Mar.29 (GMM) Even rules for significantly faster F1 cars in 2017 will not change Adrian Newey’s 50 per cent focus on the sport. That is the news of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, even though he confirms that the famous F1 designer’s work on America’s Cup yacht design is now finished. “We’ve completed the […]
Month: March 2016
Wolff slams decision to keep ‘musical chairs’
Mar.29 (GMM) Toto Wolff has slammed the decision to keep the highly controversial ‘musical chairs’ qualifying format in place for Bahrain. After the system’s farcical debut in Melbourne, team bosses got together on Sunday before the season-opening race and agreed to scrap it. But amid calls for a governance overhaul of the sport, the change […]
F1 could hit reverse on faster cars
Mar.29 (GMM) F1 could be about to hit reverse on its move to speed up the cars for 2017. According to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, April 30 is the date on which the sport is tipped to approve technical changes including the widening of the cars for next season. However, there is now some […]
FIA eyes Alonso’s broken seat after crash
Mar.29 (GMM) The FIA has launched an investigation into Fernando Alonso’s spectacular Melbourne crash, with insiders saying the Spaniard was lucky to survive. Reports including one in the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reveal the governing body’s probe follows revelations Alonso’s seat was actually broken as his McLaren-Honda flipped through the Albert Park gravel. It […]
Dane backs Magnussen after Palmer defeat
Mar.29 (GMM) A countryman of F1 returnee Kevin Magnussen has defended the Dane’s performance at the recent Australian grand prix. Jolyon Palmer, a rookie and Magnussen’s teammate at Renault, has been quoted as saying out-qualifying and then beating the former McLaren driver to the chequered flag on debut is a boost to his confidence. But […]
F1 ‘not as attractive today’ – Sato
Mar.29 (GMM) Former driver Takuma Sato says that, amid the category’s obvious challenges, he still loves F1. The Japanese is now a mainstay of America’s top open wheeler series Indycar, telling the Spanish daily Marca that he thinks F1 was better in his day. “I do not see F1 as attractive as before,” said the […]
Verstappen can be free agent for 2017 – report
Mar.28 (GMM) Just as details of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull deal emerge, the Dutchman has thrown some praise in the direction of Ferrari number 1 Sebastian Vettel. Writing for the authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport, Luigi Perna suggested that a clause in the 18-year-old’s current contract means he would be free to switch to another […]
Ecclestone coy over Monza’s F1 future
Mar.28 (GMM) The saga over the future of historic Monza’s grand prix continues, with Bernie Ecclestone making conflicting comments regarding its chances. After reports suggested talks between the Italians and the F1 supremo have broken down, Ecclestone told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I think it (the race) will continue. “It is a fact that as […]
No surprise Alonso ‘aching’ after crash – doctor
Mar.28 (GMM) It is no surprise Fernando Alonso endured a tough week in the wake of his terrifying Melbourne crash. That is the claim of Jurgen Lindemann, an FIA doctor who said the Spaniard was in fact lucky to leave Australia with his life after flipping through the gravel in the 2016 season opener. “In […]
F1 must restore ‘credibility’ – Villeneuve
Mar.26 (GMM) F1 must return to its glorious roots or risk collapsing, according to 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. The French Canadian is just the latest in a long line of insiders, experts and pundits who are exasperated at the current off-track goings-on at the pinnacle of motor sport. The turmoil reached its peak last […]
‘Musical chairs’ stays in place for Bahrain
Mar.25 (GMM) The controversial and unpopular ‘musical chairs’ qualifying format will decide the grid for next weekend’s Bahrain grand prix. That is despite the fact the new concept, featuring 90-second countdown eliminations, was widely declared an unmitigated failure on debut in Melbourne. Team bosses voted before the race on Sunday to revert to the popular […]
Lauda denies Mercedes still sandbagging
Mar.24 (GMM) Niki Lauda has hit back at claims Mercedes is still sandbagging, one race into its 2016 championship campaign. It was rumoured the dominant champions of 2014 and 2015 held fire on its full performance potential over the winter, and Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko charged even after Melbourne that Mercedes could actually have […]
Ecclestone agrees with drivers over governance
Mar.24 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone on Thursday joined forces with F1 drivers who are complaining about the governance of the sport. Sections of the media had interpreted the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association’s rare letter this week as a scathing attack on authorities including the F1 supremo. But in a typed reply to the drivers on Thursday, […]
Monza not giving up on Italy GP yet
Mar.24 (GMM) All hope that Monza will keep hosting the Italian grand prix beyond 2016 is not lost yet. That is the claim of the fabled Autodromo Nazionale’s operating company Sias, hot on the heels of reports that negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone have broken down terminally. “Autodromo Nazionale Monza has not received any official communication […]
Rosberg first in queue for 2017 talks – Wolff
Mar.24 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is first in the queue to race with Mercedes in 2017. That is the claim of team boss Toto Wolff, with media reports in Germany declaring that 30-year-old Australian grand prix winner Rosberg’s current deal is definitely expiring late this year. “Nico is part of the Mercedes family,” Austrian Wolff told […]
Schumacher was right about Vettel – Clear
Mar.24 (GMM) Michael Schumacher was “absolutely right” to have urged Ferrari to sign up Sebastian Vettel for the future. Well-known F1 engineer Jock Clear has returned from a year of ‘gardening leave’ to take up a leading position at Ferrari, where Vettel is now regarded as the Maranello’s great hope of reviving the Schumacher-esque glory […]
As Britain switches, Wurz worried about F1’s pay-TV future
Mar.24 (GMM) F1 needs to adapt to the changing shape of the world and media. That is the view of Alex Wurz, who on the same day as the release of the GPDA’s controversial open letter on the state of the sport also spoke to the Austrian newspaper Kurier. Also late on Wednesday, Bernie Ecclestone […]
Williams-Honda rumours played down
Mar.24 (GMM) Rumours Williams could be set to switch to customer Honda power for 2017 have been denied. After a woeful 2015, Honda has made a step forward with its exclusive works partner McLaren this year, new director Yusuke Hasegawa says. “We had reliability and both drivers were happy with the car,” he is quoted […]
Hamilton returns fire after Charlie Whiting criticism
Mar.24 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has hit back at Charlie Whiting for singling him out over the course of the Australian grand prix weekend. Following the world champion’s claim that drivers are not consulted on rule changes, F1 race director Whiting revealed that a key meeting was actually held at the Barcelona tests “but he (Hamilton) […]
Renault not giving up on 2016 – Vasseur
Mar.24 (GMM) Renault has not given up on the 2016 season, team boss Frederic Vasseur insists. After the eleventh-hour takeover of Lotus, it had been reported that the French carmaker will quickly turn its attention to making a new car for 2017. But engine customer Red Bull is talking up a Renault engine upgrade that […]