Jul.13 (GMM) Sebastien Buemi is not ruling out a return to the F1 grid. Since losing his Toro Rosso seat, the 28-year-old Swiss has become a top sports car and Formula E driver. But Auto Motor und Sport said he was back at the wheel of a Red Bull F1 car last week to help […]
Porsche to make F1 decision in July – report
Jul.13 (GMM) Porsche is tipped to decide within the next two weeks whether or not to enter formula one. The Volkswagen brand is currently a frontrunner at Le Mans, but Auto Motor und Sport says the Porsche board is set to “decide the motor sport strategy for coming years” later in July. “There are several […]
Honda denies Sauber split reports
Jul.13 (GMM) Honda has denied reports it will renege on its contract to power the Swiss team Sauber from 2018. The rumours say that with the works McLaren-Honda collaboration already in doubt, Honda may now be balking at the internal turmoil within the struggling Sauber team. “This is speculation, and we do not comment on […]
Alfa Romeo may power Haas in F1 – report
Jul.13 (GMM) Alfa Romeo could be ready to enter formula one. Some time ago, Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne said the iconic Italian name “should be reiterated as a sports brand and consider the possibility to race in F1”. “How? Probably in collaboration with Ferrari,” he added. Now, Germany’s Auto Bild reported rumours that Alfa Romeo […]
Mayor not yet backing Copenhagen F1 plans
Jul.13 (GMM) Copenhagen is not yet backing plans for a F1 street race in the Danish capital. We reported recently that Danish businessman Lars Seier Christensen met with F1 owner Liberty Media about a potential deal, with a circuit to be devised by Hermann Tilke. However, Copenhagen’s Lord Mayor Frank Jensen said: “We first must […]
F1 on cusp of corruption scandal – report
Jul.13 (GMM) F1 could be on a cusp of a new corruption scandal. Handelsblatt, a German business newspaper, claims the FIA “received millions from the race series’ rights owner, the F1 Group”. “But for what?” the report added. “British investigators are now looking into it.” The newspaper said the mysterious payment was to the tune […]
F1 not ruling out London GP
Jul.13 (GMM) The chances of a F1 street race in London have taken a clear step forward this week. The boost comes as Silverstone exercised a post-2019 break clause in its existing long-term British grand prix contract. Promoter the BRDC hopes to renegotiate the deal with Liberty Media, but representatives of the F1 owner are […]
Absent Hamilton booed in London
Jul.13 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton will head into his home race at Silverstone amid a cloud of local booing. At F1’s London demonstration event on Wednesday, the Mercedes driver’s countrymen booed at the mention of his name. That was because Hamilton was the only active F1 driver missing at the event. “We invited teams and drivers […]
Ferrari can improve in qualifying – Vettel
Jul.13 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted Ferrari needs to up its game in qualifying. The Ferrari driver heads into the British grand prix weekend with a 20-point lead over Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. “It should be a good track for us,” Vettel told the German broadcaster RTL. “Silverstone is full of fast corners.” But that doesn’t […]
Mercedes ‘do not need Alonso’ – Lauda
Jul.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s hopes of joining a winning F1 team for 2018 appear to be waning. Earlier, his manager Flavio Briatore suggested the Spaniard was targeting Mercedes or Ferrari, after three years of struggling with McLaren-Honda. But Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne said in Austria last weekend that the Maranello team is “not interested” in […]
Honda quits Sauber engine deal – report
Jul.12 (GMM) Honda has reneged on its promise to supply Sauber with customer engines next year. That is the sensational claim of Germany’s Auto Bild, fuelling speculation the hapless Japanese manufacturer could be about to quit formula one altogether. That’s because the news coincides with speculation McLaren has looked into dropping its works Honda deal […]
McLaren asks Ferrari about engine supply
Jul.12 (GMM) Ferrari has emerged as an unlikely option for McLaren, as rumours of a looming divorce with struggling works partner Honda persist. In recent days, speculation the McLaren-Honda split will proceed has waned. But Italy’s authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport now claims Ferrari – once McLaren’s arch title nemesis – has received an “exploratory […]
Kubica tests 2017 car in Renault simulator
Jul.12 (GMM) Robert Kubica has taken yet another step on his road back to the F1 grid. Earlier, the former grand prix winner tested a 2012 Renault at Valencia, and the French team now wants to give him a full evaluation outing. In preparation, the Pole – who almost severed his right forearm in a […]
Silverstone hits back at ‘posturing’ charge
Jul.12 (GMM) British grand prix organisers have hit back at F1 owner Liberty Media, after being accused of “posturing”. We reported earlier that, as the British Racing Drivers’ Club triggered a post-2019 break clause in its race contract, Liberty criticised the timing of the move in grand prix week. BRDC chairman John Grant hit back: […]
Mercedes ‘letting Hamilton down’ – Wolff
Jul.11 (GMM) Mercedes must up its game to help Lewis Hamilton win the 2017 world championship. That is the admission of team bosses Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda, who acknowledged that the Briton’s fight against Sebastian Vettel took a hit in the last two races. “I will now be consulting with Toto because something must […]
Red Bull writes off 2017 championship
Jul.11 (GMM) Christian Horner has backed frustrated team driver Max Verstappen in declaring the 2017 world championship basically over for Red Bull. After yet another technical retirement in Austria, and amid rumours he wants out of the team, Verstappen declared: “I no longer think about the world championship, but having good individual races.” Some interpreted […]
Whiting defends FIA jump start system
Jul.11 (GMM) Charlie Whiting says there is nothing wrong with F1’s jump start system. Video evidence showed Valtteri Bottas’ front wheels were moving before the five lights went out in Austria, and Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo were convinced that the Mercedes driver indeed jumped the start. But F1 steward Mika Salo said there is […]
Liberty hits out at Silverstone ‘posturing’
Jul.11 (GMM) F1 owner Liberty Media has hit out at what it regards as “posturing” by British grand prix promoter the BRDC. It is believed the Silverstone-owning British Racing Drivers’ Club has now told Liberty it is exercising a 2019 break clause in its race deal. Liberty says that decision is “regrettable”. “Our focus is […]
Vandoorne ‘took step forward’ in Austria
Jul.11 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne left Austria feeling more upbeat about the future at McLaren-Honda. Earlier, the team’s Anglo-Japanese collaboration appeared destined for divorce, while Belgian rookie Vandoorne was being consistently outclassed by Fernando Alonso. But Vandoorne said he felt happier overall as he left Austria, as reports emerged that team executive Zak Brown retains his […]
Alonso not ruling out Ferrari for 2018
Jul.11 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says it is not the right time of year to be counting or ruling out his possibilities for the future. The fiery McLaren-Honda driver is clearly on the market for 2018, but Mercedes and now Ferrari have said they are not interested in signing him up for now. When asked specifically […]