Mar.3 (GMM) Force India’s livery could soon turn pink, according to a German source. The specialist publication Auto Bild claims the Silverstone based team is in talks with BWT, an Austrian water technology company. BWT is no stranger to motor racing, having coloured Lucas Auer’s Mercedes DTM car pink from 2015. The company is also […]
Category: Recent stories
Magnussen not commenting on negative report
Mar.3 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has declined to comment directly on reports 2017 is his ‘last chance’ in F1. Last week, a prominent British outlet was highly critical of the Dane, declaring that a ‘third chance’ is rare in F1 — particularly for a driver who left McLaren and then Renault amid acrimony and internal criticism. […]
Pirelli to keep improving wet tyres
Mar.3 (GMM) Pirelli has vowed to keep working on the effectiveness of its wet-weather tyres. On Thursday, the sight of trucks dumping thousands of litres of water on the Barcelona circuit was widely criticised, as F1’s official supplier attempted to test its modified wets for 2017. Some wondered why Pirelli didn’t arrange to run instead […]
McLaren chassis ‘restless’ on track – de la Rosa
Mar.3 (GMM) Honda is having a troubled start to its 2017 season, but the McLaren chassis is also far from perfect. That is the claim of the British team’s former driver Pedro de la Rosa, who has been in Barcelona to take in the opening test of the pre-season. “The McLaren is more nervous than […]
Liberty picks location for new F1 HQ
Mar.3 (GMM) Liberty Media has selected the location of F1’s new official headquarters. When the buyout deal was completed, new CEO Chase Carey announced that ousted Bernie Ecclestone’s current offices in London – where the long-time F1 supremo also lives – are “too small” for the Liberty era. Now, it emerges that F1 will move […]
Red Bull eyes F1 television rights
Mar.3 (GMM) Red Bull could be set to expand its involvement in F1 beyond being a team owner and race promoter. Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper reports that Dietrich Mateschitz’s broadcaster Servus TV is interested in taking over as the holder of Austria’s F1 television rights for 2020. “Generally, formula one is always a topic for us […]
Wolff admits Ferrari ‘really fast’
Mar.3 (GMM) Toto Wolff says it is too soon to say Mercedes is still ahead of the field in 2017. After the first of just two pre-season tests, the conventional wisdom is that Mercedes leads, Ferrari is close behind, and Red Bull is the third force. But Mercedes team boss Wolff said: “Since we have […]
Mercedes still ahead of rivals – Marko
Mar.3 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks Mercedes continues to lead the pack in 2017. Hopes were high that Red Bull or Ferrari would catch up to the reigning world champions thanks to the new regulations, but Marko thinks Mercedes is still ahead. “The driveability of their engine and the packaging are incredible,” the Red Bull […]
Red Bull hopes to join Mercedes-Ferrari battle
Mar.2 (GMM) On the basis of testing so far, 2017 is shaping up as a close battle between Mercedes and Ferrari. Retired reigning world champion Nico Rosberg was at the Barcelona test on Wednesday, and he said that despite his continuing links to Mercedes, he wouldn’t mind if Ferrari’s apparent form rang true in Melbourne […]
FIA to check for ‘illegal’ suspension in Barcelona
Mar.2 (GMM) The FIA is poised to start checking the legality of controversial suspension systems fitted to some 2017 cars. Earlier, as Ferrari in particular presses a case against the legality of Mercedes and Red Bull-like active suspension-mimicking concepts, it emerged that F1’s governing body had issued a new rules clarification. But Auto Motor und […]
FIA confirms Manor will not race in 2017
Mar.2 (GMM) Manor’s dwindling hopes of survival have now faded completely, as the FIA confirmed the collapsed backmarker will not race in 2017. There had been paddock murmurings of an eleventh hour rescue for the financially embattled British team. But F1’s governing body has published a new official entry list that for the first time […]
Verstappen gets F1 abbreviation tweak for 2017
Mar.2 (GMM) A minor tweak has put a smile on Max Verstappen’s face in Barcelona. The Red Bull driver made an application to F1’s governing body to have the ‘VES’ abbreviation of his name for official timing screens changed to ‘VER’. Dutchman Verstappen made his debut in 2015, when Jean-Eric Vergne was already Ferrari’s reserve […]
Stroll denies being out of depth in new F1
Mar.2 (GMM) Williams has defended its rookie Lance Stroll, after the teenage Canadian made three fundamental mistakes in two days of 2017 testing. The most serious was a hit into the barriers on Wednesday which means the team could have to sit out the final day of the first Barcelona test. “I would not call […]
Brawn eyes experimental ‘non-championship’ F1 race
Mar.2 (GMM) Ross Brawn says he would like to introduce an annual ‘non-championship’ race so F1 can experiment with new weekend format ideas. The former Ferrari and Honda chief, attending the Barcelona test, is Bernie Ecclestone’s replacement on the sporting side after the Liberty Media takeover. He said F1 has been too “reactive” in the […]
McLaren-Honda denies wild F1 split rumours
Mar.2 (GMM) McLaren and Honda have both denied wild rumours their troubled works collaboration in F1 could be set to end. Although the partnership is entering its third year, the opening of 2017 testing has been notably troubled as Honda fumbles with its brand new ‘power unit’ design. After an oil tank design flaw was […]
European Commission says F1 investigation still possible
Mar.2 (GMM) The European Commission and a key politician have both confirmed that a potential investigation into F1 has in fact not been ruled out. Several publications this week claimed that a letter from the competition commissioner to Anneliese Dodds showed that an investigation will definitely not take place. But a spokesman for Dodds told […]
Mercedes denies mixing oil with fuel for F1 boost
Mar.1 (GMM) Mercedes has shot down a rumour that a secret of its speed has been uncovered. According to Auto Motor und Sport, Red Bull suspects Mercedes is able to deliver a huge power boost for qualifying because it mixes oil with fuel. But Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff denies that the German marque’s illegal […]
Pirelli happy to deliver on 2017 promises
Mar.1 (GMM) Pirelli is happy it has delivered what F1 requested as the sport looks into its new era. A major part of the laptime boost for 2017 is thanks to Pirelli’s bigger tyres, which are designed to allow the drivers to push rather than nurse heavy degradation. “I drove 20 laps with the soft […]
New Ferrari ‘huge step forward’ – Marchionne
Mar.1 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has broken Ferrari’s media silence to declare the Italian team “optimistic” ahead of the 2017 world championship. The fabled Maranello outfit is in the midst of a bizarre self-imposed news blackout as it tests in Barcelona, where the 2017 car is so far appearing a match for the Mercedes. “We are […]
European politician frustrated over F1 reporting
Mar.1 (GMM) The spokesman for a European politician has expressed frustration with reporting by the F1 media this week. A letter to parliamentarian Anneliese Dodds from the European Commission’s competition commissioner was interpreted by several publications – notably the BBC, City AM and F1 blogger Joe Saward – to mean that an investigation into F1 […]