Sep.7 (GMM) Max Verstappen is yet to prove himself in formula one. That is the controversial claim of Jochen Mass, a former F1 driver. 19-year-old Verstappen has been highly critical of Red Bull and Renault recently after a spate of car problems in 2017, hinting that he wants to break his contract. But Mass, a […]
Grid penalty system ‘incomprehensible’ – Jochen Mass
Sep.7 (GMM) Pressure is growing for F1 to scrap its system of grid penalties for technical car failures. In the name of cost cutting, drivers are penalised with grid penalties when they run through their allocation of limited engine parts for the season. Former F1 driver Jochen Mass told the German source T-Online: “Moving down […]
Force India wants to keep Ocon and Perez
Sep.7 (GMM) Force India wants to keep both of its current drivers for 2018. Recently, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon have been at loggerheads on and off the track, but deputy boss Bob Fernley said the Silverstone based team still needs them. “We’ll do everything in our power to keep both drivers,” he told Speed […]
Only nationality keeps Kvyat at Toro Rosso – Villeneuve
Sep.7 (GMM) 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve says he would not be surprised if Toro Rosso sweeps its driver lineup clean in the near future. The French Canadian said he is not particularly impressed with either Carlos Sainz, who is linked with a switch to Renault or elsewhere, or Daniil Kvyat. Villeneuve is especially critical […]
Wolff not happy with F1 weather service
Sep.6 (GMM) Toto Wolff has indicated he is not happy with F1’s official weather service. This year, Meteo France took over from UbiMet as the supplier of detailed weather information and forecasts to all F1 teams. But at Monza, the forecasters evidently got their weather predictions completely wrong. “On Friday, it was supposed to rain […]
McLaren better with ‘any other engine’ – Ricciardo
Sep.6 (GMM) McLaren would be more competitive with any other engine on the grid. That is the claim of Daniel Ricciardo, as the world of F1 continues to wait for news about the likely split between the formerly great team McLaren and Honda. “Unfortunately Honda has not been able to make McLaren’s car fast with […]
Alonso ‘deserves better’ in F1 – Domenicali
Sep.6 (GMM) Fernando Alonso “deserves” to be doing better in formula one, the Spaniard’s former boss Stefano Domenicali said. The former Ferrari chief is now the head of Lamborghini, but he made an appearance in the Monza paddock last weekend. When asked about Alonso’s difficult situation at McLaren-Honda and his deliberations over 2018, Domenicali said […]
Sainz at Toro Rosso in 2018 ‘not 100pc’ – Marko
Sep.6 (GMM) Red Bull is still open to ‘selling’ Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz to another team. The energy drink company has a firm contract with the 22-year-old, but persistent rumours say Renault is interested in running him at the French works team. Indeed, Sainz admitted recently that Renault even made a “good offer” to […]
F1 should increase engine allocation – Horner
Sep.6 (GMM) Christian Horner says he will propose that F1 scraps plans to further ramp up the controversial long-life engine rules next year. Already on new F1 chief Ross Brawn’s table is an idea to reform the often farcical imposition of grid penalties for engine component changes. But Horner, the Red Bull boss, told Salzburger […]
Hamilton agrees to test on Thursday
Sep.5 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has agreed to help Pirelli with tyre testing later this week. The triple world championship openly admits to disliking track testing, and often pulls out of scheduled sessions with injury or illness. But after winning his second race on the trot last weekend and taking over the championship lead from Ferrari’s […]
Force India in talks with Perez sponsors
Sep.5 (GMM) Force India looks set to keep Sergio Perez on board for 2018. Despite his on and off-track clashes with teammate Esteban Ocon, the Mexican driver had said recently he hoped his future would be decided by Monza. Now, the parties are targeting Singapore in two weeks. “There’s not much left to agree with […]
‘No panic’ despite bad race at Monza – Vettel
Sep.5 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says there will be “no panic” at Ferrari after a bad home race at Monza. The German lost his long championship lead to Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in the Italian grand prix, following a second consecutive defeat to the Briton. The Italian press said it was a “cold shower” for Ferrari at […]
McLaren, Renault waiting for Toro Rosso decision
Sep.5 (GMM) The ball is in Red Bull’s court as the McLaren-Honda saga rolls on. As the teams packed up in Monza, it seemed clear that McLaren and Honda were set to split. “I’m still trying to get a good performance from us to convince them (to stay),” Honda’s Yusuke Hasegawa said on Sunday. “But […]
Alonso wants to be ‘loyal’ to McLaren
Sep.5 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he wants to be “loyal” to McLaren as he weighs up his future in F1. Boss Zak Brown said before departing Monza that he thinks it’s “likely” the Spaniard will sign a new deal for 2018, so long as McLaren dumps Honda and switches to Renault power. Alonso told Spain’s […]
F1 officials ‘too conservative’ in rain – Horner
Sep.4 (GMM) Christian Horner has criticised F1 officials for acting “too conservatively” during Saturday’s rain-affected qualifying session at Monza. The local and international audience reacted with frustration as race control repeatedly delayed in 15 minute increments the qualifying session due to rain. “To be honest, I think they acted very conservatively. I would say too […]
Wolff admits having ‘coffee’ with Verstappen
Sep.4 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted he met with Max Verstappen’s father at Monza. Amid the high-profile talks involving McLaren, Honda, Toro Rosso and F1 officials at the scene of the Italian grand prix, another notable meeting took place rather more quietly. It was between Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, and former F1 driver Jos […]
Ferrari ’embarrassing’ at Monza – Marchionne
Sep.4 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne says Ferrari’s performance at home at Monza was “embarrassing”. As Mercedes drove to a one-two, the team’s drivers admitted they turned down their engines while easily beating Ferrari’s third-placed Sebastian Vettel to the podium. “Mercedes power is definitely better than Ferrari power,” said new championship leader Lewis Hamilton on the podium, […]
Pregnant Williams to miss last races of 2017
Sep.4 (GMM) Team boss Claire Williams will not attend any more races in 2017. The 41-year-old, who is the daughter of team founder Sir Frank Williams, is due to give birth to her first child – a baby boy – in the coming days. Claire said at Monza that she will be working from home […]
Hamilton wants to know Schumacher condition
Sep.4 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he would like to know the current physical condition of F1 legend Michael Schumacher. At Monza, the Briton sped past the all-time record for pole positions – 68 – formerly held by seven time world champion Schumacher. “For everything he did for the sport and raising the bar, to be […]
McLaren poised to announce 2018 Renault deal
Sep.4 (GMM) McLaren is poised to announce its switch from Honda to Renault power for the 2018 season. It was a weekend of high-politicking at Monza, with the outcome expected to be McLaren dumping Honda, the Japanese supplier moving to Toro Rosso, and Fernando Alonso staying at a newly Renault-powered McLaren for 2018. “We know […]