Jan.11 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he would “happily” deal with some more internal tension with Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen. Days ago, Dutch youngster Verstappen said that while he and Ricciardo get along, a 2018 championship battle between the pair might add spice to that harmony. “We’ll see if I keep him on my birthday […]
Copenhagen could host F1 race in 2020 – Carey
Jan.11 (GMM) Chase Carey has given Copenhagen the thumbs-up as a potential grand prix venue of the future. The Danish capital is vying to secure a place on the 2020 grid with a city street circuit. “We are very excited to explore the possibility of a race here in Denmark,” F1 chief executive Carey told […]
Bottas training hard to be ‘better person and driver’
Jan.11 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is working hard to be a better driver in 2018. After his first season at Mercedes, and having secured another one-year deal for 2018, the Finn is currently training hard in the ice and snow of his home town Nastola. “I think the balance sheet is a bit up […]
Quadruple champions target Fangio’s five
Jan.11 (GMM) The sport’s two quadruple world champions admit equalling F1 legend Juan Manuel Fangio’s five titles would be a special achievement. Last year, Lewis Hamilton joined Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost in being F1’s only four-time world champions. Now, Hamilton and Vettel are looking ahead to Fangio’s five crowns, which has been bettered only […]
Journalist defends Kubica axe reports
Jan.11 (GMM) A journalist has defended his claim that Williams has definitely decided to sign Sergey Sirotkin instead of Robert Kubica for 2018. Among those reporting the news about Russian Sirotkin’s soon-to-be-announced deal the most confidently in recent days has been British journalist Andrew Benson. He now tells the Polish publication Sportowe Fakty: “The team […]
Red Bull plays down ‘trick’ steering ban
Jan.11 (GMM) Red Bull has played down the impact of a new FIA technical directive. Just before Christmas, F1’s governing body clamped down on a ‘trick’ used by some teams to use clever steering and suspension systems to lower ride height in corners. It is believed Red Bull was the team furthest ahead with this […]
Kvyat to work in Ferrari simulator – spokesman
Jan.11 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat’s new job in formula one will see him work mainly in the Ferrari driver simulator. The famous Italian team has announced that the Russian and Red Bull refugee has been signed up as a development driver. Asked what Kvyat will be doing in 2018, a Ferrari spokesman told Tass news agency: […]
Sponsor issues ‘no comment’ to Sirotkin reports
Jan.10 (GMM) A man close to the negotiations has issued a firm “no comment” on whether Williams’ 2018 driver lineup is now complete. Although Robert Kubica was earlier a popular contender for the seat, it is now firmly believed that Russian Sergey Sirotkin will become Lance Stroll’s teammate this year. However, former F1 driver Mika […]
Magnussen not crucial to Denmark F1 bid
Jan.10 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen’s continuing presence in F1 will help a bid to secure a place on the annual race calendar for Denmark, race officials have admitted. BT newspaper reports that F1 chief executive Chase Carey is meeting with potential race promoters in Copenhagen on Wednesday to discuss a race for 2020. F1’s only Danish […]
Schumacher kart circuit to close
Jan.10 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s famous kart circuit in Kerpen looks set to close. The site, about 30 kilometres from Cologne, has been earmarked for coal mining by the German company RWE from 2020. “There will be no new kart track,” Michael’s brother Ralf, who like the seven time world champion began his racing career in […]
Gelael staying with Toro Rosso in 2018
Jan.10 (GMM) Sean Gelael says he will continue his role with Toro Rosso this year. The 21-year-old, tho is the son of the Indonesian KFC magnate, tested and drove in some Friday practice sessions for the Red Bull-owned team in 2017. “Working with Toro Rosso completely changed my life,” Gelael told Italiaracing. “This year, I […]
Norris wants to learn from and beat Alonso in Daytona
Jan.9 (GMM) New McLaren reserve Lando Norris says Daytona is the perfect opportunity to start learning from Fernando Alonso. This year, the new reigning F3 champion will travel the entire F1 calendar with McLaren, learning from the famous team alongside Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne. But the 18-year-old is getting his up-close relationship with top McLaren […]
Raikkonen targets title with new engineer
Jan.9 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen will bid for a better season in 2018 with a different race engineer. Italy’s Corriere dello Sport reports that Dave Greenwood, who joined Ferrari from Manor in 2015, is now returning to Manor in endurance sports car racing. “Ferrari has not yet nominated a replacement,” the report said, adding that Toro […]
Alonso’s sports car distraction ‘a mistake’ – Webber
Jan.9 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is making “a mistake” by trying to combine F1 with endurance sports cars. That is the claim of his former rival and ongoing friend Mark Webber, after Alonso completed a week of testing in Daytona ahead of his prototype racing debut this month. The Spaniard is using Daytona to see if […]
Britain could lose grand prix – Warwick
Jan.9 (GMM) Former F1 driver Derek Warwick says it is possible the sport will lose its historic British grand prix. The Briton, who has battled cancer, recently stepped down as president of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, which owns Silverstone. But Warwick, 63, only stepped down after Silverstone last year triggered the break clause in […]
Grosjean tips ‘very strong’ McLaren in 2018
Jan.8 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has tipped McLaren to have a strong year in formula one after dumping Honda power. The Ferrari-powered Haas driver said the works team of McLaren’s new engine supplier – Renault – has “developed the project well and is already in front of us”. And so the Frenchman expects McLaren to be […]
Villeneuve ‘only sees the negative’ – Stroll
Jan.8 (GMM) Lance Stroll has hit back at Jacques Villeneuve, saying the former Williams driver is “always negative”. 1997 world champion Villeneuve, who drove for the British team when he won his title over 20 years ago, is a serial critic of his fellow Canadian Stroll. Now, Villeneuve has hit out at Williams for reportedly […]
Alfa Romeo not taking over Sauber – team founder
Jan.7 (GMM) Team founder Peter Sauber says he does not think the Hinwil based team will become known as ‘Alfa Romeo’. Sauber has done a deal with Fiat president Sergio Marchionne that will see the Italian luxury carmaker Alfa Romeo become the title sponsor. Asked if that is a ‘strange feeling’, Sauber founder Peter Sauber […]
Alonso says third title is ‘first priority’
Jan.7 (GMM) Fernando Alonso may have more plans to race outside of F1, but he insists that his role with McLaren-Renault remains his main focus. Last year, the 36-year-old stunned the motor racing world by skipping Monaco to do the Indy 500, and right now he is testing in preparation for the forthcoming Daytona 24 […]
Sponsors pushing for Force India name change
Jan.6 (GMM) Otmar Szafnauer admits Force India is under pressure to change its name. Owner Vijay Mallya is locked in a bitter legal battle with the Indian government, but he insists that deliberations about dropping ‘India’ from the name is more about internationalising the team for global sponsors. The name ‘Force One’ was considered, but […]