Latest F1 news in brief – Sunday
“Timo received medical guidance yesterday afternoon and his symptoms suggest that he is suffering from an intestinal infection. He has been advised that it would be unwise for him to race given the severity of the complaint and that he should focus instead on recuperating.
“Timo spent the evening resting at his hotel in Valencia and is in good spirits. He will return home later today." Marussia F1
06/24/12
- Glock to 'almost certainly' miss Valencia race
- Hamilton keeps front row after stewards inquiry
- Piquet Jr wins first Nascar race
Glock to 'almost certainly' miss Valencia race
(GMM) Timo Glock will almost certainly sit out Sunday's European grand prix.
The German sat out qualifying on Saturday, and according to multiple media sources he was travelling to a local hospital for checks whilst his usual rivals were in action on the Valencia street circuit.
Marussia has described the 30-year-old's ailment as a "stomach bug", but sources say he could be suffering from either food poisoning or a virus.
Bild newspaper said he will "almost certainly" not race on Sunday, even though the FIA has said that despite him missing qualifying, he will be allowed to compete subject to a medical green light.
But the German publication said doctors have in fact advised Glock to sit out Valencia, particularly as over the past few days, his body has been unable to retain many fluids.
Sunday in the Spanish port city is expected to be hot and dry.
Marussia's test driver Maria de Villota does not have a mandatory FIA super license.
Red Bull reserve Sebastien Buemi told Auto Motor und Sport he offered to race in Glock's place, but Marussia will in fact contest the European grand prix with only one car in the event Glock is not fit to return.
"Our objective for Sunday's race, whatever it may hold, will simply be to do the best job possible in the circumstances," said team boss John Booth.
Hamilton keeps front row after stewards inquiry
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton has kept his front row position for Sunday's Valencia grand prix, despite a stewards inquiry after qualifying.
Nico Rosberg and Mercedes complained bitterly that the McLaren driver held him up on Rosberg's crucial last dash in Q3.
"Lewis was driving extremely slowly all of a sudden," said Rosberg.
"It's just a very dangerous situation, and that's what the rule is there for."
He is referring to an agreement reached in the pre-event drivers' briefing about competitors not slowing down in the tricky final sector whilst preparing for their qualifying hot laps.
The stewards investigated Mercedes' complaint by using video, audio, GPS and telemetry evidence, and announced in a statement they decided to take "no further action".
The statement explained that Hamilton was "actually faster" in the last sector than Rosberg had been on a previous lap, which indicated that the McLaren "was not being driven unnecessarily slowly".
The F1 driver steward this weekend is former Sauber and Ferrari racer Mika Salo.
Piquet Jr wins first Nascar race
(GMM) Former F1 driver Nelson Piquet Jr has broken through to win his first race in the world of Nascar.
The now 26-year-old Brazilian switched to the American realm's secondary Truck and Nationwide classes after leaving formula one in the wake of the 'crashgate' scandal.
Although not in the premier Sprint Cup category, Piquet has contested Nascar races since 2010 but only broke through for his first win on Saturday from pole position in the Nationwide event at Road America.
"I think the best thing that could come out of this was to show team owners and bosses that I'm capable of doing it, if I just get the right car and the right team," said Piquet, whose father is the F1 triple world champion.
Also in the race was 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who collided with Danica Patrick whilst battling for fourth position on the last lap.