Mercedes will let Hamilton, Rosberg fight
At a press conference in Stuttgart. Mercedes’ Wolff says the team owes it to F1 to let the pair remain rivals on the track.
We are stakeholders in Formula One. A good show is essential for the sport. We want lots of fighting on the track. And the rivalry between these two guys is important. Our role is to step back a little and leave it up to these two to fight it out in the track.
The two drivers, who have barely talked this year exchanged some words:
Hamilton: I think when I first got [into the car] I was like, ‘Jeez, I’m old’, because I have been doing it a long time. Physically when you get in the car each time it gets harder and harder.
Rossberg: Physically harder and harder? Getting old? What is the reason?
Hamilton: I have seen some grey hairs on you. You know how it is, you’re only six months behind me.
Rossi: ‘Tricked, betrayed’ by Marquez
In an interview with Gazzetta World, Rossi talks more about hsi relationship with Marquez.
After what happened we can no longer have a relationship. However, we must be opponents on the track, for some years I hope, and we have to respect each other. That is important…More than anything I allowed myself to be tricked by Marquez. He really betrayed me. He said he was a fan but those were all lies. I almost believed him and I was ready to have a rivalry with him, giving 100 percent on the track, but those were all lies on his end. At Assen I realised he was only my friend when he beats me.
Referencing an act of on-track revenge by Ayrton Senna in F1:
When Senna raced I didn’t like him. I cheered for Nigel Mansell, and when he joined Ferrari, I cheered for Prost. But I really liked what Senna did at Suzuka in 1990 [when Senna deliberately took both himself and title rival Prost out at Turn 1]. He was ‘worked over’ the year before and then he did what he had to. He showed some balls.
Says Ferrari has ‘picked up it’s game’
At Mercedes’ pre-season launch in Stuttgart, Hamilton says Ferrari has improved.
Honestly we are going to have a real battle. Ferrari has seriously picked up its game. That’s my opinion. It’s still difficult to know. The car is good but Ferrari was strong towards the end of last year and they have made a significant improvement from last year to this year. They did some incredible times at the last test in some of their long runs and I believe they didn’t bring an upgrade to any of the test days, so I imagine they will bring a good package to the first race. You are going to see a good fight, which is what I want and we want in the sport. I’m excited about that.
Wants to race cars after MotoGP
Rossi says that after two more years in MotoGP, he may switch to racing cars.
I will take five or six races to decide. But I am pretty convinced I can continue for a couple of years and then maybe Yamaha says something, because I get white hair! But at 39 years old I will be able to run a dozen car races still, make the most fascinating races, the 24 Hours of Le Mans or the Dakar. Although there you have to get up too early!
On this current season:
A year ago I started well but ended badly. I would rather start not so well but be strong until the end.
Says F1 should let fans judge new qualifying format
Hamilton says critics of F1’s new qualifying format, which eliminates the slowest driver in 90-second intervals, to wait until the system has made its debut in Australia before passing judgment.
What’s most important is how the fans feel about it. There have been some good formats and some OK formats. I’ve generally enjoyed the format of the last few years. That’s why it doesn’t make sense to me right now, the changes that have been made, but don’t knock it until you try it. I’m looking forward to getting to Melbourne and trying it out, and maybe we’ll be surprised. It may be really exciting, or maybe it won’t. We’ll see…you’ll get comments from the fans as to whether it’s good or not.
Coulthard: Hamilton’s social life could hinder F1 hat-trick bid
At an event in London to promote Channel 4’s presenting team for the F1 season, Coulthard talks about Hamilton’s focus.
It seems crazy to question whether Lewis can win another title, given that he’s won the last two, but you have to ask where his energy is going. He splits his time between F1 and being a global star – the car and the music. We’re all waiting to see when the album will drop…There’s no question that Lewis is fit and focused when he’s at the racetrack. But he does have a full-on social life away from grand prix racing. And throwing in the American dream. We all know it’s not easy jumping on and off aircraft. Is this the year that’s going to take its toll? I don’t know. I hope not…It’s not a criticism. It’s an observation, in admiration. That he’s been somehow able to find this happy place, of driving quickly and going off and doing other things. The bottom line is I’m jealous. He’s faster than I was and he gets to go to some really cool parties.
Halo is ‘worst-looking mod in F1 history’
Hamilton says the ‘halo’ head protection device is “too drastic” and wants to be able to choose whether to use it.
Please no! This is the worst-looking mod in F1 history. I understand safety is a huge issue and something we have to work towards, but this is not the one…[F1 cars have] lost the cool look they used to have in the 1980s and 1990s. It is not F1 for me. If they do implement it, I hope we have a choice of whether we have to use it and are not forced to, because ultimately it is our safety.
Romney was ‘begging for my endorsement’
Trump responds to Romney’s speech at an event in Portland, Maine.
That was a race that should have been won…Mitt is a failed candidate…He failed horribly…You can see how loyal he is. He was begging for my endorsement… I could have said Mitt, drop to your knees, he would have dropped to his knees…Mitt is indeed a choke artist. He choked like I’ve never seen anyone choke. Other than Rubio.
Responds to Romney’s Trump criticism
Palin defends Trump against Romney on Facebook:
The “machine’s” deception and nonsensical attack on Trump isn’t really an attack on the candidate, it’s an attack on conscientious, hardworking, patriotic Americans who know we need a revolution to stop the complicit politicians who are fundamentally transforming America. We found the revolutionary…Donald Trump is the shock the Permanent Political Class needs to wake them up… to destroy their selfish cabal… to respect the will of the people… to make America safe and solvent… to make America great again. Don’t take the bait, Mr. Trump. It’s not about you. It’s about us. And we’ve got your back.
https://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin/videos/10153995076378588/
Picks 2015-style bike after second test
After setting the fifth-fastest time on the final test day at Phillip Island, Rossi says he will stick with a Yamaha YZR-M1 based on the 2015 bike, rather than developing the ’16 version.
In the end we only had one good day and that was yesterday, but it’s better than nothing. Today we continued our job for a bit, especially we compared the two different bikes and I think we will use the bike that’s more similar to last year’s model. It was a positive test, especially yesterday, but also today. I feel good with the bike and with the tyres and my pace was not so bad, so I’m quite satisfied.
Vatican: not personal attack
A Vatican spokesperson tells Vatican Radio that Pope Francis’ suggestion that Trump was ‘not Christian’ because of his views on immigration was not a personal attack on the candidate, and that the comments were simply an affirmation of Francis’ longstanding belief that migrants should be helped and welcomed rather than shut off behind walls.
This wasn’t in any way a personal attack, nor an indication of who to vote for. The Pope has clearly said he didn’t want to get involved in the electoral campaign in the US, and also said that he said what he said on the basis of what he was told [about Trump], hence giving him the benefit of the doubt. The Pope said what we already know, if we followed his teaching and positions: We shouldn’t build walls, but bridges.’ He has always said that, continuously. He also said that in relation to migration in Europe many times. So this is not a specific issue, limited to this particular case. It’s his generic view, coherent with the nature of solidarity from the Gospel.
Responds to Beck
Palin posts to Facebook to respond to Beck’s criticisms of Trump and herself.
Ted Cruz’s star spokesman and campaign partner, Glenn Beck, promises he will support a socialist vs. the pro-life, pro-2nd amendment, pro-growth, pro-American GOP front runner… what’s conservative about that?..Beck will go ballistic after reading this post and will ramp up his unjustified attacks against Donald Trump, me, my faith, and you – for acknowledging all this I’ve outlined, in his own words… what’s smart about that?
Pope says Trump ‘Not Christian’
At the end of his six-day visit to Mexico, Pope Francis is asked about Trump’s plan to build a border wall with Mexico.
A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not of building bridges, is not Christian. This is not the gospel…I say only that this man is not Christian if he has said things like that. We must see if he said things in that way and I will give him the benefit of the doubt.
![Pope Francis Says Donald Trump is "Not Christian" [FULL REMARKS]](https://newslines.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FbEA_28uPW3g%2F0.jpg)
Phillip Island Day 2: ‘Good from beginning to end’
Rossi improves his performance on the second day of testing, finishing fourth.
Yesterday I did just 7-8 laps, but the first impression was bad and I was a bit worried. But today, with good conditions, already from this morning I was able to go fast and have a good feeling. It is different to ride [with Michelins], but at the same time I like it. It is very funny. This is important. It was a good day from beginning to end. I always stayed [near the top]. At the end I am fourth, but the distance from first position is very close and also I didn’t put new tyres at the end. We will see tomorrow if we can improve. Also the good thing is that we always made progress, step-by-step. We improved quite a lot.
Rossi also says that he is getting used to the balance of his Michelin tires.
For me the front is still a little bit worse compared to Bridgestone but the rear is better. So on balance it is very similar.
Cerrone: McGregor’s a ‘pussy’
Cerrone says he is tired of McGregor’s posturing.
Give me Conor McGregor. I’ll fight that p***y. Other than that, I don’t care. Tell that dude to slow his f-king roll. You can’t be just calling out 170-pounders. So, whatever. Enough of him.
Believes Trump will not be president
At a press conference during a summit with Southeast Asian leaders in California, President Obama says that he believes Trump will not be president.
I continue to believe Mr. Trump will not be president. And the reason is that I have a lot of faith in the American people. Being president is a serious job. It’s not hosting a talk show, or a reality show…The presidency isn’t “a matter of pandering and doing whatever will get you in the news on a given day. And sometimes, it requires you making hard decisions even when people don’t like it…Whoever’s standing where I’m standing right now has the nuclear codes with them, and can order 21-year-olds into a firefight, and (has) to make sure that the banking system doesn’t collapse, and is often responsible for not just the United States of America, but 20 other countries that are having big problems, or are falling apart and are gonna be looking for us to something…The American people are pretty sensible, and I think they’ll make a sensible choice in the end.
Will stay in MotoGP for two more years or none
Rossi says he will continue in MotoGP until the end of 2018 if he elects to race beyond the end of this season.
At the end of 2016 my contract will expire. So I will have to decide whether to continue for another two seasons or not. If I continue, it will be for two seasons as all the contracts are for two years. It will be like 2014 when I said I will look at it after the first few races. You have to look at the first five or six races then start thinking.
Two U.S. women report miscarriages
The CDC reports that two U.S. women who contracted the Zika virus while traveling out of the country miscarried after returning home, and the virus was found in their placentas. Miscarriages have been also reported in Brazil.
Says Elba should be next Dr Who
At the British Film Awards, Williams says she’d like to play Dr Who if Elba does not take the role.
Yes it would be cool but right now I’m locked into some other things. I think a female doctor would be incredible. I think a black doctor would be incredible. I’m all for Idris Elba – but if not I’ll take it for the team and do it!
U.S. athletes should consider not attending Olympics
Reports say The United States Olympic Committee told U.S. sports federations that athletes and staff concerned for their health over the Zika virus should consider not going to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August. The message was delivered in a conference call involving USOC officials and leaders of U.S. sport federations in late January, according to two people who participated in the call. Federations were told that:
[No one one should go to Brazil] if they don’t feel comfortable going. Bottom line.