Dec.6 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he feels disappointed at the end of his first season with Mercedes. The Finn won three races, finished on the podium eleven times and finished third in the championship, but his teammate Lewis Hamilton won the title. Asked if he is happy, Bottas told AS newspaper: “I have to say […]
Schumacher ‘would love’ to attend FIA event
Dec.6 (GMM) Figures close to Michael Schumacher say the F1 legend was missed at an FIA function this week. F1’s governing body launched its hall of fame, and seven time world champion Schumacher was among those inducted. “I would have liked to see him here tonight,” FIA president Jean Todt said, according to Bild newspaper. […]
No Nascar move for Kvyat
Dec.6 (GMM) European Nascar chief Jerome Galpin has played down suggestions Daniil Kvyat is set to move to the series next year. We revealed this week that Kvyat, the Toro Rosso refugee, tested a European Nascar during the “recruitment tests” at Italy’s Franciacorta circuit. Galpin told France’s Auto Hebdo: “He enjoyed driving the car without […]
Teams must handle Budkowski-style ‘work bans’ – Todt
Dec.6 (GMM) Jean Todt says it is up to F1 teams to regulate how new staff are employed after they move from the FIA. Marcin Budkowski’s impending move from the FIA to Renault caused uproar among the teams. Under Swiss law, Budkowski only had to serve three months of ‘gardening leave’ before making the move, […]
F1 and Le Mans should share engine – Todt
Dec.6 (GMM) Jean Todt says he hopes F1’s new engines for 2021 might be adapted for use at Le Mans. Plans for a ‘world engine’ were scrapped when the current F1 rules were introduced in 2014. But FIA president Todt says the 2021 rules are now an opportunity to try again. “At the moment we […]
Ericsson ‘nervous’ before 2018 deal signed
Dec.5 (GMM) Marcus Ericsson has admitted he had “a few nervous weeks” before he was re-signed by Sauber for 2018. The Swede was out-scored this year by his teammate Pascal Wehrlein, who has been ousted and looks set to leave F1. Ericsson admits that Wehrlein, the highly-rated young Mercedes driver, was “the perfect measure” for […]
Haas closes door on Ferrari’s Giovinazzi
Dec.5 (GMM) Haas appears to have closed the door completely on Antonio Giovinazzi. Since July, the Ferrari junior driver appeared in a Haas cockpit on seven Friday mornings at grands prix. “I don’t think it helped us or our drivers,” Haas team boss Gunther Steiner told Ekstra Bladet newspaper. “I cannot say how negative it […]
Kvyat to attend Nascar test
Dec.5 (GMM) Another potential opportunity has opened up for ousted Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat. The Russian was dropped from Red Bull’s F1 programme, but we reported this week that he is in talks with “at least two” Formula E teams. And now, the Autodromo di Franciacorta circuit in Italy has confirmed rumours that Kvyat, […]
Lauda could quit F1 after 2020
Dec.4 (GMM) Niki Lauda has joined Ferrari and Mercedes in not promising to stay in F1 beyond 2020. The F1 legend is the team chairman at Mercedes, but he has now quit his 21-year role as the expert pundit for German television RTL. He said that will help him focus better on Mercedes. “I’m already […]
Renault sets modest goals for future – Prost
Dec.4 (GMM) Renault is setting moderate goals for its immediate future in F1. That is the claim of team advisor and F1 legend Alain Prost. The Renault works team finished just sixth overall in 2017, and Prost says the only goal for next year is an improvement. “I think we have to be realistic and […]
Kvyat in talks over Formula E move
Dec.4 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat could revive his motor racing career in Formula E. After a tumultuous couple of years, the 23-year-old Russian lost his place not only at Toro Rosso, but in the entire Red Bull programme. But Formula E is now regarded as a viable alternative to F1 for drivers, manufacturers and sponsors. Ex-F1 […]
No four leaf clover on 2018 Sauber
Dec.4 (GMM) It is not yet clear if Alfa Romeo’s legendary ‘four leaf clover’ will be on the Sauber livery in 2018. The Swiss team’s sponsorship by the Italian luxury car brand was launched at the weekend, at an event attended by Chase Carey and Jean Todt. Team owner Pascal Picci said fans can expect […]
Vettel unsure over Kubica return
Dec.4 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted he is not sure what to think about Robert Kubica’s F1 comeback. It is believed the Pole is now on the cusp of securing his return to the sport with Williams, seven years after almost severing his arm in a rallying crash. “I think it’s very tragic what happened […]
Vandoorne ‘even better’ than Alonso – Prost
Dec.4 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne is now knocking on the door of performing “even better” than Fernando Alonso. That is the view of F1 legend Alain Prost, referring to the development this year of McLaren rookie Vandoorne. “Everyone watched Vandoorne because, prior to coming into F1, he was recognised as one of the most exceptional youngsters […]
Marchionne says Fiat quit threat ‘serious’
Dec.4 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has reiterated his threat to pull Ferrari out of F1 after 2020. In fact, the Fiat CEO is now also threatening to withdraw Sauber’s newly announced Alfa Romeo sponsorship, over the dispute with Liberty Media about future rules. “We are serious and need to find a solution, and I think Chase […]
Michelin rules out F1 return
Dec.4 (GMM) Michelin has ruled out returning to formula one for now. Having supplied F1 teams in the past, the French marque briefly considered returning to the grid more recently. But boss Pascal Couasnon says a F1 return is currently ruled out. “We are not going to participate in a series where there is no […]
Hamilton rules out Alonso as teammate
Dec.4 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he will never again be paired with a driver like Fernando Alonso. The Briton made his F1 debut over a decade ago alongside then reigning world champion Alonso at McLaren. “That will never happen,” he told Stuttgarter Zeitung about the prospect of teaming up with Alonso again. “Toto (Wolff) understands […]
Hamilton rules out Ferrari switch
Dec.4 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has ruled out a move to Ferrari. The quadruple world champion’s Mercedes contract runs out at the end of next year. “I cannot imagine moving to Ferrari and I do not think that will change,” he told Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper. Indeed, it is believed Hamilton is in talks with Mercedes about […]
No ‘triple header’ races after 2018 – Brawn
Dec.1 (GMM) Ross Brawn says F1 wants to avoid organising ‘triple header’ races in future. Mid next year, during its first-ever 21 race calendar, the schedule will for the first time feature three races on consecutive weekends — France, Austria and Britain. F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn admitted it will be hard for F1’s travelling […]
F1 chiefs scout race locations in Miami – report
Dec.1 (GMM) Miami is emerging as a likely destination of a second US grand prix in the near future. With Liberty Media now owning F1’s commercial rights, the coastal city in Florida has been mentioned as a potential venue of a street race by the likes of Chase Carey and Ross Brawn. Now, the local […]