May 18 (GMM) Red Bull is waiting on a Renault upgrade that has been delayed for reliability reasons. In Barcelona, the former champions took a clear step closer to runaway pacesetters Mercedes and Ferrari. “We closed more than 60 per cent of the gap,” Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper. He […]
Marko hails step forward after Ecclestone exit
May 18 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has hailed a step forward for formula one in the wake of Bernie Ecclestone’s departure. During the Spanish grand prix, a distraught young Ferrari fan was plucked out of the grandstand by Formula One Management staff so that he could meet Kimi Raikkonen and get a signed cap and […]
Room for more ‘quality’ races – Brawn
May 17 (GMM) Ross Brawn thinks there is space on the F1 calendar for “one or two more” races. There has been speculation the sport’s new owner Liberty Media intends to expand the current 20-race schedule, adding races in ‘destination cities’ like New York. But Brawn, the new F1 sporting boss, said: “More important than […]
Boss defends Force India after number breach
May 17 (GMM) Sporting boss Otmar Szafnauer has defended Force India, after the team was pulled up for not complying with new rules in Barcelona. To help the fans in the grandstands and the TV audience, F1 told teams they must fit bigger numbers and the drivers’ abbreviated names on their cars from Spain. But […]
Raikkonen’s daughter born
May 17 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has become a father for the second time — and Nico Rosberg appears to be hot on his heels. MTV, the Finnish broadcaster, said Ferrari driver Raikkonen’s partner Minttu has given birth to their first daughter, named Rianna Angelia, Milana. “We are so happy and proud,” Minttu said. Their son […]
Red Bull ‘in control’ of Sainz – Wolff
May 17 (GMM) Red Bull has “control” of Carlos Sainz’s F1 future, according to rival Mercedes’ chief Toto Wolff. When Mercedes was on the market to replace Nico Rosberg, rumours emerged that Wolff looked into Toro Rosso driver Sainz’s contract situation. Wolff told El Mundo Deportivo: “Yes, Carlos is ready and I like him and […]
Engine rule changes or Red Bull will quit – Marko
May 17 (GMM) Red Bull could quit formula one if the next set of engine regulations is not significantly better. That is the warning-shot fired by the energy drink-owned team’s top Austrian official Dr Helmut Marko. Talks have already begun about how to tweak the controversial engine rules for beyond 2020, and Red Bull has […]
Red Bull plans next upgrade for Austria
May 17 (GMM) Red Bull is planning to make the next big step with its chassis at its own Austrian grand prix in July. The former champions closed the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari with a significant upgrade in Barcelona. Boss Christian Horner said Red Bull will now assess the next move, after earlier problems […]
Hamilton denies training less than rivals
May 16 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he trains “just as much” as his F1 rivals. The triple world champion’s comments come after Barcelona, where although Hamilton won he was also heard on the radio apparently struggling physically with the demands of the faster 2017 cars. “Physically, yeah, I probably lost two kilos in that race. […]
‘Too early’ for contract talks – Bottas
May 16 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas’ hopes of hanging onto his plum seat at Mercedes appear to have taken a step forward. The Finn, who was given only a one-year deal for 2017 after replacing the suddenly-retired Nico Rosberg, won his first grand prix in Russia late last month. At the next race in Barcelona, he […]
Strong Ferrari ‘good for F1’ – Zetsche
May 16 (GMM) Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche says Mercedes’ close title fight with Ferrari this year is good for formula one. With a quarter of the 2017 season now in the past, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel are tied on wins and separated in the standings by a mere 6 points. “For the sport and […]
Wolff not ruling out Alonso for Mercedes
May 16 (GMM) Toto Wolff is not ruling out making a bid to sign Fernando Alonso for 2018. The Spaniard is on the market, potentially out of patience with McLaren-Honda and keen to finally push for a third career title next year. But earlier, boss Wolff said Alonso might not be a good fit for […]
Alonso contract talks ‘like chess’ – Hamilton
May 16 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says Fernando Alonso’s forthcoming deliberations and negotiations about 2018 will be like “a game of chess”. The Spanish grand prix winner was asked by the Spanish broadcaster Movistar to comment on the high profile struggles of Alonso, who switched from Ferrari to the ill-fated McLaren-Honda project three years ago. “F1 […]
Press hails ‘epic’ Hamilton-Vettel duel
May 16 (GMM) F1’s international press has hailed the return of a close battle for the world championship. In recent years, Mercedes has utterly dominated at the front, but this year Lewis Hamilton is fighting back at Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel’s points lead after five races. Italy’s La Repubblica said the Spanish grand prix last […]
Button not ruling out F1 return
May 16 (GMM) Jenson Button is not ruling out a full-time return to formula one. Last year, despite the F1 veteran inking a new two-year contract with McLaren, the Briton said the 2016 Abu Dhabi race would be his last in F1. But he is making a one-off return in Monaco next weekend to replace […]
Sauber leaves McLaren dead last in 2017
May 15 (GMM) Sauber has left crisis-ridden McLaren-Honda as the only F1 team yet to score a single point so far in 2017. Recently injured and also the subject of criticism, Pascal Wehrlein delivered 4 points to the small Swiss team in Barcelona. “We knew Pascal is very talented, which is why we signed him,” […]
Jos Verstappen set for Red Bull talent role – report
May 15 (GMM) Former F1 driver Jos Verstappen could be set to take on a role with Red Bull. The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reports that Red Bull star Max Verstappen’s 45-year-old father is to attend the forthcoming European F3 race at Pau in France. The report claims Verstappen, who earlier groomed his teenage son […]
Mateschitz ‘patient’ amid Red Bull struggle
May 15 (GMM) Team owner Dietrich Mateschitz says Red Bull is having to be “patient” as it tries to catch up with F1’s top two teams. The former champions made a step with its Barcelona upgrade, but the RB13 is still clearly behind Mercedes and Ferrari. “We have to catch up and especially the improvements […]
Monaco to be Stroll’s toughest test – Massa
May 15 (GMM) Felipe Massa his warned teammate Lance Stroll that the rookie’s toughest F1 challenge is now looming. 18-year-old Stroll has struggled in the sister Williams so far this year, but veteran Massa said Monaco in a fortnight will be his biggest eye-opener to date. “Monaco is probably the most demanding track of all,” […]
Alonso heads straight from F1 to Indy
May 15 (GMM) Fernando Alonso saw the chequered flag and almost immediately jumped on a private jet after his home Spanish grand prix late on Sunday. F1 fans will not see the Spaniard at Monaco in a fortnight, as he is doing the Indy 500 instead. “I fully respect Fernando but I don’t think it’s […]