Sep.4 (GMM) Mercedes is now poised to announce that Valtteri Bottas is staying put for 2018. Team boss Toto Wolff said at Monza that keeping the Finn at the team for a second season is a “no brainer”. Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda now tells the German broadcaster RTL: “I can say that he will […]
Special Halo colour for title leader – Todt
Sep.4 (GMM) Jean Todt has an idea to spice up the popularity of the ‘Halo’ safety innovation for 2018. Many drivers, insiders and fans are unhappy that the cockpit protection system will affect the aesthetics and ‘DNA’ of formula one from next year. FIA president Todt said at Monza that Halo is being brought in […]
Renault to complete 2018 lineup soon – Prost
Sep.3 (GMM) Renault looks set to complete its 2018 driver lineup prior to Singapore in a fortnight. It appears likely the French team will oust Jolyon Palmer, and the highest profile candidate to replace him would be former Renault champion Fernando Alonso. However, boss Cyril Abiteboul and Alonso himself have played down claims of a […]
Marko, Lauda, criticise delayed qualifying
Sep.3 (GMM) F1 veterans Dr Helmut Marko and Niki Lauda have hit out at Saturday’s farcically-delayed qualifying session at Monza. In the past, rain would not have necessarily stopped play at Monza, but in 2017 the FIA decided to delay proceedings for hours after Romain Grosjean’s aquaplaning crash. “We have the best drivers here, the […]
Car failure to decide title – Todt
Sep.3 (GMM) Jean Todt thinks reliability will decide the outcome of the 2017 world championship. The FIA president said he is enjoying the close battle between his old team, Ferrari, and reigning champions Mercedes. “I am really enjoying watching it. Everything is still open,” Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper quotes the Frenchman as saying at […]
Ferrari and Mercedes ‘absolutely equal’ – Marchionne
Sep.3 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has backed Ferrari to remain toe-to-toe with Mercedes for the rest of the 2017 championship battle. The Italian team had a bad qualifying at its home circuit at Monza — ironically perhaps the least-suitable track for this year’s Ferrari package. But president Marchionne said: “Compared to when I was here a […]
Heavyweights at Monza as Honda saga nears conclusion
Sep.3 (GMM) The heavyweights have descended on Monza as the saga about Honda’s future in F1 steps into its highest gear. Toro Rosso seems to be the key to the outcome of McLaren-Honda’s looming divorce, as the team has imposed a 6pm Sunday deadline for a conclusion. The easiest way McLaren can split with Honda […]
Ocon clash doesn’t affect contract talks – Perez
Sep.2 (GMM) Sergio Perez is hoping clarity over his future is now only a fortnight away. At Monza, just a week after their huge falling out over their latest collisions at Spa, Perez and his teammate Sergio Perez said they have moved on. But Mexican Perez told Spain’s Diario Sport that tension remains. “It bothers […]
Verstappen’s father in Mercedes talks at Monza
Sep.2 (GMM) High-level meetings at Monza could affect the future of Max Verstappen in formula one. Bild newspaper reports that the Red Bull driver’s father Jos met with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff in the Mercedes motor home ahead of the Italian grand prix. Also in the Monza paddock, and at the same time, Dr Helmut […]
Kubica says F1 return chances ‘good’
Sep.2 (GMM) Robert Kubica says he still has “a good chance” of returning to formula one. After his post-race test in Hungary, the Pole has now returned to the F1 paddock at Monza. Although not in Renault team gear, the 32-year-old is basing himself at the Renault motor home as he works throughout the weekend […]
Bottas would accept ‘number 2’ role
Sep.2 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is prepared to work as the de-facto ‘number 2’ at Mercedes — but not yet. For the moment, the Finn is still technically in the hunt to beat Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton to the title, and patiently waiting for a new Mercedes contract. But boss Toto Wolff at […]
Sauber poised to make announcement
Sep.2 (GMM) Sauber is poised to make a key announcement about the future. The F1 rumour mill at Monza says the Swiss team will confirm either that Ferrari junior Charles Leclerc is joining for 2018 to replace Pascal Wehrlein, or that Sauber will adopt the name ‘Alfa Romeo’ next year. It is said the announcement […]
McLaren meets Renault chiefs at Monza
Sep.2 (GMM) A meeting at Monza could have decided the fate of the McLaren-Honda relationship. Ahead of the Italian grand prix, Renault chiefs Alain Prost and Cyril Abiteboul were spotted leaving the McLaren motor home, flanked by F1 boss Ross Brawn. The big rumour is that a deal has effectively been done between Renault and […]
Leclerc set for 2018 F1 debut – manager
Sep.1 (GMM) Charles Leclerc’s manager says he thinks the 19-year-old will be on the formula one grid next year. Currently, the Monaco-born driver is dominating the Formula 2 championship and strongly backed by Ferrari. Pascal Wehrlein, for instance, is openly expecting to be replaced at Sauber by a Ferrari junior next year. Wehrlein is quoted […]
‘No panic’ despite late contract – Bottas
Sep.1 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas insists there is “no panic” even though he is still not signed up for 2018. While the top teams fill their seats for next year, and even his teammate Lewis Hamilton is talking about a contract for 2019, Bottas still has no Mercedes deal beyond November’s Abu Dhabi finale. However, Toto […]
Villeneuve says ‘no’ to podium interview job
Sep.1 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve says he has repeatedly turned down offers to conduct the post-race interviews on the F1 podium. The 1997 world champion attends grands prix as a television pundit for Italian television. But unlike other drivers who do the podium interviews, the 46-year-old Canadian says he is not officially retired. “When you get […]
Haas switches focus to 2018 car
Sep.1 (GMM) Haas has admitted it has switched almost full attention to the 2018 car. The small Ferrari-linked American team is seventh overall in the constructors’ championship, but in a close battle with Williams, Toro Rosso and Renault. But boss Gunther Steiner told the Danish newspaper BT at Monza: “We are working towards next year […]
Symonds to help write 2021 rules
Sep.1 (GMM) Pat Symonds has joined a panel tasked with helping to shape the next generation of F1 rules. The panel has been put together by his old Benetton cohort Ross Brawn, who is now the sport’s new sporting boss. Brawn is looking to reform the controversial system of grid penalties for technical problems, and […]
Massa not ruling out Formula E switch
Sep.1 (GMM) Felipe Massa is not ruling out a switch in the future to Formula E. In fact, the Brazilian looked set to switch to the electric single seater series for 2017 before Valtteri Bottas suddenly vacated his Williams seat. Massa said at Monza: “After I decided to retire from F1 I did a test […]
Alonso to decide future after Honda talks
Sep.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he may travel to Japan to meet with Honda chiefs before deciding his next move. Prior to Monza, it was reported the fiery Spaniard had issued an ultimatum to McLaren — either dump its works Japanese engine supplier or lose him. “That is completely wrong — it’s a lie,” Alonso […]