Nov.21 (GMM) F1 looks set to change its official logo for 2018. Since sweeping into the paddock and ousting long-time supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Liberty Media has been making changes. Forbes’ business F1 correspondent Christian Sylt said the next forthcoming change is the arrival of former Fox Sports executive David Hill. And among his touted changes […]
Category: Recent stories
Renault ‘should be better’ in 2018 – Verstappen
Nov.21 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he is not sure how competitive his Red Bull will be in 2018. The Dutchman is in strong form at present, after a shaky start to the new chassis regulations for Red Bull. But the team wants to come out swinging early next year. “It’s still difficult to say what […]
Alonso can win Le Mans on debut – Gene
Nov.21 (GMM) Former F1 driver Marc Gene thinks Fernando Alonso can win next year’s Le Mans on debut. Although a deal is not yet done, Alonso’s test for the only remaining car manufacturer in the world endurance championship – Toyota – indicates that a 2018 seat is likely. Asked if his fellow Spaniard can win […]
Grosjean happy to ‘grow up’ with Haas
Nov.21 (GMM) Romain Grosjean says he is happy at Haas. The Frenchman is often heard complaining about his car on the radio, but he is set to race for the new American team for the third consecutive season in 2018. “We’re growing up together,” Grosjean, 31, told RMC as he talked about his forthcoming cook […]
2021 plan will not entice new engine makers – Abiteboul
Nov.21 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul doubts Liberty’s proposed engine formula for 2021 will entice independent manufacturers onto the grid. One stated aim of the new rules is to allow the likes of Aston Martin, Cosworth, Ilmor or others to be able to enter formula one. But Renault boss Abiteboul doubts the plan will work. “If the […]
Mayor says Sao Paulo not losing grand prix
Nov.20 (GMM) Sao Paulo mayor Joao Doria has dismissed as “speculation” reoprts Interlagos is set to lose the Brazilian grand prix. A cloud was already over the race’s future even before a spate of violent robbery incidents marred the recent 2017 edition. But after that, the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper claimed Florianopolis had been earmarked […]
Alonso admits eyeing Le Mans ‘future’
Nov.20 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he is willing to talk about “the future” with regards to a potential Le Mans foray. Amid rumours he will do the fabled 24 hour endurance race next year, the Spaniard tested Toyota’s LMP1 prototype in Bahrain at the weekend. “Such a car is not only fast but also very […]
Wolff worried about Liberty’s F1 vision
Nov.20 (GMM) Toto Wolff has now joined Niki Lauda in saying he is worried about F1’s future. Lauda, who co-owns the Mercedes team together with Wolff and the German carmaker, recently said he is concerned about Liberty’s vision of the sport’s future. He now tells Brazil’s Globo: “We had to give them time to identify […]
Lauda, Wolff want Hamilton to stay
Nov.20 (GMM) Mercedes has admitted it wants to keep Lewis Hamilton beyond 2018. Some media sources claim the new quadruple world champion is demanding a pay-rise for a new contract in 2019 and beyond. Niki Lauda, the team chairman, thinks Hamilton has driven perfectly this year. “This year, Lewis won the championship for Mercedes, it’s […]
Hartley had 2018 contract for ‘weeks’
Nov.20 (GMM) Brendon Hartley says he has known for “several weeks” that he will be driving for Toro Rosso next year. Earlier, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and the New Zealander insisted they did not know who would drive for the energy drink company’s junior team in 2018. Hartley and Pierre Gasly have now been confirmed. […]
Gov’t not involved in Dutch GP bid yet
Nov.20 (GMM) Dutch sports minister Bruno Bruins says the government will “wait” before getting involved in a grand prix bid. Last week, a feasibility study concluded that there is “no reason” why Zandvoort should not host F1 in the future. But the source Dutch News reports that Bruins told parliament that the study was merely […]
Renault wants to keep same engines in 2021
Nov.20 (GMM) Renault cannot approve of Liberty Media’s vision for the 2021 engine formula until other aspects of the future are also clear. That is the claim of Cyril Abiteboul, the Renault team boss who said he joins Mercedes and Ferrari in currently opposing the plan for substantially different engines. “What we have been presented […]
Hamilton leaves Verstappen ‘perplexed’
Nov.20 (GMM) Max Verstappen says Lewis Hamilton’s off-track behaviour often leaves him “perplexed”. The Red Bull driver told De Telegraaf newspaper that over the course of the last year, he began using social media less and less. “I don’t follow many drivers on social media,” Verstappen revealed. “I follow Daniel (Ricciardo). And Lewis. And Pierre […]
Massa doubts Alonso will win 2018 title
Nov.20 (GMM) Felipe Massa does not think his old Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso will win the title next year. Brazilian Massa is retiring, and he admitted his next move will probably be into Formula E. “I think it’s the most interesting place to compete and win again. It’s the future of the cars we will […]
Honda eyes talks over Liberty’s 2021 engine plan
Nov.17 (GMM) Honda thinks there is “room” to negotiate with F1’s owners about the future of the engine regulations. Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault have made clear their unhappiness with the way Liberty Media announced its unilateral plans for a new engine formula for 2021. Honda, however, has been silent, focusing instead on the end of […]
McLaren ‘open’ to Alonso’s Le Mans foray
Nov.17 (GMM) Zak Brown has given the strongest sign yet that Fernando Alonso will be allowed to contest next year’s fabled Le Mans race. “In an ideal world, we would love Fernando to win the triple crown in a McLaren,” said the British team’s boss. “He’s won Monaco, I think we will go back to […]
Hamilton happier today than a decade ago
Nov.17 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he is so much happier today than he was at the beginning of his F1 career. The Briton has just wrapped up his fourth drivers’ title, telling the Italian magazine Sportweek that he is happier at 32 than when he entered F1 a decade ago. “When I think of how […]
Lowe eyes ‘faster car’ for Williams in 2018
Nov.17 (GMM) Paddy Lowe says he is focused on making the Williams a “faster car” for 2018. After years of success with McLaren and Mercedes, the Briton and technical expert is now a shareholder and boss at Williams. But following a brief renaissance, the once-great British team has more recently slumped again to fifth in […]
Stroll not listening to ‘haters’
Nov.17 (GMM) Lance Stroll says he would give himself “8.5 out of 10” for his rookie season in F1. Actually, the 19-year-old rookie has been roundly criticised this year, including by 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve who doesn’t think Stroll has improved. “Looking at the season, I have to say there have been very challenging […]
Bottas must become F1 ‘killer’ – Wolff
Nov.16 (GMM) Toto Wolff has urged second Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas to become more of an F1 “killer”. After winning his fourth world championship, Lewis Hamilton is being hailed by his Mercedes chiefs. “It’s been rock and roll with Lewis all year round,” team boss Wolff is quoted by Dutch source Formule 1. To La […]