Alexander Rossi received the praise of Manor Marussia's team bosses last weekend in Singapore following his F1 debut, and now heads to Suzuka for another round of his Grand Prix training.

The young American, who was brought in on short notice to race with the British squad, endured a complicated baptism of fire when he hit the barriers in free practice.

But he then acquitted himself well in the 61 lap race, beating home team mate Will Stevens in spite of a crucial radio communication failure, a clear impairment given the complexities of today's F1 machinery and the constant changes which are ordered by engineers throughout a race.

“My F1 racing debut in Singapore last weekend really couldn’t have worked out any better for me and I learned such a lot in a very short space of time".

" I head to Suzuka eager to pick up where I left off and focused on taking things to the next level, with the benefit of a little more familiarisation with the car and on a different type of race track."

Rossi was also grateful for serving his F1 apprenticeship within the close knit working environment provided by Manor.

"One thing I didn’t need to learn – because I already knew – was what a great group of people I am fortunate enough to be able to call my team."

"They made things very easy for me in Singapore and with a difficult weekend ahead for all of us, I’m hoping to do the same for them."

Photographers' picks - Singapore

Singapore Grand Prix - Quotes of the weekend

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Binotto: Audi ‘doesn’t intend to surprise’ in 2026 – patience needed

Audi’s long-awaited arrival on the Formula 1 grid is edging closer, but Mattia Binotto is…

28 mins ago

Senna and Penske, a near match made in heaven

On this day in 1992, Ayrton Senna enjoyed a secret track day with Team Penske…

2 hours ago

F1i's 2025 Driver Rankings: The grid's top 10 best performers

  In 2025, we saw a defiant masterclass from a driver in an erratic Red…

3 hours ago

Williams goes with the 'flow' for 2026 pre-season look

The fans have spoken! Williams has unveiled testing livery chosen by its supporters for its…

4 hours ago

Verstappen slams Red Bull for ruthless Lawson decision

Max Verstappen has reopened one of Red Bull’s most uncomfortable debates of the 2025 Formula…

5 hours ago

F1 bracing for 2026 engine controversy over ‘thermal loophole’

Formula 1 is bracing for its first major political firestorm of the 2026 era, with…

6 hours ago