Jan.19 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says McLaren is under “big pressure” to perform in 2018. Days ago, the Belgian’s boss at the British team – Eric Boullier – insisted: “We do not feel additional pressure. “On the contrary. The team is motivated by the fact that we will have two strong rivals in Red Bull and […]
Haas-Maserati deal ‘would be good’ – Marchionne
Jan.18 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has repeated his hint that a deal between Haas and Maserati could be on the cards. Last month, the Ferrari president sealed the deal on a title sponsorship between Fiat Chrysler brand Alfa Romeo and Sauber. Now, Marchionne has his eyes on a similar tie-up, with talks between the Ferrari ‘B […]
Toro Rosso holding Japanese culture lessons for staff
Jan.18 (GMM) Toro Rosso is looking to avoid some of the pitfalls of the ill-fated McLaren-Honda partnership. With McLaren dumping its works backing after three woeful years, Honda power is now moving to the Red Bull junior team. And boss Franz Tost said Toro Rosso is determined that the very different Japanese culture is understood […]
Boullier not worried about Renault reliability
Jan.18 (GMM) Team boss Eric Boullier says he is not worried about engine reliability for 2018. After three bad years with Honda, McLaren has switched to customer Renault power for this year. However, although Honda’s reliability was woeful, Renault finished last season also notably struggling with technical problems. Asked if that’s a worry, Boullier told […]
Former driver defends Kvyat’s new role
Jan.18 (GMM) Russia’s first F1 test driver has backed Daniil Kvyat as he is snapped up by Ferrari for 2018. Some are declaring that Red Bull refugee Kvyat’s move to a development role at Ferrari is effectively the death knell for his career. But Sergey Zlobin, who more than a decade ago became the first […]
Montreal promoter opposes Friday axe plans
Jan.18 (GMM) A race promoter says he is basically happy with Liberty Media’s new approach as the sport gets together in London this week. Liberty has convened a series of major meetings with F1 stakeholders this week, including all 21 race promoters on the 2018 grid. “Since I took over the Montreal race in 2010, […]
Kubica’s race dream still alive – Rosberg
Jan.18 (GMM) Nico Rosberg insists Robert Kubica’s dream of returning to the formula one grid remains alive. Legions of the Polish driver’s fans are disappointed that Williams elected to instead sign the heavily-sponsored Russian Sergey Sirotkin for 2018. But Kubica’s co-manager, 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, told Auto Motor und Sport that the test and […]
Sirotkin ‘stronger than Kubica’ – father
Jan.18 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin’s father says the young Russian secured the Williams seat because he was “stronger” than Robert Kubica. Many Williams, F1 and Kubica fans are disappointed and angry that the British team signed the heavily backed Sirotkin over Pole Kubica, whose F1 career was halted seven years ago due to injury. But Sirotkin’s […]
2018 Ferrari could be ‘monster’ – Marchionne
Jan.17 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne thinks it’s possible Ferrari has put together a “monster” of a formula one car for 2018. The Italian publication Autosprint says the 2017 runner-up’s new project is codenamed project 669, and will be launched by Ferrari on February 22. “I was in Maranello for the last few days and the guys […]
Sirotkin, Stroll is ‘hungry’ driver lineup – Salo
Jan.17 (GMM) Williams has put together a “hungry” driver lineup for the 2018 season. That is the claim of former Ferrari and Toyota driver Mika Salo, who is now the sporting director of Russian bank SMP’s motor racing programme. The cream of that programme is Russian 22-year-old Sergey Sirotkin, who has been controversially appointed to […]
Marchionne denies eyeing Ferrari buy-in
Jan.16 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has denied that he has plans to buy into Ferrari after stepping down as Fiat president. The Italian-Canadian has already announced that he will retire as Fiat Chrysler chief in April of 2019, because “I want to do something else”. But he will remain in charge at Ferrari until at least […]
F1 ‘still priority’ despite Formula E test – Giovinazzi
Jan.16 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi insists formula one remains his “priority”. With the support of Ferrari, the Italian made his F1 debut early last year as he temporarily replaced the injured Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein. But for 2018, it was Ferrari’s other junior – new F2 champion Charles Leclerc – who got the green-light for the […]
Kubica ‘deserves a chance’ – Pirelli
Jan.16 (GMM) Robert Kubica needs more time to re-adjust to modern formula one. That is the view of Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola, amid reports Williams is now preparing to finally announce that Sergey Sirotkin will race for the team in 2018. Pole Kubica may be given a test role, but many are disappointed that […]
2018 engine rule change ‘crazy’ – Mercedes
Jan.16 (GMM) Andy Cowell has described as “crazy” the new engine rules for 2018. Although Mercedes has dominated throughout the ‘power unit’ era, engine boss Cowell says he does not support the move from four to three engines per driver this year. “It’s crazy,” he is quoted by Italy’s Corriere dello Sport, “because the manufacturers […]
Pirelli defends expansion to seven tyre types
Jan.16 (GMM) Pirelli has defended its decision to expand its range of tyre compounds for 2018. The number of compounds for the coming season has blown out to seven, with the introduction of the ‘superhard’ and the ‘hypersoft’ options. One criticism is that fans struggling to understand F1 now have an even tougher task. “You […]
Briatore tips ‘return to podium’ for Alonso
Jan.15 (GMM) Flavio Briatore said he hopes Fernando Alonso can “return to the podium” in 2018. As Alonso’s management impresario, the former Renault boss was among those who helped broker the Spaniard’s ill-fated move to McLaren-Honda. Now, McLaren is dumping Honda and Briatore backs Alonso’s decision to stay with the British team for a fourth […]
American drivers slam Haas boss comments
Jan.15 (GMM) Well-known American drivers have hit back at Haas team boss Gunther Steiner. Days ago, Steiner said the small Ferrari-linked American team does not have an American driver because there are none on the market that are ready for F1. “Complete BS,” said Indycar driver Graham Rahal. “If Haas really believes that, why don’t […]
Sauber to become Alfa Romeo works team – Vasseur
Jan.15 (GMM) Sauber could eventually become a full works Alfa Romeo team. That is the vision of the Swiss team’s boss Frederic Vasseur, when asked by France’s Auto Hebdo about the new Alfa title sponsorship brokered by Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne. “The company’s executives want to see a fully fledged Alfa Romeo team,” Sauber team […]
No place at Ferrari for Lauda – Marchionne
Jan.15 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne says there is no place at the Italian team for former Ferrari champion Niki Lauda. Lauda achieved great success for Maranello as a driver and later worked as a Ferrari consultant. But the Austrian legend is now a shareholder and team chairman at Mercedes, with his existing contract running until 2020. […]
Bottas expects 2018 car to suit him better
Jan.15 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he expects this year’s Mercedes car to suit him better. The Finn arrived at the German team unexpectedly early in 2017, after new world champion Nico Rosberg suddenly quit. “Although very fast, the car was rarely perfect for me,” Bottas now tells Finland’s Turun Sanomat. “But from what I’ve seen […]