Sep.25 (GMM) Jolyon Palmer looks set to keep his race seat at Renault for the rest of the 2018 season. Sources report that the British driver and his father Jonathan turned down the French team’s offer of $3 million to give up the seat to Carlos Sainz for the remaining six races of this year. […]
McLaren-Renault targets race win in 2018
Sep.25 (GMM) Eric Boullier thinks McLaren can make a swift return to the top step of the podium. The British team is splitting with Honda after three years deep in the midfield, but boss Boullier thinks Renault power is McLaren’s ticket to success as soon as 2018. “For 2018, our goal is to fight for […]
Marko ‘optimistic’ about Red Bull-Honda future
Sep.25 (GMM) Red Bull is “optimistic” about Honda’s future in formula one. With the energy drink company’s Renault connection flagging, junior team Toro Rosso is linking up with Honda next year. Some see it as an odd choice for Red Bull, given McLaren’s struggle to make a works partnership succeed in three difficult years. But […]
Vasseur admits Ericsson could leave Sauber
Sep.25 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur says Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein is still in the running to stay at Sauber next year. Earlier, German Wehrlein seemed resigned to losing his seat with the Swiss team, as Sauber looks to accommodate a junior promoted by engine supplier Ferrari. But it could be Marcus Ericsson who has to give […]
Sainz unsure of early Renault debut
Sep.22 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he still doesn’t know which car he will be racing in Malaysia next week. The Toro Rosso driver is being loaned to Renault for 2018, but there are reports he will kick off that adventure early by replacing Jolyon Palmer as soon as Sepang. Sainz, 23, told Spanish radio Onda […]
Earthquake will not stop Mexico GP – spokesman
Sep.22 (GMM) Next month’s grand prix in Mexico City looks set to go ahead, despite a devastating earthquake whose death toll is approaching 300. The circuit is currently being used as a staging area for humanitarian and rescue efforts, but the track surface and buildings appear to have escaped major damage. “It’s been inspected twice […]
Mateschitz ‘not tired’ of F1 – Berger
Sep.22 (GMM) Gerhard Berger has hit back at rumours Red Bull is getting “tired” of formula one. There have been paddock rumours the energy drink company’s chief Dietrich Mateschitz is making moves to distance himself from his two F1 teams. “That he is tired of formula one, I think is wrong,” Berger, who was Red […]
Vettel engine not damaged in crash – report
Sep.22 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel’s engine was not damaged in his first-lap Singapore crash last weekend. La Repubblica newspaper had reported that with his points deficit already blowing out to 28 points, Vettel might receive a further blow in the form of a grid penalty after photos showed damage to his Singapore power unit. But Germany’s […]
Renault ‘will part’ with Red Bull – boss
Sep.22 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has all but confirmed reports Renault and Red Bull will split after next season. It was rumoured in the Singapore paddock recently that the French supplier has already told the energy drink-owned team that it cannot use Renault power beyond 2018. Renault boss Abiteboul told the French magazine Auto Hebdo: “Sooner […]
McLaren offered Honda ‘sabbatical’ option – Boullier
Sep.22 (GMM) Honda rejected a proposal whereby it would take a “sabbatical” and return to McLaren at a later date. It emerged in Singapore that the two sides have definitely split, with Honda staying in F1 only by teaming up with Toro Rosso next year. But team boss Eric Boullier told the French magazine Auto […]
Sauber tipped to choose drivers ‘soon’
Sep.22 (GMM) Sauber will reportedly make the call about its 2018 driver lineup soon. Earlier, it looked certain Pascal Wehrlein would lose his seat as team engine supplier Ferrari brings in one of its juniors Charles Leclerc or Antonio Giovinazzi. Indeed, Sauber has now announced that young Monegasque Leclerc will get four Friday practice session […]
Earthquake hits Mexico before October F1 race
Sep.21 (GMM) A dark cloud has moved above Mexico, just over a month before the country is scheduled to host its grand prix. Over 200 lives have been lost as buildings crumbled around greater Mexico City, where the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is due to welcome F1 late next month. Sergio Perez, F1’s only Mexican driver, […]
Vettel can still win 2017 title – Brawn
Sep.21 (GMM) F1 boss Ross Brawn has backed Sebastian Vettel to bounce back and continue to fight for the 2017 title. After Singapore, where the Ferrari driver was blamed for the first-corner crash, the Italian press said it was the death knell for Vettel’s title hopes. But Brawn, the F1 sporting boss, does not even […]
Sainz can race for Red Bull in 2019 – report
Sep.21 (GMM) Carlos Sainz could wind up at Red Bull’s senior F1 team in 2019. It is already known that the Spaniard will move from the energy drink company’s junior team, Toro Rosso, to the works Renault outfit next year. But he is merely ‘on loan’ to Renault. “What I know is that I will […]
Auer future unchanged after Force India decisions
Sep.20 (GMM) Lucas Auer says Force India deciding to keep the same drivers for 2018 doesn’t affect his own motor racing future. Earlier, the Austrian – whose uncle is the F1 legend Gerhard Berger – tested for the Silverstone based team thanks to his pink-coloured sponsor BWT. Force India’s driver lineup was up in the […]
Haas defends Singapore ‘team orders’
Sep.20 (GMM) Haas boss Gunther Steiner has defended a case of ‘team orders’ imposed in Singapore last weekend. When he emerged from his car under the city-state’s floodlights, Kevin Magnussen told the media that being ordered by his bosses to give up a place to teammate Romain Grosjean potentially cost the team points. But he […]
Michael Schumacher could move to America – report
Sep.20 (GMM) Michael Schumacher could be set to relocate to the United States. Almost nothing is known about the extent of the F1 legend’s brain injuries, following his skiing fall in France in late 2013. Now 48, the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver is reportedly supported by a team of health professionals as he recuperates […]
Title hopes not over for Vettel – Hamilton
Sep.20 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says his championship rival Sebastian Vettel cannot be written off. In Singapore, as he extended his winning streak to a hat-trick, Mercedes’ Hamilton pulled out a 28-point lead over Vettel, Ferrari’s former championship leader. Niki Lauda, the F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman, thinks Vettel’s first corner crash on Sunday cost […]
McLaren ‘only two weeks behind’ – Boullier
Sep.20 (GMM) Eric Boullier insists the long-running ‘will they or won’t they?’ McLaren-Honda divorce saga has only slightly delayed the British team’s preparations for 2018. Although the split was only made official in Singapore, the McLaren team boss says the team is actually only two weeks behind schedule. “Obviously for a while we will have […]
Raikkonen manager role ‘not the same as before’
Sep.19 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen effectively manages his own affairs in formula one. That is the admission of the Finn’s long-time manager Steve Robertson, who recently helped Raikkonen agree his new one-year deal to stay at Ferrari next year. But Robertson told the Finnish broadcaster MTV: “The process was pretty simple because the contract was made […]