Jan.19 (GMM) Reigning GP2 champion will keep his skills sharp this year in Japan’s top tier of open wheel racing. Just like his GP2 champion predecessor Stoffel Vandoorne last year, it has emerged that Frenchman Gasly, 20, will race in the Super Formula series in 2017. Red Bull junior Gasly had hoped to move into […]
Silverstone ‘will drop’ British GP – source
Jan.19 (GMM) Bad news is still flowing out of Silverstone, the embattled current venue of the historic British grand prix. Recently, the track-owning British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) indicated it could end its F1 race deal, although president Derek Warwick subsequently played down those fears. But now, a senior BRDC member claims Silverstone “will definitely […]
Stroll happy Massa replacing Bottas
Jan.19 (GMM) 2017 rookie Lance Stroll says he is happy that Felipe Massa will be his teammate this year. Earlier, the 18-year-old Canadian was set to be paired with Valtteri Bottas at Williams, but the Finn has switched to Mercedes. “I’m sure many fans are happy to see Felipe return,” Stroll told Le Journal de […]
F1 teams back away from buying shares – report
Jan.19 (GMM) F1 teams are backing away from new owner Liberty’s offer of shares in the sport they compete in. We have reported that Liberty is offering up to 20pc of the sport’s commercial rights to the teams on favourable terms, although the stake would not include voting rights. The teams have until the end […]
Piero Ferrari eyes ‘three wins’ in 2017
Jan.19 (GMM) Piero Ferrari would like to see the F1 team that bears his famous surname win at least three races in 2017. The great Maranello marque failed to win a single grand prix last year. So for 2017, team shareholder and founder Enzo Ferrari’s only living son told the blog of Leo Turrini: “I […]
Surer unsure Bottas can challenge Hamilton
Jan.19 (GMM) Former F1 driver Marc Surer hopes Valtteri Bottas is up to the task of taking on triple world champion Lewis Hamilton in 2017. Some, like the now German-language commentator Surer, fear that with Nico Rosberg having retired as champion, Finn Bottas might not be fast enough to challenge Hamilton at the dominant Mercedes […]
McLaren hints at 2017 livery change
Jan.19 (GMM) McLaren executive Zak Brown has confirmed reports the British team might be set for a livery change in 2017. With supremo Ron Dennis now ousted, speculation suggests the Honda-powered marque might return to its roots and switch to its traditional orange this year. “We have been showing the McLaren guys and girls and […]
Ecclestone to exit as FIA approves F1 buyout
Jan.19 (GMM) The final hurdle has been cleared as Liberty Media races towards completing its takeover of formula one. Earlier this week, shareholders of the US media tycoon John Malone’s company approved the buyout, saying the last hurdle would be the FIA’s green light. That was achieved on Wednesday, during an extraordinary meeting of the […]
‘No problems’ in Bottas-Hamilton pairing – Kovalainen
Jan.18 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s former teammate says Valtteri Bottas should not have any trouble working with the triple world champion in 2017. “I have good memories with Lewis,” said Finn Heikki Kovalainen, who was Hamilton’s teammate at McLaren in 2008 and 2009. “He is a tough teammate and an extremely fast driver but it was […]
Kovalainen made bid to replace Bottas
Jan.18 (GMM) Former F1 driver Heikki Kovalainen has admitted he made a bid to replace the Mercedes-bound Valtteri Bottas at Williams for 2017. Amid strong speculation that Bottas would leave the British team, Kovalainen said he recently offered his services to replace his fellow Finn at Williams. “Yes, I sent Claire (Williams) an email,” the […]
Lotus F1 foray ‘not a failure’ – Lopez
Jan.18 (GMM) Former F1 team owner Gerard Lopez has defended his record in the sport, insisting the Lotus foray was “not a failure”. The Luxembourg entrepreneur, who is now buying the French football club Losc Lille, sold the Enstone based Lotus team to Renault at the end of 2015 for a symbolic single Euro. But […]
Honda in talks with Sauber over 2018 – report
Jan.18 (GMM) Honda’s plans to begin supplying a second F1 team with engines are now shaping up. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, who said the obvious first customer for Honda is Sauber. “The Swiss team has not extended its contract with Ferrari,” correspondent Michael Schmidt revealed. Currently, Honda’s exclusive works […]
Liberty still seeking FIA green light
Jan.18 (GMM) Only one hurdle remains as F1’s new owner Liberty Media looks to complete its buyout of the sport. This week, Liberty’s shareholders got together in Colorado to vote on the F1 acquisition, the company headed by US media tycoon John Malone confirmed in a statement. It said shareholders duly “approved” the purchase, including […]
Alonso ‘not afraid’ of rookie Vandoorne
Jan.18 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he is “not worried” even though he has a rookie teammate for 2017. It is now a full decade ago that the Spaniard, then as a reigning back-to-back champion, thought he had a clear run at McLaren only to be paired with rookie Lewis Hamilton. Now, history could repeat itself […]
Lauda ‘tension’ gone after Bottas signing
Jan.18 (GMM) Niki Lauda says he feels relaxed now that Valtteri Bottas has been signed up for 2017. Earlier, the F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman sounded almost angry that Rosberg had left the world champions in the lurch by quitting after winning his title. “My tension, which had resulted from the withdrawal of Nico, […]
Rosberg “curious” to watch successor Bottas
Jan.18 (GMM) World champion Nico Rosberg says he is looking forward to seeing a “great battle” between Mercedes’ new driving duo in 2017. After an eleventh hour scrabble to replace Rosberg after the German sensationally quit Mercedes and F1, the team announced this week that Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate will be Williams driver Valtteri Bottas. […]
Vandoorne unsure McLaren can win in 2017
Jan.17 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne is not sure McLaren will be ready to win races in 2017. After two seasons of struggle but steady improvement, the Honda-powered team has announced it will launch its new car on February 24 — the same day as Ferrari. There is already speculation the car will be in McLaren’s traditional […]
One year deal for Bottas ‘strange’ – Salo
Jan.17 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas’ one-year contract to drive for Mercedes in 2017 is “really strange”. That is the view of Mika Salo, a fellow Finn and former F1 driver. Bottas’ switch from Williams to replace the suddenly-retired reigning world champion Nico Rosberg at Mercedes was finally unveiled on Monday. But sources quickly reported that the […]
‘Angry’ Sainz also ‘patient’ for future
Jan.17 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has admitted he is “angry” but also “patient”, as his career stalls for now at Toro Rosso. Actually, the Spaniard had a very good 2016 season, but it was his Toro Rosso teammate Max Verstappen who got the call to move into the senior team. Not just that, Sainz got an […]
Last pieces of 2017 puzzle in place
Jan.17 (GMM) The last major pieces of the 2017 grid have fallen into place. Mercedes announced that Valtteri Bottas is joining the reigning world champions, Williams said Felipe Massa will replace the Finn, while the Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein’s Sauber deal was also unveiled. “I must thank Williams for their cooperation in allowing Valtteri to […]