Apr.14 (GMM) Romain Grosjean dismissed criticism of Haas’ approach to formula one as little more than “jealousy”. Some critics say the new American team has scored points in its first two races only because it is basically the Ferrari ‘B’ operation. But Frenchman Grosjean said in Shanghai: “We are working no closer with Ferrari than […]
Red Bull should sign Sainz, not Verstappen – Herbert
Apr.14 (GMM) Johnny Herbert thinks Red Bull should sign up Carlos Sainz for 2017. The former F1 driver made waves in Bahrain recently, when he urged Fernando Alonso to take the opportunity of his chest injuries to quit formula one. And now he has bucked the trend of predicting a rapid promotion to Red Bull […]
Troubled Mallya to also miss China GP
Apr.14 (GMM) Vijay Mallya looks set to sit out yet another grand prix, as his legal troubles in his native India continue. The Force India boss and co-owner was not in Australia and Bahrain, as Indian authorities pursue him over huge debts following the collapse of his airline Kingfisher. Britain’s Telegraph newspaper claims the 60-year-old […]
Grid penalty is ‘opportunity’ – Hamilton
Apr.14 (GMM) World champion Lewis Hamilton was maintaining his sunny disposition on Thursday, despite admitting his five-place gearbox change penalty was “a kick in the goonies”. But the Mercedes driver was still notably upbeat, as the Spanish daily Marca quoted him as saying in Shanghai: “It’s not ideal, but it happens. “I see it as […]
Drivers helped F1 axe qualifying – Rosberg
Apr.14 (GMM) F1 drivers played a role in the scrapping of the hated ‘musical chairs’ qualifying system. That is the view of Nico Rosberg, who went out on a limb on Wednesday by aiming fire at Bernie Ecclestone’s description of the drivers as “windbags”. 18 drivers had got together for an ultra-rare collective dinner in […]
Alonso wants to test injuries in practice
Apr.14 (GMM) Afternoon turned into evening in Shanghai while the F1 paddock waited for news about Fernando Alonso. Hours ago, the Spaniard met with FIA doctors in a bid to be cleared fit to return to the wheel of his McLaren-Honda this weekend. As Thursday evening fell, heads were being scratched as the decision was […]
Rosberg hits back at ‘windbags’ jibe
Apr.14 (GMM) Championship leader Nico Rosberg has hit back at Bernie Ecclestone’s claim that current F1 drivers are “windbags”. F1 supremo Ecclestone’s jibe followed the controversial release of a Grand Prix Drivers’ Association letter, in which the body was critical of F1’s management. “RacingUnited,” Mercedes driver Rosberg said in a ‘hashtag’ accompanying a mass ‘selfie’ […]
Swedish backers rescue Sauber for now – reports
Apr.13 (GMM) Sauber has bucked the rumours by travelling to Shanghai this week for the Chinese grand prix. In obvious financial trouble, it was said F1’s Swiss team could have run out of money to be able to race in China, with staff also waiting for their March payments. But international media sources say Sauber […]
McLaren name ‘no guarantee of success’ – Coulthard
Apr.13 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne is “on standby” should FIA doctors once again sideline Fernando Alonso in China, McLaren-Honda has confirmed. Belgian Vandoorne, in fact, travelled to Shanghai this week with team boss Eric Boullier, who said: “Once again, Stoffel will be on standby until Fernando has his routine meeting with FIA doctors on Thursday, and […]
Mick Schumacher not thinking of F1 yet – manager
Apr.13 (GMM) Mick Schumacher’s manager has played down any talk the 17-year-old might soon be ready for formula one. Mick, the son of the F1 legend and seven time world champion Michael, kicked off a busy schedule in Formula 4 this year with two wins last weekend. The German made his single-seater debut last year […]
Watson backs Villeneuve over GPDA letter
Apr.13 (GMM) Former F1 winner John Watson has backed Jacques Villeneuve in slamming the sport’s current drivers. Although signed by the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), it emerged in Bahrain recently that a letter critical of the management and governance of formula one was actually supported by the entire grid of active race drivers. Villeneuve, […]
Demanding Marchionne to take another Ferrari role
Apr.13 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne looks set to add yet another executive role to his plate. Bloomberg, the business news agency, said the Fiat Chrysler and Ferrari president will soon also take over as Ferrari’s CEO, as Amedeo Felisa is tipped to retire. Ferrari declined to comment, but the news follows the Maranello marque having lost […]
Haryanto beat Vandoorne ‘head to head’ – Campos
Apr.12 (GMM) Rio Haryanto’s former boss has hit back at suggestions the Indonesian is a straightforward F1 ‘pay driver’. A common analysis is that while the Mercedes-backed Pascal Wehrlein is effectively at Manor on merit, it is Indonesian Haryanto’s state-fuelled dollars that are powering his own 2016 debut. But driving for former F1 driver Adrian […]
Alonso in China for F1 return bid
Apr.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is already in Shanghai as he bids to return to F1 action this weekend. On social media, the Spaniard has posted several messages from the sprawling Chinese city, including a cartoon depicting him frantically exercising amid the backdrop of his McLaren-Honda. “Working. Projects,” another Instagram photo posted by Alonso, depicting Shanghai’s […]
Berger, Coulthard doubt Ferrari can win title
Apr.12 (GMM) Two former F1 drivers do not think Ferrari is ready to beat Mercedes to the world championship. “No,” Gerhard Berger, a 10-time grand prix winner and former team boss, told Germany’s Auto Bild emphatically. “The gap Mercedes had at the end of last year was just too big — Ferrari can’t catch it […]
Bottas to keep approach despite Hamilton crash
Apr.12 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas insists he will not alter his racing style, even though he crashed with reigning champion Lewis Hamilton in Bahrain. The Finn had to serve a drive-through and see two penalty points added to his super-license after colliding with Mercedes’ Hamilton at the race start. Bottas laughed when asked by Finland’s Iltalehti […]
F1 ‘has learned’ from qualifying debacle
Apr.12 (GMM) Claire Williams thinks F1 has learned from the ‘musical chairs’ qualifying debacle. F1’s governing body announced late on Monday that the World Motor Sport Council rubber-stamped by ‘e-vote’ the decision to revert to the 2015 format ahead of this weekend’s Chinese grand prix. Williams, the Grove team’s deputy, suggested the episode has been […]
Little ‘synergy’ with Red Bull now – Toro Rosso
Apr.12 (GMM) Toro Rosso technical chief James Key says there is no longer much ‘synergy’ between the Faenza based team and the senior Red Bull outfit. In the past, although Haas has now allied strongly with Ferrari, the rules allowed a closer collaboration between senior and junior teams. “There are certain areas where there were […]
Monza could have F1 deal by early May – report
Apr.12 (GMM) It is still not clear if historic Monza will continue to host the endangered Italian grand prix beyond September’s 2016 race. Bernie Ecclestone’s negotiations with race organisers have been publicly tumultuous, culminating in the recent resignation of Ivan Capelli from the organising body Sias. But Sias president Andrea Dell’Orto insists he is going […]
Rosberg plays down expiring contract
Apr.12 (GMM) Claire Williams has tipped the F1 paddock to host a fascinating driver ‘silly season’ this year. Seats at multiple top teams, including Williams but also Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, Renault and McLaren, will potentially be up for grabs for 2017. The most sought after will arguably be Nico Rosberg’s spot at the title-winning […]