Feb.7 (GMM) The former Marussia team has confirmed reports it has not given up on returning to formula one in 2015. Looking to exit administration with new investors, and now called Manor F1 Team, the newly Dinnington-based outfit hit a roadblock on Thursday when the strategy group blocked its application to use a 2014 car […]
Bottas not denying interest in Raikkonen’s seat
Feb.6 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has not denied he might be looking to take Kimi Raikkonen’s place at Ferrari for 2016. Raikkonen, who struggled last year, remains under contract to the Maranello team for this season, with an ‘option’ still in place for 2016. When asked about that at the Jerez test, the Finn answered: “It’s […]
Marussia now targets China comeback with 2015 car
Feb.6 (GMM) Thursday’s Paris blow may not be the death knell for Marussia. At the strategy group meeting, Force India and other rival teams blocked the ailing backmarker’s bid to return as Manor this year by using its 2014 car. But Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims on Friday that Manor has a new plan. […]
Force India defends blocking Manor revival
Feb.6 (GMM) Force India has defended blocking Marussia’s application to return to F1 this year with a 2014-spec car. Now called Manor, the ailing backmarker once known as Marussia had reportedly secured the backing of former Sainsbury’s chief Justin King and intended to exit administration later this month. So team president Graeme Lowdon made a […]
Ecclestone confirms teams blocked Manor return
Feb.6 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed reports that Marussia will not be allowed to return to formula one this year with its 2014-spec car. Former Sainsbury’s boss Justin King is reportedly behind the efforts to bring the team – now called Manor – out of administration and back to F1 in 2015. But as suggested […]
Haas plans yellow livery for 2016 team – report
Feb.6 (GMM) F1’s new team for 2016, the American entrant Haas, could race with a distinctive yellow livery. It has emerged in recent days that former McLaren and Red Bull engineer Rob Taylor will head the design of the first Haas car, in collaboration with Ferrari and Dallara. “We do not want to make a […]
F1 actually no louder in 2015 – report
Feb.6 (GMM) A Spanish correspondent has contradicted the ears of many by insisting F1 is no louder in 2015. At Jerez, numerous trackside observers agreed that the turbo V6-powered field is audibly louder than it was last year. Indeed, Marco Canseco, writing for the Spanish daily Marca, agrees that the sound produced by the 1.6 […]
‘Upset’ Magnussen eyes Indycar ‘option’
Feb.6 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen is not ruling out looking elsewhere to keep his racing instincts sharp. Just a year into his F1 racing career, the 22-year-old has been pushed aside by McLaren in favour of its all-champion lineup for 2015 featuring Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button. He admits he is disappointed. “Personally, I think I […]
Insiders doubt Alonso can succeed in 2015
Feb.6 (GMM) Respected insiders are not expecting McLaren-Honda to shine in 2015. With the Japanese engine maker Honda returning to the sport this year to revive its iconic collaboration with the British team, it has notably struggled so far simply to run its compact and complex turbo V6. McLaren-Honda managed to secure arguably F1’s best […]
Mercedes ‘out of reach’ for 2015 – Mateschitz
Feb.6 (GMM) Team owner Dietrich Mateschitz does not think Red Bull can mount a serious championship challenge in 2015. The Austrian billionaire made an ultra-rare paddock visit this week at the opening test of the pre-season. After Jerez, Mateschitz said: “Mercedes is again out of reach. “I think if we are able to reduce the […]
Rumours swirl around Manor revival
Feb.5 (GMM) Rumours are now swirling around the future of the ailing backmarker formerly called Marussia. It emerged on Wednesday that the John Booth-founded ‘Manor’ outfit is planning to exit administration later this month ahead of an effort to return for the 2015 season. According to speculation, however, the first obstacle may be met as […]
McLaren-Honda working on cultural barriers – report
Feb.5 (GMM) Horse power and downforce are not the only challenges taking place behind closed garage doors at McLaren-Honda this pre-season. A report in the Spanish sports daily Marca claims that although the famous companies achieved huge success in F1 decades ago, they are once again going through the motions of learning how to work […]
Silent Hamilton in a spin after split
Feb.5 (GMM) Defending champion Lewis Hamilton went into a silent spin on Wednesday as the first test of the 2015 pre-season concluded at Jerez. The Briton was back in his silver Mercedes for the last of four test days in southern Spain, just as news hit the celebrity headlines about his latest split from long-time […]
Schumacher son close to F4 contract – reports
Feb.5 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s son is set to begin down his own road to formula one. Following in the footsteps of his father and also uncle Ralf, 15-year-old Mick – who has raced karts in recent years under the pseudonym ‘Mick Junior’ – is reportedly about to tread into the world of single-seater cars. Dutch […]
End of the line as Caterham plans assets auction
Feb.5 (GMM) Caterham is finally reaching the end of the line, as administrators decide to auction the backmarker’s assets. Just as hope rises for F1’s other ailing team, Manor, it emerged on Thursday that auctioneers have been appointed to begin selling Caterham’s assets next month, including the crucial 2014 cars and race-day equipment. Acting team […]
F1 to discuss 1,000hp engines on Thursday
Feb.4 (GMM) F1 is targeting a return to four-digit horse power. On Thursday, the sport’s powerful strategy group is set to meet in Paris, and the big-ticket item for discussion will be Bernie Ecclestone’s desire for 1,000 horse power by 2017. The F1 supremo has confirmed to Forbes that the so-called new engine ‘unfreeze’, allowing […]
Ferrari takes ‘big step’ for 2015 – Kaltenborn
Feb.4 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn has joined those who are impressed with the progress made by beleaguered great Ferrari over the winter. Like the Maranello based works team, the Swiss outfit Sauber has made an obvious step forward ahead of the 2015 season. The common element is Ferrari’s improved V6 ‘power unit’ package. “From the data […]
Nasr plays down Sauber’s top test pace
Feb.4 (GMM) Felipe Nasr has played down Sauber’s sudden leap from the doldrums of 2014 to the top of the Jerez timesheets. The new C34, bearing the blue and yellow of Brazilian rookie Nasr’s Banco do Brasil backing, has been at or near the ultimate pace ever since the first test of the 2015 pre-season […]
Manor plans to exit administration before 2015 season
Feb.4 (GMM) There were signs of life on Wednesday from the team formerly known as Marussia. Despite beating both Caterham and Sauber to ninth place in the championship, the backmarker missed the last races of the season and was placed in administration. Now called Manor, which is the operating company founded by John Booth, the […]
Mercedes admits F1 engines louder in 2015
Feb.4 (GMM) Mercedes chiefs have admitted that F1 unexpectedly turned up the volume for 2015. Last year, as the turbo ‘power units’ replaced the screaming normally-aspired engines of the past, the biggest controversy was the loss of volume. But trackside observers at this week’s first 2015 test at Jerez unanimously agree that the new cars […]