Apr.19 (GMM) Nico Rosberg’s downwards spiral has only worsened in Bahrain. With teammate Lewis Hamilton riding a wave of form and confidence, German Rosberg headed to the desert Kingdom determined to bounce back. But it backfired spectacularly in qualifying, as the 29-year-old slumped to third place, behind not only Hamilton but also Sebastian Vettel’s resurgent […]
Month: April 2015
Baku good ‘replacement’ for Monza – Ecclestone
Apr.19 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone on Sunday confirmed F1’s newest host nation is Azerbaijan. It was already known that the sport’s chief executive had inked a deal for a street race in Baku, the capital of the oil-rich former Soviet country. But earlier this week, it emerged that the Formula One Group had published a human […]
Mattiacci to rebuild career in US
Apr.19 (GMM) Marco Mattiacci is set to rebuild his tattered career in America. Just a year ago, the 44-year-old was the highly respected chief executive of Ferrari’s North America unit when he was unexpectedly called up to replace axed team boss Stefano Domenicali. As well as causing a stir with his first paddock appearance wearing […]
All eyes on unconfirmed Ferrari, Mercedes seats
Apr.19 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene says Kimi Raikkonen approached him to enquire about staying with Ferrari in 2016. In the Bahrain paddock, rumours are swirling about the possibility of a Ferrari ‘dream team’ for next year starring Sebastian Vettel alongside Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton’s contract negotiations with Mercedes appear terminally stalled, with a source at the German […]
F1 racing ahead for 2017 rule changes
Apr.19 (GMM) Technical change is coming to formula one. Days ago, Bernie Ecclestone told La Gazzetta dello Sport his ideal scenario would be to scrap the quiet, expensive and complex turbo V6s and replace them with 1000 horse power V8s. “The people would return, the show would return, the sponsors would return,” the F1 supremo […]
‘No more pain’ as Bottas bounces back
Apr.19 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has finally put his back problems in the past. The Finn even had to sit out the Melbourne season opener with a torn disc, but he returned in Malaysia and China with a new seat and driving position. But despite being earlier hailed an absolute star of the new generation, 25-year-old […]
Verstappen ‘best I’ve ever seen’ – Pujolar
Apr.18 (GMM) Experienced engineer Xevi Pujolar says 17-year-old sensation Max Verstappen is the best driver he has seen enter formula one. Although the young Dutchman’s 2015 debut initially attracted controversy and consternation, that is steadily being replaced by awe and admiration of his obvious talent and promise. Many are beginning to compare him with the […]
Hamilton-to-Ferrari rumours fire in Bahrain
Apr.18 (GMM) As the long wait for his new Mercedes contract rolls on, rumours are filling the Bahrain paddock about Lewis Hamilton’s red-coloured future. It is suggested the reigning world champion, championship leader and two-time 2015 race winner has made contact with Ferrari about becoming Sebastian Vettel’s next teammate. “It would be great to see […]
Vettel escapes Bahrain grid penalty
Apr.18 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has escaped a grid penalty ahead of the Bahrain grand prix. During Friday practice at Sakhir, the German collided with Force India’s Sergio Perez at the first corner, just after emerging from the pitlane. Stewards looked into the crash but did not apportion blame. “I hit the brakes but suddenly there […]
Chairman Ghosn approves F1 revival for Renault
Apr.18 (GMM) Carlos Ghosn, the chairman and CEO of Renault, has reportedly green-lighted a major push for the French carmaker to bounce back in formula one. Mere weeks ago, the marque’s F1 boss, Cyril Abiteboul, admitted that after a tumultuous start to the turbo V6 era, the carmaker is considering its options for the future […]
Red Bull ‘unfair’ to former drivers – Alguersuari
Apr.18 (GMM) Jaime Alguersuari has accused Red Bull of being “unfair” to some of its former F1 drivers. The Spaniard made his debut amid some fanfare in 2009, as at the time he was the youngest ever grand prix driver. But by the end of 2011 he, like teammate Sebastien Buemi, was dropped by the […]
Senna-Berger is like Hamilton-Rosberg – Berger
Apr.18 (GMM) Gerhard Berger sees a similarity between his own F1 career and the crossroad now reached by Nico Rosberg. The F1 legend has compared Rosberg’s new struggle to keep up with Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton with his own scrap with the great Ayrton Senna some 25 years ago. Berger, now 55, won grands prix […]
Alonso happy with ‘challenge of my life’
Apr.18 (GMM) Fernando Alonso insists the McLaren-Honda project remains “exciting” rather than depressing. At the sharp end of the grid, rumours are linking Lewis Hamilton with a move from F1 pacesetter Mercedes to the increasingly resurgent Ferrari. But Spaniard Alonso – who according to some is the very best driver in F1 today – left […]
Mercedes bracing for Ferrari battle in Bahrain
Apr.18 (GMM) Mercedes is bracing for another Malaysia-style battle with Ferrari this weekend in Bahrain. After losing to Sebastian Vettel in the Sepang sun, Mercedes hit back in cooler China last weekend with a one-two victory. But Ferrari began its Bahrain race weekend in the best possible way, as the red cars set the fastest […]
Raikkonen says Ferrari to decide on 2016 ‘option’
Apr.17 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says it is up to Ferrari whether he stays at the Italian team beyond 2015. Reports in recent days have suggested that after his 2014 slump, Raikkonen’s return to form has piqued Ferrari’s interest in keeping him alongside Sebastian Vettel for 2016. The guaranteed two-year term of the 35-year-old’s contract expires […]
Alonso, Vettel have ‘number 1’ status – Hamilton
Apr.17 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has denied “ever” asking for number 1 status at a formula one team. With the world champion’s new Mercedes contract now repeatedly delayed, boss Toto Wolff on Thursday denied a sticking point is that Hamilton has asked for preferential status over Nico Rosberg. Hamilton, 30, concurs: “I have never asked to […]
Ericsson happy to put Caterham in the past
Apr.17 (GMM) More than a year into his F1 career, Marcus Ericsson is happy to finally have an outlet to show his potential. Last year, the Swede made his debut for the now-defunct backmarker Caterham. “Yes, it’s a big difference,” he said in China, referring to the fact that pundits and fans are finally beginning […]
Manor drivers hope 2015 car can be ready soon
Apr.17 (GMM) Will Stevens is looking forward to getting at the wheel of an all-new Manor, so that he can race against more than one rival. Currently, the former Marussia team is struggling alone at the back of the grid with a 2014 car hurriedly cobbled together to comply with this year’s rules. “We have […]
Historic Monza must pay for F1 privilege – Ecclestone
Apr.17 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has repeated his warning that Monza risks falling off the F1 calendar. “It’s very simple,” he told Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. “There is a contract for the race this year, but not for the future.” The F1 supremo has called the financial terms of the current deal a “disaster”, even […]
Alonso plays down Twitter insult saga
Apr.17 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has played down the controversy about an insulting ‘tweet’. After a presenter for the Italian broadcaster attacked the Spaniard with a derogatory comment on Twitter, Alonso reportedly refused to take questions from Sky Italia last weekend in China. Reportedly, the presenter, Paola Saluzzi, was suspended. “I do not feel attacked by […]