Mar.18 (GMM) Eric Boullier thinks it is “possible” McLaren-Honda might be in a position to win grands prix later in 2015. His comments follow reports elsewhere the team boss warned it might be “years” before the new British-Japanese collaboration is fully up to speed. Indeed, in an interview with Spain’s El Pais, Boullier admitted Honda […]
Van der Garde admits ‘F1 dream probably over’
Mar.18 (GMM) Giedo van der Garde on Wednesday admitted the Sauber legal affair has probably ended his formula one dream. The Dutchman’s management confirmed reports that a settlement with the Swiss team has resulted in the end of his 2015 race contract “by mutual consent”. Reports had suggested van der Garde, 29, and his backers […]
Renault speeds towards Red Bull divorce
Mar.17 (GMM) The divorce between Red Bull and Renault seems ever closer. Spain’s El Mundo Deportivo claims that amid reports the French engine supplier is looking to buy Toro Rosso, Renault has signed up former Mercedes chief Bob Bell. Bell, who was technical director at Renault’s works team in its title-winning era ten years ago, […]
Girlfriend tips Alonso for Malaysia return
Mar.17 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s girlfriend says the Spaniard should be fit to return in Malaysia next weekend. After sitting out Melbourne as a result of his testing crash more than three weeks ago, the McLaren-Honda driver is reportedly travelling to Woking this week to work in the simulator. Team boss Eric Boullier also says a […]
Now Verstappen’s father slams Renault
Mar.17 (GMM) Former F1 driver Jos Verstappen has admitted he was “really upset” after the Australian grand prix. The Dutchman, whose 17-year-old son Max has just made his high-profile debut for Toro Rosso, is known to be a hard taskmaster. Once, during their kart racing days, Max crashed and his father refused to speak to […]
Manor will race in Malaysia – Booth
Mar.17 (GMM) Manor insists it is travelling to Malaysia next weekend to race. The FIA investigated the former Marussia team in Australia, amid suspicions the cars, drivers and mechanics only appeared in the Melbourne pits so that Manor remains eligible for its millions in official 2014 prize-money. Bernie Ecclestone is convinced the team had “zero” […]
2015 German GP ‘no longer possible’
Mar.17 (GMM) The last slim hope for this year’s German grand prix now appears over. With the embattled Nurburgring unable to fulfil its agreement to host the race in July, Bernie Ecclestone had been in talks with Hockenheim about filling the place. But circuit boss Georg Seiler told the Mannheimer Morgen newspaper on Tuesday: “We […]
Rosberg invites Vettel to Mercedes debrief
Mar.17 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says his offer to Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel still stands. After dominant Mercedes finished first and second in Melbourne, 34 seconds clear of Vettel in third place, there was an amusing exchange in the post-race press conference between the two Germans. After Rosberg said he hopes Ferrari can catch up soon, Vettel […]
Ecclestone says Mercedes had V6 head-start
Mar.17 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone claims Mercedes had a head-start over its engine rivals at the start of F1’s controversial turbo V6 era. After the 2015 season opener, the F1 supremo on Monday sided with furious Renault-powered Red Bull as the former champions urged F1’s governing body to intervene. Now, Ecclestone says Mercedes got a head-start […]
Hamilton tells Red Bull to ‘hire better people’
Mar.17 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has stepped up his rhetoric against rival Red Bull’s complaints. After the British driver won dominantly in Australia, Red Bull declared the gap to Mercedes was too big and the rules too ‘complicated’ for formula one. “It’s not (too complicated) for us,” the reigning world champion told Australia’s Seven Network on […]
Furious Red Bull finding little support
Mar.17 (GMM) So far, Red Bull is finding little support in its quest for immediate changes to the rules. Ferrari has already made clear it is content for now, particularly as it has leapfrogged Red Bull and Williams to be the second force behind dominant Mercedes. “Our job is to attack Mercedes on the track,” […]
Button says F1 cannot ‘ban’ Mercedes
Mar.17 (GMM) World champion Lewis Hamilton has joined his Mercedes bosses in hitting back at Red Bull’s ‘wailing’. Struggling Red Bull has called on F1 authorities to take action against Mercedes’ huge dominance, arguing the engine regulations are “killing” the sport. Briton Hamilton, the reigning world champion and Melbourne winner, grinned when told about Red […]
Mercedes supplying same engine to Williams
Mar.17 (GMM) Mercedes has hit back at claims it is not supplying the same specification of engine to its F1 customers. In Australia, Williams’ Felipe Massa was the fastest non-works Mercedes driver in qualifying, but the gap to Lewis Hamilton’s pole time was a massive 1.4 seconds. Brazilian Massa admitted he suspects Mercedes might be […]
Ecclestone to testify in Valencia corruption trial
Mar.17 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has been named as a witness in the corruption trial regarding the former grand prix on the streets of Valencia. Officials of the Spanish port city, having hosted formula one between 2008 and 2012, are facing charges of corruption, embezzlement and misappropriation. Now, the Spanish news agency EFE reports that F1 […]
EUR 15 million ended van der Garde saga – reports
Mar.17 (GMM) Dutch media reports on Tuesday said Bernie Ecclestone was involved in negotiations that have ended the Giedo van der Garde saga. The morning newspaper De Volkskrant refers to compensation for the Dutch driver in the order of EUR 15 million, with other reports saying the money will flow from a Credit Suisse account […]
Red Bull ‘right’ to complain – Ecclestone
Mar.16 (GMM) Red Bull is right to argue for rule changes after Mercedes utterly dominated the 2015 season opener, Bernie Ecclestone said on Monday. A report by the Reuters news agency said the F1 chief executive played down former champions Red Bull’s threats to quit formula one, not least because the team has committed to […]
Peter Sauber defends Kaltenborn after Melbourne saga
Mar.16 (GMM) Team founder Peter Sauber has defended Monisha Kaltenborn after the courtroom debacle of the team’s 2015 season opener. Ultimately, Indian-born Kaltenborn was smiling as the sun set on Sunday’s Melbourne paddock, as Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson scored more points in a single race than the Swiss team did in the whole of […]
Ecclestone to bill Manor for F1 freight
Mar.16 (GMM) Manor survived an FIA investigation in Australia, but now faces the wrath of F1’s commercial chief Bernie Ecclestone. As the former Marussia team was summoned to the stewards in Australia, boss John Booth acknowledged the “scepticism” that Manor never actually intended to turn a wheel at the season opener. Ecclestone had already warned […]
Mercedes slams Red Bull after 2015 opener
Mar.16 (GMM) Mercedes chiefs have lashed back at those calling for immediate rule changes after the opening race of 2015. Amid a diminished grid and earlier courtroom dramas for F1, the Mercedes giant’s domination of 2014 then appeared only to have been extended further in Australia. Lewis Hamilton was 1.4 seconds clear of any rival […]
Salo surprised as Ferrari overtakes Williams
Mar.16 (GMM) Ferrari on Sunday confirmed its return to better form after the struggle and turmoil of 2014. Although the gap to ultra-dominant Mercedes was in excess of half a minute, Sebastian Vettel began his new career in red with a podium finish. It appeared to confirm the appearance that, having struggled notably in the […]