Jan.15 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne says there is no place at the Italian team for former Ferrari champion Niki Lauda. Lauda achieved great success for Maranello as a driver and later worked as a Ferrari consultant. But the Austrian legend is now a shareholder and team chairman at Mercedes, with his existing contract running until 2020. […]
Month: January 2018
Bottas expects 2018 car to suit him better
Jan.15 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he expects this year’s Mercedes car to suit him better. The Finn arrived at the German team unexpectedly early in 2017, after new world champion Nico Rosberg suddenly quit. “Although very fast, the car was rarely perfect for me,” Bottas now tells Finland’s Turun Sanomat. “But from what I’ve seen […]
‘Fireworks’ expected at F1 meeting
Jan.15 (GMM) An F1 team boss is expecting “fireworks” at a forthcoming meeting. Roger Benoit, the veteran correspondent for the Swiss newspaper Blick, said the 2021 engine rules and income distribution will be discussed at the Thursday meeting. “I expect fireworks,” McLaren boss Zak Brown is quoted as saying. Benoit also said grid rows made […]
Trademark trouble over F1’s new logo
Jan.15 (GMM) F1 is heading for trademark trouble after launching its new official logo. Some fans were dismayed late last season when Liberty Media revealed that it is replacing the sport’s iconic ‘flying F’ logo of the Bernie Ecclestone era. But also dismayed is the stationary company 3M, according to F1 business journalist Christian Sylt. […]
Kubica to be Williams reserve driver – report
Jan.13 (GMM) Williams could be set to announce a reserve driver role for Robert Kubica in 2018. It is now widely accepted in F1 circles that the British team has decided to pair the heavily sponsored Russian Sergey Sirotkin with Lance Stroll this year. “The decision will be very quickly formalised,” the French sports daily […]
Sauber has ‘brand new project’ for 2018 – Vasseur
Jan.12 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur thinks 2018 will be a more competitive year for Sauber. Last year, as the former Renault boss took over at the helm of the Swiss team, Sauber finished dead last in the constructors’ championship. “There was not just one weak point,” Vasseur told France’s Auto Hebdo. “Instead, it was the result […]
Mercedes to keep supporting ousted Wehrlein – Wolff
Jan.12 (GMM) Mercedes will continue to support Pascal Wehrlein, even though there is no place for the ousted Sauber driver on the 2018 grid. As Toto Wolff was campaigning for the 23-year-old to be considered by Williams, he warned that Mercedes cannot financially prop up the German’s place in F1 forever. But after Wehrlein lost […]
F1 to reform rather than axe ‘grid girls’
Jan.11 (GMM) F1’s marketing chief says the sport is considering reforming rather than axing its traditional ‘grid girls’. Recently, F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn said the concept of grid girls was now outdated and under serious review. His comments sparked controversy, but Murray Barnett, Liberty’s sponsorship and marketing chief, said the actual idea is to […]
Money not enough for F1 rookies – Todt
Jan.11 (GMM) A well-known driver manager and team chief says F1 is working to ensure only credible drivers make it to the grid. In recent days, there has been consternation within the F1 world that despite its heritage, Williams will head into 2018 with the pay driver duo of Lance Stroll and Sergey Sirotkin. But […]
Ricciardo would cope with Verstappen tension
Jan.11 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he would “happily” deal with some more internal tension with Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen. Days ago, Dutch youngster Verstappen said that while he and Ricciardo get along, a 2018 championship battle between the pair might add spice to that harmony. “We’ll see if I keep him on my birthday […]
Copenhagen could host F1 race in 2020 – Carey
Jan.11 (GMM) Chase Carey has given Copenhagen the thumbs-up as a potential grand prix venue of the future. The Danish capital is vying to secure a place on the 2020 grid with a city street circuit. “We are very excited to explore the possibility of a race here in Denmark,” F1 chief executive Carey told […]
Bottas training hard to be ‘better person and driver’
Jan.11 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is working hard to be a better driver in 2018. After his first season at Mercedes, and having secured another one-year deal for 2018, the Finn is currently training hard in the ice and snow of his home town Nastola. “I think the balance sheet is a bit up […]
Quadruple champions target Fangio’s five
Jan.11 (GMM) The sport’s two quadruple world champions admit equalling F1 legend Juan Manuel Fangio’s five titles would be a special achievement. Last year, Lewis Hamilton joined Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost in being F1’s only four-time world champions. Now, Hamilton and Vettel are looking ahead to Fangio’s five crowns, which has been bettered only […]
Journalist defends Kubica axe reports
Jan.11 (GMM) A journalist has defended his claim that Williams has definitely decided to sign Sergey Sirotkin instead of Robert Kubica for 2018. Among those reporting the news about Russian Sirotkin’s soon-to-be-announced deal the most confidently in recent days has been British journalist Andrew Benson. He now tells the Polish publication Sportowe Fakty: “The team […]
Red Bull plays down ‘trick’ steering ban
Jan.11 (GMM) Red Bull has played down the impact of a new FIA technical directive. Just before Christmas, F1’s governing body clamped down on a ‘trick’ used by some teams to use clever steering and suspension systems to lower ride height in corners. It is believed Red Bull was the team furthest ahead with this […]
Kvyat to work in Ferrari simulator – spokesman
Jan.11 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat’s new job in formula one will see him work mainly in the Ferrari driver simulator. The famous Italian team has announced that the Russian and Red Bull refugee has been signed up as a development driver. Asked what Kvyat will be doing in 2018, a Ferrari spokesman told Tass news agency: […]
Sponsor issues ‘no comment’ to Sirotkin reports
Jan.10 (GMM) A man close to the negotiations has issued a firm “no comment” on whether Williams’ 2018 driver lineup is now complete. Although Robert Kubica was earlier a popular contender for the seat, it is now firmly believed that Russian Sergey Sirotkin will become Lance Stroll’s teammate this year. However, former F1 driver Mika […]
Magnussen not crucial to Denmark F1 bid
Jan.10 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen’s continuing presence in F1 will help a bid to secure a place on the annual race calendar for Denmark, race officials have admitted. BT newspaper reports that F1 chief executive Chase Carey is meeting with potential race promoters in Copenhagen on Wednesday to discuss a race for 2020. F1’s only Danish […]
Schumacher kart circuit to close
Jan.10 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s famous kart circuit in Kerpen looks set to close. The site, about 30 kilometres from Cologne, has been earmarked for coal mining by the German company RWE from 2020. “There will be no new kart track,” Michael’s brother Ralf, who like the seven time world champion began his racing career in […]
Gelael staying with Toro Rosso in 2018
Jan.10 (GMM) Sean Gelael says he will continue his role with Toro Rosso this year. The 21-year-old, tho is the son of the Indonesian KFC magnate, tested and drove in some Friday practice sessions for the Red Bull-owned team in 2017. “Working with Toro Rosso completely changed my life,” Gelael told Italiaracing. “This year, I […]