Jun.17 (GMM) Red Bull is considering a shock switch to Ferrari power, according to a media report on Wednesday. Germany’s Sport Bild claims that, fed up with works partner Renault’s poor reliability and performance in the new ‘power unit’ era, Red Bull has been in talks with its arch-rival Ferrari. While a switch to Ferrari […]
McLaren-Honda ‘will not give up’ – Alonso
Jun.17 (GMM) McLaren will not “give up” after a frustrating outing recently in Canada. That is the claim of Fernando Alonso, despite being quoted in recent days suggesting the Honda-powered team should now switch its focus to 2016. Although notably struggling so far this year, McLaren-Honda has made obvious progress but it faltered on the […]
Vettel thinks Ferrari switch ‘good for F1’
Jun.17 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel thinks his move to Ferrari this year has been good for F1. Recently, although earlier a friend and supporter of the quadruple world champion, Bernie Ecclestone slammed Germans Vettel and Nico Rosberg for being “not so good for my business”. “As the cancellation of the German grand prix indicates, Germany is […]
Ferrari changed test plans for Austria – report
Jun.17 (GMM) Ferrari reportedly altered its plans for the forthcoming post-Austrian grand prix test. With only two in-season tests taking place in 2015, the Maranello team was criticised by Italian media last month when it revealed the driver lineup for Barcelona. “It is really difficult to understand why Ferrari is not fully exploiting this chance […]
Michelin applies for F1 return in 2017
Jun.17 (GMM) Michelin has announced it is in the running to return to F1 in 2017. Italian company Pirelli has been the sport’s official sole supplier since 2011, but now the FIA has launched a new tender process for the three-year contract beyond 2016. Applications close on Wednesday, and chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera confirmed recently […]
Engine customers can win in F1 – Symonds
Jun.17 (GMM) Pat Symonds has denied suggestions F1 teams cannot win grands prix if they are engine ‘customers’. Since deciding to leave the Mercedes camp and switch to Honda, McLaren supremo Ron Dennis has frequently said success in formula one is only possible today in works collaboration with a manufacturer or “OEM”. In 2014 and […]
Ecclestone confirms Imola return possible
Jun.17 (GMM) Alternating between two Italian circuits could keep the country on the F1 calendar. That is the claim on Wednesday of Bernie Ecclestone, following the London based F1 supremo’s visit from officials of the Imola circuit on Monday. At the ‘Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari’, Imola was the long-time host of the San Marino […]
Hamilton ‘happier’ with 2015 Mercedes form
Jun.17 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is heading into the Austrian grand prix as the overwhelming favourite to win. The world champion and 2015 title leader bounced back from the Monaco strategy blunder, and back-to-back wins by his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, to dominate the recent Canadian grand prix. “Nico was quick,” said Hamilton, “but I felt […]
Symonds says F1 cars ‘easier to drive’ today
Jun.16 (GMM) Pat Symonds, one of the most experienced engineers in F1, has admitted the cars of today are easier to drive. The Briton’s career has spanned decades, as he has worked with great champions across the eras including Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. And now he sees Williams’ Valtteri Bottas as a […]
Schumacher’s son to race with broken hand
Jun.16 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s son will race through the pain barrier this weekend by going wheel-to-wheel with a broken hand. 16-year-old Mick suffered a fracture in his hand just below his right thumb when he crashed during the most recent round of German Formula 4 in Austria. But Michael and Mick Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm […]
Circuit ‘alternation’ could save Italian GP
Jun.16 (GMM) Imola has emerged in the running to return to formula one. Currently, the future of the Italian grand prix at historic Monza is under a cloud, as F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone demands a higher annual race fee. And now, another Italian circuit – the former long-time San Marino grand prix venue Imola – […]
F1’s Hulkenberg, Mallya, put Le Mans in focus
Jun.16 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has named Nico Hulkenberg as one of the very best drivers in F1 today. Before German Hulkenberg won Le Mans on debut at the weekend, the Spanish broadcaster Antena 3 had asked Alonso to nominate his top-three drivers on the grid. “He chose Hamilton, Hulkenberg, and after thinking some more, Ricciardo,” […]
Chester thinks F1 car could win Le Mans
Jun.16 (GMM) Lotus’ technical boss thinks a formula one car could win at Le Mans. The fabled 24 hour sports car race is in the headlines at present, after full-time Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg won on Sunday for Porsche. Not only that, former grand prix winner Mark Webber has switched full-time to the ever-burgeoning […]
Four teams tweaked ‘flexi’ wing designs
Jun.16 (GMM) Four teams made modifications to their front wing designs ahead of the recent Canadian grand prix. In the days after Monaco, we reported that the FIA was clamping down once again on the well-trodden area of so-called ‘flexi wings’ in formula one. Spain’s El Confidencial reported that a new 50 Newton-metre load test […]
No Austria practice for Manor’s Leimer – report
Jun.16 (GMM) Fabio Leimer will not make his Friday practice debut in Austria this weekend. In Canada two weeks ago, the 2013 GP2 champion was unveiled as the new Friday and reserve driver for backmarker Manor. It has been reported the Swiss driver’s first Friday outing could be at the Red Bull Ring, but only […]
VW says ‘no talks’ about F1 project
Jun.16 (GMM) Volkswagen has issued another denial to seemingly constant speculation it might be considering a foray in formula one. VW Group brands including Audi and Porsche, already with Le Mans prototype programmes, are regularly linked with potential deliberations about a F1 project. But Jost Capito said Volkswagen itself is happier in a series like […]
Energy recovery is ‘greatest difficulty’ – Honda
Jun.16 (GMM) McLaren and Honda are working hard to improve their relationship as the once-great collaboration struggles at the start of a new era. After Canada, reports suggested frustrations were beginning to show in the McLaren camp, but a source for the British team told Brazil’s Globo the relationship with Honda remains “good” and “healthy”. […]
McLaren and Honda play down Manor rumours
Jun.16 (GMM) McLaren and Honda have played down speculation linking Manor with a supply of Japanese power for 2016. Honda, returning to F1 this year, decided to focus exclusively on McLaren, but boss Yasuhisa Arai has said repeatedly he is open to adding a customer in the future. Reports have linked backmarker Manor with such […]
Lauda agrees F1 should be more ‘risky’
Jun.15 (GMM) Niki Lauda has agreed with Kimi Raikkonen that F1 would benefit from a boost of danger. 2007 world champion and Ferrari driver Raikkonen was quoted last week as saying one thing that would improve the modern face of the sport is if F1 was “a little more dangerous”. “It (danger) is part of […]
Boullier safe after plane scare
Jun.15 (GMM) Eric Boullier had a scare on Sunday as he returned from a visit to the fabled Le Mans race. The McLaren boss was sharing a journey on a private plane with friend Zak Brown, a well-known F1 sponsorship figure, when the aircraft developed a fault. Brown, describing the incident as a “close call”, […]