Rob Veenstra

Rob founded GPToday together with Danny. He started as an intern at the end of 2004, after which he became the first journalist to be hired and wrote articles and various interesting columns for many years. He was regularly the daily hub of the news, but also provided live coverage of the test sessions.

News

Display:

Australia 2012 Friday quotes: Sauber
In changing weather conditions the Sauber F1 Team enjoyed a smooth first day of free practice at the start of the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship. After some heavy showe...

16 Mar 2012 12:16
- 0
Australia 2012 Friday quotes: Red Bull Racing
Mark Webber: We did learn a little today but after nine weeks of anxious waiting it was a shame with the weather. Mother Nature played a big role and it made it quite chall...

16 Mar 2012 11:40
- 0
Australia 2012 Friday quotes: Mercedes
Michael Schumacher: "Today was a nice start into a hopefully exciting season, and certainly two promising sessions for us. However, I would not go so far as to speak about being...

16 Mar 2012 11:02
- 0
Hamilton: "First races will definitely play a role in future decision"
Lewis Hamilton has dropped a strong hint about his future beyond 2012, indicating he will decide his future soon. Red Bull's Christian Horner has ruled out the 2008 world champi...

16 Mar 2012 10:50
- 0
Australia 2012 Friday quotes: Marussia F1 Team
The opening free practice sessions for Sundays curtain-raising 2012 Qantas Australian Grand Prix were always going to be about the Marussia F1 Team getting their feet wet, as ...

16 Mar 2012 10:30
- 0
Australia 2012 Friday quotes: Scuderia Toro Rosso
Jean-Eric Vergne: My first Friday as a Formula 1 driver was a good feeling. Being the first driver out on track this morning was something special, but after that it was time ...

16 Mar 2012 10:22
- 0
Australia 2012 Friday quotes: Caterham F1 Team
Heikki Kovalainen: The car felt good from the first proper run this morning and we found that the baseline we had set over the winter carried over exactly as we had planned in...

16 Mar 2012 09:54
- 0
Donington Park no longer interested in organizing Grand Prix
Donington Park no longer aspires to host formula one. The circuit's bold bid to redevelop the site and host the 2010 British grand prix failed spectacularly, but it is once a...

16 Mar 2012 09:33
- 0
F3: Ferrari rewards European champion with Formula 1 test
The Fédération Internationale de lAutomobile (FIA) is pleased to announce the creation of a new international series, the FIA European Formula 3 Championship. This was ratif...

16 Mar 2012 09:16
- 0
HRT passes scruteneering and is cleared to race in Australia
HRT has survived a close call in Melbourne, after crucial parts of Pedro de la Rosa's chassis did not arrive in time for scrutineering. The back-of-the-grid Spanish team had to ...

16 Mar 2012 08:39
- 0
FP2: Schumacher the best in drying conditions in Melbourne
Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher has set the best time in the seconde free practice in Melbourne. The seven times world champion waited until the end to grab the top spot on a...

16 Mar 2012 08:05
- 0
Caterham F1 Team announces BRM Chronographs as new partner
Caterham F1 Team has announced today that it has signed a partnership deal with BRM Chronographs who join the team as Official Watch Partner. The globally renowned BRM Chronogra...

16 Mar 2012 07:24
- 0
FIA vows to do something about stepped noses for 2013
Charlie Whiting has vowed to do what he can to ensure next year's cars are not as 'ugly' as the 2012 generation. "It's an ugly regulation," said Red Bull's Mark Webber, refer...

16 Mar 2012 06:38
- 0
FP1: Jenson Button claims first top spot in Australia
The first free practice in Melbourne didn't provide much answers about the order of the teams, as the session started with a wet track that dried up at the end. That caused the ...

16 Mar 2012 04:02
- 0
Angry Ecclestone dares Australia to drop Grand Prix
Bernie Ecclestone has played down the controversy over the future of Australia's grand prix by daring organisers to walk away from the sport. "When the contract comes up, they d...

16 Mar 2012 03:19
- 0
CNBC continues as media partner of Marussia F1 Team
The Marussia F1 Team is pleased to announce that its partnership with CNBC, the leading global broadcaster of business and financial news and information, has been extended into...

16 Mar 2012 02:35
- 0
Force India teams up with supplier Internap
Sahara Force India is pleased to announce that Internap, a provider of intelligent IT Infrastructure services, has been selected as its official supplier of web hosting and cont...

15 Mar 2012 17:01
- 0
Pirelli had to settle for a 2010 Renault as new test car
Pirelli would have preferred to test with a 2011-specification car this year, Paul Hembery has admitted. After writing off the 2009 Toyota as too outdated, F1's tyre supplier st...

15 Mar 2012 16:28
- 0
F2: McKenzie switches from World Series to Formula 2
Leading British driver Daniel McKenzie has become the latest driver to confirm his place on the grid for the 2012 FIA Formula Two Championship. The 23-year-old, who competed ...

15 Mar 2012 15:58
- 0
Tata looks to Sidhu & Simon to activate Formula 1 sponsorship
Tata Communications has appointed London-based sponsorship agency, Sidhu & Simon Communications, to activate and leverage its multi-year technology association with Formula One ...

15 Mar 2012 14:51
- 0
Ferrari leaves the position of official reserve driver open
Ferrari will not appoint an official reserve driver in 2012, the famous Italian team has confirmed. The Maranello based team's former reserve, Jules Bianchi, has stepped up to t...

15 Mar 2012 14:12
- 0
Paffett stands in for Bianchi as Force India reserve in Australia
Gary Paffett is next in line for a Force India race seat this weekend in Australia. The Silverstone based team's new regular Friday and reserve driver, Jules Bianchi, is unavail...

15 Mar 2012 13:44
- 0
Kovalainen supports Angry Birds with special helmet
Rovio Entertainment announced today their merchandising and webgame partnership with Finnish Formula 1 star Heikki Kovalainen. Kovalainen will also be sporting a brand new co-br...

15 Mar 2012 13:05
- 0
Sake brand Joraku official supplier of Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing is pleased to announce that the Japanese Premium Sake brand Joraku has become an official Team Supplier. As a result of the multi-year agreement, the Joraku bran...

15 Mar 2012 12:11
- 0
Marussia F1 Team welcomes VPS.NET as new partner
The Marussia F1 Team is pleased to announce a further new partnership for the 2012 season, with VPS.NET. VPS.NET, a division of the UK2Group, has simplified the process of virt...

15 Mar 2012 11:23
- 0
Massa: "Nice that the time for 'blah blah blah' is over"
Felipe Massa was clearly happy that the racing season is about to start when he met the press this afternoon, in the Scuderia Ferrari hospitality area. Its nice that the tim...

15 Mar 2012 10:53
- 0
Video: A lap onboard with Sebastian Vettel around Albert Park
The new season starts Sunday in Australia. The track for the first Grand Prix in 2012 is Albert Park in Melbourne. As a preview a video of a lap with Sebastian Vettel around tha...

15 Mar 2012 10:17
- 0
The Australian Grand Prix from a tyre point of view
Pirelli enters its second season of Formula One as exclusive tyre supplier with the entire range of tyres renewed compared to the previous year. This has been in response to new...

15 Mar 2012 09:48
- 0
FIA releases details for two DRS-zones in Australia
The FIA has published the details for DRS during the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, Melbourne. There will be two zones and only one detection point. The detection poin...

15 Mar 2012 09:18
- 0
Argentina closing in on deal for Grand Prix in 2013
Argentina is close to returning to the formula one calendar, the president of South America's second-largest country has revealed. EFE news agency quotes Cristina Fernandez d...

15 Mar 2012 08:51
- 0
Vitaly Petrov not happy with label of pay-driver
Vitaly Petrov has hit out again at his 'pay-driver' label, insisting even the highest paid driver on the grid has a similar arrangement with his team. "I see no difference betwe...

14 Mar 2012 16:43
- 0
Robert Kubica drives kart and rally car
Robert Kubica is back on track yet again, according to the latest reports from Italy. It emerged a few days ago that the Pole had moved his recovery from serious injury forwards...

14 Mar 2012 16:05
- 0
DTM: Audi gives young Adrien Tambay opportunity in 2012
Six weeks before the new DTM season opens at the Hockenheimring on April 29 the decision has been made: Audi will be fielding a total of eight vehicles in the competition with B...

14 Mar 2012 15:35
- 0
FIA appoints Johnny Herbert as first drivers' steward of 2012
Johnny Herbert serves this weekend in Australia as race steward. Johnny Herberts motor sport career began in 1974, aged 10, in karts. Five years later he was British junior ka...

14 Mar 2012 14:34
- 0
Red Bull Racing keeps an eye on Mercedes
With an eye on the usual suspects McLaren and Ferrari, Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz thinks yet another team could be a real challenger in 2012. Referring to Mercedes, he t...

14 Mar 2012 13:55
- 0
Domenicali convinced Ferrari will be in the fight until the end
Everything is almost ready now in the Albert Park paddock. Tomorrow is the first day of official action for the race weekend, starting with the usual FIA run media meetings. Tod...

14 Mar 2012 13:32
- 0
Schumacher: "Without testing ban I would not have come back"
Michael Schumacher has revealed he would not have returned to formula one if not for the sport's strict testing ban. Two years after his record seventh title, the famous German ...

14 Mar 2012 12:45
- 0
Video: Ricciardo looks forward to first home Grand Prix
As he prepares to race for the first time at his home grand prix, Daniel Ricciardo talks Australia, season set-up and starting the 2012 Formula One season with Toro Rosso. br...

14 Mar 2012 12:07
- 0
Marussia concentrates on basics before worrying about KERS
Marussia needs to get the basics right before worrying about KERS, Timo Glock explained on the eve of the 2012 season. The experienced German, and his rookie teammate Charles Pi...

14 Mar 2012 11:53
- 0
Ferrari Preview: Alonso braces himself for tough start
Fernando Alonso: I arrived in Melbourne last night. Its the longest journey of the year and the prime objective is to adapt as soon as possible to the time difference, as th...

14 Mar 2012 10:35
- 0
Sebastian Vettel gives his RB8 the name 'Abbey'
Sebastian Vettel has named his new 2012 Red Bull chassis 'Abbey'. With the Adrian Newey-penned RB8, the 24-year-old German will push to become F1's third-ever triple consecutive...

14 Mar 2012 09:39
- 0
Codemasters extend deal to develop new official F1 games
Codemasters will remain the home of official Formula One games following confirmation that they have extended their partnership with Formula One World Championship Limited. The ...

14 Mar 2012 08:47
- 0
Microsoft joins Lotus F1 Team as partner
Lotus F1 Team is proud to announce a three-year partnership with Microsoft which begins with immediate effect. Microsoft Dynamics branding will feature prominently both on the L...

14 Mar 2012 08:18
- 0
GP3: Felix da Costa ends test in Barcelona on top
Portuguese Antonio Felix Da Costa was fastest in the second day of testing after recording the quickest time in the morning session. His time of 1:37.934 was the fastest achieve...

13 Mar 2012 17:20
- 0
Toro Rosso pays Ricciardo less than 500k in 2012
Daniel Ricciardo has admitted he will earn less than $500,000 in 2012. And the Australian rookie also confirmed that, when he made his grand prix debut last year with HRT, his s...

13 Mar 2012 16:27
- 0
Force India Preview: Mallya hopeful for next step forward in 2012
The new Formula 1 season starts this weekend in Melbourne. Force India will be looking for the top five in the constructors' championship in 2012. The team has gradually moved u...

13 Mar 2012 15:30
- 0
Di Montezemolo gives Ferrari time and trust to deliver
Luca di Montezemolo insists heads will not roll, as Ferrari looks set to race into the 2012 season without the chance of a podium. The famous team wrote off last year's champion...

13 Mar 2012 14:35
- 0
Haug: "Just have to accept that Mercedes is still building-up"
Norbert Haug has played down reports Mercedes could be set to be a shock title contender in 2012. Some new analysis in the sport's specialist media claims the W03, to be raced b...

13 Mar 2012 13:48
- 0
F2: Plamen Kralev confirmed for another year on F2 grid
Bulgaria's official motorsport ambassador Plamen Kralev has become the latest driver to be announced for the 2012 FIA Formula Two Championship. After an encouraging debut F2 ...

13 Mar 2012 12:44
- 0
Grosjean happy with forecasts for rain in Melbourne
Romain Grosjean will be happy if this week's weather forecast for Melbourne proves right. Although Wednesday will be warm and sunny in the Victorian capital, the clouds will beg...

13 Mar 2012 12:14
- 0
Caterham F1 Team reaches agreement with Visa
Caterham F1 Team has announced a multi-year agreement with Visa as the team's Hospitality and Experiential Marketing Partner. The partnership will see the two brands collaborate...

13 Mar 2012 11:31
- 0
Williams takes time to get new title sponsor right
Williams will not rush into signing a new title sponsor, chairman Adam Parr insists. The famous British team performed woefully in 2011 and lost its naming backer AT&T, yet rece...

13 Mar 2012 10:54
- 0
Renault already devotes most of its resources to 2014 engine
F1 engine supplier Renault is now devoting 70 per cent of its efforts into the sport's new 6-cylinder turbo formula for 2014. This year's championship and the next are the last ...

13 Mar 2012 10:26
- 0
Marussia F1 Team welcomes JCC as new partner
The Marussia F1 Team is pleased to announce that it has joined forces with JCC, the advanced lighting technology company. JCC has been at the forefront of lighting technology si...

13 Mar 2012 10:04
- 0
GP3: Trident Racing signs 17-year old Antonio Spavone
Trident Racing are proud to confirm that Antonio Spavone, one of the best young talents in Italy will drive for the team this season. Spavone will enter the 2012 GP3 Series alon...

13 Mar 2012 09:40
- 0
Pirelli aims to improve spectacle of F1 even further in 2012
Having helped to set the fastest-ever lap of Albert Park during qualifying last year, Pirelli has a tough act to follow in 2012. But in its second season of Formula One, the Ita...

13 Mar 2012 08:28
- 0
GP3: Mitch Evans on top after first day of testing in Barcelona
GP3 Series testing resumed in Barcelona at the Circuit de Catalunya for the second official pre-season test of 2012. There were six new faces on show: Carmen Jorda (Ocean Racing...

12 Mar 2012 18:25
- 0
Flavio Briatore slams huge role of technology in F1
Flavio Briatore has hit out at formula one by suggesting "any top driver" would have won last year's title with the 2011 Red Bull. "It's only a real show now when it rains," the...

12 Mar 2012 16:53
- 0
Red Bull Racing Preview: Drivers excited to get racing underway
Sebastian Vettel: Testing has been busy over the last few weeks and I think we have made a decent step with the car. You never really know where you are until we get to Melbou...

12 Mar 2012 16:06
- 0
Lotus Preview: Albert Park will suit the E20, says Raikkonen
What are your objectives on your return to Formula 1 with Lotus F1 Team? Kimi Raikkonen: I will try to do as well as I can and see where we end up. For the first race in Aust...

12 Mar 2012 15:28
- 0
Sauber flattered by Red Bull copy of exhaust layout
Peter Sauber has admitted his Swiss team is flattered after Red Bull apparently copied the C31's exhaust layout ahead of the 2012 season. Red Bull ran at the initial Jerez and B...

12 Mar 2012 14:56
- 0
Marussia Preview: Facing a steep hill to climb in Australia
The Marussia F1 Team is delighted to be heading to Melbourne for this weekends Australian Grand Prix and the start of a brand new season, the teams third year of F1 competit...

12 Mar 2012 14:16
- 0
Shared Spanish GP talks could take another couple of months
A deal to see Barcelona and Valencia alternate a single annual Spanish grand prix is not quite across the finish line. F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone announced last week t...

12 Mar 2012 13:39
- 0
WTCC: Chevrolet dominates first weekend at Monza
The 2012 FIA World Touring Car Championship kicked off just like the 2011 season had ended, and the opening weekend of was dominated by the Chevrolet team. A 1-2 in the first ra...

12 Mar 2012 12:41
- 0
Positive Grosjean thinks third is possible for Lotus
Fourth in the 2012 championship is a "realistic" target for Lotus. That is the claim of reigning GP2 champion Romain Grosjean, amid suggestions his new mount - the black and gol...

12 Mar 2012 12:03
- 0
Q&A: Charlie Whiting explains regulations for 2012
Why has a four-hour total time limit been put on Grands Prix? Whiting: Last season the race in Montreal went on for four hours and four minutes. A race really should not go o...

12 Mar 2012 11:16
- 0
FIA likely to change exhaust rules again for 2013
The FIA is likely to clamp down further on the use of exhaust gases for aerodynamic performance for 2013. That's what race director Charlie Whiting said in a preview on the regu...

12 Mar 2012 11:12
- 0
McLaren Preview: Hamilton 'more ready than ever' for new season
What does Melbourne mean to you? Hamilton: "Melbourne is a city that has sport running through its veins and the crowd lives and breathes it. It's a great place to start the...

12 Mar 2012 10:49
- 0
Champion Vettel starts 2012 without personal sponsors
Sebastian Vettel enters the 2012 season with a clean sheet when it comes to personal sponsorship. The German recently filmed a television commercial for the dandruff shampoo 'He...

12 Mar 2012 09:56
- 0
Brawn believes new Mercedes could be a winning car

Mercedes could be set to surprise the entire F1 world by setting the pace in 2012. That is the claim of the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, having found that the W03 had t...

12 Mar 2012 09:25
- 0
<< Previous Next >>