Apr.11 (GMM) Niki Lauda has lashed out at Mercedes’ struggling engine rivals, daring them to quit formula one. Although Ferrari has closed the gap in 2015, rival manufacturers Renault and Honda are still struggling to match Mercedes under the new turbo V6 rules. It has led to calls to scrap the hybrid engine formula altogether, […]
Category: Recent stories
Quirky Chinese F1 enthusiasm spills over
Apr.11 (GMM) The quirkiness of the Chinese fans spilled over at the scene of the 2015 race in Shanghai. Even before travelling to the sprawling city, world champion Lewis Hamilton was bracing for the unique fan experience. “I don’t know how they know but from the moment we land at the airport they know we’re […]
Verstappen ‘more Dutch than Belgian’ – father
Apr.11 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father has hit back at claims the 17-year-old is really Belgian. The issue hit the headlines a week ago, when the Toro Rosso rookie’s mother Sophie Kumpen said the Belgian-born driver cannot apply for Dutch nationality until he turns 18 in September. “In the meantime, he is Belgian and nothing else,” […]
Red Bull eyes F1 television rights – rumour
Apr.11 (GMM) Rumours continue to swirl around the future of Red Bull in formula one. The former world champions are struggling so far in 2015, pointing fingers at engine supplier Renault but also grappling with chassis issues. At the same time, the energy drink company is threatening to pull out of the sport. The threats […]
Williams slams Force India over wind tunnel jibe
Apr.11 (GMM) Williams’ Pat Symonds has slammed Force India for dismissing wind tunnels as “dinosaur technology”. Red Bull has controversially proposed that wind tunnels be banned from formula one. It did not receive widespread support, except from the Force India deputy chief Bob Fernley, who said in Malaysia two weeks ago that F1 should move […]
Manor leaving 107pc headache behind – Merhi
Apr.11 (GMM) Manor looks set to put its ‘107 per cent’ headache in the past. That is the claim of Roberto Merhi, who said the struggling former Marussia team is now taking “giant steps” after a stuttering and controversial start to its season. “I am very satisfied with the work we have done,” the rookie […]
Rosberg ‘up to date’ with Hamilton contract talks
Apr.10 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has joined the rest of the F1 world in tracking the saga of world champion Lewis Hamilton’s contract negotiations. “I am keeping up to date,” the Mercedes driver told Germany’s Die Welt newspaper, “as we are talking about who will be in the garage next to me next year.” Hardly anyone […]
Vettel doubted Ferrari seat offer – Arrivabene
Apr.10 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene has admitted Sebastian Vettel was not sure last year if Ferrari’s offer of a race seat was genuine. Ultimately, the former quadruple world champion’s switch from Red Bull has been a fairytale for both sides, as Vettel delivered victory in Malaysia amid shades of the ultra-successful Michael Schumacher era. According to […]
Toro Rosso car ‘as good as Williams’ – Sainz
Apr.10 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says Toro Rosso must capitalise on its strong start to the 2015 season. The Spaniard, and his fellow rookie teammate Max Verstappen, have had a strong start as they currently sitting ahead of McLaren, Lotus, Force India and even the senior team Red Bull in the constructors’ standings. Not only that, […]
Lotus-linked company ‘in liquidation’ – reports
Apr.10 (GMM) There are reports of financial trouble at Lotus’ team owners. The Luxembourg newspaper L’Essentiel reports that Gravity Sport, the driver management arm of Lotus’ team owner Genii, was placed in voluntary administration at the request of its minority shareholder. The minor shareholder has a 33 per cent stake, with the rest held by […]
Hamilton questions F1’s ‘green’ credentials
Apr.10 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has questioned F1’s need to boast its environmental credentials through the engine regulations. Partly to portray a ‘green’ image, the sport last year switched to fuel-restricted, 1.6 litre turbo V6 engines, and Mercedes immediately sped into the lead. Hamilton is now the reigning world champion and 2015 points leader, but he […]
Mateschitz confirms Red Bull quit threat
Apr.10 (GMM) Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz has confirmed the threat to pull his energy drink company out of formula one. His right-hand man and fellow Austrian, Dr Helmut Marko, made the original warning after the Australian grand prix, saying the current rules are preventing the team from ever catching up with its pacesetting rivals. […]
Palmer at Lotus to ‘finance team budget’ – Grosjean
Apr.10 (GMM) As Romain Grosjean sat out Friday practice early in Shanghai, he said he understands the financial pressures on F1 teams. Temporarily in his Lotus cockpit in China is Briton Jolyon Palmer, the reigning GP2 champion and son of the former grand prix driver Jonathan. According to sources, it will not be 24-year-old Palmer’s […]
Williams working to cool 2015 car
Apr.9 (GMM) First, the good news about Valtteri Bottas — he is no longer worried about his bad back. “It is not giving me any more trouble,” the Finn said in Shanghai on Thursday. “With the new seat, I am using different muscles, because the legs are positioned differently.” A bigger problem for Bottas now […]
FIA puts fuel flow spotlight on Ferrari, Mercedes
Apr.9 (GMM) Ferrari and Mercedes will be in the FIA’s spotlight this weekend in China. Some weeks ago, we reported that the governing body had told teams that the fuel flow rules would come under closer scrutiny from the Chinese grand prix. Until now, the rules have been policed with the use of a standard […]
Manor gets ‘2015 programme’ underway – Booth
Apr.9 (GMM) Manor is reportedly looking to get a 2015 car up and running later this season. Newly resurrected after the Marussia collapse, the British backmarker failed to run at all in Australia and then struggled for laps and pace in Malaysia. Now in China, Manor knows its current car – the 2014 machine hurriedly […]
Red Bull switches brakes for China
Apr.9 (GMM) As announced by Dr Helmut Marko after Malaysia, Red Bull has switched brake suppliers for the Chinese grand prix. Sebastian Vettel always disliked the feel of the Hitco brand, so when the German fled to Ferrari over the winter, Red Bull decided to use the brakes for its 2015 car. But in Malaysia, […]
Frustrated Perez braced for 2015 ‘pain’
Apr.9 (GMM) Sergio Perez is bracing to end the ‘pain’ of his current situation. The Mexican on Thursday admitted to feeling frustrated after the early phase of 2015 with the struggling Force India team. He had to sit out most of the winter amid the delayed 2015 car, and is once again now waiting for […]
Ricciardo admits ‘whole package’ below par
Apr.9 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has admitted that Red Bull’s problems run deeper than Renault power. Particularly after Australia, bosses of the former world championship-dominant team pointed the finger angrily at its French engine partner. Renault hit back with equal venom, accusing Red Bull of pedalling “lies” about its only issue in 2015 being the struggling […]
Stevens hoping to race in China
Apr.9 (GMM) Will Stevens is hoping ‘third time’s a charm’ in China. After Manor stayed in the pits in Australia, teammate Roberto Merhi got up and running in Malaysia but British rookie Stevens could not qualify or race due to technical problems. But the 23-year-old Briton, who actually made his grand prix debut for Caterham […]