Feb.28 (GMM) After a winter of apparent ‘sandbagging’, Mercedes finally let the cat out of the bag on Friday. Team boss Toto Wolff, however, denies that the ultra-dominant reigning 2014 champions have been hiding the potential of the new W06 car until now. “Our programme was planned from the beginning,” he said. “Other may have […]
Month: February 2015
Report of $231m deal for Hamilton ‘like satire’ – Wolff
Feb.28 (GMM) Toto Wolff has scoffed at a media report purporting to know the dizzying value of Lewis Hamilton’s next Mercedes contract. Although the reigning world champion now has no manager, the parties remain locked in protracted talks about a new deal beyond 2015. London’s Times newspaper said the current discussion is about a new […]
Manor racing to be ready for Melbourne – Booth
Feb.28 (GMM) Team founder John Booth is confident the former Marussia team will make it to Melbourne. Having fought to secure new investment and convince its creditors to exit administration, the team has secured a place on the 2015 entry list against all odds. But the race is not won yet. Having initially sought to […]
McLaren quiet on Alonso’s ‘medical situation’
Feb.28 (GMM) McLaren has counted itself out of the continuing speculation about Fernando Alonso’s medical condition. Rumours have been rife ever since Sebastian Vettel said he witnessed the “strange” manner in which the Spaniard lost control of his McLaren last Sunday. But amid continuing speculation about the nature of the crash, Ferrari’s Vettel on Friday […]
‘Manor Marussia’ on 2015 entry list
Feb.28 (GMM) As predicted earlier, the FIA on Friday published the official 2015 entry list that includes a place on the grid for the revived ‘Manor Marussia’ team. Although the backmarker’s Russian investor is long departed, it is believed the team has had to keep ‘Marussia’ in its name in order to qualify for its […]
Villeneuve admits Alonso crash saga ‘weird’
Feb.27 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has counted himself among scores of experts, pundits and fans who have been left “confused” by the Fernando Alonso saga. Spaniard Alonso spent four days in hospital and is now sitting out this week’s Barcelona test action, after a crash described by McLaren-Honda as “normal” that Ron Dennis said on Thursday […]
Alonso hit wall at 105kph – report
Feb.27 (GMM) Fernando Alonso struck the wall at 105 kilometres per hour last Sunday. That was the claim on Friday of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, as the period of great mystery and controversy surrounding the Spaniard’s bizarre accident continues. Many eyes are pointing in McLaren-Honda’s direction, wondering if the Woking camp is being defensive […]
Carmen Jorda’s rivals unhappy with Lotus news
Feb.27 (GMM) Fellow race drivers have reacted with dismay to the identity of Lotus’ new F1 development driver. The Enstone team announced on Thursday that 26-year-old Spanish female driver Carmen Jorda will attend grands prix in 2015, work on the simulator and even test the new E23 car. Jorda, whose father Jose Miguel was also […]
Caterham assets auctions set to go ahead
Feb.27 (GMM) While Marussia pushes hard to return in 2015 as Manor, another ailing backmarker appears to have reached the end of the line. Early in February, it emerged that Caterham’s administrators had appointed an auctioneer to begin arranging for the sale of assets beginning in March. Indeed, a series of auctions hosted by Wyles […]
Rival doubts McLaren using Manor for advantage
Feb.27 (GMM) An engineer for a rival team has rubbished suggestions McLaren is only supporting Manor in order to gain a self-interested advantage. Although owed millions by the former Marussia team, McLaren is among the list of major creditors who have agreed to be repaid at a later date so that Manor can bid to […]
Verstappen has seat fitting for Red Bull car
Feb.27 (GMM) Max Verstappen is shaping up as a reserve driver for Red Bull’s premier F1 team. The Dutch 17-year-old, whose grand prix debut this year is controversial due to his age and inexperience, will line up on the Melbourne grid for the first time next month with Toro Rosso. That is Red Bull’s second […]
‘I’m completely fine’ says smiling Alonso
Feb.27 (GMM) Fernando Alonso on Friday declared himself “completely fine” after his Barcelona crash and four-day hospitalisation. The circumstances of the McLaren-Honda’s seemingly innocuous bump against the wall last Sunday has triggered wild rumours of KERS electrocution or seizure. McLaren supremo Ron Dennis muddied the waters further on Thursday by telling reporters the Spaniard was […]
F1 looks set for competitive 2015
Feb.27 (GMM) Williams has leapt back into contention as a likely 2015 force. After the first two tests at Jerez and Barcelona, it was suggested that in light of the Grove team’s low-profile performance, rivals might be set to overtake Williams as ‘best of the rest’ behind Mercedes this year. But as upgrades were added […]
‘Clever’ Mercedes dodges camera mount ruling
Feb.27 (GMM) Mercedes has found a clever way around the issue of reportedly ‘illegal’ camera mountings at the front of its title-defending 2015 car. Earlier, we reported that teams including Ferrari and Toro Rosso had also been told by the FIA to modify their new cars before scrutineering in Australia. Designers for the respective teams […]
Manor to appear on 2015 entry list on Friday
Feb.27 (GMM) Friday is another crucial day in the history of the reborn Marussia team. Now called Manor, the backmarker is expected to be listed on the delayed 2015 entry list, which is set to be released by the governing FIA on Friday. It will then give the team exactly one week to complete the […]
FIA to investigate mysterious Alonso crash
Feb.26 (GMM) F1’s governing body has vowed to look into the circumstances surrounding the mysterious crash that hospitalised Fernando Alonso for four days. McLaren initially took 28 hours to issue a statement about last Sunday’s incident, triggering speculation there is more to the story than a “normal” gust of wind. Sebastian Vettel, who was following […]
‘Favourite opponent’ Rosberg ready to beat Hamilton
Feb.26 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says he is determined to beat reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton to the 2015 title. Last year, the utterly dominant Mercedes duo fought a close and intense battle for F1’s biggest prize. “Nico Rosberg has been strengthened by the defeat,” the German driver, referring to himself in the third person, told […]
Renault not ruling out F1 strategy changes
Feb.26 (GMM) Renault has not ruled out making changes to its approach to formula one. Amid rumours of continuing discord with its partner Red Bull, and following the loss of engine partners Lotus and Caterham, it has been rumoured the French manufacturer might be considering running a full Renault-branded works team again. Official Cyril Abiteboul, […]
Alonso not injured but in doubt for Australia – Dennis
Feb.26 (GMM) Two weeks before the 2015 season begins, the participation of McLaren-Honda’s star driver is in doubt. Team supremo Ron Dennis addressed the media in Barcelona on Thursday and admitted it is possible Fernando Alonso will not be in Melbourne. Five days after the Spaniard’s mysterious crash at the circuit last Sunday, Dennis insisted […]
Alonso ‘wanted to test’ in Barcelona – Dennis
Feb.26 (GMM) He was in hospital for four days, and is absent at the final winter test in Barcelona, but Fernando Alonso is “categorically not injured”. That was the insistence on Thursday of McLaren supremo Ron Dennis, who at the Circuit de Catalunya addressed the ranks of international media following the controversy and conspiracy theories […]