Jan.25 (GMM) The future of the British grand prix seemed more secure as new F1 chiefs swept into office this week. In the Bernie Ecclestone era, the future of the popular race at Silverstone seemed in doubt for financial reasons. But new CEO Chase Carey told the Sun newspaper: “We will have a British grand […]
New F1 rule to reduce driver penalties
Jan.25 (GMM) F1 has tweaked the rules so that drivers are penalised less often in 2017. This week, the final sporting regulations for the new season were published. Of particular note was article 38.1, following widespread criticism that too many penalties are being given to drivers for on-track incidents. Now, the rules state that even […]
Teams turned down offer of F1 shares – Wolff
Jan.25 (GMM) F1 teams turned down Liberty Media’s offer to become co-owners of the sport. That is the news from Toto Wolff, boss of the championship winning Mercedes team. As the American company Liberty Media took over F1 this week, it urged the teams to consider an offer to buy up to 20 per cent. […]
Teams welcome ‘experts’ replacing Ecclestone
Jan.25 (GMM) Top teams were looking confidently into F1’s future this week, following news of Bernie Ecclestone’s departure as CEO. Publicly, almost every influential figure in the sport was on the one hand applauding the 86-year-old Briton’s contribution to F1 whilst welcoming the new Liberty Media era. “Bernie made a global show out of nothing, […]
Ecclestone offices ‘too small’ for F1
Jan.25 (GMM) F1 will relocate from Bernie Ecclestone’s current offices in London, new CEO Chase Carey has announced. Speaking to the media as he swept into power, replacing long-time F1 ‘supremo’ Ecclestone, Carey said: “We will not be able to run the business from Bernie’s offices. They are too small.” Replacing Ecclestone, 86, are Carey […]
Honda aims for top engine makers in 2017
Jan.24 (GMM) Honda is aiming to push towards F1 ‘power unit’ pacesetters Mercedes and Ferrari in 2017. Almost certainly the least impressive performer among its engine manufacturer peers for the past two years, it is reported McLaren’s works partner has completely redesigned its turbo V6 package for the new season. “From the point of view […]
Manor needs funds for testing
Jan.24 (GMM) Embattled F1 backmarker Manor remains in talks with potential saviours. That is the claim of a spokesperson for FRP, the company that is overseeing the team that has been placed into administration. It is believed that if a buyer is not found in the remaining few days of January, Manor will close due […]
No regrets after saying ‘no’ to F1 – Rossi
Jan.24 (GMM) MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi says he has no regrets more than a decade after calling off his touted switch to formula one. Mid last decade, and when in his mid 20s, the multiple world champion on two-wheels tested extensively for Ferrari amid strong rumours he would debut for the fabled F1 team. Now […]
F1 supremo Ecclestone ‘dismissed’
Jan.24 (GMM) F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has been officially ousted. The news came as the sport’s new owner Liberty Media announced it has completed its F1 takeover, installing Chase Carey as Ecclestone’s successor. Long-time F1 ‘supremo’ Ecclestone, 86, confirmed the news via Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. “I was dismissed today,” he said. “I’m […]
New Liberty era ‘good thing’ for F1 – Rosberg
Jan.23 (GMM) This week could mark the end of Bernie Ecclestone’s decades-long reign in formula one. It is believed that, after Liberty Media offered the 86-year-old a less hands-on role for the future as ‘life president’, Ecclestone turned it down. Liberty, the company headed by US media tycoon John Malone, is close to completing its […]
Life more than ‘driving in circles’ – Rosberg
Jan.23 (GMM) Almost two months after stunning the F1 world, Nico Rosberg says he has no regrets about sensationally quitting the sport as world champion. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the German said retiring “at the absolute peak” was more important to him than racing on. “Life has more to offer […]
Sainz snr says Red Bull ‘not bad guys’
Jan.23 (GMM) Carlos Sainz’s father has hit back at any claims Red Bull are “the bad guys”. The two-time rally champion’s namesake and 22-year-old son had a great 2016 season, but Sainz jr was overlooked for a promotion to Red Bull Racing in deference to Max Verstappen. Then, Red Bull refused to relinquish his contract […]
Massa won’t hand back retirement F1 car
Jan.23 (GMM) Felipe Massa says he will not have to hand back the F1 car gifted to him by Williams for his retirement. Amid his emotional farewell to the sport late last year, the British team promised to give the Brazilian the ‘Massa’-branded car with which he raced at Interlagos. However, Massa’s eventual retirement was […]
Indycar says no to F1’s ‘Halo’
Jan.23 (GMM) Indycar, the major American open-wheeler series, says it will not be going down F1’s route of the ‘Halo’ device for cockpit protection. In 2015, former F1 driver Justin Wilson was killed by a flying wheel during an Indycar race, which was one factor that powered F1’s push to develop the Halo. ‘Halo’ is […]
Verstappen not eyeing youngest F1 champion record
Jan.23 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he has no interest in becoming F1’s youngest ever champion. But that doesn’t mean the 19-year-old Dutchman doesn’t want to win the 2017 title. “Definitely my goal is to win the title,” he told Italy’s La Stampa newspaper, as he attended the world cup skiing event in Kitzbuhel, Austria. “But […]
Doctors sideline Wehrlein after rollover crash
Jan.23 (GMM) One month before winter testing begins, Pascal Wehrlein was sidelined by doctors following a scary crash at the annual Race of Champions event. Held this year in Miami, the Race of Champions sees drivers from international series go head-to-head in various cars, including a bizarre three-wheeler. Racing with a passenger on board at […]
Liberty hints Ferrari to lose $100m bonus
Jan.23 (GMM) F1’s new owner Liberty Media has indicated it is serious about taking away the $100 million bonus received by Ferrari each year. Christian Sylt, an F1 business journalist, wrote in Forbes that the extra money received by the fabled Italian team on the basis of its status and history is double that given […]
Ecclestone offered ‘less hands-on role’ – report
Jan.21 (GMM) Rumours are growing by the day that the Bernie Ecclestone era is effectively almost over. We have reported that, as Liberty Media moves ever towards its full takeover of the sport, long-time F1 ‘supremo’ Ecclestone is being shuffled aside. Mark Kleinman, a renowned business journalist for British broadcaster Sky, said the 86-year-old’s decades-long […]
‘Exhausted’ Verstappen training hard for 2017 – father
Jan.21 (GMM) Jos Verstappen says his son Max is training harder than ever for 2017. Young Verstappen, 19, is touted as a potential title contender for 2017, when the cars will be much more physically demanding to drive. His father Jos, a former F1 driver, says that is why Max has been quiet in the […]
Silverstone denies GP axe decision made
Jan.21 (GMM) Silverstone has rejected reports it has already decided to drop the British grand prix after 2019. A report in the Sun newspaper this week quoted a source at the track-owning British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) as saying Silverstone “will definitely drop” the race. But the BRDC has now released an official statement saying […]