Mar.11 (GMM) Giedo van der Garde on Wednesday declared himself “happy, fit and ready to drive” this weekend in Melbourne. A local court has ruled that the Dutchman can take his place at Sauber this year, after the Swiss team signed him but then replaced him with Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr. The ruling is […]
Berger says Mercedes well clear of rivals
Mar.11 (GMM) Gerhard Berger has played down Mercedes’ claim it will be challenged for victory early in 2015. Team chairman and F1 legend Niki Lauda warned this week that, contrary to suggestions the German marque is well clear of any rivals, Mercedes is not expecting to dominate in Australia and beyond. “The competition with be […]
Newey’s son joins Mick Schumacher in F4 team
Mar.11 (GMM) Mick Schumacher will have a teammate with another famous surname in the German formula 4 series this year. Recently, it was announced that 15-year-old Mick, whose dad is the legendary seven time world champion, is stepping up to single seater racing this year with a Dutch team. Now, Van Amersfoort Racing is staying […]
Kvyat, 20, thinks Verstappen too young for F1
Mar.11 (GMM) Even another F1 teen, Daniil Kvyat, thinks Max Verstappen might be too young for the pinnacle of motor sport. Russian ‘Dany’ Kvyat turns 21 next month, and he has replaced departed quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull. But when he made his grand prix debut for Toro Rosso a year ago, […]
Merhi needs a sponsor to keep Manor seat
Mar.11 (GMM) Roberto Merhi has admitted his new race seat at Manor may be short-lived. F1’s governing body has now confirmed the race number 98 for the 23-year-old Spanish rookie, who is joining Will Stevens at the resurrected Manor team in Australia. But Merhi admitted to Spanish radio Cadena Cope that the former Marussia team, […]
Audi chief ‘will not comment’ on F1 rumours
Mar.11 (GMM) Audi chief Rupert Stadler is no longer clearly denying speculation the Volkswagen-owned German carmaker is preparing to enter formula one. The regular speculation hit a higher gear in the last six months, after ousted Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali joined Audi and conducted a feasibility study about a F1 project. “Ah, you want […]
Experts worry about McLaren-Honda project
Mar.11 (GMM) Experts continue to worry about the early phase of McLaren-Honda’s new collaboration. Honda announced its intention to return to the sport with the British team way back in May 2013, but almost two years later, the MP4-30 is struggling simply to run. “I’m surprised that it’s not working out,” former F1 driver and […]
Sauber appeals van der Garde ruling
Mar.11 (GMM) Sauber is appealing a Melbourne court’s ruling that Giedo van der Garde should race for the Swiss team this weekend. Earlier on Wednesday, a supreme court judge sided with the Dutchman after he was replaced despite having a valid 2015 contract. “I reject the arguments advanced by the respondent (Sauber) and the other […]
Vettel ‘did not exist’ in Italy – Briatore
Mar.10 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has giggled at the new ‘Sebastian Vettel fever’ at Maranello. The former Renault boss was commenting on Ferrari’s public delight at having secured the quadruple world champion to replace Fernando Alonso. Briatore still oversees the management of Alonso, who has switched to McLaren-Honda. “In Italy it’s amazing,” he told Italy’s Sky […]
Ferrari link for Hamilton ‘nonsense’ – Lauda
Mar.10 (GMM) Niki Lauda has scoffed at reports Lewis Hamilton could switch to Ferrari rather than sign a new Mercedes contract beyond 2015. Briton Hamilton is conducting his own negotiations with the German marque, and has reportedly hit a snag in his demands for $1.5 million per week. Team boss Toto Wolff has already slammed […]
New McLaren ‘better than it seems’
Mar.10 (GMM) It has been a tumultuous winter for the fledgling McLaren-Honda collaboration. The MP4-30 has been unreliable and uncompetitive, and now star driver Fernando Alonso is on the sidelines after his mysterious testing crash. But team boss Eric Boullier insists: “The package is better than it seems.” As things stand, not everyone believes that. […]
Bianchi family not ready to close Suzuka chapter
Mar.10 (GMM) Jules Bianchi’s father has not ruled out taking action against those “responsible” for the horror crash at Suzuka five months ago. Little has been heard from the French driver’s family in the past weeks, but Philippe Bianchi says that is because there has been little to report. “Jules is still in a coma,” […]
‘Too early’ for Lotus podiums – Grosjean
Mar.10 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has played down the prospect of early podiums this year for Lotus. After proving F1’s fourth force in 2012 and 2013, the Enstone team’s performance plummeted last year but it is looking to bounce back with a top Mercedes engine in 2015. Indeed, Grosjean and teammate Pastor Maldonado have hailed the […]
Schumacher ski story is ‘tragedy’ – Ecclestone
Mar.10 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has described the fate of F1 legend Michael Schumacher as a “tragedy”. 15 months ago, the seven time world champion fell whilst skiing with his son Mick in the French alps, suffering serious brain injuries. “I know nothing about his current condition,” F1 chief executive Ecclestone, who has known the now […]
Newey’s ‘step back’ not too big – Ricciardo
Mar.10 (GMM) Adrian Newey’s “step back” has not been too noticeable so far, Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo said on Tuesday. Team technical boss Newey is no longer full time in the team’s F1 offices at Milton-Keynes, as he gets involved in other design projects including the America’s Cup bid of top British sailor Ben […]
Button denies Olympic bid reports
Mar.10 (GMM) Jenson Button has hit back at reports he contemplated quitting F1 for the Olympics. The Mirror newspaper had quoted the McLaren driver as saying amid McLaren’s dithering last year, the 35-year-old thought instead about launching a bid to contest the 2016 Olympic triathlon in Brazil. “I did think about Rio and then decided […]
Alonso ‘giving everything’ for Malaysia return
Mar.10 (GMM) McLaren on Tuesday confirmed that Fernando Alonso is on course to return in Malaysia. The Spanish driver is being replaced by Kevin Magnussen in Melbourne this weekend after his mysterious Barcelona testing crash. In a race preview provided by the British team, Alonso was quoted as saying while he is “disappointed” to not […]
Mercedes rivalry more intense in 2015 – Lauda
Mar.10 (GMM) Mercedes will continue to let its drivers fight hard for the title, boss Toto Wolff insists. Earlier, former champion Jacques Villeneuve said he hopes the German team dominates again in 2015, because if rival teams are too close, Mercedes might impose team orders. But Wolff said letting Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg enjoy […]
Familiar faces lining up at Haas
Mar.10 (GMM) Familiar faces are beginning to line up at the 2016 entrant Haas. Team boss Gunther Steiner, formerly of Jaguar and Red Bull, has appointed former Marussia chief Dave O’Neill to be team manager. Former Red Bull man Rob Taylor will be chief designer, and aerodynamics boss Ben Agathangelou comes straight from technical partner […]
Merhi may not keep Manor race seat
Mar.10 (GMM) Manor has completed the Melbourne grid by signing Spanish rookie Roberto Merhi. Before the official announcement, it emerged in the Spanish press that the former Marussia team had applied to the FIA for a super licence for the 23-year-old. Merhi has travelled to Australia for his grand prix debut this weekend, but his […]