Oct.9 (GMM) Renault has signed a letter of intent, but that does not mean life at Lotus suddenly became comfortable. The Enstone team refuted rumours that it was locked out of its hospitality area at Sochi earlier this week, but a source told us: “Some of our equipment arrived late. “We’re here, we’re ready to […]
Mateschitz’s October deadline ‘good’ – Ricciardo
Oct.9 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has backed the October deadline set by his boss to end Red Bull’s current engine crisis. If the deadline comes and goes without the energy drink company finding engines for its two F1 teams, Red Bull and Toro Rosso will have to pull out of the sport. But at least the […]
F1 seat without sponsor was ‘a miracle’ – Merhi
Oct.9 (GMM) Roberto Merhi says he has not given up on remaining in F1 next year, even though four drivers are clamouring at the two seats at Manor. The Spaniard is back at the wheel for Sochi, but that is only because new paying driver Californian Alexander Rossi has reverted back to his GP2 title […]
Nasr aims to end Sauber struggle with new engineer
Oct.9 (GMM) Felipe Nasr has begun working with a new race engineer. After an impressive start to his F1 career with Sauber this year, the Brazilian rookie entered a slump characterised by recurring brake problems and a consistent struggle to match resurgent teammate Marcus Ericsson. Brazil’s UOL Grande Premio reports that Nasr, 23, has now […]
Button defends Alonso after ‘GP2 engine’ outbursts
Oct.9 (GMM) Jenson Button has defended his McLaren-Honda teammate, following Fernando Alonso’s controversial radio outbursts at Suzuka. Spaniard Alonso, who called Honda’s “embarrassing” power unit akin to a “GP2 engine”, explained at Sochi that he was simply “frustrated” to be passed by cars before the braking zone. He also called for a ban on F1’s […]
Ecclestone and Mackenzie ‘might buy F1’ – report
Oct.9 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has now stepped away from his earlier claim that the sale of formula one is imminent. Earlier this week, the F1 supremo indicated that he thinks one of three interested parties will take over from current owner CVC “very shortly”. In the wake of the comments, the Financial Times reported that […]
2015 Ferrari engine ‘acceptable’ for Toro Rosso
Oct.9 (GMM) The talk in the Sochi paddock on Friday is all about Red Bull. And the rumours are developing by the minute. One is that Ferrari has now ruled out working with the premier crisis-struck energy drink owned team in 2016, even though it is prepared to offer a 2015-spec engine to sister squad […]
Kvyat not ruling out Renault reconciliation for Red Bull
Oct.9 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat on Friday would not dismiss paddock speculation that Red Bull and Renault could call off their impending divorce. As the energy drink outfit’s engine crisis develops at speed ahead of the Russian grand prix, the latest rumour is that – with the Mercedes and Ferrari options increasingly sidelined – talks to […]
Customer drivers ponder Mercedes engine parity
Oct.9 (GMM) Drivers for Mercedes’ customer teams are beginning to speak up about the issue of engine parity. Williams and Force India, both powered by Mercedes, are receiving fresh units from Brixworth for the Sochi weekend — but they are not the latest specification. That is despite the fact that, earlier in 2015, Mercedes chiefs […]
Red Bull engine saga racing ahead at Sochi
Oct.9 (GMM) Red Bull’s engine saga is speeding ahead faster even than the cars on the slippery Sochi track on Friday. The day began with the energy drink company reportedly still in talks with Ferrari. But then reports emerged that while the Maranello team was happy to help the sister team Toro Rosso with a […]
Verstappen sure Red Bull exit would not end F1 career
Oct.9 (GMM) As the engine crisis apparently deepens, the only man wearing a Red Bull uniform who does not seem worried is Max Verstappen. The Dutch teen is among the hottest talents to have ever debuted in formula one, so he seems not overly fazed that his employer could be set to pull the plug. […]
Raikkonen disagrees with Alonso over radio broadcast ban
Oct.9 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has refused to back former teammate Fernando Alonso’s view that radio traffic should not be broadcast live in formula one. Alonso’s outbursts at Suzuka, in which he compared Honda’s “embarrassing” power unit to a “GP2 engine”, triggered theories the Spaniard was trying to deliberately breach his McLaren contract. But he says […]
Alonso to stay in F1 for ‘four or five years’ – Briatore
Oct.9 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has backed Fernando Alonso’s claim that the Spaniard is staying put at McLaren-Honda. Having lost his temper on the radio at Suzuka, and telling reporters afterwards that he is not sure he will still be in F1 next year, Alonso insisted at Sochi that he will honour his contract to race […]
Ferrari ‘not guilty’ if Red Bull has no engine
Oct.9 (GMM) As Red Bull’s options narrow further, Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene has played down the prospect of a 2016 engine deal. And the Italian told Brazil’s Globo that the perception that the fate of Red Bull and Toro Rosso and hundreds of employees is now in the hands of Ferrari is wrong. “Red Bull […]
Rosberg hopes Ferraris help title fight-back
Oct.8 (GMM) Ferrari will have an unusual supporter barracking for a strong weekend for the Maranello team this weekend in Russia. It is Nico Rosberg, who acknowledged that with his 48 point deficit to Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton with just five races to go, he needs some outside help to close the gap. “The season […]
Only Alonso to race token-upgraded Honda at Sochi
Oct.8 (GMM) Honda has brought a new engine specification to Russia, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports. Correspondent Michael Schmidt said the power unit makes use of the struggling Japanese manufacturer’s final 4 in-season ‘tokens’ for 2015. The engine will reportedly be fitted only to Fernando Alonso’s McLaren at Sochi, resulting in the Spaniard needing […]
Ecclestone promised better TV coverage for Sochi – Lauda
Oct.8 (GMM) Niki Lauda says Bernie Ecclestone has assured him the two Mercedes cars will not be ignored by the television cameras this weekend at Sochi. Following the controversial Suzuka ‘blackout’, the F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman travelled to Ecclestone’s London office to confront the F1 supremo over the issue. Lauda told the newspaper […]
Hulkenberg rules out Le Mans in 2016
Oct.8 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg on Thursday confirmed he will not be defending his Le Mans title next year. That is because Bernie Ecclestone’s re-jigged calendar for 2016 features a controversial clash of the inaugural grand prix in Azerbaijan and the fabled 24 hour endurance sports car race. “I’m disappointed,” the Force India driver said at […]
Silverstone chief says F1 ‘sh*t’ and ‘not saleable’
Oct.8 (GMM) Silverstone chief Patrick Allen has launched an unprecedented attack on formula one, describing it as a “sh*t product”. It is an echo of an earlier story in 2015, when Bernie Ecclestone reportedly told a French media outlet that F1 is a “crap product”. The F1 supremo, however, denied saying it, insisting he was […]
Ecclestone comments trigger retirement rumours
Oct.8 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has tongues wagging in the F1 paddock after declaring that formula one is set to be sold within three months. F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda told APA news agency he has “no idea” why the F1 supremo has gone public with the news now. “In principle, a sale […]