Jul.7 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein is not ruling out staying at Sauber next year. That is despite recent rumours suggesting the shock departure of boss Monisha Kaltenborn was linked with a driver equality spat involving the young German. Now, with his ally Kaltenborn gone, Wehrlein admits the atmosphere at Sauber is different. “We do not have […]
Ferrari not confirming engine boss exit
Jul.7 (GMM) Ferrari is not confirming reports that its engine boss has left the team. Il Giornale, a Milan daily, reports that engine designer Lorenzo Sassi has left the Maranello outfit. There are conflicting accounts as to why, with one source saying Sassi has actually been called up by president Sergio Marchionne to the parent […]
Williams defends Stroll’s private tests
Jul.7 (GMM) The next steps in Lance Stroll’s private test programme are not known. This week, ex-Williams driver Jacques Villeneuve criticised his former team for organising private tests in a 2014 car for Stroll, the son of Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll. “It’s not fair to the other drivers because he is the only one to […]
Vettel denies ‘oil in fuel’ story hurt Ferrari
Jul.7 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is not ready to declare that Mercedes has definitely raced ahead in the 2017 championship battle. After Sebastian Vettel’s Monaco win, Ferrari appeared to suffer an obvious drop in performance, just as the FIA clamped down on the adding of oil to fuel. Some suspect the FIA ruling was […]
Massa has eye on Kubica’s comeback attempt
Jul.7 (GMM) Felipe Massa admits he will keep a close eye on former F1 driver Robert Kubica’s push to return to the category. Renault has now confirmed rumours that, after giving the Pole a test at Valencia recently, Kubica will get a more comprehensive outing at Paul Ricard in the near future. “This second test […]
Silverstone to axe British GP on Tuesday
Jul.7 (GMM) Silverstone bosses are expected to axe their British grand prix contract within days. The Sun newspaper reports that the call to cancel the historic race after 2019 could come as soon as Tuesday. “It is then expected that the (circuit-owning) BRDC will approach Liberty about agreeing new terms that are more favourable,” the […]
Perez career in ‘now or never’ phase – Ocon
Jul.7 (GMM) Sergio Perez’s F1 career is in a “now or never” phase. That is the view of his teammate, Esteban Ocon, as tensions rise between the Force India duo. In Montreal, Mexican Perez refused an order from his team to let the Frenchman past, and in Baku they clashed on-track. Perez was still critical […]
No ‘big difference’ from new Honda – Vandoorne
Jul.7 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne has backed McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso in playing down the ‘spec 3’ Honda engine that is set to debut this weekend in Austria. As McLaren and Honda apparently race towards divorce, Spaniard Alonso said he expects “nothing” from the new Honda specification. Teammate Vandoorne told the Belgian broadcaster RTBF in Austria: […]
Todt has questions to answer over Vettel – Hamilton
Jul.7 (GMM) The FIA has questions to answer after Sebastian Vettel escaped a further penalty following the recent Baku grand prix. That is the view of Lewis Hamilton, who in Austria said he accepts the Ferrari driver’s apology for having driven intentionally into him two weeks ago. Hamilton told a packed press conference that “respect” […]
F1 should add second China GP – Brown
Jul.7 (GMM) F1 should look into adding a second grand prix in China. That is the view of McLaren boss Zak Brown, as rumours swirl about China’s growing influence in the sport. There is speculation not one but two separate Chinese groups are looking at either starting a new team, significantly investing in one, or […]
Now communication boss leaves Sauber
Jul.6 (GMM) Another key Sauber member has left the Swiss F1 team. Just before the Baku grand prix a fortnight ago, team boss Monisha Kaltenborn was ousted by the new owners. And now, the Swiss newspaper Blick reports that communications boss Robert Hopoltseder has also left Sauber. “I had been dealing with Monisha’s departure every […]
‘No more chances’ for temper-prone Vettel
Jul.6 (GMM) The FIA would have to act if Sebastian Vettel loses control of his temper one more time. That is the view of former F1 driver turned pundit Marc Surer, amid criticism of the F1 governing body’s decision to essentially pardon the Ferrari driver. Vettel was this week summoned to Paris after driving deliberately […]
Carey denies targeting 25-race F1 calendar
Jul.6 (GMM) Chase Carey has denied setting 25 races per season as the target for future F1 calendars. A 21-race schedule for 2018 has already been revealed, but there are claims new events – particularly in the US – could drive the tally to unprecedented heights. “25 races would be possible,” Red Bull’s Dr Helmut […]
Alonso expects ‘nothing’ from new Honda
Jul.6 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has played down expectations about Honda’s ‘new’ engine ahead of the Austrian grand prix this weekend. Amid strong rumours about a McLaren-Honda divorce, the struggling Japanese manufacturer tested the ‘spec 3’ unit in Baku and both drivers will race it in Spielberg. “I am looking forward to seeing our performance,” said […]
‘Whiting to retire’ rumours re-surface
Jul.6 (GMM) Speculation is once again doing the rounds that long time F1 race director Charlie Whiting could be set to be replaced. With Bernie Ecclestone departing, many others linked with the former F1 supremo also left the sport, including Herbie Blash and Pasquale Lattuneddu. Some at the time said Whiting, a long-time Ecclestone ally […]
Cosworth attends latest F1 engine meeting
Jul.6 (GMM) If the latest F1 meeting is any indication, the sport’s future is looking bright. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff headed to his native Austria for this weekend’s grand prix only after attending the engine group meeting, where the post-2020 rules are rapidly taking shape. F1 has said it wants the next engine to be […]
Sauber set to confirm Vasseur as boss
Jul.5 (GMM) Sauber is set to announce Frederic Vasseur as its new team boss. Just prior to the recent grand prix in Baku, the Swiss team’s new owners suddenly ousted boss Monisha Kaltenborn. And Vasseur, who this year has been running his Formula 2 team after leaving Renault at the end of last season, subsequently […]
Paul Ricard bids to host 2018 winter tests
Jul.5 (GMM) Paul Ricard could be the scene of next year’s official F1 winter testing. The circuit in Le Castellet is returning to the calendar next year to revive the historic French grand prix. But it emerges that the teams and drivers could also get their first taste of the 2018 cars at Paul Ricard […]
Stroll’s private testing ‘not fair’ – Villeneuve
Jul.5 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has hit out at the private testing programme being enjoyed this year by controversial F1 rookie Lance Stroll. After vicious early-season criticism of the 18-year-old Williams driver, Villeneuve acknowledged that fellow Canadian Stroll took a big step forward in Montreal and Baku. But the 1997 world champion remains critical. For instance, […]
Villeneuve not sorry for Stroll criticism
Jul.5 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has refused to apologise for his harsh outspokenness about his countryman Lance Stroll’s performance in F1 this year. Stroll, 18, had lashed out at the “negative” 1997 world champion, after Villeneuve described him as arguably the sport’s worst ever rookie. “I was critical of him early in the season because of […]