Oct.8 (GMM) Felipe Massa seems unhappy with the Williams team. Earlier at Suzuka, team official Paddy Lowe said that while the Brazilian veteran is still in the running for 2018, Robert Kubica and Paul di Resta will be tested “in the next few weeks”. Another rumour is that Pascal Wehrlein could get Massa’s seat, perhaps […]
No Toro Rosso seat for Wehrlein – Marko
Oct.8 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has denied rumours Pascal Wehrlein could be in the running to race for Toro Rosso in 2018. On Sunday, both teams confirmed that Jolyon Palmer has been axed by Renault and will be replaced by Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz from Austin later this month. To fill Sainz’s place, axed Daniil […]
Ricciardo on driver market ‘understandable’ – Marko
Oct.7 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo going on the market for 2019 is “understandable”. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, the Red Bull official who admits the energy drink company is having to look beyond Australian Ricciardo’s current contract. “For all his racing life Ricciardo was part of the Red Bull family,” he told Kronen […]
2018 Alonso deal mere days from announcement
Oct.7 (GMM) McLaren could be now just days away from announcing a new deal for Fernando Alonso. Team boss Eric Boullier said earlier at Suzuka that he expects the Spaniard to eventually sign a 2018 contract. Marca sports newspaper quoted Alonso as saying: “Next week I think everything will be clearer.” Alonso’s former Renault teammate, […]
Drivers to wear glove sensor in 2018
Oct.7 (GMM) F1 drivers will wear a biometric sensor in their gloves from 2018. Austria’s Osterreich newspaper said the FIA wants to be able to monitor life saving data thanks to a three millimetre sensor sewn into a glove. Initially, the sensor will monitor the driver’s heart rate and oxygen in the blood, which will […]
Gasly admits future still uncertain
Oct.7 (GMM) Pierre Gasly says he is still unsure how he will spend the remainder of the 2017 season — and then whether he will step up with a full Toro Rosso seat next year. Heading into Suzuka, Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko said the rookie Frenchman is likely to drive for Toro Rosso for […]
Boullier still pushing for Alonso signature
Oct.7 (GMM) Eric Boullier is pushing hard to get Fernando Alonso’s signature on a McLaren contract for 2018. It appears that the two sides are headed for a new deal following the Honda split. “Honestly, I don’t think there are any special difficulties,” Frenchman Boullier said at Suzuka. “We are already discussing the details of […]
Norris could replace Button as McLaren reserve
Oct.7 (GMM) Eric Boullier has admitted Jenson Button could leave his role as official McLaren reserve driver next year. Earlier in 2017, the 2009 world champion stood in for Fernando Alonso in Monaco, but Button indicated at Suzuka that he wants to return to another series full-time next year. “I miss racing,” said Button, present […]
Teams to discuss Budkowski leave in meeting
Oct.7 (GMM) The issue of Marcin Budkowski’s ‘gardening leave’ will be discussed during the next F1 strategy group meeting. Renault finally announced at Suzuka that Budkowski has left his leading technical role at the FIA to become the Enstone team’s executive director. Team boss Cyril Abiteboul said he will start work in “early April”, despite […]
F1 wants Germany on calendar – Carey
Oct.6 (GMM) Chase Carey says F1 wants to keep Germany on the calendar. The country is missing on this year’s schedule but will return next season. But beyond 2018, there is no deal in place yet for a race in either Hockenheim or the Nurburgring. F1 chief executive Carey told Die Welt newspaper: “Germany is […]
Bottas struggle is ‘Mercedes’ fault’ – Lauda
Oct.6 (GMM) Niki Lauda says struggling Valtteri Bottas is not to blame for his collapse in form. The Finn was having a solid first season for Mercedes until a few races ago, when Ferrari and even Red Bull began to step ahead of the reigning champions. “The alarm bells are ringing loudly,” Lauda, the Mercedes […]
Alonso not commenting on Catalonia issue
Oct.6 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is refusing to weigh into the political turmoil in Spain. In his native country, an argument is raging between the region of Catalonia – which is seeking independence – and the Spanish government. “Everyone has his own opinion,” Alonso said at Suzuka, “but I prefer not to get involved. That is […]
2018 cars will be ready with Halo – Steiner
Oct.6 (GMM) F1 teams will be ready with Halo-equipped cars next year. That is the view of Haas boss Gunther Steiner, when asked about reports teams are concerned the FIA has released detailed information about Halo very late. “Everyone is complaining,” Steiner said at Suzuka, “but in the end it’s the same for everyone. Everything […]
Drivers confident of Ferrari turbo fix
Oct.6 (GMM) Ferrari’s drivers say the team has fixed a technical problem that ruined their weekend in Malaysia. The Italian team looked strongest overall at Sepang, but Sebastian Vettel was left last in qualifying with a turbo problem that seemed to repeat itself on Kimi Raikkonen’s failed car on the grid. Reports said the problem […]
McLaren can win with Renault power – Alonso
Oct.6 (GMM) Fernando Alonso thinks Renault can power McLaren to race wins in 2018. The Spaniard’s future is still unclear, but it is believed he is talking over only minor details regarding a new contract with the British team. That is because McLaren has dumped Honda for 2018 in order to team up with Renault, […]
Sainz not planning for 2019 season yet
Oct.6 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is not yet thinking about 2019. Actually, the Spaniard is set to switch from Toro Rosso to the Renault works team next year. But Red Bull is retaining the option of pulling him back to the premier energy drink-owned team for 2019, with Dr Helmut Marko declaring that Daniel […]
Ericsson says weight held him back in 2017
Oct.6 (GMM) Marcus Ericsson says extra weight has held him back in 2017. The Swede said the fact he weighs 10 kilograms more than teammate Pascal Wehrlein explains the pace difference between the two Sauber drivers. “He has the numbers on his side,” said Ericsson, who is now fighting to keep his seat at the […]
Verstappen hopes for ‘magic’ Renault button in 2018
Oct.6 (GMM) Max Verstappen hopes Renault heads into 2018 with a “magic” button for him to press. There are reports the French engine supplier wants to emulate the sort of ‘qualifying mode’ that has worked so well for Mercedes’ engine in the power unit era. Asked if that would be a big step forward, Red […]
Verstappen feels better after Malaysia illness
Oct.6 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he is feeling better after his illness in Malaysia. The Dutchman admitted only after winning at Sepang that he struggled physically throughout the weekend. “I was not feeling well at the start of the race,” said the Red Bull driver. “Then it got worse and worse.” Verstappen, 20, duly sprayed […]
Drivers admit 2017 Mercedes difficult to drive
Oct.6 (GMM) Mercedes’ two drivers have admitted their 2017 car is difficult to drive. Having the more obvious struggle recently is Valtteri Bottas, whose pace relative to championship leader Lewis Hamilton has been starkly off. “I think Lewis has been able to extract a little more with the compromises we’ve been needing to do in […]