Mar.1 (GMM) The outcome of the 2016 world championship will depend in large part on whether Lewis Hamilton is sufficiently focused. That is the view of Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion and now an outspoken pundit, who thinks this year’s battle could once again be a two-horse race between the silver-clad Mercedes drivers. “To […]
Final test will show Mercedes strength – Arrivabene
Mar.1 (GMM) Ferrari’s hopes for 2016 rest on the progress Mercedes has been able to make over the winter. That is the claim of Maurizio Arrivabene, the Ferrari team boss, amid media reports even the innovative new white and red SF16-H car might not be enough to prevent Mercedes from winning a third consecutive championship […]
Drivers not unanimous in supporting ‘halo’ concept
Mar.1 (GMM) Not every driver is on board with F1’s plans to cover the cockpits. After Grand Prix Drivers’ Association chief Alex Wurz declared recently that “all the drivers hope that passing the additional head protection will be a formality”, the FIA duly cleared the path for its introduction in 2017. During last week’s Barcelona […]
Marko praise means Renault step ‘huge’ – Berger
Mar.1 (GMM) Rare sounds of praise for Renault are emerging from the Red Bull camp ahead of the 2016 season. Last year, the strained relationship between the two parties broke down completely, meaning Red Bull lost its title sponsor Infiniti and had to re-brand its customer supply of turbo V6 power as ‘Tag Heuer’ for […]
Mercedes calm makes Marchionne ‘worry’
Mar.1 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne on Tuesday said the serene winter pre-season enjoyed so far by Mercedes makes him “worry”. Earlier, the Ferrari president had targeted a winning start for the red team at the forthcoming Melbourne season opener. But that was before Mercedes began dazzling its rivals with lap after lap in Barcelona testing. “Around […]
Alonso found ‘happiness’ at McLaren-Honda
Mar.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso insists that, although ultimate success in F1 has eluded him for a decade, he has found “happiness” with the McLaren-Honda project. Some, however, see the Spaniard’s situation vastly differently, after he left Ferrari amid apparent acrimony only to find a vastly less competitive alternative. But Alonso, 34, scoffs at the retirement […]
Renault to get started on 2017 car – Lopez
Feb.29 (GMM) Renault is likely to start work almost immediately on its car for 2017. Last week, acknowledging that the 2016 machine is a hastily-compiled version of a car designed by Lotus for a Renault engine, team boss Frederic Vasseur said it would be the wrong approach to simply write off this year. “Are we […]
Ricciardo not ruling out more Ferrari rumours
Feb.29 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo is still refusing to rule himself out of the running for a future switch to Ferrari. Earlier, the Australian predicted a frenzied ‘silly season’ this year, as top drivers like himself, Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) and Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) are all out of contract. “I think it’s one that got asked last […]
Mallya insists he is not losing Force India
Feb.29 (GMM) Vijay Mallya has hit back at speculation his involvement in the F1 team Force India is coming to an end. Last week, after a long battle with Diageo, the flamboyant Indian stepped down from his alcoholic company United Spirits. According to local reports, the $75 million ‘golden handshake’ involved him also severing his […]
2016 to be Mercedes versus Ferrari – Rosberg
Feb.29 (GMM) Ahead of the final week of pre-season testing, it seems Mercedes and Ferrari are still ahead of the pack in 2016. Finishing third for the past two years was Williams, but Felipe Massa seemed to acknowledge that the Grove team may not achieve the leap it wants. “I really hope we can race […]
Renault ‘happier’ team than McLaren – Magnussen
Feb.29 (GMM) Renault is a “happier” team than McLaren-Honda, even though they may be fighting over the same piece of track in 2016. That is the view of Kevin Magnussen, who was dropped by McLaren at the end of last year and signed up for 2016 by Renault’s new works team. With McLaren apparently still […]
V8 Supercars threatens to quit Aus GP weekend
Feb.29 (GMM) The premier Australian motor racing series is threatening to quit the country’s annual grand prix weekend. V8 Supercars, the popular touring car series, has a contract to race in support of the formula one main-event in Melbourne until 2018. But currently, Bernie Ecclestone’s Formula One Management (FOM) reportedly does not allow the V8 […]
‘Flop’ qualifying shakeup may not happen
Feb.29 (GMM) F1’s new ‘musical chairs’ qualifying format may not happen at all in 2016. Earlier, the changes touted to mix up the grid were approved by the F1 Commission, but Bernie Ecclestone subsequently told the Independent newspaper that his software-writers would not have time to be ready for Melbourne. Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene […]
No ‘musical chairs’ qualifying in Melbourne
Feb.27 (GMM) F1’s new ‘musical chairs’ qualifying format has hit a roadblock. Bernie Ecclestone told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt that Formula One Management’s software team does not have time to prepare the system for the Melbourne season opener next month. “The new qualifying won’t happen because we can’t get everything together in time,” the […]
Manager says Haryanto confirmed for ‘full season’
Feb.27 (GMM) Rio Haryanto’s manager has clarified reports the Indonesian rookie might not complete the entire 2016 season. We reported this week that, although backed by Indonesia via the state-owned oil company Pertamina, Haryanto’s entourage is still looking for more sponsorship to deliver everything promised to the Manor team. His manager Piers Hunnisett, however, denied […]
‘Driver of the day’ initiative pointless – Hamilton
Feb.26 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has launched another attack on the latest rule changes in formula one. Earlier this week, the reigning triple world champion said moves to make the cars wider but also heavier in 2017 are “ridiculous”. And now, the Mercedes driver has ridiculed the decision to crown a ‘Driver of the day’ after […]
Mallya gets $75m, F1 sponsor deal, in company split
Feb.26 (GMM) Vijay Mallya, the Force India boss and co-owner, will receive $75 million to walk away from a company. United Spirits, the flagship of the United Breweries company Mallya took over from his late father, will pay the 60-year-old US $75 million to exit after an acrimonious fight with Diageo. Diageo, the alcohol multinational, […]
Arai exit was ‘long-term plan’ – Boullier
Feb.26 (GMM) The departure from Honda’s F1 project of Yasuhisa Arai had tongues wagging in the Barcelona paddock this week. Rumours have been swirling that McLaren chiefs Eric Boullier and Ron Dennis pressed for his departure, but the official version is that he is simply set to ‘retire’. “Arai-san’s 60th birthday and Honda’s pension policy […]
Innovative Mercedes still out in front
Feb.26 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne remains determined to see Ferrari win its first world championship in nearly a decade. “We will work tirelessly to bring the championship back to Ferrari,” the Maranello marque’s president wrote in a letter to shareholders, “investing where necessary. “The Ferrari racing heritage is not only the key to innovation in our […]
Pecking order similar to 2015 – Kvyat
Feb.26 (GMM) After a full winter, and with a field full of new cars, it appears little has changed about the pecking order in F1. “I have the impression that, over the winter, the order has not really changed,” said Red Bull’s Daniil Kvyat as the first half of pre-season testing ended in Barcelona. In […]