The Phuket News
Window on Phuket Phuket News TV Phuket Live 89.5 Where to Eat
The Phuket News Novosti Phuket Khao Phuket

Login | Create Account | Search

Window on Phuket
Phuket News TV
The Phuket News
Where to Eat
Phuket Live 89.5
Login | Create Account      The Phuket News Novosti Phuket Khao Phuket
Poll | Currency | Weather | Facebook | Youtube | Search
Hamilton takes record-breaking pole in Abu Dhabi
Hamilton takes record-breaking pole in Abu Dhabi
FORMULA ONE: Lewis Hamilton has broken the Abu Dhabi track records to claim his fifth pole position of 2019 in the final grand prix of the year.
Where to next for Ferrari's painful luxury
Where to next for Ferrari's painful luxury
FORMULA ONE: Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has his work cut out healing an ever increasing rift between drivers Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi this weekend
Breezing through Brazil
Breezing through Brazil
  The 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix was Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen’s most complete weekend of the season, but their exploits were overshadowed by the drama that engulfed the field behind him. While Verstappen spent most of the race serenely leading the pack, the configuration of the podium changed five times in the last 20 laps and even once more after the chequered flag. There was carnage aplenty for podium hopefuls. Valtteri Bottas’ engine went up in smoke on lap 52. The Ferrari drivers crashed into other on lap 65 and retired. And Lewis Hamilton punted Alex Albon off the road on the penultimate lap, sending the Thai tumbling to 14th and himself to seventh with a penalty. But through the debris rocketed Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly and McLaren’s Carlos Sainz to complete an unlikely podium finish. Gasly’s performance was every bit as assured as Verstappen’s. Fastest of the midfielders in qualifying, he comfortably held the best-of-the-rest position throughout the race, ensuring he could capitalise on the chaos that unfolded ahead of him. His best-ever result culminated in a side-by-side final-lap drag with Hamilton to the chequered flag to beat the world champion by just 0.062 seconds before the Briton’s post-race penalty. It was an emphatic demonstration of the Frenchman’s talent after his star fizzled during 12 lacklustre races with Red Bull Racing. He was demoted to Toro Rosso in August for his struggles, where this week it was confirmed he’ll remain for 2020, but with his Sao Paulo performance he dared the sport to remember his name. “It’s just the best day of my life,” an overjoyed Gasly said. “I didn’t think this would happen, coming back with Toro Rosso during the second part of the season. I just kept working on myself, tried to push the team as much as I could, telling them we need to make the best out of all the opportunities… and today it just came to us.” Whereas Gasly’s race was controlled, Sainz’s was a spectacle, recovering 17 places to the podium. The Spaniard was forced to start from 20th place after engine problems in qualifying, but the McLaren driver picked up seven places in eight laps with some gutsy, no-holds-barred overtaking, and at the first pit stop window he was ninth. But whereas his rivals subsequently made second stops for new rubber, Sainz expertly managed his ageing medium tyres for an unmatched 42 laps. He rose to eighth at the first safety car, and fourth place came to him as the frontrunners tripped over themselves, with Hamilton’s penalty promoting him to third. It’s poignant to consider both Sainz and race-winner Verstappen were Toro Rosso rookies in 2015. While the Spaniard perhaps lacked the ultimate speed of the Dutchman, he was in other respects his equal – but a paucity of opportunity in the Red Bull programme sent him packing first to Renault and then McLaren. At Woking he’s made himself a popular fixture as the famous English team rebuilds from its unsuccessful Honda years, and claiming the team’s first podium since 2014 ensures him a legacy in that project. “To get it coming from last is very, very special,” Sainz told Sky Sports. “I cannot thank enough the team and everyone involved in this because so far this year has been a dream come true and last but not least we got the podium.” It was a fitting way for Formula One to open its two season-ending championship dead rubbers and a timely reminder that even in times of domination the sport boasts talent to turn any race into a nailbiting thriller.
Verstappen best in bizarre Brazil
Verstappen best in bizarre Brazil
FORMULA ONE: Max Verstappen has led an unlikely Honda one-two with Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly in a chaotic conclusion to the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Verstappen controls pole at Brazilian GP Qualifying
Verstappen controls pole at Brazilian GP Qualifying
FORMULA ONE; Max Verstappen has dominated qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix to take his second career pole position in Formula One.
Alex Albon confirmed at Red Bull Racing for 2020
Alex Albon confirmed at Red Bull Racing for 2020
FORMULA ONE: Thai driver Alex Albon has been confirmed as Max Verstappen’s teammate at the race-winning Red Bull Racing squad for the 2020 Formula One season.
Hamilton wins sixth title with second place finish
Hamilton wins sixth title with second place finish
FORMULA ONE: Lewis Hamilton has won his sixth world championship by finishing second to teammate and vanquished title contender Valtteri Bottas with a gutsy performance at the United States Grand Prix.
Hamilton wins Mercedes’s 100th race with Mexican masterclass
Hamilton wins Mercedes’s 100th race with Mexican masterclass
FORMULA ONE: Lewis Hamilton has recovered from a first-lap crash and floor damage to win Mercedes’s 100th grand prix victory and put one hand on the drivers championship.
Mercedes unstoppable on march to historic sixth
Mercedes unstoppable on march to historic sixth
FORMULA ONE: The rain thundered from the heavens and a gale thrashed Suzuka Circuit as Typhoon Hagibis plundered Japan, but no storm could prevent Mercedes fulfilling its destiny.
Mercedes wins team title with Suzuka one-two
Mercedes wins team title with Suzuka one-two
FORMULA ONE: Valtteri Bottas has cruised to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix to win Mercedes a record-equalling sixth constructors championship and guarantee the team a historic sixth drivers-constructors title double.
Mercedes fastest in Japan as Typhoon Hagibis postpones qualifying
Mercedes fastest in Japan as Typhoon Hagibis postpones qualifying
FORMULA ONE: Valtteri Bottas has pipped teammate Lewis Hamilton to the fastest time of Friday (October 11) practice in what could become the qualifying order for the typhoon-affected Japanese Grand Prix.
Honda returns home with victory in sight
Honda returns home with victory in sight
FORMULA ONE: Honda, for so many years the laughing stock of Formula One engine manufacturers for its unreliable and underpowered motors, will start its home Japanese Grand Prix with an eye to propelling Red Bull Racing onto the top of the podium.
Ferrari trapped in team orders turmoil after Russian ructions
Ferrari trapped in team orders turmoil after Russian ructions
FORMULA ONE: It’s deeply ironic that after three hard-fought victories in a row, Ferrari’s most convincing weekend in 2019 ended in bitter defeat.
Hamilton beats luckless Ferrari in Russia
Hamilton beats luckless Ferrari in Russia
FORMULA ONE: Lewis Hamilton has led teammate Valtteri Bottas to a Mercedes one-two finish at the Russian Grand Prix after a Ferrari technical failure robbed the Italian team of victory.
Leclerc dominates Russian qualifying for Ferrari
Leclerc dominates Russian qualifying for Ferrari
FORMULA ONE: Charles Leclerc has become the first Ferrari driver in almost 20 years to take four pole positions in succession after dominating qualifying for the Russian Grand Prix.
Emotional renaissance breathes life back into Vettel
Emotional renaissance breathes life back into Vettel
FORMULA ONE: Sebastian Vettel is famously intensely private, but there was no hiding his emotions on the Singapore Grand Prix podium.
Vettel wins at last in Singapore Grand Prix
Vettel wins at last in Singapore Grand Prix
FORMULA ONE: Sebastian Vettel has taken his first win of the season by beating Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc on strategy at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Leclerc on pole in shock Ferrari resurgence
Leclerc on pole in shock Ferrari resurgence
FORMULA ONE: Charles Leclerc has stormed to a third pole position in a row after Ferrari stunned to usurp Mercedes at the head of the grid.
Mercedes in box seat after Singapore practice
Mercedes in box seat after Singapore practice
FORMULA ONE: Lewis Hamilton has led the way in practice for the Singapore Grand Prix in a session that promised a close fight with Max Verstappen for pole position.
Red Bull bucking for Singapore
Red Bull bucking for Singapore
FORMULA ONE: Any Ferrari fans still revelling in Charles Leclerc’s drought-breaking victory at Monza two weeks ago best prepare themselves for an inevitable return to earth ahead of what’s likely to be a painful weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix.