Aug.13 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn thinks F1 should not rule out the idea of reviving a ‘tyre war’. Any competing Pirelli and Michelin are doing at present is off the track, as the sport is committed to signing up just one of them to be the sole supplier beyond 2016. At present, it is not clear […]
Marko plays down latest Verstappen rumours
Aug.12 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has played down the latest rumours swirling around F1 teen sensation Max Verstappen. The Red Bull official, who heads the energy drink outfit’s highly successful young driver programme, has already denied speculation 17-year-old Verstappen is in the running for a race seat next year at Ferrari. It was said Williams’ […]
F1 recovery vehicles still dangerous – Tost
Aug.11 (GMM) The issue of recovery vehicles in formula one still needs to be addressed. That is the view of Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost, as the sport continues to reflect on the tragic death of talented French driver Jules Bianchi. It was F1’s first race driver death since Ayrton Senna in 1994, following […]
F1 no longer ‘man’s world’ – Claire Williams
Aug.11 (GMM) F1 is not the “man’s world” it once was, according to female deputy team boss Claire Williams. “Formula one is quite different to how it was ten years – or even five years – ago,” she told the German daily Der Tagesspiegel. As well as 39-year-old Williams’ prominent role at her father’s Grove […]
Teams critical of race-start clampdown – report
Aug.11 (GMM) F1 engineers are concerned that the FIA’s mid-season clampdown on race start procedures has not been properly thought through. Initially, the measure to put more onus on the actual drivers rather than the technology and engineers barking detailed instructions was widely welcomed. But it will come into effect at next weekend’s Belgian grand […]
McLaren denies Vandoorne reports
Aug.10 (GMM) McLaren has denied reports that an announcement about the Honda-powered team’s driver plans for 2016 is now imminent. Media reports claimed the Woking outfit has decided to pair Fernando Alonso next year with Belgian rookie Stoffel Vandoorne, the McLaren-backed current GP2 championship leader. The reports said an announcement confirming Vandoorne, to the detriment […]
Button on track for Spa after robbery – manager
Aug.10 (GMM) Jenson Button is back on track after his robbery scare a week ago. Whilst Button holidayed in St Tropez last week, burglars broke into the rented villa as the McLaren driver, his wife and some friends slept. Reports had said Button was “convinced” the burglars pumped anaesthetic gas into the air conditioning before […]
Verstappen still not listening to criticism
Aug.10 (GMM) Max Verstappen is keeping his focus on the track, amid continuing criticism of his approach to formula one. On one hand, the 17-year-old Dutchman is being hailed as the next Senna, while others like Felipe Massa publicly worry that Verstappen “learned nothing” from his big crash at Monaco earlier this year. “I think […]
Ecclestone gives ‘green light’ to Finland GP – report
Aug.10 (GMM) Finland could be the next new stop on the F1 calendar in the near future. That is the claim of the country’s Ilta Sanomat newspaper, reporting that Bernie Ecclestone is not ruling out the concept of a street race in Helsinki. The report said the F1 supremo had talks during the Hungarian grand […]
Honda admits F1 return harder than expected
Aug.6 (GMM) Honda has admitted it underestimated the difficulty of its return to formula one this year. While much of the rest of the F1 world heads off for a summer break, McLaren’s Japanese ‘power unit’ supplier is still hard at work. A significant upgrade for Spa, the first race after the break, is being […]
Ferrari facing penalties for fifth engine in 2015
Aug.6 (GMM) Mercedes looks set to be the only manufacturer on the grid that will reach the chequered flag this year on the long-life engine rules. So tough has the ‘four engines’ rule been to returning Honda, that the FIA agreed to let any new engine manufacturers in F1 enjoy an extra engine per driver […]
Teams disagree over ‘super super-soft’ tyre test
Aug.6 (GMM) The F1 teams cannot agree over where to test Pirelli’s new ‘super super-soft’ tyre for 2016. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, following recent reports that the Italian tyre supplier is set to introduce a special fifth tyre compound next year just for street circuits. “The soft tyres that […]
Only Ferrari offered full support – Haas
Aug.5 (GMM) Other engine manufacturers were not willing to match Ferrari’s offer when Haas was looking to set up its F1 entry for 2016. That is the claim of founder Gene Haas, whose American team is on target to make its grand prix debut next March. Haas’ approach to 2016, however, has been controversial, as […]
Goal of catching Mercedes still on track – Vettel
Aug.5 (GMM) While Ferrari is looking up the road to pacesetters Mercedes, Williams says the fabled Italian team should also be watching over its shoulder. Entering the summer break with victory in Hungary, Sebastian Vettel says Ferrari’s 2015 resurgence is right on track. “A second win, several podiums — and after major changes (within the […]
Lauda doubts Bianchi tribute caused Hamilton slump
Aug.5 (GMM) Niki Lauda has played down suggestions the Jules Bianchi tragedy may have contributed to Lewis Hamilton’s bad performance in Hungary. As Mercedes failed to make the podium for the first time in the new ‘power unit’ era, Hamilton apologised to the team and admitted he was “all over the place”. “I don’t know […]
Symonds slams Ferrari over Bottas rumours
Aug.5 (GMM) Pat Symonds has hit out at Ferrari, accusing the Italian team of triggering the speculation about Valtteri Bottas’ future. Finn Bottas has clearly been targeted by Ferrari for 2016, but the 25-year-old driver is already firmly under contract to Williams. So when asked by Italy’s Autosprint magazine if he can imagine Bottas replacing […]
Renault taking longer to decide future – report
Aug.4 (GMM) Renault is giving itself more time to decide its future. That is the claim of Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, amid earlier reports that the French carmaker is now on the cusp of announcing its return to full works status by buying the Enstone team Lotus. “Decision in September,” F1 chief Cyril Abiteboul […]
Verstappen plays down ‘second best car’ comment
Aug.4 (GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted Toro Rosso has a “really good car” in 2015. However, F1’s teen sensation made headlines at the recent British grand prix when he reportedly said the James Key-designed STR10 is actually the best car on the grid behind dominant world champions Mercedes. “Actually I didn’t quite say that,” the […]
Lauda’s new Twitter account is fake
Aug.4 (GMM) Niki Lauda is not on Twitter. Earlier, excitement swirled around F1’s world of social media when Matthias Lauda, the F1 legend’s son, announced on Twitter that he would help the 66-year-old with his brand new Twitter account. Among Lauda’s immediate new followers were Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz, Paddy Lowe and 22,000 others. But […]
Sauber has not developed 2015 car – Nasr
Aug.4 (GMM) Felipe Nasr says Sauber will get back in gear later this year as the Swiss team prepares for 2016. Newly re-signed by the struggling Hinwil outfit for next year, Brazilian Nasr admitted that after a strong start, Sauber is suffering a mid-season slump. The team is behind Force India, Lotus and Toro Rosso […]