Jun.11 (GMM) Toto Wolff has denied Sebastian Vettel gave Ferrari a big head-start in his bid for the 2017 title. With Ferrari revelling on Pirelli’s new tyres and Mercedes often struggling, some see a link between Vettel’s close involvement with the Italian supplier’s 2017 development programme. Mercedes, on the other hand, did most of its […]
Category: Recent stories
Vettel ‘most complete driver’ – Villeneuve
Jun.11 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has tipped Sebastian Vettel to win the 2017 title. Vettel currently leads Lewis Hamilton by 25 points, and although the Mercedes is on pole in Montreal, local hero Villeneuve thinks it will be the Ferrari star who wins his fifth crown in 2017. Why? “Because he has no weaknesses and it […]
Audi in F1 engine talks ‘good’ – boss
Jun.11 (GMM) Audi is no longer ruling out a future in formula one. In past years, the VW brand has given a clearer ‘No’ to speculation it might launch a foray. But recently, Lamborghini chief Stefano Domenicali has been representing Volkswagen and Audi at F1 meetings about the post-2020 engine regulations. However, Audi motor sport […]
Kubica admits dreaming of F1 ‘comeback’
Jun.11 (GMM) Robert Kubica has admitted he is dreaming of a “comeback” in F1. The Pole made a stir with his low-profile Renault test last week, six years after almost severing his arm in a rally crash. Kubica, now 32, insists it was not a publicity stunt. “The approach by Renault was a nice surprise,” […]
Struggling Stroll ‘will find solution’ – Ocon
Jun.11 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has tipped Lance Stroll to “find a solution” to his current troubles in F1. At the seventh round of his new F1 career, 18-year-old Stroll slumped at his home Canadian grand prix, qualifying a full ten places behind Williams teammate Felipe Massa. But Stroll is actually the reigning European F3 champion […]
McLaren urges Vandoorne to ‘adapt’ to F1
Jun.11 (GMM) McLaren has urged Stoffel Vandoorne to “adapt” to his new life in formula one. Entering F1 this year as a highly rated rookie, Belgian Vandoorne has in fact struggled alongside teammate Fernando Alonso so far in 2017. Team boss Eric Boullier told El Pais newspaper: “In the lower categories, the car is the […]
Alonso hits back at Ralf Schumacher amid kart dispute
Jun.11 (GMM) Fernando Alonso and Ralf Schumacher have clashed bitterly over a dispute in the world of top-level kart racing. This weekend, the European karting championship is taking place at Alonso’s own circuit in Spain. Former F1 driver Schumacher is there with his team KSM, and the German admitted he is not liking Alonso’s track […]
Hamilton admits Alonso pairing ‘toxic’
Jun.11 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has admitted his clash with Fernando Alonso at McLaren a decade ago was “personal”. With Spaniard Alonso now on the driver market for 2018, some have linked him with a move to Mercedes. That would reunite the old Alonso-Hamilton partnership of 2007, with Alonso always saying he only clashed with McLaren’s […]
McLaren ‘very competitive’ without Honda – Alonso
Jun.11 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says there is nothing wrong with the McLaren car or his own driving. The Spaniard was happy with his qualifying lap in Montreal, saying it equated to pole when the Honda power deficit was factored in. Amid rumours Honda is 90-100 horse power down, Alonso told Auto Motor und Sport: “I […]
Magnussen caught out by Haas contract
Jun.10 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has admitted he was caught unawares by a hidden detail of his contract with Haas. When the Ferrari-linked American team said recently it would give Antonio Giovinazzi seven Friday practice outings in 2017, it emerged that it will be Magnussen rather than Romain Grosjean making way on all but one occasion. […]
Sirotkin not denying Palmer rumours
Jun.10 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin has refused to deny speculation he is being lined up to replace struggling Jolyon Palmer at Renault. Amid rumours about Briton Palmer’s immediate future, some have suggested Sergio Perez or Fernando Alonso are in the running to replace him in 2018. And if Palmer is more immediately ousted, the team’s Russian […]
F1 heads for ‘twin turbo’ rules in 2021
Jun.10 (GMM) F1 is heading for a V6 twin-turbo engine formula for 2021. That is the news of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, after car manufacturers were told to submit their proposals by the end of May. The report said the general consensus is that after the expiry of the unpopular current ‘power unit’ rules, […]
No Ferrari switch for 2018 – Ricciardo
Jun.10 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has scotched any lingering speculation about the chances of a Ferrari switch for 2018. Amid persistent paddock rumours, Red Bull chiefs have said both the Australian and Max Verstappen are firmly under contract for next year. When asked about that Ferrari gossip, Ricciardo told Corriere della Sera newspaper: “I would like […]
Vandoorne not yet ‘good enough’ – Villeneuve
Jun.10 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne is yet to prove he is “good enough” to thrive in F1. That is the view of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, commenting on the so far disappointing 2017 debut at McLaren-Honda of the Belgian rookie driver. “It’s disappointing,” said the French Canadian, “because he has not once stood up to […]
Rosberg could return to F1 – Wolff
Jun.10 (GMM) Nico Rosberg could one day return to formula one. That is the view of his former Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who admitted to Le Journal de Montreal newspaper that he was shocked when the German announced his retirement shortly after winning the 2016 championship. But “I knew his idea as soon as he […]
Bottas ‘getting under Hamilton’s skin’
Jun.10 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is getting under Lewis Hamilton’s skin at Mercedes. That is the view of Bottas’ Finnish countryman Mika Salo, who is a former F1 driver and now regular FIA steward. After Nico Rosberg’s retirement, Bottas was drafted into the Mercedes lineup from Williams and won his first grand prix recently in Russia. […]
Alonso meets in Montreal with F1 boss Carey
Jun.10 (GMM) After repeating his threat to quit F1, Fernando Alonso sat down with the sport’s new CEO Chase Carey. Alonso, who Carey says is “one of our biggest stars”, warned in Montreal that if Carey follows through with apparent plans to expand the calendar to 25 races, he will quit. Then, Spanish media published […]
McLaren considering ‘all scenarios’ regarding Honda
Jun.10 (GMM) McLaren is considering “all possible scenarios” amid rumours the British team is on the cusp of dumping works engine partner Honda. Team executive Zak Brown this week gave an explosive interview indicating McLaren’s patience is up, while boss Eric Boullier questioned Honda’s “commitment”. Asked how he responds, Honda F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa said […]
Wehrlein ‘100pc’ after doctor checks
Jun.9 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has confirmed reports that he is back to full fitness after his early-season back injury. The German had to miss the start of the 2017 season with fractured vertebrae, and he got another scare in Monaco when his helmet struck the barrier in a clash with Jenson Button. So before he […]
Kubica lost weight for F1 return – report
Jun.9 (GMM) Robert Kubica appears to be serious about a potential return to F1. That is the claim of Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, following the former F1 driver’s surprise Renault test in Valencia this week. Despite earlier saying his 2011 arm injury was permanent, both Renault and the now 32-year-old Pole took the outing […]