Oct.10 (GMM) Red Bull wants to keep Daniel Ricciardo beyond next year. That is the view of team boss Christian Horner, even though fellow Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko said at Suzuka that the Australian driver is “on the market”. “Technically Helmut is correct,” Horner is quoted by international reports including De Telegraaf. “Daniel’s […]
Alonso to blame for bad career choices – Rosberg
Oct.10 (GMM) Only Fernando Alonso is to blame for the Spaniard’s failure to add another title to his tally in over a decade. That is the view of the reigning world champion Nico Rosberg, who came out of retirement to appear as a pundit for British television at Suzuka last weekend. When asked by Spain’s […]
Massa should retire – Marko
Oct.10 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks Felipe Massa should retire. The rebuke comes after the lapped Fernando Alonso and Massa, the Brazilian F1 veteran, held up Max Verstappen in the closing stages of the Dutchman’s pursuit of Suzuka winner Lewis Hamilton. “Max had the pace to attack Hamilton,” Marko, the Red Bull official, told ORF […]
Marchionne still believes in Vettel title
Oct.10 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne insists Ferrari’s 2017 title charge is not over. That is despite the fact the partisan Italian press thinks Sebastian Vettel’s campaign went up in smoke in Singapore, Malaysia and Japan. “In three races, Maranello destroyed all the good that had been done in the first 13,” said La Gazzetta dello Sport. […]
Toro Rosso to announce Gasly’s US GP replacement
Oct.10 (GMM) Team owner Red Bull will imminently decide who will replace Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly at the US grand prix next weekend. Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko says Toro Rosso’s media statement saying Gasly will race alongside Daniil Kvyat in Austin was “wrong”. He said the team was caught off-guard by the late […]
Austin seat still not confirmed for Gasly
Oct.9 (GMM) It still is not clear whether Pierre Gasly will race for Toro Rosso next time out at Austin. Earlier, it seemed possible the French rookie would return to Japan instead of contesting the US grand prix, as he is in contention for the Japanese Super Formula title. But Toro Rosso seemed to end […]
Bottas emerging from performance slump – Wolff
Oct.9 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Valtteri Bottas is starting to rebuild his confidence after a performance slump late in 2017. A solid first season at Mercedes for the Finn earned him a new deal for 2018, but since the contract was signed, Bottas has notably struggled. There have even been rumours the 28-year-old’s slump could […]
Japanese supplier blamed for Vettel failure
Oct.9 (GMM) Fingers of blame are pointing at a team supplier, after Ferrari’s 2017 title campaign turned into a Japanese nightmare. NGK, the supplier of spark plugs to the Italian team, is located just an hour from Suzuka. And on Sunday, it was a simple failed spark plug that led to Sebastian Vettel’s retirement — […]
Raikkonen ‘better than ever’ – Villeneuve
Oct.8 (GMM) 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve thinks Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen is riding a crest of career form. Some believe the Finnish veteran is right at the tail end of his pace and career, but Villeneuve thinks Raikkonen is actually driving well. “Kimi has had a bit of bad luck, but at times he has […]
Rosberg critical of Bottas ‘crisis’ openness
Oct.8 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has criticised his Mercedes successor Valtteri Bottas for being too open about his current “crisis”. The Finn has struggled notably in recent races, and has spoken openly to the media about his dip in form. Rosberg, attending the Japanese grand prix as a television pundit, is quoted by Osterreich newspaper as […]
Verstappen rumours not a worry – Marko
Oct.8 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he is not losing sleep over rumours Max Verstappen could be on the move. Earlier this year, amid reports Mercedes and Ferrari want to poach the Dutchman, Marko said Red Bull would not agree to release him for EUR 100 million. But it is now being rumoured F1’s rival […]
Mercedes has not solved pace problem – Lauda
Oct.8 (GMM) Mercedes has not solved the problems that left it arguably the third-fastest team just a week ago in Malaysia. That is the claim of Niki Lauda, even though Lewis Hamilton blitzed qualifying at Suzuka on Saturday. But Lauda, the F1 legend and team chairman, said Mercedes’ return to form is weather-related. “If it’s […]
‘Professional’ Williams team would keep me – Massa
Oct.8 (GMM) Felipe Massa seems unhappy with the Williams team. Earlier at Suzuka, team official Paddy Lowe said that while the Brazilian veteran is still in the running for 2018, Robert Kubica and Paul di Resta will be tested “in the next few weeks”. Another rumour is that Pascal Wehrlein could get Massa’s seat, perhaps […]
No Toro Rosso seat for Wehrlein – Marko
Oct.8 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has denied rumours Pascal Wehrlein could be in the running to race for Toro Rosso in 2018. On Sunday, both teams confirmed that Jolyon Palmer has been axed by Renault and will be replaced by Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz from Austin later this month. To fill Sainz’s place, axed Daniil […]
Ricciardo on driver market ‘understandable’ – Marko
Oct.7 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo going on the market for 2019 is “understandable”. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, the Red Bull official who admits the energy drink company is having to look beyond Australian Ricciardo’s current contract. “For all his racing life Ricciardo was part of the Red Bull family,” he told Kronen […]
2018 Alonso deal mere days from announcement
Oct.7 (GMM) McLaren could be now just days away from announcing a new deal for Fernando Alonso. Team boss Eric Boullier said earlier at Suzuka that he expects the Spaniard to eventually sign a 2018 contract. Marca sports newspaper quoted Alonso as saying: “Next week I think everything will be clearer.” Alonso’s former Renault teammate, […]
Drivers to wear glove sensor in 2018
Oct.7 (GMM) F1 drivers will wear a biometric sensor in their gloves from 2018. Austria’s Osterreich newspaper said the FIA wants to be able to monitor life saving data thanks to a three millimetre sensor sewn into a glove. Initially, the sensor will monitor the driver’s heart rate and oxygen in the blood, which will […]
Gasly admits future still uncertain
Oct.7 (GMM) Pierre Gasly says he is still unsure how he will spend the remainder of the 2017 season — and then whether he will step up with a full Toro Rosso seat next year. Heading into Suzuka, Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko said the rookie Frenchman is likely to drive for Toro Rosso for […]
Boullier still pushing for Alonso signature
Oct.7 (GMM) Eric Boullier is pushing hard to get Fernando Alonso’s signature on a McLaren contract for 2018. It appears that the two sides are headed for a new deal following the Honda split. “Honestly, I don’t think there are any special difficulties,” Frenchman Boullier said at Suzuka. “We are already discussing the details of […]
Norris could replace Button as McLaren reserve
Oct.7 (GMM) Eric Boullier has admitted Jenson Button could leave his role as official McLaren reserve driver next year. Earlier in 2017, the 2009 world champion stood in for Fernando Alonso in Monaco, but Button indicated at Suzuka that he wants to return to another series full-time next year. “I miss racing,” said Button, present […]