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2013 Singapore GP: Qualifying report

2013 Singapore Grand Prix

Sebatsian Vettel has once again shown his and Red Bull’s dominance over the rest of the field by claiming pole position for tonight’s Singapore Grand Prix. The three-time world champion played with his contemporaries by choosing to set just one flying lap in final qualifying (1:42.841) and despite some tense final moments it proved enough to give him P1.

Vettel has been quick all weekend and is chasing a third successive win at Marina Bay, so claiming pole was no surprise. However, Mark Webber wasn’t happy to have qualified fourth (1:43.152), behind Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG, 1:42.932) and Romain Grosjean (Lotus, 1:43.058).

“I’m a bit disappointed to be fourth,” Webber said, “It’s quite tight and there were some good lap times being set. We’re on the second row, it would have been better to have been on the front row, but it’s a long race tomorrow and we can do something from there. We’ve got a very good race car. It was hard to match Seb in the last sector; he’s always been strong in Turns 20 and 21.”

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes AMG, 1:43.254) will start from the third row, with Felipe Massa (Ferrari, 1:43.890) alongside him. We’re quite sure Fernando Alonso (Ferrari, 1:43.938) won’t be quite as amused as us to see he will start the race behind his teammate, from P7. Although, we’re also quite sure Fernando will finish the race ahead of Massa.

Esetban Guiterrez (Sauber) was the star of Q2, comfortably getting himself into the final qualifying session. But he figured his job was done and he did not set a time in Q3 and will start from P10.

Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso, 1:44.439) once again edged his car into Q3. He’ll start from ninth, three places ahead of teammate Jean-Eric Vergne.

“That was not an easy session and we had to work harder here to get to Q3 than we did in a few other races where we have managed it,” explained Daniel. “I was a bit disappointed not to get a little bit more time out of my lap in Q3, with Jenson a couple of tenths ahead and it would have been nice to get that.

“As for the race, the guys who went out in Q2 might have a little bit of a tyre advantage, so let’s hope that doesn’t have too much influence tomorrow. We will race as hard as we can and hope to stay in the points.”

Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) was perhaps the surprise of qualifying, missing out on Q3. He’s down in P13 and can put his woes down to a bad back apparently.

The full transcript from the post-quali press conference can be read after the break.

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2013 Italian Grand Prix in pictures

2013 Italian Grand Prix

Here’s your photo reminder of the Italian Grand Prix. The many goings on at the Frankfurt Motor Show mean you’ve had to wait a few extra days, which is why we’ve assembled over 110 photos for you to enjoy.

We liked the pics of McLaren’s 50th anniversary celebrations. And we’d have loved to score an invite to hear Mark Webber talking about his last European grand prix too.

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Mercedes-Benz Motor Shows

Frankfurt 2013: Mercedes Concept S Class Coupé

Mercedes-Benz Concept S Class Coupe

Mercedes-Benz has brought its vision for the next S Class Coupé to Frankfurt and for the most part we think it looks pretty good.

Typically the S Class Coupé is a big car and this concept model is no different. It’s over five metres long, almost two metres wide and 1.4 metres tall. Power comes from a 4.6 litre V8 biturbo producing 455bhp/700Nm.

Based on the new S Class saloon, some of the technology in the Concept S Class Coupé sounds pretty cool. We like the sound of Magic body control, well, who wouldn’t! A pair of cameras scans the road ahead to anticipate bumps and undulations and then alters the suspension setup to provide the best ride possible.

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

VIDEO: Nico Rosberg talks about his helmet

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG

Nico Rosberg from Mercedes AMG has taken time out to talk to about the features of his helmet. It’s short and sweet and you might even learn something!

[Source: Wired]

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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes CLA 45 AMG Racing Series concept revealed

Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG Racing Series concept

If you thought the Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG was pretty cool, you’re going to love this Racing Series concept. At this stage it’s little more than a litmus test to see how interested the customer racing market responds to the car.

Technical specs for the CLA 45 AMG Racing Series are being kept deliberately flexible for now, but it starts with the same 265kW/450Nm 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder engine from the road car, along with the 7-speed DCT gearbox.

It can be prepared with all-wheel drive or brought back to front-wheel drive if category restrictions applied. As an example, the car could race in the VLN series around the Nürburgring.

The body panels of the Racing Series are made from CFRP and the wider track results in aggressively flared wheel arches along with the handling benefits that come with such geometry changes. The interior of the car is fully race prepped, including racing buckets seats and a roll cage.

AMG brand ambassador Bernd Schneider was involved in the development of the concept and we hope to see this model flying around the world’s racetracks very soon. If nothing else, we’d expect Mercedes to enter a couple in next year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race.

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2013 Belgian Grand Prix in pictures

2013 Belgian Grand Prix

Here’s your lot, recapturing Vettel’s dominance, from the scenic Ardennes mountains. It’s a majestic circuit in a beautiful location. Everyone loves Spa-Francorchamps!

We loved Mark Webber’s scenic bike ride and we also loved the many views of Eau Rouge. It’s easy to dismiss the corner in these times when an F1 car can just nail it flat down the hill and over the blind crest of Radillon.

You probably need to see it with your own eyes to appreciate just how steep that climb is. How fearsome it would be, flat out in an F1 car, heading into the unknown searching for the relative safety of the Kemmel Straight. We can only imagine the feeling one’s body would experience with the fluctuation of G forces and messages being fired into your brain from your watering eyes.

Just amazing.

Knowing what we know now about the Greenpeace protest, it’s also interesting to see the evidence of the signs being installed as the cars were lining up on the grid to start the race.

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Ferrari Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing

2013 Belgian GP: Post-race press conference

2013 Belgian Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel explains the tale of Belgian Grand Prix victory lay in a good opening lap. “It helped the first lap to have the tow off Lewis through Eau Rouge and then I was flying,” he said. “Once I passed him we had incredible pace and really could control the race until the end.”

Finishing in fifth place wasn’t part of Mark Webber’s plans in his final F1 appearance at Spa. “The two practice starts before the race weren’t great and so we were a bit worried about the clutch going to the start, which put us on to the back foot,” Mark said. “We tried our best, but lost a couple of rows off the line which is not good. We then had to try and clear people on the track, which was difficult, as we had set up the top gear to race in clean air, rather than to pass. The bad start put us out of position and it snowballs from there, as you use up the tyres trying to getting to back into position.”

Meanwhile Daniel Ricciardo was happy to finish in the points after starting from P19. “It was nice to get that point! We ran a long first stint on the Hards and I think that helped us build a good base to have a strong pace in the final stints on the Medium,” Daniel explained. “I felt much more comfortable on the Option tyre and that’s when my race really started. With the last set of tyres I was knocking out maybe ten or so qualifying laps and managed to pick off some cars in front to bring home that crucial point.”

The full transcript of the post-race press conference featuring the first three drivers can be read after the break.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Ferrari Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing

Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 Belgian GP

Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 Belgian Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel cruised to an easy victory at the 2013 Belgian Grand Prix. The Red Bull ace had to work hard on the first lap to overtake pole sitter Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes AMG) but once that was done he remained unchallenged.

Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) was the big improver the head of the field, finishing second after starting from P9. Lewis Hamilton had to content himself with P3.

Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG) finished where he started in P4, while Mark Webber (Red Bull) dropped two places to finish fifth. Although, there was word just before the race began that Webber had clutch issues which may explain his slow getaway off the line and why he dropped three places after the first lap.

Toro Rosso will be pleased that their drivers made good ground after their qualifying woes. Starting from P19 Daniel Ricciardo managed to fight his way to P10 to claim a championship point, while Jean-Eric Vergne improved from P18 to P12.

Aside from a bit of a kerfuffle with Pastor Maldonado (Williams) and the two Force India drivers which sent Paul di Resta in for an early shower not much else happened.

Tonight’s win is Vettel’s 31st career victory which places him equal fifth on the all-time tally alongside Nigel Mansell. What odds he’ll join Fernando Alonso on 32 wins at Monza in a couple of weeks?

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VIDEO: 1955 Belgian Grand Prix

1955 Belgian Grand Prix

Shell is celebrating its associtation with the 2013 Belgian Grand Prix by transporting us back in time to the 1955 race. They do this by making available a 30 minute documentary of the race and we suggest you find the time to watch before tonight’s instalment if you can.

It’s fair to say a lot has changed in Formula 1 in the last 58 years, as the image above shows. We’re sure you’ll recognise it but in case you don’t the photo is taken at the old pit complex, on the downhill run after La Source and you can see Eau Rouge and Radillion in the background.

Yes, that is a dog running across the track. No, there is no barrier between the track and pit lane. And, yes, it is raining at Spa! Although, that photo was taken during qualifying and the race was run in brilliant sunshine.

The race was completed on the old 14km Spa-Francorchamps layout and only Blanchimont, La Source and Eau Rouge/Radillion remain from the original layout. You can compare the old and current circuits HERE.

All that’s left to do now is sit back, relax and enjoy finding out how Juan Manuel Fangio went about claiming his fifteenth F1 victory.

[Thanks to Wes for the tip]

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Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing

2013 Belgian GP: Qualifying report

2013 Belgian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes AMG) surprised himself to finish on top after qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix overnight. It was an exciting session in which constantly changing weather conditions kept drivers and teams on their toes.

Starting with Q1, all teams began on intermediate tyres and a natural order was taking place. Rain stopped falling during Q1 and the track began to dry out. Late in the session Giedo van der Garde (Caterham) risked slick tyres, putting on a set of new mediums. It resulted in him setting the third fastest time in Q1. Casualties, failing to proceed to Q2, were both Williams and the Toro Rosso pairing, including Daniel Ricciardo.

“That was down to bad timing more than anything else,” explained Daniel. “We went out too early for that second run and by the second lap, the tyres were already worn and that was when the track conditions were at their best. Obviously, it’s very frustrating, but now all we can do is put it behind us and concentrate on tomorrow. We have to learn from this and make sure we get it right next time.”

The middle session was dry and there were no surprises as to who made the final 10. But Q3 was when the real fun began. All drivers, except Paul di Resta (Force India), went out on slicks and by the end of their out laps all nine drivers came straight back in for inters as the rain began to fall. Meanwhile, di Resta was out in what was expected to be the best of the conditions and with the track to himself he set a time he hoped would be enough for pole (2:02.332).

For a while that seemed to be the case as well, for the next few minutes no drivers really got close. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG, 2:02.332)  posted a quality lap to just pip di Resta and then the track began to dry again. It was still wet enough for intermediate tyres and as the final three drivers crossed the line all indications were they would be fighting for pole.

First to cross the line was Mark Webber (Red Bull, 2:01.325) who claimed provisional pole. Moments later that was bettered by his teammate Sebastian Vettel (2:01.200), whose time in the spotlight lasted until Lewis Hamilton (2:01.012) crossed the line and claimed his fourth consecutive pole position. It’s Lewis’ fifth pole for the year and the 31st of his career.

The full post-quali transcript with the top three drivers can be read after the break.

[Pic: Mercedes AMG]

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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes A45 AMG Black Series spied

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG Black Series

Are you sitting down? You really should sit down for this. Mercedes-Benz funsters AMG are turning the wick up even further on the A45 AMG hyper hatch. Not content with an obviously piss weak 265kW from their 2.0 four pot, they’re planning to stuff 300kW inside the donk before releasing it in an A45 AMG Black Series.

Three hundred kilowatts. Three-zero-zero. From a 2.0 litre four cylinder. Holy crap!

As well as the boost of 35kW over the standard A45 AMG, torque will be given a 50Nm nudge to a new max of 500Nm. This is a hatchback remember, with power to embarrass supercars of only a few years ago. Never mind that, a 911 Carrera S only has 294kW. This thing will be totally nuts. We love it!

To be fair it’s all speculation at this stage with nobody from the three-pointed star willing to offer any insight into this test mule. However, the flared guards do tend to indicate there’s more to this A45 that meets the eye.

[Source: Drive.com.au | Thanks to Richard for the tip]

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Mercedes-Benz

A closer look at the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG

Here’s a couple of videos bringing you closer to the amazing Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG. You’ll hear a lot of statistics on the A45 AMG in these clips, but it’s still hard to go past the headline figures of 265kW and 450Nm. All that grunt comes from an otherwise modest 2.0 litre four pot remember!

In actual fact, looking at the pics above the engine appears rather bland. But as you’ll hear at the end of the first clip, when a CLA 45 AMG drives off, the engine’s bark certainly matches its bite!

The second clip takes a closer look at the A45 AMG Edition 1. And the third video was filmed from where many of us would like to be, behind the wheel!

[Thanks to John for the tip]

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