Dec.18 (GMM) Toto Wolff insists he does not want to end the controversial rivalry between warring Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. That is despite the fact that he was recently quoted as warning that if the feud gets out of hand and affects team spirit, Mercedes may need to change its lineup. “I […]
Category: Recent stories
Wolff not worried about rivals poaching staff
Dec.18 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he is not worried Mercedes’ success will be eroded by rival teams poaching top staff. When asked about rumours that Ferrari poached five Mercedes engineers as the Italian marque significantly improved its engine last year, he insisted: “That’s nonsense.” But he also admitted that, in light of Mercedes’ utter dominance […]
Vandoorne aims for F1 debut in 2017
Dec.18 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne has acknowledged that his F1 race career will have to wait until 2017 at least. The McLaren-backed Belgian has been dominant en route to becoming the new GP2 champion this year. “There is always pressure,” said the 23-year-old, “because I knew after coming second last year I had to win in […]
Carmen Jorda ‘excited’ about future with Renault
Dec.18 (GMM) Carmen Jorda sounds confident she will remain with Enstone as the current Lotus team transitions to Renault ownership over the winter. Often controversially, the 27-year-old female GP3 driver has been a development driver with Lotus in 2015, travelling the calendar but not actually driving the black and gold car. When asked this week […]
Lowe questions downforce increase for 2017
Dec.18 (GMM) Mercedes is among those who are worried about F1’s expected new rules for 2017. The sport basically agrees that the cars must be more spectacular and faster for the future, but there is disagreement about how that should be achieved. World champion Lewis Hamilton, for one, worries that plans to speed up cornering […]
No Renault ‘fireworks’ in early 2016 – Palmer
Dec.18 (GMM) Jolyon Palmer has warned that Renault may not shine immediately as the carmaker returns to full works status in formula one next year. It was amid Lotus’ financial troubles that the Enstone team’s Friday driver was promoted to a full race seat for 2016. Since the buyout, Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn has cast […]
‘Strange’ that Volkswagen not in F1 – Marchionne
Dec.18 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne, the Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler chief, says he is still urging his Volkswagen counterpart to consider entering formula one. Currently, only four carmakers are on the grid, even though Renault has just stepped up its involvement by buying Lotus and returning to full works status for 2016. “I know Carlos Ghosn,” […]
Monza future brighter as law tweaked
Dec.18 (GMM) In the days before Christmas, good news emerged this week from Italian parliamentary circles. La Repubblica reports that after a marathon 37 hour sitting, the budget committee gave a green light to tweak the ‘Legge di stabilita’ (stability law) that had earlier cast doubt on Monza’s ability to host the Italian grand prix. […]
Renault confident Ilmor help will pay off
Dec.17 (GMM) Renault is confident the involvement of Ilmor, led by the renowned F1 engine guru Mario Illien, will help the French manufacturer as it aims to make a big step forward in 2016. It was at premier customer Red Bull’s behest this year that Illien was drafted onto the project, following early problems. “The […]
Alonso manager responds after Marchionne jibe
Dec.17 (GMM) Two figures have defended Fernando Alonso following a verbal jibe by Ferrari’s new president Sergio Marchionne. Just as Marchionne swept into Maranello last winter, Alonso was racing to the exit, and the new president now says Ferrari could not be happier with the Spaniard’s successor Sebastian Vettel. “In only one year, I can […]
Aston Martin deal unlikely for now – source
Dec.17 (GMM) Aston Martin looks set to shelve for now its plans to enter formula one with Force India. Team owner Vijay Mallya had admitted during October’s Mexican GP weekend that rumours linking Force India with a potential naming sponsorship deal with the British luxury car manufacturer were true. “We are in discussion,” he said, […]
Mercedes was ‘full blast’ for most of 2015 – Wolff
Dec.17 (GMM) Toto Wolff has denied that Mercedes spent much of the 2015 season ‘sandbagging’ to hide its true performance advantage. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo said recently that amid talk Ferrari now seems poised to mount a title challenge for 2016, he thinks Mercedes is still a long way ahead. “Ferrari caught up a little […]
F1 thinks about small teams too much – Alonso
Dec.17 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says whether he stays in F1 beyond his current contract depends on McLaren-Honda’s form and the direction of the sport. The Spaniard, arguably the best and most highly paid driver on the grid, endured a nightmare 2015 after switching from Ferrari, as the new McLaren-Honda union faltered badly. But Alonso swept […]
Montezemolo not sure Alfa Romeo will return
Dec.16 (GMM) The world of F1 should not get too excited about a potential return to the sport of Alfa Romeo, former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has warned. Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler president Sergio Marchionne lit the speculation about the iconic Italian marque when he announced that he is “thinking about its return to […]
Ferrari expects ‘more competitive’ McLaren-Honda
Dec.16 (GMM) Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene has tipped McLaren-Honda to take a clear step forward for 2016. As the iconic partnership reunited this year, McLaren-Honda endured a nightmare campaign and finished the championship ahead only of backmarker Manor. Team supremo Ron Dennis says those in the Woking factory will be working hard this winter. […]
Jock Clear joining Ferrari but not Hoyle
Dec.16 (GMM) Benjamin Hoyle, an engineer at the centre of a new espionage saga in F1, will never be joining Ferrari. That is the claim of Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, a week after it emerged that Mercedes is suing Hoyle for copying confidential data about the German marque’s championship-winning F1 ‘power unit’. Bloomberg news […]
No German GP again in 2017 – Ecclestone
Dec.16 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is not confident about the future of the German grand prix. Just a decade ago, the country was still in the grip of Michael Schumacher fever, which had revolutionised the popularity of F1 in Germany. But even though Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg and Mercedes proudly wave the flag today, spectator numbers […]
F1 figures say Austin uncertainty bad for sport
Dec.16 (GMM) Two more F1 figures say it would not be good for the sport if Austin falls off the 2016 calendar. Although many say the US grand prix is now a highlight of the season, a funding dispute between organisers and the Texas government means Austin has been granted mere provisional status on next […]
Ecclestone must solve engine problem – Marchionne
Dec.15 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne pulled no punches when asked about an apparent ‘war’ with Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA. Recently, the F1 supremo as well as Jean Todt questioned Ferrari’s historic ‘veto’. And the latest exchange is that the Marchionne-led Ferrari is now challenging a “mandate” given to the FIA president and Ecclestone to fix […]
Williams to run Jaguar’s Formula E team
Dec.15 (GMM) F1 team Williams will run a new Formula E outfit for Jaguar Land Rover, the Indian-owned British carmaker. Williams “will be responsible for the operational running of the Jaguar Formula E race team”, the Oxfordshire based team announced on Tuesday. “We are delighted that they have chosen Williams Advanced Engineering as their technical […]