F1 Newsbites – Abu Dhabi GP Edition.
Nicholas Latifi, #40, ROKiT Williams Racing, FW42, in action during Free Practice 1 at the Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Prix Du Canada 2019, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. F1 Newsbites - Abu Dhabi GP Edition.
F1 Newsbites – Abu Dhabi GP Edition
F1 Newsbites – Abu Dhabi GP Edition is here! Let’s take a look at the latest news from the Yas Marina Circuit in our final F1 Newsbites for the year.
F1 Abu Dhabi GP News – Latifi confirmed alongside Russell at Williams for 2020
ROKiT Williams Racing overnight announced that Nicholas Latifi will partner George Russell for the 2020 FIA Formula One World Championship season.
Latifi impressed the Grove-based outfit as it’s reserve driver, taking part in several tests and Free Practice 1 sessions across the current campaign.
The Canadian has fully integrated into the role, spending plenty of time with the team both trackside and at the factory, providing quality feedback for development of both the FW42 and FW43.
The 24-year-old has had a successful run in the junior categories, winning multiple races in feeder series – Formula 2 for DAMS and mounted a strong challenge in the current season where he currently sits second in the championship on 194 points ahead of this weekend’s season finale.
Prior to this, Latifi also completed in Formula Renault 3.5 and the FIA Formula 3 World Championship.
You can read the full statements from Latifi and ROKiT Williams Racing’s Team Principal Claire Williams at the following link: https://www.williamsf1.com/racing/news/2019/11/rokit-williams-racing-confirms-nicholas-latifi-as-race-driver-for-2020
F1 Abu Dhabi GP News – Bottas to start Abu Dhabi GP season finale at the rear
Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport’s Valtteri Bottas will have a long Sunday evening at the Abu Dhabi GP, with the Brackley-based squad forced to change power-unit components to his F1 W10 EQ Power+ racer, meaning he will start at the back of the pack.
Bottas suffered Mercedes’ first mechanical failure since the Austria 2018 at last round’s Brazilian Grand Prix, as the Finn’s Silver Arrow experienced a sudden oil consumption rise before he was forced to peel off track.
Ahead of the final race at the Yas Marina Circuit, Mercedes opted to replace Bottas’ internal combustion engine, turbocharger and MGU-H components.
The amount of grid penalties from those changes will make it a tough order for the Finn to repeat his 2017 victory in Abu Dhabi, with the Grand Prix winner having never won from lower than fourth on the grid – whilst this season will now mark for the first time since 2014 that Mercedes will not lockout the front row at the Yas Marina.
Before this weekend, meanwhile, Bottas had been the only driver not to have been given a grid penalty of some sort this year.
F1 Abu Dhabi GP News – Honda to power Red Bull and Toro Rosso in 2021
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso will enter Formula 1’s new rules and regulation era in 2021 with Honda-power after both teams confirmed they have extended their contracts with the Japanese manufacturer.
Toro Rosso were the first of the two Red Bull-owned teams to become powered by Honda back in 2018, before the senior squad followed suit a season later in 2019, signing a two-year deal up to the end of the 2020 campaign.
After an impressive 2019 season that saw three victories and five podiums so far for Red Bull and two surprise podiums for Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly, both teams have agreed with Honda to continue their partnership in 2021 when Formula 1 undergoes it’s largest ever overhaul of rules and regulation changes for 2021.
Honda had been weighing up their options whether or not to commit to Formula 1 beyond the 2020 campaign and were focused on seeing the draft 2021 regulations before making the final decision.
It remains uncertain however, if the Japanese powerhouse will stay in the sport long-term, but the news confirms Honda will be around for at least another season beyond next year.
Meanwhile, last time in Brazil, Verstappen’s triumph and Gasly’s second place finish marked for the first time that Honda-powered cars enjoyed a one-two finish in a race since the 1991 Japanese Grand Prix when Gerhard Berger lead home McLaren team-mate Ayrton Senna.
F1 Abu Dhabi GP News – Leclerc looks ahead to this weekend’s Abu Dhabi GP season finale
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was called in to take part in the final press conference for the season in Abu Dhabi and questioned about the incident last time out at the Brazilian Grand Prix and stated the matter was all cleared up.
“Myself and Mattia and Seb all had a chat about it to clear the matter up and it all took place in a calm and united way,” Leclerc explained. “We know that what happened in Interlagos must never happen again, even if with hindsight, it’s clear there was quite a bit of bad luck involved, because the contact was very light, but the consequences were enormous.”
Leclerc also reflected on the 2019 campaign and what the Monegasque-youngster is hoping to get out of the final Grand Prix of the year.
“I’d have to say that, even if the beginning of the championship did not go as we would have liked, overall it’s been a great first year for me with Scuderia Ferrari.” Leclerc continued. “I will never forget the wins in Spa and Monza and now it will be good to give it my all right to the final corner of the final lap.”
“I know finishing third will be hard,” admitted the Monegasque. “But there’s nothing to lose and I’ll be trying absolutely everything.” Leclerc concluded.
F1 Newsbites – Hulkenberg’s final race with Renault
After 61 Grands Prix for the Anglo-French squad, Nico Hulkenberg heads into the final race with Renault this weekend in Abu Dhabi.
The German has clocked up 149 points for the team since joining in 2017 and is aiming to score a good points finish in his final outing at the Yas Marina Circuit.
“This season has admittedly had its fair share of ups and downs,” explained Hulkenberg. “Obviously, my seventh-place finish in Australia was a positive way to kick start the season for us, and the results we delivered in Canada, and later Monza, shows the progress we’ve made on tracks where a strong power unit is essential.”
“Overall, I would say we’ve learnt a lot and can be confident of finishing the season well in Abu Dhabi.”
Hulkenberg looks at the challenges the Yas Marina Circuit has.
“Yas Marina is an interesting circuit. It’s a long lap with three contrasting sectors, which makes it difficult to find a rhythm. You aim to get comfortable straight away there and find a smooth balance on the car.”
“There’s a sweet spot on set-up to find with a couple of straights and also some medium to high-speed corners, especially in the last sector. As always, we’ll be aiming for a good start on Friday to ensure we’re in the best position for the rest of the weekend.”
The German is looking forward to finishing the season off in Abu Dhabi and aims to help Renault secure fifth place in the Constructors Championship with a going points haul.
Hulkenberg also reflected on his time with the Anglo-French squad.
“It’s been three memorable years for me at Renault,” Hulkenberg continued. “There have been highs and lows, but I’ve enjoyed my time as a driver here.”
“We’ve had some great results and some ‘nearly’ moments, all of which I’ll remember for a very long time. I’d like to thank everyone at the team including my engineers and mechanics for all their effort over the last 61 races. We have one more to go and we’ll be giving it our all for the best possible result.” Hulkenberg concluded.
Hulkenberg has yet to decide his future on where he will race or which team he will link up with next season.
Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi GP 2019 Press Conference Schedule
FRIDAY, 29 NOVEMBER, 1500 HOURS LOCAL TIME
- Mattia Binotto (Scuderia Ferrari)
- Zak Brown (McLaren Racing)
- Toto Wolff (Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport)
- Cyril Abiteboul (Renault F1 Team)
- Claire Williams (ROKiT Williams Racing)
SATURDAY, 30 NOVEMBER, POST-QUALIFYING
- Three fastest drivers from Qualifying
SUNDAY, 1 DECEMBER, POST-RACE
- First three finishing drivers
You can read this weekend’s Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2019 race preview at the following link:
