Jan.6 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is ready to win races in formula one, according to his trainer. Antti Vierula once worked with Lewis Hamilton, and now his current client Bottas is actually tipped to join the triple world champion at Mercedes in 2017. When asked by Turun Sanomat if he can spot a future champion, Finn […]
Now Force India reveals 2017 launch date
Jan.6 (GMM) Force India has become the third team to reveal a launch date for its 2017 car. Before official testing begins at the end of February, Ferrari has said it will run its new car for the first time at Fiorano on February 24. And Mercedes revealed that its title-defending W08 will see light […]
Ecclestone wants Schumacher name back in F1
Jan.5 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he hopes F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s teenage son makes it all the way to formula one. Mick Schumacher, 17, is stepping up from Formula 4 to the ultra-competitive European F3 series this year, which was the category that launched Max Verstappen and so many other top drivers’ careers. Asked by […]
Ecclestone defends Vettel amid criticism
Jan.5 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has jumped to the defence of Sebastian Vettel, amid criticism of the Ferrari driver’s performance and frustration in 2016. “It’s not his fault that he’s not winning,” the F1 supremo told Sport Bild, referring to the German driver. “It’s about the car and the team,” Ecclestone insisted. “Ferrari has fallen back […]
Force India wants to beat top team in 2017 – Ocon
Jan.5 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he and Force India are aiming high for 2017. The Mercedes-backed, 20-year-old Frenchman made his mid-season F1 debut for backmarker Manor last year, but for 2017 he is stepping up to Force India. Despite its small budget, Force India finished an impressive fourth overall last year, and Ocon said the […]
Alesi hails Ferrari deal for Giovinazzi
Jan.5 (GMM) Jean Alesi has hailed Ferrari’s decision to sign up an Italian driver for 2017. GP2 runner-up Antonio Giovinazzi will be the fabled Maranello team’s reserve driver this year, a decision that has pleased former Ferrari star Alesi. “It’s fantastic,” the Frenchman told La Gazzetta dello Sport, “but it would have been astonishing if […]
Merhi not impressed by Verstappen hype
Jan.5 (GMM) Former F1 driver Roberto Merhi has moved to calm the hype surrounding Max Verstappen. Young Dutchman Verstappen is widely regarded as nothing short of a Senna-like F1 sensation, but former Manor driver Merhi is not as ready with the superlatives. “Max was in the right place at the right time,” he told the […]
Allison ‘tragedy’ hurt Ferrari – Alesi
Jan.4 (GMM) Jean Alesi thinks the departure of James Allison in 2016 had a big impact on Ferrari’s season. The former team driver told Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport that it was “sad” to see the great Maranello marque not win a single race last season. “Without wanting to blame someone, the family tragedy of […]
Mercedes to launch 2017 car in February
Jan.4 (GMM) Mercedes on Wednesday announced it will launch its 2017 car on 23 February. The event, and the title-defending W08’s first laps, will take place at British grand prix venue Silverstone. Mercedes announced the news in the form of a competition, where the winning fans will attend the launch. “I wish you all the […]
FIA bans Mercedes concept after Ferrari letter – report
Jan.4 (GMM) Ferrari has reportedly made a bold bid to catch up in 2017 by designing a new suspension system, or have the Mercedes-pioneered concept banned by the FIA. Germany’s Auto Bild claims that for its 2017 car codenamed 668, Ferrari has come up with a Mercedes-like, hydraulically-networked chassis. But before debuting it in late […]
‘Almost impossible’ task for Hamilton teammate – Merhi
Jan.4 (GMM) Former F1 driver Roberto Merhi has tipped a tough forthcoming season for Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate. It is believed Valtteri Bottas has secured the seat following world champion Nico Rosberg’s shock retirement, and former Manor driver Merhi said he would be delighted to get an opportunity like that. “Of course,” he told Spain’s […]
Vandoorne plays down Hamilton comparison
Jan.4 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne is refusing to compare himself with Lewis Hamilton. In 2007, then-rookie Hamilton burst onto the scene at McLaren and unsettled the established star and champion Fernando Alonso. Now, Belgian Vandoorne is the rookie set to take on the famous Spaniard. “I do not want to be Hamilton,” Spanish reports quote 24-year-old […]
‘Politics’ spoiling McLaren ‘passion’ – Ramirez
Jan.4 (GMM) McLaren’s former long-time team manager Jo Ramirez thinks “passion” is lacking in the Woking team of today. Ever present throughout the glorious Senna and Hakkinen eras, the 75-year-old Mexican told Spanish radio Cadena Cope that he remains well connected with McLaren figures now. “Unfortunately, McLaren is in a very delicate situation because there […]
Renault’s Palmer not ruling out 2017 podium
Jan.4 (GMM) Renault can target points and maybe even a podium in 2017. That is the claim of Jolyon Palmer, even though the French team’s incoming new driver, Nico Hulkenberg, has warned that breaking into the top ten this year might be tough. Indeed, Palmer scored just a single point in 2016, but the Briton […]
Haas ‘better fit’ than Renault or McLaren – Magnussen
Jan.4 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen is sure he will enjoy his F1 career more now that he has switched teams for the second time. The Dane debuted for McLaren, but fell out with Ron Dennis, who has now been ousted himself by the Woking based team’s other shareholders. Magnussen, 24, returned after a year’s absence with […]
No 2017 return for Haryanto – mother
Jan.4 (GMM) Rio Haryanto has dropped out of the running to return to F1 in 2017. The Indonesian rookie’s 2016 season ended prematurely with sponsor trouble, and now his main backer Pertamina has pulled out completely. Haryanto, 23, had been in the running to return this year with either Manor or Sauber. But his mother, […]
Toro Rosso eyes engine naming deal
Jan.3 (GMM) Toro Rosso is in talks about selling the naming rights of the team’s engine supplier for 2017. When the FIA published the provisional 2017 entry list recently, the name of Toro Rosso’s engine was listed as ‘TBC’ (to be confirmed). That is despite the fact that the Faenza based team has done a […]
Brown plays down McLaren sale talk
Jan.3 (GMM) Zak Brown thinks his impact at McLaren can be felt immediately in 2017. The former F1 sponsorship guru has now left that role to become the new executive at the Woking team, whose founder and long time chief Ron Dennis was ousted amid a shareholder dispute. “There’s trouble between (them),” Brown confirmed to […]
Hakkinen hopes to see Schumacher again
Jan.3 (GMM) As the three-year anniversary of his skiing accident passes, Michael Schumacher is quietly turning 48. The anniversaries have not escaped the attention of the F1 legend’s old title nemesis, Mika Hakkinen, who called the German “a great man”. “He is an incredible personality and a great person,” the Finn told Germany’s Bild newspaper. […]
Ricciardo relationship could change – Verstappen
Jan.3 (GMM) Max Verstappen admits that if Red Bull’s 2017 car is a title challenger, his relationship with teammate Daniel Ricciardo would change. However, the young Dutchman says that so far, he gets on very well with his Australian colleague. “When you see Daniel, he is always smiling and making everyone laugh,” Verstappen told De […]