Aug.26 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton could be set to extend his stay at Mercedes beyond 2018. The triple world champion’s current deal runs out late next year, and he has been hinting that retirement or a move to Ferrari could be on the cards. But now, Sport Bild reports that Hamilton, 32, has told Mercedes team […]
Williams eyes Alonso for 2018
Aug.26 (GMM) British team Williams is making a bid to sign Fernando Alonso for 2018, according to multiple media reports. After three years of struggling with McLaren-Honda, the Spanish driver is openly assessing his limited options for next season. But McLaren is making clear it wants to keep him. “We will do everything we can […]
Alonso says September is ‘decision month’
Aug.25 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has admitted the time is nearing for a decision about his future beyond 2017. The Spaniard said previously he would contemplate his next move during the summer break, so as the F1 circus reconvened at Spa, Alonso was asked if he has decided. “I’ve always said that September would be the […]
Magnussen not sorry after ‘suck my b-lls’ rebuke
Aug.25 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg are refusing to make up after their high-profile falling out in Hungary recently. Haas driver Magnussen entered the August break by telling Hulkenberg to “suck my b-lls”, following their on-track battle. Renault’s Hulkenberg started the row by interrupting a live television interview to tell Magnussen he is the […]
Ralf Schumacher’s son set for Formula 4 debut
Aug.25 (GMM) Another Schumacher is well on the road to formula one. Already, great hype and attention is surrounding the rise of F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s 18-year-old son Mick, who is currently in European F3. But it now emerges that Michael’s brother Ralf also has a son on the path to F1, with David Schumacher […]
FIA to mandate ‘Halo’ beyond F1 – Mekies
Aug.25 (GMM) F1’s governing body has admitted it wants the controversial ‘Halo’ concept to be rolled out across the spectrum of open wheel racing. Many F1 drivers, insiders and fans are unhappy the ‘flip flop’-style safety innovation will protect the open cockpits of every F1 car next year. But the FIA’s technical boss Laurent Mekies […]
Palmer pushing to keep Renault seat
Aug.25 (GMM) Jolyon Palmer says he is determined to try to keep his place at Renault for 2018. The Briton has scored zero points this year while his teammate Nico Hulkenberg amassed a tidy tally of 26. Linked with Palmer’s place for 2018 are Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz and even Robert Kubica. “Honestly I have […]
Vasseur denies Sauber to be Ferrari ‘B team’
Aug.25 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur has played down claims Sauber could join Haas in becoming another Ferrari ‘B’ team. It has emerged that Sauber will use Ferrari’s fully up-to-date 2018 engine next year, and possibly run one or both of the Italian team’s junior drivers Antonio Giovinazzi and Charles Leclerc. “I knew you would ask me […]
Wehrlein admits Ferrari junior could oust him
Aug.25 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has admitted he might find himself ousted by Sauber at the end of the year. There are reports that after new team boss Frederic Vasseur swapped the team’s planned 2018 Honda deal for an extension with Ferrari, the new arrangement could see a Ferrari junior join Sauber next year. “Obviously Ferrari […]
Sainz welcomes James Key re-signing
Aug.25 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says the re-signing of technical boss James Key is good news for Toro Rosso. “I have always said that James is very important for Toro Rosso,” said the Spaniard, whose Red Bull bosses also want to keep him at the junior team for 2018. “I don’t know for how long he […]
Still no new contract for Sergio Perez
Aug.25 (GMM) Sergio Perez has emerged from F1’s August break without a new contract in place for 2018. The Mexican headed into the summer factory shutdown period declaring that he hoped his future at Force India would be clear by the end of August. “Unfortunately there is nothing to report,” Perez said at Spa. “As […]
Hamilton tips Mercedes to re-sign Bottas
Aug.25 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he hopes Valtteri Bottas stays at Mercedes next year. In the past days, Ferrari and McLaren have re-signed Kimi Raikkonen and Stoffel Vandoorne respectively for 2018, but Finn Bottas’ fate at Mercedes is less clear. One rumour is that Sebastian Vettel could replace him. “I think it’s highly unlikely that […]
Vettel says no contract news at Monza
Aug.25 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has played down claims Ferrari will confirm he is staying put for 2018 next week at Monza. The Italian team said this week that the German’s friend and teammate Kimi Raikkonen is staying at Ferrari next year. “I have no idea what will happen in his (Vettel’s) case,” Raikkonen said at […]
Lando Norris a star of the future – Verstappen
Aug.24 (GMM) F1 sensation Max Verstappen has joined those who predict a strong future for the latest star of the junior category F3. Arguably the highest profile driver in European F3 this year is Mick Schumacher, the 18-year-old son of seven time world champion Michael. “If I had to give Mick some advice, then it […]
Mercedes may re-think team orders issue – Lauda
Aug.24 (GMM) Niki Lauda has admitted Mercedes may take a different approach in future when it comes to ‘team orders’ between Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. While Sebastian Vettel is the clear de-facto ‘number 1’ at Ferrari, his main championship rival Hamilton lost points in Hungary by voluntarily giving up a place to his teammate […]
Vandoorne never worried about 2018 contract
Aug.24 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he was expecting McLaren to keep him on board for 2018. On Wednesday, the British team announced that its Belgian rookie driver will stay with McLaren in 2018, notwithstanding his often tough opening campaign alongside Fernando Alonso. But Vandoorne told Sporza news agency: “To me it was not a surprise […]
Rivals ‘more consistent’ than Hamilton – Rosberg
Aug.24 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has a real chance of winning the 2017 world championship. That is the claim of the Finn’s predecessor at Mercedes, reigning title winner Nico Rosberg. Last year, the German beat Lewis Hamilton to the crown, and now Bottas is not far behind the scrap for the lead between his Mercedes teammate […]
Alesi tips Vettel to sign next Ferrari contract
Aug.24 (GMM) The decision to keep Kimi Raikkonen is a move by Ferrari to retain its harmonious team “atmosphere”. That is the view of former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi, whose own comments comes amid claims the 2018 deal for Raikkonen is a precursor to Sebastian Vettel also staying at the Maranello team. Referring to 37-year-old […]
Manager hails Raikkonen’s Ferrari ‘loyalty’
Aug.24 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen’s manager says the Finnish driver’s experience and loyalty has been rewarded by Ferrari. Earlier this week, the Italian team said the contract of the 2007 world champion has been extended for 2018. Many insiders see it as a precursor to a new deal for Sebastian Vettel, the de-facto ‘number 1’ who […]
Alonso ‘motivation’ surprises Rosberg
Aug.24 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says he is surprised Fernando Alonso is keeping up his “motivation” amid the McLaren-Honda crisis. On Wednesday, the British team announced that Alonso’s 2017 teammate, Belgian rookie Stoffel Vandoorne, is staying next year. But two-time champion Alonso’s decision about what to do next year is less clear. That is especially true […]