May 12 (GMM) Robert Kubica says driving Williams’ 2018 car is “not fun”. For the first time since the end of the 2010 season, the Pole appeared in an official practice session ahead of this weekend’s Spanish grand prix. “I was surprised that I was not more emotional. It felt normal,” he said afterwards. “But […]
Alonso plays down F1 quit rumours
May 12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has played down rumours he might quit at the end of the year. The Spaniard said on Thursday that he is no longer desperate to win grands prix. He also said winning Le Mans later this year would mean more than another victory in F1. “I’m not worried,” McLaren executive […]
McLaren supports 2019 wing change
May 12 (GMM) McLaren supports the push to make F1 cars easier to overtake next year. In Barcelona, it emerged that Red Bull’s Christian Horner is furious about the changes to the front wing that have been pushed through for 2019. But McLaren executive Zak Brown said: “Different opinions have been expressed, but we are […]
FIA looks into Ferrari mirror legality
May 12 (GMM) Questions have been raised about Ferrari’s new ‘Halo mirror’ concept. Sebastian Vettel says the repositioned mirrors are purely for visibility purposes, but the solution also includes extra winglets. “I think it’s a great idea,” Force India technical boss Andy Green told Auto Motor und Sport. “They’re really pushing to the limit.” FIA […]
Haas in talks with Pietro Fittipaldi
May 11 (GMM) Haas has been in talks with Pietro Fittipaldi about a potential F1 test. Last weekend at the Spa round of the world endurance championship, the grandson of world champion Emerson Fittipaldi crashed heavily, breaking both legs. When asked about the crash and 21-year-old Fittipaldi, Haas boss Gunther Steiner said: “We just started […]
Bottas cool over 2019 contract talk
May 11 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is not obsessing about his formula one future. Although he almost won in Baku, and afterwards received the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy in Italy, the Mercedes driver does not yet have a deal for 2019. “I’m always developing and improving my weaknesses, but I’m on the right track,” he […]
Miami GP takes another step forward
May 11 (GMM) F1 has taken another step towards green-lighting a Miami street race for 2019. On Thursday, the City of Miami met and voted unanimously on F1’s proposal to race on the Florida coast. “We are very pleased,” said F1 commercial boss Sean Bratches, “even if we recognise it is only the start of […]
2019 wings to make cars slower – Tombazis
May 11 (GMM) FIA technical boss Nikolas Tombazis says changes to make F1 cars easier to overtake in 2019 will also make them slower. Teams have agreed to implement the changes for 2019, mainly involving the front wing. “We expect the cars to slow down by about 1.5 seconds per lap,” Tombazis said in Barcelona. […]
Gasly forgives Magnussen after second apology
May 11 (GMM) Pierre Gasly says he is back on reasonable terms with Kevin Magnussen. After Baku, the Frenchman slammed Magnussen as “the most dangerous driver” he has ever raced against, following a high-speed clash. Haas driver Magnussen apologised afterwards. “I was really angry after the race and did not really listen to what he […]
Stroll not optimistic as Williams designer leaves
May 11 (GMM) Lance Stroll is refusing to say if he is optimistic ahead of the Spanish grand prix. Williams is having a nightmare 2018 season with its uncompetitive car, and now it emerges that designer Ed Wood is leaving. However, it is rumoured that McLaren’s recently-departed Tim Goss might replace him. At the same […]
Spain GP talks to take place after race
May 11 (GMM) Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya boss Joan Fontsere says he hopes talks will lead to a new contract for the Spanish grand prix. In recent days, circuit officials and F1 chief executive Chase Carey have indicated a new deal beyond 2019 is in the works. Talks will begin after Sunday’s race. “At the moment […]
Renault wants to keep Sainz for 2019
May 11 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has admitted he would like to keep Carlos Sainz at Renault for 2019. The Spanish driver is merely ‘on loan’ from Red Bull this year, and Red Bull is considering switching from Renault to Honda power for 2019. It all means Renault boss Abiteboul is not sure how the situation […]
Red Bull not ruling out ‘team orders’
May 11 (GMM) Red Bull is not ruling out using ‘team orders’ to prevent its drivers from crashing in future. Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo apologised to the team at its Milton Keynes base after they crashed in Baku. Asked if team orders will prevent it from happening again, Verstappen said in Barcelona: “It depends […]
Vettel plays down Ferrari ‘Halo mirrors’
May 11 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has played down the effect Ferrari’s radical new ‘Halo mirrors’ will have this weekend in Spain. With the quickest car so far in 2018, the German driver has arrived in Barcelona hoping to re-gain his championship lead. “We have some new things with us, some a bit more hidden but […]
German GP boss in Spain for 2019 race talks
May 11 (GMM) Hockenheim boss Georg Seiler has travelled to Barcelona for talks with F1 chiefs. It comes as he admits that talks about a new contract for the German grand prix beyond 2018 have been fruitless so far. “I don’t know what will happen,” Seiler told DPA news agency. “But we won’t agree a […]
McLaren unveils radical new nose in Spain
May 11 (GMM) McLaren unveiled a radical new nose for its 2018 car in Barcelona. It follows a disappointing start to the season for the British team, despite the switch from Honda to Renault power. “Definitely we are not in the position we wanted or expected,” Fernando Alonso admitted on Thursday. Although McLaren aimed to […]
Alonso not worried about missing Indy 500
May 10 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he doesn’t have time in his busy 2018 schedule to worry about missing the Indy 500. Last year, the Spaniard was a highlight of the fabled American oval race, but in 2018 he is busy splitting his time between F1 and the full world endurance championship including Le Mans. […]
Advisor Wurz backs Williams to survive
May 10 (GMM) Former team driver Alex Wurz says Williams can bounce back from its current slump. With two ‘pay drivers’, poor performance, and the impending departure of main sponsor Martini, many worry that the once-great British team will soon fold. But Wurz, who according to Speed Week is now an ‘advisor’ for the independent […]
Hamilton, Horner say Vettel 2018 favourite
May 10 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has admitted he is not the favourite for the 2018 title. The Mercedes driver took the championship lead from Sebastian Vettel two weeks ago in Baku, but he insists the Ferrari is actually the better car. “For now the car is much more difficult to setup and drive,” Hamilton is […]
Title favourite Vettel’s Ferrari car ‘legal’ – Marko
May 10 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has nominated Sebastian Vettel as the world championship favourite for 2018. That is despite the fact that Ferrari driver Vettel, once a Red Bull protege of Marko’s, lost his title lead two weeks ago at Baku. But Marko told Sport Bild: “He is my world championship favourite. “Sebastian looks […]