Dec.21 (GMM) Niki Lauda says Mercedes never negotiated with Max Verstappen this year. F1 sensation Verstappen was critical of Red Bull earlier in 2017, but ultimately signed a lucrative new contract taking him through to late 2020. It was believed the Dutch camp managed to push Verstappen’s salary into the range of $25-35 million per […]
F1 to organise live 2018 event in Marseille
Dec.21 (GMM) F1 looks set to organise another major street event in 2018. This year, every team and driver except Lewis Hamilton descended on London for a spectacular demonstration of F1 cars. La Provence reports that a similar live event will happen next year in Marseille, to promote France’s return to the F1 calendar. “The […]
Rosberg yet to extend Mercedes ambassador role
Dec.21 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says he is yet to sign a new deal to be an ambassador for Mercedes in 2018. Although he suddenly quit the German team and F1 after winning the 2016 title, he has remained on the payroll as a brand ambassador. But for 2018, he is joining the German broadcaster RTL […]
Wolff tells Brawn to ‘stop provoking’ Ferrari
Dec.20 (GMM) Toto Wolff has warned Liberty Media to stop “provoking” Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne. In recent days, Marchionne doubled down on his threat to pull Ferrari out of the sport, accusing F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn of “behaving like Moses”. A major source of tension between Brawn and Marchionne is over the proposed 2021 […]
F1 boss Ross Brawn ‘behaves like Moses’ – Marchionne
Dec.20 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has sustained his attack on F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn. At Ferrari’s Christmas lunch, the Ferrari president said he had threatened to pull the Italian marque out of F1 because Brawn is “looking at ways that are against the DNA” of the sport. He is now quoted as saying by Speed […]
Ocon not feeling more pressure from Perez
Dec.20 (GMM) Esteban Ocon insists he is not feeling the pressure of needing to step up his game in 2018. The Frenchman had an impressive rookie season in 2017, but now teammate Sergio Perez claims the pressure will be on Ocon to step up a notch next year. “He likes to make such statements in […]
Assen tackles Zandvoort for Dutch GP
Dec.20 (GMM) The Assen circuit has emerged as a viable alternative host for a future return of the Dutch grand prix. With Max Verstappen’s popularity, speculation is rising that the Netherlands will soon return to the F1 calendar. Zandvoort was named as a potential host, but now TT Circuit Assen chief Arjan Bos says the […]
Rosberg replacing Lauda as German F1 pundit
Dec.20 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has stepped up to replace Niki Lauda as the expert F1 pundit on German free-to-air television RTL next year. It was also announced that, despite a period of uncertainty, RTL has retained the broadcast rights to formula one for the next three years. “This is really good news for RTL and […]
Others to blame for Alonso’s mistakes – Alguersuari
Dec.19 (GMM) A Spanish motor racing figure believes Fernando Alonso needs to adjust his attitude if he wants to be successful in formula one once again. It might be argued that Alonso has made three key mistakes in his career: leaving McLaren in 2007, leaving Ferrari in 2014, and joining the ill-fated McLaren-Honda project. “He […]
Other teams would join Ferrari in F1 breakaway – Marchionne
Dec.19 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has doubled down on his threat to pull Ferrari out of formula one, warning that he could also entice other teams to an alternate series. The Ferrari president is making the threats after new F1 owner Liberty Media announced its intention to change the engine rules for 2021 and impose a […]
Official defends Carmen Jorda amid criticism
Dec.19 (GMM) A Spanish motor racing official has defended controversial figure Carmen Jorda. Renault F1 ambassador Jorda, an advocate of an all-female F1 series, was criticised as the FIA appointed her to the ‘women in motor sport commission’. “This witch hunt seems unfair to Carmen,” Gonzalo Gobert, boss of the Valencia circuit, told Radio Marca. […]
Formula E a ‘financial fiasco’ – Montreal
Dec.19 (GMM) Formula E has been slammed as a “financial fiasco” by withdrawing race host Montreal. The Canadian city was scheduled to host the season finale next July, but mayor Valerie Plante said taxpayers were not willing to pay the EUR 23 million bill. “Citizens have made it clear that we cannot waste their money […]
Magnussen to join Alonso, Stroll at Daytona – report
Dec.19 (GMM) A third current F1 driver looks set to contest the iconic Daytona 24 hour sports car race next month. It was already known that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will appear at the famous race in the US in January. Ekstra Bladet newspaper is now reporting that Haas driver Kevin Magnussen could also […]
Kubica offers Williams $7m for 7 races – report
Dec.19 (GMM) Robert Kubica is reportedly right back in the game as Williams considers how to complete its 2018 driver lineup. Recently, the well-backed Russian Sergey Sirotkin looked to have secured the seat, much to the disappointment of many who wanted to see Kubica make an emotional return to F1. But Finnish broadcaster MTV claims […]
Billionaire backer pushes for Sirotkin seat
Dec.18 (GMM) Powerful Russian businessman Boris Rotenberg says he is pushing hard to secure Sergey Sirotkin’s place on the 2018 grid. The matter of Williams’ final driver for next season has become the subject of high speculation, with Russian Sirotkin and Robert Kubica vying for the seat. It was claimed last week that the British […]
Ferrari keeps team together for 2018 – insider
Dec.18 (GMM) Ferrari is keeping its ‘dream team’ together for 2018. While putting up a strong challenge to Mercedes this year, Ferrari ultimately finished second. “If they don’t win, there is usually panic,” former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone told Sonntagsblick newspaper. But ahead of Ferrari’s annual Christmas lunch, media insider Leo Turrini says he knows […]
Ecclestone aims fire at Liberty, Ferrari
Dec.18 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has aimed fire at both F1 owner Liberty Media and the sport’s most famous team Ferrari. 2017 was the 87-year-old’s first full season without an operational role in the sport, having been ousted by Liberty Media after the American company’s takeover. Liberty is currently consulting with manufacturers about the engine rules […]
Top F1 teams ‘too reliable’ – Todt
Dec.15 (GMM) Jean Todt thinks the level of car reliability in formula one is too high. He said the fact cars can often go a full season without a mechanical breakdown in a race shows that too much money is spent. Referring to Lewis Hamilton, the FIA president told Auto Bild: “He did not make […]
Grid girls must stay in F1 – Verstappen
Dec.15 (GMM) F1 drivers hope ‘grid girls’ remain a part of formula one in the future. In an increasingly progressive world and under the new Liberty Media regime, F1 sporting director Ross Brawn admits using scantily clad women on the grid is “under strong review”. “There’s a lot of people who respect the tradition and […]
Toro Rosso working to fit Honda engine
Dec.15 (GMM) Toro Rosso is working hard to fit the Honda power unit into its 2018 car. The basis of the Red Bull junior team’s car for next year was designed around the Renault power unit, but that deal is moving to McLaren for 2018. Toro Rosso technical boss James Key said the Honda unit […]