Jun.19 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has claimed credit for Azerbaijan’s spectacular street grand prix in Baku. The former Renault boss, who has one of his ultra-expensive ‘Billionaire’ outlets in the old Soviet city, was spotted in the Baku paddock for a brief visit on Saturday. “Without me, there would never have been this grand prix,” the […]
Hamilton leaves Lauda unimpressed in Baku
Jun.19 (GMM) Niki Lauda admitted he was less than impressed with Lewis Hamilton’s performance in Baku qualifying. The reigning world champion dominated the entire weekend on F1’s spectacular new street circuit until Saturday afternoon, which was strewn with errors until he smacked into a wall that leaves him tenth on the grid. “Just an off […]
Marchionne warns 2016 title slipping away
Jun.19 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has warned that time is running out for Ferrari to win the 2016 world championship. Despite urging for early wins this year as well as the title, Ferrari’s new president has seen the opening seven grands prix go past without victory for the Maranello team. A turbo upgrade in Canada looked […]
European Grand Prix – Qualifying
Rosberg on Pole with a 1:42.758 from Perez (+0.757), Ricciardo (+1.208), Vettel (+1.208), Raikkonen (+1.511), Massa (+1.725), Kvyat (+1.959), Bottas (+2.488), Verstappen (+2.812) & Hamilton.Hamilton touches a barrier on his flying lap and damages the front suspension. Ricciardo and Vettel set identical times on their final flyers and the order is determined by the driver […]
European Grand Prix – 3rd Free Practice
Hamilton quickest with a 1:44.352 from Rosberg (+0.258), Hulkenberg (+1.188), Ricciardo (+1.268), Vettel (+1.278), Perez (+1.383), Verstappen (+1.549), Button (+1.602), Kvyat (+1.629) & Raikkonen (+1.672) Alonso, Sainz, Grosjean, Massa, Gutierrez, Magnussen, Wehrlein, Palmer, Ericsson, Nasr, Haryanto make the rest of the field. Perez crashed right at the end of the session making his participation in […]
2017 Baku GP could be night race
Jun.18 (GMM) It is possible the next edition of the European grand prix at Baku could be held at night. With the F1 circus in town this weekend for the inaugural race in the Azerbaijan capital, most visitors have noticed that Baku is particularly spectacular once the sun goes down. But promoter Arif Rahimov had […]
Ecclestone admits Imola could replace Monza
Jun.18 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that Imola is in the running to snatch the Italian grand prix from Monza. As the F1 supremo’s troubled talks with Monza organisers over a 2017 contract drag on, Imola chief Uberto Selvatico Estense said this week that the former San Marino GP venue Imola is “ready” to take […]
Rosberg now close to 2017 contract – report
Jun.18 (GMM) Nico Rosberg and Mercedes and now edging close to agreeing a new contract for 2017 and beyond. That is the claim of the German newspaper Kolner Express, revealing that family friend Gerhard Berger’s efforts to negotiate on the 30-year-old’s behalf are paying off. One suggestion is that Mercedes may have sped up efforts […]
Sauber’s Nasr hits rock bottom in Baku
Jun.18 (GMM) Sauber could be about to hit rock bottom in F1, as Felipe Nasr was dead last after Friday practice in Baku. The Swiss team is struggling financially in 2016, and as most teams are now deep into their car development programmes, Sauber is trying merely to survive. “I’m using the engine from Australia […]
Not every driver ‘moaning’ about Baku
Jun.18 (GMM) Not every driver was complaining as F1 action kicked off at Baku’s spectacular and unique new street track. Senior drivers including Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button had suggested the wall-lined, high-speed layout may not be safe, but world champion Lewis Hamilton said it was just a typical “moan”-fest. “These drivers moan so much […]
Pirelli relieved to finally ink FIA deal
Jun.18 (GMM) Pirelli has admitted to relief that, after a long delay, its presence in F1 beyond 2016 has finally been confirmed. The Italian marque actually secured a new deal with Bernie Ecclestone for 2017 until 2019 late last year, but it could not be made official until a separate contract with the governing FIA […]
Red Bull recommends Buemi for Renault seat
Jun.18 (GMM) Sebastien Buemi would make an ideal new race driver for the works Renault team. That is the view of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, just as the Swiss newspaper Blick claims that Swiss Buemi has been re-signed by Red Bull as a test driver. Buemi, now 27, raced over 50 times for […]
Verstappen confirms ‘bored’ father not in Baku
Jun.18 (GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted his father is taking a back seat now that he has secured a future at a top F1 team. The 18-year-old stepped up from Toro Rosso earlier this year, won in Barcelona and has now secured at least two further years at Red Bull Racing. So for the first […]
European Grand Prix – 2nd Free Practice
Hamilton quickest with a 1:44.223 from Rosberg (+0.690), Perez (+1.113), Bottas (+1.541), Hulkenberg (+1.697), Sainz (+1.804), Verstappen (+1.845), Vettel (+1.996), Button (+2.011) & Ricciardo (+2.070) Alonso, Grosjean, Raikkonen, Kvyat, Gutierrez, Massa, Magnussen, Haryanto, Ericsson, Palmer, Wehrlein and Nasr make the rest of the field. The pace of the Mercedes looks very impressive on this track […]
Kerb problem puts Baku under cloud
Jun.17 (GMM) Baku’s inaugural grand prix is under a cloud due to a worrying problem with kerbs at the brand new street circuit. GP2 qualifying was postponed on Friday, with Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reporting that 90 per cent of the F1 cars in opening practice suffered damage to their tyres. With the subsequent […]
Red Bull puts ‘aeroscreen’ on back burner
Jun.17 (GMM) Progress with Red Bull’s ‘aeroscreen’ concept has stalled. The FIA is pushing ahead with the rival ‘halo’ cockpit protection for next year, but remained open-minded about further developing Red Bull’s windshield-like concept for the future. That is because in the FIA’s crash testing of aeroscreen, the dummy’s head made contact with the screen […]
European Grand Prix – 1st Free Practice
Hamilton quickest with a 1:46.435 from Rosberg (+0.377), Bottas (+0.661), Alonso (+1.554), Vettel (+2.192), Perez (+2.487), Button (+2.584), Massa (+2.690), Sainz (+2.832) & Hulkenberg (+2.866). Grosjean, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Guttierez, Ericsson, Verstappen, Kvyat, Palmer, Magnussen, Wehrlein, Nasr and Haryanto make the rest of the field. Verstappen only completed 7 laps due to an oil leak […]
Sainz admits Red Bull door ‘a bit closed’
Jun.17 (GMM) Carlos Sainz is not ruling out staying with Toro Rosso in 2017. The impressive Spaniard has always targeted a move up to the senior team Red Bull, but last month he watched his teammate Max Verstappen get the call. And now, reports are doing the rounds that Red Bull Racing has locked in […]
Verstappen’s father Jos not in Azerbaijan
Jun.17 (GMM) For the first time in his 27-race formula one race career, Max Verstappen will be without his famous father Jos this weekend in Baku. De Telegraaf, a Dutch newspaper, reports that although the former Benetton and Minardi driver is usually at the side of his 18-year-old son, Jos decided to skip Azerbaijan. The […]
Heineken to do Red Bull F1 deal – report
Jun.17 (GMM) Heineken could be set to expand its new F1 sponsorship deal to involve one or more of the teams. That is the claim of the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, even though the Dutch beer brand explained in Montreal that the Heineken logo would in fact “not be visible on any F1 cars”. But […]