Nov.25 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has backed the Haas team’s current driver lineup. There have been rumours the American squad is under pressure from technical partner Ferrari to accommodate Antonio Giovinazzi next year. But Frenchman Grosjean is under contract, as is Kevin Magnussen, who has become known among his rivals as the “bad boy” of the […]
Sainz hopes Kvyat returns to F1
Nov.25 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he hopes Toro Rosso refugee Daniil Kvyat finds a new home in F1. Having scaled to the height of Red Bull’s driver programme, Russian Kvyat has been ousted by the energy drink company altogether. “I saw Daniil once after Austin but I haven’t heard from him since and I don’t […]
Alonso denies losing F1 focus
Nov.25 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has denied he is spreading himself too thin across other disciplines. Last year, Alonso did the Indy 500, next year Daytona and Le Mans are on the cards, he has a kart track back in Spain, and his new fashion brand Kimoa has now become a multi-year McLaren sponsor. The 36-year-old […]
Hamilton did not improve in 2017 – Rosberg
Nov.25 (GMM) Nico Rosberg does not think Lewis Hamilton upped his game in 2017. One year ago, Rosberg beat his then Mercedes teammate Hamilton to the 2016 world championship and promptly retired. He is back in Abu Dhabi in 2017, but this time only as a pundit for German television RTL. When asked if he […]
Liberty ready to reveal new F1 logo
Nov.25 (GMM) F1’s new owners are preparing to reveal a new official logo for the sport in Abu Dhabi. Earlier, we reported that three potential new logos – to replace the familiar ‘Flying 1’ logo introduced under Bernie Ecclestone – were being considered. New F1 supremo Chase Carey confirmed that Liberty Media is now ready […]
McLaren ‘veto’ means shark fins banned for 2018
Nov.25 (GMM) McLaren has thrown a spanner in the works as rival formula one teams design their cars for 2018. Earlier, the FIA declared that for 2018, the controversial ‘shark fin’ appendages on this year’s engine covers will be banned. But the teams then decided unanimously to allow shark fins next year. “I thought we […]
Ericsson admits ‘concern’ about losing seat
Nov.24 (GMM) Sauber’s two drivers are facing the prospect of losing their places in formula one after the 2017 finale in Abu Dhabi this weekend. It is almost certain that Charles Leclerc, a Ferrari junior and the new Formula 2 champion, is replacing Pascal Wehrlein for 2018. When asked about that, German Wehrlein said on […]
Massa knows identity of Williams successor
Nov.24 (GMM) Felipe Massa says he already knows who his replacement will be at Williams next year. The Brazilian veteran has been nudged back into retirement for 2018, amid strong speculation it is the returning Robert Kubica who will replace him. However, it is reported that Daniil Kvyat, Pascal Wehrlein, Sergey Sirotkin and Paul di […]
Magnussen hopes 2018 tyres ‘less sensitive’
Nov.24 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he is looking forward to trying Pirelli’s new F1 tyres next week. Although the long 2017 season ends after Sunday’s race, the circus is staying behind in Abu Dhabi for a tyre test. It will be the team and drivers’ first chance to try Pirelli’s new ‘super-hard’ and pink-coloured ‘hyper-soft’ […]
Liberty ‘wants Copenhagen race’ – minister
Nov.24 (GMM) Plans for a grand prix on the streets of the Danish capital are still alive. As the world of F1 congregated in Abu Dhabi for the 2017 finale, officials got together in a Copenhagen hotel to discuss plans for a race there in the future. Jyllands Posten, a Danish daily broadsheet, said politician […]
2018 McLaren chassis to be ‘100pc evolution’
Nov.24 (GMM) McLaren’s 2018 car will be an “evolution” of the current one. That is the news from Eric Boullier, the British team’s boss. He told Brazil’s Globo that although McLaren is switching from Honda to Renault power for 2018, the team is happy with its actual chassis. “It has the least power, but we […]
Liberty eyes track changes to improve racing
Nov.24 (GMM) Max Verstappen does not think Liberty Media should push for fundamental changes to be made to the circuits. A report is circulating that claims the sport’s new owner thinks the racing would be better if there were more hairpins, wider tracks and a different asphalt type. But Red Bull driver Verstappen said in […]
Renault turns up power for finale
Nov.24 (GMM) Renault has reportedly decided to take a riskier approach to this weekend’s 2017 finale. Out of spare parts at a reliability-marred tail end of the season for the French marque, Renault decided in Brazil to get through the weekend by turning down the engine power. But Auto Motor und Sport claims the power […]
Sauber set for driver, Alfa Romeo announcements
Nov.23 (GMM) Sauber is shaping up to make announcements this week in Abu Dhabi. It is expected that Pascal Wehrlein will leave the Swiss team after Sunday’s 2017 finale in Abu Dhabi, to be replaced for next year by Ferrari junior Charles Leclerc. But Sauber’s ties to Ferrari could be getting even stronger. We reported […]
Honda wants to beat Renault in 2018
Nov.23 (GMM) Honda has set the minimum target of overtaking rival engine maker Renault in 2018. After three abysmal years with the Japanese supplier, McLaren has dumped Honda and will next year swap engine deals with the currently Renault-powered Toro Rosso. Since 2015, Honda’s has been clearly the slowest engine on the grid, but boss […]
Honda wants to beat Honda in 2018
Nov.23 (GMM) Honda has set the minimum target of overtaking rival engine maker Renault in 2018. After three abysmal years with the Japanese supplier, McLaren has dumped Honda and will next year swap engine deals with the currently Renault-powered Toro Rosso. Since 2015, Honda’s has been clearly the slowest engine on the grid, but boss […]
Father hopeful Kubica will get Williams seat
Nov.23 (GMM) Robert Kubica’s father has added weight to speculation the Polish driver is definitely returning to the F1 grid for 2018. Despite having denied a contract for next year is set in stone, Williams has at least confirmed that the former Renault and BMW driver will test in Abu Dhabi next week. The next […]
Ilmor would need sponsor for F1 foray – Illien
Nov.23 (GMM) Mario Illien has played down suggestions Ilmor might be set to re-enter F1 in 2021. Liberty Media hopes that by simplifying the engine rules, independent players like Ilmor and Cosworth will consider launching projects. But Ilmor co-founder and chief Illien says that is unlikely. He said of the 2021 plan: “In principle it […]
Bottas must ‘prove’ he deserves Mercedes seat
Nov.22 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has admitted he needs to again “prove” he deserves the Mercedes seat he occupies. The Finn had a solid start to 2017 in retired Nico Rosberg’s wake and was re-signed for 2018, but he slumped in the second half of the season. “The season has been tough,” Bottas admitted to The […]
Force India will not be ‘Force One’ in 2018
Nov.22 (GMM) Force India chiefs has abandoned plans to rename the team ‘Force One’ for 2018. Earlier, the Silverstone based team said it wanted to drop the ‘India’ from its name in order to attract a more international profile. But Force One has been ruled out, ostensibly by F1 commercial rights holder Liberty Media. “The […]