Jun.22 (GMM) New F1 boss Sean Bratches says the sport will continue on the path of switching more coverage to pay TV platforms. In the German media, for instance, it is reported that fevered contract talks are currently taking place between Bratches, who is the sport’s new commercial chief in the post-Bernie Ecclestone era, and […]
Category: Recent stories
Berger’s nephew not confirming Force India news
Jun.22 (GMM) Gerhard Berger’s nephew is not ready to confirm reports he will make his F1 test debut in Hungary. We reported this week that Lucas Auer, whose mother is F1 legend Berger’s sister, could appear for Force India at the post-Hungary young driver test. Auer drives a pink-liveried, BWT-sponsored Mercedes in the German touring […]
Verstappen should ‘keep quiet’ amid rumours
Jun.22 (GMM) A former F1 driver has urged Max Verstappen to “keep quiet” and “not worry”, amid speculation he wants to move on from his current team Red Bull Racing. Although Dr Helmut Marko insists he has the Dutchman firmly under contract, there are rumours Verstappen, 19, is eyeing a move to Ferrari for 2018. […]
Colin Kolles to take over Sauber helm
Jun.22 (GMM) Former Force India boss Colin Kolles is tipped to succeed the ousted Monisha Kaltenborn at the top of the Swiss team Sauber. On Wednesday, amid reports of a dispute about Sauber’s current drivers, it emerged that F1’s first female chief Kaltenborn is leaving the Hinwil team immediately. Pascal Picci, the new Sauber owner […]
Berger’s nephew to make F1 test debut
Jun.21 (GMM) Gerhard Berger’s nephew is set to take a big leap forward in his ambitions to race in F1. 22-year-old Lucas Auer, whose mother is F1 legend Berger’s sister Claudia, is a title contender in the German touring car series DTM this year, driving a Mercedes. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has said Auer has […]
Prost welcomes new F1 team rumours
Jun.21 (GMM) F1 legend Alain Prost has welcomed rumours suggesting an eleventh team could be on the grid in 2018. The quadruple world champion, now an advisor for the Renault works team, told Germany’s Auto Bild the conditions to enter F1 are now better than when his own team went bust in 2001. Prost’s comments […]
McLaren eyeing Sainz as 2018 ‘plan B’ – report
Jun.21 (GMM) McLaren is lining up Carlos Sainz as a ‘plan B’ in the event Fernando Alonso quits the team after 2017. That is the claim of Josep Viaplana, the F1 correspondent for the Spanish sports daily Diario Sport. “Sainz is among the drivers who have made the most progress in recent seasons, despite his […]
Sauber not commenting on McLaren gearbox claims
Jun.21 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn has played down the impact the potential McLaren-Honda split might have on Sauber. Currently, McLaren is Honda’s works team, while Ferrari-powered Sauber is set to become the Japanese marque’s first customer in 2018. But now, it seems possible Sauber could actually be the only Honda-powered team next year, particularly with Williams […]
Russia GP date change due to World Cup
Jun.21 (GMM) Next year’s football World Cup is one reason organisers of the Russian grand prix pushed for a date change for 2018. This year, the Sochi round took place in April, but on next year’s schedule the Russian GP will not happen until almost October. “The initiative to change the timing appeared a few […]
Hamilton could quit F1 after 2017
Jun.21 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is not ruling out quitting F1 at the end of the season. When discussing his eventual ‘legacy’ within the sport in conversation with the FIA magazine Auto, triple world champion Hamilton said he might soon join former teammate Nico Rosberg in retirement. “My destiny is in my own hands,” said the […]
Honda not ruling out F1 help
Jun.21 (GMM) Honda is no longer ruling out accepting help as it looks to finally get up to speed in F1. Until now, the Japanese marque has usually been reluctant to look outside its own company during its three-year struggle so far in collaboration with McLaren. But amid strong rumours of a McLaren-Honda split, the […]
McLaren deal not Mercedes ‘priority’ – Wolff
Jun.21 (GMM) Toto Wolff is still reluctant to talk about the possibility of Mercedes supplying customer engines to McLaren next year. It is now very possible that McLaren and its hapless works supplier Honda will split, and Mercedes has been mentioned as the most likely alternative for the once-great British team. But Mercedes chief Wolff […]
No hurry to sign new Bottas deal – Wolff
Jun.21 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes will “take our time” in deciding whether to keep Valtteri Bottas for 2018. The Finn, currently on just a one year deal following Nico Rosberg’s shock retirement, said this week his goal is to secure a multi-year deal. “Of course there is pressure on him,” team boss Wolff is […]
Carey confident all 21 races set for 2018
Jun.21 (GMM) Chase Carey has played down speculation next year’s 21-race calendar could actually drop to 19 grands prix. Both China and the popular Singapore night race have been marked on the provisional 2018 schedule as “subject to commercial rights holder confirmation”. F1 CEO Carey said: “Our goal is to have the races in Shanghai […]
Carey plays down 2018 ‘triple header’
Jun.21 (GMM) Chase Carey has played down the ‘triple header’ that will take place in F1 next year. On the bustling 21-race calendar for 2018, three events – France, Austria and Britain – will be held on subsequent weekends. Carey, who has replaced Bernie Ecclestone as F1 CEO, said the back-to-back races are to avoid […]
Porsche to attend F1 engine meeting, Austria GP
Jun.20 (GMM) Porsche could be contemplating a future move into formula one. The Volkswagen-owned German sports car maker has just won its third overall victory at Le Mans on the trot — and F1 could now be on the horizon. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Bild, saying Porsche has accepted an invitation to […]
Bottas wants ‘long term’ Mercedes deal
Jun.20 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is balancing his ambitions to win races against his desire to secure a “long term contract” with Mercedes. Having replaced the reigning champion Nico Rosberg this year, Bottas has impressed so far in 2017 and won his first grand prix in Sochi. Now, ahead of this weekend’s race in […]
Vettel defends social media absence
Jun.20 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has defended his decision to keep a low public profile. The German is notoriously private, as he is rarely photographed with his wife and children and has no social media profiles on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. “I just don’t understand why you have to constantly tell everyone what you are doing, […]
Tyre management not among McLaren’s problems
Jun.20 (GMM) Tyre management is not among McLaren’s problems in 2018. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, as the great British team races towards divorce with its hapless works engine partner Honda. McLaren’s actual 2017 chassis, however, is arguably one of the best in the field. One reason for that is […]
Carey ‘proud’ to revive European F1 races
Jun.20 (GMM) F1 chiefs say they are proud to be bringing two traditional European races back to the sport’s calendar. After a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Geneva, the FIA announced that despite their current absence, France and Germany are back for an unprecedented 21-race race schedule for 2018. “We are proud […]