Tag Archives: podiums

Sergio Perez: The lowdown on Lewis Hamilton"s McLaren replacement

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So, just who is Sergio Perez Lowdown on Hamilton's replacement at McLaren

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UPDATED:

15:20 GMT, 28 September 2012

From a rookie to a potential world champion in just two seasons, Sergio Perez's rise in F1 has been nothing short of remarkable.

Lewis Hamilton will join Mercedes next season on a three-year deal but McLaren have already moved quickly to sign the 22-year-old Perez from Sauber to partner Jenson Button next season.

The McLaren team principal, Martin Whitmarsh, said: 'We've been monitoring his progress carefully for some months. A string of giant-killing performances, a trio of podiums and a brilliant fastest lap in this year's Monaco Grand Prix that showed us that Sergio lacks nothing in terms of speed and commitment.

Champagne moment: Perez will replace Hamilton at McLaren next term

Champagne moment: Perez will replace Hamilton at McLaren next term

'Uniting Sergio alongside Jenson will give us a very broad base of driver ability.'

But just who is the 'The Mexican Wunderkind' from Guadalajara who will attempt to fill Hamilton's boots

As the first ever member of the Ferrari academy to graduate into Formula One, Sergio Perez has caught the eye in his first two seasons.

It is no surprise that the Mexican was top of McLaren's wish-list in the event Hamilton was to leave.

Perez's promising racing career began in 2004 competing in the Skip Barber series. The following season he moved to Europe and spent two years in the German Formula BMW championship.

On track: Perez made his Formula One debut in 2010

On track: Perez made his Formula One debut in 2010

Phil Duncan F1 blog

He then progressed to GP2, finishing on the podium in both races at Valencia and ending the year 12th.

The Mexican's big-break came before the end of the season, when he was signed by Sauber to partner Kamui Kobayashi in 2011.

There was some controversy initially, as he was sponsored by the telecommunications giant Telmex, which is owned by the world's richest man and fellow Mexican Carlos Slim.

Slim's patriotism towards Perez and his 44bn personal fortune provided ammunition to critics who suggested Perez was a 'pay driver' – someone who wasn't up to standard, but who could bring enormous funding to help his team improve.

Landmark moment: Perez celebrates his first F1 podium at the Malaysian GP

Landmark moment: Perez celebrates his first F1 podium at the Malaysian GP

However Perez responded in style and on his debut, he finished in the points at Melbourne.

Despite being subsequently disqualified for a minor technical infringement, the raw potential was there for all to see.

Perez continued the season impressively, picking up more points in the second half of the season and regularly out-qualifying, the more experienced Kobayashi.

This season, Perez finally announced his arrival on the world stage. Using his well-known ability to manage his tyres, he blitzed the field at the Malaysian Grand Prix and came within a whisker of winning.

Italian job: The 22-year-old secured another podium-finish at Monza

Italian job: The 22-year-old secured another podium-finish at Monza

His impressive form continued as he recorded podiums at Canada and more-recently in Italy, where he drove from 12th on the grid to finish second, behind Hamilton.

Despite his rapid rise to fame and imminent move to one of the most prestigious teams, Perez maintains an air of humbleness and insists he is still a normal guy.

He said: 'If my racing career ended after this season, I would go back to Mexico and try to become a lawyer and live a normal life.

'When I go home to Mexico my dog has absolute priority. Then I jump into my own bed and later go out to meet friends. And if I come home to my European home, it's the same but without the dog.'

Fernando Alonso pledges support to Felipe Massa for rest of the season

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Alonso backs Massa to score more points and promises to back team-mate

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UPDATED:

21:45 GMT, 1 June 2012

Fernando Alonso has promised Felipe Massa his full support for the remainder of the season as he is convinced the Brazilian is capable of fighting for wins.

After a wretched start to the campaign, scoring just two points from the opening five races, Massa finally proved his worth to Ferrari in Monaco at the weekend.

After qualifying in the top 10 for the first time this year, and even threatening to start ahead of Alonso, Massa went on to finish sixth, three places behind the title-leading Spaniard.

Teamwork: Fernando Alonso says he will help Felipe Massa get more points on the board

Teamwork: Fernando Alonso says he will help Felipe Massa get more points on the board

Although Massa currently trails Alonso in the standings by 66 points, and is undoubtedly the number two driver at Ferrari, the latter still firmly believes in his team-mate.

'It's hard to think Felipe won't win many points in the second part of the season, that he won't make podiums or fight for wins. He's got the talent for it,' said Alonso.

'It's been an unfortunate start to the season because of a number of things – bad luck, a slower adaptation than before to the tyres…Felipe's results weren't normal.

'He's got all my support, and all the support of the team to change the situation around.

Getting back on track: Felipe Massa finished sixth at the weekend in Monaco

Getting back on track: Felipe Massa finished sixth at the weekend in Monaco

'Or to change his results because many times in practice or qualifying we're very close. but then in the race, because of the start or he got hit, he would be towards the back early on.

'In Monaco it looks like his results changed, so we hope that from here on it will all go well for him.'

Alonso, meanwhile, believes next weekend's Canadian Grand Prix will prove to be a more reliable benchmark of where Ferrari stand in the pecking order.

The 31-year-old's championship lead is in a car many feel is far from the best in the field, and given the topsy-turvy nature of F1 this season he has arguably lucked into his success.

Alonso said: “In Canada we want to confirm our improvement and be competitive in a more 'normal' circuit because Monaco is unique due to its characteristics and Barcelona has very quick corners.

Following his lead: Alonso and Massa will look to boost Ferrari's chances in the constructors championship

Following his lead: Alonso and Massa will look to boost Ferrari's chances in the constructors championship

'Canada and Valencia are going to be two very important tests for us to see if we can really put both Ferraris in Q3, like we did in Monaco, and opt to be in the top places.

'We're taking some upgrades to Canada, a race both on and off the track because all the big teams are going to bring new parts so let's see whose works best.

'We've tried to extract the most of what we had and our rivals have let their guards down.

'This year two or three tenths (of a second) makes you lose or gain five or six places, because everything is very close.'

Fernando Alonso warns Ferrari could struggle in Melbourne

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We'll have to grit our teeth, warns Alonso as Ferrari expect slow start Down Under

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UPDATED:

14:57 GMT, 13 March 2012

Fernando Alonso has warned Ferrari must 'improve a lot' if they are to mount a serious bid for the 2012 Formula One world titles.

The Scuderia's pre-season testing form was unconvincing enough to prompt technical director Pat Fry to rule out the prospect of the new F2012 scoring podiums at the first few races of the season.

Off the pace: Ferrari have struggled during winter testing

Off the pace: Ferrari have struggled during winter testing

Ferrari's rivals have reacted with understandable caution to Fry's claim, but with the first grand prix of the year in Melbourne now just five days away the Italian marque remains keen to dampen the expectations of their many supporters.

Writing in his personal blog on Ferrari's official website, Alonso said: 'I know the fans always expect to hear me say that we can obtain such and such a result, but the truth is that we cannot say with certainty where we are. We must wait until Saturday evening at six, after qualifying.

Work to do: Alonso is wary Ferrari will start the season on the back foot

Work to do: Alonso is wary Ferrari will start the season on the back foot

'We definitely still need to improve a lot, working on our understanding of the F2012, adapting my driving style to a new car which, with the loss of aerodynamic downforce at the rear and the new Pirelli tyres, is a bit harder to drive.'

Problems with the new car's exhaust layout are believed to be at least partly to blame for Ferrari's lack of testing pace, but the two-time world champion is confident the team knows what improvements need to be made.

'We know in which direction we need to go in terms of car development and that's an important step,' Alonso continued.

'Sure, we will have to grit our teeth for the first few races, but first of all, we have to see exactly where we are in terms of being competitive and then give our all to bring home as many points as possible in this early stage of the championship.'

Phil Duncan F1 blog

Alonso's team-mate Felipe Massa remains confident that podiums remain a possibility at the first four races of the year in Australia, Malaysia, China and Bahrain, but the Spaniard is refusing to set any such targets.

'We have to stay cool and calm and take one step at a time,' he said

'Once we know where we stand, then we can set ourselves more precise targets.'

Zoe Gillings: After launching my own company, it"s time to get down to business on the snow

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After launching my own company, it's time to get down to business on the snow


Zoe Gillings is Britain’s No 1 snowsports athlete. The 26-year-old snowboarder from the Isle of Man has competed at the highest level of international snowboarding since she was 16 and has raced in two Winter Olympic Games.

She is the only British athlete to ever win a World Cup snowboard cross competition and be ranked world No 1. Zoe now has six World Cup podiums under her belt and is preparing for the next Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014 and will be writing regular updates on her competition and training from all over the world for the next eight weeks.

Wow, so much has happened in the last 12 months I’m not quite sure where to start.

When I wrote my last update in April 2011 to say the future was uncertain was an understatement. My funding had been cancelled and I was about to set up a business venture to replace this loss.

I’m relieved to say it is all falling into place and my season has got off to a fantastic start. I’m producing some of the best qualification times of my life.

Action: Zoe Gillings took part in the Winter X Games

Action: Zoe Gillings took part in the Winter X Games

In my first four competitions I have secured four top 10 world class results and reached two finals. The next Winter Olympics might be two years away, but the work is already fully underway.

Just last Sunday I competed at the prestigious X Games event in Aspen, Colorado. It was the fourth time I had been invited to compete. It is a huge competition in America, all the biggest names in the World are there, like Shaun Whyte, Sean Palmer, Mark McMorris and Jenny Jones.

One thing is for sure the crowds are loud and raucous. No wonder, the races have some of the biggest features seen on the race calendar. There was a gap jump that was about 16 foot high and the final jump was a good 90 foot from take-off to landing.

There was a tribute to the Canadian freestyle icon Sarah Burke, who died following a training accident on a halfpipe in Utah. Accidents like these bring home the dangers of winter sports.

I didn't know Sarah personally, but I followed her career and I knew she was a great athlete who helped bring snow sports forward in leaps and bounds.

There are very big dangers involved in winter sport at the top levels. I have competed at two competitions where fellow competitors have lost their lives. It is what we love to do though so we accept the dangers and they get put to the back of our minds.

When it came to my event I qualified third and reached the final. Unfortunately my medal hopes ended after I fell while trying to fend off a passing manoeuvre from the Olympic gold medallist Maelle Ricker. That is always one of the hazards of the sport, but I still finished in sixth overall.

Leap of faith: Zoe in action at the Swiss World Cup

Leap of faith: Zoe in action at the Swiss World Cup

Consistent results are the key. It’s ironic that with all investment cancelled, I now have the best program I’ve had to date!

For the first time in five years I managed to do eight weeks pre-season training in Austria. People might find that surprising, but the severe delays and reduction in funding each year meant virtually no training on snow.

I also negotiated access to the world class Dutch national snowboard cross program. This meant I had access to a world class coach, assistant coach, physiotherapist, wax technician, team manager and two world class athletes to train with.

Over the last 10 years I have been able to access one or two of these services if I have been lucky. Now, with no external funding, I have access to all six.

Business has become my second passion and made all this possible. Nine months ago I launched a daily deals website on the Isle of Man to fund my program – IsleofDeals.com. Turning entrepreneur is certainly keeping my Olympic dream alive and soon I will be taking on my first full-time employee.

I’ve also been extremely fortunate to receive some new sponsorship from Neteller who learned about my funding predicament plus renewed support from Pokerstars and BMW.

I’m glad to say that the last 12 months have been absolutely awesome. It’s not been easy by any means, but I’ve loved every single minute of it and broadened by experiences in business as well as setting up my own world class snowboard program.

Right now, I’m currently in San Francisco having a few days off with my brother Jon, his wife Tyla and my nephew Zadin who live out here. I then head to Canada for the next two World Cup competitions. My aim is to build on this solid start and get on the podium.

Wish me luck!