Jul.21 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel’s former boss thinks the German driver may soon run out of patience for Ferrari. Christian Horner, who oversaw Vettel’s four consecutive world championships for Red Bull, told Sport Bild that he senses a lack of calm in the 29-year-old’s current disposition. “I have the feeling that Seb is a bit rattled,” […]
Month: July 2016
Imola files legal action to secure Italy GP
Jul.21 (GMM) Imola has filed legal action as it steps up its bid to host the Italian grand prix from 2017. Recent reports claimed Bernie Ecclestone had inked a deal with the former San Marino GP venue, but the contract could not be signed off because it lacked the endorsement and backing of the Italian […]
Bianchi had ‘difficult time’ in Ferrari talks – Massa
Jul.21 (GMM) Jules Bianchi was enduring a “difficult time” in his relationship with Ferrari when he crashed at Suzuka in 2014. That is the claim of F1 veteran Felipe Massa, as the sport this week marks the one year anniversary of the tragic death of the former Marussia driver. Bianchi, 25, was widely regarded as […]
Ericsson’s backers have bought Sauber – report
Jul.21 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn has declined to confirm or deny reports it is Marcus Ericsson’s Swedish backers who have bought the Sauber team. The Swiss outfit announced on Wednesday that it will be fully acquired by a Swiss-based group called Longbow Finance, resulting in the retirement of founder Peter Sauber. “As a Swiss company, we […]
Mercedes musing switch to 2017 project – Wolff
Jul.20 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted that managing the transition between focusing on the 2016 and 2017 seasons is currently a major topic at Brackley. The back-to-back world champions are once again leading the standings in 2016 but under increasing pressure from Red Bull and Ferrari. But next year, the chassis and tyre rules are […]
Renault admits 2017 driver lineup still open
Jul.20 (GMM) Renault has admitted that its driver lineup for 2017 remains totally open. Reports have suggested Jolyon Palmer is in danger of losing his seat at the newly reformed French works team, while teammate Kevin Magnussen is more confident of staying next year. But neither are under contract for 2017 and team spokesman Andy […]
Alonso says 2017 title ‘is the goal’
Jul.20 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is still not ruling out a tilt for the 2017 title. Soon, McLaren-Honda will welcome its new chief executive to Woking – current VW racing director Jost Capito – and Spaniard Alonso agrees that the German has a big task ahead. “There are many things that need to be improved to […]
Ferrari needs ‘quiet approach’ amid crisis – Brawn
Jul.20 (GMM) Ross Brawn has urged Ferrari to take a “quiet approach” to its quest for the world championship. The Maranello marque has not won a drivers’ title since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, despite new president Sergio Marchionne having predicted spoils this year. But the Italian media thinks Ferrari is back in ‘crisis’, reporting strong […]
Capelli ‘cannot see’ Monza losing F1 to Imola
Jul.20 (GMM) Former F1 driver Ivan Capelli says he is confident Monza will soon end its troubles and cement its place on the 2017 calendar. This week, reports have suggested Bernie Ecclestone is on the cusp of switching the Italian grand prix from Monza to Imola, citing “political problems”. Capelli is now president of the […]
Prost backs Raikkonen’s new Ferrari deal
Jul.20 (GMM) F1 legend Alain Prost has backed Ferrari’s decision to stick with Kimi Raikkonen. Finn Raikkonen’s new contract for 2017 has been controversial, given the fact younger chargers like Sergio Perez, Daniel Ricciardo or Romain Grosjean were reportedly keen to join the fabled Maranello marque. But Prost, who was actually fired by Ferrari in […]
Allison set for Ferrari split – report
Jul.19 (GMM) James Allison looks set to split with Ferrari, according to the authoritative Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport. Although team boss Maurizio Arrivabene angrily denied the rumours when they first appeared some weeks ago, correspondent Luigi Perna now reports that there is truth to the rumblings from behind the scenes at Maranello. […]
Champions don’t mind long 2016 calendar
Jul.19 (GMM) Two prominent F1 drivers say they have no problem with this year’s longest-ever race calendar and the shift away from Europe. Many people who work in the sport are bemoaning the unprecedentedly long 21-date schedule, and the fact that there are no less than four races in the month of July. “For me […]
Officials say Monza still in game for Italy GP
Jul.19 (GMM) Italian officials are refusing to acknowledge that Monza’s chances of keeping the grand prix are now over. Reports this week have suggested Bernie Ecclestone has inked a deal with alternative race host Imola, but the truth is that the contract is not yet signed. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone told the Italian media from […]
Verstappen plays down title chances
Jul.19 (GMM) Max Verstappen has played down his chances of taking on Mercedes’ might for the 2016 world championship. Despite driving for Toro Rosso for the first four races of 2016, the 18-year-old has just 10 fewer points than Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo. At the weekend, he collected the prestigious Lorenzo Bandini trophy in […]
Rossi back on F1 radar after Indy 500 win
Jul.19 (GMM) Alexander Rossi might have re-booted his F1 aspirations by winning the fabled Indianapolis 500 this year. The Californian lost his Manor seat at the end of last year and for 2016 found himself in Indycar, where in May he shocked the racing world by winning the 100th running of the Indy 500. “Manor […]
Ocon ‘ready’ to take on Verstappen again
Jul.18 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he is “100 per cent ready” to go head-to-head with Max Verstappen yet again. In 2014, the teenage Frenchman actually beat Verstappen to the European F3 crown, but it was the younger Dutchman who went onto to make his meteoric F1 debut. Ocon, however, is not far behind. He won […]
Alonso speaks up for ‘fast, experienced’ Button
Jul.18 (GMM) Jenson Button is a key member of the McLaren-Honda project, according to his current teammate Fernando Alonso. It is no secret that the Anglo-Japanese collaboration is considering replacing Button with McLaren youngster Stoffel Vandoorne for 2017, with the young Belgian warning that other teams are expressing interest in him. But 2009 world champion […]
F1 prepared to wave ‘goodbye’ to Italy – Ecclestone
Jul.18 (GMM) The future of the historic Italian grand prix at Monza continues to hang in the balance. Ansa, an Italian news agency, quoted F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone as having said sustained efforts to ensure the race is on the 2017 calendar are yet to bear fruit. “We are trying to solve the problem of […]
Verstappen toasts success with $400,000 car
Jul.18 (GMM) Max Verstappen has toasted the early success of his meteoric formula one career with an extravagant purchase — but only with his father’s ‘ok’. At the weekend, the 18-year-old Dutchman continued his impressive rise to F1 stardom by collecting the prestigious Trofero Lorenzo Bandini award in Italy. Earlier winners were champions Michael Schumacher, […]
Prost likens Mercedes battle to Senna clash
Jul.15 (GMM) Alain Prost has likened the intensifying fight between Mercedes’ two drivers to his legendary battle with teammate Ayrton Senna. The German team openly contemplated imposing team orders after Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s latest collision in Austria, deciding instead to only toughen the rules of engagement and impose mysterious ‘deterrent’ measures. But Prost […]