Feb.23 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted he is worried about some of the most recent changes in formula one. Recently, Mercedes and Ferrari have clashed with Liberty Media over reported plans for a budget cap and future engine rule changes. But it’s the new Halo that has Mercedes boss Wolff the most appalled. “Give me […]
Category: Recent stories
Wolff hopes for new Hamilton deal in ‘weeks’
Feb.23 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff think they will soon put together a contract beyond 2018 for the four-time world champion. At the launch of Mercedes’ 2018 car, which boss Wolff said is an evolution of last year’s car, he predicted a new Hamilton deal would be decided in “weeks”. “Toto knows there is […]
Renault wants to halve gap to top teams
Feb.22 (GMM) Renault has confirmed reports it has made progress with its F1 engine ahead of the 2018 season. Late last year, the French marque encountered reliability problems and a shortage of parts. But customers Red Bull and McLaren have suggested progress has been made over the winter. “Last year, we could not exhaust the […]
Red Bull airbrushed 2018 car photos – report
Feb.22 (GMM) Red Bull has airbrushed a key detail out of photographs of its new 2018 car. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, who said the team’s interim black and blue launch livery is also an attempt to “camouflage” secrets. Dr Helmut Marko said days ago that while Adrian Newey may […]
Energy drink eyes Force India takeover
Feb.22 (GMM) Force India is in talks to be taken over. British newspapers The Sun and the Daily Mail report that talks are taking place with a consortium led by British energy drink company Rich Energy. The news comes as the Silverstone based team considers changing its name, and amid owner and boss Vijay Mallya’s […]
Kubica still pushing for F1 race comeback
Feb.21 (GMM) Robert Kubica admits he came tantalisingly close to pulling off a fairytale return to formula one for 2018. Instead, Williams opted for the well-sponsored Russian Sergey Sirotkin, although Pole Kubica said his comeback dream is still alive thanks to the reserve and Friday practice role. “For me this is already a return to […]
Liberty risks making F1 ‘Mickey Mouse series’ – Weber
Feb.21 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s former manager is worried Liberty Media risks turning formula one into “a Mickey Mouse series”. Earlier this week, a rumour spread on the internet that Willi Weber, who was Schumacher’s manager as he hit F1’s dizzying heights, had died at the age of 75. Kolner Express newspaper discovered that the rumour […]
Red Bull admits Ricciardo crashed new car
Feb.21 (GMM) Red Bull has admitted Daniel Ricciardo got his and the team’s 2018 season off to a carbon-crunching start. As the team revealed images of the temporary-liveried RB14 on the internet this week, Ricciardo was at Silverstone to shake down the new single seater. “It’s hard to tell from a couple of laps but […]
McLaren set to announce Petrobras deal
Feb.20 (GMM) McLaren is set to announce a sponsorship deal with Petrobras, the state-linked Brazilian oil multinational. According to Grande Premio publication, the deal will be announced on Tuesday but will only actually begin next season — in 2019. And “The agreement will not involve the hiring of a national (Brazilian) driver”, said the report. […]
Alonso defends ‘impossible’ 2018 schedule
Feb.20 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he has no concerns about being able to cope with an unprecedentedly busy racing programme in 2018. Alongside F1’s longest-ever season of 21 races, the Spaniard will contest the full world endurance championship, including fabled Le Mans. Asked if at the age of 36 it might be too much, Alonso […]
Horner admits Red Bull eyeing title
Feb.20 (GMM) Red Bull should be able to take on Mercedes and Ferrari for the 2018 title. That is the view of team boss Christian Horner, after his colleague Dr Helmut Marko this week played down Red Bull’s championship chances. But as the temporary-liveried RB14 was revealed and shaken down on Monday, Horner said: “If […]
Ferrari to be darker red in 2018 – report
Feb.20 (GMM) Ferrari’s 2018 cars will be painted a deeper shade of red than usual. That is the claim of Giorgio Terruzzi, a well-connected Italian journalist writing for Corriere della Sera newspaper. The report came as Red Bull launched its new car on Monday, featuring a striking temporary livery that will likely be replaced by […]
Kaltenborn sets up Formula 4 team
Feb.19 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn is returning to the world of motor racing. The ousted former Sauber boss is setting up a new team to race in the Italian and German Formula 4 series. It’s called KDC Racing, also named after her business partner Emily di Comberti. It will race with a Swiss license and be […]
Williams has ‘no doubts’ about Sirotkin
Feb.19 (GMM) Williams has no doubts Sergey Sirotkin is the right driver for the team. Some believe the British outfit chose the Russian over Robert Kubica or another option for 2018 because of the millions in backing he brings. But boss Claire Williams insisted: “We have been giving young talent a chance for a few […]
Indycar ‘screen’ may be F1 option – Glock
Feb.19 (GMM) Timo Glock says it’s good news that alternatives to the ‘Halo’ cockpit protection system are still being pursued. For 2018, F1 is mandatorily introducing the controversial Halo, which former F1 driver Glock admits is very ugly. “It really affects the aesthetics of the car and that’s a pity,” the German told RTL. “For […]
Rosberg criticises Pirelli approach
Feb.19 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has criticised Pirelli’s approach to the 2018 season. For 2018, the sport’s official tyre supplier has added two new compounds to its range, differentiating the seven tyres with colour coding. Pirelli said recently it considered using the same three colours at every grand prix, but ultimately decided that the spectators could […]
Leclerc relishes F1 debut for ‘Alfa’
Feb.19 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says he is relishing his new role as a works ‘Alfa’ driver. The reigning Formula 2 champion has been signed up for 2018 by Sauber, the Swiss team now run by a boss from his junior days, Frederic Vasseur. “I’ve known Charles since his karting days,” Vasseur told France’s Auto Hebdo. […]
Kubica may add Le Mans to busy 2018 programme
Feb.19 (GMM) Robert Kubica looks set to have a busy year in 2018. Although disappointed to miss out on the Williams race seat, the Pole will be the British team’s reserve driver this year. And Marca newspaper reports that the Pole will test Manor’s LMP1 prototype sports car in Spain this week. Kubica’s F1 programme […]
Marko admits Red Bull-Honda possible for 2019
Feb.19 (GMM) Red Bull will decide in the first half of 2018 whether to switch to Honda power next year. After the McLaren-Honda divorce, the Japanese engine supplier has moved on to Red Bull’s second team, Toro Rosso. Dr Helmut Marko, the Red Bull official, said he has been “positively surprised” with what he has […]
Marko doubts Red Bull will win title
Feb.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull may not be in a position to push for the world championship in 2018. Following the Mercedes versus Ferrari duel for last year’s title, Red Bull tweaked its procedures so that it has a potentially winning car from the first race for 2018. But Marko told Auto […]