May 24 (GMM) 2016 will be the true test of the ‘new’ Ferrari. That is the view of Flavio Briatore, the former Renault team chief who in recent days and months has been defending Fernando Alonso’s decision to leave Maranello. Briatore and Alonso are still united in the area of management, and so the flamboyant […]
Kaltenborn slams ‘customer car’ proposal
May 23 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn has slammed the change of direction announced by F1’s Strategy Group. After the top team-dominated group said it had agreed to spice up the sport with a raft of rule changes for 2017, Force India pointed out that the burning issue of cutting costs for the smaller teams had been […]
Hamilton ‘dominating’ Rosberg – Ecclestone
May 23 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is psychologically dominating his teammate Nico Rosberg. That is the view of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. German Rosberg managed to break Hamilton’s run of poles and wins recently in Barcelona, but Ecclestone nonetheless told Bild newspaper: “Lewis is very dominant, taking up a lot of space in a team. “Nico […]
Hamilton denies letting F1 focus slip
May 23 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has hit back at Damon Hill, after the 1996 world champion questioned his off-track lifestyle. After Nico Rosberg broke the world champion’s run of poles and wins in Barcelona, Hill said Hamilton seemed to have “underestimated” his Mercedes teammate by risking jetlag in the days between the Bahrain and Spanish […]
Renault, Red Bull exit still ‘possible’ – Prost
May 23 (GMM) Speculation about Renault’s future in formula one continues to swirl around the paddock. Earlier in 2015, at the height of partner Red Bull’s criticism and its performance and reliability troubles, the French carmaker made it known it was considering all options. Now, at Monaco, the marque’s famous ambassador Alain Prost admitted pulling […]
Vettel finds loophole for Monaco helmet change
May 23 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has found a way around F1’s new helmet livery change ban. For 2015, to help spectators more easily identify the drivers from one race to another, the sport put a stop to the constant chopping and changing of helmet colours. It means that even the ‘Monaco specials’ – one-off livery […]
Pirelli vs Michelin ‘tyre war’ already heating up
May 23 (GMM) The battle to be F1’s sole official tyre supplier in 2017 and beyond is already heating up. On Friday, on behalf of Pirelli, former F1 driver turned broadcaster Martin Brundle drove a GP2 test car around the Monaco circuit fitted with experimental 18-inch tyres. It is clear that the Italian tyre maker, […]
Kvyat plays down Marko criticism
May 23 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat has distanced himself from growing speculation about his future. As Red Bull officials hail the early progress of juniors Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, young Russian Kvyat claims he has not even read the recent criticisms made by boss Dr Helmut Marko. “I have personal contact with Dr Marko,” 21-year-old […]
Symonds urges Bottas to consider staying
May 23 (GMM) Pat Symonds has urged Valtteri Bottas to consider pledging his future to Williams. Symonds, the team’s highly-experienced technical boss who has worked alongside champions Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, acknowledged the rumours now linking the Finn with Ferrari. “It is no surprise to see other teams courting him,” he told […]
No sign of ‘dark and moody’ Alonso – Boullier
May 23 (GMM) Eric Boullier has laughed off claims he breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday. It was on that day that Lewis Hamilton signed his new Mercedes deal. Asked if he is relieved the door to the dominant German giant was closed to Fernando Alonso, McLaren-Honda chief Boullier laughed: “Those stories were just […]
Rosberg must win in Monaco, Montreal – Prost
May 23 (GMM) Monaco is a crucial race for Nico Rosberg. That is the claim of F1 legend Alain Prost, as he considered whether the German can take on Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton for the 2015 title. “Let’s see what happens here in Monaco,” the quadruple world champion told Der Tagesspiegel newspaper. Rosberg broke Hamilton’s […]
Social media ‘bad for F1’ – Prost
May 23 (GMM) Alain Prost has wondered aloud if social media is actually a good thing for formula one. 2015 so far has been a period of intense introspection for the F1 world, as it considers making key rule changes to rekindle interest. But Prost, one of the all-time greats and a quadruple world champion, […]
Title not target for 2015 – Arrivabene
May 23 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene says heading the fabled F1 team Ferrari is the toughest challenge of his life. The Italian, who arrived at Maranello from sponsor Marlboro early this year to settle the then chaotic outfit, says being Ferrari boss is “eleven out of ten” on the difficulty scale. “For example,” he told Germany’s […]
Manager says Schumacher ‘improving’
May 23 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s manager says the F1 legend is improving. The seven time world champion has not been seen publicly since striking his head on a rock whilst skiing almost 17 months ago. “We are happy to say (he) still improves and I say this always regarding the severity of the injury he […]
Monza still in doubt after Ecclestone meeting
May 23 (GMM) Efforts to put the future of the Italian grand prix back on track appear to have faltered. With Bernie Ecclestone warning that his axe is hanging above historic Monza, Italian automobile club president Angelo Sticchi-Damiani and official Ivan Capelli, representing the promoter Sias, met on Friday with the F1 supremo in Monaco. […]
Ecclestone pushing ahead with ‘customer cars’
May 23 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone’s push for ‘customer cars’ in formula one has taken another step forward. The issue reportedly got the green light at the recent Strategy Group meeting. And now Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that the F1 supremo, Niki Lauda (Mercedes), Christian Horner (Red Bull) and Ron Dennis (McLaren) met in […]
Hamilton contract a blow for Rosberg – Prost
May 22 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s new contract is a psychological blow to Nico Rosberg. That is the view of F1 legend Alain Prost. Earlier this week, Mercedes announced a new three-year contract for Hamilton, the reigning world champion. Multiple sources estimated the deal at up to an incredible $50 million per season — and possibly […]
Race to be tyre supplier in 2017 begins
May 22 (GMM) F1’s governing body has launched the official tender process for the selection of the tyre supplier in 2017 and beyond. Often controversially, Pirelli has been the sole supplier since 2011, but in recent days the former F1 manufacturer Michelin admitted it is considering a return. Both Pirelli and Michelin appear to back […]
Verstappen steals the show in Monaco
May 22 (GMM) Max Verstappen is threatening to steal the show in Monaco. Already hailed by mentor Dr Helmut Marko as a ‘new Senna’, the 17-year-old sensation appeared to fulfil that promise on Thursday by almost beating world champion Lewis Hamilton to the best time in the dry first practice session. “For a guy that […]
Surveys in vogue as F1 asks fans for help
May 22 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone gave the F1 drivers his support as they launched a global fan survey in Monaco. The F1 supremo was photographed with the drivers outside his motor home as they advertised the online survey, asking fans what they think of the sport. “The people, the fans, must be asked what they […]