Dec.12 (GMM) Williams is not commenting on reports it rejected an initial offer from Mercedes to buy out Valtteri Bottas’ 2017 contract. As Mercedes looks to replace Nico Rosberg, Finn Bottas – managed by team boss Toto Wolff but under firm contract to Williams – has been named as a top contender. But Britain’s Sun […]
Hamilton, Wolff, end Abu Dhabi controversy
Dec.12 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff are looking to put the controversy of the Abu Dhabi finale firmly in the past. After the 2016 finale, Mercedes boss Wolff was said to be considering disciplining the triple world champion for ignoring team orders and backing Nico Rosberg into rival cars. But Wolff has now been […]
Rosberg situation helps me – Nasr
Dec.12 (GMM) Felipe Nasr says Nico Rosberg’s shock decision to retire improves his chances of staying in F1 next year. Until Rosberg’s shock news, the Brazilian looked set to lose his place at Sauber, following the departure of his major backer Banco do Brasil. But with Mercedes now shaking up the driver market with its […]
Agostini questions Rosberg ‘passion’
Dec.12 (GMM) Giacomo Agostini, arguably the greatest motorcycle racing legend of all time, says he cannot understand new F1 champion Nico Rosberg’s decision to quit. The Italian, who switched to non-championship F1 after his glittering moto career ended in the 70s, was asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport to comment on 31-year-old Rosberg’s decision to […]
Pirelli wants to monitor tyre data in-race
Dec.12 (GMM) Pirelli sounds determined to keep clamping down on how F1 teams are using their tyres. The sport’s official supplier was unpopular among many teams this year as it demanded controversially high operating tyre pressures. So now with the tyres getting bigger and grippier for 2017, Pirelli F1 chief Mario Isola confirmed reports the […]
‘Difficult’ to be better in 2017 – Force India
Dec.12 (GMM) Force India has acknowledged it will be difficult to defend fourth place in the constructors’ world championship next year. Despite having one of the smallest budgets in the sport, the Silverstone based team finished fourth in 2016 behind the might of Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari. When asked by Auto Motor und Sport […]
McLaren denies Lowe returning to Woking
Dec.10 (GMM) McLaren has rubbished reports Mercedes’ technical boss Paddy Lowe is set to leave the reigning world champions and return to Woking. As his current contract nears an end, Briton Lowe, 54, had been linked with James Allison’s old job at Ferrari. But reports in the Italian press now suggest Lowe could in fact […]
‘Three names’ on Mercedes shortlist – Wolff
Dec.9 (GMM) It is becoming clearer and clearer that Pascal Wehrlein will join Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate in 2017. Following new world champion Rosberg’s shock decision of a week ago to retire, F1 has been a hotbed of rumours when it comes to his replacement. The headline rumour has been all about Fernando […]
Liberty to vote on F1 buyout in January
Dec.9 (GMM) F1’s acquisition by Liberty Media will speed ahead early next year. Currently, the company headed by US media tycoon John Malone has started to take over the commercial rights from CVC, but the deal is far from complete. “I think it is too early to talk about how it (F1) will be with […]
Growing financial loss at Austrian GP – report
Dec.8 (GMM) Austrian grand prix venue, the Red Bull Ring, has recorded an alarming financial loss for 2016. That is the claim of the Austrian weekly business magazine Trend, shortly after it was confirmed that Germany will not host a race next year for financial reasons. Trend said the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, having […]
Ferrari dominance better for F1 – Kaltenborn
Dec.8 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn says it would be better if Ferrari rather than Mercedes was dominating formula one. “Of course it would be better if several teams were to fight for the title,” the Sauber team chief told German radio Deutschlandfunk. But she said it is not Mercedes’ fault that it simply aced the new […]
French GP revival ‘surprised’ Ecclestone
Dec.8 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he is “surprised” a deal to revive the French grand prix is finally done. “It’s taken a long time but eventually we got there,” the F1 supremo told L’Equipe, after the five-year contract starting in 2018 at his own Paul Ricard circuit was announced. “I am very, very happy […]
Rosberg rejects F1 comeback talk
Dec.8 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has hit back at claims he might return to formula one after a few years of retirement. Citing the stress of his battle with Lewis Hamilton, and the desire to spend more time with his young family, the German stunned the F1 world a week ago by announcing his shock decision […]
Rosberg backs Wehrlein for 2017 seat
Dec.8 (GMM) New world champion Nico Rosberg has backed countryman Pascal Wehrlein’s suitability to replace him at Mercedes. Stars including Fernando Alonso are also on the team’s 2017 short-list, but bookmakers say Mercedes’ most experienced junior, 2016 Manor driver Wehrlein, is the favourite. “Pascal is a huge hope for Germany for the future,” Rosberg said. […]
Rosberg defends decision after Lauda criticism
Dec.8 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has hit back at his former boss Niki Lauda, following criticism of his sudden decision to quit Mercedes and formula one. Lauda, the F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman, had said German Rosberg made the outfit look “stupid” by leaving it with a top driver to replace in December. But Rosberg […]
Mercedes’ Costa backs Wehrlein to replace Rosberg
Dec.8 (GMM) Mercedes’ engineering chief Aldo Costa has named in-house junior Pascal Wehrlein as a good candidate to replace retiring world champion Nico Rosberg. Having digested Rosberg’s shock news, the reigning champions want to appoint the German’s successor within December, with names including Fernando Alonso being touted. “I guess unfortunately for Mercedes, Fernando is not […]
‘Rational’ Lauda can’t relate to Rosberg call – Wolff
Dec.7 (GMM) Toto Wolff has excused his fellow Mercedes team chief Niki Lauda for initially reacting angrily to Nico Rosberg’s shock decision to retire. Lauda, an F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman, sounded angry that Rosberg’s late call has left the reigning world champions needing to replace him for 2017 at the eleventh hour. Wolff […]
Wolff wanted midfield team for Wehrlein in 2017
Dec.7 (GMM) Toto Wolff says it would be better if Pascal Wehrlein got another “year or two” to develop at a midfield team before stepping up at Mercedes. The German camp is currently weighing up its options in the wake of world champion Nico Rosberg’s shock decision to quit the team and F1. In a […]
Nasr prepared to wait for Sauber cockpit
Dec.7 (GMM) Felipe Nasr has indicated he has the patience to wait for clarity regarding his future in F1. Until mere days ago, the Brazilian looked set to lose his place at Sauber for 2017 to the Mercedes-backed Pascal Wehrlein. But German Wehrlein, 22, is now the frontrunner to replace the suddenly-retired world champion Nico […]
Wolff not ready to drop Hamilton tactics issue yet
Dec.7 (GMM) Mercedes is yet to close the chapter on Lewis Hamilton’s controversial driving in the closing stages of the Abu Dhabi title finale. With boss Toto Wolff said to be considering sanctions for the Briton, team chairman Niki Lauda claimed this week that management have in fact “drawn a line under it”. “We have […]