Oct.30 (GMM) Williams has confirmed that Daniil Kvyat could be in the running for a 2018 seat. As the candidates continue to line up, it becomes increasingly clearer that team boss Paddy Lowe has essentially decided that Felipe Massa will not stay. And the Brazilian veteran is increasingly frustrated about that. “I’m totally happy with […]
Category: Recent stories
Briatore backs Liberty’s budget cap
Oct.30 (GMM) Flavio Briatore thinks F1’s new owners Liberty Media are doing the right thing to modernise the sport. Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne has told the Italian press he is prepared to “fight” for Maranello’s interests, as rumours gain speed of simpler engines, limited budgets and standardised parts to close the field in the future. […]
Marchionne slams Ecclestone ‘hogwash’
Oct.30 (GMM) Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne has hit back at Bernie Ecclestone following the former F1 supremo’s controversial comments of last week. Marchionne said the newly 87-year-old Ecclestone’s claim that Ferrari received help to be more competitive from the former F1 boss, the FIA and even Mercedes is “hogwash”. “I think it’s called pure hogwash,” […]
Hamilton title win ‘very easy’ – Alonso
Oct.30 (GMM) Despite a difficult race in Mexico, Lewis Hamilton cruised to an “easy” championship win in 2017. That is the view of Fernando Alonso, who put up a strong fight against the Briton’s Mercedes on Sunday as Hamilton battled through the pack after a first lap puncture. “I think Lewis now knows how good […]
Force India would release Ocon to Mercedes
Oct.29 (GMM) Force India has acknowledged it may lose Esteban Ocon after 2018. The impressive young Frenchman is staying alongside Sergio Perez next year, but he also remains part of the Mercedes driver programme. And with Valtteri Bottas having struggled at times in the second part of 2017, Mercedes could be looking to replace the […]
Tost, Sainz tip Kvyat to rebuild F1 career
Oct.29 (GMM) Franz Tost and Carlos Sainz have tipped Daniil Kvyat to bounce back from his axe from the Red Bull programme. The young Russian quickly scaled the peak of the energy drink company’s infamous junior programme, but has now joined the scores of others who were ultimately ousted. In contrast, his former teammate Carlos […]
Hamilton ‘best possible ambassador’ for F1 – Carey
Oct.29 (GMM) Chase Carey says he is delighted with the likely outcome of Sunday’s Mexican grand prix. Although Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel could win from pole, it is Mercedes’ Hamilton who is almost guaranteed his fourth career drivers’ title. “He is the best ambassador one can wish for in formula one,” Carey, the new F1 chief […]
Wolff says Ecclestone collusion claims ‘nonsense’
Oct.29 (GMM) Toto Wolff has described as “nonsense” claims that Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA and Mercedes have helped Ferrari to be more competitive. The claims were made this week by none other than former F1 supremo Ecclestone himself, who said all parties benefit from a Ferrari team that is at the front. Christian Horner, the […]
Unwell Magnussen will qualify in Mexico – Steiner
Oct.28 (GMM) Haas boss Gunther Steiner says Kevin Magnussen will be well enough to qualify for the Mexican grand prix on Saturday. On Friday, the FIA excused the Danish driver from the mandatory driver briefing due to a “medical condition”. It is believed Magnussen is unwell with a stomach complaint and must be cleared by […]
Verstappen ‘not worried’ about Red Bull engine future
Oct.28 (GMM) Max Verstappen insists he is “not worried” about Red Bull’s current engine situation. As it stands, Renault is standing by its 2018 commitment to the energy drink owned team, but not promising to supply a power unit beyond that. So it was a surprise in the paddock when Verstappen signed on for three […]
Ecclestone says FIA helped Ferrari to win
Oct.28 (GMM) Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he, the FIA and rival teams would often “help” Ferrari to be more successful in formula one. “F1 is Ferrari, and Ferrari is F1,” the Briton, who turns 87 on Saturday, told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. After the Austin stewards controversy, Max Verstappen’s father Jos […]
Ricciardo in no rush to decide future
Oct.28 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he is calm despite the fact F1’s top three teams appear to have set their direction in terms of drivers for the future. In Austin, the Australian was surprised to learn that Red Bull has locked down F1 sensation Max Verstappen until the end of 2020. So with Lewis Hamilton […]
Gasly, Hartley not guaranteed 2018 seats
Oct.28 (GMM) Toro Rosso looks set to head into the 2018 season with the driver lineup seen at this weekend’s Mexican grand prix. For the first time in Mexico, Pierre Gasly is lining up alongside new Red Bull re-recruit Brendon Hartley. “Both are Red Bull drivers, both are high skilled drivers and we want to […]
Sauber not ready to name 2018 drivers
Oct.28 (GMM) Boss Frederic Vasseur is refusing to say who will drive for Sauber in 2018. According to some, the Swiss team could do a clean sweep and oust both Pascal Wehrlein and Marcus Ericsson. A frontrunner appears to be Charles Leclerc, the GP3 and now Formula 2 champion who is strongly backed by Sauber […]
Four candidates to replace Massa in 2018
Oct.28 (GMM) Including an increasingly impatient Felipe Massa, there are now five serious candidates to be Lance Stroll’s 2018 teammate at Williams. It is believed team co-owner Paddy Lowe in particular is determined to choose between Robert Kubica, Paul di Resta, Pascal Wehrlein and now Daniil Kvyat to replace Brazilian veteran Massa. The newest candidate […]
Alonso not denying Daytona could be Le Mans prelude
Oct.27 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has not denied that his prototype sports car debut next January could be a precursor to also racing at Le Mans in 2018. The Spaniard will drive the LMP2 prototype fielded by McLaren boss Zak Brown’s United Autosports team in the Daytona 24 hour. Asked if that is good preparation for […]
Ocon ups Mexico security after death threats
Oct.27 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has upped his security after receiving death threats ahead of the Mexican grand prix. The Frenchman has been at war this year with his Force India teammate Sergio Perez, who is the local hero of this weekend’s race in Mexico City. And now there are reports that Ocon’s security has been […]
Sainz denies improving image after Renault switch
Oct.27 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has denied he has had to change his personal image after switching from Toro Rosso to Renault. When driving for the Red Bull-owned team, the young Spaniard was mainly seen with scruffy hair, stubble and often a backwards-worn cap. But suddenly, now that he is a works Renault driver, the 23-year-old […]
Grosjean moves on after ‘shutup’ video
Oct.27 (GMM) Romain Grosjean says he has moved on after being told to “shutup” during last Sunday’s US grand prix. The Haas driver has earned a reputation for complaining vociferously on the radio about his car and rivals. In Austin, Grosjean asked to retire the car in the closing stages due to suffering tyre problems, […]
FIA expected Verstappen apology
Oct.27 (GMM) F1’s governing body made clear in Mexico it wanted a public apology from Max Verstappen. A week ago, the Dutch driver was believed to have been referring to Garry Connelly when he said a steward who repeatedly penalises him was a “mongol” and “idiot”. He withdrew the ‘mongol’ insult, but amid reports the […]