May 10 (GMM) Former team driver Alex Wurz says Williams can bounce back from its current slump. With two ‘pay drivers’, poor performance, and the impending departure of main sponsor Martini, many worry that the once-great British team will soon fold. But Wurz, who according to Speed Week is now an ‘advisor’ for the independent […]
Hamilton, Horner say Vettel 2018 favourite
May 10 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has admitted he is not the favourite for the 2018 title. The Mercedes driver took the championship lead from Sebastian Vettel two weeks ago in Baku, but he insists the Ferrari is actually the better car. “For now the car is much more difficult to setup and drive,” Hamilton is […]
Title favourite Vettel’s Ferrari car ‘legal’ – Marko
May 10 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has nominated Sebastian Vettel as the world championship favourite for 2018. That is despite the fact that Ferrari driver Vettel, once a Red Bull protege of Marko’s, lost his title lead two weeks ago at Baku. But Marko told Sport Bild: “He is my world championship favourite. “Sebastian looks […]
Red Bull crash saga ‘closed’ – Marko
May 10 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says the affair surrounding the Red Bull drivers’ crash in Baku is now “closed”. Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen crashed during the Azerbaijan grand prix, earning a hefty rebuke from their bosses. But Marko told Sport Bild: “There is no bad blood. The chapter is closed.” However, it is […]
Calderon could get Friday session in 2018
May 9 (GMM) Tatiana Calderon is not ruling out her chances of securing some Friday practice outings for Sauber. When the female Colombian driver was appointed as the Swiss team’s 2018 test driver, boss Frederic Vasseur said the 25-year-old will not get Friday outings. But the GP3 driver says her goal is to race in […]
Ferrari ‘can win’ in Barcelona – Vettel
May 9 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is confident Ferrari’s strong season will continue in Barcelona. Many pundits believe the Maranello team can finally win its first drivers’ title since 2007 this year. But while Ferrari has been strong so far, Mercedes seemed best in the pre-season tests in Barcelona, which is the scene of this weekend’s […]
Renault ‘seems to want to keep me’ – Sainz
May 9 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has hinted that he will stay at Renault next year. Although Cyril Abiteboul has said he is happy with the Spaniard, the Renault team boss is also planning a ‘plan B’ in the event that Red Bull pulls Sainz back for 2019. Ssinz, however, seems to want to stay. “Renault […]
McLaren ‘B’ car to have radical nose
May 9 (GMM) The centrepiece of McLaren’s ‘B’ car for Barcelona and beyond is a radical new nose. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, although Fernando Alonso warned that the significant upgrade is not a “magical solution”. “Barcelona is an opportunity to try some new things, see where we are and […]
Italy GP money laundering probed – report
May 8 (GMM) Italian prosecutors are reportedly investigating suspected fraud relating to the formula one race at Monza. Italy’s La Repubblica reports that the authorities suspect tax evasion to the tune of EUR 80 million, relating to sponsorships by “dozens” of Italian and international companies. The report added that sponsorship invoices were falsified, and that […]
Perez not frustrated although F1 ‘unfair’
May 8 (GMM) Sergio Perez insists he is not “frustrated” as he waits for another big chance at the very top of formula one. The Mexican was signed up by then top-team McLaren for 2013, but the British team struggled and Perez left at the end of the season. Now, the 28-year-old is among F1’s […]
Carey also eyeing New York and Las Vegas
May 8 (GMM) Miami is not the only US city on F1 owner Liberty Media’s radar. It has emerged that authorities are close to giving the green-light for a Miami street race for 2019. In addition to Austin, it would be the second grand prix in the United States. World champion Lewis Hamilton said Miami […]
Vergne doubts he would accept F1 return
May 8 (GMM) Jean-Eric Vergne agrees with those who think 2019 could finally be Ferrari’s year. Recently, the former F1 driver continued his career as a Ferrari tester, but he is now focusing on Formula E and the world endurance championship. “I’m no longer with Ferrari, but I’m convinced this season can be theirs,” he […]
Renault gives Red Bull May 31 engine deadline
May 8 (GMM) Red Bull has until the end of the month to decide between Renault or Honda power for 2019. Official talks between the energy drink owned team and Honda kicked off in Baku. According to FIA rules, teams must indicate which engine supplier they will work with for the forthcoming season by May […]
Wolff plays down Ricciardo rumours
May 7 (GMM) Toto Wolff has moved to play down suggestions Daniel Ricciardo might be at the front of the queue to join Mercedes next year. Red Bull driver Ricciardo is on the market and linked with potential moves to either Mercedes or Ferrari. But Mercedes team boss Wolff is quoted by Italy’s Corriere dello […]
2018 can be Ferrari’s year – Prost
May 7 (GMM) 2018 could finally be Ferrari’s year in F1. The Italian marque has not won a title since 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen, but for the first time in the new ‘hybrid’ era Ferrari now appears to have the fastest car. And former Ferrari driver Alain Prost thinks 2018 could be Ferrari’s season. “I […]
Sauber admits Zander exit ‘awkward’
May 7 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur has admitted that the departure from Sauber of technical boss Jorg Zander was “awkward”. The Swiss team announced suddenly at the end of last week that just 18 months after re-joining Sauber and F1, Zander has left. Blick newspaper reports that the departure comes after several personal incidents involving the […]
F1-sports car unification ideal – Todt
May 7 (GMM) Jean Todt says it would be “ideal” to achieve some technical parity between formula one and the world endurance championship. At the weekend, Fernando Alonso returned to the top step of the podium by winning the Spa 6 hour race for Toyota. The situation has revealed some tension between the two top […]
Verstappen comparison ‘inappropriate’ – Maldonado
May 7 (GMM) Former F1 driver Pastor Maldonado has played down any comparison between himself and Max Verstappen. Now 33, the former Williams and Lotus driver last raced in 2015, before his sponsorship by the Venezuelan oil company PDVSA collapsed. Maldonado has now returned to racing in the world endurance championship, telling La Derniere Heure […]
Cheat doubts still hang over 2018 Ferrari
May 4 (GMM) Ferrari’s field-leading 2018 car continues to raise suspicions. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that, without naming a team specifically, the FIA has now banned teams from topping up oil during qualifying. It follows rumours the 2018 Ferrari engine, which smokes excessively when started up, may have taken a big step forward thanks […]
Mercedes eyes Ferrari-Haas style collaboration
May 4 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes is open to establishing a relationship with a customer team along the lines of Ferrari-Haas. In recent days, Lance Stroll’s father Lawrence has confirmed that he has discussed the possibility of a closer relationship between Williams and Mercedes. Williams is resisting that move, but now Mercedes boss Toto […]