May 11 (GMM) Lance Stroll says he is still getting up to speed in formula one. The 18-year-old rookie, derided by some as a ‘pay driver’, has not only made mistakes but been off the pace of his Williams teammate Felipe Massa so far in 2017. But Stroll said he’s not worried. “When everything comes […]
Month: May 2017
‘Calm’ no advantage over Hamilton – Bottas
May 11 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has denied his personality could give him the edge in his battle with teammate Lewis Hamilton this year. After a more modest start, the Finn added a win in Russia to his earlier pole and is now just 10 points behind Hamilton in the points standings. “I have to compliment […]
Hamilton ‘more talented than me’ – Rosberg
May 11 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says he is open to becoming friends once again with Lewis Hamilton. The pair have admitted they were once childhood “best friends”, but when paired at Mercedes they shared an acrimonious relationship as title-duelling teammates. Even after Rosberg’s retirement, Hamilton recently answered “nothing” when asked what he thinks about the […]
Alonso to decide future after summer break
May 11 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is not ruling out staying at McLaren beyond the end of his 2017 contract. Many people see the works Honda-powered team’s ongoing crisis, and Alonso’s decision to skip Monaco in favour of the Indy 500, as a clear sign that his patience with the Anglo-Japanese collaboration is up. Asked what […]
Berger nephew good enough for F1 – Wolff
May 11 (GMM) Toto Wolff says there could be a place in formula one for F1 legend Gerhard Berger’s nephew. Days ago, as Lucas Auer got off to a good start in the German touring car series DTM, Berger said his nephew could “get the chance” to move into F1. 22-year-old Auer, the son of […]
Liberty signs Ferrari spokesman – report
May 11 (GMM) A former Ferrari spokesman is returning to formula one. In the Italian team’s famous Todt-Schumacher era, Italian Luca Colajanni was the communications chief. Ferrari insider Leo Turrini now reveals on his Quotidiano blog that Colajanni is returning to the sport to be in charge of new F1 owner Liberty Media’s communications arm.
Sauber ‘not worried’ about 2018 Honda switch
May 11 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn says she is confident Sauber will be more competitive next year with Honda power. Currently, the Swiss team is struggling with year-old Ferrari power units, but Sauber but will become works McLaren partner Honda’s first engine customer for 2018. However, the Honda is currently the least competitive and most unreliable […]
Kvyat could return to Red Bull – Valsecchi
May 11 (GMM) Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat may be scrapping for a plum seat at Red Bull’s senior team for 2018. That is the claim of 2012 GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi, who today works for Italian television. He told Russia’s Championat that, while Red Bull’s current drivers are firmly under contract, there may still […]
Verstappen ‘cannot switch to Ferrari’ – Marko
May 10 (GMM) Red Bull insists there is no risk it could lose Max Verstappen to a rival team like Ferrari before his contract runs out. Former F1 driver Martin Brundle this week said he can sense the 19-year-old’s “frustration” this year, as Red Bull struggles to match Ferrari and Mercedes. So there are rumours […]
No F1 return for Glock
May 10 (GMM) Timo Glock has admitted that hinting he is set to return to formula one was a “joke”. The German contested almost 100 grands prix for Jordan, Toyota and Marussia, but since 2013 has been a works BMW driver in the German touring car series DTM. This week, some reporters became excited when […]
No ‘brutal’ team orders at Mercedes – Wolff
May 10 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes is reluctant to issue any “brutal” team orders this year. Before he won in Russia, closing the points gap to his teammate Lewis Hamilton to just 10 points, team newcomer Valtteri Bottas was asked to move aside in Bahrain. But Mercedes boss Wolff says orders will be used […]
Berger believes in Schumacher ‘miracle’
May 10 (GMM) Gerhard Berger says he believes his F1 contemporary Michael Schumacher will one day recover from his brain injuries. Little is known about the seven time world champion’s current condition following a 2013 skiing fall, but it emerged in court last week that he still cannot walk. “I believe in the miracle and […]
Hulkenberg tips Ferrari for title
May 10 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has hailed the fight at the top of formula one this year. The German is impressing after switching to the renewed and improving French works team Renault for 2017, but he admitted his eye has also been on the exciting fight for the title. “Not for a long time have […]
Liberty bought F1 to end ‘crisis’ – Carey
May 10 (GMM) Liberty Media decided to buy F1 because it saw potential amid the sport’s “crisis”. That is the claim of Chase Carey, who has replaced long-time F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone as the sport’s chief executive. Asked by the Spanish daily AS why Liberty bought F1, American Carey answered: “Firstly because we believed that […]
Honda crisis threatens McLaren future – Webber
May 10 (GMM) McLaren’s performance crisis is risking the entire future of the great British marque. That is the concern of former F1 driver Mark Webber, who thinks the only figure who can be at least fairly relaxed amid the situation is Stoffel Vandoorne. “I predict a good career for him,” the Australian is quoted […]
Hockenheim admits German GP future not safe
May 10 (GMM) Hockenheim boss Georg Seiler admits the future of the German grand prix is not secure beyond next year. Amid the Nurburgring’s troubles, the country is not on the calendar this year, but Hockenheim is at least scheduled to host the race in 2018. But Seiler told the German news agency DPA: “We […]
Red Bull can catch top teams – Horner
May 9 (GMM) Team boss Christian Horner says Red Bull still has a chance of catching title contenders Ferrari and Mercedes in 2017. Although the energy drink owned team will introduce a ‘B’ spec car in Barcelona this weekend, engine partner Renault has delayed a performance upgrade. Still, Horner is upbeat. “The new regulations are […]
Button not taking Monaco ‘seriously’ – Webber
May 9 (GMM) Jenson Button may not be taking his one-off return to F1 this month “seriously enough”. That is the view of the Briton’s contemporary Mark Webber, referring to the fact that Button – although newly retired – will fill in at McLaren-Honda in Monaco while Fernando Alonso is doing the Indy 500. “When […]
F1 ‘different’ post-Ecclestone – Barcelona
May 9 (GMM) “Things are different” now that Bernie Ecclestone is no longer in charge of formula one. That is the claim of Vicenc Aguilera, the president of the long-time Spanish grand prix host Circuit de Catalunya. Chase Carey, who has replaced former long-time F1 supremo Ecclestone, said last week that he wants Barcelona to […]
Alonso defends kart track after death
May 9 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has defended his kart circuit in his native Asturias, following the death of an 11-year-old boy. Youngster Gonzalo Basurto was killed recently in a rollover crash. It is believed some parents of young karters have subsequently pulled out of competing at the track, amid safety fears and concerns about the […]