Feb.27 (GMM) Toto Wolff says his new family will accompany him around the F1 calendar. The Mercedes boss is married to former Williams tester Susie Wolff, and they are currently expecting their first child together. But Wolff told Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper: “I give everything – my whole life – to this job. “365 days […]
‘No problems’ with 2017 Renault engine – Marko
Feb.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has played down reports Renault’s 2017 engine came out of the blocks with an apparent technical failure. It emerged last week that, with the French marque taking a bold step over the winter to catch up with Mercedes, the 2017 engine broke down as Toro Rosso did its track roll-out […]
Massa admits 2017 Mercedes ‘beautiful’
Feb.27 (GMM) Although every 2017 car is now officially unveiled, Felipe Massa is not willing to guess who will have the edge in Melbourne. On the eve of winter testing in Barcelona, the veteran Brazilian said: “The Mercedes is very beautiful to look at. “The Ferrari has various things on it, while you could see […]
Ferrari’s low-profile winter ‘like therapy’
Feb.27 (GMM) Ferrari extended its ultra low-profile approach to the 2017 season into the official reveal of its new car. Pino Allievi, arguably the most respected Italian journalist, called the lack of grand proclamations or launch glitz and glamour “a kind of therapy” as the fabled team looks to finally end a ten-year title drought. […]
Toro Rosso ‘not blue Mercedes’ – Key
Feb.27 (GMM) Technical boss James Key has played down suggestions the new Toro Rosso ‘looks like a blue Mercedes’. When the new Renault-powered STR12 was revealed, some observed that its philosophy and features seemed to resemble those of the title-defending new Mercedes. “All just coincidence,” Key is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. “We did […]
Teams happy as Pirelli reduces tyre pressures
Feb.24 (GMM) F1 teams are reacting with positive surprise to news that Pirelli will drop the pressures of its tyres in 2017. Last year, many teams and drivers complained about the very high minimum pressures mandated by Pirelli on safety grounds. Now, the sport is switching to much bigger, wider, grippier and less degrading tyres […]
Mallya fires parting shot at deposed Ecclestone
Feb.24 (GMM) Vijay Mallya has fired a parting shot at the recently deposed F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. The Indian businessman’s Force India team finished an admirable fourth overall last year, despite having one of the smallest budgets in pitlane. But when the 2017 car was unveiled, it was clear that success had not translated into […]
Wolff ‘not worried’ amid suspension row
Feb.24 (GMM) Toto Wolff insists he is “not worried” Mercedes’ controversial suspension system will be declared illegal by the FIA. A dispute is raging between Mercedes and Red Bull, who are using a linked suspension concept, and another camp led mainly by Ferrari. It has raised the spectre of a controversy and protest-riddled 2017 season […]
Renault takes ‘risk’ as new Toro Rosso fails
Feb.24 (GMM) Renault is a “serious contender” amid the engine power battle in F1. That is the claim of Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, amid eyebrow-raising rumours about the 35 horse power step Renault has supposedly taken over the winter. “That is an impressive number,” Wolff admitted. “Renault is a highly professional organisation and we […]
Bottas has ‘no problem’ with sharing telemetry
Feb.24 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he has “no problem” sharing telemetry with teammate Lewis Hamilton in 2017. Earlier, Mercedes regular and triple world champion Hamilton stirred up a new controversy by saying he was unhappy with his teammate always having access to his telemetry. The Briton clarified his remarks on Twitter, insisting he has “zero […]
Mercedes ‘closer and closer’ to 1000hp
Feb.24 (GMM) Mercedes is inching ever “closer” to the milestone mark of 1000 horse power with its field-leading V6 power unit. That is the admission of engine boss Aldo Costa, amid reports that while Ferrari, Renault and even Honda are now closing up on Mercedes, the German marque has also made a significant step for […]
Sainz’s father plays down new Renault rumours
Feb.24 (GMM) Carlos Sainz’s father has played down the revival of rumours linking the 22-year-old Spaniard with a move to the works Renault team. Last year, Sainz was reportedly offered a drive by Renault for 2017, but Red Bull would not release him from his Toro Rosso contract. Now, Renault has signed a prominent new […]
Mercedes to test ‘shark fin’ in Barcelona
Feb.24 (GMM) Mercedes will add a ‘shark fin’ to its newly-launched 2017 car for the forthcoming official testing in Barcelona. When the W08 was launched at Silverstone on Thursday, it was notable that – unlike the similarly-revealed Williams, Sauber, Williams and Renault – it was missing an engine cover ‘shark fin’. But Mercedes’ technical boss […]
Mercedes to keep ‘driver rules’ in 2017
Feb.24 (GMM) Mercedes will continue to have written ‘rules of engagement’ for the battle between its F1 drivers. In recent years, the acrimony between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg meant that detailed guidelines about their on-track battles was enshrined in what became known in the paddock as ‘the bible’. But even with retiring Rosberg’s replacement […]
Force India thinks Melbourne protest possible
Feb.23 (GMM) Force India thinks rumours of official protests in Melbourne over an argument about suspension systems could be right. A spat has broken out between Mercedes and Red Bull on one side and Ferrari on the other over the legality of ‘active suspension’-mimicking systems. “I think it’s possible we’ll have a protest,” Force India […]
Mallya hits back at extradition moves
Feb.23 (GMM) Vijay Mallya has hit out at the Indian media, a day after his F1 team’s 2017 car was revealed to the world. The embattled businessman has high hopes for this season, rebuking Renault chief Cyril Abiteboul who doubts Force India can keep up with the pace of development amid F1’s new technical regulations […]
No late livery change for Renault
Feb.23 (GMM) Renault has shot down a rumour that it might be considering a livery change for the start of the season in Melbourne. A year ago, as the French carmaker returned to the sport as a full constructor, it launched a black test car only for it to switch to all-yellow for the actual […]
Bottas has ‘chance’ to beat Hamilton – Prost
Feb.23 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has a “good chance” to take on triple world champion Lewis Hamilton in 2017. That is the view of F1 legend Alain Prost, while other observers wonder if Mercedes newcomer Bottas is up to the challenge of a head-to-head with Hamilton at the sport’s dominant team. “I think Valtteri has a […]
Ferrari won’t win 2017 title – Prost
Feb.23 (GMM) Alain Prost does not think a Ferrari driver will win the world championship in 2017. Despite high expectations, the fabled Italian team failed to win even a single race in 2016. But now the technical regulations are changing radically, with former Ferrari driver Prost commenting: “When the rules and the cars change a […]
Verstappen ready for F1 title – Marko
Feb.23 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks Max Verstappen is ready to battle for the F1 title. This week, 19-year-old Max’s father Jos said he thinks the young Dutchman needs another year before Red Bull is ready to take on Mercedes. But Marko, who is Red Bull’s driver manager, said on the Dutch programme Jinek: “Now […]