Oct.1 (GMM) Russian grand prix promoter Sergey Vorobyov has denied that Sochi is another race that could be endangered for 2017. The FIA has now released a 21-race 2017 calendar that showed only provisional dates for Canada, Germany and Brazil. But the latest reports from Russia have suggested waning support from the local Krasnodar region, […]
Silly season sizzling in Sepang heat
Oct.1 (GMM) Although the top seats are mainly secured, the driver silly season is now in full swing. The key to the market, it seems, is Sergio Perez. Indeed, the Mexican sounds so confident of his position that he has even declared a one-week deadline. But even Force India, his existing team, sounds relaxed. “It […]
Schumacher taking steady road to F1
Oct.1 (GMM) Mick Schumacher insists he is still taking it steady on his road to F1. The 17-year-old is running second not only in Italian F4 this year but also in the German series. But when asked about the German broadcaster Sport1 about emulating his famous father Michael with the move into F1, Mick said: […]
Red Bull denies Verstappen collapsed
Oct.1 (GMM) Red Bull has denied reports that Max Verstappen passed out after a practice session in Malaysia. British newspapers The Times and The Telegraph said that on the occasion of the Dutchman’s 19th birthday on Friday, he collapsed due to dehydration at Sepang. Given the searing heat in Kuala Lumpur, the story sounded credible. […]
Malaysian Grand Prix – 3rd Free Practice
Hamilton quickest with a 1:34.434 from Verstappen (+0.445), Rosberg (+0.619), Raikkonen (+0.716), Vettel (+0.736), Ricciarado (+1.027), Hulkenberg (+1.342), Bottas (+1.468), Sainz (+1.788) amd Massa (+1.793). Perez, Button, Gutierrez, Palmer, Grosjean, Magnussen, Kvyat, Ericsson, Nasr, Ocon, Wehrlien and Alonso make the rest of the field. Ricciardo covered the most number of laps with 22 followed by Massa, Palmer and Kvyat with 20 laps each. […]
Hockenheim says no 2017 contract yet
Sep.30 (GMM) Track boss Georg Seiler says Hockenheim does not yet have a contract to host the German grand prix in 2017. Earlier this week, the FIA published a race calendar for next year featuring a provisional race date for the track. It is rumoured Bernie Ecclestone could become the semi-promoter of the race, taking […]
Renault drivers still in dark over future
Sep.30 (GMM) Renault’s two drivers are still in the dark over whether they will drive for the French works team in 2017. “As far as I know there are still two seats for next year and I hear the names in the rumour mill, but it is the team’s decision what they want to do […]
Sauber needs reserve driver in 2017 – boss
Sep.30 (GMM) Sauber has acknowledged it may need to appoint an official reserve driver for 2017. Until a buyout deal, the Swiss team spent the first part of the championship fighting for mere financial survival. Now in Malaysia, Marcus Ericsson has arrived from a training camp in Thailand covered in bandages, having crashed his road […]
Verstappen made Ricciardo ‘better’ driver
Sep.30 (GMM) Red Bull’s race drivers have admitted they are each pushing the other on in 2017. “When Max arrived at Red Bull, it made me take a step forward,” Daniel Ricciardo said at Sepang. Earlier this year, Red Bull made a mid-season driver change, sending Daniil Kvyat back to Toro Rosso and promoting the […]
Haas waiting for driver ‘silly season’
Sep.30 (GMM) Romain Grosjean says he feels so good about his future in F1 that he bought a house last week. It is expected the Frenchman will stay at Haas, but the news is yet to be confirmed. “If I saw 100 per cent (sure), it will mean I have something to announce,” he smiled. […]
Massa, Nasr worried over Brazil GP future
Sep.30 (GMM) F1’s two Brazilian drivers are worried amid speculation Interlagos could fall off the race calendar. Recently, Brazilian grand prix promoter Tamas Rohonyi criticised Felipe Massa for suggesting the future of the race in Sao Paulo was in doubt. But then the FIA this week published its 2017 calendar showing Brazil with mere provisional […]
Alonso recommends Sainz for McLaren future
Sep.30 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says Carlos Sainz would be a good McLaren-Honda driver for the future. Stoffel Vandoorne is replacing F1 veteran Jenson Button next year, and Alonso is currently refusing to commit to the Anglo-Japanese collaboration beyond the end of his 2017 contract. “I think it would be a good place for Carlos,” the […]
Bottas says future looks ‘positive’
Sep.30 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is still not ready to confirm that he is staying at Williams in 2017. It is now widely believed that Williams will line up next year with Canadian rookie Lance Stroll alongside team regular and Finn Bottas. “I do not have anything new to inform,” Bottas told Turun Sanomat newspaper at […]
Vettel not yet impressed with 2017 tyres
Sep.30 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted he is not yet overly impressed with Pirelli’s new tyres for 2017. Ferrari, as well as Mercedes and Red Bull, have been helping the Italian supplier prepare for next year’s new rules, featuring bigger and wider slicks. But Ferrari’s Vettel said: “The (2017) tyre, in terms of grip, is […]
Portugal eyes F1 return
Sep.30 (GMM) Portugal could bid to return to the F1 calendar. The country held 13 consecutive grands prix at Estoril from 1984, and now Portimao politician Isilda Gomes reportedly said: “It’s time to think about formula one again.” And prime minister Antonio Costa was also quoted by the Spanish sports daily Marca as saying F1 […]
Hamilton respects Rosberg more now – Wolff
Sep.30 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks world champion Lewis Hamilton respects Nico Rosberg more than ever in 2016. “I think the respect was always there,” the Mercedes team boss told German television RTL. “But this season we see a Nico who is simply operating on an even higher level. You always have more respect for someone […]
Malaysian Grand Prix – 2nd Free Practice
Hamilton quickest with a 1:34.944 from Rosberg (+0.233), Vettel (+0.661), Raikkonen (+0.898), Verstappen (+1.093), Perez (+1.340), Alonso (+1.352), Ricciardo (+1.393), Hulkenberg (+1.446) and Button (+1.771). Sainz, Palmer, Bottas, Gutierrez, Massa, Kvyat, Ericsson, Nasr, Magnussen, Grosjean, Wehrlein and Ocon make the rest of the field. Vettel and Hulkenberg covered the most number of laps with 37 […]
Malaysian Grand Prix – 1st Free Practice
Rosberg quickest with a 1:35.227 from Hamilton (+0.494), Raikkonen (+1.088), Vettel (+1.104), Alonso (+1.283), Ricciardo (+1.526), Verstappen (+1.746), Hulkenberg (+2.286), Perez (+2.374) and Button (+2.386). Kvyat, Bottas, Grosjean, Gutierrez, Sainz, Nasr, Ericsson, Massa, Palmer, Ocon and Wehrlein make the rest of the field. Magnussen didn’t set a time after his car caught fire in the […]
Now Hulkenberg linked with Force India exit
Sep.29 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg on Thursday reacted with surprise to rumours linking him with a surprise switch to Renault. And he is not the only Force India driver linked with Renault for 2017, as his teammate, Mexican Sergio Perez, told reporters he has set a deadline of next week for a decision. Force India, however, […]
Silly season firing for Sainz and Perez
Sep.29 (GMM) The driver ‘silly season’ is still bubbling away in the F1 paddock. The biggest seats still up for grabs are the ones at the works Renault team, who have told Kevin Magnussen he faces a longer wait for news. One rumour is that Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz could head to Enstone in an […]