Nov.9 (GMM) Nico Rosberg does not yet have the 2016 title in the bag, according to former world champion Jacques Villeneuve. German Rosberg is, however, within striking distance of beating Lewis Hamilton, because a repeat of his 2015 win at Interlagos this weekend will see him wear the crown. “For the moment, things are going […]
Category: Recent stories
Vettel knew Ferrari would be challenging – Brawn
Nov.9 (GMM) Ferrari’s path back to victory requires “stability”, according to the famous team’s former technical boss Ross Brawn. Brawn was a key part of the great Maranello marque’s ultra-successful Michael Schumacher era, but Ferrari is now struggling amid what some sections of the Italian media regard as nothing short of ‘crisis’. “The last few […]
Mateschitz denies F1 quit threats were serious
Nov.8 (GMM) Dietrich Mateschitz has denied that Red Bull ever seriously contemplated pulling out of F1. A year ago, the energy drink brand’s billionaire mogul threatened to withdraw both of his teams from the sport amid Mercedes’ dominance and a struggle to find an engine supplier for 2016. But when asked by the Spanish sports […]
Ferrari stays on ‘road to recovery’ – Marchionne
Nov.8 (GMM) Ferrari is determined to improve for 2017, according to president Sergio Marchionne. It has been a difficult season for the fabled Scuderia, with its failed title bid summed up by Sebastian Vettel’s foul-mouthed radio calls of Mexico. But amid the criticism, former Ferrari boss Cesare Fiorio said: “Vettel’s reaction in Mexico was understandable. […]
Ocon signs with Force India – commentator
Nov.8 (GMM) The rest of the 2017 grid looks set to lock into place in the coming days. Brazil’s SporTV, headed by F1 commentator Lito Cavalcanti, claims that Esteban Ocon has now been signed up for the 2017 season by Force India. That will be good news for Renault’s Kevin Magnussen, as the Mercedes and […]
Rosberg keeping eyes off the prize in Brazil
Nov.8 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is determined to keep his eyes off the prize as he charges for the world championship this weekend in Brazil. While teammate Lewis Hamilton is back in top form, it is Mercedes’ German driver who can mathematically clinch the title simply by winning at Interlagos. But Rosberg has had a sharp […]
Silverstone buyout bidders pull out – report
Nov.8 (GMM) The future of the British grand prix could be in tatters, in light of the latest news emerging from circuit owner the BRDC. F1 business journalist Christian Sylt reports that two bidders, Jaguar and Laurence Tomlinson, have withdrawn their candidature to buy the historic Silverstone track. “Their decisions come at a critical time […]
Alonso ‘nicer in front than behind’ – Massa
Nov.8 (GMM) Retiring F1 veteran Felipe Massa will contest his last home grand prix at Interlagos this weekend. Ahead of his long career’s penultimate F1 race, the 35-year-old appeared on the Fox Nitro programme and admitted money was his biggest early obstacle in motor racing. “In Formula Renault I only had six races and the […]
UK launches probe into Liberty takeover
Nov.8 (GMM) The UK government has launched an investigation into the takeover of F1 by American tycoon John Malone’s Liberty Media. Bernie Ecclestone said last week that the takeover is in fact not yet complete. And it may not be for some time yet, with the British government department the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) […]
Audi’s Jorg Zander to join Sauber – report
Nov.7 (GMM) Audi’s withdrawal from Le Mans is a blessing in disguise for Sauber. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, even though Audi’s world endurance championship programme was the exclusive client of the Swiss F1 team’s state-of-the-art wind tunnel in Hinwil. That exclusive deal is now ending, but Audi will reportedly […]
No problem with ‘rebel’ Verstappen – Hulkenberg
Nov.7 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he has little problem with F1’s “rebel” Max Verstappen. 19-year-old Dutchman Verstappen is making waves among the sport’s rule makers and his fellow drivers for a spate of aggressive driving. But German driver Hulkenberg told the Dutch talk show Pauw: “Max is a bit of a rebel at the moment. […]
Stroll helps embattled Canada GP – promoter
Nov.7 (GMM) Lance Stroll is a timely shot of good news for the embattled Canadian grand prix. That is the view of Montreal race promoter Francois Dumontier, who is currently in talks with Bernie Ecclestone about the event’s mere provisional status on the 2017 calendar. The 2017 race is reportedly uncertain due to delays in […]
Gasly made too many mistakes – Marko
Nov.7 (GMM) Pierre Gasly’s failure to win the GP2 championship partly explains his failure to break into F1 for 2017. That is the hint of Dr Helmut Marko, the architect of Red Bull’s F1 driver programme who recently decided to keep Daniil Kvyat alongside Carlos Sainz at the junior team Toro Rosso for another year. […]
McLaren risks losing Alonso – Ramirez
Nov.7 (GMM) McLaren-Honda risks losing Fernando Alonso if the team cannot significantly up its game. That is the view of the famous British team’s well-known former team coordinator Jo Ramirez. “It’s still painful,” the 75-year-old told Spanish sports daily AS. “McLaren’s evolution is good but it’s too slow. “They’re losing sponsors and will lose Alonso […]
FIA rejects push for more gravel traps
Nov.7 (GMM) The FIA has reportedly rejected calls for asphalt and grass run-off areas to be replaced with gravel. In Mexico, only Max Verstappen was penalised for cutting the first corner, even though championship chaser Lewis Hamilton did the same thing. The ensuing debate was actually timely, given Bernie Ecclestone’s contentious argument that track limits […]
Bottas denies being Williams team leader
Nov.7 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has played down suggestions his job description is fundamentally changing for 2017. Ever since debuting for Williams in 2013, the Finn has had a more experienced teammate, most recently the Ferrari veteran Felipe Massa. But Massa is being replaced by teenager Lance Stroll for 2017; the second-youngest rookie in F1 history. […]
Verstappen slams F1 rule ‘double standards’
Nov.7 (GMM) Max Verstappen has hit out at “ridiculous” F1 rules. Amid the controversy about the young Dutchman’s aggressive driving, the Red Bull driver defended his style. “Many drivers had a problem with the way I defended under braking,” Verstappen said, referring to his dice with Lewis Hamilton at Suzuka. “There was a demand for […]
F1 will show Stroll how to suffer – Villeneuve
Nov.7 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has warned countryman Lance Stroll that his toughest challenges lie ahead in F1. Just like Villeneuve in 1996, Stroll is a young Canadian with a famous father who is set to break into formula one with the British team Williams. But Villeneuve, now 45, is in fact a regular critic of […]
Brawn to be new F1 supremo ‘nonsense’ – Ecclestone
Nov.4 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has moved to put a lid on speculation he is about to lose his spot at the very top of F1. Reports this week suggested former Ferrari and Mercedes chief Ross Brawn has been lined up by new F1 owner Liberty Media to be the sport’s new sporting CEO. The 61-year-old […]
Frank Williams out of hospital
Nov.4 (GMM) Sir Frank Williams is now out of hospital after a long illness. It emerged last weekend that the 74-year-old, perhaps the oldest living tetraplegic following his 1986 car crash, was suffering from pneumonia. Team officials admitted founder and boss Williams had been in hospital since falling ill at the Italian grand prix in […]