Apr.17 (GMM) Will Stevens is looking forward to getting at the wheel of an all-new Manor, so that he can race against more than one rival. Currently, the former Marussia team is struggling alone at the back of the grid with a 2014 car hurriedly cobbled together to comply with this year’s rules. “We have […]
Category: Recent stories
Ericsson happy to put Caterham in the past
Apr.17 (GMM) More than a year into his F1 career, Marcus Ericsson is happy to finally have an outlet to show his potential. Last year, the Swede made his debut for the now-defunct backmarker Caterham. “Yes, it’s a big difference,” he said in China, referring to the fact that pundits and fans are finally beginning […]
Alonso, Vettel have ‘number 1’ status – Hamilton
Apr.17 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has denied “ever” asking for number 1 status at a formula one team. With the world champion’s new Mercedes contract now repeatedly delayed, boss Toto Wolff on Thursday denied a sticking point is that Hamilton has asked for preferential status over Nico Rosberg. Hamilton, 30, concurs: “I have never asked to […]
Raikkonen says Ferrari to decide on 2016 ‘option’
Apr.17 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says it is up to Ferrari whether he stays at the Italian team beyond 2015. Reports in recent days have suggested that after his 2014 slump, Raikkonen’s return to form has piqued Ferrari’s interest in keeping him alongside Sebastian Vettel for 2016. The guaranteed two-year term of the 35-year-old’s contract expires […]
Hulkenberg admits to ‘hardest time’ in F1 career
Apr.16 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has admitted he will have to keep treading water at Force India for some weeks to come. “It’s actually quite a difficult situation,” said the German, referring to reports the Silverstone based team will not have its ‘B’ car up and running until Austria. “We are going to have to wait […]
Alonso in top shape for years to come – trainer
Apr.16 (GMM) Fernando Alonso will be in top physical shape for years to come, according to his trainer. After his mysterious Barcelona testing crash and hospitalisation, the Spanish driver admitted he was not fully fit when he returned to the wheel in Malaysia. Following China, 33-year-old Alonso flew to Dubai – where he lives – […]
Ferrari set to shine in Bahrain heat
Apr.16 (GMM) Eyes will be on the skies on Thursday as the F1 world pushes through the Bahrain paddock gates. A top of 34 degrees C is forecast in the island Kingdom, which will be music to the ears of those wearing red. Mercedes bounced back a week ago with a one-two finish, but that […]
Ecclestone approves ‘human rights policy’ for F1
Apr.16 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has made a sharp U-turn on his approach to this year’s Bahrain grand prix. Now some years after the violent civil uprising in the island Kingdom, Bahrain remains a controversial stop on the annual F1 calendar. Indeed, there is still unrest, with reports 21 activists were arrested this week by government […]
Verstappen can be future world champion – Tost
Apr.16 (GMM) Max Verstappen is on the road to becoming world champion. That is the claim of his boss Franz Tost, as others also gush about the early form of F1’s controversial 17-year-old driver. During his commentary in Shanghai last weekend, former F1 driver Martin Brundle said the young Dutchman has signs of following the […]
Mercedes denies blocking engine rule changes
Apr.16 (GMM) Mercedes has hit back at Bernie Ecclestone’s claim the German carmaker is “killing” formula one. The F1 supremo had made the comments in claiming that as he tries to fix the controversial engine regulations, dominant Mercedes is playing a spoiling role. But Niki Lauda, the Mercedes team chairman, takes issue with Ecclestone’s view. […]
Drivers criticise Rosberg for Shanghai spat
Apr.16 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is not backing down after accusing his teammate Lewis Hamilton of driving too slowly en route to victory in China last Sunday. “I said what I felt,” the German told British television Sky, “but I really have put Shanghai behind me now.” Two former F1 drivers, however, say the Mercedes driver […]
Hamilton plays down post-China controversies
Apr.16 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton on Thursday tried to draw a line under two controversies that have been swirling over the past week. The spat with teammate Nico Rosberg, the Mercedes driver said, is now over, after the German had accused Hamilton of spoiling his race in China. “There is no issue between myself and Nico,” […]
Podium model plays down ‘spraygate’
Apr.16 (GMM) ‘Spraygate’ could come to a screeching halt after the podium model at the centre of the saga played down the controversy. Lewis Hamilton came under fire after photographs of him squirting champagne into the face of an uncomfortable-looking woman on the Shanghai podium emerged. But the model at the heart of the controversy, […]
Verstappen not for sale – Marko
Apr.16 (GMM) Max Verstappen is not for sale, Red Bull driver manager Dr Helmut Marko insisted on Thursday. The hype around the 17-year-old sensation is now swirling, particularly after his spectacular drive in China that ended with Renault engine failure. Unfortunately, Renault cannot rule out more of the same problems at Toro Rosso and Red […]
No quick fix for Renault piston fault – report
Apr.15 (GMM) A fault with the piston design of Renault’s 2015 engine has been identified, according to the French broadcaster Canal Plus. Problems across both Renault-powered teams, Red Bull and Toro Rosso, marred the French marque’s weekend in China last weekend. Boss Cyril Abiteboul departed Shanghai saying he hoped a fix could be identified and […]
Stuck slams Ecclestone over German GP demise
Apr.15 (GMM) Racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck has slammed Bernie Ecclestone over the demise of the German grand prix. Stuck, a former F1 driver and now chairman of the German sanctioning body DMSB, admitted to the Austrian broadcaster Servus TV he is angry with the F1 supremo for ruling out a 2015 race at either the […]
McLaren backs under-fire Alonso
Apr.15 (GMM) McLaren is standing firmly behind its new star driver Fernando Alonso. Following his high-profile switch from the now-resurgent Ferrari to struggling McLaren-Honda, the Spaniard has been taking flak in recent days. A presenter for Sky Italia, for instance, has reportedly been suspended for issuing an insulting ‘tweet’ that caused Alonso to ignore the […]
Kolles blasts FIA over F1’s ‘massive problem’
Apr.15 (GMM) Former team boss Colin Kolles has pointed the finger squarely at F1’s governing body over a “massive regulations problem” within the sport. Kolles, formerly in charge at Force India and most recently HRT, agrees with Bernie Ecclestone that formula one needs to urgently rethink its engine rules. The current turbo V6 ‘power unit’ […]
Different dramas for Mercedes’ driving duo
Apr.15 (GMM) Mercedes’ race drivers were dealing with very different dramas in the quick-fire hop between China and Bahrain. For championship leader Lewis Hamilton, it was the manner of his celebrations on the Shanghai podium that drew negative attention. Anti-sexism campaigners objected to photos depicting the reigning world champion spraying champagne into the face of […]
Raikkonen on track for 2016 Ferrari deal – reports
Apr.15 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen is on track to securing a deal to stay at Ferrari beyond 2015. When he rejoined Maranello from Lotus for 2014, the Finn signed a two-year contract. Raikkonen, 35, struggled last year but is happier with this year’s car alongside his new teammate and friend Sebastian Vettel. “I could not imagine […]