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 […]
Brazil GP axe ‘quite possible’ – Massa
Jun.17 (GMM) Felipe Massa has warned that Bernie Ecclestone may be serious in his threat to axe the Brazilian grand prix. Given that Interlagos has a contract until 2020, some Brazilian reporters had played down the F1 supremo’s warning that November’s race could be the last. “We know how Bernie works with his negotiations,” Williams […]
Imola poised to snatch Italy GP from Monza
Jun.17 (GMM) Imola chief Uberto Selvatico Estense says the former San Marino GP venue is “ready” and poised to replace Monza as Italy’s sole F1 race. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is still warning that intense and typical Italian politics could mean historic Monza loses the grand prix after 2016. “The most humiliating moment was not […]
Senior F1 drivers question Baku safety
Jun.17 (GMM) Senior F1 drivers have questioned the safety credentials of the sport’s newest venue. What became clear on Thursday as the teams, drivers and engineers checked out Baku’s street circuit on foot and by bike is that it is totally unique — lined with walls and barriers but incredibly high speed. Bernie Ecclestone said […]
No spare chassis for Renault at Baku
Jun.16 (GMM) F1’s leap across the world in the space of mere days has left a couple of teams struggling for spare parts. In perhaps the sport’s oddest ever pair of ‘back-to-back’ grand prix weekends, the travelling circus has somehow assembled for the inaugural race in Baku within short memory of last Sunday’s Montreal event. […]
Journalists play down Brazil GP axe threat
Jun.16 (GMM) Brazilian journalists have played down Bernie Ecclestone’s warning that the Interlagos race in November could be the last. F1 supremo Ecclestone triggered alarm this week when he said: “It could be that the grand prix in Brazil this year is the last.” But experienced Brazilian journalist Victor Martins told UOL’s Grande Premio programme […]
Hulkenberg says no Le Mans ‘in foreseeable future’
Jun.16 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg does not think he will be returning to Le Mans in “the foreseeable future”. Despite racing full-time in F1, the German is actually the fabled 24 hour endurance race’s reigning winner, having won for Porsche this time last year. But Hulkenberg cannot rejoin his Porsche teammates this weekend because Le Mans […]
Tilke denies Baku too dangerous for F1
Jun.16 (GMM) Hermann Tilke has played down fears F1’s newest venue in Baku might not be safe enough. As the sport’s travelling circus set up in the historic Azerbaijan capital this week, two respected journalists wondered whether F1 had compromised safety by green-lighting the fastest ever street circuit. Roger Benoit, writing for Blick, said the […]
Marchionne made F1 ‘rookie error’ – Berger
Jun.16 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne made a “typical rookie error” in predicting immediate wins in 2016 and the world championship title, according to former Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger. So far, the Maranello team has failed to deliver on the bold promises made by its new president, causing some to wonder if that means team boss Maurizio […]
Ricciardo happy with Verstappen until 2018
Jun.16 (GMM) As news emerges that Red Bull’s driver lineup is now set in stone for the next two years, Daniel Ricciardo says he is happy alongside F1 teen sensation Max Verstappen. Although the Australian had been linked with a move to Ferrari, reports suggest Red Bull has definitely secured the 26-year-old until the end […]
F1 teams back Heineken deal amid controversy
Jun.16 (GMM) F1 teams have backed the sport’s new global sponsorship deal with Heineken. Believed to be worth up to $200 million for formula one and tipped to include an unprecedented scope, the Dutch beer brewer’s deal has also triggered controversy among campaigners who believe alcohol advertising should be banned. “F1 should ask themselves if […]
Top three teams pushing hard for title
Jun.16 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes will work hard to maintain its position at the top of the F1 tree. Lewis Hamilton left Montreal with a second consecutive win but boss Wolff says Mercedes’ rivals are getting perilously close. “The pace of Ferrari and Red Bull (in Canada) showed that the competition is right there […]
F1 sponsor deals ‘better than winning’ – Stewart
Jun.15 (GMM) Sir Jackie Stewart says bringing big companies like Heineken into formula one is “even better” than winning world titles. The F1 legend and triple world champion was instrumental to the multi-million dollar tie-up between the Dutch beer multinational and F1. He told Russia’s Championat that helping to conclude deals like that is “even […]
Grosjean urges Haas to fix wing flaw
Jun.15 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has urged Haas to get to the bottom of a recurring technical fault in 2016. More than once this year, the new American outfit has been halted by mysterious and dangerous failures to the front wing. The latest was in Montreal last weekend, so Grosjean told the French broadcaster Canal Plus: […]
Magnussen hopes contract talks start soon
Jun.15 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen hopes his talks with Renault about staying with the French works team beyond 2016 begin soon. After losing his place at McLaren, the Dane got his F1 career back on track this year by joining the Enstone based team, following the Lotus buyout. Renault has struggled so far in 2016 but […]
Nasr admits he could leave Sauber
Jun.15 (GMM) Felipe Nasr has played down suggestions he will definitely leave Sauber at the end of the season. As the Swiss team flounders beneath obvious financial strain, and Nasr’s relationship with teammate Marcus Ericsson hits rock bottom, recent reports suggested the Brazilian intends to take his sponsor Banco do Brazil elsewhere for 2017. But […]
Red Bull keeping same drivers in 2017 and 2018
Jun.15 (GMM) Red Bull is confirming that it will field an unchanged driver lineup in 2017. There had been increasing speculation that Daniel Ricciardo could be eyeing a move to Ferrari, which was music to the ears of Toro Rosso hopeful Carlos Sainz. “I’m here when Red Bull needs me,” Spanish reports quoted him as […]