Oct.21 (GMM) Mercedes is keen and ready in the event that F1 needs to deploy three-car teams as quickly as 2016. That is the admission of Toto Wolff, who sounds even more enthusiastic about expanding the teams already at the front of the grid than helping to resolve the crisis that could leave Red Bull’s […]
Category: Recent stories
Still ‘hope’ for Schumacher recovery – Brawn
Oct.21 (GMM) One of Michael Schumacher’s closest friends and former colleagues says there is still “hope” the F1 legend will recover. As the two-year anniversary of the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver’s horror skiing accident looms, official news about his condition has now completely dried up. The latest media reports indicate that Schumacher, listed at […]
Renault admits Red Bull may not use upgraded engine
Oct.21 (GMM) Renault has admitted that Red Bull may decide against using a once highly-anticipated new specification of engine this weekend in Austin. Although the upgrade had originally been scheduled for Sochi, the French carmaker is finally now ready to debut the new specification, making use of 11 of its 12 available tokens. Renault engine […]
Force India waiting for F1 investigation ‘answer’
Oct.21 (GMM) It may be weeks or months before the European Commission decides whether or not to investigate formula one. The anti-competitive arm of the executive body has confirmed it recently received the formal complaint lodged by disgruntled midfield teams Sauber and Force India. But Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that the EC will […]
Rule tweaks give Honda, Renault ‘room to breathe’ – Wolff
Oct.21 (GMM) Mercedes agreed for F1 to ease its engine development restrictions because the sport needs more competitive teams. That is the claim of Toto Wolff, after a key engine summit in Geneva last week also saw the FIA and Ferrari agree to tweaks that should help struggling Renault and Honda to catch up next […]
Jos thinks son Max is the new ‘Boss’
Oct.21 (GMM) As an F1 driver, he was affectionately known as Jos ‘The Boss’ Verstappen. It was a tribute to his bravery and audacity, particularly when wheel-to-wheel with a rival, and it is in this area that his 18-year-old son is now also turning heads. However, Max’s nerve landed him in the wall in a […]
Red Bull ‘waiting’ for Renault amid engine crisis
Oct.21 (GMM) Red Bull and Renault are still inching closer to divorce, whilst the prospect of reconciliation hangs in the air as a faint sign of hope. That is because, with Mercedes and Ferrari having ruled out ending the Red Bull engine crisis, simply patching up the damaged relationship with Renault could now be the […]
No engine upgrade for Ferrari in Austin
Oct.21 (GMM) Ferrari has decided to postpone the introduction of a new engine specification for now, Italian sources are reporting. Earlier, boss Maurizio Arrivabene admitted there was a possibility the Maranello team would deploy the last of its four upgrade ‘tokens’ ahead of the US grand prix. It is believed the new unit is the […]
Ecclestone could sue Red Bull over F1 exit
Oct.20 (GMM) Red Bull’s rivals, and even F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, have admitted their sympathy for the former champions is low amid the engine supply crisis. Having terminated the deal with Renault prematurely, the energy drink company is saying it will pull both of its teams out of the sport if manufacturers Mercedes or Ferrari […]
Ecclestone, Mosley want Cosworth back in F1
Oct.20 (GMM) The German broadcaster ZDF has published a joint interview involving F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and his old sparring partner Max Mosley. It has reignited speculation as to what the pair might be up to, especially as one source believes Briton Mosley, although long since succeeded by Todt as FIA president, plans to visit […]
Extra exhausts will improve F1 sound – Cowell
Oct.20 (GMM) Mercedes’ engine chief is confident changes to the regulations will turn up the volume for 2016. The mild tones of the sport since the dawning of the new ‘power unit’ era has been highly controversial, with Bernie Ecclestone leading the criticism. “It (the noise problem) was pointed out to me again by some […]
Montoya opposed to covering cockpits
Oct.20 (GMM) Juan Pablo Montoya says he is opposed to the idea of covering the cockpits of open-wheel racing cars. Recent deaths in formula one (Jules Bianchi) and Indycar (Justin Wilson) have ramped up calls for cockpit canopies, covers or cages. Colombian Montoya is a race winner in both categories, and this year finished runner-up […]
‘Good timing’ powered Hamilton titles – Montoya
Oct.20 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s looming back-to-back title triumph is more about “timing” than driving brilliance. That is the claim of former F1 race winner and 2015 Indycar runner-up Juan Pablo Montoya. “It is always the same thing in formula one,” said the Colombian. He admits that Briton Hamilton has done a “good job”, but said […]
Europe still ‘assessing’ F1 teams’ complaint
Oct.20 (GMM) The risk of an investigation into F1’s structure by the European Commission is still hanging over the sport. “We have received a complaint,” a spokesman confirmed to the Telegraph, “and will assess it.” The complaint was lodged recently by Force India and Sauber, two financially-struggling midfield teams who bemoan the unfairness of Bernie […]
Engine manufacturers ‘not interested’ in reducing costs – Todt
Oct.20 (GMM) The only real problem with today’s engine regulations is the cost, according to FIA president Jean Todt. In a joint interview with German broadcaster ZDF, however, Bernie Ecclestone and Todt’s predecessor Max Mosley painted a very different picture. There are rumours that a parallel bi-turbo V6 formula could soon arrive, and F1 supremo […]
Report names Lauda as candidate to replace Ecclestone
Oct.19 (GMM) Niki Lauda, the F1 legend and current Mercedes team chairman, has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Bernie Ecclestone. That is the claim of the Austrian newspaper Osterreich, amid the latest speculation about the impending sale of the sport. F1 supremo Ecclestone caused a stir recently when he announced that the sale […]
Renault delay adds ‘compromises’ to 2016 car – Permane
Oct.19 (GMM) Leading Lotus engineer Alan Permane has admitted every passing day risks adding “compromises” to the design of next year’s car. The troubled Enstone team is in the midst of a long delay as Renault considers turning its ‘letter of intent’ into the French carmaker’s new works team. If it happens, Lotus will need […]
Verstappen leaves options open amid Red Bull crisis
Oct.19 (GMM) An 18-year-old rookie is clearly the hottest property on F1’s driver market. Max Verstappen is under firm contract to Red Bull, but the energy drink company is threatening to pull out of F1 over its engine supply crisis. Verstappen’s father Jos and manager Raymond Vermeulen have already been spotted in conversation with Mercedes, […]
Todt willing to help solve Red Bull crisis
Oct.19 (GMM) Jean Todt has not ruled out getting involved to help keep Red Bull in formula one. The current FIA president is regularly criticised for his low-profile, hands-off approach to F1. And he told the Finnish newspaper Ilta Sanomat that he is not sure whether the energy drink company will pull both of its […]
Saxo Bank, Magnussen linked with Lotus for 2016
Oct.19 (GMM) A Dutch bank’s departing chief is not sure Saxo Bank is going to continue as a sponsor of the Lotus team beyond 2015. Currently, the fate of the entire Enstone team is uncertain, despite Renault having signed a letter signalling its intention to buy the outfit. Amid the uncertainty, Romain Grosjean decided to […]