Aug.2 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton may now be a sure bet to win his third consecutive world championship this year. Earlier with a 43-point deficit to Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, a winning streak has seen Hamilton race into the summer break with a 19-point lead. “He has become a winning machine,” said Italy’s La Gazzetta dello […]
Hamilton sued over $4.6m Grenada villa
Aug.2 (GMM) World champion Lewis Hamilton is in a $4.6 million legal battle with an Italian property developer. The Sun newspaper reports that the 2016 world championship leader ordered a luxury villa be built in Grenada, where his father’s family emigrated from, including a custom recording studio, gym and private jetty. But Hamilton reportedly pulled […]
Hockenheim wants help to secure German GP future
Aug.2 (GMM) A cloud continues to hang over the future of the German grand prix. The Nurburgring’s woes meant there was no race in Germany last year, and it appears unlikely the track will be able to resume its alternation deal with the Hockenheim for 2017. “2017 is the Norburgring’s turn,” track chief Georg Seiler […]
Haryanto pushing hard for Spa backing
Aug.2 (GMM) Rio Haryanto says his management will not be resting during F1’s summer break. At present, the Indonesian may not return to the cockpit of his Manor at Spa later this month, after his government-linked backing ran dry. “The summer holiday is the right time to take a rest, but I won’t be able […]
Italy backs Rosberg over FIA penalty
Aug.2 (GMM) The Italian media has backed Nico Rosberg after he was penalised for an overtaking move on Max Verstappen at Hockenheim. “Lewis (Hamilton) knows,” Dutch teen Verstappen smiled after the German grand prix, referring to what happened between the Mercedes teammates in Austria. The stewards levied a penalty against German Rosberg at Hockenheim, ruling […]
Ecclestone hails police after kidnapping raid
Aug.2 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has hailed Brazilian police after his mother-in-law was freed unhurt from kidnappers following a daring raid. British newspapers report that the mastermind of the attempted $37 million ransom operation was a helicopter pilot who worked for the F1 supremo during the annual Brazilian grand prix. 85-year-old Ecclestone told the ‘papers: “I’m […]
Ecclestone’s mother-in-law safe after kidnapping
Aug.1 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone’s mother-in-law is safe and well, after being kidnapped in Sao Paulo over a week ago. The Brazilian broadcaster Globo reported that 67-year-old Aparecida Schunck, the mother of his Brazilian wife Fabiana Flosi, has returned to her family without the ransom of $37 million having been paid. The report claimed police, who […]
Kvyat not giving up on F1 career
Aug.1 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat is not ready to give up on his formula one career quite yet. After a woeful qualifying, the young Russian appeared closed to tears amid reports he will definitely be dumped completely by employer Red Bull at the end of the year. But Kvyat, 22, then had a better race. “I […]
Mick Schu’s next step is F3, not F1 – manager
Aug.1 (GMM) Mick Schumacher’s manager has put the brakes on any suggestion the 17-year-old might soon be set to join fellow teenager Max Verstappen in F1. Rumours, however, were obviously fired at Hockenheim at the weekend as the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher visited the Mercedes and Ferrari garages. The last team of his […]
McLaren heading for 2017 wins – Dennis
Aug.1 (GMM) McLaren-Honda is on target for “victories” in 2017. That is the claim of the great Woking team’s supremo Ron Dennis, referring to the big step taken by the works Anglo-Japanese collaboration this year after a woeful 2015. “The car was designed for a three-year process,” he is quoted by the Spanish sports daily […]
Boss plays down Sachsenring rumours
Aug.1 (GMM) Reports that the Sachsenring could be in the running to rescue the German GP for 2017 have been played down. Germany’s Auto Bild reported at Hockenheim that the well-known MotoGP venue has been targeted by Bernie Ecclestone as a potential venue to take over from struggling Hockenheim and the Nurburgring — perhaps with […]
Magnussen still in play for 2017 seat – report
Aug.1 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen remains in the running to keep his works Renault seat beyond 2016. The Dane admitted at Hockenheim that speculation he and teammate Jolyon Palmer will lose their places for 2017 was “annoying”. But Denmark’s BT newspaper says it knows that Magnussen’s backer, billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen whose ‘Jack and Jones’ logo […]
Arrivabene says Ferrari must increase downforce
Aug.1 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene has admitted that Ferrari needs to rev up its progress when it comes to aerodynamics. With James Allison gone, Sebastian Vettel now openly questioning the team’s race strategies and Red Bull having clearly raced ahead, the Italian press thinks Ferrari’s ‘crisis’ is only deepening. Boss Arrivabene admitted after the German GP […]
German Grand Prix – Hamilton wins!
Hamilton wins from Ricciardo (+6.996), Verstappen (+13.413), Rosberg (+15.845), Vettel (+32.570), Raikkonen (+37.023), Hulkenberg (+70.049), Button (+1 lap), Bottas (+1 lap) & Perez (+1 lap) Gutierrez, Alonso, Grosjean, Sainz, Kvyat, Magnussen, Wehrlein, Ericsson, Palmer and Haryanto make the rest of the field. Retirements: Nasr, Massa Rosberg was given a 5 second time penalty for pushing […]
Many F1 rules ‘make no sense’ – Raikkonen
Jul.31 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has confirmed reports that he is set to marry his partner Minttu during the forthcoming F1 summer break. The Finn would not, however, confirm the date, nor give away the precise location for the ceremony. “In Italy,” Raikkonen told Sonntagsblick. Asked if it will be Venice, he repeated: “In Italy.” Close […]
More heads could roll at Ferrari – report
Jul.31 (GMM) More personnel departures could be on the cards at Ferrari. Talk that the Maranello marque is in ‘crisis’ only intensified ahead of the German grand prix when it emerged technical director James Allison has left. His replacement by engine chief Mattia Binotto has raised suggestions it is obviously an ‘interim’ solution. “Even if […]
Halo delay debate rages on
Jul.31 (GMM) The debate about the cockpit protection concept ‘Halo’ continues to rage at Hockenheim. GPDA president Alex Wurz is furious that the teams voted to delay it until 2018, arguing that all the drivers signed a document unanimously supporting an immediate debut. “I didn’t sign anything,” Nico Hulkenberg told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. […]
Kvyat admits form makes F1 future bleak
Jul.31 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat has admitted he has no future in F1 if he cannot end a major performance slump. After a bad outing in Hungary, the young Russian’s woes got worse at Hockenheim when he qualified between the Manors – half a second off Toro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz’s pace. Kvyat was already struggling […]
Sachsenring could host 2017 German GP – report
Jul.31 (GMM) A third German circuit has entered the frame as the country’s troubled F1 future comes under the microscope. There was no German GP in 2015, the Nurburgring appears unable to host its 2017 race as scheduled and a notably small crowd has gathered this weekend at Hockenheim. But Germany’s Auto Bild reports that […]
Wolff slams ‘Mercedes to quit’ rumours
Jul.31 (GMM) Toto Wolff has slammed reports Mercedes intends to suddenly quit formula one at the end of 2018. A leading specialist outlet had reported the news that in the wake of the German giant’s title successes in the new ‘power unit’ era, Mercedes will pull out altogether after the 2018 season. But Speed Week […]