Aug.23 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen’s new Ferrari deal is probably a precursor to Sebastian Vettel also staying with the Italian team. That is the view of former F1 driver Mika Salo, speaking after his Finnish countryman Raikkonen’s new contract for 2018 was announced. “This was the expected news,” Salo, who raced for Ferrari almost 20 years […]
Raikkonen ‘happy’ with new Ferrari deal
Aug.23 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he and Ferrari are “happy” to have reached a new deal for 2018. The Italian team on Tuesday ended a period of speculation by announcing that the Finn will stay at Ferrari next year. “We started discussing it at a late stage and quickly agreed. It did not take long […]
F1 close to new China GP deal – Bratches
Aug.23 (GMM) F1 is closing in on a deal to keep the sport in China. Earlier, a provisional calendar for 2018 listed both the Shanghai event as well as the popular night race in Singapore as provisional. But Sean Bratches, F1’s new commercial boss, said a new deal for China is at least close. “We’ve […]
Verstappen says 2018 key to Red Bull future
Aug.22 (GMM) Max Verstappen says 2018 will be a key season for Red Bull and his own future in F1. Amid the Dutchman’s difficult season so far, there has been speculation he is being wooed elsewhere — perhaps by Ferrari. But while visiting the DTM race in Zandvoort at the weekend, Verstappen insisted: “I’ve always […]
Mercedes approach gives Vettel advantage – Wolff
Aug.22 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes might need a change of tack in order to beat Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to the 2017 title. Before the summer break, Vettel won the race in Hungary whilst his closest championship challenger Lewis Hamilton lost more points by voluntarily letting his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas pass late in the […]
Raikkonen tips strong future for Leclerc
Aug.22 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has tipped a strong future for Ferrari junior Charles Leclerc. Monaco-born Leclerc, 19, is dominating the former GP2 series Formula 2 this year and he recently impressed at the wheel of Ferrari’s 2017 car at the post-Hungary GP test. “It’s not easy to do well in a different car from what […]
Force India wants imminent Perez deal
Aug.22 (GMM) A new Force India deal for Sergio Perez could now be imminent. The Mexican flirted with a move to Renault for 2017 but instead re-committed to Force India. He said he is happy with his choice. “I think the team has been moving forwards every year,” said Perez. “There is a lot more […]
Toro Rosso-Honda talks fall through – reports
Aug.22 (GMM) Talks about Toro Rosso taking on Honda power for 2018 have fallen through, according to reports in the Italian press. Prior to the summer break, rumours were rife that the junior Red Bull-owned team could take over from Sauber as a Honda ‘customer’ for 2018. “After several weeks, the negotiations have stopped for […]
Hembery wants ‘regionalised’ F1 calendar
Aug.22 (GMM) Former Pirelli F1 boss Paul Hembery thinks the sport’s calendar should be “regionalised”. While the Briton is now the Italian tyre maker’s boss of Latin America, he backed new F1 owner Liberty Media’s push to continue to globalise the sport. “If we increase the number of races, we should regionalise them,” he told […]
Boutsen tells Vandoorne to have ‘patience’
Aug.22 (GMM) Former F1 driver Thierry Boutsen has backed Belgian countryman Stoffel Vandoorne to have a good career despite his very bad start with McLaren. The three-time grand prix winner achieved his success with Williams, but he says it “hurts” to see McLaren suffering with its Honda power at present. “If you like formula one, […]
Formula E is ‘the future’ – Rosberg
Aug.22 (GMM) Reigning F1 world champion Nico Rosberg says the all-electric single seater series Formula E is “the future”. “This is the future of the world and it will be exciting to see when all those manufacturers put their cards on the table,” said the German, referring to the prospect of Mercedes taking on other […]
Verstappen ‘stronger than I was’ – Scheckter
Aug.22 (GMM) 1979 world champion Jody Scheckter says he sees similarities between himself and F1 sensation Max Verstappen. “Yes, he reminds me of myself in the beginning, although he is perhaps stronger than I was,” the South African, who now runs an organic farm, told Italy’s La Repubblica. “I’d also like to say I was […]
Halo rules ‘too late’ for 2018
Aug.22 (GMM) F1 engineers are worried the precise regulations for ‘Halo’ are arriving too late for 2018. Auto Motor und Sport reports that the cockpit protection device is not just aesthetically challenging, but will have a major impact on the design of next year’s cars in terms of aerodynamics and weight. “But the precise Halo […]
‘No intention’ of breaking contract – Sainz
Aug.15 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is happy tensions with his Red Bull and Toro Rosso bosses have calmed after an intense recent period. As the current August break approached, the Spaniard appeared at odds with his bosses as a he reportedly rebelled against his 2018 contract and fought over an on-track clash with teammate […]
No ‘trend’ in Ferrari vs Mercedes battle – Binotto
Aug.15 (GMM) It is not possible to say that either Mercedes or Ferrari has the edge at the mid-season point in a close battle for 2017 spoils. Prior to Hungary, where Ferrari scored a one-two finish and Sebastian Vettel pushed out his points lead over Lewis Hamilton, it seemed clear that Mercedes had gained the […]
Wind tunnel problems hurt Red Bull – Horner
Aug.15 (GMM) Christian Horner says problems at the factory caused Red Bull’s early-season problems in 2017. The former champions are now getting closer to title protagonists Mercedes and Ferrari, but only after a hard push to identify the problem and close the gap. “The race track didn’t show what our tools had promised,” team boss […]
Drivers unhappy with extra Halo weight
Aug.14 (GMM) While most focus on the aesthetics, it is another feature of the controversial ‘Halo’ system that might actually have a more significant impact on F1. The fact the carbon-titanium cockpit protection system will be mandatory on all cars next year has sparked a furious debate. But while some rail against the questionable aesthetics […]
Bottas ‘the perfect driver’ – Rosberg
Aug.14 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas might be close to being “the perfect driver”. That is the view of the Finn’s Mercedes predecessor, Nico Rosberg. Rosberg suddenly quit at the end of last season, plunging Mercedes into a desperate search to replace him. The German admits his decision might have hurt Mercedes. “I wouldn’t exactly say that,” […]
Rosberg physio backs Kubica comeback
Aug.11 (GMM) Yet another respected figure in the F1 paddock has backed Robert Kubica’s return to F1. Last year, Daniel Schlosser was Nico Rosberg’s physiotherapist as the now retired Mercedes driver raced to the title. Now, Schlosser works with Force India tester Nikita Mazepin, but it’s former grand prix winner Kubica that he publicly backs […]
Massa recovers from Hungary illness
Aug.11 (GMM) Felipe Massa looks to be on track for his return to action after the August break. The Brazilian veteran sat out the Hungarian grand prix recently with an illness that caused dizziness. But already last weekend, the 36-year-old posted on Instagram a photo of himself out running with his trainer. And now, as […]