Mar.2 (GMM) The European Commission and a key politician have both confirmed that a potential investigation into F1 has in fact not been ruled out. Several publications this week claimed that a letter from the competition commissioner to Anneliese Dodds showed that an investigation will definitely not take place. But a spokesman for Dodds told […]
Mercedes denies mixing oil with fuel for F1 boost
Mar.1 (GMM) Mercedes has shot down a rumour that a secret of its speed has been uncovered. According to Auto Motor und Sport, Red Bull suspects Mercedes is able to deliver a huge power boost for qualifying because it mixes oil with fuel. But Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff denies that the German marque’s illegal […]
Pirelli happy to deliver on 2017 promises
Mar.1 (GMM) Pirelli is happy it has delivered what F1 requested as the sport looks into its new era. A major part of the laptime boost for 2017 is thanks to Pirelli’s bigger tyres, which are designed to allow the drivers to push rather than nurse heavy degradation. “I drove 20 laps with the soft […]
New Ferrari ‘huge step forward’ – Marchionne
Mar.1 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has broken Ferrari’s media silence to declare the Italian team “optimistic” ahead of the 2017 world championship. The fabled Maranello outfit is in the midst of a bizarre self-imposed news blackout as it tests in Barcelona, where the 2017 car is so far appearing a match for the Mercedes. “We are […]
European politician frustrated over F1 reporting
Mar.1 (GMM) The spokesman for a European politician has expressed frustration with reporting by the F1 media this week. A letter to parliamentarian Anneliese Dodds from the European Commission’s competition commissioner was interpreted by several publications – notably the BBC, City AM and F1 blogger Joe Saward – to mean that an investigation into F1 […]
Wehrlein not dwelling on missed Merc seat
Mar.1 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein insists he is not dwelling on having missed out on the plum Mercedes seat for 2017. The young German was seriously considered as a potential replacement for the retired Nico Rosberg, but the seat ultimately went to Valtteri Bottas. “I’ve already forgotten about it completely,” Wehrlein, who will instead race for […]
Ferrari media blackout set to end
Mar.1 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen impressed at the wheel of Ferrari’s 2017 car even though he is suffering from the flu. That is the news from the Italian team’s spokesman Alberto Antonini, amid a controversial self-imposed media blackout for Ferrari that will only end on Wednesday. The Finnish broadcaster MTV reports that Sebastian Vettel will finally […]
Ferrari’s 2017 approach ‘risky’ – Montezemolo
Mar.1 (GMM) Ferrari is taking a “risky” approach to the modern era in formula one. That is the claim of former president Luca di Montezemolo, who fell out spectacularly when he was ousted a few years ago by Sergio Marchionne. Now, amid a bizarre media blackout, Ferrari is nonetheless impressing so far with its 2017 […]
Canada GP secure through 2029 – promoter
Mar.1 (GMM) Canada’s place on the F1 calendar for the next 13 years is secure. That is despite the fact that, mere months ago, the 2017 edition of the popular Montreal race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was under a dark cloud. That uncertainty was about renovations to the ageing paddock, but we reported in […]
Drivers ‘less important’ in 2017 – Alonso
Mar.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has played down hopes the 2017 rules will put the skill of the driver right back in charge in formula one. In fact, whilst hailing the fact the new cars are much faster, the Spaniard warned that the driver is becoming “even less important” than before. “I think for pushing the […]
Ferrari ‘close’ to Mercedes – Steiner
Mar.1 (GMM) Mercedes and Ferrari are leading the 2017 pack, according to a rival chief. After two days of testing, the boss of the small American team Haas said: “The Mercedes is a beautiful and well designed car. “But the Ferrari is also fantastic,” Gunther Steiner also told the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet. “They are […]
Wolff, Horner say Melbourne protest possible
Mar.1 (GMM) Mercedes and Red Bull say the risk rival teams could lodge a protest in Melbourne still exists. It comes despite the FIA issuing a new clarification about allegedly illegal ‘active suspension’-like systems, which makes clear that any aerodynamic effect has to be only incidental. A source at Mercedes is quoted by Auto Motor […]
Rosberg to attend Barcelona test
Mar.1 (GMM) Two F1 test days into his retirement, world champion Nico Rosberg will be in the paddock on Wednesday. The German, who suddenly quit Mercedes and the sport after winning the title late last November, was already in Barcelona this week for a Mercedes sponsor event. He said there: “I might go to the […]
McLaren ‘sticking with plan’ – Vandoorne
Mar.1 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he has not been told if McLaren will modify its test programme in light of the problems struck so far. As the Barcelona test began and Fernando Alonso struck technical trouble with Honda’s new engine, team boss Eric Boullier admitted the later schedule could be tweaked so the Spaniard could […]
Italy slams Ferrari for Barcelona ‘news blackout’
Feb.28 (GMM) Italian media sources have slammed Ferrari for turning its low-profile preseason strategy into a total blanket of silence. After president Sergio Marchionne admitted his bold proclamations of a year ago made him look “silly”, Ferrari has taken a notably starkly contrasting quiet approach to its 2017 preparations. But now, while the new Ferrari […]
Alonso ‘not happy’ as McLaren breaks down
Feb.28 (GMM) Fernando Alonso was “not very happy” when McLaren-Honda’s new orange and black car for 2017 broke down after a single lap as official testing began. That was the admission in Barcelona of team boss Eric Boullier, amid reports Honda acknowledges that an oil tank design flaw was the reason for the lengthy Monday […]
Sochi staying on calendar until 2025
Feb.28 (GMM) Russia is set to remain on the F1 calendar for the best part of the next decade. We reported recently that Sochi race organisers have secured enough private sponsorship to pay the annual fee without any public funds. Now, it emerges that the state-linked Russian finance group VTB has secured the naming sponsorship […]
2017 cars easier for older drivers – trainer
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 […]