Jun.18 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has admitted he considered ousting struggling Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley. In past weeks, rumours abounded that the Red Bull consultant was shopping around for an alternative – perhaps Lando Norris or Robert Kubica – to New Zealand rookie Hartley. Marko doesn’t deny it. “If the trajectory had not improved, […]
Category: Recent stories
Liberty must put new rules on table – Marko
Jun.18 (GMM) Red Bull has joined fellow top teams Ferrari and Mercedes in expressing concerns about Liberty Media’s vision of the future beyond 2020. Team official Dr Helmut Marko said Red Bull is “worried” about the details of the planned new era. “We are a little worried,” he admitted to Bild newspaper. “At the beginning […]
Red Bull losing power through fuel – Abiteboul
Jun.18 (GMM) Red Bull’s choice of fuel supplier means it is not maxing out the power of the Renault engine. That is the claim of Cyril Abiteboul, as the long and often troubled Red Bull-Renault partnership enters perhaps its final days. Red Bull is tipped to switch to Honda power for 2019, but is currently […]
Whitmarsh offers to step up amid McLaren crisis
Jun.18 (GMM) Former team boss Martin Whitmarsh has offered to step in amid a reported staff revolt at McLaren. The Daily Mail reports that some McLaren staff, upset about the great British team’s current troubles even after the end of the Honda era, have put together a delegation that is reaching out to Whitmarsh. Whitmarsh […]
Spa, Liberty, sign new three-year deal
Jun.18 (GMM) F1’s popular Belgian grand prix is staying on the calendar. With Liberty Media pushing further into the US and elsewhere, there had been fears some races in Europe might be in danger. But Spa-Francorchamps is safe. L’Echo newspaper reports that a new three-year deal has been signed. “This is a good agreement that […]
Renault won’t sign big name driver – Ghosn
Jun.18 (GMM) Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn says the French manufacturer intends to win in formula one without the biggest budget. Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul recently acknowledged that the Enstone team needs more money to take on the might of Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull. Currently, the target is to gradually catch up over the […]
Newey not denying Renault switch rumours
Jun.18 (GMM) Adrian Newey has declined to confirm or deny rumours he is looking to leave Red Bull. Rumours suggest the famous F1 designer is contemplating an offer from Renault to join the French marque at the end of his current contract later this year. “I still work with Red Bull and, through the partnership […]
Red Bull not caving to Renault ultimatum
Jun.15 (GMM) Red Bull is not caving in to Renault’s pressure to immediately make its choice of engine supplier for 2019. The energy drink owned team wants to finally choose between Renault or Honda power between the forthcoming French and Austrian grands prix. But Renault’s Cyril Abiteboul insists: “In Austria, our offer is not going […]
Liberty Media gives loan to Force India – report
Jun.14 (GMM) Force India, the leading independent F1 team, is struggling for survival. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, following the departure from the Silverstone based team’s board of boss and founder Vijay Mallya. “It doesn’t really have any impact on the team. The day to day operations continue on under […]
Hamilton deal set for Paul Ricard – report
Jun.14 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes may finally be ready to announce the continuation of their marriage. A deal has long been delayed, amid rumours the British driver is seeking more money or a shorter than three-year contract duration. There have even been suggestions he might switch to another team or quit F1 altogether. “I […]
Hankook could replace Pirelli for 2020
Jun.14 (GMM) Hankook has entered the frame as F1’s potential next sole tyre supplier. In 2013, it was reported that the South Korean tyre marque had “several meetings” with then F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone. It came to nothing, but Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims Hankook is once again in the frame. Pirelli’s current […]
Renault out of patience with Red Bull delays
Jun.14 (GMM) With uncertainty looming over Red Bull’s next move, Renault looks to have kept up with Honda’s rate of progress. Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko said after Montreal that Honda, Toro Rosso’s engine partner, stepped forward to the tune of “three tenths” in Canada. But Renault, willing to remain Red Bull’s engine supplier beyond […]
Stationary brand opposes new F1 logo
Jun.13 (GMM) Liberty Media is still racing into trademark trouble over F1’s new logo. In January, F1 business journalist Christian Sylt revealed that the new logo “bears a striking resemblance” to an existing ‘F’ logo already registered by the stationary company 3M for a range of compression tights. “We are looking into this matter further,” […]
Villeneuve slams Lauda over father jibe
Jun.13 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has lashed out not only at Max Verstappen, but also F1 legend Niki Lauda. Villeneuve, the outspoken 1997 world champion, called Verstappen “a child” after the Dutch driver threatened to “head butt” journalists in Montreal. But it was subsequent comments by Lauda that really got Villeneuve fired up. Lauda, a contemporary […]
McLaren would loan Norris to rival team
Jun.13 (GMM) Zak Brown says he would loan Lando Norris to another formula one team for experience. Recently, Formula 2 championship leader Norris – a McLaren junior driver – was linked with a mid-season move to Toro Rosso to replace struggling Brendon Hartley. The rumour was played down, but McLaren executive Brown said that in […]
Zak Brown ‘the right boss’ for Alonso
Jun.13 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he is definitely not done with racing. The Spaniard is a fan of surfing, which explains the origin of his Kimoa lifestyle brand. “I need more free time to practice it,” the McLaren driver told AS newspaper. “Maybe in the future when I retire I can explore it a little […]
Halo, Pirelli adding to overtake problem – Perez
Jun.13 (GMM) Sergio Perez thinks the heavy Halo cockpit protection layout and Pirelli tyres could be adding to F1’s overtaking problem. It is undeniable that last Sunday’s Canadian grand prix on the normally exciting Montreal layout was dull. “We cannot disagree that qualifying in Monaco and Canada were more exciting than the races themselves,” F1 […]
Brown admits Alonso considering F1 future
Jun.12 (GMM) Zak Brown has played down rumours Fernando Alonso will switch full-time to Indycar in 2019. Recently, the McLaren executive headed a delegation to the Indycar race in Detroit, and one notable travel companion was Luis Garcia Abad. He is Alonso’s manager. “I would like to clarify that Luis Garcia Abad was not with […]
Rosberg tells Mercedes to keep drivers
Jun.12 (GMM) Nico Rosberg would advise Mercedes to re-sign both of its drivers for 2019. Both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are out of contract at the end of this season. Rosberg told Turun Sanomat newspaper: “I would keep both. Absolutely! “Lewis and Valtteri work very well together with a high level of performance.” The […]
2019 could be Vettel’s year – Gene
Jun.12 (GMM) 2019 could be Sebastian Vettel’s year to win a fifth world championship. That is the view of long time Ferrari test driver Marc Gene, who was speaking after Vettel won in Montreal and took the championship lead by a point. “The team is young, together and united and working well,” the Spaniard told […]