Jan.6 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he would like to keep Daniel Ricciardo as his teammate in F1. Dutchman Verstappen has signed on with Red Bull through 2020, but his Australian cohort Ricciardo is currently flirting with a move to a rival team for 2019. Verstappen said he would like things to stay the same. “We […]
Hartley to focus only on F1 in 2018
Jan.6 (GMM) Brendon Hartley says he will concentrate exclusively on formula one this year. As he rebuilt his career following his departure from the Red Bull programme some years ago, the now 28-year-old was active across several motor racing disciplines. In 2018, Hartley will even maintain his ties to Porsche, with whom he won last […]
Alonso ‘very bad politically’ – Piquet
Jan.5 (GMM) Former F1 driver Nelson Piquet says Fernando Alonso is to blame for his lack of success over the past decade. Alonso became F1’s youngest double world champion by 2006, but since then has failed to win another title with Renault, McLaren and Ferrari. “Fernando Alonso has had the chance to win up to […]
Wolff winter ‘less stressful’ than 2017
Jan.4 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he has enjoyed a more relaxing winter compared to a year ago. “It’s definitely less stressful than last year,” the Mercedes boss smiled. He is referring to the transition from 2016 to 2017, when the world champions had to suddenly replace Nico Rosberg with Valtteri Bottas. Wolff told Kurier newspaper: […]
Media still hungry for Schumacher news
Jan.4 (GMM) The media has not given up the quest to learn more about the current condition of F1 legend Michael Schumacher. In the past days, the 4 year anniversary of the great German’s skiing crash and his 49th birthday have left F1 fans saddened. Among them is his friend Sebastian Vettel. “I never saw […]
Briatore ‘very sorry’ Kubica comeback failed
Jan.4 (GMM) Flavio Briatore says it’s a shame Robert Kubica will not make a sensational return to formula one in 2018. A source close to Kubica, the former BMW and Renault driver who almost lost his arm in a 2011 rally crash, admits the Pole’s comeback bid is now “game over”. Other sources claim Williams […]
Ecclestone no longer attending races
Jan.4 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he may no longer attend grands prix. The former F1 supremo began his first year as nominal ‘chairman emeritus’ in 2017 whilst still attending some races. But towards the end of the year, Ecclestone was conspicuously absent, and he now tells Auto Motor und Sport: “I have the feeling that […]
Less overtaking due to teams, not cars – Whiting
Jan.3 (GMM) Charlie Whiting has defended F1’s regulations, declaring that the biggest issue for the sport is in fact the competitiveness of the midfield teams. Many teams and drivers rounded out 2017 by declaring that while the new cars were faster, they also meant overtaking was more difficult. “The wider cars look great and they’ve […]
Williams set to announce Sirotkin deal
Jan.3 (GMM) Williams looks set to announce a two-year contract with Sergey Sirotkin. Earlier, the British team dithered over its choice of replacement for Felipe Massa, also seriously testing and considering the former BMW and Renault driver Robert Kubica. But Russian Sirotkin, backed heavily by the Vladimir Putin-linked SMP Bank, appears to have won the […]
Wolff expects Hamilton to stay at Mercedes
Jan.3 (GMM) Toto Wolff is sure Lewis Hamilton will race on with Mercedes. However, world champion Hamilton spent 2017 to-ing and fro-ing over his potential retirement plans, with his current contract set to expire after 2018. At the end of 2016, Hamilton’s then teammate Nico Rosberg suddenly quit F1, but team boss Wolff does not […]
Copenhagen, Nurburgring eye F1 race deals
Jan.3 (GMM) Plans for a grand prix in Copenhagen are speeding ahead. Ekstra Bladet newspaper reports that F1 chief executive Chase Carey is planning to travel to the Danish capital next week to meet with mayor Frank Jensen and other key figures. “We’re not ready to agree yet,” race promoter Helge Sander warned. Meanwhile, German […]
Mick Schumacher staying in F3
Jan.3 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is set to remain in European F3 for a second season this year. F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s 18-year-old son had a moderate first year in the highly competitive category for the Italian team Prema. Now, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that a 2018 contract with the same outfit will be agreed […]
Hamilton cool on venue for French GP return
Jan.3 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton thinks a better venue could have been selected for this year’s return of the French grand prix. After a decade’s absence, France is back on the F1 calendar this year, at the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet. World champion Hamilton told Canal Plus broadcaster: “Honestly, I don’t like Paul Ricard. […]
Bottas ‘only number 2 driver’ – Villeneuve
Jan.3 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is a “solid number 2” for world champion Lewis Hamilton. That is the view of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who is never shy to offer forthright views about F1’s teams and drivers of today. “Mercedes won because they still have the best engine, but only Hamilton was able to take […]
Mercedes getting close to 1000hp – report
Jan.3 (GMM) Mercedes is just 50 horse power shy of the landmark 1000hp breakthrough with its current F1 ‘power unit’. Auto Motor und Sport reports that GPS measurements made by a rival of the German marque’s engine output at the end of 2017 showed 949hp. But the report claims Mercedes engine chief Andy Cowell is […]
No Daytona or Le Mans for Magnussen in 2018
Dec.22 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen will contest neither the Daytona or Le Mans sports car races next year. We had reported that the Haas driver was in talks about taking part in the Daytona 24 hour race in January, on the same track as fellow F1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Magnussen told the Danish […]
Verstappen ready to beat Hamilton – van der Garde
Dec.22 (GMM) Max Verstappen developed as both a person and a driver in 2017. That is the view of former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, as he contemplated the solidifying stardom of the 20-year-old Dutchman. “I think Max grew a lot as a person, because he had to deal with all those disappointments on […]
Red Bull changes car launch philosophy for 2018
Dec.21 (GMM) Red Bull has tweaked its plans so that it is ready to start winning straight away in 2018. Dr Helmut Marko said that although the energy drink owned team finished this season strongly, Red Bull needs to ensure it is ready to take on Mercedes and Ferrari from the very first race next […]
Bottas decision ‘right’ for Mercedes – Lauda
Dec.21 (GMM) F1 legend Niki Lauda says Valtteri Bottas has done a good job since replacing Nico Rosberg at Mercedes. Some believe the top team should have chosen a more established star like Fernando Alonso to replace 2016 world champion Rosberg. But Mercedes team chairman Lauda insisted: “The decision to sign Bottas was right.” The […]
Team bosses defend F1 ‘grid girls’
Dec.21 (GMM) Team bosses have now come out to defend the concept of ‘grid girls’ in formula one. F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn has said the practice of having attractive women fulfil the role as ‘grid girls’ is under review. Max Verstappen insisted last week: “The grid girls must stay.” And Nico Hulkenberg added: “It […]