After almost two weeks of interruption the Formula championship 1 returned to action with the 15th round of the season hosted in Japan. Jenson Button and Mark Webber were the fastest of the first two free practices, showing that McLaren and Red Bull will set the pace in Suzuka as well.

Good morning Button! 

In the first period of free practice at the Suzuka circuit, Jenson Button lapped faster than his rivals. Last year's Japanese grand prix winner set the fastest time at his... second home, leaving his stablemate behind, Lewis Hamilton.

Mark Weber completed the top three, with the Mercedes duo following in fourth and fifth with Rosberg and Schumacher, respectively.

The leader of the standings did the eleventh year, Fernando Alonso, with Kimi Raikkonen completing the proceedings in 13th.

The weather conditions were very good in the first period with the drivers having the opportunity to test both Pirelli tires, hard and soft. In the first tests Lotus tried the double DRS.

The times of the first period in detail: 

1.Baton, McLaren, 1m34.507s
2.Hamilton, McLaren, + 0.233
3.Weber, Red Bull, + 0.349
4.Rosberg, Mercedes,+ 0.552
5.Schumacher, Mercedes, + 0.615
6.Kobayashi, Sauber, + 0.692
7.Scoff, Ferrari,+ 0.776
8.Di Resta, Force India, + 0.792
9.Hulkenberg, Force India, + 0.967
10.Maldonado, Williams, + 0.971
11.Alonso, Ferrari, + 0.977
12.Days, Sauber, + 1.077
13.Raikkonen, Lotus, + 1.184
14.Grosjean, Lotus, + 1.217
15.Ricardo, Red Bull, + 1.616
16.Vernier, Red Bull, + 1.715
17. Vettel, Red Bull, + 1.859
18.Boots, Williams, + 1.882
19.Glock, Marussia, + 3.209
20.Petrov, Caterham, + 3.788
21.Pic, Marussia, + 4.109
22.Karthikeyan, HRT, + 4.536
23.Van der Garde, Caterham, + 4.867
24.De la Rosa, HRT, + 5.181

Weber series! 

With the people creating a very nice atmosphere, filling the stands of Suzuka, the second period of free trials took place. Mark Webber set the fastest time, leaving Lewis Hamilton behind.

The one-three was made by Red Bull with Sebastian Vettel placing third.

Unlike the first period, which developed smoothly, in the second, Paul di Resta, Michael Schumacher and Vitaly Petrov, had an exit as a result of which their cars were "hurt"..

Fernando Alonso's pace was obviously better in the second period, making the fifth year, behind Nico Hulkenberg's Force India.

Kimi Raikkonen had a problem with the KERS system , who spent a lot of time in the pits with his mechanics trying to fix it.

The times of the second period in detail: 

1.Weber, Red Bull,1:32.493
2.Hamilton, McLaren, + 0.214
3.Vettel, Red Bull, + 0.343
4.Hulkenberg, Force India,+ 0.494
5.Alonso, Ferrari, + 0.600
6.Grosjean, Lotus, +0.614
7.Baton, McLaren, +0.856
8.You, Williams, +1.006
9.Scoff, Ferrari,+ 1.121
10.Schumacher, Mercedes, + 1.215
11.Rosberg, Mercedes,+ 1.373
12.Days, Sauber, + 1.410
13.Kobayashi, Sauber, + 1.490
14.Raikkonen, Lotus, + 1.798
15.Maldonado, Williams, + 1.807
16.Ricardo, Red Bull, + 2.370
17. Vernier, Red Bull, + 2.587
18.Kovalainen, Caterham, +3.218
19.Petrov, Caterham, + 3.377
20. Glock, Marussia, + 3.701
21.Pic, Marussia, + 4.143
22.De la Rosa, HRT, + 4.849
23.Karthikeyan, HRT, + 5.208
24. Di Resta, Force India

Source : sport-fm.gr

Holidays are over!

Now the heads in... After a month break from the Formula One championship 1, teams and drivers prepare to return to the grids for the second and decisive part of the season that will also decide the champion.

Motorsport's crown jewels will return to action with the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit Spa (31 August – 2 September) and in the nine remaining matches (Belgium, Italy, Singapore, Japan, Korea, India, Abu Dhabi, USA, Brazil) they will challenge for the World title.

In the drivers' championship, Fernando Alonso is in first place, having 40 points clear of runner-up Mark Webber. The Spanish pilot despite the fact that - as he himself states- he doesn't have a competitive enough car at his disposal, he is the only pilot to have seen the checkered flag three times (Malaysia, Valencia and Germany).

A tie battle is expected later in the championship, since Webber and Vettel are just two points apart (Weber 124- Vettel 122) with the two-time world champion having climbed to the top step of the podium just once and three overall (21st in Australia and 3rd in Britain).

However, the battles continue in the lower positions with Hamilton in fourth place, being only one point clear of fifth very good, Kimi Raikkonen.

Jenson Button wants to put the misfortunes of the first part of the season behind him, finishing four times outside the top ten.

Pilot rating: 

1. Alonso, 164
2. Weber, 124
3. Vettel, 122
4. Hamilton, 117
5. Raikkonen, 116
6. Rosberg, 77
7. Grosjean, 76
8. Baton, 76
9. Days,47
10. Kobayashi, 33
11. Maldonado, 29
12. Schumacher, 29
13. Di Resta, 27
14. Scoff, 25
15. You, 24
16. Hulkenberg, 19
17. Vernier, 4
18. Ricardo, 2

Manufacturer rating: 

1. Red Bull, 246
2. McLaren, 196
3. Lotus- Renault, 192
4. Ferrari, 189
5. Mercedes, 106
6. Sauber, 80
7. Williams, 53
8. Force India, 46
9. Red Bull, 6

Source : sport-fm.gr

Fernando Alonso called it an important test for the continuation of the championship, the seventh round of her championship Formula 1, who will be hosted in Canada.

The Spanish pilot emphasized that the Ferrari will have upgrades at the Montreal circuit, as they want to improve, to achieve their purpose, which is none other than to stay at the top of the standings, until the last grand prix.

"I think we have improved the car in some areas, from the start of the season and the Canadian Grand Prix, it will be a very important test.

Fortunately, this week we will be competitive and that will be very important for us, not just for this fight, but also for the rest of the season", were Alonso's words, who then added.

"Being at the top of the standings, it's just the beginning, as our main goal is to be first after the Brazilian Grand Prix next November.

It is a big championship and after the first six grands prix, we might have gotten enough points to be first, but we know we have to improve", added the Spanish pilot.

They are satisfied in Ferrari, after the sixth round of the season on the streets of Monte Carlo. And how could it not be, since Fernando Alonso is at the top of the championship, three points clear of her pilots Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

In fact, after the end of the grand prix in the Principality, Scuderia wrote on twitter that the best fighter is the one who wins the war and not a battle.

"The best fighter wins the war, not the battles…”, Ferrari wrote. The two-time World Champion has seen the checkered flag at the Malaysian Grand Prix, he has finished in the top ten at all six grands prix, while in the last two (Spain, Monaco) he's up on the podium.

Fernando Alonso's results in detail:

1. Australia, 5o
2. Malaysia, 1o
3. China, 9o
4. Bahrain, 7o
5. Spain, 2o
6. Monaco, 3o

Pilot rating:

1. Alonso, 76
2. Vettel, 73
3. Weber, 73
4. Hamilton, 63
5. Rosberg, 59
6. Raikkonen, 51
7. Baton, 45

Source : sport-fm.gr

The return of the French Grand Prix to the calendar of the Formula 1 championship must be considered almost certain, as Bernie Ecclestone announced. The commercial director of the crown jewel of motorsport emphasized that the deal has been closed, while some details remain.

"The deal is closed. We have agreed the financial terms with the minister, David Dwight. Yet, we have some details to discuss, but there's no doubt we'll find it", were Ecclestone's words.

France has to host the Formula One 1 from 2009, while with this agreement the pilots will race at the Paul Ricard circuit for five years (2013, 2015,2017,2019 and 2021).

Source : sport-fm.gr