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 […]
Category: Recent stories
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 […]
Ricciardo denies latest Ferrari rumours
Jun.23 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has once again played down rumours connecting him with a move to Ferrari for 2018. Amid the persistent rumours, Red Bull chief Dr Helmut Marko has said repeatedly that both the Australian and Max Verstappen are under firm contract. “I honestly don’t think there is anything (to the rumours),” Ricciardo told […]
Alonso unenthused over Honda upgrade
Jun.23 (GMM) Fernando Alonso does not sound enthused with the news Honda has brought an upgrade for its hapless power unit to Baku. Sources say the improvement is somewhere between 12 and 30 horse power, amid reports Honda’s deficit until now has been close to 100hp. “We lose about three seconds on the straight here,” […]
Bottas has ‘earned’ Mercedes seat – Hamilton
Jun.23 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says Valtteri Bottas has “earned his place” at Mercedes. Team boss Toto Wolff has said that, while happy with the Finn, he is in no rush to extend Bottas’ deal into 2018. Bottas’ teammate, Hamilton, said in Baku: “I honestly think he has earned his place with us. “He’s doing a […]
No contract news in Baku – Vettel
Jun.23 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has no news in Baku about his contractual situation with Ferrari. The championship leader is out of contract at the end of the season, and most tip him to stay with the Italian team. But Vettel said: “Normally, contracts begin on 1 January and end on 31 December. “So probably the […]
No preference for Palmer replacement – Hulkenberg
Jun.23 (GMM) Jolyon Palmer reacted with tetchiness at Baku when asked yet again about his future in F1. Asked what might help to up his performance in 2017, the under-pressure Renault driver said: “No more questions like these.” Rumours are now rife that Renault intends to oust the Briton during the summer break. Sergey Sirotkin, […]
Ferrari takes engine upgrade to Baku
Jun.22 (GMM) Ferrari is taking an engine upgrade to this weekend’s grand prix on the streets of Baku. After the Italian team dominated in Monaco, its title rival Mercedes hit back hard recently with a one-two in Canada. Now, for the unique Azerbaijani venue incorporating a super-long 2 kilometre straight and 370kph top speeds, La […]