Rookie driver Lance Stroll will start his maiden Grand Prix from dead last on the grid as a result of a gearbox change on his Williams.

Stroll crashed in the final free practice session on the Albert Park Circuit on Saturday morning. The team was still completing repairs when qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix got underway.

Stroll did manage to get out on track and even out-qualified Renault’s Jolyon Palmer. However the team had been forced to change the gearbox in Stroll’s damaged car, which incurs a five-place grid penalty.

“Unfortunately it wasn’t a great day for Lance with his accident in FP3,” admitted Williams’ chief technical officer Paddy Lowe.

“It really set his whole day off to a bad start, from which it was difficult to recover. There was a lot of work needed on the car. We changed the entire back end as well as most of the front suspension.

“The team worked very hard to get the car ready for qualifying. But there was only time for him to get one run in the first session.

“Under huge pressure and with not very much practice in the car in any sort of qualifying format, I think that Lance did a good job to get that time on the board.

“Realistically for Lance, the race will be difficult. But it will be a good opportunity to gain experience. It’ll put him in a better position with more confidence for China.”

• Hamilton takes pole for the 2017 Australian Grand Prix

“The day started off tough and it was hard to recoup from that,” said Stroll. “What happened in FP3 was a little touch and it led to a lot of things.

“The qualifying session was in a rush and we didn’t get to do what we had planned. However, the team did a great job to get me out in qualifying so a big thank you to them.”

And despite starting from the back, Stroll is certainly not giving up on his hopes for his first ever Grand Prix outing tomorrow.

“I now want to put the day behind me and move on to the race, which will be interesting starting from the back,” he said.

“Obviously it is a long race. Played intelligently we can do something – but we will work that out tonight and see about tomorrow.”

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Haas secured its first points finish of the year in Shanghai, courtesy of Kevin Magnussen delivering an eighth-place finish in the Chinese Grand Prix.

It was the Dane’s first top-ten finish since last year’s Singapore Grand Prix and one which was achieved following a solid drive in treacherous conditions.

Magnussen launched his race from P12 on the grid and exerted caution in the opening laps under the wet but drying conditions, but was already up to 9th by lap 10, hot on the heels of Force India’s Sergio Perez.

“I had some fun out there with the Force India,” said Magnussen.

“I had a really poor start, so to come back from that and push, I was really happy,” said Magnussen.

“The car’s been good today. I was able to look after the front tires, which I think was key, along with working with the team to get the car in the right window.

“The race was really well managed from the team. It was good strategy to get me out on the supersoft after the intermediates.”

• Steely Hamilton stays in charge for Shanghai win

It wasn’t an easy day out on the race track however, with the necessity to sometimes force the issue when it came to overtaking.

“You had to fight for it, in terms of passing,” the Haas driver admitted.

“It’s not easy, but you also have grip, so you can take different lines and get close in alternative ways.

“It’s so much more fun when you’re fighting in the points. I’m happy for the team and we’re looking forward to the coming races.”

GALLERY: All the pictures from Sunday in Shanghai

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Despite his lack of wet running and a tricky launch process, Lewis Hamilton would relish a wet start tomorrow if the lousy weather forecast is confirmed.

Most drivers have only limited knowledge of their new-spec cars shod with Pirelli’s 2017 wet weather tyres, but Hamilton isn’t deterred by the prospect of a wet track tomorrow, believing it will spice up proceedings in a great way.

“It think that would be so exciting, particularly as the starts are so much harder than before” said Hamilton.

“There’s going to be a lot of variability tomorrow. It’s very hard to figure out where you’ve got to put your hand (on the clutch).

“You have to drop it (the clutch) to a certain target, but there’s no reference point. You’re just guessing and you hope that you hit it.

“Missing it by just a bit can make all the difference between on whether you get wheelspin or you don’t. It’s tough.”

• Hamilton thwarts Vettel for pole in China

Hamilton said he was savouring Ferrari’s challenge which is forcing him to step up his game in the cockpit.

“The Ferraris have looked so fast through practice this morning and each qualifying session so we knew it was going to be close and it would mean we’d have to pull out all the stops and really have a perfect lap, a solid lap.

“It’s more exciting than ever for me because we’re really fighting these guys. It’s amazing, and I think that’s what racing is all about.

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“It really pushes you to have to raise the bar every time you head out which I love.”

Gallery: All the pictures from Saturday’s action in Shanghai

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Lewis Hamilton put 97 laps under his belt today in Bahrain as Mercedes focused on testing new parts and set-up work aimed at improving its grip issues which appeared in Sunday’s race.

The Brit topped the timesheet, clocking a 1m31.358 on the Soft compound Pirelli tyre late in the afternoon.

“Today was tricky with it being so hot and very gusty but we still managed to get through plenty of work,” Hamilton said.

“Our focus was on advancing our understanding of the tyres and also the rear of the car so that we can improve our long runs – particularly during the race and on the SuperSoft compound.

“We came here with a specific goal, so it was positive to get on top of that with the team.”

• Bahrain test Day 1: Hamilton heads Giovinazzi

While hios team seeks to improve its tyre troubles, Hamilton is forecasting different tyre management in Russia next week, on a track which doesn’t compare to Bahrain in terms of degradation.

“Sochi is a smoother track and less abrasive on the tyres, so they can go quite a long way. Hopefully we can rely on the pace of our car there rather than our use of the tyres.”

Valtteri Bottas will take the wheel of the W08 tomorrow for the second and final day of the test.

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Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas doesn’t see Red Bull Racing’s strong Monaco GP performance as a resurgence of the Milton Keynes-based outfit.

Daniel  Ricciardo made the most of his Sunday in the Principality thanks to a well-timed strategy call from the Red Bull pitwall which helped the Aussie beat Mercedes to a podium finish.

But Bottas argues his rival’s performance was specific to Monaco’s layout and Red Bull will be hard pressed to clinch a top-three finish in Montreal next week, barring any exceptional circumstances.

 “I reckon for now it’s just Monaco because it’s such a unique track,” explained the Finn who is discarding for now Red Bull as a clear and present threat.

“It’s all about downforce and mechanical grip, and having a good car over the bumps and change of direction. Canada is very different, it’s full of medium-speed corners and chicanes.

“I think they are going to be [competitive] sooner or later. They are a strong team and they can make very quick cars, so we should not underestimate them. But I reckon Canada will be a bit more tricky for them.”

• Hamilton heads to Brackley to understand ultrasoft enigma

Bottas lamented the fact that Mercedes’ persistent tyres issues, coupled with rising brake temps,  threw a spanner into the works in Monaco.

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But he also admitted that his day could have evolved more favourably had he been just a little bit quicker in qualifying, where he was just 0.045s off pole.

“I think it was one of the best qualy laps I’ve ever done, and it felt very good,” said the Finn.

“It could’ve been a completely different Sunday with five hundredths better but that’s gone and ‘if’ you can always say.”

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Gallery: All the pictures from Sunday in Monaco

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Media reports this weekend suggest Silverstone is on the brink of formally terminating its contract to hold the British Grand Prix.

The circuit currently has a deal to host the race until 2027. However, organisers have repeatedly made it clear that they cannot afford to continue under the current terms.

The contract initially fixed a fee of £12 million to hold the race. That increases by five per cent per annum, reaching £26 million in the final year.

The British Grand Prix is Formula 1’s best-attended event of the season. 139,000 people attended last year’s race. However the lack of any government financial support means it is still unable to cover its costs.

The British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) has said that if a solution cannot be found, it will have to trigger a break clause which will mean the last race at Silverstone will be in 2019. It has to do that before this year’s race on July 15.

“It is highly probable we will have to activate the break clause,” BRDC director Philip Walker told The Mail on Sunday this week.

Walker has been involved in talks with F1’s new owners Liberty Media about changing the existing contract. While sympathetic, Liberty has said it will not change the existing terms as it would set a dangerous precedent for other races.

“It is not Liberty’s fault,” a senior BRDC figure who asked not to be named told the newspaper. “They would like to be of assistance.

“But time has been too short,” the source added. “It has come too early for Liberty.

“They do not yet know which races they want to help keep on the calendar. For example, Chase [Carey, new F1 boss] has never been to a Grand Prix at Silverstone.”

• Silverstone confirms four days of track action at British GP

The BRDC is hoping to put on a spectacular show for this year’s race. The schedule has been expanded to four days to pack everything in and also generate extra revenue. Organisers hope that fan support over the long weekend will demonstrate to Liberty the importance of the race to the sport.

Three-time world champion Lewis Hamilton – himself a member of the BRDC – this week added his voice to calls to save the race.

“There has got to be something in Britain. It’s the most important race of the year,” he said. “Being in the beautiful countryside, and the support you get from the British fans, it’s an amazing event that people love to come to.

“It’s that important part of the British racing heritage. And it’s the place where we really get to showcase it,” the Mercedes driver added.

Even if Silverstone does formally activate the break point in the existing contract in time, the race could still be saved. The BRDC would be able to start negotiations for a new contract to hold the race from 2020.

“We will now give ourselves a longer stretch to sit down with them again and plan for the future,” acknowledged the unnamed BRDC source.

No other circuit in the UK is likely to be able to replace Silverstone and hold the British Grand Prix. However, a street race in London continues to be rumoured.

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Toro Rosso conducted development work on both the car and the driver fronts, entrusting its STR12 for the day to rookie Sean Gelael.

The Indonesian F2 racer suffered an issue in the morning when his car grinded to a halt with a mior electrical problem.

He was back in action shortly afterwards and consistently worked his way through the team’s program, and finished his session a very happy young man.

“Today is a day I will never forget – to finally drive a Formula 1 car is something every driver dreams of, and to do it with Scuderia Toro Rosso makes it even more special,” Gemael enthused.

“What an amazing feeling! This year’s car is a beast, it’s so quick! I settled in nicely throughout the day and we definitely made progress.

“I was able to complete plenty of laps and get used to the car quickly. The power and overall grip is amazing and, compared to the Formula 2 car I drive, the grip under braking and the kerb riding are two of the biggest differences I felt.

“Honestly, it’s really fun to drive and I’d like to thank everyone who made this possible! I now can’t wait to drive the STR12 again in a few months’ time at the test in Hungary.”

• Bahrain test Day 1: Hamilton heads Giovinazzi

Toro Rosso head of vehicle performance Jody Eggington praised the 20-year-old’s contribution and performance.

“Sean acclimatised himself very well, covering a number of test items across a range of tyre compounds, gathering some very useful data for the team.

“He drove consistently, making no mistakes and he therefore should be very happy.

“We will head into tonight with a lot of data to analyse and a further packed run program for tomorrow – Daniil will be driving in the morning and Carlos in the afternoon.”

GALLERY: All the action from the Day 1 in-season testing at Bahrain

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Hotel owner Gordon Sondland, who is scheduled to testify before Congress on Wednesday, is a pivotal witness in the impeachment inquiry.

When Gordon Sondland arrived at the Capitol last month to provide what would be pivotal testimony in the Trump impeachment inquiry, a reporter asked the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, “Are you here to salvage your reputation?”

“I don’t have a reputation to salvage,” Sondland shot back.

Until recently, Sondland, 62, had a pretty low profile outside his hometown of Portland, Ore., where he and his wife, Katy Durant, are big Republican donors and contributors to numerous arts and civic organizations.

Now, as Sondland prepares to testify publicly before congressional investigators Wednesday, he finds himself in the middle of a Category 5 political storm.

Congressional investigators are looking into whether President Trump withheld security assistance from Ukraine to pressure the government to say it was investigating former Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter, who served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.

Sondland, who helped reach out to the Ukrainian government on Trump’s behalf, first told Congress that the president was simply interested in battling corruption. He had demanded no favors in exchange for security assistance, he claimed.

But Sondland later amended his testimony, saying the aid package was in fact contingent on an investigation into the Bidens.

A strive for prominence

The impeachment inquiry has given Sondland a notoriety he never bargained for when he became EU ambassador.

The son of Holocaust survivors, Sondland dropped out of college early and got into commercial real estate. At just 28, he bought and renovated the bankrupt Roosevelt Hotel in Seattle, where he was born.

Today, his company, Provenance Hotels, owns 14 hotels, including six in Portland.

“He sees a good property that’s kind of in the right location and makes enough of an investment in it to make it a highly desirable place to stay,” says Len Bergstein, a public affairs consultant who has worked with Sondland.

Sondland has worked hard to be seen as a civic leader and cares a lot about how he is seen, Bergstein says. When Sondland worked out a deal with local government to acquire some land for a hotel, he insisted that he be referred to as a “pillar of the community” in the press release the city put out, Bergstein says.

“He was in many ways exercising his political muscles to try and up his profile, to take him from a kind of a noted and successful businessperson in a relatively narrow sense to much larger circles of prominence in the community,” Bergstein says.

According to Oregon Business, Sondland is a big fan of Ayn Rand, whose books promoting free market capitalism are popular with many libertarian conservatives.

But he has mainly donated to moderate Republicans like Jeb Bush and even a few Democrats, according to Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics.

A complicated relationship with Trump

His relationship with Trump is complicated. Sondland publicly broke with him following the then-presidential candidate’s attack on a Gold Star Muslim family. Yet Sondland also became a “bundler” for Trump, using his network of Portland political donors to help Trump get elected.

“In that election he gave nothing to Trump but he was listed as one of Trump’s bundlers in 2016, and of course being a bundler gives you more clout than just giving a single donation,” Krumholz says.

Sondland also donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration through four companies Sondland controls.

A lot of people in liberal Portland have been taken aback by Sondland’s willingness to work in the Trump administration, Bergstein says.

“It was a surprise when Gordon found Donald Trump as an acceptable candidate. That wasn’t his type of Republican that he supported,” he says.

And Sondland has already paid a price for that support.

He is sometimes confronted by demonstrators when he goes out in public. And Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who represents the Portland area, has called for a boycott of his hotels.

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After anti-government protesters set fire to Burkina Faso’s Parliament on Thursday in escalating demonstrations against the ruler they say is making a “constitutional coup d’etat” to stay in power, President Blaise Compaore has reportedly scrapped—or at least delayed—a plan to extend his 27-year reign.

Statements by former defense minister General Kouame Lougue have led to speculation that the military may be poised to remove Compaore from power. French news outlets also reported that the President’s brother, Francois, was arrested as he tried to flee the country.

At least five people were killed in the protest, which extended into its third day since breaking out earlier in the week. Police used tear gas and shot live rounds at the crowds as they broke through barricades and stormed Parliament in an attempt to block lawmakers from attending the session that would have approved the constitutional amendment.

The bill, due for a vote on Thursday, would have amended the country’s constitution to allow Compaore to run for re-election in 2015, rather than stepping down as scheduled.

The government’s communications minister Alain Edouard Traore confirmed to several news agencies that the plan had been dropped, at least temporarily. The announcement came shortly after protesters forced national TV and radio buildings off the air and toppled statues in the country’s second largest city, Bobo Dioulasso.

The European Union has also urged the government to ditch the legislation, warning that it could “jeopardize… stability, equitable development and democratic progress.”

Compaore, whose whereabouts are currently unknown, appealed for calm on Twitter on Thursday.

Benewende Sankara, an opposition leader, told Agence France-Presse that calm will come when the President steps down.

“The army is united with the people,” Sankara said. “The opposition is demanding the resignation of President Blaise Compaore to enable calm to be restored.”

According to the Guardian, “this ‘revolution 2.0’ has been called a victory by the Burkinabè opposition.” The BBC reports that dozens of soldiers have joined the protests, including Lougue.

The main opposition leader, Zephirin Diabre, has called on the military to side with “the people.”

Compaore has won four disputed elections since coming to power in a 1987 coup, most recently in November 2010.

Opposition leaders have called for a coordinated action of civil disobedience until Compaore steps down. “October 30 is Burkina Faso’s Black Spring, like the Arab Spring,” activist Emile Pargui Pare, an official from the Movement of People for Progress (MPP), told AFP.

Activists and journalists used the hashtag #lwili to track the protests on social media, a reference to the traditional Burkinabè Lwili Peende cloth being worn by many protesters.

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Egyptians enraged by Saturday’s court decision to drop murder charges against Hosni Mubarak took to the streets of Cairo on Saturday where they were met by tanks, barbed wire fences, tear gas and army units ready to repel any effort to gain access to Tahrir Square, the birthplace of the 2011 revolution that led to the former president’s overthrow.

As The Independent‘s Jon Stone reports:

News that the ousted president had murder and corruption charges against him dismissed by a judge brought demonstrators out onto the streets of Cairo at the start of the weekend.

On Saturday some 2,000 young people protested the verdict near Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the birthplace of the nation’s 2011 uprising. The square itself was closed off by soldiers and police.

“The people want to bring down the regime!” protesters shouted, echoing one of the most prominent slogans of the 2011 anti-Mubarak uprising.

Protesters were further incensed after Mr Mubarak gave a television interview after the verdict in which he said he “did nothing wrong” during the 2011 clashes that left at least 200 protesters dead.

Journalist Sharif Abdel Kouddous covered the development of the protest in a series of tweets on Saturday night:

Reuters video:

And Reuters adds:

Two people were killed and nine were wounded on Saturday evening, when security forces fired tear gas and birdshot to disperse about 1,000 protesters who attempted to enter Tahrir Square — the symbolic heart of the revolt that ousted Mubarak.

Security forces closed a Cairo metro station, the state news agency said, an apparent effort to prevent gatherings downtown.

Clashes also erupted at Zagazig University in the Nile Delta, and the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper said 11 students were detained after setting fire to a building.

Many Egyptians who lived through the rule of former air force officer Mubarak view it as a period of autocracy and crony capitalism.

His overthrow led to Egypt’s first free election. But the winner, Mohamed Mursi, was ousted last year by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, another military officer who won a presidential vote in May.

Egyptian authorities have since jailed Mursi and thousands of his Muslim Brotherhood supporters, sentencing hundreds to death in mass trials that drew international criticism.

By contrast, Mubarak-era figures have been released and new laws curtailing political freedoms have raised fears among activists that the old leadership is back.

“Down with Hosni Mubarak, down with every Mubarak, down with military rule” said one Facebook page that called for protests against the ruling.