Jun.30 (GMM) Niki Lauda has dismissed suggestions Lewis Hamilton might quit Mercedes and F1. Last weekend in Baku, triple world champion Hamilton was moved to clarify quotes that suggested he might retire at the end of this season. Now, Mercedes team chairman Lauda backed Hamilton’s denial, saying the original comments were “misunderstood”. “He is staying, […]
Jos Verstappen slams Red Bull boss Horner
Jun.30 (GMM) A growing rift has emerged between the Verstappen camp and Red Bull. Amid Max Verstappen’s troubling run of reliability, the 19-year-old left the Baku circuit without speaking to the media last Sunday and could subsequently face a EUR 25,000 penalty. It came amid rumours of interest from Ferrari, who are yet to sign […]
Magnussen welcomes Copenhagen’s 2020 GP project
Jun.30 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has welcomed news in Denmark that an F1 race in Copenhagen is in the works for 2020. The local BT newspaper said Danish businessman Lars Seier Christensen met this week in London with F1’s new owners Liberty Media about a potential deal. “Before anything,” he said, “it was important to achieve […]
Critic Villeneuve ‘always negative’ – Stroll
Jun.30 (GMM) Lance Stroll says he is not affected by the harsh criticism of his Canadian countryman Jacques Villeneuve. Before Stroll’s maiden points in Montreal and podium in Baku, 1997 world champion Villeneuve said the Williams driver’s opening races of 2017 qualified him as one of the worst rookies in F1 history. “I don’t care […]
F1 steward admits Vettel race ban was possible
Jun.30 (GMM) An F1 steward says his colleagues considered a harsher penalty for Sebastian Vettel last weekend in Baku. On Monday, which is also the German’s 30th birthday, the FIA will meet to consider imposing an additional penalty to supplement his 10-second stop go. “Of course we could have issued a more severe penalty,” steward […]
Grosjean admits eye on Ferrari vacancy
Jun.29 (GMM) Romain Grosjean is not ruling out a change of scene for 2018. The Frenchman left Baku without even speaking with the media, after his 18-month struggle with his brakes at the new American team Haas culminated in a nightmare weekend. Grosjean, 31, switched from Lotus to Haas last year amid speculation he was […]
Honda ‘stronger in 2018’ – Hasegawa
Jun.29 (GMM) Honda is confident it is finally making progress in formula one. That is despite intense speculation that the struggling Japanese manufacturer’s works partner since 2015, McLaren, is close to instigating a divorce. However, there are in fact signs that things at Honda are finally improving. Amid a flurry of component changes and penalties […]
Red Bull ready to win races – Marko
Jun.29 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull is now ready to start winning races on its own merit. The tumultuous Baku race last weekend was surprisingly won by Daniel Ricciardo, but the Red Bull driver admitted he lucked into the victory on a track that didn’t suit the underpowered Renault engine. However, team official […]
Mercedes takes blame for headrest incident
Jun.29 (GMM) Mercedes has taken the blame for the issue that cost Lewis Hamilton victory in Baku. Hamilton was forced to pit during the Azerbaijan race when the FIA spotted him physically holding his loose headrest in place at high speed with one hand. The obvious conclusion was that, during the red flag stoppage, a […]
FIA right to launch Vettel crash probe – Lauda
Jun.29 (GMM) As predicted, the FIA has re-opened the issue of Sebastian Vettel’s apparently deliberate crash into title rival Lewis Hamilton in Baku. Although the German was penalised during the race and lost further license points, it was speculated FIA president Jean Todt wanted to pursue the matter further. Amid suggestions a race ban could […]
F1 planning group launch event for 2018
Jun.28 (GMM) F1’s owners are planning a group launch event for the 2018 season. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, reporting that all the teams will reveal their new cars and drivers at the event ahead of winter testing early next year. The report said it is “not clear” if the […]
Force India to become ‘Force 1’ for 2018 – report
Jun.28 (GMM) ‘Force 1’ has emerged as the front-running candidate as Force India prepares to change its name for 2018. Earlier in June, we reported that the Vijay Mallya-headed outfit was contemplating dropping the reference to India from its name. “The feeling is that with our improved performance, we are able to attract more international […]
Paul Ricard could remove Mistral chicane for F1
Jun.28 (GMM) Paul Ricard could be set to reinstate the entire length of the famous Mistral straight for next year’s French GP return. Last year, as it emerged that the circuit will host the first French grand prix for a decade in 2018, reports said a chicane would in fact divide the two halves of […]
Todt ‘half positive’ about 2017 season
Jun.28 (GMM) Jean Todt says he is “half positive” about how the first half of F1’s 2017 season has gone. After eight races, most are thrilled with the new cars and the championship battle, and FIA president Todt told Germany’s Sport Bild it has been “great”. “I’m half-positively surprised by the season,” said the Frenchman. […]
Todt may summon Vettel to FIA court
Jun.28 (GMM) Jean Todt could be set to order a further investigation into Sebastian Vettel’s behaviour in Azerbaijan. The German left Baku refusing to talk about the moment he apparently drove his Ferrari deliberately into title rival Lewis Hamilton, having accused the Mercedes driver of ‘brake testing’ him. “It is possible Vettel will be summoned […]
Ecclestone tells Ferrari to sign Alonso
Jun.28 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has advised Ferrari to consider a familiar face if it has a vacancy to fill for 2018. Fernando Alonso’s manager Flavio Briatore has said this week that, although the Spaniard appeared to burn his Ferrari bridges, the 35-year-old in fact only ever clashed with departed boss Marco Mattiacci. So when asked […]
Ferrari return not ruled out for Alonso – Briatore
Jun.28 (GMM) Flavio Briatore says a return to Ferrari cannot be ruled out for Fernando Alonso. Briatore, the former Renault boss, continues to oversee Alonso’s career in formula one. The flamboyant Italian was in Azerbaijan last weekend, and amid rumours about Spaniard Alonso’s next move he was seen having dinner with Mercedes’ Toto Wolff and […]
Honda to run new engine in Austria
Jun.27 (GMM) Honda will bring another engine upgrade to the next race in Austria. Although the Japanese manufacturer looks set to be dumped by its works partner McLaren, Honda took a minor upgrade to Azerbaijan last weekend. And now, Honda chief Yusuke Hasegawa says the long-awaited ‘specification 3’ unit is due to run in Austria […]
Verstappen faces fine for skipping media duties
Jun.27 (GMM) Max Verstappen is facing a EUR 25,000 fine for skipping his mandatory press duties after Sunday’s race in Baku. Openly unhappy about his recent troubles at Red Bull, the Dutchman left the Azerbaijan street circuit after the race without talking to the media. De Telegraaf newspaper claims Verstappen could face a hefty fine […]
Haas brake struggles ‘unacceptable’ – Grosjean
Jun.27 (GMM) Romain Grosjean left Baku furious that Haas is yet to get to the bottom of a recurring brake problem. The Frenchman has bemoaned the American team’s issues with brakes since its inception last year, but Azerbaijan was a particularly troubled race for the 31-year-old. After the race, Haas’ team statement said under Grosjean’s […]