Mar.17 (GMM) World champion Lewis Hamilton has joined his Mercedes bosses in hitting back at Red Bull’s ‘wailing’. Struggling Red Bull has called on F1 authorities to take action against Mercedes’ huge dominance, arguing the engine regulations are “killing” the sport. Briton Hamilton, the reigning world champion and Melbourne winner, grinned when told about Red […]
Month: March 2015
Mercedes supplying same engine to Williams
Mar.17 (GMM) Mercedes has hit back at claims it is not supplying the same specification of engine to its F1 customers. In Australia, Williams’ Felipe Massa was the fastest non-works Mercedes driver in qualifying, but the gap to Lewis Hamilton’s pole time was a massive 1.4 seconds. Brazilian Massa admitted he suspects Mercedes might be […]
Ecclestone to testify in Valencia corruption trial
Mar.17 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has been named as a witness in the corruption trial regarding the former grand prix on the streets of Valencia. Officials of the Spanish port city, having hosted formula one between 2008 and 2012, are facing charges of corruption, embezzlement and misappropriation. Now, the Spanish news agency EFE reports that F1 […]
EUR 15 million ended van der Garde saga – reports
Mar.17 (GMM) Dutch media reports on Tuesday said Bernie Ecclestone was involved in negotiations that have ended the Giedo van der Garde saga. The morning newspaper De Volkskrant refers to compensation for the Dutch driver in the order of EUR 15 million, with other reports saying the money will flow from a Credit Suisse account […]
Red Bull ‘right’ to complain – Ecclestone
Mar.16 (GMM) Red Bull is right to argue for rule changes after Mercedes utterly dominated the 2015 season opener, Bernie Ecclestone said on Monday. A report by the Reuters news agency said the F1 chief executive played down former champions Red Bull’s threats to quit formula one, not least because the team has committed to […]
Peter Sauber defends Kaltenborn after Melbourne saga
Mar.16 (GMM) Team founder Peter Sauber has defended Monisha Kaltenborn after the courtroom debacle of the team’s 2015 season opener. Ultimately, Indian-born Kaltenborn was smiling as the sun set on Sunday’s Melbourne paddock, as Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson scored more points in a single race than the Swiss team did in the whole of […]
Ecclestone to bill Manor for F1 freight
Mar.16 (GMM) Manor survived an FIA investigation in Australia, but now faces the wrath of F1’s commercial chief Bernie Ecclestone. As the former Marussia team was summoned to the stewards in Australia, boss John Booth acknowledged the “scepticism” that Manor never actually intended to turn a wheel at the season opener. Ecclestone had already warned […]
Mercedes slams Red Bull after 2015 opener
Mar.16 (GMM) Mercedes chiefs have lashed back at those calling for immediate rule changes after the opening race of 2015. Amid a diminished grid and earlier courtroom dramas for F1, the Mercedes giant’s domination of 2014 then appeared only to have been extended further in Australia. Lewis Hamilton was 1.4 seconds clear of any rival […]
Salo surprised as Ferrari overtakes Williams
Mar.16 (GMM) Ferrari on Sunday confirmed its return to better form after the struggle and turmoil of 2014. Although the gap to ultra-dominant Mercedes was in excess of half a minute, Sebastian Vettel began his new career in red with a podium finish. It appeared to confirm the appearance that, having struggled notably in the […]
Alonso says Malaysia return on track
Mar.16 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has suggested his return to action in Malaysia in two weeks is on schedule. As the teams packed up their equipment late on Sunday to be shipped directly to Kuala Lumpur, McLaren boss Eric Boullier was unable to confirm if star driver Alonso will also definitely be going to Sepang. “I […]
German GP demise not Ecclestone’s fault – Lauda
Mar.16 (GMM) Germany’s F1 circuits, not Bernie Ecclestone, are to blame for the demise of the German grand prix. That is the view of formula one legend Niki Lauda, after the sport’s supremo Ecclestone declared the race essentially “dead” for 2015. It will end Germany’s six-decade run on the annual F1 calendar, and deprive Mercedes […]
Marko already predicting ‘dull’ season
Mar.15 (GMM) At the very first race of the 2015 season, Dr Helmut Marko has predicted a “dull” world championship. “Mercedes superiority has become even stronger,” the Red Bull official said in Melbourne. “That means it will be a relatively dull season,” he told Germany’s Sport Bild. Marko said that while his Austrian compatriot Niki […]
Injured Bottas still in doubt for Australia GP
Mar.15 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas remains in doubt for Sunday’s Australian grand prix. The Finn spent the night in the local Alfred hospital, after he was seen receiving assistance to emerge from the cockpit of his Williams after qualifying. Bottas, 25, is at Albert Park on Sunday, but Williams confirmed he is suffering from a “bad […]
Lauda denies private lives to hurt Mercedes drivers
Mar.15 (GMM) Niki Lauda has rubbished suggestions the private lives of Mercedes’ race drivers could affect their championship hopes in 2015. World champion Hamilton has broken up with his long-time girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, while the newly-married Nico Rosberg’s wife is expecting their first child. “It has absolutely no influence,” Mercedes team chairman and F1 legend […]
Merhi hoping to keep Manor seat for Malaysia
Mar.15 (GMM) Roberto Merhi is hoping to keep his Manor race seat for Malaysia. The Spanish rookie was nominated by the resurrected former Marussia team to race in Melbourne, but Manor ultimately did not even turn a wheel. “I assure you that we have not paid to be here,” Merhi’s father and namesake said in […]
German GP demise ‘a shame’ – Hulkenberg
Mar.15 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has lamented the apparent decline of the German grand prix. Officially, the FIA has scheduled a race for mid July, but Bernie Ecclestone had made clear commercial talks with the Nurburgring or alternative venue Hockenheim were faltering. Now, the 84-year-old F1 supremo has told The Independent: “The German grand prix is […]
Furious Red Bull issues F1 quit threat
Mar.15 (GMM) Red Bull has threatened to quit formula one. “We are dissatisfied with the way formula one is governed,” Dr Helmut Marko was quoted on Sunday by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. The 2010-2013 world championship-winning team is furious with its start to the new season, as engine partner Renault struggles and Mercedes extends […]
Susie Wolff not on pole to replace Bottas
Mar.15 (GMM) Williams has played down suggestions Susie Wolff is now in pole position to make her F1 debut. After missing the Melbourne season opener with a torn disc in his back, Valtteri Bottas is now in doubt for the Malaysian grand prix in two weeks. In the Melbourne paddock on Sunday, Britain’s Sky broadcaster […]
Sainz beats Verstappen hype on debut
Mar.15 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has kicked off his F1 career with a bang. Insisting he does not like to be called ‘Junior’, the 20-year-old was the only Toro Rosso rookie to reach Q3 in Melbourne — despite the hype surrounding his 17-year-old teammate Max Verstappen. “It is not a problem that people put him through […]
Vettel has upper hand already – Salo
Mar.15 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel already has the upper hand over friend and existing Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen. That is the view of former F1 driver Mika Salo, as the new Ferrari pairing went head-to-head for the first time in Melbourne. Salo’s Finnish countryman Raikkonen was slightly behind Vettel’s pace throughout the 2015 season opener, even […]