Mar.29 (GMM) Former driver Takuma Sato says that, amid the category’s obvious challenges, he still loves F1. The Japanese is now a mainstay of America’s top open wheeler series Indycar, telling the Spanish daily Marca that he thinks F1 was better in his day. “I do not see F1 as attractive as before,” said the […]
Verstappen can be free agent for 2017 – report
Mar.28 (GMM) Just as details of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull deal emerge, the Dutchman has thrown some praise in the direction of Ferrari number 1 Sebastian Vettel. Writing for the authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport, Luigi Perna suggested that a clause in the 18-year-old’s current contract means he would be free to switch to another […]
Ecclestone coy over Monza’s F1 future
Mar.28 (GMM) The saga over the future of historic Monza’s grand prix continues, with Bernie Ecclestone making conflicting comments regarding its chances. After reports suggested talks between the Italians and the F1 supremo have broken down, Ecclestone told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I think it (the race) will continue. “It is a fact that as […]
No surprise Alonso ‘aching’ after crash – doctor
Mar.28 (GMM) It is no surprise Fernando Alonso endured a tough week in the wake of his terrifying Melbourne crash. That is the claim of Jurgen Lindemann, an FIA doctor who said the Spaniard was in fact lucky to leave Australia with his life after flipping through the gravel in the 2016 season opener. “In […]
F1 must restore ‘credibility’ – Villeneuve
Mar.26 (GMM) F1 must return to its glorious roots or risk collapsing, according to 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. The French Canadian is just the latest in a long line of insiders, experts and pundits who are exasperated at the current off-track goings-on at the pinnacle of motor sport. The turmoil reached its peak last […]
‘Musical chairs’ stays in place for Bahrain
Mar.25 (GMM) The controversial and unpopular ‘musical chairs’ qualifying format will decide the grid for next weekend’s Bahrain grand prix. That is despite the fact the new concept, featuring 90-second countdown eliminations, was widely declared an unmitigated failure on debut in Melbourne. Team bosses voted before the race on Sunday to revert to the popular […]
Lauda denies Mercedes still sandbagging
Mar.24 (GMM) Niki Lauda has hit back at claims Mercedes is still sandbagging, one race into its 2016 championship campaign. It was rumoured the dominant champions of 2014 and 2015 held fire on its full performance potential over the winter, and Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko charged even after Melbourne that Mercedes could actually have […]
Ecclestone agrees with drivers over governance
Mar.24 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone on Thursday joined forces with F1 drivers who are complaining about the governance of the sport. Sections of the media had interpreted the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association’s rare letter this week as a scathing attack on authorities including the F1 supremo. But in a typed reply to the drivers on Thursday, […]
Monza not giving up on Italy GP yet
Mar.24 (GMM) All hope that Monza will keep hosting the Italian grand prix beyond 2016 is not lost yet. That is the claim of the fabled Autodromo Nazionale’s operating company Sias, hot on the heels of reports that negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone have broken down terminally. “Autodromo Nazionale Monza has not received any official communication […]
Rosberg first in queue for 2017 talks – Wolff
Mar.24 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is first in the queue to race with Mercedes in 2017. That is the claim of team boss Toto Wolff, with media reports in Germany declaring that 30-year-old Australian grand prix winner Rosberg’s current deal is definitely expiring late this year. “Nico is part of the Mercedes family,” Austrian Wolff told […]
Schumacher was right about Vettel – Clear
Mar.24 (GMM) Michael Schumacher was “absolutely right” to have urged Ferrari to sign up Sebastian Vettel for the future. Well-known F1 engineer Jock Clear has returned from a year of ‘gardening leave’ to take up a leading position at Ferrari, where Vettel is now regarded as the Maranello’s great hope of reviving the Schumacher-esque glory […]
As Britain switches, Wurz worried about F1’s pay-TV future
Mar.24 (GMM) F1 needs to adapt to the changing shape of the world and media. That is the view of Alex Wurz, who on the same day as the release of the GPDA’s controversial open letter on the state of the sport also spoke to the Austrian newspaper Kurier. Also late on Wednesday, Bernie Ecclestone […]
Williams-Honda rumours played down
Mar.24 (GMM) Rumours Williams could be set to switch to customer Honda power for 2017 have been denied. After a woeful 2015, Honda has made a step forward with its exclusive works partner McLaren this year, new director Yusuke Hasegawa says. “We had reliability and both drivers were happy with the car,” he is quoted […]
Hamilton returns fire after Charlie Whiting criticism
Mar.24 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has hit back at Charlie Whiting for singling him out over the course of the Australian grand prix weekend. Following the world champion’s claim that drivers are not consulted on rule changes, F1 race director Whiting revealed that a key meeting was actually held at the Barcelona tests “but he (Hamilton) […]
Renault not giving up on 2016 – Vasseur
Mar.24 (GMM) Renault has not given up on the 2016 season, team boss Frederic Vasseur insists. After the eleventh-hour takeover of Lotus, it had been reported that the French carmaker will quickly turn its attention to making a new car for 2017. But engine customer Red Bull is talking up a Renault engine upgrade that […]
Verstappen says no feud with Sainz
Mar.24 (GMM) Max Verstappen has played down claims his rivalry with teammate Carlos Sainz has turned into a feud. The Dutchman was furious at the Australian grand prix, launching foul-mouthed tirades on the radio after getting stuck behind the sister Toro Rosso. In an interview with Laureus, Verstappen admitted he was frustrated. “Qualifying was absolutely […]
Bahrain qualifying could be ‘musical chairs’ hybrid
Mar.24 (GMM) F1 is heading into its second consecutive grand prix of 2016 amid looming uncertainty about the qualifying format. In Melbourne, the to-ing and fro-ing about the new ‘musical chairs’ format culminated in the farcical session on Saturday, and a rapid decision by the team bosses to tear it up ahead of Bahrain. “Thank […]
Ecclestone confirms ‘musical chairs’ may survive
Mar.24 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed reports the controversial ‘musical chairs’ qualifying format could actually have survived the 2016 season opener. After the farcical debut session in Melbourne last Saturday, team bosses got together before Sunday’s race and voted unanimously to scrap it ahead of Bahrain. “I was also confused as it was the first […]
F1 drivers say governance threatens sport’s future
Mar.24 (GMM) F1 drivers have caused a stir by criticising the governance of the sport. An open letter published by the normally safety-oriented Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) was described by some media on Wednesday as being an “extraordinary revolt” and an “astonishing act of public rebellion”. Headed by Alex Wurz and current F1 racers […]
Red Bull ‘halo’ alternative keeps F1 DNA – Marko
Mar.23 (GMM) Red Bull’s alternative to the ‘halo’ cockpit protection concept would be better for crashes like those suffered by Fernando Alonso in Melbourne. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, even though the newly-unveiled alternative championed by Red Bull has already been ruled out by the FIA. But that was before Alonso’s McLaren-Honda […]