Dec.30 (GMM) Ferrari is pushing ahead with improving its turbo V6 engine and car after a faltering start to the new era in F1. Of the sport’s three engine makers in 2014, the fabled Maranello marque was the only one not to win a single grand prix. Ferrari, the works Renault team Red Bull and […]
Vettel, Alonso right to leave F1 teams – Villeneuve
Dec.30 (GMM) Former champions Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso were right to leave their respective teams ahead of 2015. That is the view of the outspoken 1997 title winner turned pundit Jacques Villeneuve. “Both are in a better situation now that they have gone,” said the French Canadian, referring to Vettel’s move to replace Alonso […]
Schu still a ‘sensitive issue’ at ski crash site – report
Dec.30 (GMM) Exactly a year after Michael Schumacher’s skiing accident, the Meribel resort director wants to move on. As the world looks back to 29 December 2013, when the most successful driver in grand prix history famously fell and struck his head on a snow-covered rock, a reporter for the major German newspaper Bild-Zeitung returned […]
Loyal backers sticking with Schumacher
Dec.29 (GMM) A year after his skiing accident, Michael Schumacher has retained the loyal backing of most of his personal sponsors. It was reported earlier that, after the German mineral water company Rosbacher deal ended, Schumacher also lost the backing of the fashion brands Navyboot and Jet Set. However, the DPA news agency insists that […]
Fears third F1 team could collapse – reports
Dec.29 (GMM) There are fears a third team could follow Caterham and Marussia out of F1 as the new year beckons. Caterham, although still in administration, is hoping to race in 2015 but Marussia’s assets and factory are being sold to pay back creditors. F1 business journalist Christian Sylt wrote in the Telegraph that the […]
Enzo Ferrari’s son backs Maranello revolution
Dec.29 (GMM) Enzo Ferrari’s only living son Piero has backed the revolution at Maranello led by new president Sergio Marchionne. Having faltered at the start of the new turbo V6 era, Ferrari has undergone a radical shakeup involving an almost total clean-sweep of the top roles in red. Leading the charge now is Fiat Chrysler […]
‘Worst year’ for F1 entrepreneur Fernandes
Dec.29 (GMM) Tony Fernandes’ already bad 2014 turned black at the weekend. This year, the Malaysian entrepreneur sold his ailing backmarker F1 team Caterham, his London football club Queens Park Rangers has disappointed, and now a flight operated by his airline AirAsia has gone missing en route to Singapore. The flight had 155 passengers and […]
Korea removed from latest 2015 calendar
Dec.29 (GMM) Korea has been removed from the latest 2015 calendar issued by F1’s governing body. Insiders were initially stunned early in December when next year’s schedule featured an unprecedented 21 grand prix dates and the return of a race in unpopular South Korea. Korean organisers played down the inclusion and even Bernie Ecclestone admitted […]
Hamilton wins European sportsman award
Dec.29 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has taken home yet another plaudit after winning his second drivers’ title in 2014. A coveted award in Europe is the Polish press agency’s Sportsman of the Year, in which 18 similar sports news services cast their votes. In 2014, it is Mercedes driver and Briton Hamilton who secured the prize […]
Verstappen debut ‘an insult’ – Villeneuve
Dec.22 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve says the forthcoming debut of F1’s youngest ever race driver Max Verstappen is “an insult”. Just a year out of karts, 17-year-old Verstappen has been signed to drive for Red Bull’s junior F1 team Toro Rosso in 2015. The outspoken 1997 world champion told Italy’s Omnicorse: “Should I tell you the […]