Hamilton quickest with a 1:30.904 ahead of Rosberg (+0.063), Ricciardo (+0.584), Verstappen (+0.657), Vettel (+1.145), Bottas (+1.832), Alonso (+1.850), Hulkenberg (+1.894), Raikkonen (+1.929) and Sainz (+1.985). Gutierrez, Button, Grosjean, Perez, Massa, Kvyat, Nasr, Palmer, Magnussen, Haryanto, Ericsson and Wehrlein make the rest of the field.
Hamilton prompted Lauda comments U-turn
Jul.9 (GMM) World champion Lewis Hamilton has admitted he prompted Niki Lauda’s bizarre comments U-turn. Last week, F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman Lauda told Austrian Servus TV that Hamilton trashed a hospitality room after crashing in Baku. Not only that, Lauda claimed Hamilton “lied” about his supposedly good relationship with teammate Nico Rosberg. But […]
Halo could be delayed until 2018 – report
Jul.9 (GMM) Cockpit protection may not make its debut in 2017 after all, following the debut of the updated ‘Halo 2’ prototype at Silverstone. Now positioned further forwards to prevent a driver’s head from striking the titanium-based structure in a crash, the revised version was given its maiden outing on Friday by Sebastian Vettel. “My […]
Button hints at possible McLaren exit
Jul.9 (GMM) Jenson Button has given the biggest hint yet that he could be on the way out at McLaren-Honda. The F1 veteran joined the Woking team in 2010 but McLaren now seems to be planning for the future and a race seat for Stoffel Vandoorne in 2017. “I’m happy with my drivers,” team boss […]
FIA unmoved over radio safety argument
Jul.9 (GMM) F1’s governing body is apparently unmoved by arguments its new clampdown on pit-to-driver radio communication should be relaxed. World champion Lewis Hamilton struggled with an engine issue in Baku that could not be swiftly resolved because the team was forbidden to tell him how to fix it. And in Austria, not only did […]
Williams duo plays down Raikkonen news impact
Jul.9 (GMM) Williams’ two drivers say a new contract for Kimi Raikkonen does not affect their own next moves in F1. Williams deputy boss Claire Williams said at Silverstone that the uncertainty about Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa’s futures will continue for now. “We are evaluating our options,” she said. “As you’d expect those conversations […]
Kvyat not willing to predict Toro Rosso seat
Jul.9 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat says he is still not in a position to predict his next step in formula one. Initially disappointed and angry to have been demoted by Red Bull, the energy drink’s Dr Helmut Marko and Toro Rosso chief Franz Tost are now suggesting the 22-year-old Russian will stay at the Faenza team […]
Good news finally flowing at Sauber
Jul.9 (GMM) Sauber could be on the road to recovery, after a long financial crisis saw the 23-year-old Swiss team come close to collapse. But boss and co-owner Monisha Kaltenborn is now hinting the announcement of a rescue deal is imminent. The evidence of that may have been on display at Silverstone on Friday. Firstly, […]
Raikkonen keeps Ferrari ‘balanced’ – Stewart
Jul.9 (GMM) News that Kimi Raikkonen is staying at Ferrari in 2017 was hailed on all sides in the Silverstone paddock. Some, however, questioned Ferrari’s ambition in re-signing the 36-year-old Finn when the younger Sergio Perez, Romain Grosjean or Valtteri Bottas were apparently all keen. But lead Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel welcomed the news. “I […]
Perez all signed up for 2017 – Mallya
Jul.9 (GMM) Force India supremo Vijay Mallya says Sergio Perez is definitely staying at the Silverstone based team in 2017. Earlier at Silverstone, Mexican Perez – who had been linked with the now re-signed Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari seat – said he would not turn his mind to next season until the summer break. “At some […]
British Grand Prix – 2nd Free Practice
Hamilton quickest with a 1:31.660 from Ricciardo (+0.391), Verstappen (+0.626), Vettel (+0.910), Raikkonen (+1.076), Alonso (+1.380), Bottas (+1.833), Grosjean (+1.954), Button (+2.103) & Massa (+2.141) Sainz, Gutierrez, Kvyat, Nasr, Hulkenberg Perez, Wehrlein, Palmer, Ericsson, Magnussen and Haryanto make the rest of the field. Rosberg did not go out this session due to a mechanical issue. […]
British Grand Prix – 1st Free Practice
Hamilton quickest with a 1:31.654 from Rosberg (+0.033), Hulkenberg (+0.838), Vettel (+0.847), Ricciardo (+1.119), Raikkonen (+1.385), Verstappen (+1.548), Perez (+1.581), Sainz (+1.792) & Alonso (+1.873) Kvyat, Button, Bottas, Massa, Grosjean, Palmer, Nasr, Leclerc (Haas test driver), Ocon (Renault test driver), Ericsson, Wehrlein and Haryanto make the rest of the field. Bottas covered the most number […]
‘Frail’ Murray Walker to sit out British GP
Jul.8 (GMM) Legendary former F1 commentator Murray Walker will be a rare absentee at the British grand prix this weekend. The iconic Briton is synonymous with the sport after serving for decades as a commentator, but now aged 92 he admits he is “too frail” to be at Silverstone this time around. “I am an […]
Ocon in running for 2017 Renault seat – Vasseur
Jul.8 (GMM) Renault’s newly-promoted ‘team principal’ has admitted French youngster Esteban Ocon is in the running for a race seat in 2017. This week, although he was already running the new French works team, Frederic Vasseur had his place at Enstone memorialised with the official title of team boss. But although still in 2016, Renault […]
Honda takes engine upgrade to Silverstone
Jul.8 (GMM) Honda has brought an updated engine to the British grand prix. McLaren-Honda Fernando Alonso said the improvements are related to the Japanese power unit’s internal combustion engine, which is now Honda’s focus for catching up with Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault. “In electric power we are already on a level with the top manufacturers,” […]
Marko hints Kvyat to keep Toro Rosso seat
Jul.8 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat’s chances of keeping his seat at Toro Rosso next year appear to be growing. Earlier, the disappointed Russian and his Red Bull paymasters looked destined to split, following Kvyat’s demotion to the secondary team. But Toro Rosso chief Franz Tost sounds keen to keep the 22-year-old in 2017, and the ultimate […]
Lower profile for Jos helping Max Verstappen – Marko
Jul.8 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has confirmed that Jos Verstappen’s step into the background in recent races has been deliberate. Until his shock mid-season graduation from Toro Rosso to Red Bull, teen sensation Max Verstappen was always side-by-side with his famous father, former F1 driver Jos. But Marko, the architect of Red Bull’s driver programme, […]
Wehrlein could get second year at Manor
Jul.8 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has said it is possible he will stay at Manor for a second season in 2017. The rookie German but also his backers at Mercedes were relieved in Austria when Wehrlein, the 21-year-old reigning DTM champion, finally had a standout weekend performance in Austria, resulting in a rare point for the […]
Perez leaving Ferrari future open
Jul.8 (GMM) Sergio Perez is still leaving the door open to a move away from Force India for 2017. The Mexican is in top form this year, triggering widespread speculation that Ferrari could buy him out of his contract with the Silverstone based team. “I’ve said several times that I have not decided my future […]
Sauber has secured its F1 future – Kaltenborn
Jul.8 (GMM) Sauber has “found a solution” to its financial woes that almost sunk the Swiss F1 team. That is the news from team co-owner and boss Monisha Kaltenborn, amid rumours and reports that Marcus Ericsson’s Swedish backers are buying the team. “I will not comment on rumours, but I can confirm that we have […]