Nov.11 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has refused to deny reports he will definitely contest the fabled Le Mans 24 hour race next year. With an eye on motor racing’s famous ‘triple crown’, the Spaniard tackled the Indy 500 this year and is rumoured to have visited top Le Mans team Toyota’s Cologne headquarters last week. It […]
Rosberg doubts Vettel can win 2018 title
Nov.11 (GMM) Nico Rosberg does not think Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari are ready to topple Mercedes in F1. The two top teams battled for the title this year, but ultimately Lewis Hamilton won the championship with two races to spare. And outgoing world champion Rosberg told the German source T-Online: “I do not think Vettel […]
Hugo Boss leaving F1 for Formula E
Nov.11 (GMM) Fashion brand and long-time F1 sponsor Hugo Boss is leaving the category. The German newsmagazine Focus reports that the German company, having sponsored McLaren and most recently Mercedes for decades, is switching instead to Formula E. “Of course F1 is the pinnacle of racing,” said new CEO Mark Langer, “but Formula E is […]
Williams not rushing to announce driver
Nov.11 (GMM) Williams is not close to ending the wait over the identity of its second driver for 2018. Lance Stroll’s place is set in stone, but there are several contenders to replace the re-retiring Felipe Massa. The Swiss newspaper Blick reports that the favourites now are Robert Kubica and Toro Rosso refugee Daniil Kvyat, […]
Points in last two races to cost Force India money
Nov.11 (GMM) Force India is in the odd position of not particularly wanting to do well in Brazil and Abu Dhabi. The Silverstone based team has admirably wrapped up fourth place in the constructors’ world championship with two races to spare. And given the fact Force India has among the smallest budgets in the sport, […]
Toro Rosso may miss Abu Dhabi – report
Nov.11 (GMM) Toro Rosso may have to sit out the 2017 finale in Abu Dhabi. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sports reports that as the second Red Bull team hits regular problems with its Renault-supplied MGU-H unit, the French manufacturer is almost out of spare parts. “Toro Rosso looks like a spare parts store for vintage […]
Bottas not ruling out Hamilton ‘team orders’
Nov.10 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is targeting second place behind his teammate Lewis Hamilton in the 2017 world championship. Sebastian Vettel was gutted in Mexico to have lost the title to Hamilton, but now it is the other Mercedes driver who is aiming to beat him in Brazil and Abu Dhabi. “Yes, it is possible,” the […]
Force India duo ‘free to race’ in Brazil – Perez
Nov.10 (GMM) Force India has lifted the standing team orders preventing Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon from going wheel-to-wheel in races. Earlier this year, the Silverstone based team imposed the racing ban on its warring drivers after a spate of collisions. “Here and also in Abu Dhabi we are free to race without team orders,” […]
Red Bull ‘pretty clear’ about engine future
Nov.10 (GMM) Red Bull may already know what engine it will use in 2019. Earlier in 2017, Max Verstappen was highly critical of the energy drink team and especially its struggling engine supplier Renault. But although Red Bull will still have Renault power next year, the Dutchman has signed on for the 2018, 2019 and […]
Champion Hamilton caught cold after title win
Nov.10 (GMM) After wrapping up his fourth title two weeks ago, Lewis Hamilton has emerged in Brazil with a cold. Sounding gruff, the Mercedes driver revealed that to celebrate his achievement, he took a group of friends to Peru where they climbed the iconic Machu Picchu. “We landed and it was miserable,” he said. “We […]
Wehrlein admits Williams ‘only option’ for 2018
Nov.10 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has admitted Williams is his last hope of staying on the F1 grid for 2018. The German does not deny reports that the Swiss team Sauber has decided to oust him after the Abu Dhabi finale. “I think my sporting performance now has no effect,” Wehrlein, 23, said. “The races here […]
Family friend says Schumacher ‘doing well’
Nov.10 (GMM) There is still hope Michael Schumacher might one day return to a normal life. In recent months and years, almost no official information has emerged about the health of the F1 legend, who sustained brain injuries in a 2013 skiing fall. Now, Bunte magazine in Germany said the Schumacher family still has hope. […]
Alonso not denying Le Mans test reports
Nov.10 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is not denying speculation he is on a fast track to next year’s Le Mans. Reports this week suggested the continuing McLaren driver visited Le Mans team Toyota’s Cologne headquarters for a seat fitting. The latest rumour is that Alonso will test the LMP1 car in Bahrain next week. “I also […]
McLaren adapting 2018 car for Renault engine
Nov.9 (GMM) McLaren is reportedly working hard to adapt its 2018 car to the very different Renault engine. When the British team began the 2018 project, it might have expected to stay with Honda power beyond this year. Instead, after three years of struggling with its Japanese works partner, McLaren is moving from Honda to […]
Sainz fends off 2019 Red Bull switch rumours
Nov.9 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has batted away rumours his stay at Renault could be fleeting. The Spaniard has moved from the Red Bull family to the works Renault team, as part of the complex deal that sees Toro Rosso switch to Honda power for 2018. But Sainz, 23, is merely on ‘loan’, with Christian Horner […]
Giovinazzi not giving up on 2018 F1 ‘dream’
Nov.9 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi says he still has his eye on the big “dream” of racing in formula one for Ferrari. The Italian actually had a minor role in this year’s F1 season, replacing the injured Pascal Wehrlein at Sauber early on. “The year gave me more than I expected,” said the 23-year-old, who was […]
Hamilton just as good as Senna, Schumacher – Massa
Nov.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is just as much a legend of F1 as Ayrton Senna or Michael Schumacher. That is the view of Felipe Massa, who says countryman Senna was an idol and Schumacher the most important “teacher” in his career. And his 2008 title rival Hamilton, having just won his fourth drivers’ title, “lacks […]
Hamilton to keep sights on Vettel beyond 2017
Nov.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he will remain focused on beating Sebastian Vettel over the next few years in formula one. Many are talking about young sensation Max Verstappen joining the title battle next year, but new champion Hamilton expects his 2017 rival Vettel to remain strong. “Sebastian just signed for three more years with […]
Brawn, not Lauda, convinced Hamilton to make F1 switch
Nov.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has corrected the industry-standard story about how he decided to switch from McLaren to Mercedes some years ago. According to the paddock grapevine and also the F1 legend himself, it was Niki Lauda who joined Hamilton late at night in a hotel room to convince him to make the switch for […]
Hamilton determined to ride tax ‘storm’
Nov.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton insists the “storm” surrounding his tax affairs won’t derail his push for victory this weekend. Actually, the Mercedes driver wrapped up his fourth title two weeks ago in Mexico, but he says that doesn’t mean he is not targeting victory in Brazil. “The championship is done but there are still two […]