May 5 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve says he is surprised by Ferrari’s form so far this year. After three years of utter Mercedes dominance, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel is leading the world championship after four races in 2017. “I admit to being surprised,” Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, told Italian blogger Leo Turrini. But the French Canadian, […]
Grosjean becomes GPDA director
May 5 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has become a boss of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association. The Swiss-born Frenchman, who drives for Haas, replaces the retired former GPDA director Jenson Button. His appointment comes despite the fact that while GPDA president Alex Wurz is a big proponent of cockpit protection in F1, Grosjean has never supported […]
Indycar boss says Alonso move good for F1 too
May 5 (GMM) Indycar boss Mark Miles thinks Fernando Alonso’s Indy 500 foray is good not only for the American series, but also formula one. This week, F1 chief Chase Carey said of the McLaren-Honda driver’s decision to skip Monaco: “It is indirectly beneficial to us as a great F1 driver who reaches the American […]
Bottas win won’t upset driver harmony – Mercedes
May 5 (GMM) Mercedes chiefs are sure Valtteri Bottas’ breakthrough win will not upset the balance in its driver lineup. Until now, the team has been revelling in peace-time, after Nico Rosberg’s retirement ended the awkward situation between the German and Lewis Hamilton. Before Sochi, the media was even wondering if Rosberg’s replacement Bottas was […]
Carey wants ‘long term’ Spanish GP
May 5 (GMM) New F1 boss Chase Carey says he aims to keep Barcelona on the calendar for the “long term”. The Circuit de Catalunya is the sport’s most used track for testing, and the long-time host of the annual Spanish grand prix. “We have a contract to continue with Barcelona and we hope it […]
Top teams ‘light years’ ahead – Sainz
May 5 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has lamented the fact that F1’s top teams are “light years” ahead of the opposition. From a personal point of view, the young Spaniard said he is happy with the “best start” he has had to his three years in formula one so far in 2017. “My three years of […]
Former Ferrari boss ‘critical’ after crash
May 5 (GMM) Former Ferrari boss Cesare Fiorio is reportedly in a “critical” condition after a cycling crash. Italian sources including La Gazzetta dello Sport and Autosprint say the 78-year-old fell whilst cycling in southern Italy and was discovered unconscious. He is currently in hospital, reportedly with serious head and arm injuries. Fiorio briefly led […]
Mallya troubles won’t hurt Force India – Fernley
May 5 (GMM) Bob Fernley says team boss Vijay Mallya’s legal troubles will not affect Force India. As deputy boss, Fernley has been left in charge of the race team while former Indian billionaire Mallya, also the team co-owner, is unable to travel after having his passport seized. Now, the Indian government is trying to […]
Ecclestone hits back after Carey jibe
May 5 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has hit back at the claim that he presided over an era of saying “no”. After decades in charge of formula one, the 86-year-old was ousted by Liberty Media as the American company took over. Chase Carey, his successor, said this week that Ecclestone “said no” too often. “I want […]
London admits talks for F1 car ‘showcase’
May 4 (GMM) Plans are afoot for a demonstration of F1 cars in London ahead of this year’s British grand prix. It is over a decade since the last such event took place in the capital, but the idea is now being championed by the sport’s new owners Liberty Media. New F1 chief Chase Carey […]
Monaco admits it pays low F1 race fee
May 4 (GMM) Monaco has denied it pays no fee to host the fabled street race in the Principality. The race is commonly called F1’s ‘jewel in the crown’, amid rumours its history and status meant it was the only event on the annual schedule that is charged no fee. “That’s just a rumour,” Monaco’s […]
India wants millions in F1 taxes
May 4 (GMM) The return door to India seems to have closed for formula one. Three Indian grands prix were held near Delhi until 2013, when bureaucratic hurdles ended the deal. And now, those bureaucratic hurdles seem higher than ever before, with India’s supreme court ruling that that the sport owes the government millions in […]
Lauda admits Ferrari ‘clearly ahead’
May 4 (GMM) Mercedes needs to make “two steps forward” to catch up with Ferrari next time out in Barcelona. That is the claim of F1 legend Niki Lauda, who doubles as Mercedes’ team chairman. Mercedes utterly dominated between 2014 and 2016, but so far in 2017 Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel has pulled out a lead […]
Jordan sure Vettel in Mercedes talks
May 4 (GMM) Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan is certain Sebastian Vettel is in talks about a potential switch to Mercedes for 2018. Commonly a sensational predictor of big F1 news, Jordan’s comments come after Mercedes played down rumours of recent talks with Ferrari’s championship leader. “There’s nothing to it,” Mercedes’ Toto Wolff said. […]
Vettel tips Barcelona boost for Red Bull
May 4 (GMM) Championship leader Sebastian Vettel has tipped his old team Red Bull to return to the top in formula one. Currently, the 2017 title looks to be a fight between Ferrari – for whom former Red Bull driver Vettel now races – and Mercedes. But after the opening four ‘flyaway’ races, rumours are […]
Kubica could do New York Formula E race
May 4 (GMM) Robert Kubica could be set to return to a premier open-wheel starting grid. Earlier, the former Renault and BMW driver axed his plans to contest the fabled Le Mans race this year in the premier LMP1 category. But he then tested a Formula 4 car, which was his first single seater outing […]
Carey not confirming 25-race calendar for future
May 4 (GMM) F1 supremo Chase Carey says he is undecided about expanding the calendar to as many as 25 races. Currently, the annual schedule is at 20 grands prix, and set to expand to a bursting-at-the-scenes 21 for 2018. But when Liberty Media took over and Bernie Ecclestone was ousted, there were suggestions a […]
Alonso at Indy 500 ‘unfortunate’ – Carey
May 4 (GMM) Chase Carey has admitted he would prefer if Fernando Alonso was preparing for next month’s Monaco grand prix. Actually, the Spaniard is sitting out F1’s ‘jewel in the crown’ event, and this week started testing for the Indy 500 whose race date clashes with Monaco. “Under Bernie (Ecclestone), formula one was a […]
F1 eyes pay-TV switch for Germany
May 4 (GMM) F1’s new owners are considering switching coverage of the sport within Germany to a pay-only platform. The free-to-air deal enjoyed by the broadcaster RTL runs out this year, and new F1 commercial chief Sean Bratches was quoted by DPA news agency as admitting that pay TV is “where the money is”. But […]
Renault starts work on 2018 car – boss
May 4 (GMM) Renault intends to “surprise” the F1 hierarchy in 2018. That is the claim of team boss Cyril Abiteboul, as the French works team already pushes to establish itself at the head of the midfield this year. “It’s important to go step by step,” he told Russia’s Championat. “According to our plan, we […]