May 25 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has admitted he would like a two-year deal if Mercedes extends his stay beyond 2018. So far, the Finn has been on single-year contracts after he was signed at the eleventh hour to replace Nico Rosberg in 2017. Team boss Toto Wolff said he has been happy with Bottas. “Everyone […]
Raikkonen hints he wants 2019 deal
May 25 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has hinted he wants a new deal at Ferrari for 2019. Charles Leclerc and Daniel Ricciardo are linked with the Finn’s seat, but Sebastian Vettel has made clear he wants his friend Raikkonen to stay. “I think he’s fast enough compared to anyone out there,” the German told La Gazzetta […]
FIA monitoring Ferrari over cheat rumours
May 25 (GMM) The legality of Ferrari’s 2018 car remains under the spotlight. There are suspicions not only about the amount of oil consumed by the turbocharger, but also whether Ferrari is cleverly getting around the rule limiting battery power. Rumours in Monaco suggest the FIA is monitoring the car at Monaco this weekend with […]
Steiner rejects Grosjean axe rumours
May 24 (GMM) Haas boss Gunther Steiner has rejected rumours that say struggling driver Romain Grosjean will be dumped. The Frenchman is having a dire 2018 season and is out of contract at the end of the year. But Steiner said in Monaco there is no truth to the paddock rumours that say Haas is […]
Vettel wants Raikkonen to stay at Ferrari
May 24 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has made clear he wants Kimi Raikkonen to stay as his teammate at Ferrari in 2019. It is rumoured the Maranello team is considering replacing the Finn with either Daniel Ricciardo, Sauber rookie Charles Leclerc or even Lewis Hamilton. Asked if the much-hyped reigning Formula 2 champion and Ferrari junior […]
Williams wants progress by July – Stroll
May 24 (GMM) Williams is hoping to make a mid-season recovery, according to team driver Lance Stroll. The British team’s deputy Claire Williams has refuted rumours that the performance problems are so dire that Williams will fail to put together a full budget for 2019. Canadian Stroll says plans are in the works for a […]
Hartley ‘surprised’ by Toro Rosso axe rumours
May 24 (GMM) Brendon Hartley says rumours of his impending F1 demise “surprised” him. After Barcelona, rumours started doing the rounds that Toro Rosso owner Red Bull was considering ousting the New Zealander and replacing him with Pascal Wehrlein or Antonio Giovinazzi. “I was surprised when I heard that,” Hartley said in Monaco. “I have […]
De Ferran becomes McLaren consultant
May 24 (GMM) Gil de Ferran has returned to formula one. Over a decade ago, the two-time Indycar champion and former Indy 500 winner was the sporting boss at BAR-Honda, but the role was short-lived. Now, he has been signed up by McLaren as an informal consultant. “Gil has so much experience in both Indycar […]
Hypersoft to make Monaco ‘spectacular’ – Ocon
May 24 (GMM) F1 drivers are looking forward to a fun weekend on the streets of Monaco. The Principality is always a challenge, but this year Pirelli has brought its new ‘hypersoft’ tyre, which is tipped to help the drivers smash circuit records. “The speeds will be spectacular,” Force India’s Esteban Ocon predicted. Asked if […]
Magnussen would accept top team move
May 24 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he will look around to see if a move to a top team might be on the cards. Although unpopular among many of his rivals, the Dane has impressed at Haas this year and is outperforming his more highly-paid teammate Romain Grosjean. “I’m happy to be here even if […]
FIA clears up Ferrari oil consumption rumour
May 24 (GMM) F1’s governing body has clarified how oil may be consumed by F1 cars. Earlier, Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda had said the FIA needed to urgently clarify “grey areas”, including a rumour Ferrari illegally consumes oil via the turbo. That had followed a formal letter to the FIA, in which Mercedes asked […]
Struggling Grosjean ‘happy to stay’ at Haas
May 23 (GMM) Romain Grosjean says he is “happy to stay” at Haas beyond the end of his contract this year. But negotiations may be looming at the worst possible time for the Frenchman, as he is in the midst of another career slump and being outshone by his lesser-paid teammate Kevin Magnussen. Grosjean just […]
McLaren denies link to Nicholas Latifi
May 23 (GMM) McLaren has denied any link between its new shareholder and the career of a young Formula 2 driver. Michael Latifi, the father of Force India reserve Nicholas Latifi, has bought 10 per cent of the McLaren Group for almost $270 million. But a team spokesman says the deal is entirely separate to […]
FIA must clarify Ferrari car legality – Lauda
May 23 (GMM) Niki Lauda says the FIA must clear up the uncertainty about Ferrari’s 2018 car. Ferrari, Mercedes’ key championship rival, heads into Monaco amid suggestions it is using more power than is allowed from its battery. And Mercedes is also pressing the FIA to clarify whether the way Ferrari uses its turbocharger complies […]
Red Bull heads to Monaco as favourite
May 23 (GMM) Red Bull has been left standing as the likely favourite heading into this weekend’s Monaco grand prix. Ferrari had the fastest overall package in the early part of the season, but then suddenly struggled on Pirelli’s new harder tyres in Barcelona. “I’ve said many times that this team is strong and has […]
Abiteboul ‘convinced’ Sainz will catch up
May 23 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul says he is happy with the progress at the Renault works team. “There are ups and downs, but in general for the moment we are in line with our plan,” the team boss told El Confidencial newspaper. “We know that sometimes we sound too conservative and corporate, but every professional […]
Red Bull ‘will never learn loyalty’ – Abiteboul
May 23 (GMM) Red Bull and Renault appear to be speeding towards divorce. Red Bull, a constant critic of the performance of its Renault engines, is currently weighing up a 2019 switch to Honda. Renault’s deadline for that decision is looming, and boss Cyril Abiteboul seems resigned to losing Red Bull. “Red Bull criticising its […]
Todt plays down complaints about 2019 rules
May 22 (GMM) Jean Todt has played down criticism of the incoming changes to the F1 regulations for 2019. A majority vote by the teams means that significant aerodynamic changes will be added to the rules next year, with a new front wing in particular designed by boost overtaking. But some voted against the move, […]
Leclerc plays down Senna, Schumacher comparisons
May 22 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has played down any comparisons being made between him and true F1 greats. The Monaco-born driver made his formula one debut this year with Sauber amid suggestions he is set to become a future Michael Schumacher or Ayrton Senna. “Of course it’s a great honour to be associated with those […]
F2 driver would refuse Toro Rosso call-up
May 22 (GMM) A Formula 2 driver has counted himself out of speculation about the second Toro Rosso seat. With Brendon Hartley struggling for pace in 2018, rumours suggest Red Bull could entice Pascal Wehrlein out of DTM to replace him at the junior team Toro Rosso. “That’s not the intention at the moment,” Red […]