Mar.9 (GMM) Now just days before the start of the season, the now-rampant doubts about Fernando Alonso’s mysterious testing crash will not go away. Previously, suggestions there is more than meets the eye to what McLaren-Honda called a “normal” crash and concussion for the Spaniard were dismissed as mere conspiracy theories. On Twitter, Alonso called […]
Category: Recent stories
Hamilton focused despite Scherzinger split
Mar.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has played down any suggestion his split from long-time girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger could affect his performance in 2015. In the past, the often controversial and emotional Briton’s personal struggles have arguably interfered with his focus on formula one. So his latest split from Scherzinger might give his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg […]
Hamilton linked with Ferrari switch
Mar.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton claims his fans in Italy urge him to join Ferrari. The reigning world champion and Mercedes claim they are now close to a deal to extend the 30-year-old’s contract beyond 2015. But the long-delayed deal is still not done, triggering rumours boss Toto Wolff is reluctant to agree to the British […]
McLaren-Honda in ‘terrible trouble’ – Brundle
Mar.9 (GMM) McLaren-Honda has found itself in “terrible trouble” ahead of the 2015 season. That is the view of former team driver Martin Brundle, observing that McLaren has struggled simply to run its newly works Honda-powered MP4-30 in testing. Not only that, star recruit Fernando Alonso is missing the Melbourne season opener, amid rampant speculation […]
Big Mercedes gap means no team orders – Villeneuve
Mar.9 (GMM) At least one seasoned observer is happy Mercedes’ advantage appears overwhelming in 2015. It is Jacques Villeneuve, who is quoted by Italian publications as saying the German marque’s advantage of 2014 was too big for its rivals to track down in just a single winter. So he is happy, therefore, that the gap […]
Signing Raikkonen was ‘right decision’ – Domenicali
Mar.9 (GMM) Former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali insists Kimi Raikkonen was the right choice for the Maranello team. Although ousted last year, it was Domenicali who signed Raikkonen to be Fernando Alonso’s teammate in 2014. The Finn struggled alongside the Spaniard, but his contract for 2015 has been honoured and this year Raikkonen is paired […]
Ferrari takes ‘conservative’ engine to Aus – report
Mar.9 (GMM) Ferrari is travelling to Australia early this week with a few less horse power in the luggage. The Italian team was arguably the surprise of the 2015 pre-season, with much of its improved pace credited to a much better turbo V6 ‘power unit’. But the authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport reveals that Ferrari […]
Taxman voted against Manor return – report
Mar.9 (GMM) The British government did not support Marussia’s F1 revival. Now reborn as Manor Marussia, the outfit is touching down in Melbourne this week having emerged from administration thanks to support from creditors including McLaren and Ferrari. But another creditor, according to the Telegraph newspaper, is the UK tax collector HM Revenue and Customs. […]
Judge delays ruling in van der Garde case
Mar.9 (GMM) A Melbourne court on Monday postponed its ruling in a case brought by Dutch driver Giedo van der Garde. The 29-year-old asked the Victorian supreme court to enforce a recent arbitration ruling in Switzerland, having found that van der Garde’s contract to race with Sauber this year is valid. Sauber’s lawyer on Monday […]
Now Wurz plays down boycott rumours
Mar.8 (GMM) Alex Wurz has joined Australian grand prix organisers in playing down the threat of boycott. Wild reports had suggested teams were nervous about the safety implications of Fernando Alonso’s mysterious Barcelona testing crash. Then it emerged that Grand Prix Drivers’ Association president Alex Wurz had circulated a letter to the active drivers about […]
Button considered 2016 Olympic bid
Mar.8 (GMM) Jenson Button has admitted he thought about quitting formula one to launch a quest for the Olympics. As his F1 seat hung in the balance at McLaren last year, the Briton said at the time he took the opportunity to assess if he even wanted to extend his 15-year run into the 2016 […]
Ecclestone sure Mercedes will win 2015 title
Mar.8 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he has no doubt who will win the 2015 world championship. “Yes. I would put everything I own on it,” the British billionaire told the German newspaper Welt. He is referring to the occupant of a works silver Mercedes. Ecclestone says the turbo V6 ‘power unit’ rules he so despises […]
Hamilton in ‘final stages’ of contract talks
Mar.8 (GMM) As he touched down in Australia to begin his title defence, Lewis Hamilton admitted he is close to agreeing a deal to stay at Mercedes beyond 2015. It is bad news for his rivals, as the Briton apparently hit back at rumours that while his new Mercedes is fast, it may be difficult […]
Villeneuve slams Alonso for lack of Ferrari ‘respect’
Mar.8 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has sided firmly with Ferrari after F1’s highest profile driver move. Over the winter, Fernando Alonso left the Maranello team and joined McLaren-Honda, who have struggled simply to run the new MP4-30 car. And the Spaniard is now recovering from his mysterious Barcelona testing crash. Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, says […]
Ecclestone admits EUR 15m ‘plan B’ for small teams
Mar.8 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he devised a contingency plan for F1’s most struggling teams. Earlier, amid Marussia and Caterham’s decline and the similar financial issues of even bigger teams, it was reported that the F1 supremo was working on a ‘plan B’. It would involve a kind of ‘division two’ on the grid, […]
Leimer’s Manor hopes shrink
Mar.8 (GMM) Fabio Leimer’s chances of securing the last seat on the 2015 grid have shrunk. Earlier, it was reported that the 2013 GP2 champion had escaped his new contract with the Mugen team in Japan’s premier open wheeler series Super Formula. Some thought that indicated the 25-year-old Swiss, whose earlier career was backed by […]
Melbourne promised season opener, day race
Mar.7 (GMM) Melbourne is guaranteed its place at the top of F1’s annual calendar, it has emerged. Local media Fairfax has revealed Melbourne’s new race contract until 2020 stipulates the season-opening slot for the almost 20-year-old Albert Park race. “We have clauses in there about (being) the first race of the season,” Australian Grand Prix […]
Vettel footage key to Alonso mystery – report
Mar.7 (GMM) The theory Fernando Alonso was already unconscious before he crashed in Barcelona two weeks ago is growing stronger by the hour. Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the key to the mystery could be the on-board footage captured by the Ferrari driven by Sebastian Vettel. Vettel said immediately after the incident that […]
McLaren, Alonso hit back at ‘creative’ crash rumours
Mar.7 (GMM) Fernando Alonso and McLaren have hit back at reports about the severity of the Spanish driver’s memory loss. Spain’s El Pais newspaper had claimed Alonso thought he was a 13-year-old kart racer when he regained consciousness after his mysterious testing crash two weeks ago. “In a few days the championship starts and we […]
Leimer in frame for second Manor seat
Mar.7 (GMM) 2013 GP2 champion Fabio Leimer has leapt into contention to complete this year’s formula one grid. After conquering F1’s main feeder series, the 25-year-old Swiss was disappointed that, even with a strong sponsor in tow, he was not able to secure his grand prix debut last year. “The formula one system is sick,” […]