Jul.29 (GMM) Esteban Gutierrez says world champion Lewis Hamilton is yet to apologise for making an obscene gesture during last weekend’s Hungarian GP. Although penalised for not obeying blue flags when lapped, Mexican Haas driver Gutierrez was furious at Hamilton for sticking up his middle finger during the passing manoeuvre. “I think the penalty came […]
Vettel to debut wide Pirellis on Monday
Jul.29 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel will be the first F1 driver to sample Pirelli’s bigger and wider tyres for the 2017 season. After his home German grand prix on Sunday, the 29-year-old will head straight to Ferrari’s Fiorano test circuit where, on Monday, the first of 24 days of specific Pirelli testing for the new 2017 […]
Brawn denies replacing Ferrari’s Allison
Jul.29 (GMM) Ross Brawn has denied the latest rumours about his potential return to F1. Some Hockenheim-bound members of the sport’s travelling circus spotted the former Ferrari and Mercedes man on the same flight from London to Frankfurt early on Thursday. It triggered wild speculation Brawn, 61, could come out of retirement to replace James […]
Massa, Bottas admit Williams seats uncertain
Jul.29 (GMM) Williams’ current F1 drivers have admitted they are still facing an uncertain future on the grid. Felipe Massa, the Brazilian veteran, says he is in talks regarding 2017 not only with the British team. “Talks began some time ago, and not only with my current team,” he said at Hockenheim. “If it doesn’t […]
Kvyat not commenting on Russian rumours
Jul.29 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat lashed back at rumours Red Bull is set to dump him completely. The rumours emerged during the week in the Russian press, indicating that after his demotion to Toro Rosso, his energy drink employer might now be preparing to replace him completely with French youngster Pierre Gasly. “I’m not wasting any […]
F1 delays ‘Halo’ and scraps radio ban
Jul.29 (GMM) F1 voted to delay the introduction of ‘Halo’ and also wind back the controversial radio clampdown in a key strategy group meeting on Thursday. While the rest of the sport set up shop at Hockenheim, team bosses, the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone were actually in Geneva in the form of the strategy group. […]
Allison fell out with Marchionne – report
Jul.28 (GMM) James Allison left Ferrari after a falling out with new president Sergio Marchionne. That is the claim of the German publication Auto Motor und Sport, following this week’s news that the Italian team’s highly rated British technical director has left. Ferrari claimed the decision was taken “jointly” but gave no reason for the […]
Jos Verstappen beats up own father – reports
Jul.28 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s famous father has reportedly had an eventful few days between the Hungarian and German grands prix. De Telegraaf, a Dutch newspaper, reports that the former Benetton and Minardi driver physically attacked his own father, Max’s grandfather Frans Verstappen. The report said the incident happened shortly after the Budapest race last Sunday, […]
Ecclestone ‘not indifferent’ to Monza, Hockenheim
Jul.28 (GMM) The long and protracted saga over the future of the Italian grand prix may finally be at an end. The authoritative Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that, notwithstanding Imola’s moves to snatch the race, Monza looks to have secured a new four-year deal with Bernie Ecclestone valued at EUR 88 million. […]
Football game sends Schumacher ‘positive energy’
Jul.28 (GMM) German basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki on Wednesday said he hoped some “positive energy” was beamed back to Michael Schumacher. The NBA star organised a charity football match in Mainz, Germany, on Wednesday featuring Schumacher’s protege Sebastian Vettel, ex-rival Mika Hakkinen, former teammate Felipe Massa and even his 17-year-old son Mick. Nowitzki told Bild […]
Wolff says driver rows will race on for now
Jul.28 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted that Mercedes’ philosophy of signing two ‘number 1’ drivers will never be perfect. His comments come after the latest public disagreement between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, who are both staying at the team until the end of 2018 at least. In Hungary, Hamilton disagreed with Rosberg not being […]
F1 set for vote showdown over ‘Halo’
Jul.28 (GMM) F1 looks set for a showdown between Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA over the introduction of the ‘Halo’ cockpit protection system for 2017. The drivers are split over whether the titanium device should be brought in, and Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko calls the concept “idiocy” in the context of spicing up the […]
Gov’t admits German GP could be Haryanto’s last
Jul.27 (GMM) This weekend’s German grand prix could be Rio Haryanto’s F1 finale. It is widely believed the Indonesian rookie’s backing ran out in Hungary last weekend. But with mere days separating the Budapest race and this weekend’s action at Hockenheim, the Indonesian sports ministry on Wednesday announced that Haryanto will be in Germany. “Rio […]
McLaren-Honda relationship closer than ever – boss
Jul.27 (GMM) McLaren and Honda have hailed the state of their current working relationship. Last year, amid an awful start to the new Anglo-Japanese works collaboration, there were signs of tension between the British team and Honda’s F1 chief Yasuhisa Arai in particular. Arai is now gone, replaced for 2016 by Yusuke Hasegawa, and the […]
Vettel still ‘patient’ for Ferrari success
Jul.27 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he remains “patient” for success at Ferrari. Amid talk in the media of a ‘crisis’ and that technical chief James Allison is set to leave, team boss Maurizio Arrivabene last Sunday denied that number 1 driver Vettel might also be running out of patience. But publications including Spain’s Marca quote […]
Doornbos sides with Hamilton over yellow flags
Jul.27 (GMM) A former F1 driver has sided with world champion Lewis Hamilton over the yellow flag controversy of Hungary. Many think Hamilton’s stance against teammate Nico Rosberg not losing his pole position for ignoring yellow flags is akin to mind games. But Robert Doornbos, a former Red Bull and Minardi driver, agrees with Hamilton […]
Officials admit German GP future in doubt
Jul.27 (GMM) After a gap year, the German grand prix might be back this weekend but the future of the country’s place on the calendar remains in doubt. It was the Nurburgring that caused Germany’s 2015 absence and it seems the circuit remains unable to continue its alternating scheme with Hockenheim. “We have a contract […]
Hockenheim revs up anti-terrorism security
Jul.27 (GMM) Hockenheim has ramped up security for this weekend’s German grand prix following a spate of terrorist attacks in the country and Europe. Britain’s Telegraph newspaper said the sport’s regular security contractor is almost doubling its staff for the race, and that the Bernie Ecclestone-led FOM is working closely with Hockenheim promoters. “Everybody is […]
Renault only 47hp behind now – Horner
Jul.27 (GMM) Engine performance in formula one appears to be rapidly converging. When the new ‘power unit’ era began in 2014, Mercedes had a clear lead but Ferrari has been first to close that gap in the years since. “I think our engine is as good as Mercedes,” Speed Week quotes the Maranello team’s chief […]
Ecclestone’s mother-in-law kidnapped – reports
Jul.26 (GMM) Brazilian kidnappers are reportedly demanding $37 million in ransom for the release of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s mother-in-law. Authoritative sources including the broadcaster Globo, UOL as well as Veja, a Sao Paulo newsmagazine, claim Aparacida Schunck, the mother of Ecclestone’s Brazilian wife Fabiana Flosi, was taken from the neighbourhood of Interlagos. Veja reported […]