Jun.5 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton insisted he has “moved on” after Monaco, as reporters pressed hard about the strategy blunder that cost him a deserved victory. The world champion has said little in the two weeks since that ill-fated extra pitstop, and it is believed the only contact he had with Mercedes was a single email. […]
Month: June 2015
McLaren, Button play down 2016 split rumours
Jun.5 (GMM) McLaren has played down reports it is already looking to replace Jenson Button for 2016. Britain’s Sun newspaper predicted the Honda-powered team could “boot” the 2009 world champion despite him having a two-year contract in his pocket. The Sky broadcaster quoted a McLaren insider as dismissing the speculation as “tittle-tattle”. And just last […]
‘Aggressive’ Ferrari to race new engine – Vettel
Jun.5 (GMM) Ferrari has decided to race its performance-upgraded engine this weekend in Canada. Earlier, although the Italian team had traded in some in-season performance ‘tokens’, it was unclear if the new engine would actually be used this weekend. But in Montreal, Sebastian Vettel confirmed the news. “Hopefully it is a step in the right […]
Teams should not decide F1 rules – Wurz
Jun.5 (GMM) Alex Wurz has added his concerns to the current governance of formula one. Wurz, a former Benetton and Williams driver, is today the president of the F1 drivers’ union GPDA. In Monaco, the body launched a wide-ranging online fan survey, amid apparent dwindling global interest in the sport and complaints from F1 drivers […]
Pirelli not sure Michelin wants F1 contract
Jun.5 (GMM) Pirelli chief Marco Tronchetti Provera has admitted it is not clear if the Italian company will face any rivals to remain F1’s sole tyre supplier beyond 2016. Already in Monaco, Pirelli’s chairman and CEO made a rare appearance in the paddock to officially confirm his desire to win the next official supply contract […]
Raikkonen ‘doesn’t need’ Arrivabene’s homework
Jun.5 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he does not need to be given homework. Refusing so far to sign the 2016 ‘option’ in the Finn’s current contract, Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene left Monaco insisting Raikkonen must improve. “So I give him homework — to write a hundred times ‘I must do better in qualifying’,” the charismatic […]
‘No driver problem’ at Red Bull – Horner
Jun.5 (GMM) Christian Horner has defended Red Bull as rumours swirl around the struggling F1 giant. The energy drink-owned outfit’s title run ended just as Renault’s obvious troubles with the new ‘power unit’ era began. But Red Bull also lost its quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel. Asked if that hurt the team, boss Horner insisted […]
No medical check necessary for Verstappen
Jun.5 (GMM) FIA doctors did not check Max Verstappen’s fitness ahead of the Canadian grand prix. Earlier reports suggested that due to the severity of the teenager’s Monaco shunt, he would need clearance from the governing body to race this weekend. But the young Dutchman was obviously unhurt, driving karts and demonstrating Formula Renault 3.5 […]
No ‘raw power’ boost in Canada – Alonso
Jun.5 (GMM) Canada could be a blip in McLaren’s recent run of progress. Having scored the first points of 2015 in Monaco, Honda headed to Montreal after trading in some performance ‘tokens’ to upgrade its engine for the first time. “We have used two tokens of the nine available,” Fernando Alonso was quoted on Thursday […]
Hamilton trust damaged by Mercedes gaffe – pundits
Jun.4 (GMM) Two respected pundits think the relationship between Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton was damaged by the Monaco strategy gaffe. After an extra pitstop cost Hamilton a sure victory in the Principality, team boss Toto Wolff apologised but said both sides would be able to move on. “Trust is a key value within our team,” […]
F1 still in talks with key broadcaster
Jun.4 (GMM) Crucial negotiations between Bernie Ecclestone and Germany’s free-to-air F1 broadcaster appear to have advanced. We have reported recently that, with the German grand prix already gone in 2015, the country’s terrestrial television broadcaster RTL may also be eyeing the F1 exit. The Hamburger Morgenpost and Kolner Express newspapers claimed talks were underway as […]
Slump due to ‘technical’ reasons – Maldonado
Jun.4 (GMM) Pastor Maldonado says “technical” reasons explain his current slump. Earlier, as the Venezuelan struggles to finish races in 2015 and throw off his growing reputation as a ‘crasher’, Lotus chief Matthew Carter warned that Maldonado’s millions in PDVSA backing do not make him “untouchable”. The 30-year-old is among just four drivers who are […]
Ex-Diageo chief walks away from F1
Jun.4 (GMM) A supposed threat to Bernie Ecclestone’s reign appears to have ended. Late last year, reports began to emerge that Paul Walsh, the former Diageo chief, was being lined up as the sport’s new chairman. The reports speculated that Walsh intended to “marginalise” 84-year-old Ecclestone, or at least “rein in” the diminutive Briton. To […]
Ferrari could take on Mercedes in Canada – Surer
Jun.4 (GMM) F1 pundit Marc Surer thinks Ferrari could be set to take on Mercedes this weekend in Canada. Reports this week suggested an engine performance upgrade for the Italian team could move it within 15 horse power of dominant Mercedes. And Speed Week separately reports that Ferrari’s works oil partner Shell has developed a […]
Honda still targeting podium in 2015
Jun.4 (GMM) Honda still has its sights on the podium in 2015. After a highly unreliable and uncompetitive start, the new works collaboration with McLaren netted its first points last time out in Monaco. McLaren-Honda is openly expecting to struggle on Montreal’s long straights this weekend, but the collaboration is also pushing ahead with improvements. […]
Leimer race seat depends on ‘millions’ – report
Jun.4 (GMM) Fabio Leimer’s formula one dream could be back on track. With the 2013 GP2 title in his pocket, the 26-year-old Swiss was disappointed to find the door to F1 closed, despite his millions in backing. “The formula one system is sick,” Rainer Gantenbein, Leimer’s wealthy backer, had declared to Blick newspaper. But then, […]
Alonso still highest paid driver in 2015
Jun.3 (GMM) Fernando Alonso remains the highest paid driver in formula one this year. That is the claim of the latest edition of Business Book, having published a detailed salary ranking of every driver on the 2015 grid. Spaniard Alonso is yet to score a single point this season following his switch to McLaren-Honda, but […]
McLaren set to crash-test ‘short nose’ – rumour
Jun.3 (GMM) McLaren on Wednesday confirmed it is bringing a significant package of aerodynamic upgrades to the MP4-30 car in Austria. Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button left Monaco recently expecting the Honda-powered car to struggle on the long straights of Canada this weekend. But then it emerged the team’s Japanese ‘power unit’ partner has for […]
Maldonado not ‘untouchable’ despite millions – Carter
Jun.3 (GMM) Pastor Maldonado’s millions do not guarantee his place on the grid. That is the claim of Lotus chief executive Matthew Carter, as pressure continues to pile on the shoulders of the Venezuelan driver who wears number 13. This week, a ‘mockumentary’ starring Maldonado emerged on social media, chronicling the notorious driver’s string of […]
Ex-Toro Rosso driver Bourdais slams F1
Jun.3 (GMM) French driver Sebastien Bourdais has slammed formula one. The 36-year-old arrived in F1 late last decade with an impressive pedigree on America’s premier open wheeler scene. But his relationship with Toro Rosso soured spectacularly after just a season and a half. Bourdais is now back in the US, where on Sunday he won […]