Aug.25 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has played down claims Ferrari will confirm he is staying put for 2018 next week at Monza. The Italian team said this week that the German’s friend and teammate Kimi Raikkonen is staying at Ferrari next year. “I have no idea what will happen in his (Vettel’s) case,” Raikkonen said at […]
Lando Norris a star of the future – Verstappen
Aug.24 (GMM) F1 sensation Max Verstappen has joined those who predict a strong future for the latest star of the junior category F3. Arguably the highest profile driver in European F3 this year is Mick Schumacher, the 18-year-old son of seven time world champion Michael. “If I had to give Mick some advice, then it […]
Mercedes may re-think team orders issue – Lauda
Aug.24 (GMM) Niki Lauda has admitted Mercedes may take a different approach in future when it comes to ‘team orders’ between Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. While Sebastian Vettel is the clear de-facto ‘number 1’ at Ferrari, his main championship rival Hamilton lost points in Hungary by voluntarily giving up a place to his teammate […]
Vandoorne never worried about 2018 contract
Aug.24 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he was expecting McLaren to keep him on board for 2018. On Wednesday, the British team announced that its Belgian rookie driver will stay with McLaren in 2018, notwithstanding his often tough opening campaign alongside Fernando Alonso. But Vandoorne told Sporza news agency: “To me it was not a surprise […]
Rivals ‘more consistent’ than Hamilton – Rosberg
Aug.24 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has a real chance of winning the 2017 world championship. That is the claim of the Finn’s predecessor at Mercedes, reigning title winner Nico Rosberg. Last year, the German beat Lewis Hamilton to the crown, and now Bottas is not far behind the scrap for the lead between his Mercedes teammate […]
Alesi tips Vettel to sign next Ferrari contract
Aug.24 (GMM) The decision to keep Kimi Raikkonen is a move by Ferrari to retain its harmonious team “atmosphere”. That is the view of former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi, whose own comments comes amid claims the 2018 deal for Raikkonen is a precursor to Sebastian Vettel also staying at the Maranello team. Referring to 37-year-old […]
Manager hails Raikkonen’s Ferrari ‘loyalty’
Aug.24 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen’s manager says the Finnish driver’s experience and loyalty has been rewarded by Ferrari. Earlier this week, the Italian team said the contract of the 2007 world champion has been extended for 2018. Many insiders see it as a precursor to a new deal for Sebastian Vettel, the de-facto ‘number 1’ who […]
Alonso ‘motivation’ surprises Rosberg
Aug.24 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says he is surprised Fernando Alonso is keeping up his “motivation” amid the McLaren-Honda crisis. On Wednesday, the British team announced that Alonso’s 2017 teammate, Belgian rookie Stoffel Vandoorne, is staying next year. But two-time champion Alonso’s decision about what to do next year is less clear. That is especially true […]
Vettel to sign Ferrari contract next – Salo
Aug.23 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen’s new Ferrari deal is probably a precursor to Sebastian Vettel also staying with the Italian team. That is the view of former F1 driver Mika Salo, speaking after his Finnish countryman Raikkonen’s new contract for 2018 was announced. “This was the expected news,” Salo, who raced for Ferrari almost 20 years […]
Raikkonen ‘happy’ with new Ferrari deal
Aug.23 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he and Ferrari are “happy” to have reached a new deal for 2018. The Italian team on Tuesday ended a period of speculation by announcing that the Finn will stay at Ferrari next year. “We started discussing it at a late stage and quickly agreed. It did not take long […]
F1 close to new China GP deal – Bratches
Aug.23 (GMM) F1 is closing in on a deal to keep the sport in China. Earlier, a provisional calendar for 2018 listed both the Shanghai event as well as the popular night race in Singapore as provisional. But Sean Bratches, F1’s new commercial boss, said a new deal for China is at least close. “We’ve […]
Verstappen says 2018 key to Red Bull future
Aug.22 (GMM) Max Verstappen says 2018 will be a key season for Red Bull and his own future in F1. Amid the Dutchman’s difficult season so far, there has been speculation he is being wooed elsewhere — perhaps by Ferrari. But while visiting the DTM race in Zandvoort at the weekend, Verstappen insisted: “I’ve always […]
Mercedes approach gives Vettel advantage – Wolff
Aug.22 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes might need a change of tack in order to beat Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to the 2017 title. Before the summer break, Vettel won the race in Hungary whilst his closest championship challenger Lewis Hamilton lost more points by voluntarily letting his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas pass late in the […]
Raikkonen tips strong future for Leclerc
Aug.22 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has tipped a strong future for Ferrari junior Charles Leclerc. Monaco-born Leclerc, 19, is dominating the former GP2 series Formula 2 this year and he recently impressed at the wheel of Ferrari’s 2017 car at the post-Hungary GP test. “It’s not easy to do well in a different car from what […]
Force India wants imminent Perez deal
Aug.22 (GMM) A new Force India deal for Sergio Perez could now be imminent. The Mexican flirted with a move to Renault for 2017 but instead re-committed to Force India. He said he is happy with his choice. “I think the team has been moving forwards every year,” said Perez. “There is a lot more […]
Toro Rosso-Honda talks fall through – reports
Aug.22 (GMM) Talks about Toro Rosso taking on Honda power for 2018 have fallen through, according to reports in the Italian press. Prior to the summer break, rumours were rife that the junior Red Bull-owned team could take over from Sauber as a Honda ‘customer’ for 2018. “After several weeks, the negotiations have stopped for […]
Hembery wants ‘regionalised’ F1 calendar
Aug.22 (GMM) Former Pirelli F1 boss Paul Hembery thinks the sport’s calendar should be “regionalised”. While the Briton is now the Italian tyre maker’s boss of Latin America, he backed new F1 owner Liberty Media’s push to continue to globalise the sport. “If we increase the number of races, we should regionalise them,” he told […]
Boutsen tells Vandoorne to have ‘patience’
Aug.22 (GMM) Former F1 driver Thierry Boutsen has backed Belgian countryman Stoffel Vandoorne to have a good career despite his very bad start with McLaren. The three-time grand prix winner achieved his success with Williams, but he says it “hurts” to see McLaren suffering with its Honda power at present. “If you like formula one, […]
Formula E is ‘the future’ – Rosberg
Aug.22 (GMM) Reigning F1 world champion Nico Rosberg says the all-electric single seater series Formula E is “the future”. “This is the future of the world and it will be exciting to see when all those manufacturers put their cards on the table,” said the German, referring to the prospect of Mercedes taking on other […]
Verstappen ‘stronger than I was’ – Scheckter
Aug.22 (GMM) 1979 world champion Jody Scheckter says he sees similarities between himself and F1 sensation Max Verstappen. “Yes, he reminds me of myself in the beginning, although he is perhaps stronger than I was,” the South African, who now runs an organic farm, told Italy’s La Repubblica. “I’d also like to say I was […]