Jun.23 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says Valtteri Bottas has “earned his place” at Mercedes. Team boss Toto Wolff has said that, while happy with the Finn, he is in no rush to extend Bottas’ deal into 2018. Bottas’ teammate, Hamilton, said in Baku: “I honestly think he has earned his place with us. “He’s doing a […]
No contract news in Baku – Vettel
Jun.23 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has no news in Baku about his contractual situation with Ferrari. The championship leader is out of contract at the end of the season, and most tip him to stay with the Italian team. But Vettel said: “Normally, contracts begin on 1 January and end on 31 December. “So probably the […]
No preference for Palmer replacement – Hulkenberg
Jun.23 (GMM) Jolyon Palmer reacted with tetchiness at Baku when asked yet again about his future in F1. Asked what might help to up his performance in 2017, the under-pressure Renault driver said: “No more questions like these.” Rumours are now rife that Renault intends to oust the Briton during the summer break. Sergey Sirotkin, […]
Ferrari takes engine upgrade to Baku
Jun.22 (GMM) Ferrari is taking an engine upgrade to this weekend’s grand prix on the streets of Baku. After the Italian team dominated in Monaco, its title rival Mercedes hit back hard recently with a one-two in Canada. Now, for the unique Azerbaijani venue incorporating a super-long 2 kilometre straight and 370kph top speeds, La […]
F1 could have new teams for 2019 – Todt
Jun.22 (GMM) Jean Todt has not denied that a new team might be lining up to enter formula one. There have been rumours a new project backed by Chinese investors has been shopping around at existing teams for personnel. And now, Brazil’s Globo reports that a company called China F1 Racing Team has been registered […]
Bratches eyes pay-TV future for F1
Jun.22 (GMM) New F1 boss Sean Bratches says the sport will continue on the path of switching more coverage to pay TV platforms. In the German media, for instance, it is reported that fevered contract talks are currently taking place between Bratches, who is the sport’s new commercial chief in the post-Bernie Ecclestone era, and […]
Berger’s nephew not confirming Force India news
Jun.22 (GMM) Gerhard Berger’s nephew is not ready to confirm reports he will make his F1 test debut in Hungary. We reported this week that Lucas Auer, whose mother is F1 legend Berger’s sister, could appear for Force India at the post-Hungary young driver test. Auer drives a pink-liveried, BWT-sponsored Mercedes in the German touring […]
Verstappen should ‘keep quiet’ amid rumours
Jun.22 (GMM) A former F1 driver has urged Max Verstappen to “keep quiet” and “not worry”, amid speculation he wants to move on from his current team Red Bull Racing. Although Dr Helmut Marko insists he has the Dutchman firmly under contract, there are rumours Verstappen, 19, is eyeing a move to Ferrari for 2018. […]
Colin Kolles to take over Sauber helm
Jun.22 (GMM) Former Force India boss Colin Kolles is tipped to succeed the ousted Monisha Kaltenborn at the top of the Swiss team Sauber. On Wednesday, amid reports of a dispute about Sauber’s current drivers, it emerged that F1’s first female chief Kaltenborn is leaving the Hinwil team immediately. Pascal Picci, the new Sauber owner […]
Berger’s nephew to make F1 test debut
Jun.21 (GMM) Gerhard Berger’s nephew is set to take a big leap forward in his ambitions to race in F1. 22-year-old Lucas Auer, whose mother is F1 legend Berger’s sister Claudia, is a title contender in the German touring car series DTM this year, driving a Mercedes. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has said Auer has […]
Prost welcomes new F1 team rumours
Jun.21 (GMM) F1 legend Alain Prost has welcomed rumours suggesting an eleventh team could be on the grid in 2018. The quadruple world champion, now an advisor for the Renault works team, told Germany’s Auto Bild the conditions to enter F1 are now better than when his own team went bust in 2001. Prost’s comments […]
McLaren eyeing Sainz as 2018 ‘plan B’ – report
Jun.21 (GMM) McLaren is lining up Carlos Sainz as a ‘plan B’ in the event Fernando Alonso quits the team after 2017. That is the claim of Josep Viaplana, the F1 correspondent for the Spanish sports daily Diario Sport. “Sainz is among the drivers who have made the most progress in recent seasons, despite his […]
Sauber not commenting on McLaren gearbox claims
Jun.21 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn has played down the impact the potential McLaren-Honda split might have on Sauber. Currently, McLaren is Honda’s works team, while Ferrari-powered Sauber is set to become the Japanese marque’s first customer in 2018. But now, it seems possible Sauber could actually be the only Honda-powered team next year, particularly with Williams […]
Russia GP date change due to World Cup
Jun.21 (GMM) Next year’s football World Cup is one reason organisers of the Russian grand prix pushed for a date change for 2018. This year, the Sochi round took place in April, but on next year’s schedule the Russian GP will not happen until almost October. “The initiative to change the timing appeared a few […]
Hamilton could quit F1 after 2017
Jun.21 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is not ruling out quitting F1 at the end of the season. When discussing his eventual ‘legacy’ within the sport in conversation with the FIA magazine Auto, triple world champion Hamilton said he might soon join former teammate Nico Rosberg in retirement. “My destiny is in my own hands,” said the […]
Honda not ruling out F1 help
Jun.21 (GMM) Honda is no longer ruling out accepting help as it looks to finally get up to speed in F1. Until now, the Japanese marque has usually been reluctant to look outside its own company during its three-year struggle so far in collaboration with McLaren. But amid strong rumours of a McLaren-Honda split, the […]
McLaren deal not Mercedes ‘priority’ – Wolff
Jun.21 (GMM) Toto Wolff is still reluctant to talk about the possibility of Mercedes supplying customer engines to McLaren next year. It is now very possible that McLaren and its hapless works supplier Honda will split, and Mercedes has been mentioned as the most likely alternative for the once-great British team. But Mercedes chief Wolff […]
No hurry to sign new Bottas deal – Wolff
Jun.21 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes will “take our time” in deciding whether to keep Valtteri Bottas for 2018. The Finn, currently on just a one year deal following Nico Rosberg’s shock retirement, said this week his goal is to secure a multi-year deal. “Of course there is pressure on him,” team boss Wolff is […]
Carey confident all 21 races set for 2018
Jun.21 (GMM) Chase Carey has played down speculation next year’s 21-race calendar could actually drop to 19 grands prix. Both China and the popular Singapore night race have been marked on the provisional 2018 schedule as “subject to commercial rights holder confirmation”. F1 CEO Carey said: “Our goal is to have the races in Shanghai […]
Carey plays down 2018 ‘triple header’
Jun.21 (GMM) Chase Carey has played down the ‘triple header’ that will take place in F1 next year. On the bustling 21-race calendar for 2018, three events – France, Austria and Britain – will be held on subsequent weekends. Carey, who has replaced Bernie Ecclestone as F1 CEO, said the back-to-back races are to avoid […]