Jun.9 (GMM) Audi is not ruling out entering F1 in time for the new engine regulations in 2021. The German marque has quit Le Mans and is now focused on Formula E, but the Dutch publication Formule 1 claims that a F1 foray is not being ruled out. Indeed, the VW brand recently took part […]
Category: Recent stories
Alonso to Renault would be ‘great’ – Hulkenberg
Jun.9 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he would welcome the arrival of Fernando Alonso at Renault next year. With struggling Jolyon Palmer’s future in doubt, there have been rumours Sergey Sirotkin or even Robert Kubica are in the running to replace him. But another rumour is that former two-time Renault world champion, Alonso, could leave McLaren-Honda […]
Vettel not thinking about title win
Jun.9 (GMM) F1’s title contenders do not want to talk about their championship battle, ahead of the seventh out of 20 races on the 2017 calendar. After six races, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel is leading Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes by 25 races. But German Vettel said in Montreal: “I do not want to think about the […]
Raikkonen not angry after Monaco controversy
Jun.9 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen insists he is not angry following the ‘team orders’ controversy of Monaco. Ferrari did not issue team orders so that Sebastian Vettel won in the Principality, but many suspect the team deliberately shuffled Raikkonen into second place through a less efficient pit strategy. Finn Raikkonen was visibly sour on the podium, […]
Steiner says ‘why not?’ to 25-race plans
Jun.9 (GMM) F1 teams may need to adapt if Liberty Media intends to expand the calendar to as many as 25 races. New F1 CEO Chase Carey has already said next year’s calendar will weigh in at 21 races, but there are rumours of a much longer schedule beyond that. Fernando Alonso, however, has threatened […]
Massa not mourning Ecclestone exit
Jun.9 (GMM) Felipe Massa says he does not mourn the departure from F1’s day to day running of former supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Ecclestone has been critical of the early changes made by his successors Chase Carey, Ross Brawn and Sean Bratches, but F1 veteran Massa said it was a necessary shift. “Don’t get me wrong […]
Vettel plays down Ferrari contract talk
Jun.9 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has played down reports he is under pressure to ink a new Ferrari contract. Reports have suggested team president Sergio Marchionne wants the German to commit to a deal with a significant pay-rise by September’s Italian grand prix. “The contract extension is not an issue at the moment,” Speed Week quotes […]
F1 set to confirm 2029 Montreal contract
Jun.9 (GMM) Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has secured its place on the F1 calendar long into the future. There was already a contract in place until 2025, but La Presse newspaper reports that the deal has now been extended until 2029, at a cost to the local governments of almost $100 million. “The agreement will […]
Red Bull keeping both drivers in 2018
Jun.9 (GMM) Red Bull has dismissed rumours it might make a change to its driver lineup for 2018. Currently, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen drive for the premier energy drink owned team, but rumours of potential moves are always bubbling. However, team boss Christian Horner is quoted by Kleine Zeitung newspaper: “Both have uncomplicated, clean […]
Sainz happy to hear Ferrari rumours
Jun.9 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is still hoping for a future with Red Bull, despite rumours he might be on Ferrari’s wish list for 2018. When told about those Ferrari rumours by Sky Italia, the Spaniard answered: “Thank you, because it’s a list every driver wants to be on. “But I owe a lot […]
Ricciardo hoping for Renault upgrade in Baku
Jun.9 (GMM) Red Bull is in an upbeat mood as it speeds towards the mid-season point in 2017. The former champions started the season off the pace but recent upgrades have narrowed the gap to the leading teams Ferrari and Mercedes. “We should keep closing up now,” Daniel Ricciardo is quoted by Auto Motor und […]
McLaren-Honda could split ‘in two races’ – report
Jun.9 (GMM) The deadlines are now coming thick and fast amid the deteriorating McLaren-Honda relationship. Reports this week suggested McLaren executive Zak Brown has imposed a 90-day deadline for Honda to up its game, but Bild newspaper claims the real ultimatum is much sooner than that. “Bild has learned that if the Japanese do not […]
Lowe exit not cause of Mercedes slump – Wolff
Jun.8 (GMM) Toto Wolff has denied Mercedes’ performance took a hit in 2017 due to the departure of Paddy Lowe. Before the season, technical boss Lowe switched from the triple back-to-back world champions to Williams, and since then Ferrari has pulled out a small lead as the fastest team in F1. When asked if the […]
Vettel is ‘logical’ title favourite – Zanardi
Jun.8 (GMM) Alex Zanardi has joined those who think Ferrari’s decade-long title drought could finally end in 2017. “I do not need a crystal ball to say that Vettel is in the running for the championship,” the former F1 driver and Italian told Corriere dello Sport newspaper. “Sebastian is leading the championship by 25 points […]
Zanardi thinks Kubica return possible
Jun.8 (GMM) Alex Zanardi thinks it is possible Robert Kubica could return to formula one. Not long ago, former Renault and BMW driver Kubica said he thought returning to F1 would be “impossible”, as the disability to his right arm is permanent. “I have to do all of my (arm) movement with my shoulder,” he […]
Mercedes, not Ferrari, using team orders – Surer
Jun.8 (GMM) Marc Surer thinks it is Mercedes, not Ferrari, who have been using ‘team orders’ so far in 2017. As the ‘big two’ teams’ title battle ramps up, some including Lewis Hamilton suspect Kimi Raikkonen was deliberately dropped behind his Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel in Monaco. But Surer, a former F1 driver turned German-language […]
Stroll needs ‘time and patience’ – Bottas
Jun.8 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has joined those who think struggling F1 rookie Lance Stroll needs more time to prove himself. 18-year-old Stroll, derided by some as a ‘pay driver’, has made notable mistakes so far in 2017 and is off the pace of his experienced teammate Felipe Massa. Bottas told Le Journal de Montreal: “It’s […]
McLaren gives Honda Spa deadline – report
Jun.8 (GMM) Speculation McLaren and Honda could be set to split is intensifying ahead of this weekend’s Canadian grand prix. With the Japanese carmaker notably struggling since re-entering F1 with McLaren in 2015, the once-great British team is reportedly now considering breaking its contract and buying Mercedes engines for 2018. Spain’s Marca sports newspaper says […]
Wolff, Daimler slam Mercedes quit rumours
Jun.8 (GMM) Mercedes has reacted angrily to Eddie Jordan’s claim the German carmaker might pull out of formula one. Jordan, a former team owner and boss who is now a controversial broadcaster, told Germany’s Auto Bild in Monaco recently that he thinks Mercedes will quit after next season. A spokesman for Daimler, the Mercedes-Benz parent, […]
Ferrari could win 2017 title – Alesi
Jun.7 (GMM) Jean Alesi thinks it is possible Ferrari will win its first championship for a decade this year. It is now over 20 years since the Frenchman won his first and only grand prix for Ferrari, at the scene of this weekend’s Canadian grand prix in Montreal. Now, Alesi says he is witnessing a […]