Mar.23 (GMM) Haas is hoping to make the big leap and become ‘best of the rest’ in 2018. For the past two years, it was Force India who led the battle behind the top three teams. But this year, Haas driver Kevin Magnussen admits his car could be in that position. “I still think it […]
Mercedes cool as Ferrari poaches FIA man
Mar.23 (GMM) Toto Wolff is reacting calmly to the latest controversial personnel switch in formula one. Last year, the move of Marcin Budkowski from the FIA to Renault caused a major stir, triggering a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between teams about poaching staff from the governing body. But now Laurent Mekies, another prominent FIA figure, has been […]
Gasly admits eyeing Ricciardo’s seat
Mar.23 (GMM) Pierre Gasly has admitted he has a keen eye on Daniel Ricciardo’s seat for 2019. With Ricciardo exploring his options beyond the end of his current contract, Red Bull juniors including Carlos Sainz and Frenchman Gasly are first in line to replace him. Asked if he might be keen and able to take […]
Kubica may sabotage Williams car – Villeneuve
Mar.23 (GMM) Robert Kubica may deliberately sabotage Williams’ progress in order to boost his chances of returning to the grid. That is the sensational claim made by outspoken former world champion Jacques Villeneuve. He was referring to his old team Williams, where the experienced Kubica is now the reserve driver in support of young race […]
Red Bull says Mercedes still favourites
Mar.23 (GMM) Max Verstappen has hit back at the claim that Red Bull is the favourite in Melbourne. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton put the favourite tag on the energy drink-owned team, but Dutchman Verstappen thinks his biggest obstacle remains the Renault engine. Asked what progress Renault has made over the winter, he answered: “Not too much.” […]
F1 cars ‘too safe’ – Ecclestone
Mar.23 (GMM) F1 has become too safe, according to the sport’s ousted supremo Bernie Ecclestone. The 87-year-old told the Belgian newspaper Le Soir that top drivers Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel don’t mind taking risks. “I spoke with them and I don’t think the concept of risk is alien to them, as Sebastian has children,” […]
Alonso cannot win in 2018 – Rosberg
Mar.23 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is looking elsewhere in the world of motor racing because he has no chance of winning in F1. That is the view of Nico Rosberg, the retired 2016 world champion. He is referring to the fact that Alonso last year contested the Indy 500, and this year will tackle the full […]
Vandoorne admits ‘pressure’ on McLaren
Mar.23 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne thinks it’s good that the “pressure” is on at McLaren this year. After three bad years with Honda, the British team has moved to Renault power for 2018 but McLaren had another troubled winter. “The integration of the Renault engine will take some time,” Fernando Alonso said in Melbourne. “But we […]
Ecclestone backs Marchionne’s F1 quit threat
Mar.22 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he is supportive of Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne’s F1 quit threat. Ecclestone, 87, was ousted as the sport’s long time ‘supremo’ following the arrival of new owners Liberty Media. So now with Marchionne at loggerheads with Liberty and Ferrari threatening to quit, Ecclestone met with the Italian-Canadian at the recent […]
Williams’ ‘daring’ car needs more time – Stroll
Mar.22 (GMM) Lance Stroll has admitted Williams needs “time” to get the most from its 2018 car. Once a stronger force behind the top three teams, the British outfit had a less competitive winter with its new car and young driver lineup of Stroll and rookie Sergey Sirotkin. “The design of the new car is […]
Mateschitz prepared to ‘let Ricciardo go’
Mar.22 (GMM) Red Bull’s chassis and drivers can do the rest if its Renault engine is within half a second of Mercedes this year. That is the view of team owner Dietrich Mateschitz, as he gave a rare pre-season interview to Austrian media including Salzburger Nachrichten. First, he said he is delighted with Toro Rosso’s […]
Hamilton names Ricciardo as favourite
Mar.22 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has named local hero Daniel Ricciardo as the favourite in Australia this weekend. Although the bookies and pundits think reigning champion Hamilton is the favourite, the Briton thinks Red Bull will in fact have the edge in Melbourne. “I think they’re favourites, personally,” he said. “Not because it’s Daniel and it’s […]
No name change for Force India
Mar.22 (GMM) Force India will not change its name in 2018. Earlier, amid rumours an energy drink company called Rich Energy would buy the team, it was reported the team could drop the word ‘India’ from its name. But Auto Motor und Sport says any name change for Force India will now wait until at […]
McLaren ‘not best prepared’ for 2018 – Boullier
Mar.21 (GMM) McLaren is not setting a precise goal for 2018. Despite splitting with Honda after an abysmal three years, the British team had another troubled winter. Team boss Eric Boullier insists those problems have been sorted for Australia, but he also admits that McLaren is not setting unrealistic expectations either. “The objective is clearly […]
Mercedes leads by only two tenths – Lauda
Mar.21 (GMM) Niki Lauda thinks Mercedes’ advantage over its rivals is as small as two tenths. In Barcelona testing, the reigning champions did not even use the softest ‘hypersoft’ tyre, indicating it is more than confident it will dominate in 2018. “The hypersoft was never part of our programme,” Mercedes team chairman Lauda told Kronen […]
Sauber will be lucky to score points – Vasseur
Mar.21 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur has admitted that Sauber will be lucky to score points in 2018. Days ago, rookie driver Charles Leclerc said his goal for the new season was to score points “in one or two races”. Asked if he agrees, the Swiss team’s boss Vasseur answered: “Yes. But when you are at our […]
Red Bull ‘learning Japanese’ in 2018 – Marko
Mar.21 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has hinted strongly that Red Bull is giving serious consideration to a switch to Honda power for 2019. Currently, the Austrian outfit is weighing up between staying with Renault or moving to the Japanese manufacturer. Already for 2018, Red Bull decided to install Honda engines at its second team, Toro […]
Hamilton will like Paul Ricard more – boss
Mar.21 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton will like Paul Ricard once he gets up and racing at the new French grand prix venue in June. That is the view of the track’s boss Stephane Clair, following recent comments made by the quadruple world champion. “Honestly, I don’t like Paul Ricard,” Hamilton said. “I liked it when the […]
Massa thinks Mercedes could win again
Mar.21 (GMM) Felipe Massa suspects Mercedes will dominate in 2018. After Barcelona testing, while many believe Mercedes has its nose in front, the conventional wisdom is that Red Bull and Ferrari could make it a close fight. Massa told Corriere della Sera: “That would be nice. But I fear it will not happen. “Many things […]
Ferrari’s quit threat is serious – Wolff
Mar.21 (GMM) Toto Wolff has warned the FIA and Liberty Media not to take Ferrari’s F1 quit threat lightly. As negotiations over a new commercial deal and regulations beyond 2020 loom, many long-serving F1 figures have heard Ferrari’s quit threats before. But Mercedes boss Wolff says it’s different this time. Referring to Ferrari president Sergio […]