May 23 (GMM) Niki Lauda has dealt a blow to Fernando Alonso’s chances of switching to Mercedes next year. Earlier, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff said the Spaniard could not be ruled out for 2018, but pointed to Alonso’s historically problematic character and past run-ins with Lewis Hamilton. Alonso, 35, has said he might be on […]
Long wheelbase to hurt in Monaco – Mercedes
May 23 (GMM) Mercedes is concerned Ferrari could have the upper hand this weekend in Monaco. Lewis Hamilton actually returned to the top step of the podium in Barcelona, but that circuit particularly suited the specifications of Mercedes’ 2017 car. Monaco, the tight and twisty street circuit, could be a different matter. “A car with […]
Alonso to ‘represent’ F1 drivers well – Sainz
May 23 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is sure Fernando Alonso will “represent” current F1 drivers well at the Indy 500 on Sunday. While Alonso’s usual competitors are contesting the prestigious Monaco grand prix this weekend, the Spaniard will be in Indianapolis preparing for the famous high speed oval race. And Sainz, a Spaniard and […]
Massa hails Lowe’s impact at Williams
May 23 (GMM) Felipe Massa has hailed Paddy Lowe for a noticeable turnaround inside the Williams team. Brazilian Massa has driven for the famous British team since leaving Ferrari, but he says the immediate impact of the arrival of former Mercedes chief Lowe this year was palpable. “What he has done is unite the different […]
Lauda would ‘veto’ McLaren-Mercedes deal
May 22 (GMM) Niki Lauda says he would “veto” a supply of customer Mercedes engines for struggling former F1 grandee McLaren. Although consistently denied, persistent rumours have said the beleaguered British team’s patience with Honda is finally up. But Toto Wolff, the Mercedes chief, denies the solution will be as simple as a reunion of […]
Teams ‘exaggerating’ data to Pirelli
May 22 (GMM) Pirelli has admitted some teams have “exaggerated” downforce values as the F1 supplier sets its tyre operating guidelines before grands prix. In Barcelona, the Italian marque’s popular decision in 2017 to allow teams to use lower minimum tyre pressures came to a halt in Friday practice. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport has […]
Lauda to watch Alonso’s Indy 500 bid
May 22 (GMM) Niki Lauda says he will be following every lap of Fernando Alonso’s bid to win the Indy 500 on Sunday. McLaren driver Alonso’s shock Indy project has been controversial, as it means he must skip the prestigious Monaco grand prix. But F1 legend Lauda said he admires the move. “I am following […]
Liberty to reveal F1 budget cap plan
May 22 (GMM) The idea of team budget caps in formula one is not dead yet. With the arrival of Liberty Media, ideas about how to improve the competitiveness of the field are running thick and fast. One idea is a Nascar-like system, where at a certain point of the season, cars and engines must […]
F1 to consider extending DRS zones
May 22 (GMM) The potential extension of DRS overtaking zones this year will be decided on a circuit by circuit basis. That is the claim of Auto Motor und Sport, even though the extension of the zone in Barcelona proved a success. After Russia, where the only overtaking move was a Sauber team order, the […]
Massa could stay at Williams in 2018
May 22 (GMM) Felipe Massa says he would consider staying in F1 beyond the end of this season. Actually, the Brazilian veteran ‘retired’ at the end of last year but was convinced by Williams to return as Valtteri Bottas moved up to the works Mercedes team. And now the 36-year-old says: “If things continue to […]
Reliability takes hit as teams push limits – Wolff
May 22 (GMM) Engine reliability has taken a hit in 2017 as manufacturers push to “the absolute limit”. That is the claim of Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, when asked about the obvious fact that many teams are having more trouble with power unit reliability so far this year. As to why that is even though […]
Marko rules out Le Mans for Red Bull
May 19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull will not be heading to Le Mans any time soon. The energy drink company has two teams in F1 and been represented at the highest level of just about every series. But Red Bull is conspicuously absent at Le Mans, the most famous endurance sports car […]
Magnussen-manager dispute heads to court
May 19 (GMM) A broken relationship between Kevin Magnussen and his former manager is heading to court. After his McLaren seat fell through after a single year, Magnussen reportedly split with his long-time manager Dorte Riis Madsen. We reported last year that the 24-year-old Dane had negotiated his own 2016 Renault seat, and was also […]
Trailing Bottas still not ‘no.2’ – Wolff
May 19 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes remains committed to not designating Valtteri Bottas the ‘number 2’ driver for 2017. A mere 6 points separates Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and top Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton so far this year. But when asked about the much bigger points gap – 35 points – between teammates Hamilton and […]
Brawn says Vettel ‘key to Ferrari success’
May 19 (GMM) Ross Brawn has hailed Sebastian Vettel’s personal contribution to the excitement of the 2017 season. Brawn, famous for his key role in the ultra-successful Todt-Schumacher era at Ferrari, is now F1’s new sporting boss in the Liberty Media era. He told Sport Bild: “What Sebastian is doing in the red car is […]
Carey expects ‘turbulent’ F1 talks
May 19 (GMM) Chase Carey is expecting “turbulent” times ahead as negotiations with teams look set to kick off. As Liberty Media takes over and the Bernie Ecclestone era is put in the past, attention is already turning to the end of the current ‘Concorde’ agreements with teams. But as those post-2020 talks begin, new […]
Pirelli axes hard tyres for Silverstone
May 19 (GMM) Pirelli has agreed to axe its selection of hard tyres for a forthcoming grand prix. In Barcelona recently, drivers openly complained about the F1 supplier’s selection of compounds. “In the drivers’ briefing we brought up the tyres because we would prefer not to have these hard tyres anymore — at any track. […]
Marko confirms official role for Jos Verstappen
May 18 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has confirmed reports that Max Verstappen’s father is taking on an official Red Bull role. Earlier, we reported that former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, whose teenage son now drives for Red Bull Racing, was considering taking up a role as a sort of young talent scout for the energy […]
Teams unhappy amid Mercedes-Honda cooperation rumours
May 18 (GMM) Two F1 teams have admitted their opposition amid rumours Mercedes is preparing to help Honda finally get up to speed in formula one. The rumour has been taking shape in recent weeks, and in Barcelona it emerged that the Austrian company Avl might also get involved to help Honda finally end its […]
Wolff denies 5kg weight advantage rumours
May 18 (GMM) Toto Wolff has denied that Mercedes slashed 5 kilos of weight from its 2017 car ahead of the recent Spanish grand prix. Before Barcelona, team figures including Niki Lauda admitted that excessive car weight was one of the areas Mercedes was working on to fight with Ferrari this year. Then in Spain, […]