Jan.30 (GMM) The long race for a seat at Manor is entering its final days, according to the Jakarta Post. The Indonesian newspaper is closely following the fortunes of Rio Haryanto, a local driver who finished the 2015 GP2 season in fourth place. He is reportedly on pole for a seat at Manor thanks to […]
Month: January 2016
Vettel can benefit from Mercedes feud – Wolff
Jan.29 (GMM) Mercedes chiefs are heading into the 2016 season with their eyes fixed firmly on Ferrari. “Ferrari has found its old strength,” declared Niki Lauda, a former Ferrari champion who is now the team chairman at Mercedes. Mercedes dominantly won the opening two world championships of the new ‘power unit’ era, but Ferrari is […]
Pirelli ‘delighted’ to talk tyres with F1 drivers
Jan.29 (GMM) F1 seems on track for faster tyres in 2017, as Pirelli welcomes the opportunity to meet with disgruntled drivers next week. Although earlier a supporter of the controversial era of ‘show’-inspired high degradation, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone this week backed Alex Wurz, after the GPDA president said drivers are unanimously pushing for “maximum […]
Honda already struggling with 2016 reliability – report
Jan.29 (GMM) For McLaren-Honda, the rumours are running as thick and fast as the expectations of a much better campaign for the famous Anglo-Japanese collaboration. 2015 was a horror reunion for the old partners, but recent speculation suggested Honda has found a staggering 200 horse power over the winter. Another rumour, however, is that the […]
Alonso no longer best F1 driver – Berger
Jan.29 (GMM) A single season has transformed the images of two of F1’s best drivers, according to legend Gerhard Berger. As he switched from Ferrari to McLaren-Honda, Spaniard Fernando Alonso was still widely regarded as the best driver on the grid. Sebastian Vettel, in contrast, ended the 2014 season having been beaten by his Red […]
Rosberg could be double world champion – Berger
Jan.29 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger has backed Nico Rosberg to bounce back in 2016. German Rosberg beat his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton late in 2015, but only after the now triple world champion had wrapped up the title. Berger told Auto Motor und Sport: “I still believe that Rosberg is insanely good. “His misfortune […]
Ecclestone still unhappy with future engine rules
Jan.29 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone sounds unconvinced after F1’s engine manufacturers recently agreed a change of direction for the future. The F1 supremo had warned that unless significant changes to the controversial current regulations were agreed, he would press ahead with his contentious earlier plans for ‘parallel’ engine rules. What the manufacturers – Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault […]
F1 meets to discuss 2017 plans on Friday
Jan.29 (GMM) F1’s future continued to take shape on Friday. In a meeting room at London’s Heathrow airport, representatives of the teams, FOM and the FIA got together to discuss – among other things – the new rules for 2017. It is the penultimate meeting before the March 1 deadline, coming shortly after it emerged […]
Manager, father not commenting on Magnussen reports
Jan.29 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen’s father as well as his manager are refusing to comment on widespread reports that the former McLaren reserve is now poised to return to the F1 grid. Specialist publications say the 23-year-old Dane, who was unceremoniously dumped by McLaren late last year, is likely to replace Pastor Maldonado at the new […]
Ferrari adding white to 2016 livery – source
Jan.28 (GMM) The livery for Ferrari’s 2016 car could include a novel dose of white, according to one Italian source. The authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport said the car, currently codenamed 667, will be revealed to the public via an online launch on January 19. That is just a couple of days before the start […]
Marko expects Mercedes to dominate again
Jan.28 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko, a leading Red Bull official, has bad news for F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Whilst spectating at the Kitzbuhel skiing world cup last week, Ecclestone said another season of dominance for Mercedes would be “not good for them, not good for the public, not good for anyone”. Marko, however, has now […]
Toro Rosso on schedule despite Ferrari switch – Key
Jan.28 (GMM) Toro Rosso is “on schedule” for the 2016 season, despite the late change of engine supplier. That is the claim of the Faenza team’s technical boss James Key, after parent company Red Bull’s so-called ‘engine crisis’ late last year led to Toro Rosso switching to a 2015-spec supply of Ferrari power for this […]
GP2 chief Vasseur to run Renault team – sources
Jan.28 (GMM) In the days before the news becomes official in Paris, sources report that Renault’s F1 management team is shaping up. Following the Lotus takeover, sources say leading directors of Renault Sport F1 will be Jerome Stoll, Cyril Abiteboul, Thierry Bollore and Patrice Ratti. And it is expected that Frederic Vasseur, who until now […]
Pirelli to help fans with live tyre information
Jan.28 (GMM) Pirelli is looking to tackle the complexity of the new tyre rules for 2016 by divulging more live information to the public during races. With the sport looking to spice up the action by offering drivers three compounds of tyres per weekend, Pirelli and the FIA had heads scratching when the actual rules […]
Pirelli turned down Mercedes for wet test
Jan.28 (GMM) Pirelli issued a polite ‘no’ to reigning world champion team Mercedes ahead of the recent wet tyre test at Paul Ricard. “When you’re driving, you’re always learning something,” Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel told reporters after running in the 2015 car on Tuesday. Indeed, some insiders expressed surprise when it emerged that Mercedes would not […]
Sainz reveals weight loss for 2016 season
Jan.28 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has revealed he is a new lightweight version for the 2016 season. It is believed some cars may be heavier this year, due to the tough new side-impact cockpit crash test requirements. “The load test has been increased from 15 to 50 Kilonewtons,” said Mercedes’ Paddy Lowe. “It’s a very significant […]
FIA proposes ‘halo’ cockpit solution for 2017
Jan.28 (GMM) F1’s governing body is believed to have shortlisted a cockpit protection system nicknamed ‘the halo’ for introduction in 2017, according to the British newspaper The Sun. Devised by Mercedes, the solution is designed to keep cockpits essentially open but stop flying objects and obstacles from striking the driver. The news follows GPDA president […]
Ecclestone backs call for ‘maximum attack’ tyres
Jan.28 (GMM) F1 could be set to take a sharp turn away from the era of Pirelli’s heavily degrading tyres. A few days ago, GPDA director Alex Wurz revealed that formula one drivers are calling upon a return to “maximum attack” racing. And the BBC quoted a source as saying: “To a man, the drivers […]
Tost ‘optimistic’ 2016 Toro Rosso will be ready
Jan.27 (GMM) Toro Rosso took on an 100 additional staff to cope with the challenge of preparing for the 2016 season. The Faenza based team’s schedule was thrown into chaos late last year amid the dispute between parent company Red Bull and Renault. In the end, Red Bull stayed with Renault power for 2015, but […]
Sainz tips ‘better’ season for Alonso
Jan.27 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has tipped his countryman and mentor Fernando Alonso to have a “better” season with McLaren-Honda. “I think that after 2015 it can only go better for them,” said the young Toro Rosso driver. “How much better, I don’t know,” added Sainz, as he met with members of the Spanish press on […]