• News
  • Sports

Mercedes technical chief rejects claims of sabotage

Nico Rosberg set the fastest lap time during first practice for the Japanese Grand Prix, finishing the session 0.215s clear of Lewis Hamilton in second.

SUZUKA, Japan Lewis Hamilton's engine problems are down to bad luck and "anybody with an ounce of intelligence" knows Mercedes did not sabotage the Briton's vehicle in Malaysia last weekend, team technical head Paddy Lowe said on Friday.

Hamilton complained of a lack of power early in FP1 and by the end of the session he was 0.215 seconds adrift of Rosberg.

Red Bull and Ferrari battled for best of the race, but unless it rains on Sunday, Mercedes are still firm favourites to take victory and wrap up a third consecutive constructors' title.

Lowe admits Hamilton's bad luck is hard to understand statistically and says he is still struggling to comprehend how the world champion had back-to-back qualifying failures in China and Russian Federation this year.

Daniel Ricciardo, who took advantage of Hamilton's engine failure in Malaysia to win his first race since the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix, was fifth fastest ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen.

Rosberg, who has failed to win in Japan despite his impressive pole record said: "The start is going to be an important one".

"We all know that you can throw three double sixes in a row, yet when you see it done you wonder how it happened", Lowe added. "It will be an interesting challenge".

More news: Police kill man armed with machete at University of Colorado

Mercedes have hit back at claims of foul play by insisting "anyone with an ounce of intelligence" knows they would not sabotage Lewis Hamilton's auto.

"I will keep pushing", Hamilton said on Sunday.

"My feeling with the auto was not very nice, I suffered a lot with understeer and I was struggling with the balance through the first sector, but the lap time was okay". I did as well as I could.

Jenson Button was 16th, with Jolyon Palmer 18th.

And the 36-year-old, who counts his win here back in 2011 among his finest in the sport, will have it all to do after qualifying only 17th.

Fernando Alonso, hoping to impress on home soil for Honda, his McLaren team's engine supplier, was ninth.

The British rookie, who is bidding to convince his bosses at Renault that he is worthy for another campaign in the sport, made it out of Q1 and qualified 16th.

Leave Your Comment

Leave Your Comment


Latest News

  • Ross Fisher leads at halfway stage of Dunhill Links

    Ross Fisher leads at halfway stage of Dunhill Links

    Since 2001, playing spots have been donated to more than 50 different charities to help them to raise funds. For Englishman Ross Fisher, there's no place in the world like St Andrews.

    Cuba, USA Soccer Teams to Play Friendly Match

    Cuba have just one player on their team who plays in a different country: Maykel Reyes, who is on Cruz Azul's roster in Liga MX. After Friday's game, the Americans return stateside to face New Zealand on Tuesday night at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

    In VP debate, Pence gets tasked with cleaning up for Trump

    He's dodged that a lot on the campaign trail, and I think Tim Kaine has similarly dodged questions about Hillary Clinton's emails. Just 10 percent of the respondents said Tuesday night's debate will have a major impact when they cast their ballots in November.
  • LA sheriff's sergeant killed answering burglary call

    LA sheriff's sergeant killed answering burglary call

    Trenton Trevon Lovell , a 27-year-old parolee from Lancaster with a long criminal history, was arrested on suspicion of murder. Later that month in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, six officers were shot as they responded to a call, three of them fatally.

    Every State Where Clowns Have Been Creeping People Out

    One woman in OH was charged after police discovered she had falsely reported being chased by a knife-welding clown . Officials also advise that you should act in a responsible manner if you encounter a person dressed like a clown .
    Local Volunteers Head Down To Help Victims Of Hurricane Matthew

    Local Volunteers Head Down To Help Victims Of Hurricane Matthew

    More than 500 red cross volunteers and approximately 90 ERV's are on standby in affected states. If we had a big disaster here, people would come out of state to come help us.
  • Pakistan approaches World Bank to stop Indian projects on Neelum, Chenab

    Pakistan has been complaining about not receiving enough water and has gone for global arbitration in a couple of cases. India has the advantage to increase the use of waters flowing into the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum rivers, experts said.

    New Video Of Charlotte Police Shooting Offers Few Answers

    They listened to his voicemail after his death, and Chapman said he was clearly distressed: "You can hear it in his voice". Violent protests erupted in the city following the shooting and the decision to not release video of what happened.
    Lady Gaga Is About to Crash a Few Dive Bars

    Lady Gaga Is About to Crash a Few Dive Bars

    Lady Gaga is now working on her fifth studio album and it's not going to be long until she releases it. Joanne's first single, "Perfect Illusion", debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September .
  • Snapchat Is Preparing To IPO At A $33 Billion Valuation

    Snapchat Is Preparing To IPO At A $33 Billion Valuation

    Having launched its ad platform in mid-2015, Snapchat still only captures 2.3% of social-networking dollars, eMarketer estimates. Since then, Facebook , flush with cash, has made a habit of cranking out knockoffs of Snapchat's most popular features.
    Women Who Use Contraceptives are More Likely to Suffer Depression, Study Shows

    Women Who Use Contraceptives are More Likely to Suffer Depression, Study Shows

    Fifteen-to-19-year-olds were 80 percent more likely to be on antidepressants than their peers who weren't on the pill. Figures suggest that 62 percent of women of childbearing age now use one or more types of contraceptives.

    Stones reveals individual talks with Southgate

    Yet Rooney presented a different side to the story as he waded into the going debate over his form and what is his best position. And the team have done well, so I have to bide my time and take my chance.
  • Kerry calls for war crimes investigation against Russian Federation  and Syria

    Kerry calls for war crimes investigation against Russian Federation and Syria

    The eight hospitals in rebel-held eastern Aleppo are overwhelmed, with patients "literally dying on the floors of the facilities". Ayrault spoke of a new French effort for a cease-fire in Syria that would include a Security Council vote Saturday.
    Trump aide Rudy Giuliani says 'everybody' is unfaithful

    Trump aide Rudy Giuliani says 'everybody' is unfaithful

    Give me a break". "And not only that, she poses as a feminist and she's taken money from countries that stone women, kill women". Stephanopoulos did not follow up on Giuliani's comment about Clinton, but pressed him further on Trump's taxes.

    Samsung Electronics to make Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 chips: Electronic Times

    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made governance reform a key plank of his plan to revive the country's stagnant economy. Elliott said it wants Samsung to pay a $37 billion special dividend from its $70 billion cash pile.
  • Kardashian West assailants still at large after France heist

    Kardashian West assailants still at large after France heist

    Kardashian's half-sister Kendall Jenner also modeled for him in Chanel's Paris haute couture show previous year . Kim Kardashian West is "not doing so good" after being tied up and robbed at gunpoint on Monday (03.10.16).
    Obama hails ''historic day'' in fight against climate change

    Obama hails ''historic day'' in fight against climate change

    On Wednesday, enough countries have submitted their instrument to formally join the agreement, according to the US Department of State.

    Aqib Talib could still face discipline over shooting

    And, by his own admission, Talib can get so stupid drunk that he might get shot in the leg and not remember who fired the gun. He practiced in training camp for the first time on August 8 and has started all four games this season.

Breaking News



Recommended

Surgical strikes: Defense ministry to brief Parliamentary panel next week

The surgical strike footage has been handed over to the Prime Minister's Office and the PM is yet to take his call on the issue of whether the footage should be released.

Twitterati celebrated Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan who chews paan masala

The most disgusting byproduct of chewing pan masala is the red juice that is harmful for ingestion and needs to be spit out. Brosnan's sensual stare could have served to ease Delhi-ites into their day, but it soon became the talk of Twitterverse.

Google Pixel has Android Nougat features no one else will

Most importantly, the 24/7 screen sharing and support service Support Tab might just be in the Pixel and Pixel XL phones. Until the launch of the Pixel and the Pixel XL a couple of days go, these were the best phones that Google was selling.

Smith: Cowboys-Bengals could be a shootout

As much as we wish it were a domination, we realize that no matter circumstances, teams rarely blow each other out in the NFL . If Gabbert had led Smith to the inside, he might have had a touchdown, but his pass was short and to the outside.

Tech Stocks To Look Out For: Fitbit Inc. (FIT), NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA)

Finally, Virginia Retirement System acquired a new position in Nvidia Corp. during the first quarter worth $8,762,000. Another trade for 30,000 shares valued at $1.88 million was made by SEAWELL A BROOKE on Friday, September 16.

Woman testifies in Derrick Rose rape lawsuit

Be proactive - Use the "Flag as Inappropriate" link at the upper right corner of each comment to let us know of abusive posts. He's in the final year of a five-year deal that will pay him $21.3 million, nearly identical to what the plaintiff is seeking.

Manchester United Defender May Consider Future In January Admits Agent

Matteo Darmian's agent has hinted the defender could leave Manchester United in January if he doesn't start getting more game time.

After a monthlong hiatus, Brady returns to Patriots

The altercation appeared to begin when Brissett was jogging along the field and was shoved by Bills safety Robert Blanton. TE Rob Gronkowski, who played sparingly in his 2016 debut September 22, had his first reception of the season Sunday.

Pitt 'under investigation for plane incident'

What we do know is that Angelina wants sole physical custody of the six kids, and for Brad to only have visitation rights. But the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also investigating the incident because it took place in the air.

Throngs of Penn State students wage massive 'clown hunt' on campus

We are aware that there are several stories of clowns across the United States acting suspiciously and scaring community members. On Saturday, someone reported knife-wielding clowns about 8 p.m.in almost the same place.