Aug.27 (GMM) Mercedes will take a race-by-race approach to the issue of team orders for the remaining nine grands prix of 2017. In Hungary, Lewis Hamilton lost precious points to Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel as the Briton honoured an agreement to return a place to his teammate Valtteri Bottas. “Some people said we are naive in […]
Bottas to get 2018 contract before Monza
Aug.27 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is set to be the next piece of the 2018 driver puzzle to slot into place. With Ferrari’s current lineup staying next year, the path is now clear for Finn Bottas to ink a new single-year contract with Mercedes. “It goes without saying that Valtteri is staying,” team boss Toto Wolff […]
Kubica set for Friday practice in Malaysia
Aug.27 (GMM) Robert Kubica could be set for another outing in Renault’s 2017 car. Recently, the Pole caused a stir with an impressive performance in the post-Hungarian GP test. But Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul said it was not enough to be sure that the former BMW driver is really ready to return to F1 six […]
Lauda plays down Vettel talks confusion
Aug.27 (GMM) Niki Lauda has played down the confusion about whether Mercedes came close to signing Sebastian Vettel for 2018 and beyond. At Spa, Ferrari ended the uncertainty about Vettel’s future by saying it has agreed a new three-year contract with the championship leader. The news came just 24 hours after Vettel said there would […]
Mercedes breaks ‘gentleman’s agreement’ – report
Aug.26 (GMM) A spat has reportedly broken out behind the scenes between title protagonists Mercedes and Ferrari. Auto Bild reports that Mercedes surprised its Italian rival by launching a new engine specification at Spa Francorchamps. The controversy surrounds the recent ‘oil in fuel’ saga, with the FIA having declared that as of the next race […]
Now Perez slams ‘dirty’ Magnussen
Aug.26 (GMM) Sergio Perez on Friday joined Nico Hulkenberg in condemning the driving style of Haas racer Kevin Magnussen. Hulkenberg and Magnussen famously fell out in Hungary amid the “suck my b-lls” affair, and at Spa-Francorchamps Perez admitted his fury after the Dane apparently swerved into him during practice. Mexican Perez said he thinks Magnussen […]
Marko admits Red Bull unhappy with Toro Rosso
Aug.26 (GMM) Red Bull is not happy with its second formula one team, Toro Rosso. That is the admission of the energy drink company’s key official Dr Helmut Marko, who is regarded as the closest motor racing confidante of Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz. He said of Toro Rosso: “We bought the team because the […]
Alonso went to McLaren for ‘money’ – Lauda
Aug.26 (GMM) Niki Lauda says he has little sympathy amid the situation facing Fernando Alonso. Recently, the likes of Nico Rosberg and Mark Webber have said they feel sorry for the Spaniard, who has struggled since 2015 with McLaren-Honda rather than raced at the front where he really belongs. But when asked what advice he […]
Hamilton eyes new three-year contract – report
Aug.26 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton could be set to extend his stay at Mercedes beyond 2018. The triple world champion’s current deal runs out late next year, and he has been hinting that retirement or a move to Ferrari could be on the cards. But now, Sport Bild reports that Hamilton, 32, has told Mercedes team […]
Williams eyes Alonso for 2018
Aug.26 (GMM) British team Williams is making a bid to sign Fernando Alonso for 2018, according to multiple media reports. After three years of struggling with McLaren-Honda, the Spanish driver is openly assessing his limited options for next season. But McLaren is making clear it wants to keep him. “We will do everything we can […]
Alonso says September is ‘decision month’
Aug.25 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has admitted the time is nearing for a decision about his future beyond 2017. The Spaniard said previously he would contemplate his next move during the summer break, so as the F1 circus reconvened at Spa, Alonso was asked if he has decided. “I’ve always said that September would be the […]
Magnussen not sorry after ‘suck my b-lls’ rebuke
Aug.25 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg are refusing to make up after their high-profile falling out in Hungary recently. Haas driver Magnussen entered the August break by telling Hulkenberg to “suck my b-lls”, following their on-track battle. Renault’s Hulkenberg started the row by interrupting a live television interview to tell Magnussen he is the […]
Ralf Schumacher’s son set for Formula 4 debut
Aug.25 (GMM) Another Schumacher is well on the road to formula one. Already, great hype and attention is surrounding the rise of F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s 18-year-old son Mick, who is currently in European F3. But it now emerges that Michael’s brother Ralf also has a son on the path to F1, with David Schumacher […]
FIA to mandate ‘Halo’ beyond F1 – Mekies
Aug.25 (GMM) F1’s governing body has admitted it wants the controversial ‘Halo’ concept to be rolled out across the spectrum of open wheel racing. Many F1 drivers, insiders and fans are unhappy the ‘flip flop’-style safety innovation will protect the open cockpits of every F1 car next year. But the FIA’s technical boss Laurent Mekies […]
Palmer pushing to keep Renault seat
Aug.25 (GMM) Jolyon Palmer says he is determined to try to keep his place at Renault for 2018. The Briton has scored zero points this year while his teammate Nico Hulkenberg amassed a tidy tally of 26. Linked with Palmer’s place for 2018 are Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz and even Robert Kubica. “Honestly I have […]
Vasseur denies Sauber to be Ferrari ‘B team’
Aug.25 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur has played down claims Sauber could join Haas in becoming another Ferrari ‘B’ team. It has emerged that Sauber will use Ferrari’s fully up-to-date 2018 engine next year, and possibly run one or both of the Italian team’s junior drivers Antonio Giovinazzi and Charles Leclerc. “I knew you would ask me […]
Wehrlein admits Ferrari junior could oust him
Aug.25 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has admitted he might find himself ousted by Sauber at the end of the year. There are reports that after new team boss Frederic Vasseur swapped the team’s planned 2018 Honda deal for an extension with Ferrari, the new arrangement could see a Ferrari junior join Sauber next year. “Obviously Ferrari […]
Sainz welcomes James Key re-signing
Aug.25 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says the re-signing of technical boss James Key is good news for Toro Rosso. “I have always said that James is very important for Toro Rosso,” said the Spaniard, whose Red Bull bosses also want to keep him at the junior team for 2018. “I don’t know for how long he […]
Still no new contract for Sergio Perez
Aug.25 (GMM) Sergio Perez has emerged from F1’s August break without a new contract in place for 2018. The Mexican headed into the summer factory shutdown period declaring that he hoped his future at Force India would be clear by the end of August. “Unfortunately there is nothing to report,” Perez said at Spa. “As […]
Hamilton tips Mercedes to re-sign Bottas
Aug.25 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he hopes Valtteri Bottas stays at Mercedes next year. In the past days, Ferrari and McLaren have re-signed Kimi Raikkonen and Stoffel Vandoorne respectively for 2018, but Finn Bottas’ fate at Mercedes is less clear. One rumour is that Sebastian Vettel could replace him. “I think it’s highly unlikely that […]