Sep.4 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted he met with Max Verstappen’s father at Monza. Amid the high-profile talks involving McLaren, Honda, Toro Rosso and F1 officials at the scene of the Italian grand prix, another notable meeting took place rather more quietly. It was between Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, and former F1 driver Jos […]
Ferrari ’embarrassing’ at Monza – Marchionne
Sep.4 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne says Ferrari’s performance at home at Monza was “embarrassing”. As Mercedes drove to a one-two, the team’s drivers admitted they turned down their engines while easily beating Ferrari’s third-placed Sebastian Vettel to the podium. “Mercedes power is definitely better than Ferrari power,” said new championship leader Lewis Hamilton on the podium, […]
Pregnant Williams to miss last races of 2017
Sep.4 (GMM) Team boss Claire Williams will not attend any more races in 2017. The 41-year-old, who is the daughter of team founder Sir Frank Williams, is due to give birth to her first child – a baby boy – in the coming days. Claire said at Monza that she will be working from home […]
Hamilton wants to know Schumacher condition
Sep.4 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he would like to know the current physical condition of F1 legend Michael Schumacher. At Monza, the Briton sped past the all-time record for pole positions – 68 – formerly held by seven time world champion Schumacher. “For everything he did for the sport and raising the bar, to be […]
McLaren poised to announce 2018 Renault deal
Sep.4 (GMM) McLaren is poised to announce its switch from Honda to Renault power for the 2018 season. It was a weekend of high-politicking at Monza, with the outcome expected to be McLaren dumping Honda, the Japanese supplier moving to Toro Rosso, and Fernando Alonso staying at a newly Renault-powered McLaren for 2018. “We know […]
Bottas staying at Mercedes in 2018 – Lauda
Sep.4 (GMM) Mercedes is now poised to announce that Valtteri Bottas is staying put for 2018. Team boss Toto Wolff said at Monza that keeping the Finn at the team for a second season is a “no brainer”. Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda now tells the German broadcaster RTL: “I can say that he will […]
Special Halo colour for title leader – Todt
Sep.4 (GMM) Jean Todt has an idea to spice up the popularity of the ‘Halo’ safety innovation for 2018. Many drivers, insiders and fans are unhappy that the cockpit protection system will affect the aesthetics and ‘DNA’ of formula one from next year. FIA president Todt said at Monza that Halo is being brought in […]
Renault to complete 2018 lineup soon – Prost
Sep.3 (GMM) Renault looks set to complete its 2018 driver lineup prior to Singapore in a fortnight. It appears likely the French team will oust Jolyon Palmer, and the highest profile candidate to replace him would be former Renault champion Fernando Alonso. However, boss Cyril Abiteboul and Alonso himself have played down claims of a […]
Marko, Lauda, criticise delayed qualifying
Sep.3 (GMM) F1 veterans Dr Helmut Marko and Niki Lauda have hit out at Saturday’s farcically-delayed qualifying session at Monza. In the past, rain would not have necessarily stopped play at Monza, but in 2017 the FIA decided to delay proceedings for hours after Romain Grosjean’s aquaplaning crash. “We have the best drivers here, the […]
Car failure to decide title – Todt
Sep.3 (GMM) Jean Todt thinks reliability will decide the outcome of the 2017 world championship. The FIA president said he is enjoying the close battle between his old team, Ferrari, and reigning champions Mercedes. “I am really enjoying watching it. Everything is still open,” Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper quotes the Frenchman as saying at […]
Ferrari and Mercedes ‘absolutely equal’ – Marchionne
Sep.3 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has backed Ferrari to remain toe-to-toe with Mercedes for the rest of the 2017 championship battle. The Italian team had a bad qualifying at its home circuit at Monza — ironically perhaps the least-suitable track for this year’s Ferrari package. But president Marchionne said: “Compared to when I was here a […]
Heavyweights at Monza as Honda saga nears conclusion
Sep.3 (GMM) The heavyweights have descended on Monza as the saga about Honda’s future in F1 steps into its highest gear. Toro Rosso seems to be the key to the outcome of McLaren-Honda’s looming divorce, as the team has imposed a 6pm Sunday deadline for a conclusion. The easiest way McLaren can split with Honda […]
Ocon clash doesn’t affect contract talks – Perez
Sep.2 (GMM) Sergio Perez is hoping clarity over his future is now only a fortnight away. At Monza, just a week after their huge falling out over their latest collisions at Spa, Perez and his teammate Sergio Perez said they have moved on. But Mexican Perez told Spain’s Diario Sport that tension remains. “It bothers […]
Verstappen’s father in Mercedes talks at Monza
Sep.2 (GMM) High-level meetings at Monza could affect the future of Max Verstappen in formula one. Bild newspaper reports that the Red Bull driver’s father Jos met with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff in the Mercedes motor home ahead of the Italian grand prix. Also in the Monza paddock, and at the same time, Dr Helmut […]
Kubica says F1 return chances ‘good’
Sep.2 (GMM) Robert Kubica says he still has “a good chance” of returning to formula one. After his post-race test in Hungary, the Pole has now returned to the F1 paddock at Monza. Although not in Renault team gear, the 32-year-old is basing himself at the Renault motor home as he works throughout the weekend […]
Bottas would accept ‘number 2’ role
Sep.2 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is prepared to work as the de-facto ‘number 2’ at Mercedes — but not yet. For the moment, the Finn is still technically in the hunt to beat Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton to the title, and patiently waiting for a new Mercedes contract. But boss Toto Wolff at […]
Sauber poised to make announcement
Sep.2 (GMM) Sauber is poised to make a key announcement about the future. The F1 rumour mill at Monza says the Swiss team will confirm either that Ferrari junior Charles Leclerc is joining for 2018 to replace Pascal Wehrlein, or that Sauber will adopt the name ‘Alfa Romeo’ next year. It is said the announcement […]
McLaren meets Renault chiefs at Monza
Sep.2 (GMM) A meeting at Monza could have decided the fate of the McLaren-Honda relationship. Ahead of the Italian grand prix, Renault chiefs Alain Prost and Cyril Abiteboul were spotted leaving the McLaren motor home, flanked by F1 boss Ross Brawn. The big rumour is that a deal has effectively been done between Renault and […]
Leclerc set for 2018 F1 debut – manager
Sep.1 (GMM) Charles Leclerc’s manager says he thinks the 19-year-old will be on the formula one grid next year. Currently, the Monaco-born driver is dominating the Formula 2 championship and strongly backed by Ferrari. Pascal Wehrlein, for instance, is openly expecting to be replaced at Sauber by a Ferrari junior next year. Wehrlein is quoted […]
‘No panic’ despite late contract – Bottas
Sep.1 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas insists there is “no panic” even though he is still not signed up for 2018. While the top teams fill their seats for next year, and even his teammate Lewis Hamilton is talking about a contract for 2019, Bottas still has no Mercedes deal beyond November’s Abu Dhabi finale. However, Toto […]