Jun.10 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne is yet to prove he is “good enough” to thrive in F1. That is the view of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, commenting on the so far disappointing 2017 debut at McLaren-Honda of the Belgian rookie driver. “It’s disappointing,” said the French Canadian, “because he has not once stood up to […]
Month: June 2017
Rosberg could return to F1 – Wolff
Jun.10 (GMM) Nico Rosberg could one day return to formula one. That is the view of his former Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who admitted to Le Journal de Montreal newspaper that he was shocked when the German announced his retirement shortly after winning the 2016 championship. But “I knew his idea as soon as he […]
Bottas ‘getting under Hamilton’s skin’
Jun.10 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is getting under Lewis Hamilton’s skin at Mercedes. That is the view of Bottas’ Finnish countryman Mika Salo, who is a former F1 driver and now regular FIA steward. After Nico Rosberg’s retirement, Bottas was drafted into the Mercedes lineup from Williams and won his first grand prix recently in Russia. […]
Alonso meets in Montreal with F1 boss Carey
Jun.10 (GMM) After repeating his threat to quit F1, Fernando Alonso sat down with the sport’s new CEO Chase Carey. Alonso, who Carey says is “one of our biggest stars”, warned in Montreal that if Carey follows through with apparent plans to expand the calendar to 25 races, he will quit. Then, Spanish media published […]
McLaren considering ‘all scenarios’ regarding Honda
Jun.10 (GMM) McLaren is considering “all possible scenarios” amid rumours the British team is on the cusp of dumping works engine partner Honda. Team executive Zak Brown this week gave an explosive interview indicating McLaren’s patience is up, while boss Eric Boullier questioned Honda’s “commitment”. Asked how he responds, Honda F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa said […]
Wehrlein ‘100pc’ after doctor checks
Jun.9 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has confirmed reports that he is back to full fitness after his early-season back injury. The German had to miss the start of the 2017 season with fractured vertebrae, and he got another scare in Monaco when his helmet struck the barrier in a clash with Jenson Button. So before he […]
Kubica lost weight for F1 return – report
Jun.9 (GMM) Robert Kubica appears to be serious about a potential return to F1. That is the claim of Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, following the former F1 driver’s surprise Renault test in Valencia this week. Despite earlier saying his 2011 arm injury was permanent, both Renault and the now 32-year-old Pole took the outing […]
Audi to make F1 decision ‘soon’
Jun.9 (GMM) Audi is not ruling out entering F1 in time for the new engine regulations in 2021. The German marque has quit Le Mans and is now focused on Formula E, but the Dutch publication Formule 1 claims that a F1 foray is not being ruled out. Indeed, the VW brand recently took part […]
Alonso to Renault would be ‘great’ – Hulkenberg
Jun.9 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he would welcome the arrival of Fernando Alonso at Renault next year. With struggling Jolyon Palmer’s future in doubt, there have been rumours Sergey Sirotkin or even Robert Kubica are in the running to replace him. But another rumour is that former two-time Renault world champion, Alonso, could leave McLaren-Honda […]
Vettel not thinking about title win
Jun.9 (GMM) F1’s title contenders do not want to talk about their championship battle, ahead of the seventh out of 20 races on the 2017 calendar. After six races, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel is leading Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes by 25 races. But German Vettel said in Montreal: “I do not want to think about the […]
Raikkonen not angry after Monaco controversy
Jun.9 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen insists he is not angry following the ‘team orders’ controversy of Monaco. Ferrari did not issue team orders so that Sebastian Vettel won in the Principality, but many suspect the team deliberately shuffled Raikkonen into second place through a less efficient pit strategy. Finn Raikkonen was visibly sour on the podium, […]
Steiner says ‘why not?’ to 25-race plans
Jun.9 (GMM) F1 teams may need to adapt if Liberty Media intends to expand the calendar to as many as 25 races. New F1 CEO Chase Carey has already said next year’s calendar will weigh in at 21 races, but there are rumours of a much longer schedule beyond that. Fernando Alonso, however, has threatened […]
Massa not mourning Ecclestone exit
Jun.9 (GMM) Felipe Massa says he does not mourn the departure from F1’s day to day running of former supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Ecclestone has been critical of the early changes made by his successors Chase Carey, Ross Brawn and Sean Bratches, but F1 veteran Massa said it was a necessary shift. “Don’t get me wrong […]
Vettel plays down Ferrari contract talk
Jun.9 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has played down reports he is under pressure to ink a new Ferrari contract. Reports have suggested team president Sergio Marchionne wants the German to commit to a deal with a significant pay-rise by September’s Italian grand prix. “The contract extension is not an issue at the moment,” Speed Week quotes […]
F1 set to confirm 2029 Montreal contract
Jun.9 (GMM) Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has secured its place on the F1 calendar long into the future. There was already a contract in place until 2025, but La Presse newspaper reports that the deal has now been extended until 2029, at a cost to the local governments of almost $100 million. “The agreement will […]
Red Bull keeping both drivers in 2018
Jun.9 (GMM) Red Bull has dismissed rumours it might make a change to its driver lineup for 2018. Currently, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen drive for the premier energy drink owned team, but rumours of potential moves are always bubbling. However, team boss Christian Horner is quoted by Kleine Zeitung newspaper: “Both have uncomplicated, clean […]
Sainz happy to hear Ferrari rumours
Jun.9 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is still hoping for a future with Red Bull, despite rumours he might be on Ferrari’s wish list for 2018. When told about those Ferrari rumours by Sky Italia, the Spaniard answered: “Thank you, because it’s a list every driver wants to be on. “But I owe a lot […]
Ricciardo hoping for Renault upgrade in Baku
Jun.9 (GMM) Red Bull is in an upbeat mood as it speeds towards the mid-season point in 2017. The former champions started the season off the pace but recent upgrades have narrowed the gap to the leading teams Ferrari and Mercedes. “We should keep closing up now,” Daniel Ricciardo is quoted by Auto Motor und […]
McLaren-Honda could split ‘in two races’ – report
Jun.9 (GMM) The deadlines are now coming thick and fast amid the deteriorating McLaren-Honda relationship. Reports this week suggested McLaren executive Zak Brown has imposed a 90-day deadline for Honda to up its game, but Bild newspaper claims the real ultimatum is much sooner than that. “Bild has learned that if the Japanese do not […]
Lowe exit not cause of Mercedes slump – Wolff
Jun.8 (GMM) Toto Wolff has denied Mercedes’ performance took a hit in 2017 due to the departure of Paddy Lowe. Before the season, technical boss Lowe switched from the triple back-to-back world champions to Williams, and since then Ferrari has pulled out a small lead as the fastest team in F1. When asked if the […]