May 26 (GMM) The next rumour regarding Fernando Alonso’s future has emerged in the Monaco paddock. Earlier, with McLaren’s Zak Brown saying he wants to keep the Spaniard, it emerged that Alonso and Flavio Briatore met with Ferrari officials. But Speed Week now reports that McLaren is considering entering Indycar full time. Another rumour in […]
Category: Recent stories
Baku boss says Miami won’t replace race
May 25 (GMM) Baku race chief Arif Rahimov has denied rumours it might lose its spot on the 2019 calendar to make way for Miami. There have also been rumours Azerbaijan might consider getting out of its current contract. But Rahimov insists that Baku is firmly on the calendar. “We have a contract until 2020,” […]
Pirelli considers name changes for F1 tyres
May 25 (GMM) Pirelli has admitted it could change the way its F1 tyres are named. Currently, the Italian company supplies three out of six available compounds at each grand prix – ‘hard’, ‘medium’, ‘soft’, ‘supersoft’, ‘ultrasoft’ or ‘hypersoft’. They are colour-coded, but some believe the naming system is too complicated. “The FIA and FOM […]
Force India buyout deal ‘is done’ – source
May 25 (GMM) A takeover of the Force India team is still in the works. Earlier, the Silverstone based team considered a name change for 2018, amid rumours a consortium led by British energy drink Rich Energy was in talks. But according to Euronews, the deal is still on and could be completed within weeks. […]
Alonso to Ferrari rumour swirls in Monaco
May 25 (GMM) Fernando Alonso could be plotting a potential return to Ferrari for 2019. While the Spaniard seems happy at McLaren, he has not won a race since leaving Ferrari at the end of 2014. Now a rumour is swirling in the Monaco paddock that, last time out at Barcelona, Alonso’s management supremo Flavio […]
Rosberg still resisting F1 comeback
May 25 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says even driving a formula one car on the streets of Monaco didn’t whet his appetite for a comeback. Ahead of the Monaco GP, the 2016 world champion joined his father Keke for a F1 demonstration run. Asked if it made him consider racing again, the German told Corriere della […]
Bottas wants two-year Mercedes deal
May 25 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has admitted he would like a two-year deal if Mercedes extends his stay beyond 2018. So far, the Finn has been on single-year contracts after he was signed at the eleventh hour to replace Nico Rosberg in 2017. Team boss Toto Wolff said he has been happy with Bottas. “Everyone […]
Raikkonen hints he wants 2019 deal
May 25 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has hinted he wants a new deal at Ferrari for 2019. Charles Leclerc and Daniel Ricciardo are linked with the Finn’s seat, but Sebastian Vettel has made clear he wants his friend Raikkonen to stay. “I think he’s fast enough compared to anyone out there,” the German told La Gazzetta […]
FIA monitoring Ferrari over cheat rumours
May 25 (GMM) The legality of Ferrari’s 2018 car remains under the spotlight. There are suspicions not only about the amount of oil consumed by the turbocharger, but also whether Ferrari is cleverly getting around the rule limiting battery power. Rumours in Monaco suggest the FIA is monitoring the car at Monaco this weekend with […]
Steiner rejects Grosjean axe rumours
May 24 (GMM) Haas boss Gunther Steiner has rejected rumours that say struggling driver Romain Grosjean will be dumped. The Frenchman is having a dire 2018 season and is out of contract at the end of the year. But Steiner said in Monaco there is no truth to the paddock rumours that say Haas is […]
Vettel wants Raikkonen to stay at Ferrari
May 24 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has made clear he wants Kimi Raikkonen to stay as his teammate at Ferrari in 2019. It is rumoured the Maranello team is considering replacing the Finn with either Daniel Ricciardo, Sauber rookie Charles Leclerc or even Lewis Hamilton. Asked if the much-hyped reigning Formula 2 champion and Ferrari junior […]
Williams wants progress by July – Stroll
May 24 (GMM) Williams is hoping to make a mid-season recovery, according to team driver Lance Stroll. The British team’s deputy Claire Williams has refuted rumours that the performance problems are so dire that Williams will fail to put together a full budget for 2019. Canadian Stroll says plans are in the works for a […]
Hartley ‘surprised’ by Toro Rosso axe rumours
May 24 (GMM) Brendon Hartley says rumours of his impending F1 demise “surprised” him. After Barcelona, rumours started doing the rounds that Toro Rosso owner Red Bull was considering ousting the New Zealander and replacing him with Pascal Wehrlein or Antonio Giovinazzi. “I was surprised when I heard that,” Hartley said in Monaco. “I have […]
De Ferran becomes McLaren consultant
May 24 (GMM) Gil de Ferran has returned to formula one. Over a decade ago, the two-time Indycar champion and former Indy 500 winner was the sporting boss at BAR-Honda, but the role was short-lived. Now, he has been signed up by McLaren as an informal consultant. “Gil has so much experience in both Indycar […]
Hypersoft to make Monaco ‘spectacular’ – Ocon
May 24 (GMM) F1 drivers are looking forward to a fun weekend on the streets of Monaco. The Principality is always a challenge, but this year Pirelli has brought its new ‘hypersoft’ tyre, which is tipped to help the drivers smash circuit records. “The speeds will be spectacular,” Force India’s Esteban Ocon predicted. Asked if […]
Magnussen would accept top team move
May 24 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he will look around to see if a move to a top team might be on the cards. Although unpopular among many of his rivals, the Dane has impressed at Haas this year and is outperforming his more highly-paid teammate Romain Grosjean. “I’m happy to be here even if […]
FIA clears up Ferrari oil consumption rumour
May 24 (GMM) F1’s governing body has clarified how oil may be consumed by F1 cars. Earlier, Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda had said the FIA needed to urgently clarify “grey areas”, including a rumour Ferrari illegally consumes oil via the turbo. That had followed a formal letter to the FIA, in which Mercedes asked […]
Struggling Grosjean ‘happy to stay’ at Haas
May 23 (GMM) Romain Grosjean says he is “happy to stay” at Haas beyond the end of his contract this year. But negotiations may be looming at the worst possible time for the Frenchman, as he is in the midst of another career slump and being outshone by his lesser-paid teammate Kevin Magnussen. Grosjean just […]
McLaren denies link to Nicholas Latifi
May 23 (GMM) McLaren has denied any link between its new shareholder and the career of a young Formula 2 driver. Michael Latifi, the father of Force India reserve Nicholas Latifi, has bought 10 per cent of the McLaren Group for almost $270 million. But a team spokesman says the deal is entirely separate to […]
FIA must clarify Ferrari car legality – Lauda
May 23 (GMM) Niki Lauda says the FIA must clear up the uncertainty about Ferrari’s 2018 car. Ferrari, Mercedes’ key championship rival, heads into Monaco amid suggestions it is using more power than is allowed from its battery. And Mercedes is also pressing the FIA to clarify whether the way Ferrari uses its turbocharger complies […]