Race Weekend Central

5 Points To Ponder: Martinsville Madness

2018 Martinsville Cup Zach Catanzareti Ty Dillon

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

Martinsville Madness In the interests of full disclosure, there isn’t a track I enjoy more than the iconic Martinsville Speedway. For each of the last 12 seasons, I have had the pleasure of writing about the famed old paper clip. I like to make note of the fact that Martinsville hosted the sixth of eight …

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F1: Lewis Hamilton Qualifies for the Australian GP Where He Ended in 2018

Hamilton Bottas Australia

Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas celebrate the start of the 2019 season with a front row qualifying lock-out (credit: F1 media)

Lewis Hamilton starts where he left off from the 2018 season by claiming his sixth pole position at Melbourneʻs Albert Park. If you donʻt recall, Hamilton closed out last year by claiming pole and winning the race at Abu Dhabi to add an exclamation point to his fifth championship. After testing in Barcelona, it appeared …

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F1 Midweek: Team Orders & the Russian GP

Hamilton Bottas 2018 Russian Gp

Lewis Hamilton comforts Valtteri Bottas after the 2018 Russian GP (credit: F1 images)

The most recent Formula 1 race at Sochi, Russia (Sept. 30) should be a reminder of how disappointing the sport can get at times.  For those who follow on a consistent basis, the common letdown is that one manufacturer is so good that everyone else on the grid is trying to sort out who will …

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Team Orders Propel Lewis Hamilton to Russian Grand Prix Win

Lewis Hamilton celebrating his 2014 Russian GP win (credit: AP)

(Photo Credit: AP)

It was a team effort from the Mercedes AMG Petronas organization that handed championship leader Lewis Hamilton another victory. Valtteri Bottas led the first half of the race but a team order to allow Hamilton past handed the British driver his eighth win of the season and 70th of his Formula One career. Bottas finished …

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Lewis Hamilton Cruises To Victory in Hungary

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Lewis Hamilton out front (Photo: Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton was very cautious about the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, after taking pole position the previous day. But the Briton had no difficulties in controlling the race from the start and took his sixth win at this Hungaroring circuit by just over 17 seconds over rival Sebastian Vettel, with Kimi Raikkonen in third. …

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Hamilton Takes Pole On Rainy Circuit in Hungary

Lewis Hamilton 2703 630

(Photo: Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton had one more chance to qualify on pole at a rainy circuit Saturday afternoon at the Hungaroring in Budapest for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. The Briton took his last opportunity and came up with the best time of 1:35:658, ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen. For Hamilton, despite the …

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Happiness Is: Crickets, Compounds & Hungary

Pj1 Logo

PJ1 Trackbite - the saving grace for NASCAR? (credit: PJ1)

A reader noted that last week Happiness had posted information about the wrong Formula One grand prix. I made the error and corrected the column as soon as I saw the response, but it says something about fans of motorsports. You could call it being keen-eyed and passionate. The focus here isnʻt to note a …

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Lewis Hamilton Takes Advantage of Sebastian Vettel’s Error, Wins in Germany

Lewis Hamilton 2703 630

(Photo: Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton never thought he could be so lucky Sunday (July 22) at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim. But the Briton emerged an unlikely winner on what was a catastrophic day for rival Sebastian Vettel. Starting 14th, the Briton quickly moved up the grid. After a speedy start, late rain showers and a spin …

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Sebastian Vettel Breaks Track Record, Takes Pole in Germany

Para Sebastian Vettel Nao Ha Duvida A Pista De Sochi Favorece A Mercedes

(Photo: Getty Images)

Sebastian Vettel continued his quest for his fifth world championship by grabbing a last-minute track record pole position time of 1:11:212 to beat Finns Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen Saturday afternoon for Sunday’s German Grand Prix at Hockenheim. Vettel’s time was done with seconds to go in the final session, as Raikkonen previously cracked a …

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Bottas Edges Hamilton; Takes Third Career Pole in Austria

Lewis Hamilton Monaco

(Photo: Getty Images)

Valterri Bottas proved Saturday afternoon at the Red Bull Ring that this track was well suited for him, as the Finn took his first pole position of the season over Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton by just 0.019 seconds in preparation for Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg. Sebastian Vettel was third before receiving a three-place …

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F1 News: Hamilton, Bottas Lead Friday Practice Domination in Austria

Lewis Hamilton Monaco

(Photo: Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas were expected to dominate at this week’s Austrian Grand Prix, and on Friday, the two ran 1-2 in practice. Hamilton clocked a 1:04:579 fastest time of the day and Bottas finished second on the board, with Sebastian Vettel a distant third at the Red Bull Ring. Hamilton was 0.176 seconds …

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Sebastian Vettel Dominates in Canada, Takes Championship Lead

Sebastian Vettel F1 Shield Silverstone 2017

(Photo: Getty Images)

Sebastian Vettel capped off what could have been a disappointing weekend, as the German not only won pole but dominated from start to finish the Canadian Grand Prix Sunday afternoon, winning the race by 5.7 seconds over Valtteri Bottas with Max Verstappen picking up valuable points in third. The victory by Vettel now puts the Ferrari …

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