Oct.17 (GMM) Pierre Gasly insists he remains in the running to enter formula one in 2017. Earlier, it was said that Daniil Kvyat’s chances of keeping his Toro Rosso seat had risen, because 20-year-old Gasly has had an up-and-down season in GP2 and may not win the title. But the Red Bull-backed Frenchman insisted: “It […]
Category: Recent stories
Wehrlein admits to Force India talks
Oct.17 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has admitted he is in the frame to replace the Renault-bound Nico Hulkenberg for 2017. With his strong Mercedes backing, Wehrlein made his F1 debut this year with Manor, but the Hulkenberg vacancy could now see him move up the grid with another Mercedes-powered team. Asked if Hulkenberg’s seat will be […]
Sauber ‘attractive team’ for 2017 – Nasr
Oct.17 (GMM) Felipe Nasr has hinted that he will stay with Sauber in 2017. Earlier, the Brazilian struggled with the car prepared by the Swiss team, and amid Sauber’s fight for survival he hinted he would take his major Banco do Brasil backing elsewhere. But Sauber has subsequently been financial rescued, and 24-year-old Nasr now […]
Boss confirms no F1 return for BMW
Oct.17 (GMM) BMW has confirmed reports that F1 is definitely out of the short-term picture for the German carmaker. We reported recently that, with BMW having ended its partnership with Sauber after 2009, the marque is now happy with its future in DTM, Le Mans and Formula E. Motor sport boss Jens Marquardt confirmed to […]
Renault could name Hulkenberg teammate in ‘days’ – Vasseur
Oct.17 (GMM) The identity of Nico Hulkenberg’s teammate at Renault next year could be revealed within days. That is the claim of Frederic Vasseur, after Renault announced that current Force India driver Hulkenberg will drive for the French works team in 2017 and beyond. “We believe Nico is among the best of the new generation […]
Hulkenberg signs EUR 18m, 3-year Renault contract
Oct.14 (GMM) Strong rumours are now becoming hard facts, as Nico Hulkenberg looks set to leave Force India and lead the works Renault team from 2017. The major German newspaper Bild is now joining specialist outlets in reporting that the 29-year-old has signed a three-year contract. Reportedly, Hulkenberg could earn EUR 18 million over the […]
Ecclestone kidnapping case goes to court
Oct.14 (GMM) It was “difficult” for Bernie Ecclestone’s wife and mother in law to come face to face with kidnappers in court on Thursday. That was the admission of Ecclestone’s wife Fabiana Flosi, who accompanied her mother Aparecida Schunck to the court session, according to Brazilian television SPTV. In July, Schunck was successfully rescued by […]
2020 contract for Mercedes bosses ‘logical’ – Lauda
Oct.14 (GMM) Mercedes chiefs Niki Lauda and Toto Wolff are in talks to stay with the reigning world champions beyond 2017. Although both Austrians are actually shareholders in the currently dominant German team, their management roles – Wolff as team boss and Lauda as chairman – expire next year. F1 legend Lauda told Osterreich: “Toto […]
Hamilton misses Pirelli test with sore foot
Oct.14 (GMM) This week’s tyre testing shows why the pre-season should be moved from Europe to the Middle East. That is the view of Pirelli boss Paul Hembery, as two factors marred the tyre supplier’s efforts to develop next year’s bigger slicks in Barcelona. Mercedes insisted that both Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton be available […]
Bottas now key to 2017 ‘silly season’ – report
Oct.13 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is now the key to the conclusion of the 2017 driver ‘silly season’. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, even though it might be said that Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg is another key figure. But widespread reports say the German has found a way out of his […]
Long season just ‘part of F1 now’ – Raikkonen
Oct.13 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has given only lukewarm backing to fellow F1 veteran Fernando Alonso’s recent complaint about the long race schedule. Like this year, 21 races have also been scheduled for 2017 but new owners Liberty Media have talked about expanding the calendar even further. “The big point is that we travel too much […]
Ferrari rejects need for English F1 base
Oct.13 (GMM) Piero Ferrari has rejected suggestions the great Maranello team needs to set up a British base. Amid Ferrari’s current struggle to end its decade-long title drought in formula one, figures like Flavio Briatore have suggested the team must set up a design office in the UK. “I would put a nice building in […]
BP eyes $30m F1 sponsorship return – report
Oct.13 (GMM) British oil multinational BP is looking to re-enter formula one as a sponsor. That is the claim of Germany’s authoritative Auto Motor und Sport, referring to the London-headquartered company that has a long history of F1 sponsorship. BP’s first involvement at the pinnacle of motor sport was several decades ago, but the report […]
Rosberg has beaten Hamilton ‘in the head’ – Berger
Oct.13 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is now dominating his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in every way. That is the claim of Gerhard Berger, an F1 legend who earlier this year helped to negotiate German Rosberg’s new Mercedes contract. But the former Ferrari and McLaren driver is not alone in thinking Rosberg is a worthy adversary for […]
Lauda will talk to Hamilton about media blow-up
Oct.12 (GMM) Niki Lauda thinks Lewis Hamilton will be back up to speed in Austin next weekend — even when it comes to his media responsibilities. While his engine was smoking in Malaysia, it was the reigning world champion’s relationship with the press that blew up a week later at Suzuka. He was chided for […]
FIA says teams must settle Bahrain test dispute
Oct.12 (GMM) The FIA has ruled out stepping in to sort out a dispute over the location for winter testing ahead of the new regulations for 2017. While many teams want to simply run in Barcelona as per usual, tyre supplier Pirelli, backed by Mercedes and Ferrari, want testing to take place in Bahrain. That […]
Honda ‘satisfied’ but not happy with 2016 – Hasegawa
Oct.12 (GMM) Honda is “satisfied” rather than “delighted” with the progress it has made in the works collaboration with McLaren in 2016. The Japanese manufacturer has made steady progress this year after a disastrous return to F1 in 2015, although the McLaren-Honda struggled for pace at home at Suzuka. Suzuka aside, Honda’s F1 boss Yusuke […]
Father has fingers crossed for Magnussen’s future
Oct.12 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen’s father has admitted the young Dane could once again be left standing when the ‘silly season’ music ends. The latest authoritative reports suggest that Magnussen, 23, will definitely be ousted by the works Renault team, replacing him and Jolyon Palmer with Nico Hulkenberg and another candidate. The Danish newspaper BT said […]
Ferrari has ‘climate of terror’ in 2016 – Baldisserri
Oct.12 (GMM) The current bosses at Ferrari have cultivated a “climate of terror”, according to former top engineer Luca Baldisserri. The great Italian team, headed in the new era by president Sergio Marchionne and Maurizio Arrivabene, set a title goal for 2016 but Ferrari has instead been overtaken for second place by Red Bull. Baldisserri, […]
Vasseur hints at German, Finn or Russian for 2017
Oct.11 (GMM) Rumours are continuing to swirl about the potential look of Renault’s 2017 driver lineup. Multiple authoritative sources are reporting that Nico Hulkenberg looks set to escape his Force India contract and sign a three-year deal to lead the French works team from the cockpit. It is believed that Renault team boss Frederic Vasseur’s […]