Jun.24 (GMM) McLaren is not ruling out a move to the British team for Carlos Sainz in 2018. The impressive Spaniard has often been linked with a departure from Toro Rosso, but until now Red Bull has insisted he honour his contract until 2019. But when asked about the 22-year-old, McLaren boss Eric Boullier said […]
Month: June 2017
Sauber owner admits Vasseur talks
Jun.24 (GMM) Former Renault team boss Frederic Vasseur has emerged as the most likely candidate to run Sauber. The Swiss team suddenly split with Monisha Kaltenborn following a disagreement with new owners, and it had been rumoured Colin Kolles was on pole to replace her. Acting boss Beat Zehnder said in Baku: “We are talking […]
Hamilton can stay in F1 ‘until 40’ – Trulli
Jun.24 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has continued to back away from earlier claims he might quit F1 at the end of the year. The offending quote caused an international stir, but former F1 driver Jarno Trulli says he doesn’t believe the Mercedes driver is gearing up to retire. “I don’t know why Hamilton says certain things,” […]
F1 ‘oil in fuel’ controversy re-emerges
Jun.24 (GMM) Suggestions a team is gaining performance by mixing oil with fuel have re-emerged in Baku. The issue had died down, but the FIA warned again ahead of the Azerbaijan weekend that oil must not be added to the fuel under any circumstances. “Why? Because Mercedes obviously asked the FIA for clarification,” said Germany’s […]
‘No room’ for Alonso at Red Bull – Horner
Jun.24 (GMM) Christian Horner has denied Red Bull might be eyeing Fernando Alonso for 2018. Current McLaren-Honda driver Alonso suggested in Baku that the forthcoming driver ‘silly season’ might surprise some insiders. One rumour is that, while Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen may appear under contract for 2018, they may have exit clauses in the […]
Renault plays down Kubica rumours
Jun.24 (GMM) Renault has played down swirling rumours about Robert Kubica. Recently, the former BMW and Renault driver made his F1 test return after a six-year absence, demonstrating that he is able to run competitively with his arm injuries. Now, the big rumour in Baku is that the Pole will drive in Friday practice at […]
Vandoorne still feels McLaren ‘trust’
Jun.24 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he still feels the “trust” of his employer. Amid a difficult opening half of the Belgian’s rookie F1 season, some are already beginning to wonder if McLaren will keep the 25-year-old for 2018. But he told Belgium’s RTBF: “I am confident in my abilities and the team trusts me. “I […]
Verstappen not expecting Baku pole
Jun.24 (GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted Ferrari and Mercedes will probably race ahead in Baku qualifying. Although he crashed at the street circuit, the Red Bull driver topped the timesheets in Friday practice. “We have taken a positive step here, and with the long straights it is even a little unexpected,” he is quoted by […]
Teams unhappy with Austin qualifying move
Jun.24 (GMM) Team bosses are reportedly unhappy with a decision to tweak the weekend race schedule in Austin later this year. Reports indicate qualifying for the US grand prix will be pushed back two hours in order to encourage both spectators and music fans to attend a Justin Timberlake concert. “Some of the teams are […]
Boullier has ‘contracts to negotiate’
Jun.24 (GMM) McLaren has “contracts to negotiate”, according to team boss Eric Boullier. In Baku, the Frenchman was speaking to Belgian broadcaster RTBF, amid swirling rumours that McLaren has decided to split with Honda. “There is no actual deadline but there are decisions to be made, procedures to be followed and contracts to negotiate, so […]
‘No obstacles’ to new Ferrari deal – Vettel
Jun.24 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has given a strong hint about his future in F1. Bild newspaper claims the German is poised to sign a new multi-year contract with Ferrari. And when the 2017 championship leader was asked by Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport what obstacles to a new Ferrari deal there are, Vettel answered: “None. […]
Hamilton plays down F1 quit quote
Jun.23 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has played down reports he might quit at the end of the season. Speaking to the latest edition of the in-house FIA magazine Auto, the triple world champion said: “I can decide to stop at the end of this year.” But the quote triggered unexpected headlines, and in Baku the Briton […]
Renault has upgrade in Baku – Ricciardo
Jun.23 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has revealed that Renault has taken improvements for its 2017 power unit to Baku. The news comes despite Renault chief Cyril Abiteboul saying recently that there will in fact be no more major upgrades until 2018. Red Bull’s Ricciardo said: “It’s not the upgrade that has been talked about, but it […]
Force India not confirming Auer test rumours
Jun.23 (GMM) Force India is not ready to confirm reports Gerhard Berger’s nephew will test for the Silverstone based team in Hungary. Amid the reports in the Austrian press, a spokesman for DTM frontrunner Lucas Auer this week would not confirm that the 22-year-old will test the pink car at the young driver test after […]
Alonso wants ‘safe’ F1 team for 2018
Jun.23 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has given the clearest sign yet that he will leave McLaren-Honda at the end of the year. The Spaniard has struggled with the hapless Anglo-Japanese collaboration throughout his three-year contract, but said in Baku he wants to make it “clear to all my fans” that he will definitely still be in […]
Fourth year at Toro Rosso ‘difficult’ – Sainz
Jun.23 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has admitted staying at Toro Rosso for a fourth consecutive season in 2018 would be “difficult”. The impressive Spaniard has in the past been linked with moves to Renault, Ferrari and most recently McLaren, but Red Bull is insisting his contract be honoured. Sainz confirmed in Azerbaijan: “It’s no secret that […]
Driver atmosphere ‘fine’ at Force India
Jun.23 (GMM) Force India’s drivers insist the atmosphere is “fine” following events in Montreal two weeks ago. In Canada, despite reportedly being asked to move over for his teammate Esteban Ocon, Sergio Perez did not comply. Perez denies a clear team order was actually issued, but he says of the relationship with Frenchman Ocon: “Everything […]
Kaltenborn exit ‘a shame’ – Wehrlein
Jun.23 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein in Baku said it is “a shame” boss Monisha Kaltenborn was ousted from the Sauber team. Sauber’s new owner has rejected rumours F1’s first female team boss lost her job following a dispute over making Wehrlein’s teammate Marcus Ericsson the clear number 1 driver. “I do not want to comment on […]
Williams rules out Honda switch
Jun.23 (GMM) Williams has categorically rejected reports it might become the new works Honda team for 2018. It is believed McLaren will split with the struggling Japanese manufacturer after three hapless years, potentially leaving backmarker Sauber as the only Honda-powered team next season. Williams, however, has been linked with taking over the McLaren deal, but […]
Mercedes has solved tyre trouble – Hembery
Jun.23 (GMM) Mercedes has now solved its early-season tyre problems. That is the view of Pirelli chief Paul Hembery, referring to the way the German team bounced back from Monaco to dominate in Canada two weeks ago. “The hard work paid off,” the Briton told Germany’s Auto Bild. “What they did between Monaco and Canada […]