Jul.24 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has denied Ferrari might be on the brink of a new ‘crisis’. The German is still leading the world championship by a single point, but the momentum has clearly shifted in Mercedes’ direction in the past few races. Some in the Italian media suspect a new Ferrari ‘crisis’ is on the […]
Villeneuve confirms Williams spat
Jul.24 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has confirmed his spat with his former F1 team Williams. We reported last week that the 1997 world champion, who now works as a pundit for Italian television Sky, was banned from Williams’ motor home. The ban follows Villeneuve, 46, having declared his Canadian countryman Lance Stroll the “worst rookie” in […]
Auer plays down F1 chances
Jul.24 (GMM) DTM frontrunner Lucas Auer has played down his chances of moving into F1 next year. The Austrian, who is F1 legend Gerhard Berger’s nephew, will make his F1 test debut in Budapest next month thanks in part to Force India sponsor BWT and his links to Mercedes. “At the moment I do not […]
Mercedes, Red Bull slam ‘Halo’ decision
Jul.21 (GMM) Mercedes and Red Bull bosses have hit out at the FIA’s decision to impose the controversial ‘Halo’ frontal protection concept for 2018. Many fans are outraged with this week’s news that the era of fully open cockpits is set to end, with 78 per cent of Auto Motor und Sport readers opposed to […]
Perez should only leave for Ferrari – Mallya
Jul.20 (GMM) Vijay Mallya says he would be happy if Force India lines up with the same drivers next year. The former Indian billionaire made a rare paddock visit at Silverstone last weekend, as his passport has been seized over his legal dispute with Indian authorities. So for now, he cannot leave the UK, but […]
Kubica confident he can drive 2017 car
Jul.20 (GMM) Robert Kubica says the idea of testing this year’s Renault car does not faze him. Speculation the former grand prix winner could return to F1 after a more than six year absence is gaining traction, after Renault gave him two recent outings in the 2012 car. Team boss Cyril Abiteboul says he is […]
Carey wants more German teams in F1
Jul.20 (GMM) F1 CEO Chase Carey says he wants more German carmakers to join the category. Not just that, the American – who now runs the sport in ousted F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s wake – told Germany’s Sport Bild he will fight to keep a German grand prix on the calendar. Absent in 2017, Hockenheim […]
FIA mandates ‘Halo’ for 2018
Jul.20 (GMM) The controversial frontal protection concept called ‘Halo’ will make its mandatory debut on all formula one cars next year. After Silverstone practice, Sebastian Vettel said the transparent alternative called ‘Shield’ made him dizzy, while car designers complained that time had run out to iron out all of the problems for a 2018 debut. […]
F1 to discuss ‘Shield’ in Wednesday meeting
Jul.19 (GMM) The potential introduction of the cockpit protection solution known as ‘Shield’ will have top billing as F1’s strategy group meets on Wednesday. At Silverstone, Sebastian Vettel said he felt “dizzy” after becoming the first driver to try the transparent windscreen-type device aboard his Ferrari. “Now we have to think about how we can […]
Kubica to test 2017 Renault in Hungary
Jul.19 (GMM) Robert Kubica will step up his F1 comeback by testing Renault’s 2017 car after the forthcoming Hungarian grand prix. At Silverstone, Renault chief Cyril Abiteboul played down reports that the former grand prix winner’s bid to sensationally return to the sport would hit a higher gear at the post-GP test at the circuit […]
Former PM hopes for Dutch GP return
Jul.19 (GMM) Former Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende says he hopes Max Verstappen can help power The Netherlands’ return to the F1 calendar. Recently, there have been rumours Zandvoort or Assen might be candidates to join the Liberty Media-penned race calendar of the future. So it was with interest that Balkenende – who served […]
Williams bans Villeneuve from motor home
Jul.19 (GMM) According to the rumour grapevine, Williams has banned its 1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve from the team’s motor home at grands prix. French Canadian Villeneuve is now a television pundit for Italy’s Sky, but the Williams ban apparently followed the 46-year-old recently telling a newspaper that Lance Stroll is the “worst rookie” in F1 […]
Marchionne calls for Ferrari ‘response’
Jul.19 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has called for “an immediate response” from Ferrari after the British grand prix. In a speech to Ferrari staff, the team’s president was responding to the perception Mercedes has now clearly raced ahead in the battle for the 2017 title. “I know you are the same team from Monte Carlo and […]
Haas has ‘control’ of driver decision – Steiner
Jul.19 (GMM) Haas boss Gunther Steiner said he remains in control of the American team’s driver decision for 2018. Currently, Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen drive for the Ferrari-linked team. But the influence of Ferrari may be growing, with the Italian team’s reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi now Haas’ regular Friday practice driver, and Charles Leclerc […]
McLaren-Mercedes talks ‘not promising’ – Horner
Jul.19 (GMM) Christian Horner sees parallels between McLaren’s current situation and the predicament faced by Red Bull two years ago. In 2015, amid Red Bull’s falling out with Renault, the energy drink owned team struggled to find a replacement engine as none of the alternatives were keen to work with the former champions. Now, a […]
Sainz plays down chances of Hungary team switch
Jul.18 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has now joined those playing down his chances of switching teams ahead of the Hungarian grand prix next weekend. Tension is clearly high between the Toro Rosso driver and his Red Bull bosses, with Christian Horner now admitting the 22-year-old can be bought by a rival for an appropriate exit fee. […]
Verstappen ‘still a little wild’ – Vettel
Jul.18 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has no right to complain about dangerous driving. That is the retort of Max Verstappen, after German Vettel’s latest spate of fist-waving during the pair’s on-track battle at Silverstone. During the race, Verstappen said Vettel appeared to want to play “bumper cars”, but afterwards it was the Ferrari driver questioning the […]
Italian press says Ferrari must ‘start from scratch’
Jul.18 (GMM) Italy’s partisan media is worried the tide may have turned against Ferrari in its championship battle with Mercedes. As Lewis Hamilton utterly dominated, Mercedes scored a one-two and Ferrari’s drivers struggled to the finish with disintegrating Pirelli tyres, the Italian press departed Silverstone concerned about the implications. “Ferrari’s defeat was the worst this […]
Wolff wants Hamilton to stay at Mercedes
Jul.18 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he is pushing Lewis Hamilton to commit to Mercedes beyond the end of next year. After the British driver closed the championship gap to just a single point at Silverstone, Hamilton hinted to the media that he is not ruling out retirement. “I love driving and you could say it’s […]
Bottas set for 2018 Mercedes deal – Wolff
Jul.17 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas looks set to secure a one-year extension to his Mercedes contract for 2018. The Finn signed a one-year deal to replace the suddenly-retired Nico Rosberg this year, and has been pushing for a “long-term” commitment by the German team. The good news for Bottas is that Mercedes seems to want to […]