Mar.8 (GMM) F1 rookie Rio Haryanto might struggle even to qualify for races this year. That is the claim of former grand prix driver Robert Doornbos, who knows the back of the grid well after racing for backmarker Minardi a decade ago. However, he told the Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport Totaal that the Manor team […]
Drivers to ‘fend for ourselves’ in 2016 – Rosberg
Mar.8 (GMM) The further clampdown on pit-to-driver radio communications in 2016 will spice up the action. That is the view of a couple of 2016 drivers, after Mercedes chief Toto Wolff this week declared that the incoming rule changes should make the Lewis Hamilton versus Nico Rosberg battle more exciting this year. Some interpreted his […]
Coulthard sides with qualifying, ‘halo’ criticism
Mar.8 (GMM) David Coulthard says he sympathises with drivers who are openly questioning the latest changes within formula one. While most drivers are either publicly or privately calling for better tyres and faster cars, the next two changes in fact look set to be a controversially-revised qualifying format and the ‘halo’ cockpit safety collar. Coulthard, […]
Sainz says 2016 could be last chance at Toro Rosso
Mar.8 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he knows 2016 could be a make-or-break season for him in F1. On the surface, Toro Rosso is fielding arguably its best-ever lineup in the form of Spaniard Sainz and Dutch sensation Max Verstappen, who were both impressive rookies last year. But Sainz, 21, says he knows that is no […]
Court may stop Mallya’s F1 travels
Mar.8 (GMM) Force India boss and co-owner Vijay Mallya may be unable to attend grands prix in 2016. Seventeen banks that are owed money by the Indian businessman relating to his collapsed airline Kingfisher on Tuesday asked a court to urgently stop Mallya from leaving India. “List it for hearing tomorrow,” the judges decreed on […]
Vettel yet to name 2016 title contender
Mar.7 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he is yet to give a personal name to his 2016 car, which will carry the hopes of the entire Ferrari team and much of the wider F1 world. “No, not yet,” said the German when asked if he has decided what the successor to last year’s ‘Eva’ – the […]
F1 figures hit back at Ecclestone
Mar.7 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is taking flak amid F1’s tumultuous beginning to another world championship season. World champion Sebastian Vettel, a traditional ally of the F1 supremo, questioned the decision to shake up the qualifying format mere days before the circus heads for Australia, agreeing it demonstrates a lack of “leadership”. The Ferrari driver is […]
Massa wants new nose ‘as soon as possible’
Mar.7 (GMM) Felipe Massa has confirmed that Williams is hoping to get a new nose and front wing up and running as soon as possible. With the British camp’s current short nose strongly resembling the pioneering version of 2015, technical boss Pat Symonds hinted that the plan is to introduce an even more aggressive version […]
Palmer denies 2015 ‘caution’ will carry over
Mar.7 (GMM) Jolyon Palmer has dismissed claims he might take too “cautious” an approach to his job of being a formula one driver. Last year, the British rookie was Lotus’ reserve and Friday driver, and was signed up to race for 2016 before Renault took over the struggling Enstone team. But even Lotus admitted to […]
Alonso still not ruling out Mercedes move
Mar.7 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is still refusing to rule out a future move to Mercedes. Although fully committed to the remaining two seasons of his McLaren-Honda contract, the Spaniard began his 2016 campaign by revealing he almost switched from Ferrari to Mercedes last year in a swap deal involving Lewis Hamilton. “You always want to […]
Tost’s podium target ‘not possible’ – Sainz
Mar.7 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has questioned his boss’s target of a podium finish on merit in 2016. The Red Bull junior team’s chief Franz Tost declared recently: “Realistically, I expect that we can achieve a podium this year after getting so close to it last year”. Indeed, Toro Rosso has switched from Renault to the […]
Sauber falls behind in February staff salaries
Mar.7 (GMM) Sauber is entering yet another F1 season under a financial cloud. A year ago, it was the Giedo van der Garde saga that almost derailed the struggling Swiss team. Now, the Swiss newspaper Blick reports that Sauber has fallen behind in its wage payments to its more than 300 staff at the Hinwil […]
Ecclestone, FIA confirm ‘musical chairs’ qualifying
Mar.5 (GMM) F1’s governing body as well as Bernie Ecclestone on Friday confirmed that the ‘musical chairs’-style qualifying is going ahead in full in 2016. Throughout the week, amid Ecclestone’s claims the timing software could not be written in time and dissent from the drivers, it was thought the controversial new system would be either […]
Prost thinks qualifying may still falter
Mar.5 (GMM) Alain Prost has warned that the qualifying saga of recent days could drag on even longer. While the World Motor Sport Council rubber-stamped the controversial new ‘musical chairs’ format on Friday, a statement declared only that it “should” be introduced for Melbourne in two weeks. “I do not think that it will come,” […]
McLaren-Honda ‘a little behind’ – Alonso
Mar.4 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he is not sure where he will line up on the Melbourne grid. McLaren insists it has improved since its diabolical 2015, while Jenson Button described the latest engine step as the biggest Honda has made in 14 months. But Alonso, who just last week was linked with early retirement, […]
Williams to race shorter nose in early 2016
Mar.4 (GMM) Williams looks set to unveil a new nose for its 2016 car within the first two or three races of 2016. The Grove team was a pioneer of the short-nose concept that is now widespread up and down pitlane. Many were therefore surprised when Williams’ 2016 car did not feature an even shorter […]
‘Cheap engine’ plan for 2018 could be revived
Mar.4 (GMM) The earlier-touted ‘cheap engines’ solution might soon be back on the table. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, revealing that reforms agreed by the manufacturers to avoid the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone’s plan for parallel engine regulations may now collapse. Just days ago, the power unit suppliers – Mercedes, […]
Senior F1 drivers slam ‘broken’ sport
Mar.4 (GMM) World champion drivers on Thursday slammed the current direction of formula one. Ferrari surprised the F1 world at the Barcelona test when Kimi Raikkonen emerged from the pits with a carbon mock-up of the ‘halo’ cockpit protection solution. When asked about the visibility, the 2007 world champion answered: “It was a little bit […]
Schumacher, Alesi race towards F1 careers
Mar.4 (GMM) Two young drivers with famous fathers will charge towards a future career on the F1 grid with strong support in their wake. The most high-profile is Mick Schumacher, the 16-year-old son of F1 legend Michael who for 2016 has been signed up by the Ferrari-linked Prema team in Formula 4. FIA president Jean […]
‘Hard to say’ if Hamilton’s mojo is back
Mar.4 (GMM) One big question heading into the new F1 season is whether Lewis Hamilton has his ‘mojo’ back. After dominating his teammate last year and wrapping up the title with three races to spare, the Mercedes driver was then clearly outclassed by the sister Mercedes of Nico Rosberg in Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi. […]