Jan.17 (GMM) The Nurburgring is not giving up on hanging onto the German grand prix. Bernie Ecclestone has announced that, amid the Nurburgring’s ownership uncertainties, its return to the calendar this year is now off. The F1 supremo is now negotiating with Hockenheim to take the place on this year’s schedule. “We have a contract […]
Rossi ‘interested’ in 2016 Haas debut
Jan.17 (GMM) Alexander Rossi has admitted he is “really interested” in becoming the first American driver to race a Haas car in formula one. Although Californian, the 23-year-old has risen through the European racing ranks over the past six years, including in Formula BMW, the Renault world series and finally GP2. This year, he came […]
FIA allows Honda to join engine ‘unfreeze’
Jan.17 (GMM) Honda has been granted some engine development freedom for 2015. The Japanese manufacturer had argued to the FIA that being left out of 2014 suppliers Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari’s ‘unfreeze’ loophole was unfair. F1’s governing body originally believed Honda should have to stick to the strict February 28 homologation deadline, as it had […]
FIA to be flexible with new super licence system
Jan.17 (GMM) F1’s governing body has suggested its tough new criteria for the awarding of super licences in 2016 may actually be flexible. The FIA clamped down on the 2016 qualifying criteria for obtaining F1’s mandatory credential due to the controversial debut this year of 17-year-old Max Verstappen. But when the strict new criteria was […]
Byrne working closely with Allison – report
Jan.17 (GMM) Ferrari needed a sweeping change after a “disastrous” start to the new turbo V6 era. That is the view of Sergio Marchionne, the Fiat-Chrysler chief who last year ousted the Maranello marque’s long-time president and figurehead Luca di Montezemolo. “Luca did a great job for 23 years,” Marchionne is quoted by Italy’s La […]
Malaysia now happy with quieter F1
Jan.17 (GMM) Race organisers in Malaysia are getting used to the milder tones of today’s F1. A year ago, Sepang was counted among scores of F1 circuit chiefs who joined Bernie Ecclestone in railing against the loss of the sport’s iconic screams of normally-aspirated power. Boss Razlan Razali told Reuters that when he first heard […]
Pirelli open to 70s-style wide tyres for F1
Jan.17 (GMM) Pirelli is open to supplying bigger tyres to help spice up formula one. A report by Italy’s Autosprint said it is often argued that the sport would be more exciting for spectators if the cars were equipped with big 70s-style rear tyres. The change could be part of a major revamp for the […]
2015 race deal not done yet – Hockenheim
Jan.16 (GMM) Hockenheim’s circuit boss has warned that a deal to host the German grand prix this year has not yet been reached. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on Thursday that, amid the Nurburgring’s ongoing ownership uncertainty, the track will not host the race next year as scheduled. “It is going to be at Hockenheim […]
Nurburgring loses 2015 German grand prix
Jan.15 (GMM) The Nurburgring has lost its round of the 2015 world championship, Germany’s Bild newspaper reported on Thursday. The fabled circuit was due to host the German grand prix this year, after Hockenheim staged it in 2014. Until now, the two German circuits have annually alternated a single race allocation on the calendar. But […]
Bahrain refuses to budge on Qatar race
Jan.13 (GMM) Bahrain is blocking Qatar’s plans to join the F1 calendar. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said last month that despite negotiating with a keen Qatari group, a race in the oil-rich Arab state is actually unlikely. That is because he made one of his famous “handshake deals” with Bahrain’s crown prince years ago not […]
Marchionne expects Ferrari form in late 2015
Jan.13 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has warned Ferrari fans yet again that 2015 will be a difficult season for the fabled Scuderia. Speaking at the Detroit auto show on Tuesday, he refused to wade in deeper on a war of words with the Italian marque’s ousted long-time president, Luca di Montezemolo. “Unfortunately we have dropped back, […]
Bottas plays down Mercedes, Ferrari switch talk
Jan.12 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has played down reports linking his future outside of Williams. The Finn’s career to date has been powered and championed by the Grove team, and he was the star last year as Williams ended 2014 as arguably dominant Mercedes’ closest challenger. But 25-year-old Bottas has also attracted attention elsewhere, as he […]
Caterham’s Stevens eyeing Le Mans switch
Jan.12 (GMM) Will Stevens has turned his eye to Le Mans in the event his F1 career stumbles at the first hurdle. Funding brought by the 23-year-old’s backers as he made his grand prix debut in Abu Dhabi is believed to have been instrumental in ailing Caterham’s survival to date. “When I got the offer,” […]
Authorities restrict travel for Mallya
Jan.12 (GMM) Indian authorities have moved to restrict international travel for embattled Force India supremo Vijay Mallya. Amid ongoing action relating to his ailing airline Kingfisher, a Mumbai court said the former billionaire can no longer leave India unless he submits a detailed itinerary 48 hours in advance. The Economic Times also said the action […]
Andretti wants Montagny banned for life over cocaine
Jan.12 (GMM) F1 legend Mario Andretti has called on Franck Montagny to be banned for life for doping. Former Super Aguri racer Montagny, a 37-year-old Frenchman, was suspended from the FIA-sanctioned new Formula E series recently when he tested positive for a cocaine derivative. It has also been rumoured that Montagny’s brush with cocaine may […]
Paffett unsure of McLaren-Honda potential
Jan.12 (GMM) Former McLaren tester Gary Paffett is unsure of the British team’s potential as its new works Honda era begins. After years of serving as tester, McLaren’s change of power means Briton Paffett, who will remain Mercedes powered in DTM, has left the Woking team. McLaren is now working with Honda, its ultra-successful partner […]
Mercedes to offer Hamilton new three-year deal – report
Jan.12 (GMM) Mercedes is positioning to keep world champion Lewis Hamilton well beyond the 2015 season. Talks over the Briton’s expiring contract were scheduled towards the end and then just after the 2014 season. But in what was interpreted as a ‘hurry up’ to the 30-year-old, boss Toto Wolff recently declared that Fernando Alonso and […]
Ricciardo confident of catching Mercedes
Jan.12 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has expressed confidence Red Bull can close the gap on dominant 2014 title winners Mercedes this year. Given Mercedes’ level of dominance last season and the restraints of the engine development freeze, many believe the German team will be hard to challenge even in 2015. La Gazzetta dello Sport, for instance, […]
Melbourne not keen on earlier race start time
Jan.12 (GMM) Race organisers are reluctant to shift the start time for the 2015 Australian grand prix. In response to Jules Bianchi’s horror crash at Suzuka, the governing FIA vowed to look into ensuring that races are no longer started too close to dusk. Races at the season opener Melbourne, for instance, are traditionally now […]
Ferrari spends EUR 40m on new technology – report
Jan.12 (GMM) Ferrari is spending a whopping EUR 40 million as it steps up its off-track technology at Maranello. Having struggled in 2014 and subsequently undergone a revolutionary shakeup, the fabled Italian marque is now spending big on a dynamic platform that will allow in-factory testing of the entire car-plus-engine package. Italy’s La Gazzetta dello […]