Oct.7 (GMM) The issue of Marcin Budkowski’s ‘gardening leave’ will be discussed during the next F1 strategy group meeting. Renault finally announced at Suzuka that Budkowski has left his leading technical role at the FIA to become the Enstone team’s executive director. Team boss Cyril Abiteboul said he will start work in “early April”, despite […]
F1 wants Germany on calendar – Carey
Oct.6 (GMM) Chase Carey says F1 wants to keep Germany on the calendar. The country is missing on this year’s schedule but will return next season. But beyond 2018, there is no deal in place yet for a race in either Hockenheim or the Nurburgring. F1 chief executive Carey told Die Welt newspaper: “Germany is […]
Bottas struggle is ‘Mercedes’ fault’ – Lauda
Oct.6 (GMM) Niki Lauda says struggling Valtteri Bottas is not to blame for his collapse in form. The Finn was having a solid first season for Mercedes until a few races ago, when Ferrari and even Red Bull began to step ahead of the reigning champions. “The alarm bells are ringing loudly,” Lauda, the Mercedes […]
Alonso not commenting on Catalonia issue
Oct.6 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is refusing to weigh into the political turmoil in Spain. In his native country, an argument is raging between the region of Catalonia – which is seeking independence – and the Spanish government. “Everyone has his own opinion,” Alonso said at Suzuka, “but I prefer not to get involved. That is […]
2018 cars will be ready with Halo – Steiner
Oct.6 (GMM) F1 teams will be ready with Halo-equipped cars next year. That is the view of Haas boss Gunther Steiner, when asked about reports teams are concerned the FIA has released detailed information about Halo very late. “Everyone is complaining,” Steiner said at Suzuka, “but in the end it’s the same for everyone. Everything […]
Drivers confident of Ferrari turbo fix
Oct.6 (GMM) Ferrari’s drivers say the team has fixed a technical problem that ruined their weekend in Malaysia. The Italian team looked strongest overall at Sepang, but Sebastian Vettel was left last in qualifying with a turbo problem that seemed to repeat itself on Kimi Raikkonen’s failed car on the grid. Reports said the problem […]
McLaren can win with Renault power – Alonso
Oct.6 (GMM) Fernando Alonso thinks Renault can power McLaren to race wins in 2018. The Spaniard’s future is still unclear, but it is believed he is talking over only minor details regarding a new contract with the British team. That is because McLaren has dumped Honda for 2018 in order to team up with Renault, […]
Sainz not planning for 2019 season yet
Oct.6 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is not yet thinking about 2019. Actually, the Spaniard is set to switch from Toro Rosso to the Renault works team next year. But Red Bull is retaining the option of pulling him back to the premier energy drink-owned team for 2019, with Dr Helmut Marko declaring that Daniel […]
Ericsson says weight held him back in 2017
Oct.6 (GMM) Marcus Ericsson says extra weight has held him back in 2017. The Swede said the fact he weighs 10 kilograms more than teammate Pascal Wehrlein explains the pace difference between the two Sauber drivers. “He has the numbers on his side,” said Ericsson, who is now fighting to keep his seat at the […]
Verstappen hopes for ‘magic’ Renault button in 2018
Oct.6 (GMM) Max Verstappen hopes Renault heads into 2018 with a “magic” button for him to press. There are reports the French engine supplier wants to emulate the sort of ‘qualifying mode’ that has worked so well for Mercedes’ engine in the power unit era. Asked if that would be a big step forward, Red […]
Verstappen feels better after Malaysia illness
Oct.6 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he is feeling better after his illness in Malaysia. The Dutchman admitted only after winning at Sepang that he struggled physically throughout the weekend. “I was not feeling well at the start of the race,” said the Red Bull driver. “Then it got worse and worse.” Verstappen, 20, duly sprayed […]
Drivers admit 2017 Mercedes difficult to drive
Oct.6 (GMM) Mercedes’ two drivers have admitted their 2017 car is difficult to drive. Having the more obvious struggle recently is Valtteri Bottas, whose pace relative to championship leader Lewis Hamilton has been starkly off. “I think Lewis has been able to extract a little more with the compromises we’ve been needing to do in […]
Massa questions Kubica-di Resta ‘shootout’
Oct.6 (GMM) Felipe Massa has questioned the wisdom of Williams’ apparent decision to hold a ‘shootout’ test between Robert Kubica and Paul di Resta. As it appears the duo are the frontrunners to replace Massa next year, the Brazilian veteran said reports they will go head-to-head in a 2014 car concern him. “I don’t even […]
Perez recovered after Malaysia virus
Oct.5 (GMM) Sergio Perez says he has recovered completely after a stomach virus affected his weekend in Malaysia. Photos emerged of the Force India driver attached to an IV after Saturday and Sunday’s events at Sepang, and the Mexican said in Japan on Thursday: “It was so bad in qualifying that I had to rush […]
Red Bull strength ‘good for Vettel’ – Marko
Oct.5 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks Red Bull’s strength could play into the hands of former team driver Sebastian Vettel this weekend at Suzuka. Current Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won last weekend in Malaysia, and now Marko thinks the team will once again be strong in Japan. “It could help Sebastian if we are […]
Wehrlein a contender for Williams seat – Wolff
Oct.5 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has emerged as a fourth candidate to become Lance Stroll’s teammate at Williams next year. Earlier, reports circulated that Robert Kubica and Paul di Resta will go head-to-head in unofficial ‘shootout’ tests later this month. But Bild newspaper quotes Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff as saying: “I think Williams is talking […]
Sainz admits Toro Rosso ‘frustration’
Oct.5 (GMM) Carlos Sainz thinks the only thing stopping Toro Rosso from becoming a winning team is money. After three seasons with the junior Red Bull team, the Spaniard is finally stepping up for 2018 with a move to the works Renault outfit. But he says he is grateful to Red Bull for giving him […]
Magnussen says F1 rules ‘nonsense’
Oct.5 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has described as “nonsense” the amount of penalties handed out to F1 drivers. After run-ins with Nico Hulkenberg, Fernando Alonso and others, the Dane is earning a reputation as a ‘bad boy’. For instance, he told Hulkenberg to “suck my b-lls” during a live TV interview recently, and has taken a […]
Brawn impressed by rookies Vandoorne, Stroll
Oct.5 (GMM) Ross Brawn says two F1 rookies have impressed him this year. That is despite the fact that Stoffel Vandoorne and Lance Stroll initially struggled in 2017. But Brawn, the F1 sporting boss, said McLaren-Honda’s Vandoorne impressed him last weekend in Malaysia. “He was seventh in qualifying and he also shone in the race […]
Vettel unlikely to win 2017 title – Jochen Mass
Oct.5 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is now on a march towards the 2017 title. That is the view of former F1 driver Jochen Mass, who nonetheless thinks Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel have put up a solid fight against Mercedes this year. Vettel’s hopes took a severe blow in Singapore and Malaysia, with Hamilton now leading the […]