Hamilton on Pole from Rosberg, Vettel, Raikkonen, Bottas, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Perez, Hulkenberg & Gutierrez Knocked out of Q2: Massa, Grosjean, Alonso, Wehrlein, Button and Sainz. Knocked out of Q1: Kvyat, Nasr, Ericsson, Palmer, Magnussen and Ocon (no time). Session Commentary
Month: September 2016
Italian Grand Prix – 3rd Free Practice
Hamilton quickest with a 1:22.008 from Rosberg (+0.393), Vettel (+0.938), Raikkonen (+1.141), Bottas (+1.492), Massa (+1.639), Ricciardo (+1.701), Verstappen (+1.732), Perez (+1.909) & Gutierrez (+2.026) Hukenberg, Button, Sainz, Grosjean, Palmer, Ericsson, Alonso, Nasr, Magnussen, Kvyat, Wehrlein and Ocon make the rest of the field. Ricciardo did the most number of laps with 23 followed by […]
Sauber signs another top engineer
Sep.3 (GMM) Sauber is hitting the throttle after being acquired by investors. Earlier in 2016, the Swiss team was struggling for mere survival, but the mood has changed completely and Sauber recently signed experienced engineer Xevi Pujolar. And now, according to Blick newspaper, Sauber has signed up Nicolas Hennel, a former Ferrari and Renault aerodynamics […]
Ferrari racing new engine at Monza
Sep.3 (GMM) Ferrari has spent the last of its in-season performance ‘tokens’ with its Monza engine upgrade. “I think it’s really too early to see what will be the benefit,” said new technical boss Mattia Binotto. Driver Kimi Raikkonen added: “The development is not huge, but it’s the right direction.”
F1 set for silly season ‘decision month’ – Nasr
Sep.3 (GMM) Felipe Nasr has tipped September to host the culmination of this year’s driver ‘silly season’. The Brazilian’s countryman Felipe Massa has announced his decision to retire at the end of the year, and Nasr has been tentatively linked with the Williams seat. Nasr, who currently drives for Sauber with backing from Banco do […]
F1 will always survive ‘worse times’ – Alonso
Sep.3 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says F1 will survive, even if the sport does not dramatically improve the spectacle in the coming years. The Spaniard has warned that, unless the 2017 rules make racing “fun” for him again, he may retire. “That’s very possible,” he told Der Spiegel. “I have to renegotiate my contract with McLaren-Honda […]
2017 Monza contract not signed yet
Sep.3 (GMM) The Italian grand prix saga is still not over, as the contract was not actually signed on Friday. Bernie Ecclestone, Jean Todt and Lombardy president Roberto Maroni announced on Friday that a new three-year deal to keep F1 at Monza has been agreed. “As soon as we agree on all the little details […]
Alonso ‘satisfied’ with Honda progress – Sainz
Sep.3 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he can sense the optimism in his friend and countryman Fernando Alonso. Sainz, who drives for Toro Rosso, says McLaren’s Honda power unit has now overtaken the 2015-spec Ferrari that he uses. “Definitely,” he said at Monza. “Honda is yet to reach the level of Renault,” said Sainz, “but they’re […]
Wehrlein confident of 2017 contract
Sep.3 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein is confident he will still be a F1 driver in 2017. The German made his F1 debut at Manor this year with Mercedes’ backing. But he said at Monza: “I don’t know yet what I’m doing next year, because I have a one-year contract with Manor. “I think talks will be […]
F1 teams fear Zika virus in Singapore
Sep.3 (GMM) F1 teams are reportedly concerned about the risk of staff contracting the mosquito-borne Zika virus in Singapore later this month. The Sun newspaper reports that 150 cases have been recorded in the Asian city-state in the last week. The report said Mercedes plans to supply staff with long-sleeve tops, while Nico Rosberg has […]
Magnussen doubts Halo will make F1 debut
Sep.3 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen is not sure the controversial Halo device will ever be introduced in F1. More trials of the cockpit protection have taken place in Monza practice, and Force India’s Sergio Perez said: “I have to admit the Halo does not interfere with visibility. “But getting out of the cockpit took me five […]
Pirelli admits new tyre debut in doubt
Sep.3 (GMM) Pirelli has admitted it might not be able to introduce a new construction of tyre this year. The Italian marque is seeking the agreement of all the teams to bring in a safer construction, but some competitors fear it is fundamentally different and slower. As a last resort, Pirelli could turn to the […]
Verstappen slams Villeneuve after criticism
Sep.3 (GMM) Max Verstappen has hit back with fury at criticism from 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. After the 18-year-old Red Bull driver’s controversial duel with Kimi Raikkonen at Spa, commentator Villeneuve said Verstappen should tone it down or risk killing a rival. “He should watch his statement that someone could die,” the Dutch broadcaster […]
Italian Grand Prix – 2nd Free Practice
Hamilton quickest with a 1:22.801 from Rosberg (+0.193), Vettel (+0.453), Raikkonen (+0.626), Verstappen (+0.931), Ricciardo (+1.202), Alonso (+1.458), Bottas (+1.498), Grosjean (+1.715) & Button (+1.748) Massa, Hulkenberg, Perez, Gutierrez, Ericsson, Wehrlein, Sainz, Ocon, Magnussen, Kvyat, Nasr and Palmer makes the rest of the field. Palmer covered the most number of laps with 45 followed by […]
Italian Grand Prix – 1st Free Practice
Rosberg quickest with a 1:22.959 from Hamilton (+0.203), Raikkonen (+1.088), Vettel (+1.348), Perez (+1.691), Grosjean (+1.804), Bottas (+1.826s), Verstappen (+2.023), Gutierrez (+2.154) and Ricciardo (+2.161). Button, Celis (Force India test driver), Alonso, Massa, Ericsson, Sainz, Kvyat, Ocon, Nasr. Wehrlein, Palmer and Magnussen make the rest of the field. Rosberg and Bottas covered the most number of laps with 37 laps each while Alonso only managed 14 laps followed by Raikkonen with […]
Grosjean hints at 2017 Haas stay
Sep.2 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has hinted strongly that he is staying at Haas for 2017. The Frenchman moved from Lotus to the new, Ferrari-linked American team for 2016, but is yet to be officially announced as a continuing driver for 2017. “Let’s put it this way,” he said at Monza. “I am looking forward to […]
Not every rival critical of Verstappen
Sep.2 (GMM) Not every driver is overly critical of Max Verstappen’s aggressive driving at Spa. It has emerged that Ferrari’s two drivers have sought out Charlie Whiting for talks. But not everyone is critical. “He is a fast driver and he has already shown that he can win races,” world champion Lewis Hamilton said. “He […]
New Monza deal set for Friday announcement
Sep.2 (GMM) A day and time has been set for the announcement of Monza’s new Italian grand prix deal. La Gazzetta dello Sport said F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Italian officials and even FIA president Jean Todt will attend the signing of the new three-year contract at 3pm on Friday. “We worked hard, but with important […]
No talks with teams about 2017 – Massa
Sep.2 (GMM) Felipe Massa says he had no negotiations with F1 teams prior to announcing his decision to retire at Monza. The emotional Brazilian said he wanted to let the news slip at Monza, where exactly a decade ago Michael Schumacher announced his own retirement news. “Michael saved my career in 2006 and I’ll never […]
‘No information’ about Schumacher – Mamma Rossella
Sep.2 (GMM) Rossella Giannini says she has no information about Michael Schumacher’s condition, or contact with the great German’s family. ‘Mamma’ Rossella, owner of the fabled Montana restaurant near Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters, had a famously close relationship with the seven time world champion. “I still cannot believe what happened,” she told Bild newspaper. “Two days […]