Jan.22 (GMM) Niki Lauda has rubbished reports Lewis Hamilton has been offered the most lucrative contract in F1 to keep him at Mercedes beyond 2015. Italy’s respected La Gazzetta dello Sport last week claimed the German team “has prepared a three-year renewal (for Hamilton) for a fixed EUR 20 million per season”, including big bonuses […]
Force India shows new livery, 2015 nose
Jan.22 (GMM) Force India has become the next F1 team to unveil its new look for the 2015 season. Some had expected that, at an event in Mexico City on Wednesday, the Silverstone based team would reveal its new car, the VJM08. In fact, Force India will not begin to test its new machine until […]
Streiff blasts FIA over Bianchi report
Jan.22 (GMM) Former F1 driver Philippe Streiff has launched a stinging tirade against FIA president Jean Todt. Streiff, who was paralysed in a 1989 pre-season crash, triggered controversy late last year when he claimed to know details of the medical condition of the great Michael Schumacher. Those claims were denied by Schumacher’s inner circle, but […]
Dominant Mercedes ‘stressed’ ahead of 2015 – Lauda
Jan.22 (GMM) Although Mercedes utterly dominated in 2014, team chairman Niki Lauda is still looking into the new season with trepidation. For one thing, the F1 legend and triple world champion cannot understand the sport’s looming schedule for pre-season testing. “Everyone at Brackley is stressed,” Lauda admitted to Austria’s Salzburger Nachrichten. “There are many things […]
Toto Wolff injures knee in training fall
Jan.22 (GMM) Toto Wolff is recovering from yet another injury, it has emerged in the Austrian media. Last summer, the Mercedes team boss returned to the paddock wearing a sling, after badly breaking his arm in a road cycling crash. And according to Salzburger Nachrichten, Wolff is now recovering from yet another injury, having suffered […]
Ferrari must improve after difficult start – Elkann
Jan.22 (GMM) Fiat chairman John Elkann has joined Sergio Marchionne in admitting Ferrari will get off to a difficult start in 2015. Amid the Maranello marque’s revolutionary shake-up, new president Marchionne, also head of the Fiat-Chrysler parent, admitted Ferrari can only expect to put in better performances towards the end of the forthcoming championship. Now, […]
Ecclestone hopeful but Haas not rescuing Marussia
Jan.22 (GMM) The new 2016 team Haas has denied rumours it is the mystery investor looking into rescuing Marussia. American Gene Haas, also the owner of a Nascar team, has acquired the ailing backmarker’s Banbury factory and some of its assets ahead of its own grand prix debut next season. But with reports in the […]
‘Time will come’ for Ocon after Lotus snub
Jan.22 (GMM) F1 hopeful Esteban Ocon might be forgiven for feeling disappointed about the latest signing at Lotus. The 18-year-old Frenchman beat the likes of Toro Rosso rookie Max Verstappen to the highly-respected FIA European F3 title last year. At the same time, his stock was rising at Lotus, where he is under contract to […]
Now McLaren gives preview of 2015 design
Jan.21 (GMM) McLaren looks to be the next team giving a sneak preview of its 2015 car. Williams has revealed a rendered photo of its new car, the Mercedes-powered FW37, on the cover of the latest edition of British magazine F1 Racing. McLaren’s hint about the shape of its newly Honda-powered MP4-30, meanwhile, is much […]
Hamilton’s father eyes F1 return for Africa
Jan.21 (GMM) World champion Lewis Hamilton’s father is involved in plans to revive a South African grand prix. Since splitting as Lewis’ manager, Anthony Hamilton has worked on other projects, including managing Paul di Resta and pioneering the so-called ‘Info wing’ that was tested by Force India at the end-of-season Abu Dhabi test. Now, Press […]
Honda still not happy with ‘unfreeze’ ruling
Jan.21 (GMM) F1 returnee Honda this year may be allowed to do just a quarter of the engine development of its 2015 rivals Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault. After initially being left out of the new engine ‘unfreeze’, the FIA relented and has permitted the Japanese manufacturer to do some in-season upgrading this year. The FIA’s […]
Rumour – Haas to rescue Marussia for 2015
Jan.21 (GMM) Is Gene Haas the mysterious investor looking into rescuing Marussia? The Nascar team co-owner, who is entering formula one in 2016, is already linked with the ailing backmarker as he has bought team equipment from administrators looking to raise money to pay back Marussia’s creditors. Rumours also suggest he has acquired Marussia’s Banbury […]
Williams reveals 2015 car on magazine cover
Jan.21 (GMM) Williams has given F1 fans an early glimpse of its new car, as the once-great British team eyes a return to the top step of the podium in 2015. The Grove outfit was the surprise of last season, bursting up the ranks from ninth in 2013 to third in 2014, and now singled […]
New nose rules a ‘headache’ – Symonds
Jan.21 (GMM) Williams’ technical chief admits the team has had to make substantial changes to the car for 2015 due to the new nose rules. The Grove team managed a sensational leap last year from ninth in the championship in 2013 to third, behind only Mercedes and Red Bull. Some of that leap was undoubtedly […]
Ferrari signs Spaniard as lead engineer
Jan.21 (GMM) As two Spaniards depart Ferrari, another arrives. Tester Pedro de la Rosa and, of course, number 1 driver Fernando Alonso have departed the fabled Maranello marque amid its radical restructuring. But at least one Spaniard has arrived in their wake, Italian and Spanish sources have revealed. His name is Toni Cuquerella, who worked […]
Bianchi crash means earlier races for 2015 hosts
Jan.20 (GMM) Five hosts on this year’s 20-race F1 calendar will see their respective grands prix start earlier than usual in 2015. After Jules Bianchi’s horror crash at Suzuka in fading light late last season, the FIA vowed to look into ensuring races are no longer started too close to dusk. The trend outside of […]
Ferrari rules out having English HQ
Jan.20 (GMM) Ferrari has ruled out leaving Italy as it bids to end a seven-year championship drought. Having faltered at the start of the new turbo V6 era, the Maranello marque has undergone a radical shake-up ahead of what new president Sergio Marchionne admits will be yet another difficult campaign in 2015. In the late […]
Force India will not test 2015 car at Jerez
Jan.20 (GMM) Force India may be the first team to ‘launch’ in 2015, but it will also be the last new car to actually hit the official test tracks. The Silverstone based team is preparing to reveal its new livery in Mexico City on Wednesday. But Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reported that the new […]
Grosjean not ruling out colour change for Lotus
Jan.20 (GMM) Lotus could be a third team set to make a major livery change for the 2015 season. It has already emerged that reigning champions Mercedes could switch from silver to chrome this year, taking over from McLaren whose new partnership with Honda could see the move to predominantly white colours. And when asked […]
Palmer to drive on Fridays for Lotus
Jan.20 (GMM) Lotus has signed reigning GP2 champion Jolyon Palmer as its third and reserve driver for 2015. The Enstone team said the 24-year-old Briton, whose father Jonathan is a former F1 driver, broadcaster and circuit owner, will attend all the races and take part in “a significant number” of Friday practice sessions. “My goal […]