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

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'No desire' to consider F1 switch - Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick, the world's most famous female racing driver, has finally ruled herself out of the running for a switch to formula one. The 33-year-old former Indycar driver...

27 Aug 2015 10:41
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Lotus cars finally allowed to leave Belgium
Four days after the Belgian grand prix, Lotus and its black and gold cars have finally left Spa-Francorchamps. All of the Enstone team's transporters and race equipment had ...

27 Aug 2015 09:45
- 2
Vettel wrong to criticise Pirelli - Jordan
Eddie Jordan has hit out at Sebastian Vettel for his fierce criticism of Pirelli in the wake of his Spa-Francorchamps tyre blowout. The Ferrari driver launched an expletive-fill...

27 Aug 2015 08:28
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Briatore backs Pirelli as Vettel defends Ferrari
Flavio Briatore has backed Pirelli in its spat with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel. In the wake of Vettel's expletive-filled rant following his tyre blowout at Spa-Francorch...

26 Aug 2015 14:31
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'Renault bid for Lotus worth a total of 57.5 million'
Even amid high speculation about the team's future, Lotus is continuing to plan ahead. The last word about the Enstone team was that, as buyout talks with Renault potentiall...

26 Aug 2015 13:42
- 1
Ferrari blocked Le Mans seat at Porsche for Vergne
Jean-Eric Vergne was offered a seat alongside Le Mans winner Nico Hulkenberg at Porsche for 2015, it has emerged. "I just had to sign the contract," said the former To...

26 Aug 2015 12:47
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Spa ended protest threat with help from Ecclestone
The promoter of the Belgian grand prix has admitted local dairy farmers posed a real threat to the smooth running of last weekend's race. At Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday, F...

26 Aug 2015 12:05
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Briatore advises Mercedes to supply Red Bull Racing
Flavio Briatore has urged Mercedes to supply engines to Red Bull. While the F1 world waits for Renault to decide its next steps, struggling Red Bull is reportedly pushing to bre...

26 Aug 2015 11:34
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Susie Wolff can't 'wait on the sidelines forever'
Susie Wolff has admitted she might be nearing the end of her patience in the quest for a formula one seat. The 32-year-old Scot's hopes of becoming the first woman in decade...

26 Aug 2015 10:53
- 1
Ferrari might spend some tokens on Monza engine
Ferrari will debut an upgraded engine at its forthcoming home race, boss Maurizio Arrivabene has announced. However, he admitted that the Maranello team might struggle on the lo...

26 Aug 2015 10:08
- 1
FIA to test cockpit protection in September
The death of Justin Wilson, mere weeks after F1's first race fatality since 1994, has put the spotlight back on cockpit protection. Before the Jules Bianchi and Wilson trage...

26 Aug 2015 09:45
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Experts say Pirelli safety debate is boost to Michelin
Michelin's bid to oust Pirelli as F1's official tyre supplier may have got a boost from the fallout of the Belgian grand prix. Sebastian Vettel was not the only high-pro...

25 Aug 2015 14:45
- 1
Lotus detained at Spa as Renault decision still looms
For embattled Lotus, time may be running out just as Renault enters a further period of delay in its decision about the future. According to various media sources including the ...

25 Aug 2015 13:31
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Raikkonen helps a great deal with development - Arrivabene
Ferrari did not decide to retain Kimi Raikkonen for 2016 because he is cheap and popular, boss Maurizio Arrivabene insists. There was a round of surprise recently when the Maran...

25 Aug 2015 12:46
- 0
Brave Blanchimont moves 'typical Max' - Jos Verstappen

As his teenage son inspired gasps and cheers at fabled Spa-Francorchamps, Jos Verstappen was not surprised by what he saw. 24 hours after a GP2 driver, Dutch countryman Dani...

25 Aug 2015 12:12
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Honda has a plan to improve the MGU-H - Boullier
Honda "has a plan" to dramatically improve a crucial element of its current power unit, according to McLaren team boss Eric Boullier. The struggling Japanese marque...

25 Aug 2015 11:52
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Vergne admits 'F1 doors are not closed' for him
Jean-Eric Vergne has added fuel to speculation he is a major contender to return to F1 next year with Haas. As a Ferrari test driver, the Frenchman is undoubtedly in the running...

25 Aug 2015 10:45
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Pirelli, Ferrari to get together after Vettel tirade
Pirelli and Ferrari, both Italian companies, will get together prior to the forthcoming Italian grand prix. The meeting follows the explosion of a controversy at the Belgian gra...

25 Aug 2015 09:47
- 1
Lauda defends Pirelli after Vettel attack on tyres
Niki Lauda has leapt to Pirelli's defence, after Sebastian Vettel launched a stinging attack on the F1 tyre supplier following the Belgian grand prix. Following the high-spe...

24 Aug 2015 14:53
- 1
Nasr hits out at 'unacceptable' brake balance problem
Felipe Nasr has criticised his team for yet another braking problem in 2015. The Brazilian has complained of a recurring problem more than once this season, and now he says it a...

24 Aug 2015 13:41
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'No reason' to change our lineup for 2016 - Red Bull
Red Bull looks set to prepare for the 2016 season with an unchanged pair of drivers. The former world championship-winning team's current drivers are Daniel Ricciardo alongs...

24 Aug 2015 12:49
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Alonso happy with big lead over Button at Spa
The Belgian grand prix was not all bad, according to Fernando Alonso. His teammate Jenson Button ended the Spa-Francorchamps race admitting it had even been "embarrassing&q...

24 Aug 2015 12:13
- 3
Sochi promoter admits switch to night race is possible
Russian grand prix promoter Sergei Vorobyov has admitted Sochi could switch to a night race format in the future. Vorobyov travelled to Spa-Francorchamps for talks with Bernie E...

24 Aug 2015 11:29
- 0
Force India enters frame to become Renault's works team
Force India has joined in the running to become Renault's works team, it emerged after the Belgian grand prix on Sunday. The news is surprising, following earlier reports th...

24 Aug 2015 10:45
- 0
Justin Wilson in critical condition after crash
Former F1 driver Justin Wilson is in a coma following an incident during an Indycar race on Sunday. The 37-year-old Briton raced for Minardi and Jaguar in 2003, having won the G...

24 Aug 2015 09:55
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Vettel furious with Pirelli after late tyre blowout
Sebastian Vettel ended Sunday's Belgian grand prix with a foul mood -- and a mandatory visit to the stewards. So angry was the Ferrari driver with his late-race Pirelli tyre...

24 Aug 2015 08:35
- 1
Maldonado insist he has a solid Lotus contract for 2016
Pastor Maldonado has played down rumours he would be ousted if Renault completes its rumoured takeover of the Lotus team. His current teammate Romain Grosjean, on the other hand...

21 Aug 2015 16:50
- 1
Massa hopes for another year with Bottas at Williams
Now that Valtteri Bottas is not heading to Ferrari next year, Felipe Massa says he hopes his current teammate stays at Williams in 2016. It is believed the Bottas-Ferrari deal f...

21 Aug 2015 16:28
- 1
Jenson Button more cautious after robbery scare
Jenson Button has admitted he has ramped up his personal security in the wake of a recent robbery incident. The McLaren driver confirmed he was shaken after burglars broke into ...

21 Aug 2015 15:49
- 0
FP2: Scary moment for Rosberg as tyre explodes
Nico Rosberg has dominated the first day of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. The German set the fastest time in first free practice and lowered the bar to a 1:49.385...

21 Aug 2015 15:32
- 1
FIA clampdown on starts divides the paddock
F1's new clampdown on race start technology has divided paddock opinion. On the one hand, some say it is a step in the right direction, as Bernie Ecclestone applauded the mo...

21 Aug 2015 15:00
- 1
Sauber not worried about dropping in Ferrari hierarchy
Sauber is not worried it will become Ferrari's last priority in 2016 and beyond. Already this year, the Swiss team has had to wait until this weekend's Belgian grand pri...

21 Aug 2015 14:08
- 1
Mercedes with 'spoon' rear wing in Spa practice
Although clearly the quickest team in F1, championship leader Mercedes is still pushing hard to improve its 2015 machine. Sebastian Vettel broke through for Ferrari's second...

21 Aug 2015 13:30
- 0
German broadcaster RTL pens new tv deal for F1
German fans can heave a sigh of relief, as the broadcaster RTL has penned a new free-to-air television deal with Bernie Ecclestone. Until now, in the wake of the demise of the 2...

21 Aug 2015 12:56
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Honda engine boost smaller than rumoured - Alonso
Fernando Alonso has admitted he will start Sunday's Belgian grand prix from the back of the grid. That is because of a double engine change as McLaren's struggling partn...

21 Aug 2015 12:02
- 1
FP1: Rosberg tops the table, Maldonado crashes
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg experienced a troubled start of the weekend with a sudden loss of power in his first run in free practice in Belgium. His team found a solution and ...

21 Aug 2015 11:32
- 0
Helmet painter says Vettel's livery for Spa is legal
Sebastian Vettel's helmet livery tweak for the Belgian grand prix conforms with the regulations. That is the claim of the German's helmet painter Jens Munser, as the Fer...

21 Aug 2015 11:11
- 1
Bottas says 'unfair' rumours hurt Williams relationship
Valtteri Bottas claims rumours about a switch to Ferrari hurt his relationship with Williams. The speculation about the young Finn's move was so strong at one point that pub...

21 Aug 2015 10:51
- 1
Max Verstappen signs Exact as personal partner
Max Verstappen, the talented Toro Rosso Formula 1 team driver, has today signed a personal partnership agreement with Exact, a global frontrunner in cloud-based business softwar...

21 Aug 2015 10:06
- 0
F1 trio moves on after Raikkonen confirmation
A trio of drivers swallowed hard this week when Ferrari announced it is keeping Kimi Raikkonen for 2016. They had hoped the Maranello team might swap the 35-year-old Finn for a ...

21 Aug 2015 09:34
- 1
Bad year at McLaren damaged my reputation - Perez
Sergio Perez on Thursday said he has no concerns about the safety of his Force India car. In Hungary, both the Mexican and his teammate Nico Hulkenberg suffered catastrophic fai...

21 Aug 2015 08:41
- 3
McLaren increases pool of engines with double engine change
It will be a long and tiring Belgian grand prix weekend for the McLaren-Honda mechanics. It was already known that, as Honda has traded in some of its upgrade 'tokens', ...

20 Aug 2015 16:32
- 2
Promoter Belgian GP happy with present and future
Andre Maes, promoter of the Belgian grand prix, is looking forward not only to this weekend's race, but also more of the same in the future at fabled and popular Spa-Francor...

20 Aug 2015 16:06
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Ferrari 'sensible and wise ' to retain Raikkonen - Salo
Ferrari was "sensible and wise" to have re-signed Kimi Raikkonen for 2016. That is the view of Mika Salo, another Finnish driver who once raced for the fabled Maranell...

20 Aug 2015 13:59
- 2
Private jet on standby for Rosberg baby birth
Nico Rosberg has a private jet on standby as the minutes tick down to fatherhood. The Mercedes driver's wife Viviane is set to give birth to their first child any day now --...

20 Aug 2015 12:49
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Bottas almost certain to stay at Williams - manager
With the Ferrari seat to remain occupied by Kimi Raikkonen, Valtteri Bottas will now almost certainly stay at Williams next year. The Finn was reportedly the leading candidate t...

20 Aug 2015 12:10
- 1
Vettel will do anything to 'annoy Mercedes'
Sebastian Vettel has vowed to keep his foot to the floor on his outside shot at the 2015 world championship. Having entered the break with a second win of the season, Vettel has...

20 Aug 2015 11:30
- 0
Renault continued to work hard during summer break
Renault is confident it will take a step forward for 2016. The French carmaker will soon decide how it will proceed for the future, as the relationship with Red Bull breaks down...

20 Aug 2015 10:48
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Video: A lap Spa-Francorchamps onboard with Rosberg
Spa-Francorchamps hosts the Grand Prix of Belgium this weekend. As a preview a video of a lap onboard with Nico Rosberg around that track. ...

20 Aug 2015 09:57
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Clampdown on starts 'step in right direction' - Ecclestone
F1's clampdown on assisted race starts is a step in the right direction, according to Bernie Ecclestone. The F1 supremo, openly no fan of the sport's current era, has gi...

20 Aug 2015 09:16
- 1
Ferrari re-signs Kimi Raikkonen for 2016
Ferrari has ended speculation about Kimi Raikkonen's future by re-signing the Finn for 2016. "The driver lineup next season will still consist of the Finnish driver and...

20 Aug 2015 08:25
- 2
Grosjean barracking hard for Lotus buyout by Renault
Romain Grosjean has admitted a buyout by Renault would be an ideal solution to Lotus' "difficult financial situation". It is believed Renault and Lotus' owner ...

19 Aug 2015 16:49
- 1
We don't believe we are brilliant now - Ferrari
Battle will resume between Mercedes and Ferrari this weekend in Belgium. While Mercedes is easily leading both world championships, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel entered the re...

19 Aug 2015 16:04
- 1
Rosberg fires psychological jab at Hamilton's lifestyle
Nico Rosberg is charging out of the summer break determined to fire everything at his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton. Reigning champion Hamilton, leading the duo's in-hous...

19 Aug 2015 15:22
- 1
Danica Patrick out of running for F1 seat at Haas
Haas' driver short-list of ten potential candidates for 2016 may now have become nine, as the American female superstar Danica Patrick fell out of the running. Patrick, 33, ...

19 Aug 2015 14:28
- 2
Idea for Grand Prix in Finland 'unrealistic' - Raikkonen
Kimi Raikkonen has described reports that Finland could host a grand prix in the near future as "unrealistic". We reported earlier in August that Bernie Ecclestone hel...

19 Aug 2015 13:39
- 1
Lauda believes Bottas will remain at Williams
Niki Lauda thinks it is possible Williams and Ferrari will line up in 2016 with unchanged driver lineups. It has been strongly rumoured that Williams' Valtteri Bottas could ...

19 Aug 2015 12:52
- 3
Grosjean thinks sitting out free practices is 'unfair'
Romain Grosjean says continually sitting out free practice sessions in 2015 is "unfair". Whenever reserve driver Jolyon Palmer conducts Friday morning duties for Lotus...

19 Aug 2015 12:03
- 2
All eyes in Belgium on new race start rules
A big talking point at Spa this weekend will be the FIA's new rules regarding race starts. The mid-season change has divided paddock opinion, with some applauding the shift ...

19 Aug 2015 11:28
- 1
Less overtaking in 2015 compared to last year
There has been less overtaking in formula one this year compared to 2014, the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport has found. The report said that last year, based on the openin...

19 Aug 2015 10:40
- 0
Vettel is the nicest teammate I have had - Raikkonen
Kimi Raikkonen has denied that his future in formula one depends on the outcome of this weekend's Belgian grand prix. F1 legend Niki Lauda has said that Spa-Francorchamps sp...

19 Aug 2015 09:53
- 0
Toro Rosso starts work in new facility at Faenza
A new building at Toro Rosso's Faenza headquarters is now up and running. Italy's Omnicorse reports that, during the summer break, the Red Bull-owned team took advantage...

19 Aug 2015 09:11
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Hülkenberg signs up for Race of Champions 2015
2015 Le Mans 24 Hours winner Nico Hülkenberg has signed up for this year's Race Of Champions on November 20-21 at the Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the iconi...

18 Aug 2015 13:34
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McLaren not expecting huge jump forward at Spa
It is not clear how much progress McLaren-Honda will make this weekend in Belgium. While much of the F1 world enjoyed its summer break, struggling engine supplier Honda has been...

18 Aug 2015 12:48
- 1
Vettel: "F1 should be about who can drive the fastest"
Sebastian Vettel has admitted he is no fan of having to save fuel during grands prix. The Ferrari driver, who counts himself among what are regarded as motor racing 'purists...

18 Aug 2015 12:15
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Nasr says new Ferrari engine includes 'more power'
Sauber will finally get its hands on Ferrari's updated engine this weekend in Belgium. Already improved going into the 2015 season, Ferrari has continued to make progress wi...

18 Aug 2015 11:25
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Felipe Massa enjoys having his family at the races
Felipe Massa says he enjoys having the support of his family at grands prix. Lately, the highest-profile youngster in the paddock - Max Verstappen aside - is five-year-old Felip...

18 Aug 2015 10:37
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Mercedes not in conversation with Red Bull yet
Toto Wolff has put the brakes on runaway speculation about a Mercedes engine deal for Red Bull. Reports in the last days have indicated that the energy drink owned team will alm...

18 Aug 2015 09:42
- 1
Verstappen predicts bigger differences between starts
Max Verstappen has delivered a sobering message for those expecting drivers to have more control over their race starts at Spa. The FIA's clampdown on automated starts guide...

18 Aug 2015 08:25
- 1
Haas poised to decide 2016 drivers in September
New F1 team Haas' first driver lineup could be known within two weeks. Team boss Gunther Steiner on Monday said he has drawn up a list of about 10 potential candidates for t...

17 Aug 2015 16:51
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