Apr.15 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has played down criticism of his decision to skip Monaco next month to contest the Indy 500. The shock news has created a buzz in the motor racing world, but many fellow drivers said they would never skip a grand prix, while team bosses revealed they would not allow their own […]
Ferrari wrong to criticise Raikkonen – Surer
Apr.15 (GMM) A former F1 driver has defended Kimi Raikkonen, following criticism from Ferrari’s bosses in China. After a lacklustre race for the Finn in Shanghai, team president and boss Sergio Marchionne and Maurizio Arrivabene respectively hit out at Raikkonen, saying they would speak with him. Asked if that conversation took place, Raikkonen gave a […]
Red Bull admits 2017 title unlikely
Apr.15 (GMM) Top team figures at Red Bull are already playing down the likelihood of a championship tilt in 2017. Daniel Ricciardo, who has been linked with a switch to Ferrari, admitted in Bahrain that given the performance in Australia and China, the title is “unlikely”. And Dr Helmut Marko, a top team official, agrees. […]
Red Bull concerned about flexible Ferrari
Apr.15 (GMM) Red Bull has become the first F1 team to admit concerns about the flexibility of Ferrari’s 2017 car. The energy drink owned team is notably lagging behind Mercedes and Ferrari this year, amid rumours the new Ferrari has aerodynamic elements – like the floor and the front wing – that visibly flex at […]
Ecclestone negotiating Bahrain contract – report
Apr.15 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed he will also attend the next round on the F1 schedule, in Russia. The former F1 supremo revealed the news in Bahrain, where he caused a stir by appearing at his first grand prix since being ousted by Liberty Media. “I didn’t leave,” the Journal de Montreal quotes him […]
Grosjean would not let Alonso skip Monaco
Apr.14 (GMM) Romain Grosjean says he is surprised Fernando Alonso has decided to skip F1’s prestigious Monaco grand prix. The Spaniard and McLaren-Honda shocked the racing world this week by announcing that they will tackle the fabled Indy 500 next month, even though it clashes with Monaco. “The Indy 500 is a great race, but […]
Sauber poised for 2018 Honda switch
Apr.14 (GMM) Sauber could be on the cusp of becoming the second Honda-powered team in F1. The Swiss team’s Swedish driver Marcus Ericsson on Thursday said Sauber has been surprised by the disadvantage of using a year-old Ferrari power unit so far in 2017. But team figures have ruled out a mid-season engine switch. However, […]
2017 not making Vandoorne doubt abilities
Apr.14 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he is not doubting his abilities, despite a difficult opening pair of races in 2017. The Belgian actually made his F1 debut in Bahrain a year ago, but 2017 is his first full season at McLaren-Honda. But in Australia and China, the obvious stand-out performer for the struggling team was […]
Ferrari floor flex rumour swirls in Bahrain
Apr.14 (GMM) Paddock rumblings about a flexible Ferrari have made the trip from China to Bahrain. A week ago, former driver turned pundit Christian Danner said he had noticed aerodynamic parts of the impressive 2017 Ferrari flexing at speed. “If I was one of the other teams, I would want it checked,” he told RTL […]
Newey no guarantee of success – Ricciardo
Apr.14 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says it should be no great surprise that Red Bull is having to fight back in 2017. Actually, many paddock insiders are shocked that, with a big rule change and Adrian Newey at the design table, Red Bull is over a second per lap off Mercedes and Ferrari’s pace. But Italy’s […]
Wehrlein hits back after injury speculation
Apr.14 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has hit out at the media, as he returns from injury to contest this weekend’s Bahrain grand prix. The German sat out both Australia and China following his winter rollover crash at the race of champions. We reported this week that Wehrlein, 22, finally revealed that he had fractured three vertebrae […]
Ricciardo denies signing Ferrari contract
Apr.14 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has denied rumours he is lining up a switch to Ferrari for 2018. Last week, an Italian newspaper claimed the Red Bull driver had even signed some sort of agreement to replace Sebastian Vettel’s current teammate Kimi Raikkonen. But Australian Ricciardo told Italian television Sky: “I heard about it, but it’s […]
Ferrari ‘media blackout’ returns in Bahrain
Apr.14 (GMM) Ferrari’s ‘media blackout’ is back in Bahrain. Over the winter, and then at the season opener in Australia, it was obvious that Ferrari was taking an extraordinarily low profile when it came to speaking to the media. Team boss Maurizio Arrivabene defended the approach. “The thing is to find the balance,” he said, […]
Hamilton doesn’t want ‘team orders’
Apr.14 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he does not want ‘number 1’ status at Mercedes. Some have said that, even after just two races in 2017, the pecking order with triple world champion Hamilton ahead of new teammate Valtteri Bottas is already clear. “It (team orders) happens at Ferrari and it has for many, many years,” […]
‘No panic’ as Bottas builds confidence
Apr.14 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is staying calm, despite being outperformed in his first two races since switching to Mercedes. The Finn, having replaced Nico Rosberg, is on just a one-year contract, and in both Australia and China he was narrowly but clearly behind incumbent Lewis Hamilton. “With Hamilton in the car, we are […]
Active suspension would spice up overtaking – Brawn
Apr.13 (GMM) Allowing ‘active suspension’ could be a neat way to spice up the overtaking spectacle in F1. That is the view of Ross Brawn, who is F1’s new sporting boss in the new Liberty Media era. In Australia, it seemed the faster 2017 cars had meant F1 has taken a step backwards in the […]
Salo hails Alonso’s Indy 500 move
Apr.13 (GMM) Former F1 driver Mika Salo has hailed McLaren-Honda’s decision to contest the fabled Indy 500 next month with Fernando Alonso. Notably struggling in F1, the great British team is teaming up with former McLaren driver Michael Andretti’s Indy operation to give Spaniard Alonso a one-off shot at one of the world’s most famous […]
Mick Schumacher ‘not ready for F1’ yet
Apr.13 (GMM) Mick Schumacher has admitted he is “not ready” to start thinking about the big step into formula one. The son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher turned 18 in March — the age of 2017 rookie Lance Stroll, and older than Max Verstappen was when he made his F1 debut. “They took the step […]
Indy 500 ‘not step away from F1’ – Alonso
Apr.13 (GMM) Fernando Alonso insists his decision to skip next month’s prestigious Monaco grand prix does not indicate his commitment to F1 is flagging. “No, it (Indy) is a single race,” said the Spaniard, after he and McLaren-Honda shocked the racing world on Wednesday by announcing they will contest the Indy 500 next month. The […]
Button not only option to replace Alonso
Apr.13 (GMM) Jenson Button appears in pole position to step in and contest next month’s Monaco grand prix for McLaren. It comes after the British team and Fernando Alonso shocked the motor racing world on Wednesday by announcing that the Spaniard will race a McLaren-Honda entry at the fabled Indy 500. The oval race coincides […]