F1minute // Bitesize Formula One News

There was drama in both free practice sessions in Malaysia, but for two different reasons. In FP1, the start of the session was delayed by thirty minutes because of the rain, and things got going only to find drivers slipping and sliding their way around the track. Pierre Gasly made his debut, whilst Sergey Sirotkin, Sean Gelael, Charles LeClerc and Antonio Giovinazzi were all also in action.

Amongst the raft of renewals and contracts that are being signed and extended in Formula One at the moment, we've had news that the Chinese Grand Prix will continue until the 2020 season with a three year extension.

With the news that Carlos Sainz is moving to Renault for the 2018 season, Toro Rosso have been searching for a replacement. They've decided to test a new face out already, with Pierre Gasly set to step into the seat of Daniil Kvyat for the Malaysian Grand Prix and perhaps a few more.

There's been speculation about Aston Martin entering Formula One in one way or another for a while now, but they've confirmed at last how they are dipping their toes into the water for the 2018 season. Aston Martin will be the title sponsor of the Red Bull team, which will thus be called Aston Martin Red Bull Racing.

Mercedes looked to be on the back foot going into the race in Singapore, but after the first lap it became clear they were going to get a good result and by the end of the race, they'd secured a win for Lewis Hamilton and a third place for Valtteri Bottas.

Amongst the flurry of announcements that came out of the Singapore weekend was one that may not have been a surprise to many. Sergio Pérez is staying at Force India for a fifth consecutive season, with a one year contract to take him to the end of 2018.

With Red Bull leading all three of the practice sessions in Singapore, they had looked in a great position to fight for pole position. The battle went down to the very last flying laps, but both Verstappen and Ricciardo were pipped to pole position by Sebastian Vettel. Kimi Räikkönen ended up fourth, with the Mercedes drivers having to settle for fifth and sixth on the grid.

You would think Honda might learn from talking up expectations too soon into a new partnership, but they have quickly revealed their goals with the Toro Rosso team just one day after the deal was announced. The power unit supplier want to push Toro Rosso to at least third in the championship next season, despite finishing no higher than sixth with McLaren, and Toro Rosso finishing no higher than sixth... ever.

Morning rain made the first practice session of the Singapore weekend a tricky prospect, and plenty of drivers were spotted running wide or brushing up against the wall - including Hülkenberg, Palmer and more. Friday drivers were in action, with Giovinazzi in at Haas, and new boy Sean Gelael taking a turn in the Toro Rosso.

Following directly from the news of Renault ditching Toro Rosso and moving to McLaren as engine supplier, driver news surely followed. Carlos Sainz, who has been at Toro Rosso since his F1 debut in 2015, will join the Renault squad for one year only, on loan to the team to partner Nico Hülkenberg. This will leave Jolyon Palmer without a race seat, unless someone else snaps him up.