Jul.13 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he is “very confident” he will still be a McLaren driver in four weeks’ time. In Hungary, a rumour did the rounds that the British team will oust Vandoorne ahead of his home race at Spa-Francorchamps, replacing him with Lando Norris. Asked if that is a possibility, La Derniere Heure […]
Month: July 2018
Three teams thwarting Force India sale
Jul.31 (GMM) Three teams reportedly look set to make the sale and rescue of Force India more difficult. The Silverstone based team has been placed into administration, but there are several potential buyers. However, all teams must agree if the new owners get access to all of the rights of Force India, including millions in […]
Sirotkin ‘calm’ about F1 future
Jul.31 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin says he is not worried about his future. That is despite the fact that, in his rookie season, the Russian is dead last with the slowest car in the field. Sirotkin admits that, at least initially this year, he and Williams were “shocked” with the car’s performance. But he says if […]
Winter testing in Bahrain not likely – Lowe
Jul.30 (GMM) Plans to move winter testing for 2019 to Bahrain appear to have been derailed. We reported recently that, after the new track surface and freezing temperatures in Barcelona badly affected the 2018 pre-season, moves were afoot to transfer the winter running next year to Bahrain. Liberty Media was reportedly even on board to […]
Vandoorne axe within 2018 ‘unlikely’ – Brown
Jul.30 (GMM) The driver ‘silly season’ is racing on. In Hungary, rumours continued to gain strength that Carlos Sainz will be ousted by Renault, and replaced for 2019 by Esteban Ocon. Boss Cyril Abiteboul says a decision will be announced “after the break”. “We have not signed anything or committed ourselves to anyone,” he told […]
Bottas plays down Wolff’s ‘wingman’ comment
Jul.30 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas his hit reverse gear after reacting angrily to the suggestion he is Lewis Hamilton’s ‘wingman’. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff used the ‘wingman’ description while praising the Finnish driver for finishing second behind Lewis Hamilton in Hungary. “First, wingman is wrong,” Bottas told the Finnish broadcaster MTV. “Secondly, I don’t see the […]
Brown not sure when James Key will start work
Jul.30 (GMM) Zak Brown says he does not know when James Key will start work as McLaren’s new technical director. Toro Rosso owner Red Bull says it will not let the British engineer go, declaring that he has a long-term contract. It is believed Key’s current contract runs until 2020. “We do not have a […]
Verstappen slams ‘sh-t’ Renault engine
Jul.30 (GMM) Max Verstappen has lashed out at Renault. In Hungary, the Dutchman was the latest to suffer due to a reliability problem with his Renault power unit. For 2019, Red Bull is switching to Honda. “We pay millions for this engine. But what we get is just sh-t,” Verstappen told Bild newspaper, following his […]
Wolff looks ahead to Force India buyer
Jul.30 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he is watching the situation at Force India very closely. With Mercedes, Sergio Perez and sponsor BWT all owed money, the Silverstone based team has been placed into administration. But there are buyers. “Let’s see who shows interest,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said in Hungary. Wolff is following the situation […]
Stoddart backs Liberty to improve F1
Jul.29 (GMM) Former Minardi boss Paul Stoddart says he hopes formula one can up its game for 2021. Over a decade ago, the Australian owned and ran a small backmarker team, and he says even then there were efforts to bring the costs down. “Then in 2010 there was still talk of a budget cap […]
Vasseur plays down Vandoorne rumour
Jul.29 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur has played down rumours linking Stoffel Vandoorne with Sauber. The latest ‘silly season’ rumour in Hungary is that Kimi Raikkonen’s closeness to new Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri could have saved the Finn’s cockpit for 2019. Now, Charles Leclerc could instead be leaving Sauber to join the stronger Ferrari-powered team Haas. Ousted […]
Force India racing on amid administration
Jul.29 (GMM) Force India is racing ahead in Hungary, even though it has been placed into financial administration. The news from a London court arrived in Hungary that action taken by Sergio Perez, Mercedes and sponsor BWT had meant the F1 team is now being run by FRP Advisory. “The team will continue to operate […]
FIA has ‘no concerns’ about Ferrari engine
Jul.29 (GMM) Charlie Whiting says the FIA has “no concerns” about Ferrari’s power unit. After years of Mercedes dominance in the ‘power unit’ era, it is now widely agreed that Ferrari is clearly ahead with controversial technology in the hybrid area. But Kleine Zeitung quoted F1 race director Whiting as saying “There are no concerns […]
New deal for Ricciardo still delayed
Jul.28 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo is still not ready to announce his new Red Bull contract. Despite flirtations with Ferrari and Mercedes, it is now clear that the Australian is staying with the energy drink owned team. But negotiations have been tough, not just on the financial side but also coming up with the contract term. […]
Force India in administration but Ocon still focused
Jul.28 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he is getting on with his job even though Force India is clinging to survival. Sergio Perez arrived in Hungary saying the Silverstone based team’s financial situation is “critical”. “I don’t know what Checo meant by that, but hopefully it will be solved soon and we’ll get back to operating […]
Abiteboul admits Renault could sign Ocon
Jul.28 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has admitted that Renault could swap Carlos Sainz for Esteban Ocon in 2019. The French team has been saying all year that it is happy with Sainz, who is ‘on loan’ for a year from Red Bull. And boss Abiteboul said keeping the Spaniard is “an option”. “I agree that we […]
Claire Williams considers quitting F1
Jul.28 (GMM) Claire Williams has admitted she is still thinking about quitting as the struggling British team’s boss. Former team champion Jacques Villeneuve declared recently that Williams is “dead”, with founder Sir Frank Williams having made a grave mistake in putting his daughter in charge five years ago. The team is the slowest on the […]
No early release to McLaren for James Key – Marko
Jul.27 (GMM) Red Bull says it will not give James Key an early release from his duties at Toro Rosso. Earlier in Hungary, McLaren announced that Briton Key is joining the struggling British team as technical director. But Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost hit back: “James Key has a long term valid contract with the […]
Vandoorne gets different chassis for Hungary
Jul.27 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne will use a different chassis this weekend in Hungary. For the past two races, the Belgian has struggled immensely alongside his McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso. “There is something wrong with his car,” Alonso insisted at Hockenheim. However, McLaren could not find the source of the problem, and so the decision was […]
Hospital says Marchionne died of ‘serious illness’
Jul.27 (GMM) A Swiss hospital has defended itself amid wild speculation surrounding the death of Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne. Some have reported that the 66-year-old Italian Canadian may have died after a routine operation on his shoulder. Il Giornale newspaper reported that there had been “sudden and unexpected complications”. “One does not die of a […]