Jan.27 (GMM) Toro Rosso took on an 100 additional staff to cope with the challenge of preparing for the 2016 season. The Faenza based team’s schedule was thrown into chaos late last year amid the dispute between parent company Red Bull and Renault. In the end, Red Bull stayed with Renault power for 2015, but […]
Sainz tips ‘better’ season for Alonso
Jan.27 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has tipped his countryman and mentor Fernando Alonso to have a “better” season with McLaren-Honda. “I think that after 2015 it can only go better for them,” said the young Toro Rosso driver. “How much better, I don’t know,” added Sainz, as he met with members of the Spanish press on […]
Paul Ricard not ruling out France GP revival
Jan.27 (GMM) Paul Ricard is not ruling out hosting a revived French grand prix at the circuit near Marseille. This week, the track has been hosting three top F1 teams for Pirelli’s wet tyre test, but Paul Ricard chief Stephane Clair says his sights are set even higher. “Everything is possible,” he is quoted in […]
Vettel says Melbourne win not crucial
Jan.27 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has tested twice already in 2016, despite not even setting eyes on Ferrari’s new car. Indeed, while most of his rivals remain in their winter slumber, German Vettel recently ran a 2014 Ferrari at Fiorano. And on Tuesday at an artificially-watered Paul Ricard, he was running in last year’s red car […]
Pirelli plays down Raikkonen criticism
Jan.27 (GMM) Pirelli has played down reports that Kimi Raikkonen is unhappy with F1’s new generation of wet weather tyres. The Finnish driver was at the wheel of last year’s Ferrari when Pirelli began testing at the artificially-watered Paul Ricard track on Monday. Afterwards, he was quoted as saying he preferred the 2015 wets. “Kimi […]
Sainz not expecting Toro Rosso to beat Red Bull
Jan.27 (GMM) Carlos Sainz insists he is not running away with the “dangerous” idea that Toro Rosso could be better than Red Bull Racing in 2016. When the music of the recent ‘Red Bull engine crisis’ stopped, the senior team was left with its underpowered Renault units while Toro Rosso secured a supply of 2015-specification […]
Verstappen not stopping Red Bull dream – Sainz
Jan.27 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says his goal is to impress his bosses and win a promotion to Red Bull’s senior team. “I know what I need to do to impress them,” he said on Tuesday in a meeting with the Spanish media. “My goal is still to go to Red Bull and become the best […]
Maldonado’s cousin starts Formula 4 career
Jan.27 (GMM) Pastor Maldonado’s cousin is set to begin his own adventure in single seater racing. In 2012, then 12-year-old Manuel Maldonado became famous in the paddock for riding on his cousin Pastor’s back to escape a fire in the Williams garage. Now 15, Manuel will kick off his first year out of karts in […]
Ecclestone hopes Austin stays on calendar
Jan.27 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has not yet given up on the future of the US grand prix in Austin. Late last year, a dark cloud moved over the popular race when the governor of Texas dramatically slashed funding from $25 million a year to less than $20m. “To use a technical term,” promoter Bobby Epstein […]
More dominance ‘not good for Mercedes’ – Ecclestone
Jan.26 (GMM) Formula one needs Ferrari to give Mercedes a run for its money in 2016. That is the view of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, when told by the Austrian newspaper Tiroler Tageszeitung that Mercedes seems determined to dominate the sport for a third consecutive season. “No, that’s not good for them,” the 85-year-old said […]
Career twists for Doornbos, Villeneuve
Jan.26 (GMM) A former F1 driver’s career has taken a stimulating twist. In 2005 and 2006, Dutchman Robert Doornbos appeared in grands prix for Minardi and Red Bull. But CNET, a technology website, said the 34-year-old went on to found Kiiroo, an innovative sex toy company. Kiiroo’s website said its latest product uses online technology […]
Jock Clear starts work for Ferrari
Jan.26 (GMM) Jock Clear has finally started work at Ferrari, after serving a full year of so-called ‘gardening leave’. In late 2014, Mercedes announced that Lewis Hamilton’s highly regarded and experienced performance engineer is leaving the dominant German team. A full year later, Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene said just before Christmas: “The only new arrival […]
Monza eyes chicane in middle of Curva Grande – report
Jan.25 (GMM) Monza is eyeing a tweak to its fabled circuit layout. Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that, as the Autodromo Nazionale looks ahead to a future on motorcycle racing calendars, a chicane to break up the famous and sweeping Curva Grande may be necessary. In fact, the report said the change has already […]
Manor signs Pat Fry
Jan.25 (GMM) Manor has signed up another big name ahead of the 2016 season. Recently, the backmarker team signed former Ferrari designer Nikolas Tombazis. And now on Monday, Manor announced that Tombazis’ former Ferrari colleague, the similarly-ousted Pat Fry, has also joined the newly Mercedes-powered team. Fry, who also had a high-profile role at McLaren […]
Honda plays down 200hp power boost reports
Jan.25 (GMM) Honda has dismissed speculation it has found more than a whopping 200 horse power over the winter break. Earlier, the Spanish sports daily AS claimed McLaren’s works engine partner had closed the gap to the leading manufacturers for 2016 by improving the internal combustion engine and troublesome energy recovery systems. “Sakura, the Honda […]
Drivers want cockpit protection for 2017 – Wurz
Jan.25 (GMM) F1 drivers have agreed that the sport should implement better cockpit protection for 2017. Alex Wurz, president of the safety-oriented Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), told the BBC: “The research the FIA experts have done is very thorough and the process has brought forward a clear solution. “Now the drivers feel it’s time […]
Wehrlein still waiting for Manor news
Jan.13 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein says he is still waiting to know if he will make his formula one debut in 2016. Up and down the grid, the only official race seat vacancies still up for grabs for this year are at the backmarker Manor. Mercedes reserve and new reigning DTM champion Wehrlein, 21, is in […]
Renault not denying Maldonado rumours
Jan.13 (GMM) Renault has not denied speculation Pastor Maldonado could be ousted before the 2016 season opener. Britain’s Telegraph newspaper reported earlier that amid apparent problems with Maldonado’s lucrative PDVSA backing, ousted McLaren reserve Kevin Magnussen has been shown around the Enstone factory. PDVSA, the scandal-struck Venezuelan state oil company, is reportedly late with its […]
F1 budget worth every cent and more – Wolff
Jan.13 (GMM) Mercedes has no thoughts whatsoever about reassessing its commitment to formula one. The German carmaker left McLaren to become its own works team at the start of the decade, and in the new ‘power unit’ era has been utterly dominant. That recent success, however, has been thanks to a huge annual budget, but […]
Gutierrez admits Haas targeting debut points
Jan.13 (GMM) Haas is targeting points finishes in its debut season, driver Esteban Gutierrez has confirmed. While F1’s newest teams like HRT, Caterham and Manor struggled more for mere survival than for points, the American outfit Haas is coming into F1 with a different model. The team is working closely with Ferrari, even taking on […]