Jun.9 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is still hoping for a future with Red Bull, despite rumours he might be on Ferrari’s wish list for 2018. When told about those Ferrari rumours by Sky Italia, the Spaniard answered: “Thank you, because it’s a list every driver wants to be on. “But I owe a lot […]
Ricciardo hoping for Renault upgrade in Baku
Jun.9 (GMM) Red Bull is in an upbeat mood as it speeds towards the mid-season point in 2017. The former champions started the season off the pace but recent upgrades have narrowed the gap to the leading teams Ferrari and Mercedes. “We should keep closing up now,” Daniel Ricciardo is quoted by Auto Motor und […]
McLaren-Honda could split ‘in two races’ – report
Jun.9 (GMM) The deadlines are now coming thick and fast amid the deteriorating McLaren-Honda relationship. Reports this week suggested McLaren executive Zak Brown has imposed a 90-day deadline for Honda to up its game, but Bild newspaper claims the real ultimatum is much sooner than that. “Bild has learned that if the Japanese do not […]
Lowe exit not cause of Mercedes slump – Wolff
Jun.8 (GMM) Toto Wolff has denied Mercedes’ performance took a hit in 2017 due to the departure of Paddy Lowe. Before the season, technical boss Lowe switched from the triple back-to-back world champions to Williams, and since then Ferrari has pulled out a small lead as the fastest team in F1. When asked if the […]
Vettel is ‘logical’ title favourite – Zanardi
Jun.8 (GMM) Alex Zanardi has joined those who think Ferrari’s decade-long title drought could finally end in 2017. “I do not need a crystal ball to say that Vettel is in the running for the championship,” the former F1 driver and Italian told Corriere dello Sport newspaper. “Sebastian is leading the championship by 25 points […]
Zanardi thinks Kubica return possible
Jun.8 (GMM) Alex Zanardi thinks it is possible Robert Kubica could return to formula one. Not long ago, former Renault and BMW driver Kubica said he thought returning to F1 would be “impossible”, as the disability to his right arm is permanent. “I have to do all of my (arm) movement with my shoulder,” he […]
Mercedes, not Ferrari, using team orders – Surer
Jun.8 (GMM) Marc Surer thinks it is Mercedes, not Ferrari, who have been using ‘team orders’ so far in 2017. As the ‘big two’ teams’ title battle ramps up, some including Lewis Hamilton suspect Kimi Raikkonen was deliberately dropped behind his Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel in Monaco. But Surer, a former F1 driver turned German-language […]
Stroll needs ‘time and patience’ – Bottas
Jun.8 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has joined those who think struggling F1 rookie Lance Stroll needs more time to prove himself. 18-year-old Stroll, derided by some as a ‘pay driver’, has made notable mistakes so far in 2017 and is off the pace of his experienced teammate Felipe Massa. Bottas told Le Journal de Montreal: “It’s […]
McLaren gives Honda Spa deadline – report
Jun.8 (GMM) Speculation McLaren and Honda could be set to split is intensifying ahead of this weekend’s Canadian grand prix. With the Japanese carmaker notably struggling since re-entering F1 with McLaren in 2015, the once-great British team is reportedly now considering breaking its contract and buying Mercedes engines for 2018. Spain’s Marca sports newspaper says […]
Wolff, Daimler slam Mercedes quit rumours
Jun.8 (GMM) Mercedes has reacted angrily to Eddie Jordan’s claim the German carmaker might pull out of formula one. Jordan, a former team owner and boss who is now a controversial broadcaster, told Germany’s Auto Bild in Monaco recently that he thinks Mercedes will quit after next season. A spokesman for Daimler, the Mercedes-Benz parent, […]
Ferrari could win 2017 title – Alesi
Jun.7 (GMM) Jean Alesi thinks it is possible Ferrari will win its first championship for a decade this year. It is now over 20 years since the Frenchman won his first and only grand prix for Ferrari, at the scene of this weekend’s Canadian grand prix in Montreal. Now, Alesi says he is witnessing a […]
Stroll struggles no surprise – Grosjean
Jun.7 (GMM) Romain Grosjean says he is not surprised Lance Stroll is struggling in 2017. 18-year-old rookie Stroll is taking a torrent of flak so far this year, as he makes mistakes and struggles for pace amid claims he is little more than a ‘pay driver’. Haas driver Grosjean told Le Journal de Montreal that […]
Jordan tips Mercedes to quit F1
Jun.7 (GMM) Eddie Jordan has tipped Mercedes to quit formula one after the 2018 season. A former team owner and boss, British broadcaster Jordan has become known as something of a paddock oracle, successfully predicting multiple developments including Michael Schumacher’s comeback. And now he thinks Mercedes is close to quitting the sport it dominated between […]
Ferrari chief tips Vettel to stay
Jun.7 (GMM) Ferrari’s technical boss Mattia Binotto thinks Sebastian Vettel will sign a new deal with the Maranello team. Recently, with championship leader Vettel’s current contract expiring late this year, Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne said the German is free to stay. And now, Germany’s Sport Bild said Marchionne wants that 2018 deal to be done […]
Paul Ricard set for mid-year 2018 date
Jun.7 (GMM) Paul Ricard is heading for a mid-year race date for the return of the French grand prix next year. That is the claim of race promoter Christian Estrosi, who revealed to France’s Auto Hebdo that he met with new F1 CEO Chase Carey recently in Monaco. “In our conversation, I paid particular attention […]
Liberty making broadcasters ‘unsettled’ – Ecclestone
Jun.6 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has questioned his successor’s apparent ‘all change’ approach to running F1. With the Liberty Media takeover, long-time F1 supremo Ecclestone, 86, was replaced as chief executive by Chase Carey and two deputies. On the fact that three men are now doing the former work of one, Ecclestone told Blick newspaper: “That […]
No good candidates to replace Raikkonen – Salo
Jun.6 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has a good chance of hanging onto his place at Ferrari beyond 2017. That is the view of the Finn’s countryman Mika Salo, a former F1 driver and now regular FIA steward. After Monaco, where Raikkonen appeared to be the victim of a Ferrari strategy to demote him behind teammate Sebastian […]
Don’t assess Stroll until 2018 – Stewart
Jun.6 (GMM) F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart has defended struggling rookie Lance Stroll. 18-year-old Stroll, whose father and sponsor is the fashion mogul Lawrence Stroll, is under fire as he struggles with his first season in F1. But amid suggestions Stroll brings $50 million to the Grove team, his team boss, Claire Williams, is backing […]
Kubica to test F1 car in Valencia
Jun.6 (GMM) Six years after his near-fatal crash, Robert Kubica is set to return to the wheel of a formula one car. Just before the 2011 season, as he took part in an Italian rally, the Pole almost severed his forearm in a crash. Until now, he has ruled out a return to open cockpit […]
Pirelli’s Isola plays down ‘Italian mystery’
Jun.6 (GMM) Mario Isola has played down rumours of an ‘Italian’ conspiracy to help Ferrari dominate in 2017. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff spoke recently about an “Italian mystery”, regarding how well this year’s Ferrari works on the similarly Italian-made wide slicks. Pirelli chief Isola told the Italian publication F1Sport: “On the ‘Italian mystery’, I have spoken […]