Oct.26 (GMM) Former F1 Mika Salo says he received death threats after deciding to penalise Max Verstappen in Austin last Sunday. Although Australian Garry Connelly received the brunt of the blame, Salo was also on the stewards panel that decided Verstappen’s last-lap pass on Kimi Raikkonen was illegal. It cost the furious Dutchman a podium, […]
McLaren eyes return to podium in 2018
Oct.26 (GMM) McLaren wants Renault to power the once-great British team back to the podium in 2018. After three bad years with Honda, McLaren has dumped the Japanese manufacturer to switch to customer Renault power units. But McLaren boss Zak Brown denies that the decision to dump Honda was made because of pressure applied by […]
Hard to win team title with Raikkonen – Briatore
Oct.25 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has questioned Ferrari’s decision to stick with Kimi Raikkonen for 2018. In Austin, Mercedes wrapped up the 2017 constructors’ world championship with a full three races to spare. And Briatore, the former title-winning Renault team boss, says pairing Raikkonen with Sebastian Vettel is not a good strategy if Ferrari wants to […]
‘Kvyat will not return’ to F1 – Marko
Oct.25 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Daniil Kvyat will not return to F1 with Red Bull backing. Throughout the Austin weekend, Russian Kvyat called for a meeting with Red Bull’s notorious driver manager to clarify his uncertain future. Then this week, Toro Rosso announced that despite 23-year-old Kvyat’s strong one-off return in the US grand […]
Verstappen refuses to retract ‘idiot’ insult
Oct.25 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he will not apologise for calling an F1 steward an “idiot” after the US grand prix. Just before walking onto the podium in Austin, the Dutchman was told a penalty for his last-lap move on Kimi Raikkonen had cost him third place. Verstappen, his father Jos and Red Bull reacted […]
Mixed reaction to Indy 500-style F1 spectacle
Oct.25 (GMM) The Indy 500-style spectacle before last weekend’s US grand prix drew a mixed reaction from F1’s insiders. Gerhard Berger, a fun-loving former F1 driver and team-owner, said watching Michael Buffer’s ‘Let’s get ready to rumble!’-style driver introductions was “not for me”. And Fernando Alonso, who raced in the actual Indy 500 earlier this […]
Vettel defends Arrivabene amid axe rumours
Oct.24 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has backed Ferrari’s reportedly endangered team boss Maurizio Arrivabene. After Vettel’s title campaign collapsed amid a car reliability crisis, rumours emerged that team president Sergio Marchionne was eyeing technical boss Mattia Binotto to replace Arrivabene. But Marchionne said in Austin: “We created continuity with the renewal of Kimi and Seb, and […]
Sainz made Kvyat look ‘not good enough’ – Montoya
Oct.24 (GMM) Carlos Sainz received widespread praise for his impressive Renault debut in Austin. As he switched from Toro Rosso to start his new works Renault adventure early, the Spaniard outperformed his experienced teammate Nico Hulkenberg in the US. “His first weekend with Renault was almost perfect. Fast and aggressive,” said the French sports daily […]
Verstappen in trouble for calling steward ‘idiot’
Oct.24 (GMM) Max Verstappen could be in trouble for insulting an FIA steward. A controversy erupted when the Dutchman was penalised for his exciting last-lap pass on Kimi Raikkonen for the Austin podium. The Red Bull driver’s father Jos was particularly furious, declaring on Twitter that the FIA should stand for ‘Ferrari International Assistance’. But […]
F1 could scrap ‘two by two’ race grid
Oct.24 (GMM) F1 owner Liberty is considering shaking up the sport’s traditional weekend format. In Austin, the pre-race proceedings were suddenly changed when the pitlane was opened earlier to allow legendary announcer Michael Buffer to introduce the drivers in Indy 500 style. Not just that, Usain Bolt spiced up the waving of the green flag. […]
Marchionne tips 2021 engine rules ‘quarrels’
Oct.23 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne says he will not sacrifice “Ferrari DNA” in the next round of talks about the 2021 engine rules. Red Bull’s re-signing of Max Verstappen has many paddock insiders wondering what the energy drink-owned team knows about the next set of engine rules. With costs out of control and Mercedes and Ferrari […]
Marchionne plays down Arrivabene axe reports
Oct.23 (GMM) Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne has played down speculation team boss Maurizio Arrivabene could soon be ousted. Reports have suggested Arrivabene will take the blame for the Maranello team’s collapsed 2017 title chances, with technical boss Mattia Binotto to succeed him. But president Marchionne said in Austin: “We have improved as a team with […]
Ferrari ‘easy to beat’ when emotional – Lauda
Oct.23 (GMM) Ferrari is “easy to beat” when emotions are running high at the Italian team. That is the view of Niki Lauda, a former Ferrari driver who is now the team chairman at the Maranello marque’s arch-rival Mercedes. Despite an earlier strong challenge, Sebastian Vettel’s 2017 title campaign fell apart recently amid car failures, […]
Kvyat yet to discuss future with Marko
Oct.23 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat says he still has not sat down to discuss his future in F1 with Dr Helmut Marko. Earlier, amid great uncertainty about what comes next for the embattled Russian, Kvyat said he has been promised a meeting with Red Bull kingpin Marko. Then on Sunday, Kvyat said he was delighted with […]
Lauda to seek out Whiting after Verstappen penalty
Oct.23 (GMM) Niki Lauda says he will speak to F1 race director Charlie Whiting after Max Verstappen’s controversial expulsion from the podium in Austin. The Red Bull driver was only told while he was in the post-race preparation room on Sunday that Kimi Raikkonen would be taking the final podium step instead. Stewards had given […]
Wehrlein set to lose Mercedes backing
Oct.23 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein could be set to lose the backing of Mercedes. Recently, with the driver’s job at Sauber in doubt for 2018, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff said he had recommended to Williams that Wehrlein should be considered for the seat oppose Lance Stroll. But if Sauber and Williams say no, that could be the […]
Arrivabene axe reports ‘not true’
Oct.22 (GMM) Reports Ferrari is set to dump its team boss Maurizio Arrivabene may be premature. Earlier, international reports suggested the German F1 broadcaster Sky had declared that, given the collapse of Sebastian Vettel’s title campaign in Asia, Arrivabene would be replaced by technical boss Mattia Binotto. But Sky’s Sascha Roos insisted: “That is not […]
McLaren considers orange livery for 2018
Oct.22 (GMM) McLaren is not ruling out a switch to a full orange livery for 2018. Prior to this season, there was speculation the British team would revert to its traditional colour – papaya orange – this year. But although Fernando Alonso used a full orange livery when he did the Indy 500 in May, […]
Kvyat looks ahead to meeting with Marko
Oct.22 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat has hinted he would prefer to leave formula one if his new role is to be race-by-race. The Russian was recently replaced at Toro Rosso by Pierre Gasly, and only returned for the US grand prix this weekend so Gasly could do the Super Formula finale in Japan. Now there are […]
Alonso not surprised with Sainz pace
Oct.22 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he is “not surprised” his countryman and friend Carlos Sainz is straight on the pace at Renault. Sainz switched from Toro Rosso to the French works team after the Japanese grand prix, and on his first attempt outqualified his new teammate Nico Hulkenberg on Saturday. In fact, Sainz is one […]