May 27 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone wants the Italian grand prix to stay on the calendar. That is the claim of Ivan Capelli, a former F1 driver who now represents the organisers of the historic and endangered Monza race. Capelli travelled to Monaco last weekend for key meetings with Bernie Ecclestone, but some reports suggested he […]
Category: Recent stories
Wolff sure Hamilton will trust Mercedes again
May 27 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is not at Brackley this week as Mercedes tackles the bungled mess of the Briton’s Monaco grand prix. The reigning world champion was dominant all weekend in the Principality, but is now having to get over the anger and disappointment of not winning by relaxing on a luxury yacht. Hamilton […]
Hakkinen defends Verstappen after Monaco crash
May 27 (GMM) Mika Hakkinen has leapt to Max Verstappen’s defence after his high-speed crash at Monaco. Critics blasted teenager Verstappen’s young age and inexperience after the frightening Ste Devote crash, and the FIA issued a five-place grid demotion for Canada and added two penalty points to his super licence. 17-year-old Verstappen, however, claimed on […]
Ferrari already looking ahead to 2016
May 27 (GMM) Ferrari might already be looking ahead to 2016. Although the Italian team has taken a big step forward this year, La Gazzetta dello Sport claims boss Maurizio Arrivabene could now have acknowledged that the potential of the current SF15-T car is limited. “We were unable to change everything in three months,” he […]
New Sauber drivers have better attitude – boss
May 27 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn has fired a shot at Sauber’s former race drivers. For 2015, the Swiss team dispensed with its 2014 lineup of Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez, instead signing Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson. Nasr and Ericsson have been described as ‘pay drivers’ who are now helping to finance the struggling Hinwil […]
Democracy at the cost of ‘entertainment’ – Ecclestone
May 26 (GMM) F1’s switch to “democracy” has been at the cost of “entertainment”. That is the view of the sport’s supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who is not hiding his frustration at being unable to tweak the current rulebook. “Would I like to change something? I would like to change a lot of things!” he told […]
International press slams Mercedes ‘absurdity’
May 26 (GMM) The international media joined British journalists in condemning Mercedes’ blundering strategy error that cost Lewis Hamilton victory in Monaco. The reaction of the British media corps was predictable, with the Times summing up the mood by blasting the “supposedly intelligent men” who “abandoned their senses” in calling Hamilton in for a fateful […]
No celebrations after first points – McLaren
May 26 (GMM) There were no celebrations on Sunday despite a major breakthrough for the burgeoning McLaren-Honda project. Six difficult races into the new Anglo-Japanese works era, Jenson Button scored the MP4-30’s first points at no less a venue than fabled Monaco. But team boss Eric Boullier said no champagne was sprayed in the garage. […]
Williams must fix Monaco slump – Bottas
May 26 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has urged Williams to get to the bottom of its Monaco slump. The British team’s dip in performance last weekend came at an awkward time, as Bottas is being strongly linked with a move elsewhere, possibly to Ferrari. “We must learn from this weekend,” the 25-year-old driver said, after an […]
No crisis in formula one – Todt
May 26 (GMM) FIA president Jean Todt has denied the need to radically shake up formula one. The overwhelming message from the F1 paddock in recent weeks has been that of a self-made ‘crisis’, as Mercedes dominates, audiences decline and small teams risk collapse. Todt, a low-profile figure since taking over from the more confrontational […]
Pirelli wary of being ‘out-bid’ for tyre contract
May 26 (GMM) Pirelli is “open” to going to war with a rival tyre manufacturer like Michelin. That is the claim of the Italian company’s chief Marco Tronchetti Provera. On a rare paddock visit in Monaco, he confirmed that Pirelli is applying to keep its role beyond 2016 as the sport’s sole tyre supplier. It […]
No ‘gift win’ to repay Hamilton – Wolff
May 26 (GMM) Toto Wolff has ruled out taking drastic measures as Mercedes analyses what went wrong in Monaco. The German giant’s team boss has already said those responsible for Sunday’s strategy blunder will not pay with their jobs. And now he says Lewis Hamilton will not be paid back for losing the prestigious Monaco […]
Wolff hopes ‘grid girls’ return
May 26 (GMM) F1 does not need to make a habit of replacing the traditional ‘grid girls’. That is the view of Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, after Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel admitted his surprise on Sunday at having pulled up to find “George or Dave” holding his grid board. “I’ll speak with Bernie (Ecclestone) […]
Rookie Nasr joins criticism of Verstappen
May 26 (GMM) Felipe Nasr has joined the chorus of criticism of F1 teenager Max Verstappen. Since controversially debuting as a 17-year-old this year, Verstappen has on one hand been hailed for his talent but simultaneously condemned for his age and lack of experience. Bernie Ecclestone, however, has been a vocal supporter. “It is like […]
Hamilton ‘more dangerous’ after Monaco saga – Rosberg
May 26 (GMM) Nico Rosberg admits he needs to up his game in order to beat teammate Lewis Hamilton to the 2015 title. The German was ecstatic on Sunday after winning a third consecutive Monaco grand prix, and it was also his first ever back-to-back win in his long career. On the fact of it, […]
Schumacher began ‘modern driver’ era – Ecclestone
May 26 (GMM) It was Michael Schumacher who kicked off the era of the ‘modern driver’. That is the view of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, following his widely-published comments about Nico Rosberg not being as ‘good for business’ as the more flamboyant Lewis Hamilton. Indeed, Hamilton’s latest press coverage is expected to thrill the 84-year-old […]
Red Bull not expecting to keep Monaco form
May 26 (GMM) Red Bull is not expecting to burst back into podium contention after a stronger weekend in Monaco. Just behind the top three on Sunday was the Red Bull duo of Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo — a clear step forward for the former champions after a bad start to the season. “I […]
Merhi cementing place at Manor in 2015
May 26 (GMM) Roberto Merhi looks to be cementing his place at the Manor team. In the days before Monaco, team chiefs were still admitting that the Spaniard might at some point be unseated. Unlike his full-time teammate Will Stevens, Spaniard Merhi is not substantially sponsored, with some reports saying he has been paid only […]
Champions unhappy with stewards after Monaco clashes
May 25 (GMM) Two champions left Monaco on Sunday admitting their displeasure with the FIA stewards. McLaren’s Fernando Alonso said he was unhappy for being given a five-second timed penalty for his collision with Nico Hulkenberg. The clash ended Hulkenberg’s race, but the Force India driver said: “For me, it’s racing. “That’s just first-lap fighting, […]
Mercedes on track to master ‘four engine’ rule
May 25 (GMM) Mercedes is right on track to master the tough new ‘four engines per driver’ rule in 2015. There had been moves recently to increase the controversial allocation to five engines, but in truth, dominant Mercedes could probably make do with just three turbo V6 ‘power units’ apiece for Lewis Hamilton and Nico […]