Jul.17 (GMM) F1’s American team Haas is turning its attention to building a better car for 2018. “Our full focus is on 2018 now,” team boss Gunther Steiner confirmed to Ekstra Bladet newspaper. In its second year on the grid, the Ferrari-linked team is seventh out of the ten teams in the championship, with Romain […]
Ferrari tyre failure blame ‘obvious’ – Arrivabene
Jul.17 (GMM) Pirelli is looking into the tyre failures that cost Sebastian Vettel almost his entire championship lead at Silverstone. Vettel’s Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen also suffered a tyre delamination late in the British grand prix,. “We are investigating,” Pirelli chief Mario Isola said. “The tyres will be sent to Milan and studied,” he revealed, […]
Mercedes tackles quit rumours with sponsor news
Jul.16 (GMM) Mercedes has hit back at rumours the German carmaker might pull out of formula one in the coming years. Recently, team boss Toto Wolff slammed F1 pundit Eddie Jordan for suggesting Mercedes might quit as the major sponsorships of Petronas and UBS run out late next year. But at Silverstone, Mercedes revealed that […]
Wolff blasts ‘delusional’ Hamilton critics
Jul.16 (GMM) Toto Wolff has blasted Lewis Hamilton’s critics, after the Mercedes driver skipped the London demonstration event this week. Critics suggested that as the British hero and arguably F1’s most popular driver, Hamilton should not have been the only driver absent in the UK capital. That criticism came amid speculation Hamilton and Wolff have […]
Kvyat pushes to know Toro Rosso plans
Jul.16 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat says he is open to staying at Toro Rosso next year. In Austria a week ago, Red Bull chief Christian Horner said there is no reason the Russian should not be retained by the energy drink company’s second F1 team. “First of all, I appreciate Christian’s kind words,” Kvyat said at […]
Gasly to replace Sainz at Toro Rosso – report
Jul.16 (GMM) A new driver could be set to join the F1 grid as soon as the next grand prix in Hungary. Germany’s Auto Bild reports that, amid his recent falling-out with Red Bull chiefs, Carlos Sainz could be set to immediately leave Toro Rosso in order to replace the struggling works Renault driver Jolyon […]
No more ‘risky’ starts for Bottas
Jul.16 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he will not attempt a “risky” race start at Silverstone. After a gearbox penalty and a poor qualifying, the Finn finds himself down the British grand prix grid. So when asked if he will try to emulate the perfect and yet controversial start that saw him effectively anticipate the red […]
Now Toro Rosso linked with Honda switch
Jul.16 (GMM) The uncertainty about Honda’s future in F1 has taken another twist. Already, it was not clear whether McLaren and Honda would stay together for 2018, or even if the customer engine deal with Sauber will proceed. And now, Auto Motor und Sport reports that Honda could link up with Toro Rosso next year. […]
Force India sued over pink sponsor deal
Jul.16 (GMM) Although boss Vijay Mallya is happy with his pink-coloured cars in 2017, the sponsorship deal has landed Force India in legal trouble. Bild am Sonntag newspaper reports that an agency is claiming a commission for the EUR 12.5-15 million deal with Austrian water company BWT. “At the end of the day, I find […]
Vandoorne happy tide finally turning in F1
Jul.16 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he is happy the tide is finally turning on his difficult opening season in F1. Earlier, McLaren-Honda was hinting the Belgian rookie needed to up his game, but now both sides are referring to his long-term contract and apparently assured seat for 2018. Vandoorne then had his best-ever qualifying session […]
Canada GP boss not weighing into Silverstone dispute
Jul.16 (GMM) Canadian grand prix promoter Francois Dumontier says he does not want to weigh in on the dispute between F1 owner Liberty Media and Silverstone. Making a visit to the scene of the British grand prix, Dumontier would only say to Le Journal de Montreal: “I can understand their concerns.” Liberty and Silverstone are […]
Giovinazzi hopes for 2018 race seat
Jul.15 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi is hoping Haas is the key to his future in F1. After signing up as Ferrari’s reserve driver, the Italian was surprised early this year when he got two race outings to replace the injured Pascal Wehrlein at Sauber. Now he is back in the spotlight with seven Friday practice outings […]
‘No objections’ to Sauber deal – Honda
Jul.15 (GMM) Talks are back on between Sauber and Honda. Earlier in 2017, the now-ousted former Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn negotiated a customer engine deal with the struggling Japanese manufacturer for 2018. But Frederic Vasseur is now in charge at the Swiss team, triggering speculation the deal is off. Indeed, the rumble in the Silverstone […]
McLaren admits customer engine talks
Jul.15 (GMM) A switch to customer Mercedes power appears to be back on the menu at McLaren. A week ago, it seemed that McLaren and Honda were stepping away from the precipice of looming divorce. But now at Silverstone, McLaren director Jonathan Neale says the current situation with Honda struggling for performance and reliability is […]
Another year at Toro Rosso ‘positive’ – Sainz
Jul.15 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he will be happy to stay at Toro Rosso next year. Just a week ago, the Spaniard was publicly criticised by his Red Bull bosses after saying it was “unlikely” he would stay at the energy drink company’s junior team in 2018. Red Bull’s anger was probably because they had […]
Wolff plays down attending Vettel party
Jul.15 (GMM) Toto Wolff has played down his attendance at Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel’s recent 30th birthday party. A British newspaper this week said Lewis Hamilton’s conspicuous absence at the F1 event in London could have been because he was furious with his Mercedes boss. Around the time of Vettel’s birthday, the German had to […]
Alonso keeps open mind about ‘Shield’
Jul.15 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he retains an open mind about ‘Shield’, after the cockpit protection concept made its track debut at Silverstone. However, the transparent windscreen innovation didn’t last long aboard Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari. “We had a run planned but I didn’t like it so we took it off,” he said. “I got a […]
Vandoorne ‘not worried’ about McLaren exit
Jul.14 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he is not worried he might lose his McLaren seat at the end of the season. Although strong throughout his junior career, the Belgian rookie has regularly struggled to shine alongside teammate Fernando Alonso in 2017. “I think everyone knows our weaknesses this year,” the 25-year-old said at Silverstone. “Because […]
Wheel tether lands Toro Rosso in FIA trouble
Jul.14 (GMM) Toro Rosso found itself in trouble with the FIA ahead of the British grand prix. After Thursday scrutineering, Silverstone stewards took the unusual step of actually publishing a photo of the damaged and partially repaired ‘tethers’ designed to keep Carlos Sainz’s wheels from detaching in a crash. The FIA said Toro Rosso “refused […]
Vettel keeps open mind about ‘Shield’
Jul.14 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel was keeping an open mind before giving the ‘Shield’ cockpit protection design its track debut at Silverstone. The German’s Ferrari has been fitted with the open-topped, polycarbonate windshield for the opening laps of Friday practice ahead of the British grand prix. F1’s governing body says either the Shield or the controversial […]