Feb.28 (GMM) F1’s more experienced drivers will adapt more easily to the sport’s much faster cars. That is the claim of Mark Arnall, who for years has been 37-year-old Kimi Raikkonen’s trainer. “The younger generation have not experienced these G-forces before,” he told Finland’s Turun Sanomat. “But for Kimi and also Fernando Alonso and Felipe […]
Injured Wehrlein set for next doctor decision
Feb.28 (GMM) A dark cloud continues to hang over injured Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein. The young German is in Barcelona for the start of official testing, but still forbidden by doctors to drive after hurting his back in a January rollover crash. “I haven’t had any pain for a long time,” he insisted on Monday. […]
Liberty to ‘unleash’ new social media era
Feb.28 (GMM) F1 is already turning a sharp corner in the early days of the post-Bernie Ecclestone era. Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo told Italian radio Rai this week that the way the 86-year-old was ousted by Liberty Media was “not nice”. But others are hailing the sport’s first post-Ecclestone steps. For instance, teams […]
Rivals rejected ‘shark fin’ ban – Horner
Feb.28 (GMM) Christian Horner says fellow team bosses rejected his appeal for the ‘shark wing’ engine cover fins seen on the 2017 cars to be banned. The aggressive, ‘sexier’ look of the new generation cars has been widely hailed, but many have joined Red Bull chief Horner in not liking the huge ‘sails’. “I think […]
F1 still at risk of investigation – source
Feb.28 (GMM) The possibility of a European Commission investigation into formula one remains open for now. However, the BBC has reported that competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager in fact “rejected” calls for an investigation in a letter on Monday. Vestager “has written to say the matter will not be taken any further”, the BBC report claimed. […]
F1 delivers on much faster cars for 2017
Feb.28 (GMM) F1 has burst back into life for its all-new era, delivering on the promise of much faster cars. “Lewis (Hamilton) is already quicker than qualifying last year,” said Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo as the first of just two four-day Barcelona tests began. That enthusiasm was obvious up and down the paddock and pitlane, […]
Vandoorne under less ‘time pressure’ than Alonso
Feb.27 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne agrees he is under less pressure than Fernando Alonso to reach his career ambitions in the next years with McLaren. Although already 24, the Belgian is a highly rated rookie in 2017 and he said he is patient to build up towards winning races and the title with the famous British […]
McLaren joins rivals with controversial suspension
Feb.27 (GMM) Another team has joined Mercedes and Red Bull in planning to field a controversial suspension system in 2017. A protest threat is currently hanging over the forthcoming Melbourne season opener, as Ferrari in particular takes issue with an active suspension-mimicking suspension concept. We reported last week that McLaren was staying “neutral” in that […]
McLaren budget ‘big enough’ for 2017
Feb.27 (GMM) McLaren has played down claims it may struggle to keep up with F1’s bigger-spending teams in 2017. Given the major regulations change, the pace of car development will be particularly fast and crucial this year. So when asked if the former grandee McLaren has enough money to keep up, new executive Zak Brown […]
Ecclestone’s right-hand man leaves F1
Feb.27 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone’s long-time right hand man has also left F1. For years, Pasquale Lattuneddu was the recently-ousted F1 supremo’s most trusted aide, in charge of media accreditation, paddock layout, procedures and VIP guests, according to reports including La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Lattuneddu was the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ man,” the Spanish sports newspaper AS […]
Mercedes wanted ‘a Bottas or a Wehrlein’ – Alonso
Feb.27 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has finally confirmed reports Mercedes expressed interest in signing him up for 2017. Ultimately, the German team replaced the suddenly-retired Nico Rosberg with Valtteri Bottas, but not before a reported round of phone calls to some of F1’s top drivers. “I think Rosberg caught Mercedes by surprise and so they made […]
Wolff’s family to travel with him
Feb.27 (GMM) Toto Wolff says his new family will accompany him around the F1 calendar. The Mercedes boss is married to former Williams tester Susie Wolff, and they are currently expecting their first child together. But Wolff told Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper: “I give everything – my whole life – to this job. “365 days […]
‘No problems’ with 2017 Renault engine – Marko
Feb.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has played down reports Renault’s 2017 engine came out of the blocks with an apparent technical failure. It emerged last week that, with the French marque taking a bold step over the winter to catch up with Mercedes, the 2017 engine broke down as Toro Rosso did its track roll-out […]
Massa admits 2017 Mercedes ‘beautiful’
Feb.27 (GMM) Although every 2017 car is now officially unveiled, Felipe Massa is not willing to guess who will have the edge in Melbourne. On the eve of winter testing in Barcelona, the veteran Brazilian said: “The Mercedes is very beautiful to look at. “The Ferrari has various things on it, while you could see […]
Ferrari’s low-profile winter ‘like therapy’
Feb.27 (GMM) Ferrari extended its ultra low-profile approach to the 2017 season into the official reveal of its new car. Pino Allievi, arguably the most respected Italian journalist, called the lack of grand proclamations or launch glitz and glamour “a kind of therapy” as the fabled team looks to finally end a ten-year title drought. […]
Toro Rosso ‘not blue Mercedes’ – Key
Feb.27 (GMM) Technical boss James Key has played down suggestions the new Toro Rosso ‘looks like a blue Mercedes’. When the new Renault-powered STR12 was revealed, some observed that its philosophy and features seemed to resemble those of the title-defending new Mercedes. “All just coincidence,” Key is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. “We did […]
Teams happy as Pirelli reduces tyre pressures
Feb.24 (GMM) F1 teams are reacting with positive surprise to news that Pirelli will drop the pressures of its tyres in 2017. Last year, many teams and drivers complained about the very high minimum pressures mandated by Pirelli on safety grounds. Now, the sport is switching to much bigger, wider, grippier and less degrading tyres […]
Mallya fires parting shot at deposed Ecclestone
Feb.24 (GMM) Vijay Mallya has fired a parting shot at the recently deposed F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. The Indian businessman’s Force India team finished an admirable fourth overall last year, despite having one of the smallest budgets in pitlane. But when the 2017 car was unveiled, it was clear that success had not translated into […]
Wolff ‘not worried’ amid suspension row
Feb.24 (GMM) Toto Wolff insists he is “not worried” Mercedes’ controversial suspension system will be declared illegal by the FIA. A dispute is raging between Mercedes and Red Bull, who are using a linked suspension concept, and another camp led mainly by Ferrari. It has raised the spectre of a controversy and protest-riddled 2017 season […]
Renault takes ‘risk’ as new Toro Rosso fails
Feb.24 (GMM) Renault is a “serious contender” amid the engine power battle in F1. That is the claim of Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, amid eyebrow-raising rumours about the 35 horse power step Renault has supposedly taken over the winter. “That is an impressive number,” Wolff admitted. “Renault is a highly professional organisation and we […]