Nov.4 (GMM) Sir Frank Williams is now out of hospital after a long illness. It emerged last weekend that the 74-year-old, perhaps the oldest living tetraplegic following his 1986 car crash, was suffering from pneumonia. Team officials admitted founder and boss Williams had been in hospital since falling ill at the Italian grand prix in […]
Month: November 2016
Whiting has question to answer after Mexico – Prost
Nov.4 (GMM) Charlie Whiting has a question to answer in the wake of last weekend’s Mexican grand prix. That is the view of F1 legend Alain Prost, referring to a controversy about drivers cutting corners at the Mexico City circuit. Daniel Ricciardo in particular was furious, when Lewis Hamilton was not penalised despite getting a […]
Renault almost ready to name driver
Nov.4 (GMM) Renault is almost ready to make its decision about the identity of Nico Hulkenberg’s teammate for 2017. Kevin Magnussen and Kevin Magnussen are waiting impatiently to see if they will be retained by the works team, with candidates including Esteban Ocon, Felipe Nasr and others linked with the seat. “The talks are moving […]
Stroll debut cost father $80 million – report
Nov.4 (GMM) Lance Stroll’s billionaire father ploughed nothing short of an incredible $80 million into the 18-year-old’s 2017 debut for Williams. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, as the British team finally admitted the badly kept secret that the Canadian will race alongside Valtteri Bottas next year. At the reveal event […]
Vandoorne not worried about Button contract
Nov.4 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he does not feel under pressure even though McLaren will have three contracted drivers on its books next year. 2015 GP2 champion Vandoorne is stepping up to F1 with the famous British team in 2017, but veteran Jenson Button has curiously been kept under contract by McLaren not only for […]
Schumacher on cusp of F3 step
Nov.4 (GMM) Mick Schumacher has admitted he is poised to step up to one of the final steps before hitting formula one — European F3. Teenager Lance Stroll, who at 18 is just a year older than F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s son, will himself step up to formula one next year with Williams. Stroll is […]
‘Silly season’ to end in Brazil – Steiner
Nov.3 (GMM) A long driver ‘silly season’ is finally coming to an end, according to Haas boss Gunther Steiner. While it appears there are only a few seats left for 2017, vacancies at Force India, Renault, Manor and Sauber remain open. Williams will confirm Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll on Thursday. And Auto Motor und […]
Rosberg should target win, title in Brazil – Berger
Nov.3 (GMM) Two former grand prix winners are tipping Nico Rosberg to wrap up his first world championship next weekend in Brazil. Although his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton has won the last two races, Gerhard Berger thinks Rosberg was simply driving tactically in Austin and Mexico to protect his big points lead. “I believe Nico […]
Overtaking may be harder in 2017 – Perez
Nov.3 (GMM) Sergio Perez is not so sure F1’s new regulations will deliver on their full promise next year. To deliver a more spectacular product to the public, the cars will be faster and the tyres grippier next year, delivering a 5 second per lap boost. “Next year we will have to adapt to the […]
Sauber will survive Audi’s Le Mans withdrawal
Nov.3 (GMM) Sauber will survive Audi’s withdrawal from the world endurance championship including Le Mans. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, even though the German carmaker was a major client of the Swiss team’s state of the art wind tunnel. But the report says that even though Audi is pulling out […]
Capelli hopes new Monza GP uncertainty ends
Nov.3 (GMM) Italian motor racing official Ivan Capelli hopes the latest delay over a contract for next year’s grand prix at Monza ends soon. At the historic race in September, a long period of uncertainty apparently ended when Bernie Ecclestone and Monza officials announced a new deal. However, the F1 supremo said the actual contract […]
Hakkinen impressed with Raikkonen’s form
Nov.3 (GMM) Mika Hakkinen says he has been impressed with the form of his countryman Kimi Raikkonen in 2016. While some think his Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel is struggling with frustration this year, Finn Raikkonen has overcome his own difficulties of the recent past to compare strongly with the quadruple world champion. Raikkonen thinks his […]
Ecclestone ‘can’t be replaced’ by Brawn – Lauda
Nov.3 (GMM) Ross Brawn has denied reports he is set to replace Bernie Ecclestone as F1 supremo. It emerged this week that the former Ferrari and Mercedes chief has been lined up by new F1 owners Liberty to be the sporting CEO, in a role that seemingly clashes with Ecclestone’s job. Brawn denies it. “I’m […]
Official doubts Ecclestone to be ousted
Nov.2 (GMM) A key F1 official has played down reports that Bernie Ecclestone looks set to be sidelined. It emerged this week that former Ferrari and Mercedes chief Ross Brawn could soon emerge from retirement to be F1’s new sporting CEO, with some reports claiming he will in fact ‘replace’ supremo Ecclestone. But Sergey Vorobyov, […]
Renault denies hinting over Magnussen future
Nov.2 (GMM) A Renault official has played down suggestions the carmaker has dropped a big hint about the identity of Nico Hulkenberg’s 2017 teammate. A key vacancy at the Enstone team is open for next year, with current drivers Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer under pressure from several candidates. Some, however, think this week’s launch […]
Force India admits Nasr on 2017 shortlist
Nov.2 (GMM) Force India has hit back at suggestions the team has already decided the identity of Sergio Perez’s teammate for 2017. With Nico Hulkenberg heading to Renault, reports early this week suggested the Silverstone based team has now inked a deal with Esteban Ocon. Frenchman Ocon, 20, is obviously a contender thanks to his […]
F1 figures say Vettel could quit
Nov.2 (GMM) Experienced paddock dwellers are contemplating the notion that Sebastian Vettel might soon call time on his F1 career. The German won four titles for Red Bull before switching to Ferrari last year, but those who have worked closest with Vettel, who is now 29, sense a change. “Some things we have seen before […]
Verstappen defended by former F1 driver Lammers
Nov.2 (GMM) Former F1 driver Jan Lammers has leapt to the defence of Max Verstappen, following the latest bout of criticism aimed at the young Dutchman. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel called the 19-year-old a “c—” in Mexico and was also blasted by Mercedes bosses for a clash with championship leader Nico Rosberg. Lammers, 60, acknowledged that […]
Sepang chiefs to hold F1 talks in Abu Dhabi
Nov.2 (GMM) The future of the Malaysian grand prix could take shape during a key meeting later this month. It has emerged that officials of the race near Kuala Lumpur, whilst extending their separate deal with MotoGP until 2021, are considering axing the 17-year-old F1 race at Sepang. However, a valid contract with Bernie Ecclestone’s […]
Vettel off the hook after ‘profuse’ apologies
Nov.2 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is off the hook after making a series of apologies to Charlie Whiting and the FIA. F1’s governing body had been looking into the tirade of expletives blasted by the Ferrari driver during the Mexican grand prix, including telling race director Whiting to “f— off”. “He did say sorry,” Whiting told […]