Sep.19 (GMM) Former F1 driver Jos Verstappen is sure that splitting with Renault is the best move for the Red Bull camp. As speculation swirls in the Singapore paddock, the Dutchman admitted that his “only concern” is the interests of his son Max, who drives for the Red Bull-owned junior team Toro Rosso. “This year […]
Month: September 2015
Raikkonen practiced 100 race starts after Monza glitch
Sep.18 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen is confident he will not suffer another disastrous race start this weekend in Singapore. After qualifying on the front row at Monza, the Finn dropped to last before the first corner after his Ferrari went into ‘anti-stall’ as he dropped the clutch. Initially, the Finn and the Maranello team disagreed about […]
Grosjean admits choice between Lotus and Haas
Sep.18 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has shed no further light on what decision he has taken regarding his future. The Frenchman announced during Thursday’s FIA press conference that while he definitely knows what he will be doing in 2016, he will not give any details yet. So amid rumours Grosjean will either stay at Lotus or […]
Struggling McLaren ‘lacked humility’ – Perez
Sep.18 (GMM) Sergio Perez says McLaren’s current predicament is “sad”, even though there is little love lost between the Woking team and the Mexican. Perez drove for a then Mercedes-powered McLaren in 2013, but he told the Spanish broadcaster Movistar in Singapore that it was not a happy year. “It was a disaster,” said Perez, […]
Fates of Lotus, Renault and Red Bull in the balance
Sep.18 (GMM) For three very different reasons, the fates of three F1 competitors are currently hanging in the balance. For Lotus, the big problem is money, as lawyers for the Enstone team on Friday again faced the threat of administration in the London high court over an unpaid tax bill. While the black and gold […]
Rosberg to use final engine in Singapore
Sep.18 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is heading into the Singapore grand prix weekend with his fourth and final engine of 2015. Earlier, it was reported Mercedes intended to run the new-specification unit – his third for the season – that, amid reliability concerns, was removed from the German’s car before qualifying at Monza. That followed a […]
Hamilton will not dent Senna legacy – Massa
Sep.18 (GMM) If Lewis Hamilton wins this weekend, he will match the career tally of his childhood hero Ayrton Senna. But rival Felipe Massa, who like Senna is a Brazilian, thinks that even when Briton Hamilton matches the F1 legend’s victory tally of 41, it will not detract from the Senna legacy. “Definitely not,” the […]
Vandoorne ‘not afraid’ of Alonso pairing
Sep.18 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne should be under consideration for a F1 race seat in 2016, his current boss insists. With fellow McLaren junior Kevin Magnussen now linked with a switch to Haas, some believe Belgian Vandoorne is favourite should talks between the Woking team and Jenson Button break down. The rumour in Singapore is that […]
Haze situation improves above Singapore
Sep.18 (GMM) Singapore authorities have denied rumours they are clearing the unhealthy haze above the Marina Bay circuit by ‘cloud seeding’. Rain and wind has helped to ease the haze that threatened to spoil F1’s premier night race, but some believed authorities had induced rain chemically by controversially adding silver iodide to the clouds. Singapore’s […]
2016 ‘triple header’ worries Button
Sep.18 (GMM) Jenson Button has expressed concerns about Bernie Ecclestone’s latest plans to amend the 2016 race calendar. After teams pushed for the restoration of the summer break and shutdown period, which had been diminished in the provisional 21-race schedule for next year, a revised draft calendar began to circulate the paddock. According to France’s […]
Grosjean ‘has decided’ 2016 team
Sep.17 (GMM) Romain Grosjean on Thursday said he has made his decision about what team to drive for in 2016. The Frenchman currently drives for Lotus, the cash-strapped team whose very survival may depend on whether Renault decides to buy it. Grosjean has also been linked with a switch to Haas, the new Ferrari B-team, […]
Button admits F1 future remains open
Sep.17 (GMM) Jenson Button has hinted news about his future might be just a “few weeks” away. Speaking in Singapore, the Briton was responding to speculation that while McLaren wants to keep him for 2016, the two sides are having discussions about money. “I’ve had a couple of very good chats with Ron (Dennis),” Button […]
Sainz sure Toro Rosso not favouring Verstappen
Sep.17 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is sure Toro Rosso does not favour his high-profile teammate Max Verstappen. He told Spain’s AS newspaper in Singapore that he is not worried he might be dropped by the energy drink-owned team after an impressive first season in F1. Asked if he has been confirmed for 2016, Sainz […]
‘Silly season’ now about engines, not drivers
Sep.17 (GMM) The focus of the 2016 ‘silly season’ has turned from drivers to engines. Earlier this week, it appeared that the pieces of the ‘power unit’ puzzle for next year were falling into place. Red Bull was moving from Renault to Ferrari, with Lotus switching from customer Mercedes status to become the works Renault […]
Rossi selects 53 as permanent F1 number
Sep.17 (GMM) Alexander Rossi has selected 53 as his permanent race number ahead of his F1 debut in Singapore this weekend. The Californian GP2 front-runner, who is replacing Manor regular Roberto Merhi at five of the remaining grands prix this season, told reporters he actually selected the number 16. “That’s the number I used in […]
Rossi replaces Merhi in Singapore
Sep.17 (GMM) Roberto Merhi and Fabio Leimer on Thursday are digesting the latest news out of the Manor team. For Merhi, his race-by-race deal with the struggling backmarker comes to an end for now, as the Californian GP2 title-contender Alexander Rossi prepares to make his debut in Singapore. Spaniard Merhi will only return to the […]
Mateschitz buys another Austrian circuit
Sep.17 (GMM) Dietrich Mateschitz is adding another Austrian race track to his collection. Reports in Austria – in the Osterreich and Salzburger Nachrichten newspapers – say the Red Bull mogul and billionaire is buying the Salzburgring. Billionaire Mateschitz brought F1 back to Austria two years ago after buying and reconstructing the A1-Ring, which he renamed […]
Ferrari official denies Williams switch reports
Sep.17 (GMM) A Ferrari official has denied rumours he could be about to move to Williams. Italy’s Corriere della Sera had reported that Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll might be on the verge of buying into the British team. He would take his son Lance with him to Grove, even though the 16-year-old is currently a […]
Vettel can imagine Red Bull-Ferrari tie-up
Sep.17 (GMM) One of the loudest questions being asked around the Singapore paddock is ‘What engine will power Red Bull next year?’ That the energy drink stable is splitting with Renault is now widely known, even though it is an unofficial fact that former team driver Sebastian Vettel thinks is “sad”. Vettel, now at Ferrari, […]
ORF says F1 future ‘not decided yet’
Sep.17 (GMM) The Austrian broadcaster ORF says it has not taken a decision about its future in formula one. Reports this week claimed the long-time F1 broadcaster may no longer be prepared to pay the annual fee of EUR 15 million to Bernie Ecclestone. An ORF spokesman said: “Whether and under what conditions formula one […]