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BMW aims to leverage improved margins with the i subbrand at a time when it believes the global premium sector price war is easing everywhere except in Europe. BMW brand sales boss Ian Robertson spoke about the strategy.

From GMM

World champion Sebastian Vettel has been told to step on the gas by Red Bull's technical 'genius' Adrian Newey.

German Vettel has borne the brunt of the team's reliability troubles in 2014, but his superiority has also been genuinely challenged by Red Bull newcomer Daniel Ricciardo.

Asked if that has surprised him, Vettel said in Montreal: "Actually no.

"It is good to see that Daniel fits in well with the team and has similar tastes to me when it comes to tuning the car. And it's nice to see that he does a good job. In the first few races I've had problems with many things, but it's comforting to realise that he is able to use the potential of the car," he is quoted by Speed Week.

Asked if he has at times been watching Ricciardo's style and telemetry, Vettel smiled: "All the time!

"There are clearly areas where he is very fast, so it's good to have a reference in relation to our car. For me, it has not been the best year so far. With Mark (Webber), it was always the case that he was very good in the fast corners, as he sometimes was showing me the limits. But with Daniel and me, it is quite balanced," added Vettel.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB10. (Photo: WRi2)

According to Dr Helmut Marko, the staunch Vettel ally and Red Bull director, Vettel is driving as well as ever in 2014.

"There's nothing wrong with him," he told Die Welt newspaper.

"He has just had a lot of bad luck. He is a strong guy, but the whole situation is not easy for him. If you ask me about his driving skills, there are no problems at all."

But Adrian Newey, Red Bull's highly respected technical boss, suggested there is "no more time to lose" as Vettel gets up to speed with F1's all-new era.

"Sebastian must quickly learn how to drive this car. There is no more time to lose," the Briton is quoted by Italy's Tuttosport.

"We will do everything to give him a car that fits his driving style," Adrian Newey added, "but then it's up to him to go faster."

From WRC

Mikko Hirvonen's Rally Italia Sardegna came to a fiery and spectacular end this morning as he and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen drove to the fourth stage.

The M-Sport World Rally Team duo were looking to progress from their sixth place overall at the 20.29km ‘Coiluna-Crastazza 1' stage, but after stopping to change the tyres on their Ford Fiesta RS WRC, the 2012 Rally Italia winners noticed flames licking up from the rear of their car as they get back underway to travel to the stage start.

They quickly stopped the car to inspect the problem, but the flames quickly took hold. They tried to use their fire extinguishers but their efforts were in vain. The car was destroyed in minutes.

The flaming Ford Fiesta RS of Mikko Hirvonen. (Photo: WRC)

Mikko Hirvonen said he was confused by what caused the fire. “We changed the tyres and checked the pressures as normal between stages and everything was okay," he explained. "But then the car caught fire for no reason. When I was fighting the fire, the rear bumper was fine and sometimes that can break and catch on the exhaust which causes a fire. It's strange.”

M-Sport has said it plans to establish the cause of the fire when the car returns to the service park in Alghero later today.

From GMM

Red Bull says a test on a 'rolling road' facility would not be illegal.

Earlier, reports suggested Red Bull had tested secretly over six days between the final Bahrain test and the season opening Australian grand prix.

The test reportedly took place at the Austrian automotive company AVL's 'rolling road' facility in Graz, involving Red Bull's troubled engine supplier Renault.

But late on Thursday, the reigning world champion team denied conducting the test.

Red Bull, however, pointed out: "The test mentioned in the article would be permitted by the regulations".

Germany's Auto Bild appears to have got to the bottom of the story.

The publication said the story broke when an anonymous person wrote letters to rival teams Ferrari, Mercedes and Sauber, as well as the governing FIA.

"Auto Bild Motorsport knows that a Toro Rosso chassis without front and rear wings ran on the 'rolling road' without a flow of (wind tunnel) air.

"Therefore, the test was bench testing and completely legal. The identity of the anonymous letter writer remains," the report added.

Toro Rosso and Renault did not comment.

Pirelli has announced the next four tire nominations for the grands prix held in Austria, Great Britain, Germany and Hungary.

For the all-new Austrian Grand Prix, Pirelli will bring the two softest compounds in the range: P Zero Yellow soft and P Zero Red supersoft. For the British Grand Prix, the P Zero Orange hard and P Zero White medium tires will be used. In Germany, the nomination is P Zero Yellow soft and P Zero Red supersoft, while in Hungary there will be the P Zero White medium and P Zero Yellow soft tires.

Photo: Pirelli

The Red Bull Ring in Austria, which is new to the Formula One calendar, contains several tight and twisty sections requiring the two tires that produce the maximum mechanical grip, even at relatively low speeds. Tarmac roughness in Austria is also very low.

Silverstone is a complete contrast: one of the fastest circuits of the season with high energy loads going through the tires. Because of this, the two hardest tires in the range are best-suited to the British track.

This year, the German Grand Prix is held at Hockenheim, which combines some fast straights with a slower and more technical stadium section that forms a significant part of the lap. To provide maximum performance, the soft and supersoft compounds will be in action once more, on a track that has generally low energy demands on the tire.

The Hungaroring is another relatively slow-speed track, but the race is often run in hot conditions, increasing the work on the tires. To provide a wide working range and increase opportunities for strategy, the medium and the soft tires will be brought to Hungary.

From GMM

Jenson Button says there has been "no progress" recently regarding his contract talks with McLaren.

With Kevin Magnussen having debuted for the Woking team in 2014, it has been rumoured McLaren supremo Ron Dennis perhaps wants to pair the young Dane with Fernando Alonso next season.

Indeed, with Button out of contract at the end of the season, and set to turn a stately 35 before the 2015 championship, it appears the Briton is the logical target should McLaren be considering a cockpit vacancy.

But, just last week, team boss Eric Boullier said in McLaren's official Montreal preview statement that Button in fact "continues to be an absolutely fantastic ambassador" for McLaren, who are switching to works Honda power in 2015.

"Not only is he a fantastic driver," Eric Boullier added, "he's also somebody with the feel and experience to steer the team and give it direction for development. His input has been invaluable, and he remains a tireless contributor."

Jenson Button, McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

Asked if that sounds as though McLaren is moving to re-sign the 2009 world champion, Button said on Thursday: "Er, no. No more progress at all. But that's just the way it is.

"We're here, in our fifth good year together. And we both want to work together in the future but it's just not time yet. Not the right time," he insisted.

"We have a lot of other issues to solve first before we start thinking about the future too much," said Jenson Button.

At the very least, Button indicated that he is keen to stay in formula one beyond 2014, with next season set to be his sixteenth on the grid.

"I still feel very young at heart, fitter than ever and I have all that experience," he said. "I definitely can't see an end to my career. This is my life and where I want to be in the future."

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton confirmed on Thursday that, after their relationship hit a high-profile low in Monaco, he and teammate Nico Rosberg are now "friends" again.

After his Monaco fury, Briton Hamilton issued a 'tweet' last week that suggested their row was now over, but some wondered if the 2008 world champion had in fact drafted the message himself.

He told reporters in Montreal: "There's not really much to say. I said it in my (Twitter) message.

"We spoke after the race and just like friends we have our ups and down, we've known each other a long, long time, so it's done and dusted", Hamilton added.

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG, in the streets of Monaco. (Photo: WRi2)

On Thursday, Hamilton and Rosberg sat side by side during an autograph session with fans at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and the previous night they both attended a team dinner in the city.

Rosberg wrote in his Daily Mail column: "I am quite neutral about my relationship with Lewis Hamilton.

"Our strength is that we always talk about what has happened and go through things as we did when we were both 14."

The German suggested he is prepared to keep his relationship with Hamilton amiable for the sake of the "team spirit" at dominant Mercedes.

"Everybody in the team knows that being successful depends on getting every detail right. One of those details is the team spirit and we are enjoying our success but also working hard to keep our feet on the ground," said Rosberg.

However, Rosberg acknowledged to reporters in the paddock that his relationship with Hamilton, who accused him of sabotaging his qualifying lap in Monaco, is now "more difficult".

But he also said: "You (reporters) are all trying to build it into a war which I can understand because it makes it all the more exciting but I want to try and avoid putting extra fuel on it.

"I was in the factory this week talking to everybody and for them the constructors' (championship) is so important so if we take each other out, for all our team members that would be a disaster.

"In the end we are a team and I do think about everybody else too," Rosberg added.

However, according to Hamilton's last teammate Jenson Button, only those behind closed doors at Mercedes will really know the state of the drivers' relationship.

"You've got to be very careful with what you say about your teammate," he is quoted by the Telegraph. "You might say it in a jokey way but it's taken seriously.

"Maybe they are fine, maybe they have sorted it out face to face," said Button.

From GMM

Ferrari is already turning its attention to 2015.

That is the claim of the Italian team's lead driver Fernando Alonso, after his teammate Kimi Raikkonen recently ruled out his chances of the 2014 title.

Canada, however, was earmarked as a crucial weekend for the Maranello outfit, with changes to the struggling F14-T car so significant that some reports are referring to a 'B' model.

But with Mercedes so far ahead this season, Alonso suggested that Ferrari's mind is now turning considerably to 2015.

"We need to keep fighting for important goals and we have targets to achieve this year," he said on Thursday. "However we must not compromise next year's project this year."

Fernando Alonso explained that the 2014 car should still be developed, because similar rules next year mean that many of the improvements can "carry over".

"But if there is something fundamental for next year," he added, "obviously we mustn't take any time away from that."

Motor-home Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

Alonso's openness about 2015 indicates he will be staying in red beyond this year, despite rumblings in the press about moves elsewhere, perhaps to McLaren.

It has been claimed his relationship with president Luca di Montezemolo is strained, and that he did not support friend Stefano Domenicali's ousting in favour of new team boss Marco Mattiacci.

But Alonso told the BBC on Thursday that he has "zero problems" with Montezemolo.

And as for Marco Mattiacci, "everything is moving in the right direction", he insisted.

"He has good vision and a very clever approach and we are going to be stronger and stronger," Fernando Alonso added.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone says he offered to pay more than $40 million to stop the Gerhard Gribkowsky bribery affair.

Writing in the Independent newspaper, F1 business journalist Christian Sylt said the money Ecclestone used to pay the jailed banker was funded by his commission for the sale of BayernLB's commercial rights.

Prosecutors allege Ecclestone was bribing Gribkowsky, but the 83-year-old F1 'supremo' says the jailed German was in fact extorting him.

Either way, Ecclestone admits he offered to pay the money back.

"I don't know why I offered to pay back the commission," he said. "Early on we said (we will do it) if that is what is necessary to get this rubbish out of the way."

The Munich authority's indictment against Ecclestone confirms that Ecclestone did in fact offer to pay back the money "including interest".

Lustre wears off, and shiny bits get dull. I know this because the polished lips on my 3-piece BBS RS wheels get dirty and I need to clean and polish them once in a while. On the other hand, however faded some things may get; they continue to shine for some reason.

The Toyota Yaris is one of these “things” that remains shiny despite the years piling on and the competition growing fierce. Toyota has polished it up recently, but little has changed regarding its nature.

The 2014 Toyota Yaris hatchback is a dated product, behind on current available technologies, and yet in its most basic form the car makes for a decent runabout so long as the more basic trims are selected to keep costs down.


What is a Toyota Yaris?
The Yaris hatchback sits on Toyota's lowest echelon and serves as the lure into its full-to-the-brim lineup that includes the ever-popular Corolla.

The Yaris was once known as the Echo, Tercel before it, both of which were extremely well liked with consumers seeking a simple and mostly reliable mode of transportation. The Yaris continues the lineage.

2014 Toyota Yaris Price and Specs
A three-door 2014 Toyota Yaris CE hatchback can be yours for $14,255. Moving up to a five-door CE, which makes loads of sense, will set you back $14,895. The top-line Yaris five-door SE goes for $20,255.

My tester was a five-door LE with an automatic transmission, and the convenience package, and retailed for $16,995.

All Yaris trims and body styles feature a 106-horsepower 1.5L 4-cylinder engine. Transmission choices reside between a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic. As stated, the Yaris is a very basic car and thus it has a torsion beam rear suspension, and standard rear drum brakes. Steering is electrically assisted.

Driving the 2014 Toyota Yaris
The non-SE cars match their looks with their road manners and skill set. The 2014 Toyota Yaris is a point-A-to-point-B car. In this respect, it is excellent.

The 1.5L engine is surprisingly peppy and doesn't mind being pushed to 6,000 rpm. It responds appropriately to throttle inputs, be they harsh or soft. Although a little noisy, generally speaking, the mill is perfectly adapted to the Yaris.

Sadly, for all of its good, the 4-speed automatic dramatically affects the whole of the driving experience, from trying to have fun to saving on fuel. The lack of cogs affect acceleration, and in mild throttle demands, takes away smoothness of operation as engine revs drop significantly between gears. The daily commute is well served by the ‘box.

My weeklong test drive returned a fuel consumption average of just over 7L/100km. This result is no better than some efficient compact cars in normal day-to-day driving. Some inevitable transmission revisions are in order.

The 2014 Toyota Yaris' ride is good, not sporty but because of the car's lightweight and compact dimensions, it can be entertaining. The car can be tossed around, but prefers the cosiness of an urban setting; its suspension is more than capable of soaking up broken pavement without loosening fillings.

Steering is light and responsive and the brakes function as expected. All in all, the Yaris is fine to drive so long as it isn't a hobby of yours.

Inside and Out of the 2014 Toyota Yaris
There are numerous hits and misses here as well. The car's outer shell says cute with a little bit of a frown up front. The five-door's proportions are by far better sorted out and, in the end access to the rear is tremendously eased.

The SE model, trimmed with Colour-keyed Full Skirt Package, Rear Spoiler, alloy wheels, and fog lights is somewhat laughable. For its price, a well equipped Kia Rio5 or Nissan Versa Note are more appealing choices.

The cabin suffers a fate created by the materials, and a further lack of visual appeal. The many different portions of the dashboard butt into each other and the various surface textures clash and some even look cheaper than they should. Nods are given for presentation, which is simple and to the point.

On the up side, the passenger quarters are very roomy, airy even. The seats are decent to good all round and the trunk is quite useable. Though, I would have liked more storage spots up front.

Comparing the 2014 Toyota Yaris
On its own, the Yaris fares well enough, offering room, some fun behind the wheel, and reasonably economical motoring.

When matched with some of its competitors, the Yaris hurts a little. It may be better on gas than the Koreans, but it cannot match them for styling and content. The Nissan Versa Note is our favourite in the segment as it won our Auto123.com Subcompact Car of the Year award.

The Toyota name continues to carry the Yaris and that's fine. I'm also convinced that the next Yaris will pick up where Toyota leaves off.

A couple in Alberta had the scare of their life when lightning struck their Chevrolet Silverado while driving on the highway. The airbags deployed, and smoke filled the cabin very quickly.

Luckily, both occupants were unharmed. An RCMP officer who witnessed the scene immediately came to their rescue.

The strike has left a few holes in the pavement, some of them several centimetres wide.

What you'll see here is security footage from a nearby plant.

Source : edmonton.ctvnews.ca

From GMM

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has announced that the reigning world champions are staying with Renault power in 2015.

In recent days, the team's more outspoken director, Dr Helmut Marko, has suggested the forthcoming Austrian grand prix is the deadline for Renault to prove it has overcome its early-season competitive crisis.

The blunt Austrian has even mentioned Volkswagen as a potential alternative.

"There are no ultimatums for Renault other than we want to improve as quickly as we can," Horner insisted ahead of the Canadian grand prix.

Although the reigning quadruple world championship-winning team, with 'genius' Adrian Newey designing its industry-leading cars, Red Bull's engine alternatives are scant.

Mercedes and Ferrari, also suppliers of F1 engines, are Red Bull's fiercest on-track rivals, while the incoming Honda's works team next year will be McLaren.

So for now, Red Bull is sticking with Renault.

Red Bull RB10-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

"They know the situation," Horner is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "(Renault president) Carlos Ghosn reassured us on his visit to Monte Carlo.

"We must not forget that we have also had a lot of success with Renault, and we trust them to solve their problems."

As for rumours Red Bull might axe the Renault contract on the grounds of poor performance, Horner answered: "We will have Renault engines in our cars next year -- 100 per cent."

The all-new 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 boasts the most powerful production engine in the company's history, namely a 6.2L supercharged LT4 V8 that produces 650 horsepower -- eclipsing the Porsche 911 Turbo S by 90 horsepower -- and 650 lb-ft of torque -- about 28% more than the V12-powered Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.

These numbers are also up 29% and 40%, respectively, from the previous Corvette Z06 engine.

The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will go on sale in the fourth quarter of this year.

Source : media.chevrolet.com

Photo: Chevrolet

Pros: The 2015 Acura RDX is a compact luxury crossover with a host of high-performance features (including a powerful V6), sporty handling, and a smart interior. It also drives with confidence thanks to an acclaimed AWD technology with Intelligent Control System as standard equipment. The RDX undercuts BMW and Mercedes-Benz in pricing, and offers more bang for your buck than most vehicles in its class.

Cons: Fuel economy doesn't match 4-cylinder rivals. Many people just don't like Acura's bold design language. Also, some will feel that the transmission is hesitant at times. What's more, the RDX lacks some of the industry's latest active safety features.

Photo: Acura

2015 Acura RDX Price: The lineup consists of two trim levels including the base RDX at $41,390 and the more upscale RDX Tech at $44,390. Standard features include 18” wheels, a one-touch power moonroof, a multi-angle rearview camera, high-intensity discharge headlights, Bluetooth, leather seats, and smart entry with push-button start.

Meanwhile the Tech Package adds a power tailgate, a GPS-linked, solar-sensing, dual-zone automatic climate control system, navigation with voice recognition, an 8” LED backlit display, and the amazing 410-watt Acura/ELS Surround sound system with 10 speakers, hard disk drive, in-dash CD player, DVD-Audio and Dolby Pro Logic II.

2015 Acura RDX Fuel Economy: Based on Natural Resources Canada's new 5-cycle testing procedure to determine fuel consumption ratings, expect to burn 12.1L/100km in the city and 8.7L/100km on the highway with your RDX.

Improvements and Changes: None. The RDX was redesigned just a couple years ago.

2015 Acura RDX Powertrain: Unlike many competitors that now opt for smaller, turbocharged engines, the RDX once again relies on a tried-and-true 3.5L i-VTEC V6 rated at 273 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque. It's all handled by a 6-speed SportShift automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Using Variable Cylinder Management, the RDX shuts down cylinders that aren't needed in certain driving conditions in order to save fuel.

Cargo Capacity: The 2015 Acura RDX offers 739 litres of cargo room in the trunk alone. When you fold the rear seats, you get up to 2,178 litres.

Safety: Beyond ABS, brake assist, and electronic brake force distribution, you'll find Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control, Hill Start Assist, and six airbags. HID headlights enhance your ability to identify what's ahead, too.

Comparing the 2015 Acura RDX: In this luxury CUV segment, you'll also find the Mercedes-Benz GLK, BMW X3, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Porsche Macan, Lexus RX, Range Rover Evoque, and Infiniti QX50.

The second-generation 2015 BMW X6 will arrive at Canadian dealers by the end of this year, offering for the first time a rear-wheel drive model (X6 sDrive35i) powered by a 6-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine.

The lineup also includes the X6 xDrive35i and X6 xDrive50i models with all-wheel drive. The latter houses a 4.4L TwinPower Turbo V8 engine rated at 445 horsepower. All models get an 8-speed automatic transmission.

In terms of styling, the 2015 BMW X6 combines the versatility and rugged attributes of a BMW X vehicle with the sporting elegance of the automaker's coupes. Bi-xenon headlights come standard, while LED adaptive headlights are available.

The luxurious and roomy cabin of the new X6 features premium materials, a driver-oriented cockpit, a raised driving position, and upscale ambient lighting.

Pricing for the 2015 BMW X6 will be announced later.

Photo: BMW

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso set the fastest time in Friday's first free practice session but it was business as usual in FP2 when Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton went even quicker.

This morning, under grey skies, Alonso set the pace on 1m17.238 to head up the timesheet by just 0.016 seconds from Hamilton.

Ferrari has brought several updates here in Montreal. The F14 T features numerous changes under the bodywork in addition to new, low downforce front and rear wings.

(Fernando Alonso, Ferrari Photo: Rene Fagnan)

Hamilton ranked second ahead if his teammate, Nico Rosberg.

On this high-power circuit, the Red Bulls could only rank 4th with Sebastian Vettel and 6th with Daniel Ricciardo.

After the lunch break, the battle resumed. Hamilton drove like a man possessed and set the best time at 1m16.118.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG (Photo: Rene Fagnan)

He beat his teammate Rosberg by almost two tenths of a second.

Sebastian Vettel planted his Renault-powered Red Bull RB10 in third place, beating the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso.

The Williams-Mercedes came after, with Felipe Massa ahead of Valtteri Bottas.

Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham (Photo: Rene Fagnan)

The McLaren duo of Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button followed in 8th and 9th place, respectively.

Jean-Eric Vergne made it two Renault powered cars in the top ten with the Toro Rosso ahead of Romain Grosjean in the Lotus and Ricciardo in the Red Bull to break the run of Mercedes engine cars.

Canadian Grand Prix, Friday, Free practice 1*
1 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m17.238 - 21 laps
2 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1m17.254 - 25
3 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1m17.384 - 32
4 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m18.131 - 28
5 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m18.361 - 20
6 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m18.435 - 26
7 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m18.446 - 33
8 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m18.514 - 31
9 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m18.578 - 15
10 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m18.643 - 14
11 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m18.733 - 30
12 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m18.959 - 22
13 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m19.108 - 24
14 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m19.142 - 32
15 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m19.177 - 21
16 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m19.340 - 37
17 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m19.575 - 7
18 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m19.804 - 15
19 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m20.200 - 15
20 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m20.844 - 26
21 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1m21.404 - 33
22 - Alexander Rossi (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1m21.757 - 27

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing (Photo: Rene Fagnan)

Canadian Grand Prix, Friday, Free practice 2*
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1m16.118 - 42 laps
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1m16.293 - 39
3 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m16.573 - 26
4 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m16.648 - 31
5 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m16.701 - 27
6 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m16.774 - 37
7 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m16.893 - 37
8 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m17.052 - 42
9 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m17.059 - 38
10 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m17.180 - 40
11 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m17.626 - 28
12 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m17.644 - 36
13 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m17.712 - 35
14 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m17.819 - 33
15 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m17.868 - 27
16 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m17.964 - 47
17 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m18.340 - 43
18 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m18.693 - 34
19 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m18.732 - 9
20 - Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1m20.244 - 38
21 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1m22.418 - 13
22 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m32.127 - 3
*Unofficial timing

(Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG Photo: Rene Fagnan)

Auto123.com met with Red Bull Racing team principal, Christian Horner Friday at circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal. Here's what he had to say about the first six races of the 2014 season.

The start of the season has been tough for Red Bull Racing. What was a main reason for that?

“The big deficit is with the Power Unit. Guys at Renault are working very hard to close that gap down. We're approximately 60 bhp down at the moment, which is big, but we will work hard at closing this deficit. As a team, this is frustrating, because it is not our responsibility. However, we've made an awful lot of ground in recent months, and if we keep that rate of development, things will be looking good,” Horner told Auto123.com.

“We enjoy our relationship with Renault, Unfortunately, they found themselves on their back foot with this new regulation. We've won 8 world championships with Renault. Hopefully, they will close the gap. Renault cannot be in F1 just to make up the numbers. Yes, Mercedes has done a super job. They invested early in the program and they are ahead of Ferrari and Renault. It's up to the competition to catch up”, Horner explained.

Christian Horner and Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing. (Photo: WRi2)

The Briton gave us some additional information about the technical problems the team is facing since the start of the season.

“It's all comes down with integration of the turbo, the combustion engine and energy recovery system. The challenge is to get these three components to work as unison. We have supported Renault with software development and integration in the chassis. Fuel development was also important, and Total has done a good job for us,” Horner told us.

The early season has also been quite difficult for four-time World Champion, Sebastian Vettel.

“It's been a tough start to the season for Seb. You can see that he is getting more and more confortable in the car. He's very sensitive on how the car behaves under braking. With this new brake-by-wire system in the car, he had problems reading what the car is doing,” Horner concluded.

Scuderia Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne believes the tide will turn and bad luck will finally leave him and his car alone.

Despite running into a number of technical problems during the last few races, Vergne told Auto123.com that all is not dark and gloomy ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

“There were still some bright spots. Monaco was a perfect weekend, and I could have finished in 5th place if I hadn't experienced some difficulties. We need to keep working hard, keep the ball rolling, you know. We can't afford to repeat all those little mistakes we made recently,” Vergne said.

“Obviously, it's a bit frustrating, but we've quickly gotten over it. We had a perfect weekend in Monaco, and we'll soon get another chance to finish strong and earn some points.”

So, what's holding him back during races?

“Technical stuff, essentially. Since the beginning of the season, I've had my share of troubles and couldn't finish four out of six races,” Vergne explained. “In Monaco, there was the safety car, plus my engine overheated. In Barcelona, it started on Friday when I lost a wheel that wasn't properly tightened. I didn't take part in the qualifying session, because the team wanted to keep fresh tires for the race. Later, my exhaust system started acting up. It seems like there's always a little something wrong. The tide is about to turn, though; I can feel it.”

Yet, at the same time, Vergne's teammate, Daniil Kvyat, managed to get decent results.

“Kvyat has been lucky so far. Very lucky, I might add. Toro Rosso is still satisfied with my performance. I've almost always enjoyed a better position on the grid,” the French driver pointed out.

What are Vergne's expectations for the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix on Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, a semi-permanent track?

“Two years ago, I had an awful time here. Last year, on the other hand, I had my best race ever in Formula 1. Honestly, I have no expectations for this year's race. We'll just see how it goes!”

The Valukas report goes into great detail about the roles played by senior GM executives, and the company's board, in the years leading up to the ignition switch recalls. A summary of the report:

GM engineers knew the ignition switch in the Chevrolet Cobalt could be bumped out of position, cutting the engine, according to former U.S. attorney Anton Valukas' report released Thursday.