Nov.13 (GMM) Toto Wolff has played down the controversy about his phone call to Max Verstappen’s father. Red Bull chiefs Helmut Marko and Christian Horner lashed out as they revealed the Mercedes chief had phoned former F1 driver Jos Verstappen to urge his son against intervening in the title fight between Nico Rosberg and Lewis […]
Marko urges F1 to end penalty era
Nov.13 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has urged F1 to end the current era of driver penalties. It emerged in Brazil that, at the next Strategy Group meeting, Bernie Ecclestone and several teams will call on the FIA to dramatically simplify the rules. The latest move follows the Mexican grand prix, where a penalty against Sebastian […]
McLaren co-owners move to axe Ron Dennis
Nov.12 (GMM) Ron Dennis’ long journey in F1 could come to a halt as early as next week, according to widespread reports. The well-placed Sky News, as well as multiple British newspapers and sources, claim the McLaren supremo has even been at the London High Court to try to prevent his ousting from the company […]
Button eyes GT, rallycross for 2017
Nov.12 (GMM) Jenson Button has hinted at his plan to keep on racing during his F1 ‘sabbatical’ next year. Although some think the Briton is retiring, 36-year-old Button insists he might return in 2018. But what is clear is that the 2009 world champion will probably keep on racing next year. “I’m not sure what […]
Strategy Group to push for fewer penalties
Nov.12 (GMM) The controversy about driver penalties in F1 is still raging. That is despite the fact that, after Ferrari renewed its push for Sebastian Vettel’s Mexico GP penalty to be reinstated, the stewards dismissed the new evidence. Red Bull, whose Daniel Ricciardo inherited the podium after teammate Max Verstappen and Vettel were both penalised […]
Lauda, Wolff ensuring free fight for title
Nov.12 (GMM) Niki Lauda says Mercedes is giving Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton a free fight for the 2016 title. The German marque has struggled to control the pair at times over the past few seasons, but as they battle for this year’s crown in Brazil and Abu Dhabi, team chairman Lauda said Mercedes will […]
Kaltenborn admits Nasr place not certain
Nov.12 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn has admitted it is not certain that Felipe Nasr will stay at Sauber beyond 2016. Earlier, we reported that the Swiss team was likely to keep the Brazilian alongside Marcus Ericsson next year, but team boss Kaltenborn admits there have been tensions. “Yes, we lived through times of stress,” she told […]
Villeneuve relationship ‘from foe to friends’ – Massa
Nov.12 (GMM) Felipe Massa has revealed that after a rocky earlier relationship, he and 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve reconciled to become friends. As his long F1 career comes to a close later this month, the Brazilian has been looking back on his past teammates, including world champions Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso. […]
Brawn’s role could be unclear for months
Nov.12 (GMM) It may be months before Ross Brawn’s potential future role in F1 becomes clear. Recently, as he promotes a book, the former Mercedes and Ferrari chief has been firing rumours that he might become the sport’s new Liberty-appointed sporting CEO. But for the moment, Brawn is simply working as a consultant. âI’m ok […]
Arrivabene laughs at mounting Ferrari ‘pressure’
Nov.12 (GMM) The pressure is still piling high on Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene’s shoulders. A legendary former driver for the Scuderia, triple world champion Niki Lauda, told Italy’s Autosprint: “Vettel is very nervous now because there’s too much pressure from (Sergio) Marchionne and throughout Italy.” It was a timely comment from Lauda, after Ferrari […]
Ricciardo beats Vettel among F1’s best – Wolff
Nov.12 (GMM) Toto Wolff has joined Fernando Alonso in making a surprise choice as one of the very best drivers in F1 today. Recently, Alonso surprised the F1 world by saying Daniel Ricciardo is today’s top driver. So when asked by France’s Le Figaro newspaper to name his top three in F1 at the moment, […]
Alonso defends ‘sense of humour’ in Brazil
Nov.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has defended running amok during Friday’s free practice session in Brazil. A year ago, the Spaniard triggered a social media storm by reclining in a marshal’s deck chair after breaking down at Interlagos near the end of a trying year. 2017 has been better, but Alonso was still keeping F1 fans […]
Marko slams Wolff for Verstappen phone call
Nov.12 (GMM) A phone call made by Toto Wolff has opened up a new rift with Red Bull. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, revealing that ahead of the Brazilian grand prix, the Mercedes chief called Max Verstappen’s father Jos. It is believed Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, asked Jos to […]
Magnussen’s Haas move surprises Palmer
Nov.12 (GMM) Jolyon Palmer has admitted he is surprised that current Renault teammate Kevin Magnussen is moving to Haas for 2017. Earlier in Brazil, Magnussen told reporters that he actually turned down Renault’s offer of a one-year contract extension in order to sign a longer deal. “I’m surprised,” Briton Palmer, who has signed the one-year […]
Liberty expects teams to buy into F1
Nov.12 (GMM) F1 teams are expressing interest in buying into the sport, Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei has revealed. As Liberty moved to take over from majority owner CVC, it emerged that the teams had been invited to consider becoming co-owners. “We obviously … went to meet with the teams and I think as has […]
Stroll gives Williams financial boost – Bottas
Nov.11 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has admitted Lance Stroll’s arrival in 2017 will give a financial boost to the Williams team. The Finnish broadcaster MTV reports that along with 18-year-old Stroll, whose father is the Canadian fashion mogul Lawrence Stroll, will come an injection of backing to the tune of some EUR 30 million. “Of course […]
Petrobras to leave Williams – report
Nov.11 (GMM) Brazilian oil multinational Petrobras is leaving Williams at the end of 2016, local media source UOL claims. The report said that after the British team’s latest three-year deal with Petrobras, the Brazilian semi-public company will depart Williams along with retiring Brazilian driver Felipe Massa. “Petrobras decided not to renew the agreement for 2017,” […]
Ecclestone discusses Brazil GP with president Temer
Nov.11 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone detoured to the Brazilian capital Brasilia on his way to the Brazilian grand prix in Sao Paulo. According to the local news source UOL, the F1 supremo met with new Brazilian president Michel Temer. “UOL Esporte has found that the issue of discussion was the continuation of the grand prix of […]
Sauber looks set to keep same drivers
Nov.11 (GMM) Sauber looks set to keep its existing drivers in 2017. Although Marcus Ericsson is closely linked with the Swiss team’s new group of owners, the Swede had indicated he was interested in the Force India seat. But with Esteban Ocon now confirmed in that role, Ericsson said in Brazil: “As long as nothing […]
Renault kept Palmer for ‘continuity’ – Vasseur
Nov.11 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has revealed that he turned down an offer to stay with Renault for 2017. Instead, the French works team has retained Jolyon Palmer to join the incoming Nico Hulkenberg next year. Many have questioned the Palmer re-signing, given that the Briton has been generally outperformed by Dane Magnussen this year and […]