Jun.21 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is not ruling out quitting F1 at the end of the season. When discussing his eventual ‘legacy’ within the sport in conversation with the FIA magazine Auto, triple world champion Hamilton said he might soon join former teammate Nico Rosberg in retirement. “My destiny is in my own hands,” said the […]
Honda not ruling out F1 help
Jun.21 (GMM) Honda is no longer ruling out accepting help as it looks to finally get up to speed in F1. Until now, the Japanese marque has usually been reluctant to look outside its own company during its three-year struggle so far in collaboration with McLaren. But amid strong rumours of a McLaren-Honda split, the […]
McLaren deal not Mercedes ‘priority’ – Wolff
Jun.21 (GMM) Toto Wolff is still reluctant to talk about the possibility of Mercedes supplying customer engines to McLaren next year. It is now very possible that McLaren and its hapless works supplier Honda will split, and Mercedes has been mentioned as the most likely alternative for the once-great British team. But Mercedes chief Wolff […]
No hurry to sign new Bottas deal – Wolff
Jun.21 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes will “take our time” in deciding whether to keep Valtteri Bottas for 2018. The Finn, currently on just a one year deal following Nico Rosberg’s shock retirement, said this week his goal is to secure a multi-year deal. “Of course there is pressure on him,” team boss Wolff is […]
Carey confident all 21 races set for 2018
Jun.21 (GMM) Chase Carey has played down speculation next year’s 21-race calendar could actually drop to 19 grands prix. Both China and the popular Singapore night race have been marked on the provisional 2018 schedule as “subject to commercial rights holder confirmation”. F1 CEO Carey said: “Our goal is to have the races in Shanghai […]
Carey plays down 2018 ‘triple header’
Jun.21 (GMM) Chase Carey has played down the ‘triple header’ that will take place in F1 next year. On the bustling 21-race calendar for 2018, three events – France, Austria and Britain – will be held on subsequent weekends. Carey, who has replaced Bernie Ecclestone as F1 CEO, said the back-to-back races are to avoid […]
Porsche to attend F1 engine meeting, Austria GP
Jun.20 (GMM) Porsche could be contemplating a future move into formula one. The Volkswagen-owned German sports car maker has just won its third overall victory at Le Mans on the trot — and F1 could now be on the horizon. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Bild, saying Porsche has accepted an invitation to […]
Bottas wants ‘long term’ Mercedes deal
Jun.20 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is balancing his ambitions to win races against his desire to secure a “long term contract” with Mercedes. Having replaced the reigning champion Nico Rosberg this year, Bottas has impressed so far in 2017 and won his first grand prix in Sochi. Now, ahead of this weekend’s race in […]
Vettel defends social media absence
Jun.20 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has defended his decision to keep a low public profile. The German is notoriously private, as he is rarely photographed with his wife and children and has no social media profiles on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. “I just don’t understand why you have to constantly tell everyone what you are doing, […]
Tyre management not among McLaren’s problems
Jun.20 (GMM) Tyre management is not among McLaren’s problems in 2018. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, as the great British team races towards divorce with its hapless works engine partner Honda. McLaren’s actual 2017 chassis, however, is arguably one of the best in the field. One reason for that is […]
Carey ‘proud’ to revive European F1 races
Jun.20 (GMM) F1 chiefs say they are proud to be bringing two traditional European races back to the sport’s calendar. After a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Geneva, the FIA announced that despite their current absence, France and Germany are back for an unprecedented 21-race race schedule for 2018. “We are proud […]
New Chinese F1 team rumours gain speed – report
Jun.19 (GMM) Rumours about a potential eleventh team for 2018 are gaining momentum. The rumours began to swirl recently in the Montreal paddock, including suggestions the new F1 team project was being backed by Chinese investors. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport now has more details, saying the team would be based in Oxfordshire. Red Bull […]
Honda to deliver engine upgrade in Baku – report
Jun.19 (GMM) Honda looks set to deliver a much-needed engine upgrade this weekend in Baku. In Canada just over a week ago, McLaren chiefs admitted their frustration was at boiling point after the team’s hapless Japanese partner failed to deliver the upgrade as scheduled. Honda’s F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa then said he could not promise […]
Whiting gives Imola F1 circuit approval
Jun.19 (GMM) Imola remains on track for a future return to the F1 calendar. Before current Italian GP host Monza’s 2017 deal was signed last year, the now ousted F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone had admitted Imola was in the running to snatch the historic Italian GP. Now, Italy’s authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that […]
Rumour – Williams key to McLaren-Honda split?
Jun.19 (GMM) Williams has emerged as the potential key to fellow British team McLaren’s Honda divorce. Blick newspaper’s veteran correspondent Roger Benoit reports that Williams could drop its customer Mercedes engine deal for 2018 in order to become the new works Honda team. That would clear the way for McLaren and Honda to split, with […]
No Le Mans clash under Chase Carey’s watch
Jun.19 (GMM) F1 and Le Mans appear to be entering a new era of collaboration. At the weekend, new formula one CEO Chase Carey was the honorary official starter of the fabled 24 hour race at Le Mans. But just a year ago, the now ousted F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone was accused of having deliberately […]
Rosberg hits back at Wolff, Hamilton reports
Jun.19 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has dismissed comments made by his former boss, Toto Wolff. Last week, as he reflected on the acrimonious relationship between the now retired Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, team boss Wolff told a British newspaper that it was the German who was the main internal protagonist at Mercedes. “I know what Toto […]
‘Zero tension’ with Alonso – Zak Brown
Jun.16 (GMM) Amid the McLaren-Honda crisis, boss Zak Brown insists there is “zero tension” between the great British team and Fernando Alonso. Even with McLaren rumoured to be splitting with its hapless Japanese engine supplier, perhaps within weeks or months, Alonso is openly contemplating a change of team for 2018. “I think Fernando loves the […]
Agag wants Ferrari in Formula E
Jun.16 (GMM) Formula E boss Alejandro Agag has urged F1’s most famous team to enter the all-electric series. This week, FIA president said he is glad Renault is involved in both F1 and Formula E, adding: “I am confident that one day Ferrari will follow suit, and we would like to see that.” Agag agrees. […]
Only ‘the name’ the same at McLaren – de la Rosa
Jun.16 (GMM) The “only thing” that has survived the sweeping change at McLaren in recent years is “the name”. That is the claim of the once-great British team’s former long-time test and reserve driver Pedro de la Rosa. He told AS newspaper: “I don’t know the current McLaren very much. “There are still fantastic people […]