Mar.7 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks F1 is heading for a three-team battle in 2018. While some think Mercedes is clearly still in the lead, Ferrari is notably confident and Red Bull is keeping its cards very close to its chest. “Red Bull is the fastest car at the moment but we, Ferrari and them are […]
Month: March 2018
Exhaust-blowing Renault ‘better everywhere’ – Hulkenberg
Mar.7 (GMM) The new Renault car is better in every way, according to driver Nico Hulkenberg. One analysis from the Barcelona testing is that the French works team is ready to step up to become ‘best of the rest’ behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. “I would not call ourselves a secret favourite, but we […]
Toro Rosso giving Honda more ‘freedom’
Mar.7 (GMM) Toro Rosso says it is giving Honda “freedom” to thrive in formula one. After three years of perseverance, McLaren finally called time on its works collaboration with the Japanese carmaker at the end of last season. But the British team is still struggling after switching to Renault power. At the same time, Toro […]
Liberty doesn’t understand F1 technology – Marchionne
Mar.7 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has told Liberty Media to back off and let Ferrari get on with the business of making F1 cars. Recently, the Ferrari president said he disagreed with Liberty’s apparent post-2020 direction for F1 and threatened to quit after 2020. But Marchionne said at the Geneva motor show that he believes a […]
Force India ‘no longer best in midfield’ – Perez
Mar.7 (GMM) Sergio Perez admits Force India’s place at the top of the F1 midfield is currently in doubt. Now five days into winter testing, the Mexican confessed that other midfield teams are currently ahead of the small Silverstone based outfit that for the last two years has been fourth in the world championship. “We […]
Grid girl controversy ‘nonsense’ – Todt
Mar.7 (GMM) Jean Todt has counted himself out of the debate about ‘grid girls’. F1 owner Liberty Media has banned them, replacing the women with children for 2018. FIA president Todt told Auto Bild at the Geneva motor show: “For me it’s no problem. In fact it’s a stupid problem. “I have no desire and […]
Renault teams may use ‘four engine’ approach
Mar.7 (GMM) Renault-powered teams are considering using four engines per driver instead of just three in 2018. The rules have changed over the winter, meaning drivers will be penalised if they use more than three power units across the long 21-race season. But Auto Motor und Sport reports that Renault may advise its teams to […]
Vandoorne concerned as McLaren problems continue
Mar.7 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne has expressed some concern as a difficult winter for McLaren continues. After a troubled opening test, the British team’s new Renault-powered car struck more problems in Barcelona on Tuesday. Some of the blame might be Renault’s, with Red Bull also suffering from a battery problem. “This is a normal process,” argued […]
Sainz arrival made Hulkenberg ‘worry’
Mar.6 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul says Nico Hulkenberg got a wake-up call last year. The German driver began the year as Jolyon Palmer’s teammate, but the Briton was replaced mid-season by Carlos Sainz. “One thing I recall was when we put Carlos in the car,” Renault team boss Abiteboul told Auto Hebdo. “For the first time […]
Carey admits wanting F1 budget cap
Mar.6 (GMM) Chase Carey has admitted Liberty Media is considering imposing a budget cap in formula one. The new F1 owners’ latest moves have prompted Ferrari to threaten to quit, and Mercedes is also vocally troubled. But chief executive Carey says the sport must do something about spiralling costs. “Everyone agrees that it makes no […]
Perez says Alonso’s 2018 schedule ‘impossible’
Mar.6 (GMM) Sergio Perez thinks Fernando Alonso’s racing schedule this year is nigh on “impossible” to manage. Alonso, having last year skipped Monaco to do the Indy 500, is this year combining the F1 calendar with the full world endurance championship including Le Mans. “That’s a really hectic programme,” Force India driver Perez told El […]
Williams denies questioning Mercedes engine parity
Mar.6 (GMM) Williams has denied claims it pushed the FIA to issue a clampdown on how manufacturers like Mercedes supply engines to customer teams. Ahead of the 2018 season, the FIA has told manufacturers that they must supply identical equipment to their engine customers. One rumour was that Williams prompted the FIA to act. But […]
McLaren’s Honda decision ‘hasty’ – Villadelprat
Mar.5 (GMM) Former F1 engineer Joan Villadelprat wonders if McLaren was right to have dumped Honda. Already last week, when Honda’s new works partner Toro Rosso topped the mileage charts in Barcelona, driver Brendon Hartley said McLaren’s decision may have been a “mistake”. And now, Spanish former F1 engineer Villadelprat also doubts the wisdom of […]
Force India takeover talks still on
Mar.5 (GMM) A takeover of the Force India team may still be in the works. In February, reports emerged that talks between the Silverstone based team and a consortium led by British energy drinks company Rich Energy were taking place. But Force India denied a $280 million deal was being discussed. The team insisted there […]
Brawn wants ‘solution’ to Ferrari quit threat
Mar.5 (GMM) Ross Brawn says he will work to “find a solution” that ends Ferrari’s F1 quit threat. Brawn was once the technical boss during Ferrari’s ultra-successful Michael Schumacher era, but now at Liberty Media he is vowing to improve the sport’s racing, spectacle and costs. A row between F1 owner Liberty and Sergio Marchionne […]
‘No excuses’ for Bottas in 2018 – Wolff
Mar.2 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Valtteri Bottas has “no excuses” this year as he pushes for a new Mercedes contract. Bottas had a mixed first year with F1’s top team, but he is aiming for a full title assault in 2018. At the same time, he was only given a new single-year contract. But Bottas […]
Renault pushes FIA to enforce oil burn rules
Mar.2 (GMM) Renault hopes F1’s governing body continues to push to ensure rival manufacturers are not using oil to boost their engines. The French outfit successfully lobbied for tighter rules to enforce the thorny topic. “Much has been done in relation to these loopholes, but we continue to collaborate with the FIA to ensure they […]
Mercedes, Ferrari ‘spectacular’ in 2018 – Sainz
Mar.2 (GMM) Carlos Sainz thinks Mercedes and Ferrari will continue to battle at the front in 2018. Some are predicting that Renault will make a big step forwards this year, and Sainz agrees that the new black and yellow car is working well in Barcelona. “I think there are not many teams besides Mercedes, Ferrari […]
Magnussen to push even harder in 2018
Mar.2 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he will push just as hard in 2018 as he did last year — and perhaps even harder. That is despite the fact the Dane got a reputation among his rivals as the F1 ‘bad boy’ due to some aggressive driving last season. But Magnussen says he will change little […]
Wolff predicts three-way fight in 2018
Mar.2 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton had a few eyebrows raising as the first winter test concluded in Barcelona on Thursday. The Mercedes driver and reigning world champion’s top time had some wondering if Ferrari and Red Bull would be able to keep up in 2018. “If our simulations are right, then there should be a close […]