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 […]
Category: Recent stories
‘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 […]
Ecclestone defends ‘opinions’ after pro-Putin interview
Oct.19 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has defended airing his “opinions” in a controversial interview with Russian state-funded television RT. Just as his sport makes to the trek to Austin for this weekend’s action, the F1 supremo ruffled feathers by publicly backing Russian president Vladimir Putin. “(He is) super. I’m his best supporter,” Ecclestone, 84, said. Putin […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Rosberg says he’s fighting Hamilton, not Vettel
Oct.19 (GMM) According to some, Lewis Hamilton has now established himself as clearly the de-facto ‘number 1’ at Mercedes. Indeed, as that pecking-order appears ever-clearer, all of the fuel of the earlier bitter rivalry between the Briton and Nico Rosberg has now burned out. “I just want to mention what a great teammate Nico is,” […]
Merhi not hitting back at Alonso’s ‘aeroplane’ jibe
Oct.19 (GMM) Roberto Merhi has refused to criticise countryman Fernando Alonso for mocking the British backmarker Manor. With Manor switching to Mercedes power for 2016, a cheeky Alonso recently ridiculed at notion that the F1 minnow might actually beat McLaren-Honda next year. “With total respect for Manor,” the Spaniard said, “I think they can put […]
Marko hopes for Red Bull crisis solution in Austin
Oct.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is hoping a solution to Red Bull’s engine crisis is just around the corner. The energy drink company is splitting with its current partner Renault, but it has hit brick walls in attempting to secure an alternative engine supply from Mercedes or Ferrari for 2016. “At the moment nothing has […]
Manor seat could be too expensive for Wehrlein – Wolff
Oct.19 (GMM) Toto Wolff has repeated his warning that there is no guarantee Pascal Wehrlein will make his F1 debut with Manor next year. Before the newly 21-year-old German wrapped up the DTM championship at the weekend, Mercedes’ Wolff had warned that Manor’s new Mercedes engine deal was no guarantee of a route into F1 […]
Wehrlein to meet Wolff to discuss F1 future
Oct.16 (GMM) Two important meetings that will determine Pascal Wehrlein’s future in formula one are now looming. The first is this weekend at Hockenheim, where the young German will blow out the candles on his 21st birthday cake and charge to become the youngest champion in the history of the German touring car series DTM. […]
Magnussen and McLaren confirm split
Oct.16 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen and McLaren-Honda on Friday confirmed reports in the Danish media that the two sides have split. The Copenhagen Post declared that the young Dane, who made his debut for the Woking team in 2014 but served only as the reserve this year, is “done at McLaren”. It explained that Honda-powered McLaren […]
Raikkonen not ruling out staying beyond 2016
Oct.16 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has not ruled out extending his stay in formula one even beyond the end of 2016. Earlier, the popular Finn’s future beyond this season was clouded as Ferrari reportedly considered replacing him with Williams’ Valtteri Bottas. 35-year-old Raikkonen, however, was ultimately re-signed, and the 2007 world champion has now indicated he […]
Lauda slams Sauber over European Commission complaint
Oct.16 (GMM) Niki Lauda has slammed Sauber after the Swiss team filed a complaint about F1’s governance with the European Commission. Sauber chief Monisha Kaltenborn, backed by the Silverstone based team Force India, argues that Bernie Ecclestone unfairly divided the sport into ‘privileged’ and ‘non-privileged’ teams in the areas of income and rule-making. F1 legend […]
Ferrari vows to veto engine cost cap plans
Oct.16 (GMM) Ferrari has signaled its intention to veto any moves to cap the cost of engines in formula one. In July, it emerged that the FIA planned to cap the cost of a supply of expensive customer ‘power units’ to just EUR 12 million per season, and as little as 8 million for a […]
Magnussen and McLaren to split – reports
Oct.16 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen is splitting with McLaren, two Danish publications report. The 23-year-old has been the Woking team’s reserve driver in 2015, having lost his race seat after just a single season. Dane Magnussen, the son of another former McLaren driver Jan, told the Danish newspaper BT recently: “I am in contact with several […]