Mar.5 (GMM) Former F1 engineer Joan Villadelprat wonders if McLaren was right to have dumped Honda. Already last week, when Honda’s new works partner Toro Rosso topped the mileage charts in Barcelona, driver Brendon Hartley said McLaren’s decision may have been a “mistake”. And now, Spanish former F1 engineer Villadelprat also doubts the wisdom of […]
Force India takeover talks still on
Mar.5 (GMM) A takeover of the Force India team may still be in the works. In February, reports emerged that talks between the Silverstone based team and a consortium led by British energy drinks company Rich Energy were taking place. But Force India denied a $280 million deal was being discussed. The team insisted there […]
Brawn wants ‘solution’ to Ferrari quit threat
Mar.5 (GMM) Ross Brawn says he will work to “find a solution” that ends Ferrari’s F1 quit threat. Brawn was once the technical boss during Ferrari’s ultra-successful Michael Schumacher era, but now at Liberty Media he is vowing to improve the sport’s racing, spectacle and costs. A row between F1 owner Liberty and Sergio Marchionne […]
‘No excuses’ for Bottas in 2018 – Wolff
Mar.2 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Valtteri Bottas has “no excuses” this year as he pushes for a new Mercedes contract. Bottas had a mixed first year with F1’s top team, but he is aiming for a full title assault in 2018. At the same time, he was only given a new single-year contract. But Bottas […]
Renault pushes FIA to enforce oil burn rules
Mar.2 (GMM) Renault hopes F1’s governing body continues to push to ensure rival manufacturers are not using oil to boost their engines. The French outfit successfully lobbied for tighter rules to enforce the thorny topic. “Much has been done in relation to these loopholes, but we continue to collaborate with the FIA to ensure they […]
Mercedes, Ferrari ‘spectacular’ in 2018 – Sainz
Mar.2 (GMM) Carlos Sainz thinks Mercedes and Ferrari will continue to battle at the front in 2018. Some are predicting that Renault will make a big step forwards this year, and Sainz agrees that the new black and yellow car is working well in Barcelona. “I think there are not many teams besides Mercedes, Ferrari […]
Magnussen to push even harder in 2018
Mar.2 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he will push just as hard in 2018 as he did last year — and perhaps even harder. That is despite the fact the Dane got a reputation among his rivals as the F1 ‘bad boy’ due to some aggressive driving last season. But Magnussen says he will change little […]
Wolff predicts three-way fight in 2018
Mar.2 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton had a few eyebrows raising as the first winter test concluded in Barcelona on Thursday. The Mercedes driver and reigning world champion’s top time had some wondering if Ferrari and Red Bull would be able to keep up in 2018. “If our simulations are right, then there should be a close […]
Three new F1 races in 2019 – report
Mar.1 (GMM) F1 could have three new grands prix in 2019. Auto Motor und Sport reports that Liberty Media is working on deals with Vietnam, Miami and Argentina. “The circuits are already in the process of approval by the FIA,” said correspondent Michael Schmidt. The report said the Vietnamese venue is a street circuit in […]
Bottas not planning Hamilton ‘mind games’
Mar.1 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he will focus on his driving rather than “psychological games” in order to beat Lewis Hamilton in 2018. The Finn joined Mercedes at the eleventh hour prior to last season, and although he secured a new deal for 2018, Bottas was clearly outpaced by champion Hamilton. Now, his quest is […]
Steiner plays down hopes for Bahrain testing
Mar.1 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has played down hopes F1 might head to Bahrain for winter testing next year. With uncharacteristic snow falling in Barcelona, the ten teams failed to agree unanimously to extend this week’s first test. “It’s hard to imagine two of us agreeing, let alone ten,” said Steiner, the Haas team boss. Many […]
Boullier wants McLaren win in 2018
Mar.1 (GMM) Eric Boullier says he would not be satisfied if McLaren merely returns to the podium in 2018. 2015-2017 was a Honda-powered nightmare for the British team, but hopes are higher following the switch to customer Renault engines. However, McLaren has had early troubles in Barcelona testing, and Renault has begun the new year […]
Honda ‘perfect’ at Toro Rosso so far – Hartley
Mar.1 (GMM) Brendon Hartley says there is no sign of the sort of three-year horror that McLaren endured with Honda so far in 2018. With McLaren and Honda divorcing, the Japanese supplier has now switched to Toro Rosso, and everything so far is apparently hunky dory. Team boss Franz Tost told Speed Week: “First of […]
Brawn to reveal Liberty plans in first half of 2018
Mar.1 (GMM) F1 teams can survive and thrive with half of their current budgets. That is the claim of F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn, who according to Auto Motor und Sport is planning to present the teams with Liberty Media’s plans for the future within the first half of this season. “We could have a […]
Renault imposes May deadline on Red Bull
Feb.28 (GMM) Renault wants Red Bull to decide by May which engine it will use in 2019. Red Bull is making no secret that it could follow its junior team Toro Rosso in switching to Honda power at the end of the season. Boss Christian Horner has already expressed some concerns that Renault is prioritising […]
Martini not put off by young drivers – Williams
Feb.28 (GMM) Claire Williams has denied that the British team’s youthful driver lineup could explain Martini’s decision to depart as sponsor. Martini, the alcohol brand, has announced that it will stop being Williams’ title sponsor at the end of the season. It follows rumours the company wanted Williams to sign at least one older driver […]
Kubica wants media to move on from ‘limitations’
Feb.28 (GMM) Robert Kubica has urged the media to move on from the story about his physical “limitations”. After seven years out of F1 following his horror rallying crash, the Pole is up and running in his new test and Friday practice role with Williams in Barcelona. But he expressed irritation with reporters’ constant questions […]
Force India racing ban over now
Feb.28 (GMM) Tensions have thawed in the Force India garage. Last year, the thorny relationship between Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon spilled over following some clashes, and the team banned wheel-to-wheel racing between the pair. But sporting boss Otmar Szafnauer is quoted by France’s L’Equipe as saying that ban is now over. “We will start […]
No extra test day in freezing Barcelona
Feb.28 (GMM) F1’s first winter test in freezing conditions is going ahead as originally planned. On Monday, teams began to discuss whether Wednesday’s running in forecast snow should be cancelled, with the test extended into Friday instead. The talks came as cold temperatures as low as 2-3 degrees made getting temperature into the tyres almost […]
F1 to simplify aero rules for 2019
Feb.28 (GMM) F1 is looking to simplify the aerodynamic profile of the cars for 2019. Auto Motor und Sport reports that increasing complexity in the detail around the sidepods and rear wing endplates in particular is making it hard for teams to place legible sponsor logos. So it seems the teams, the FIA and Liberty […]