Jun.22 (GMM) F1 is creating a fleet of “beautiful” next-generation cars. That is the news from Ferrari’s technical boss James Allison, when speaking about the sweeping new rules for 2017 featuring wider cars and Pirelli tyres. “We made a small step forward already to get rid of the horrible noses that we had a couple […]
Category: Recent stories
Only ‘real’ Hamilton can beat Rosberg – Webber
Jun.21 (GMM) Mark Webber thinks world champion Lewis Hamilton can bounce back and secure his third consecutive title this year. Another another troubled weekend in Baku, Hamilton’s deficit to Nico Rosberg blew back out to 24 points as he declared “It’s looking like a good year for Nico”. But former F1 driver Mark Webber said […]
Rosberg back to winning after helmet change
Jun.21 (GMM) Nico Rosberg put his championship charge back on track in Baku after following Lewis Hamilton’s lead — with his helmet. World champion Hamilton ended his career-long association with Arai helmets last year by switching to Bell, an American manufacturer. His Mercedes teammate Rosberg, however, had won all of his grand prix victories until […]
Imola not determined to shut out Monza – mayor
Jun.21 (GMM) Imola and Monza may be able to peacefully co-exist in F1. That is the claim of Daniele Manca, mayor of the town of Imola, whose local circuit hosted many San Marino grands prix until 2006. Bernie Ecclestone has been in troubled negotiations with Monza over a new contract beyond 2016, with Imola near […]
Kvyat to make ‘own decisions’ on F1 future
Jun.21 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat’s future in F1 is not as secure as that of his current Toro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz. It is believed Sainz is on the cusp of having a one-year contract extension triggered by Toro Rosso owner Red Bull, even though the Spanish daily Marca reports that Renault is also interested in […]
Briatore says Alonso’s McLaren move ‘my fault’
Jun.21 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has hinted for the first time that Fernando Alonso’s move to McLaren-Honda may have been a mistake. The management of Spaniard Alonso’s career is still directed by his former Renault boss Briatore. The 66-year-old Italian told Gr Parlamento Rai radio that Alonso does not regret the five years he spent at […]
No F1 foray for Lamborghini – Domenicali
Jun.21 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has played down any suggestion Lamborghini might enter formula one. “In the short term, no,” said the Italian, who became the Italian sports car marque’s new CEO earlier this year. Domenicali, of course, is best known for his long career in formula one at Ferrari, where between 2008 and 2014 he […]
Ferrari should focus on 2017 and ‘internationalise’
Jun.21 (GMM) Ferrari might be wise to write off 2016 and focus all of its efforts on beating Mercedes next year. That is the view of one section of the Italian press, even though team president Sergio Marchionne said in Baku that the fight for the 2016 crown is still on. But Tuttosport, an Italian […]
Perez not ruling out Ferrari switch
Jun.21 (GMM) Sergio Perez is not dismissing speculation he is in the running to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari for 2017. The Mexican has been showing the way to 2015 Le Mans winner and Force India teammate Nico Hulkenberg this year, and scored two podium finishes in the past three races. “No, I think we’ll […]
Tilke relieved after first Baku race
Jun.20 (GMM) Hermann Tilke has admitted he breathed a sigh of relief once the chequered flag waved on Sunday. The German is F1’s renowned and highly experienced circuit designer, but the wall-lined, high speed Azerbaijan street layout was the most extreme circuit project he has headed. “Of course I was nervous,” Tilke admitted to Auto […]
Mercedes denies Rosberg smarter than Hamilton
Jun.20 (GMM) Mercedes on Monday said it is not right to conclude that Lewis Hamilton struggled with his engine settings in Baku because he is less studious than Nico Rosberg. The story had emerged after the Azerbaijan race, when team chairman Niki Lauda said Rosberg struggled with a similar problem in the race but managed […]
Ferrari in no hurry to decide Raikkonen’s future
Jun.20 (GMM) Ferrari has admitted Kimi Raikkonen’s future remains uncertain beyond the end of his 2016 contract. However, one impeccable source close to the Maranello team insists the Finn looks set to stay. “I can confirm that the renewal of Kimi’s contract is approaching,” Leo Turrini, a well-known Italian blogger, is quoted by the Finnish […]
Sainz waiting for Red Bull’s decision on future
Jun.20 (GMM) Carlos Sainz looks set to stay at Toro Rosso for a third consecutive season in 2017. Amid rumours of interest from Ferrari and Renault, it is believed Red Bull has decided to take up an option on the Spaniard’s contract that will keep him at the Faenza based junior team next year. Red […]
No GP2-like ‘chaos’ for F1 in Baku race
Jun.20 (GMM) After two calamitous GP2 races in Baku, the stage was set for a thrilling and incident-filled inaugural formula one battle on the Azerbaijani streets. But the excitement did not materialise. That was partly due to the fact that, with Ferrari and Red Bull having closed the gap in the previous three races, Mercedes’ […]
Hamilton finds allies in radio rules complaint
Jun.20 (GMM) The big topic after Sunday’s inaugural F1 race in Baku was the controversial limitations on radio traffic between driver and pitwall. As his points comeback faltered on the streets of Azerbaijan, world champion Lewis Hamilton let his frustration show as he grappled with an engine setting problem that Mercedes engineers could not help […]
European Grand Prix – Rosberg wins!
Rosberg wins from Vettel (+16.696), Perez (+25.241), Raikkonen (+33.102), Hamilton (+56.335), Bottas (+1:00.886), Ricciardo (+1:09.229), Verstappen (+1:10.696), Hulkenberg (+1:17.708) and Massa (+1;25.375). Button, Nasr, Grosjean, Magnussen, Palmer, Gutierrez, Ericsson and Haryanto make the rest of the field. Hamilton’s charge from 10th stalled when he encountered an engine setting that he couldn’t figure out and the […]
Marchionne, in Baku, says title ‘wide open’
Jun.19 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne made a surprise appearance in Baku on Sunday and backed Ferrari to push on for the 2016 title. Earlier, at a business event in Venice on Saturday, the Ferrari president sounded critical of the Maurizio Arrivabene-led team in its efforts to give Sebastian Vettel a winning car. But he said in […]
Briatore claims credit for Azerbaijan’s F1 race
Jun.19 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has claimed credit for Azerbaijan’s spectacular street grand prix in Baku. The former Renault boss, who has one of his ultra-expensive ‘Billionaire’ outlets in the old Soviet city, was spotted in the Baku paddock for a brief visit on Saturday. “Without me, there would never have been this grand prix,” the […]
Hamilton leaves Lauda unimpressed in Baku
Jun.19 (GMM) Niki Lauda admitted he was less than impressed with Lewis Hamilton’s performance in Baku qualifying. The reigning world champion dominated the entire weekend on F1’s spectacular new street circuit until Saturday afternoon, which was strewn with errors until he smacked into a wall that leaves him tenth on the grid. “Just an off […]
Marchionne warns 2016 title slipping away
Jun.19 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has warned that time is running out for Ferrari to win the 2016 world championship. Despite urging for early wins this year as well as the title, Ferrari’s new president has seen the opening seven grands prix go past without victory for the Maranello team. A turbo upgrade in Canada looked […]