Feb.22 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he still ‘believes’ in his dream of becoming world champion with Ferrari. After the fabled team took a step backwards in 2016, current world champion Nico Rosberg said Vettel must now be considering linking up with Mercedes for 2018. But German Vettel said he is sticking with his Ferrari plan. […]
Prost becomes Renault team advisor
Feb.22 (GMM) F1 legend Alain Prost has stepped up his role with the works Renault team for 2017. Earlier, the quadruple world champion was simply a brand ambassador, but he will now be a consultant or advisor. “It is important that Renault is competitive and will win races eventually,” said the 61-year-old. “My role is […]
F1 team could ‘do a Brawn’ – Palmer
Feb.22 (GMM) Jolyon Palmer is not ruling out the possibility a F1 team could “do a Brawn” in 2017. He is referring to 2009, when after Honda suddenly withdrew from F1, Ross Brawn’s new privateer team stunned the F1 world by winning the title thanks to the ‘double diffuser’ innovation. Actually, Palmer’s works Renault team […]
Marko backs Brawn over DRS axe
Feb.21 (GMM) Red Bull is backing calls for F1 to rid itself of the controversial ‘DRS’ overtaking solution. For the past several years, in a bid to boost the spectacle of the sport, F1 cars have been fitted with a moveable rear wing flap that helps a chasing driver to execute a successful overtaking move. […]
Wolff ‘extends power at Mercedes’ – report
Feb.21 (GMM) Toto Wolff has reportedly upped his pay and “extended his power” at Mercedes ahead of the 2017 season. Following a period of speculation, the German marque has announced that team boss Wolff and chairman Niki Lauda have extended their contracts through 2020. The German newspaper Bild claimed: “In fact, Wolff has expanded his […]
Sainz is Red Bull ‘reserve driver’ – Marko
Feb.21 (GMM) Red Bull is clinging to its “reserve driver” Carlos Sainz, according to the energy drink marque’s Dr Helmut Marko. Some are raising their eyebrows after Renault, who earlier made a bid to sign Spaniard Sainz for 2017, unveiled a new F1 sponsorship deal with Spanish company Mapfre. “Historical affinities between Renault, F1 and […]
Bottas to heed Hakkinen’s title-winning advice
Feb.21 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is happy to have a two-time world champion in his corner as he steps up to F1’s top team in 2017. Now almost two decades ago, it was fellow Finn Mika Hakkinen who found himself at F1’s dominant team – McLaren-Mercedes – and he duly won back to back […]
Too early for Verstappen title in 2017 – father
Feb.21 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father has played down the 19-year-old Dutchman’s chances of winning the world championship in 2017. Red Bull is tipped to be Mercedes’ closest challenger this year as the sport’s technical rules change significantly, and Verstappen has been marked out as an obvious title winner of the future. But Max’s father Jos, […]
Stroll defends private F1 testing world tour
Feb.21 (GMM) Lance Stroll has played down the secrecy of his unprecedented private test programme as he prepares to debut in 2017. The teenage Canadian admitted that his billionaire father Lawrence, a fashion mogul, was instrumental to his formative career that will culminate this year as he enters F1. Told by Auto Motor und Sport […]
Hamilton says ‘zero problems with Bottas’
Feb.20 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton on Monday rowed back on comments that had been interpreted as prickly opening salvos to his 2017 campaign. Valtteri Bottas says the triple world champion has briefly welomed him to Mercedes, but among Hamilton’s first public comments on the subject was to question whether it’s “fair” that his teammates get access […]
Marchionne ‘not falling in trap’ of bold targets
Feb.20 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has confirmed that Ferrari will keep quiet about bold targets for 2017. A year ago, the Ferrari president was raising eyebrows with his proclamations about winning the 2016 title, only for the great Maranello marque to fail to win even a single race. “Intellectual honesty is important but I have to […]
Wehrlein in doubt for second test, Melbourne
Feb.20 (GMM) Speculation is already mounting that Pascal Wehrlein could miss more than just the start of winter testing next week. Following his violent rollover crash at the Race of Champions event a full month ago, the German has finally confirmed that he will sit out the first of the two four-day tests in Barcelona. […]
Rosberg yet to respond to Bottas message
Feb.20 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he has no problem if Mercedes’ F1 drivers are ‘attack dogs’. The comments come as tension threatens to break out even before a wheel has turned in 2017 between Lewis Hamilton and the triple world champion’s brand new teammate Valtteri Bottas. Hamilton is reportedly already firing salvos at Finn Bottas, […]
US GP chief almost bought Manor
Feb.20 (GMM) Former US grand prix chief Tavo Hellmund has admitted he came close to buying the defunct F1 team Manor. The British backmarker has now closed its doors, but Hellmund told the Austin American Statesman newspaper that a consortium “agreed terms” with Manor. “At one point we had agreed terms,” said the Texan, who […]
2017 ‘launch season’ set to begin
Feb.20 (GMM) Less than three months after the chequered flag in 2016, F1 is set to burst back into life. Images of the new Williams have already been revealed, and ‘launch season’ will begin in earnest on Monday, beginning with Sauber and then continuing right up until the start of winter testing in Barcelona in […]
Marchionne ‘looked silly’ as 2016 targets failed
Feb.17 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has admitted he “looked silly” after his brash target of wins and the title did not materialise in 2016. “For 2016, all bets are off,” the Ferrari president had said. It was a stark contrast to Ferrari’s uncharacteristically quiet winter this time around, with rumours suggesting the great Maranello team is […]
Sauber to confirm Wehrlein out for first test
Feb.17 (GMM) Sauber is set to confirm that Pascal Wehrlein will sit out the start of official pre-season testing in a little over a week. With Mercedes’ backing, the 22-year-old German has switched from Manor to Switzerland-based Sauber for 2017. But he injured his neck or back in a scary rollover crash during January’s Race […]
Rumours of 4×4 F1 cars, FOTA reunion
Feb.17 (GMM) A new political storm could be on the horizon for formula one. The sport’s new owner Liberty Media has been generally welcomed to the paddock, but 1996 world champion Damon Hill compared the company to “the Trump administration”. “I think they’re learning,” he told the London publication City AM. The latest rumour flowing […]
Sydney eyeing F1 after Liberty Media buyout
Feb.16 (GMM) Rival city Sydney could use F1’s Liberty Media buyout to launch a bid to poach the Australian grand prix. That is the claim of Andrew Westacott, boss of the Melbourne race that is preparing to host its 22nd edition at Albert Park next month. US media giant Liberty recently bought the sport and […]
FIA denies ‘conflict of interest’
Feb.16 (GMM) F1’s governing body has hit back at reports a “conflict of interest” could be set to trigger a full European investigation into the sport. The European parliament this week voted through calls for an investigation into governance, income, and the fact a 1 per cent shareholding netted the FIA a $80 windfall after […]