Apr.21 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger hopes Fernando Alonso’s decision to do the Indy 500 next month is the start of a new trend. “It’s like the old days,” said the former Ferrari and McLaren driver, referring to when drivers would routinely combine their F1 duties with races into other categories. “We must finally break […]
Ferrari triggers Mercedes ‘alarm bells’ – Lauda
Apr.20 (GMM) Ferrari has set off “alarm bells” at triple back-to-back world champions Mercedes. That is the admission of Niki Lauda, the F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman and co-owner. Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton traded victories in Melbourne and China, but it was Vettel’s win last weekend in Bahrain that has Mercedes worried, Lauda […]
Vandoorne can relax amid McLaren crisis – Boullier
Apr.20 (GMM) Eric Boullier insists F1 rookie Stoffel Vandoorne is “not under pressure” amid McLaren-Honda’s current performance crisis. One analysis of the situation might be that with the team struggling for pace and reliability, Belgian Vandoorne is risking his once-in-a-lifetime chance to prove he belongs in F1. It comes after the highly rated Vandoorne, 24, […]
Stroll not getting down about 2017 so far
Apr.19 (GMM) Lance Stroll says he is not getting down about the difficult start to his F1 career. The Canadian teen, already under pressure after a mistake-strewn winter and claims he is a ‘pay driver’, struggled in Australia and China as his race career kicked off with Williams. And there was more trouble in Bahrain, […]
No room at Porsche for Alonso – boss
Apr.19 (GMM) Porsche has played down claims it will host Fernando Alonso’s bid for 2018 Le Mans victory. The Spaniard is tackling next month’s Indy 500, as part of his stated push to win the ‘Triple Crown’ of motor sport — Monaco, Indy and the fabled 24 hour endurance race. Reports said Porsche’s LMP1 project […]
Ferrari ‘hungrier’ than Mercedes – Alesi
Apr.19 (GMM) The secret ingredient at Ferrari this year is “hunger”. That is the claim of Jean Alesi, a popular former Ferrari driver of the 90s. After three years of utter Mercedes dominance, Ferrari has won two of the opening three grands prix of 2017. “The advantage of Ferrari is clear,” Frenchman Alesi, 52, told […]
Red Bull not letting Sainz go – Horner
Apr.19 (GMM) Christian Horner says Red Bull does not intend to release Carlos Sainz from his contract. Last year, the impressive Toro Rosso driver was linked with a move to Renault, but Red Bull elected to keep him at the junior team and as a ‘reserve’ for the main outfit Red Bull Racing. “Carlos has […]
Alonso ‘advised badly’ in F1 career – Horner
Apr.19 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s career has taken a “strange” turn because of “mistakes” in his decision-making processes. That is the summary of Christian Horner, boss of the Red Bull team. In Bahrain, Horner joked that Alonso needs a “psychiatrist” after deciding to skip Monaco next month in order to tackle the fabled and dangerous Indy […]
Massa accepts Verstappen apology
Apr.19 (GMM) Felipe Massa has called a close to the latest controversy surrounding Max Verstappen. In Bahrain, the Dutch teenager hit out at Brazil as a nation following a qualifying run-in with Felipe Massa. Massa responded angrily, and the Red Bull driver duly apologised via social media. When asked about the apology, Massa said on […]
Former boss hails Renault progress
Apr.19 (GMM) Former Renault boss Frederic Vasseur says the French works team is performing well in 2017. On paper, the black and yellow-coloured team appears to be struggling in its second year since the Lotus takeover, scoring just 2 points in three races. But Vasseur told France’s L’Equipe: “I do not share your judgement. “In […]
Mercedes drivers admit tyre problems
Apr.19 (GMM) Mercedes’ two drivers have admitted the team is struggling with tyre problems in 2017. After three races, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel is leading the world championship, leaving triple back-to-back champions Mercedes to ponder the reasons. “We have a bit to do at this test,” said Lewis Hamilton, after staying around in Bahrain for the […]
Mallya arrested, bailed in London
Apr.19 (GMM) Force India boss Vijay Mallya was arrested in London on Tuesday. The news follows the Indian government’s attempts to have the former billionaire extradited on corruption and fraud charges relating to huge debts. India’s Hindustan Times newspaper claims the 61-year-old was bailed on a 650,000 pound bond “within hours”. An Indian politician was […]
Carey hits back at Ecclestone race fee comments
Apr.18 (GMM) Chase Carey has hit back at his predecessor Bernie Ecclestone following comments made in Bahrain last weekend. While attending his first race since being ousted as F1 supremo, Ecclestone admitted he “charged too much” to race hosts in the past. “Sooner or later I’m frightened that the governments behind them will say enough […]
Team orders approach has changed – Wolff
Apr.18 (GMM) Mercedes reluctantly used team orders in Bahrain because “the situation is different now”. That is the explanation of team boss Toto Wolff, speaking after Valtteri Bottas was told to move over for triple world champion Lewis Hamilton in Bahrain. “We don’t like it,” he is quoted by Speed Week, when asked about the […]
Massa surprised Button not testing in Bahrain
Apr.18 (GMM) Felipe Massa says he cannot understand why Jenson Button is not testing for McLaren before contesting next month’s Monaco grand prix. Some have argued that a driver of the Briton’s calibre and experience does not need to specially prepare for Monaco, a tight and therefore less physically demanding circuit than many. But fellow […]
Indy 500 deal ‘not my idea’ – Boullier
Apr.18 (GMM) Eric Boullier says he initially did not support Fernando Alonso’s move to skip Monaco next month in order to bid for Indy 500 victory. It appears the sensational and controversial deal was actually engineered by new McLaren executive and marketing guru Zak Brown. “It was not my idea,” team boss Boullier confirmed to […]
Berger tips Vettel to stay at Ferrari
Apr.18 (GMM) Ferrari’s hopes of keeping Sebastian Vettel on board beyond 2017 have taken a giant leap forward. That is the view of F1 legend Gerhard Berger, who before the start of the season warned that German Vettel could elect to leave the Italian team. But now he says: “With Ferrari performing, there is no […]
Force India hails rapid Renault progress
Apr.18 (GMM) Renault is a standout midfield performer so far in 2017. That is the view of Bob Fernley, the deputy boss at Force India. Last year, Force India was the fourth force in F1, and the Silverstone based team remains fourth in the 2017 standings after three races. But although Renault’s results are not […]
Alonso denies voluntarily quitting Bahrain GP
Apr.18 (GMM) Sources close to Fernando Alonso have “strongly denied” suggestions the Spaniard voluntarily quit Sunday’s Bahrain grand prix. After making derogatory comments about the Honda power unit on the radio, Alonso claimed he had an “engine problem” and retired. But post-race rumours suggested that because he was out of the points, Alonso had simply […]
McLaren ‘can’t continue like this’ – Ojjeh
Apr.18 (GMM) Mansour Ojjeh says McLaren and Honda are working feverishly to get out of a “crisis”, because either side “cannot continue like this”. Ojjeh is a major, long-time and normally low-profile shareholder of the once-great British team, but he was in Bahrain last weekend and not shy to let his opinion be known about […]