Apr.8 (GMM) Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone could attend the next two grands prix. The 86-year-old has been absent ever since Liberty Media decided to replace him for 2017 and beyond by Chase Carey, Ross Brawn and Sean Bratches. But we have already reported that Ecclestone will be back in the paddock in Bahrain next […]
Month: April 2017
No Alonso contract talks until summer – Brown
Apr.8 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has agreed to hold off potential talks with other teams until the summer. That is the claim of McLaren chief Zak Brown, following a dinner meeting in Shanghai attended by himself, Eric Boullier, Alonso and the Spaniard’s manager Luis Garcia Abad. Alonso’s contract runs out this year. “We have agreed to […]
Marko confirms meeting with Verstappen grandfather
Apr.8 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has confirmed reports he met with Max Verstappen’s grandfather. Amid the latest media report about a club brawl, Frans Verstappen – who is the father of Max’s dad Jos – told De Telegraaf newspaper that he sought out a meeting with the Red Bull chief. “I took this step in […]
Wehrlein fractured bone in winter crash – Wolff
Apr.8 (GMM) Toto Wolff has revealed that Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein actually fractured a bone in his back in his race of champions crash during the winter. Rumours are swirling around the absent German driver in Shanghai, after he missed Australia, China and possibly Bahrain next weekend with an apparent lack of fitness. “We decided […]
F1 boss says 21 races in 2018
Apr.8 (GMM) There will be 21 races on the F1 calendar next year. That is the news from the sport’s new commercial chief Sean Bratches, following earlier news that Malaysia will actually drop off the new schedule. But the current count of 20 races will inch up to 21 in 2018, with the return of […]
McLaren not setting Honda deadline
Apr.8 (GMM) Zak Brown says McLaren is not setting a deadline for Honda to take a big leap out of its current engine crisis. The once-great British team’s new boss in Shanghai rejected suggestions he has been in talks with Mercedes, amid rumours McLaren could soon dump Honda. “No, we are working together,” Brown is […]
FIA working on Halo alternative ‘Shield’
Apr.8 (GMM) Secret plans for an alternative to the controversial ‘Halo’ cockpit protection system have been leaked in the Shanghai paddock. Little is known about the device except that it is called ‘Shield’, and has been designed to address the issue of head protection for the drivers without spoiling the look of the cars. Germany’s […]
No 2017 engine for Sauber this year – boss
Apr.8 (GMM) Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn has played down rumours the Swiss team could switch to Ferrari’s 2017-spec engine mid-season. Amid a struggle to merely survive financially last year, the team inked a deal to use Ferrari’s ‘old’ 2016-spec power unit in 2017. Sauber has subsequently been bailed out, but Kaltenborn played down the chance […]
Shanghai clouds threaten China GP
Apr.8 (GMM) A cloud is literally hanging over this weekend’s Chinese grand prix. On Friday, precious little track action took place because rain, mist and smog made it impossible for the medical helicopter to fly. “The hospital is 38 kilometres away,” said steward Paul Gutjahr. “Even with a police escort, it would take more than […]
Marchionne retirement plan on track
Apr.7 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne’s plan to step down as president of the Ferrari parent Fiat Chrysler appears on track. Reports in Italy said news that the 64-year-old’s Italian-Canadian would step down in 2019 was already known. “We have many good people who are able to succeed him,” the Ansa news agency quoted Fiat Chrysler chairman […]
Petronas staying despite Malaysia GP exit
Apr.7 (GMM) The Malaysian grand prix in October will be the last held at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur, a constant F1 host since 1999. Reports suggested race organisers and F1’s new commercial owner Liberty Media agreed jointly that Malaysia be allowed to end its contract one year early for cost reasons and dwindling […]
Wehrlein fitness criticism ‘unfair’ – Kaltenborn
Apr.7 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn has hit back at rumours there is definitely more to the story regarding Pascal Wehrlein’s supposed lack of fitness. The young German missed Australia, is sitting out this weekend’s Chinese grand prix, and is also not guaranteed a return in Bahrain or beyond following his winter back injury. The 22-year-old pulled […]
Alonso rules out quitting mid-season
Apr.7 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has dismissed speculation he might quit McLaren-Honda mid-way through the 2017 season. His old friend Mark Webber – who is still regularly in the paddock as a television pundit – had made the claim in Australia, amid McLaren’s latest competitive crisis. When asked about it in Shanghai, Spaniard Alonso laughed: “No, […]
Vandoorne unsure of Honda fix timing
Apr.7 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he doesn’t know how long it will take McLaren-Honda to fix its current problems. So dire is the Anglo-Japanese collaboration’s situation early in 2017 that rumours of a split are rife. Indeed, after Melbourne, team figures have warned that Shanghai will be even worse for the 2017 package, with up […]
Ricciardo wants Renault update sooner
Apr.7 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has admitted he hopes Renault pushes through a scheduled engine upgrade to get Red Bull back on track in 2017. But the Australian admitted that Red Bull’s new chassis is also not yet a match for Mercedes and Ferrari, although his boss Christian Horner says upgrades in China are “looking promising”. […]
Ecclestone buying Interlagos ‘good’ – Massa
Apr.7 (GMM) Felipe Massa says it would be “good” if a buyer for Brazilian grand prix venue Interlagos is being lined up. Reports this week have claimed that former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is interested in buying the famous track near Sao Paulo, after he said recently that the popular race could be lost to […]
Grosjean agrees that ‘pay drivers’ should go
Apr.7 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has backed moves to nudge so-called ‘pay drivers’ out of formula one. Recently, new sporting chief Ross Brawn admitted one of his goals – that the world’s best 20 drivers are all on the F1 grid – might only be achievable through a fairer distribution of income. Currently, some struggling teams […]
F1 ‘open’ to rule changes – Wolff
Apr.7 (GMM) F1 should be “open” to making tweaks if the on-track spectacle does not live up to the hype in 2017. That is the view of Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss who acknowledged that while the new cars are spectacularly fast, a lack of overtaking could be an issue. “First we have to […]
Hamilton worried about Pirelli wets in China
Apr.7 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton admitted he is concerned that his first taste of Pirelli’s new wet tyres will be this weekend in China. The weather forecast throughout the Shanghai weekend is poor, and Friday’s opening session was indeed badly affected by rain. Less concerned is Hamilton’s current title nemesis Sebastian Vettel, who has snapped up […]
Perez would not give up F1 seat over ‘fitness’
Apr.6 (GMM) Sergio Perez said he feels for fellow F1 driver Pascal Wehrlein. German Wehrlein, who switched from Manor to Sauber for 2017, suffered a back injury in the winter and had to sit out Melbourne with a reported lack of physical fitness. The 22-year-old is again missing this weekend in Shanghai, triggering rumours about […]