May 12 (GMM) Mercedes has revealed the most striking car upgrade among its top team rivals in Barcelona. Before the Spanish grand prix weekend, all the talk was of Red Bull and its plans for a supposed ‘B’ car after an uncompetitive start to 2017. But then the RB13 was seen in the Barcelona pits […]
Hard tyres could help Mercedes – Surer
May 12 (GMM) Pirelli’s tyres could determine the outcome of the Spanish grand prix this weekend. While the top teams have come to Barcelona with big car upgrades, the biggest factor could in fact be the hard compounds supplied by F1’s official tyre supplier. “In the winter tests we used the ultra-softs here, so I […]
Bottas not thinking about 2017 title
May 12 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas insists he is not letting his mind jump ahead amid his aim of winning the 2017 world championship. After three races in 2017, some were saying the Finn was teammate Lewis Hamilton’s mere ‘number 2’. But then he won in Russia, closing the points gap to his Mercedes teammate to […]
Colajanni confirms F1 return
May 12 (GMM) A former Ferrari spokesman has confirmed his return to formula one. Earlier, we reported that Luca Colajanni, a prominent member of the famous Italian team in the Todt-Schumacher era, had been signed up to lead Liberty Media’s F1 communications team. Colajanni confirmed that his four-year F1 absence is now ending. “I was […]
Sainz admits eye on Red Bull move
May 12 (GMM) Amid rumours Alonso, Vettel and Ricciardo could be on the move for 2018, Spanish 22-year-old Carlos Sainz could be a beneficiary of that reshuffle. The Toro Rosso driver was almost poached by Renault this year, but Red Bull clung to his 2017 contract. “For me it’s positive if they don’t want to […]
Rumour – Vettel, Alonso, Ricciardo on the move?
May 12 (GMM) The big rumour in the Barcelona paddock is that top drivers Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso could be on the move. Although leading the world championship for Ferrari, Vettel is rumoured to have inked a ‘pre-agreement’ to switch to Mercedes for 2018. “I don’t know,” the German said in Barcelona. “Is it […]
Stroll says still in F1 learning phase
May 11 (GMM) Lance Stroll says he is still getting up to speed in formula one. The 18-year-old rookie, derided by some as a ‘pay driver’, has not only made mistakes but been off the pace of his Williams teammate Felipe Massa so far in 2017. But Stroll said he’s not worried. “When everything comes […]
‘Calm’ no advantage over Hamilton – Bottas
May 11 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has denied his personality could give him the edge in his battle with teammate Lewis Hamilton this year. After a more modest start, the Finn added a win in Russia to his earlier pole and is now just 10 points behind Hamilton in the points standings. “I have to compliment […]
Hamilton ‘more talented than me’ – Rosberg
May 11 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says he is open to becoming friends once again with Lewis Hamilton. The pair have admitted they were once childhood “best friends”, but when paired at Mercedes they shared an acrimonious relationship as title-duelling teammates. Even after Rosberg’s retirement, Hamilton recently answered “nothing” when asked what he thinks about the […]
Alonso to decide future after summer break
May 11 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is not ruling out staying at McLaren beyond the end of his 2017 contract. Many people see the works Honda-powered team’s ongoing crisis, and Alonso’s decision to skip Monaco in favour of the Indy 500, as a clear sign that his patience with the Anglo-Japanese collaboration is up. Asked what […]
Berger nephew good enough for F1 – Wolff
May 11 (GMM) Toto Wolff says there could be a place in formula one for F1 legend Gerhard Berger’s nephew. Days ago, as Lucas Auer got off to a good start in the German touring car series DTM, Berger said his nephew could “get the chance” to move into F1. 22-year-old Auer, the son of […]
Liberty signs Ferrari spokesman – report
May 11 (GMM) A former Ferrari spokesman is returning to formula one. In the Italian team’s famous Todt-Schumacher era, Italian Luca Colajanni was the communications chief. Ferrari insider Leo Turrini now reveals on his Quotidiano blog that Colajanni is returning to the sport to be in charge of new F1 owner Liberty Media’s communications arm.
Sauber ‘not worried’ about 2018 Honda switch
May 11 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn says she is confident Sauber will be more competitive next year with Honda power. Currently, the Swiss team is struggling with year-old Ferrari power units, but Sauber but will become works McLaren partner Honda’s first engine customer for 2018. However, the Honda is currently the least competitive and most unreliable […]
Kvyat could return to Red Bull – Valsecchi
May 11 (GMM) Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat may be scrapping for a plum seat at Red Bull’s senior team for 2018. That is the claim of 2012 GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi, who today works for Italian television. He told Russia’s Championat that, while Red Bull’s current drivers are firmly under contract, there may still […]
Verstappen ‘cannot switch to Ferrari’ – Marko
May 10 (GMM) Red Bull insists there is no risk it could lose Max Verstappen to a rival team like Ferrari before his contract runs out. Former F1 driver Martin Brundle this week said he can sense the 19-year-old’s “frustration” this year, as Red Bull struggles to match Ferrari and Mercedes. So there are rumours […]
No F1 return for Glock
May 10 (GMM) Timo Glock has admitted that hinting he is set to return to formula one was a “joke”. The German contested almost 100 grands prix for Jordan, Toyota and Marussia, but since 2013 has been a works BMW driver in the German touring car series DTM. This week, some reporters became excited when […]
No ‘brutal’ team orders at Mercedes – Wolff
May 10 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes is reluctant to issue any “brutal” team orders this year. Before he won in Russia, closing the points gap to his teammate Lewis Hamilton to just 10 points, team newcomer Valtteri Bottas was asked to move aside in Bahrain. But Mercedes boss Wolff says orders will be used […]
Berger believes in Schumacher ‘miracle’
May 10 (GMM) Gerhard Berger says he believes his F1 contemporary Michael Schumacher will one day recover from his brain injuries. Little is known about the seven time world champion’s current condition following a 2013 skiing fall, but it emerged in court last week that he still cannot walk. “I believe in the miracle and […]
Hulkenberg tips Ferrari for title
May 10 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has hailed the fight at the top of formula one this year. The German is impressing after switching to the renewed and improving French works team Renault for 2017, but he admitted his eye has also been on the exciting fight for the title. “Not for a long time have […]
Liberty bought F1 to end ‘crisis’ – Carey
May 10 (GMM) Liberty Media decided to buy F1 because it saw potential amid the sport’s “crisis”. That is the claim of Chase Carey, who has replaced long-time F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone as the sport’s chief executive. Asked by the Spanish daily AS why Liberty bought F1, American Carey answered: “Firstly because we believed that […]