TNF1 Bahrain: The prancing horse back in form?

Jon Lindberg of TKA MEDIA NEWS

As qualifying got underway for the F1-category under the dark skies and bright lights of Bahrain it was a familiar name setting the tone, with Australia-winner Bradley Betts starting it all off with a very quick opening lap of 1:26:8.

As more drivers started putting in times Red Bull-debutant Jon Lindberg went 7 thousandths slower while Sjors van de Brug got within a tenth of provisional pole as well, promising a very close and competitive session.

That is until Daniel Valle showed the speed of his Ferrari and cleared all of his competitors by nearly half a second on his opening lap.

Later on, both Lindberg and Betts had issues with their DRS-flaps, proving a slight hindrance in their improvements and Stewart McKenzie topped them both to start on the first grid with a rapid final run, though none of them could get quite close enough to threaten a second consecutive pole position from Daniel Valle.

Quite a few drivers opted against using the super Softs, not wanting to start the race on that compound, amongst them championship leader Alex Little who qualified in ninth and March Trisandi who put himself in 10th on the Softs.

At the start of the race Daniel Valle showed perhaps his only moment of weakness during the weekend, struggling to get off the line quickly and almost getting sandwiched by Stewart McKenzie and Jon Lindberg, with the former managing to mount a proper attack on the inside and putting Daniel under massive pressure for the entire first sector, which the pair spent side-by-side. Daniel Valle eventually re-established his lead though, and McKenzie dropped back down to 2nd, after a quick position-switcharoo with Lindberg at T7.

Further down the field Ady Betambeau and Joshua Law made up a lot of ground early on, though Toro Rosso-debutant Ady's fine start was undone by a spin at the end of lap 1. Both Melvin Storbacka and Nadir Ziat were forced to pit at the end of lap 1, putting them on the back-foot early, while Mason Ward seemed to struggle finding early pace on the medium tyres.

The race started to settle in a bit, with the only ongoing early battle being for 4th between Sjors van de Brug, Bradley Betts and Matías Vercelli, with Alex Little benefitting from it as well as his Softs started outpacing the super soft-starters, making his way up to 4th by lap 7.

Jon Lindberg got past Stewart McKenzie for 2nd as McKenzie seemingly struggled with his tyres at the end of the first stint.

The top 3 all pitted on lap 8, and the only ones going on with their starting tires for significantly longer were Joshua Law and Mason Ward.

As the race went on the gaps at the front increased, with Daniel Valle showing superior pace and pulling away from his competitors bit by bit.

The main battle was between Matias Vercelli and Joshua Law, with the Toro Rosso driver eventually getting past and building up a gap, whereas Sjors van de Brug started making up time with some quick laps on his 2-stop strategy.

Sjors eventually caught up and passed Joshua with a beautiful late-breaking move down the inside, but couldn't get any further and had to settle for 7th.

Alex Little also managed to catch up and pass championship rival Bradley Betts to secure 4th in the race on the penultimate lap.

There was nobody who could challenge Daniel Valle today though as he took the chequered flag in 1st, showing the pace that made him a likely championship contender in the season-preview after some sub-par results in the first 2 races of the season.

Top 10

1. Daniel Valle - Ferrari - 25
2. Jon Lindberg - Red Bull - 18
3. McKenzie Stewart - Mercedes - 15
4. Alex Little - Haas - 12
5. Bradley Betts - Williams - 10
6. Matias Vercelli - Toro Rosso Honda - 8
7. Sjors van de Brug - McLaren - 6
8. Joshua Law - Alfa Romeo Sauber - 4
9. Ady Betambeau - Toro Rosso Honda - 2
10. March Trisandi - Renault Sport F1 - 1 (Fastest Lap)

Little takes first win as F1 driver, leads championship

TKA MEDIA NEWS

It was a gloomy race for the F1 drivers at last weekends Chinese GP, but Alex Little was able to brave the storm and take his first win as an F1 driver and take the lead in the drivers table.

He was able to hold off a charging McKenzie Stewart to deny Mercedes yet another win in the F1 category.

Jon Lindberg who made his first race appearance this season was looking to be the man to beat, with very strong wet weather pace, however a mistake in strategy saw him drop back down to third, where he would end up staying.

Bradley Betts the former point's leader would end up fourth, giving up the lead in the points standing by 6 over the New Zealand Haas driver.

The weekend was marked also with the decision by defending champion Brett Keenan to end his career in F1 early, having come to the conclusion his racing was no longer competitive in the game, qualifying a career worst 11th and ended up out of the race at the halfway stage of the race.

Pole position went to Daniel Valle, but a poor start and lack of pace saw the Ferrari driver end up 5th behind Sjors van de Brug who on his first outing in the TNF1 delivered great pace and left the Chinese GP circuit with the fastest lap of the race.

Bellerose takes first win of career after chaotic F2 race

Mercedes had a reason to celebrate for the weekend with a victory for their newest recruit Stanley R-Bellerose. The Canadian driver rose from 10th on the grid to take the top step ahead of championship points leader Matthew Plevey and teammate Ivan Drk.

Ady Betambeau kept his consistency streak with fourth.

Brett Keenan of whom announced his retirement from F2 was given special permission by Ferrari to drive Ryan Connolly's car for the F2 race to gauge himself against the other competitors and rose from 11th on the grid to 6th, but was still displeased with his driving ability as well as a few others that he chose not to 'stir the pot' and mention.

Championship contender Cameron Betts was left walking back to the garage wondering what might have been, after an out of control Ferrari of Ferdi Riman slammed into the side of Cameron's car, putting him into the fence and out of the race, the following contact also took fourth placed driver from Australia Issaac Murphy out of the running also.

The result has seen Ferdi Riman been given a 25 second post race penalty, dropping him

The TNF1 championship moves now to Bahrain for round 3 of the championship can the leaders keep their advantages? And can we see a new winner in both categories? Only time will tell.

Brett Keenan calls time on F1 career, to race McLaren in F2

TKA MEDIA NEWS

2-time defending Trans-Nation Formula 1 champion and head of the TNC Brett Keenan announced yesterday that he would no longer be competing at the top level of the sport and has announced his retirement only two races into the new season.

Keenan, winner of 4 Grand Prix and 2 titles expressed his heartbroken nature in the call to hang up his boots while there was still racing to go, but felt as though the time he was putting in elsewhere was making his racing become sloppy and he was no longer able to compete at the top of his game.

He will however replace unattending Ukraine driver Jenia Bondarenko at McLaren for the remainder of the F2 season in a situational value that allows him to 'keep somewhat active' with the community.

"It's never easy to come to terms with where you stand in any category of online racing, wither it's touring cars of F1 cars, if you're at the top level of that sport and you're not performing to your greatest, you have to make a call on what you are doing with yourself." Keenan told TKA Media, struggling to keep his emotions in check at the time.

"For me I have two seasons in the F1 category, including the Beta test season and I have just noticed recently a massive drop in performance. In the beta test I was among the top 4 in qualifying and top 5 in races, then by the end of the first major season (last season) I was struggling to stay in the Top 10.

Then when you qualify 11th twice in both categories (F1 and F2 China) you have to look at yourself and wonder what the hell you are doing and who are you holding back from getting a drive in the top level?" Keenan added.

"Driving in the wet in the F1 I was just getting so angry and upset with myself at how badly I was driving, the team said it wasn't my fault but I had to give it to them straight and I feel like I have let them down so massively and I can't continue to drive at the top game when I'm not even at the top of my game."

In this movement, Jon Lindberg has been promoted to Red Bull to fill in for the retired F1 driver and will remain there till the end of the season.

"I have to thank McLaren for giving me an opportunity to race for them in F2, I understand they are a little off placed by not having one of their drivers turn up two races in a row, they were able to have a replacement lined up for China and I really have to thank Ferrari for allowing me to drive their car in the F2 at such short notice, I really appreciate that big time, and hope come the reserve time in my career that I could race for them again."

When asked if he'd return to F1 again, the defending champion was quick to make a call on that.

"No, I don't think I'll ever return to the F1 grid anytime soon." He said bluntly.

"I don't have time to commit to the practise, I don't have time to be able to run strategies or deal to issues I might have. I am running the organization and that takes up a great deal of my time and I can't afford to jeopardize the operations just because I want to up my game in racing. It's now how I plan to operate now or ever."

"At least with F2 this season there is no need to perform, McLaren know this and just expect me to have fun, which is what I intend to do which is why I will only be earning points for the team, not myself."

Robbert Zwanikken to replace Keenan at Red Bull in 2019

In light of the news of Brett Keenan's retirement from the F1 category this season, his seat at Red Bull Honda will be taken by former GP2 Red Bull driver and current Haas driver Robbert Zwanikken.

Zwanikken who had a shocker of a GP2 season with only 3 finishes of the 20 races will currently partner up with Guy Tasker, who has yet to make his decision on wither he'll continue racing for Red Bull into the next season or if a change of scenery is required.

Championship leader signs for another season with Williams

TKA MEDIA NEWS

TNF1 Championship points leader Bradley Betts has announced that he will be driving another season for Williams in the F1 category.

Betts who drove a brilliant race to be the first winner of the new season is now the 7th driver to mark another season with their current outfit, leaving teams with fewer options later down the road.

Betts told TKA Media News that the decision to stay with Williams was a choice based on his current teammate Mason Ward; who through other circumstances could not attend last weekends racing.

He believes the two have many years to work on earning titles and constructors together so feel that staying with Williams for another season until another team rises up could be a good prospect for them currently.

Mason Ward has just recently announced he will stay with Bradley for the duration of his teammates time at the team also. Making Williams the third team to complete it's Season 3 line-up.

In other news with the move to Alfa Romeo Sauber in the F1 category, Joshua Law has made a statement to stay with the team until the end of Season 4, the Australian having had success with the team in the GP3 category of last season, chalking up a race win at China before being swept up by Ferrari to try and make something out of them that year.

Current Season 3 driver line-up

Mercedes:

McKenzie Stewart

Owen Bennett

Ferrari:

Daniel Valle

TBC

Red Bull Racing Honda:

Brett Keenan

TBC

Williams:

Bradley Betts

Mason Ward

Force India:

James Ratiff

TBC

McLaren:

TBC

Toro Rosso Honda:

TBC

Renault:

TBC

Haas:

TBC

Alfa Romeo Sauber:

Axel Ericson

Joshua Law

James Ratiff joins Force India on Multi-year deal

TKA MEDIA NEWS

A week before the start of the Trans-Nation Formula 1 World Championship at Australia, German Force India driver Alex Scheick unexpectantley vanished without a trace leaving the team to be without a driver for the season and was further embarrassed when their second driver Harrison Colville failed to turn up for the first round.

They have now selected to-be F3 driver James Ratiff to take the seat vacated by Scheick in attempts to get their campaign back on track.

"We're delighted to bring James into our team and hope that he can deliver us some good points if not a couple of podiums and even a win." Force India's head of operations told TKA Media News earlier today.

"Losing Alex without warning was a shock and having Harrison miss the first race just added salt to our very big wound, so bringing Ratiff in who was expected to drive for Haas in F3 we can only say our thanks to Haas for loaning him to us on such short notice."

Force India sit last on the drivers table with 0 points to their name, 27 points behind current constructor leaders Mercedes. Their F2 campaign didn't prove to be any better for them with normal F1 AR Sauber driver Russell Fook asked at the last minute to drive one of their cars in an attempt to salvage at least some points in one of the categories. They currently sit 5th equal to Ferrari in the F2 points table.

Ratiff marks the 6th driver to sign a multi-year deal at a team, with Brett Keenan, Daniel Valle and McKenzie Stewart all on 3-year deals with their respective teams (Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes) though Keenan expecting to retire next season does put paid to that deal in general. Owen Bennet and Axel Ericson both on multi-year deals.

Current driver line-up (Season 2019)

Mercedes:

McKenzie Stewart

Owen Bennet

Ferrari:

Daniel Valle

TBC

Red Bull

Brett Keenan

TBC

Force India

James Ratiff

TBC

Williams:

TBC

McLaren:

TBC

Toro Rosso Honda

TBC

Alfa Romeo Sauber

Axel Ericson

TBC

Renault:

TBC

Haas:

TBC

BETTS and PLEVEY take first honours in Season 2018

TKA MEDIA

The start of the Trans-Nation Formula 1 season was without doubt an interesting contest to behold. The F1 category saw a new winner in the fold with Bradley BETTS taking his first win as an F1 driver ahead of experienced driver Alex LITTLE.

Owen BENNET for his first outing with Mercedes was able to edge teammate McKenzie STEWART to take the final step of the podium, the latter finishing in fourth.

March TRISANDI was definitely the driver of the day in the F1 with a 10th to 5th position finish with defending TNF1 World Champion Brett KEENAN brining home a 6th place from 8th on the grid.

Axel ERICSON, Melvin STORBACKA, Nadir ZIAT and Daniel VALLE made up the Top 10, however VALLE was caught in a scuffle with his French teammate, the result seeing the spainard and tipped winner of the championship out of the race.

VALLE was on for a 5th or 4th placed finish when he came to blows with his teammate and was put out of the race, he did however finish 10th as a result of the earlier casualties from Kryszstof KAPLINSKI and Mattias VERCELLI.

A couple of incidents were investigated including Alex LITTLE and Brett KEENAN for incidents involving Bradley BETTS and McKenzie STEWART. KEENAN was awarded a 5-second post race penalty for his actions, however this did not impact his race results whatsoever.

Till this moment of time the incidents regarding Alex LITTLE and Bradley BETTS have yet to be concluded, resulting a racing incident situation. (More info if anything changes).

For F2, Matthew PLEVEY was able to stage off an attack from Cameron BETTS at the start of the race to win his first race for Red Bull, the third of his career and the first on home soil.

He brought his Red Bull home from Ady BETAMBEAU and Cameron BETTS who made a second stop on his way to third. A great drive from Isaac MURPHY saw the McLaren driver climb from 13th on the grid to 4th in the race.

Stanley R-BELLEROSE brought his Merc home in 6th behind Russell FOOK who today announced he would be swapping places with 8th placed driver Joshua LAW, Ferdi RIMAN brought the Ferrari home 7th, Braden MCLEAN for Toro Rosso was 9th ahead of Ryan CONNOLLY with Jordan DITTMER just missing out on points for the race.

The TNF1 and TNF2 head to China for round 2 this weekend, we could also see the debut for TNF3 the day before depending on the number of drivers available for the race ahead.

Red Bull: We made a few uncharacteristic mistakes but are still confident of our drivers

TKA MEDIA NEWS

It was considered a very up and down weekend for the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team during Pre-Season testing what with their two main drivers forced to retire with terminal damage, where one of their F2 drivers was able to make the podium after a torrid first lap.

However the Red Bull organization believes that behind this set-back is a means of little concern as their two drivers of Brett Keenan and Guy Tasker know each other well enough to not fall into the same context twice.

The incidents started with Brett Keenan making a move on Melvin Storbacka that saw the former into a spin and pit early to get on fresher rubber.

The undercut effect brought Keenan behind his teammate before another spin from the former brought out the Safety Car, and the troubles soon followed.

"The Safety car had been brought out as a result of my spin and I was able to get back the time I lost, however I made a mistake and gained a heap of time that I couldn't get back and wound up getting a drive through as a result." Keenan explained to TKA Media News earlier.

"Once the field bunched up someone ahead of Guy, I can't remember who it was to be honest slowed down suddenly, which made Guy slow down suddenly, and I wasn't quite prepared for it, so we collided, I got front wing damage and Guy got a 5-second Stop-Go Penalty which was unjustified by a long shot and was likely gonna be appealed." Keenan added.

The woes would then further mount for Keenan when the #1 Red Bull was rear-ended by Matias Vercelli in the #89 Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda team, the result pushed Brett Keenan into the fence, not only ending his race, but also Melvin Storbacka and Nadir Ziat's.

"The Safety car had come in and I was trying as hard as I could to get as much tyre warmth into my car. I had already said to the boys at the pit wall that I might have under-done it. Then as we got on the power and moved to the final turn, the rears began to light up and I felt the car trying to slide away from my control." Keenan continued.

"Then just as I managed to grab the car in control, I felt this massive whack up my back end and I was pushed into the fence where the front left was plucked off and it was game over. Sadly to say that I was also responsible for the end of Melvin and Nadir's race. But sadly it was an incident out of my control."

For Guy Tasker, he pressed on and would eventually serve his stop-go, however a ding-dong battle with Axel Ericson would ultimately lead to his DNF also, leaving Red Bull out of contention for anything in the exhibition race that would be won by Ferrari driver and man tipped for the World title this season, Daniel Valle.

When asked about the prospect of not retaining his title, and who he felt deserved to take the #1 from him, he wasn't too short of a straight the point answer.

"I believe the title could come down to anyone who has the ability to look after their car the entire duration, doesn't put a foot wrong with the games new driving mechanics and who can be consistent all year round. Honestly though, I think Daniel Valle is my #1 bet to win this years title, he's just shown great raw pace and consistency to boot from the races we have done since 2018 came out." Keenan explained.

"I believe there will be different race winners, but I think at the end of the Season, Daniel has what it takes to take that #1 off my car and put it back there, and I'm sure Ferrari are looking forward to that prospect given our rocky relationship last season."

When given that statement we opted to ask Keenan about his relationship with Ferrari near it's end and if a possible return after retirement was made, a Ferrari return could be possible.

"I wouldn't say it's impossible to say the least, Ferrari and I had a good run in the first season and for the most part of the first half of last season, but I think in the end if I were to return to racing after retirement which I don't honestly forsee happening. It's likely that I would probably do another year with Red Bull or somewhere along those lines. To say that I have driven for one of the most iconic teams in F1 history is enough for me, I don't feel the need to wear those red overalls again, but if they came to me with a request. I would certainly not turn it down."

The Australian Grand Prix and Brett Keenan's title defence begins on the 14th of October 2018 in what will be considered one of the most exciting TNF1 Seasons of all time.

Ericson confirms another year at

Alfa Romeo Sauber

TKA MEDIA NEWS

With two weeks before the Australian GP and having taken part in Pre-Season testing last weekend, Alfa Romeo Sauber driver Axel Ericson has announced that he will stay with the team till the end of next season.

Ericson who joined the team this season will hope to improve on previous form last season where he chalked up his first race win and pole position at the Brazilian GP.

This will put him on the same end of the spectrum as Mercedes driver Owen Bennet who also signed for a two-year deal with the Silver Arrows to which will mean his contract will expire in Season 4 of the championship.

Alfa Romeo Sauber's team boss was very delighted in signing Ericson over for another season, saying that despite the biff and barge of pre-season they were very delighted with Axel's pace and believe he's in with a shot for the championship if he can stay committed to his racing and be up the front more often.

Ericson marks the 4th driver this season to confirm a contract extension to his team, with Daniel Valle, Brett Keenan and McKenzie Stewart all signing three deals for Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes.

Valle and Betambeau set the standards for Pre-Season testing

TKA MEDIA NEWS

Daniel Valle one of the drivers tipped for the Season 2018 World Championship has proven why this is the case by performing a dominant drive from pole position to victory in last weekends Pre-Season testing/Exhibition race at the Spanish GP circuit.

Valle led home a Haas 2-3 of Alex Little and Robbert Zwanniken, the former running a one-stop strategy much like the race winner.

There was much in the way of chaos at the start what with defending champion Brett Keenan deploying not only a virtual safety car, but an actual safety car by several spins that didn't require either of the sort.

It didn't go any better for the defending champ as a slide into the last corner upon the safety car restart saw him smacked into the rear by Toro Rosso Honda driver Matias Vercelli, the result saw the #1 Red Bull slam into the wall, taking out Melvin Storbacka and Nadir Ziat (of whom arrived late and settled to drive for Force India at the time) with him, three cars out not long after the restart.

Valle controlled his pace initially from Bradley Betts and Alex Little, but a mistake by Bradley at turn 7 put paid to his race and ended it there.

A little bit of 'fun' as you'd put it was later apparent in the race when Guy Tasker of Red Bull and Axel Ericson of Alfa Romeo Sauber decided to play bumper cars with each other, the result seeing Guy Tasker out of the race and Axel a lap down.

March Trisandi drove a brilliant race also to give Renault a decent result of 4th with his teammate of Kryszstof Kaplinski bringing his car home in 6th.

Results (Exhibition race)

Daniel Valle - Scuderia Ferrari
Alex Little - Haas F1
Robbert Zwanniken - Haas F1
March Trisandi - Renault Sport F1
Axel Ericson - Alfa Romeo Sauber
Kryszstof Kaplinski - Renault Sport F1
Guy Tasker - Aston Martin Red Bull Racing (DNF)
Bradley Betts - Williams Racing (DNF)
Matias Vercelli - Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda (DNF)
Nadir Ziat - Racing Point Force India (DNF)
Melvin Storbacka - McLaren F1 (DNF)
Brett Keenan - Red Bull Racing (DNF)
Michael Poland - Mercedes (DNF/Wasn't meant to race but did anyway)

Conditions were less than ideal that what most drivers would have liked in the F2 race with a last minute downpour making track conditions tricky, however Haas driver Ady Betambeau was able to brave the odds to collect his first win of his career and in the TNF1.

Ady was able to take the lead on the final lap when front-runner Ludvig Sall began to lose traction on his very worn medium tyres compounded by the wet weather.

Despite pitting for intermediates on the last lap, Sall was able to hold onto second from Matthew Plevey who made an impressive comeback drive after adversity at the start between himself and a couple of McLaren's.

Those two McLaren's being Jenia Bondarenko and Issac Murphy, both would end up out of the race, recording 8th and 9th respectfully.

Joshua Law would bring his Alfa Romeo Sauber home in 4th with Stanley Bellerose, Michael Poland, Nate Pinkert, the two McLaren's mentioned, Cameron Betts who was out early in the piece, and Alex O'Conner who after many rule violations was disqualified from the race.

Results (F2 exhibition race)

Ady Betambeau - Haas F1
Ludvig Sall - Racing Point Force India
Matthew Plevey - Aston Martin Red Bull Racing
Joshua Law - Alfa Romeo Sauber
Stanley Bellerose - Mercedes
Michael Poland - Williams Racing
Nate Pinkert - Williams Racing
Jenia Bondarenko - McLaren F1 (DNF)
Isaac Murphy - McLaren F1 (DNF)
Cameron Betts - Mercedes (DNF)
Alex O'Conner - Renault Sport F1 (DSQ)

Defending champion Brett Keenan believed that despite the incidents that plagued his race as well as a race defining moment where slight contact with teammate Guy Tasker gave the latter a 5-second stop-go penalty, he and Guy were still prepared to deliver a storm this season.

"Stuff like that happens all the time, we can't avoid it and we can't predict it. I just remember losing the rear slightly, and as I gathered it back slightly, I got a whack from behind which fired me straight into the fence." Keenan told TKA Media.

"It's racing and we've moved forward from it. We had a good car, we just didn't use what we had at the time, and struggled to find the one-lap pace we needed to qualify better. Starts are also a bit of an Achilles heel for myself at this moment of time, something I plan to rectify by Australia."

The TNF1 takes a break from racing in light of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 this weekend, but commence racing at the Australian GP for round 1 of the championship.

Valle signs for 3-seasons with Ferrari

Daniel Valle the front-runner at the end of the last season for Toro Rosso had made the switch over to the Scuderia Ferrari outfit where he has now signed on a three-season deal with the team in hopes to give the Italian outfit more to celebrate.

Ferrari has tasted much success in the Trans-Nation Formula 1 World Championship with a drivers and constructors champion in both the beta and first season in GP2. Multiple race wins and plenty of podiums. It's something Daniel wishes to add to, as well as claim another title for the Scuderia in both drivers and constructors.

"I don't have words to describe the feeling of being in the most successful team in history. I think that being in this team will be the best opportunity to get wins and the title." Daniel told TKA Media after his signing with the team near the end of last season.

He is joined by French driver Nadir Ziat who will make his TNF1 debut at the Spanish circuit for Pre-season testing among many others. This also marks the third top team to announce a multi-seasonal deal for at least one of their drivers, what with Brett Keenan multiple world champion signing on three seasons at Red Bull, and McKenzie Stewart and Owen Bennett signing for 3 and 2 years respectfully at Mercedes.

Bennett signs for 2 seasons for Mercedes

Owen Bennett who along with McKenzie Stewart moved over to the Silver Arrows after their constructor winning season in Ferrari has followed his teammates suit and signed on for another two seasons with the form team of previous years.

This means that Mercedes will hold their line up at least until the first season of the 2019 game, Owen's choice upon that will be pending.

"It's a great car and I am looking forward to working with the team to bring home championships for them and building a great history and future for the team." Owen told TKA Media moments after signing his two-year deal with the Silver Arrows.

This marks only the third driver this season to make an extension on their contract, that being Owen's teammate McKenzie Stewart on a 3-season deal, and defending and Multiple Trans-Nation Formula 1 World Champion, Brett Keenan who also is on a 3-season contract with Red Bull.

Keenan and Stewart sign 3-season deals with Red Bull/Mercedes

Multiple World Champion Brett Keenan and crowned GP2 champion McKenzie Stewart have both announced that they will be extending their contracts till the end of the 2019's first season.

Keenan who announced his move from Alfa Romeo Sauber to Red Bull in the mid stages of last season feels that the move to Red Bull was to be one of his last conquests before his retirement from racing at the end of the 2019's first season.

"The decision to step away from racing full-time at the end of the first 2019 game season was made purely on the stanza that I would focus entirely on the championship and commentary from there on out. I wouldn't say it was the easiest choice to make, but at the same time it's been something I have wanted to do since I created the championship." Keenan told TKA Media News earlier this week.

"Red Bull was where I started my online gaming career back in 2013 and I feel it's the best place to end my career also." He also explained going back to his past years of racing online against the likes of Michael Poland, McKenzie Stewart and Alex Little, two of which he'll be going up against in the season ahead.

This also comes in light of Red Bull's decision to switch from customer Renault or TAG Huer branded engines as they known as, to Honda engines to become the Honda factory outfit. "The chance to make ourselves great as a factory outfit is something we want to make true. Christian, Guy and I believe the transition to Honda might be a bit rocky at first, but we can make it work when we put out minds to it. Toro Rosso will be a good demonstration of our choices this season." Keenan added.

When asked about winning his second world title, the New Zealander wasn't too optimistic about that, more-so about the title defense for this season.

"You win championships by any means necessary they say, but it doesn't feel that rewarding when you win because two of the best drivers that should have won it, pulled out with races to spare. But that's behind me and my job this season is to win by merit and defend my title in proper." He explained.

McKenzie Stewart extended his deal to allow himself as head-runner for Mercedes for the same duration as Brett Keenan, questions on his future left out of the questions given but was more than willing to explain his deal extension.

"Once I finalised my contract with the silver arrows for next season, I quickly found out the direction they wanted to go in, and the goals they have set for me and my teammate, and for the most part the team has the same direction and goals as I have, which is to be at the front from the start challenging for both drivers and constructors." He told TKA Media News on Friday before the Sprint Mode Championship.

"So I went to Toto and asked him to extend my deal with the Mercedes team for at least 2 more seasons. He couldn't have of been more happier. I just hope I can repay the faith shown by Toto and the team by bringing home some championships."

There has been no information or supposed 'rumors' of what is happening with Guy Tasker and Owen Bennett who both stand on a one-season contract for Red Bull and Mercedes.