams' Champion: Repsol Honda Team. Moto2 Champion: Álex Márquez, Moto2 Manufacturers' Champion: Kalex, Moto2 Teams' Champion: Flexbox HP40. Moto3 Champion: Lorenzo Dalla Porta, Moto3 Manufacturers' Champion: Honda and Moto3 Teams' Champion: Leopard Racing. And MotoE Champion: Matteo Ferrari.
