Dec.7 (GMM) The newly retired Nico Rosberg could decide to return to formula one in the future. That is the view of Gerhard Berger, a former F1 driver who is close to the Rosberg family. Earlier this year, Austrian Berger negotiated a new two-year contract for Rosberg, but the German has decided to call it […]
Gasly aims to race in 2018 French GP return
Dec.6 (GMM) New GP2 champion Pierre Gasly has set his sights on being in F1 in time for France’s calendar return in 2018. As a Red Bull junior, the 20-year-old had hoped to debut for Toro Rosso next year but the energy drink company decided to re-sign Russian Daniil Kvyat instead. Gasly, however, went on […]
Minister learned of France GP deal on TV
Dec.6 (GMM) Sports minister Thierry Braillard says he learned about the return of the French grand prix via the media. Former professional motorcycle racer turned politician Christian Estrosi, now president of the regional council of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, announced on Monday that after a ten year absence, France will return to the calendar in 2018 with […]
Ferrari not involved with Rosberg story – Arrivabene
Dec.6 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene has counted Ferrari out of Mercedes’ last minute scramble to replace the newly-retired world champion Nico Rosberg. Sebastian Vettel was touted as a potential target for the German squad, but Ferrari boss Arrivabene said Ferrari will not get involved in any way with the “Nico problem”. “I would like to be […]
Schumacher to become Mercedes junior – report
Dec.6 (GMM) Mick Schumacher could now be on the cusp of becoming Mercedes’ next official F1 junior driver. With Esteban Ocon stepping up to Force India next year, and Pascal Wehrlein on the cusp of replacing world champion Nico Rosberg at the works team, Kolner Express newspaper suggested 17-year-old Schumacher is next in line. The […]
Wehrlein on pole for Mercedes seat
Dec.6 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein appears to be in pole position to step up and become Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate at Mercedes for 2017. The news comes as team chiefs got together at Brackley this week to discuss the urgent situation of replacing Nico Rosberg following his shock decision to quit F1. Multiple sources said the […]
Mercedes moves on after Hamilton tactics controversy
Dec.5 (GMM) Mercedes has “drawn a line” under Lewis Hamilton’s controversial driving in the Abu Dhabi finale. The team had considered penalising the Briton for the way in which he backed new world champion Nico Rosberg into Mercedes’ rivals as they battled for the 2016 title. But Mercedes now has the “huge” matter of replacing […]
Valentino Rossi says Wolff ‘has my number’
Dec.5 (GMM) The rumours linking potential names with Nico Rosberg’s newly vacant 2017 seat are getting wilder by the moment. MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi, who strongly flirted with a switch to four wheels a decade ago, has thrown his name into the hat for the Mercedes drive. It comes after Toto Wolff joked that Rossi […]
Rosberg to stay involved with F1
Dec.5 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says he wants to remain connected to F1 following his shock decision to quit Mercedes and retire. The new world champion stunned F1 and the German outfit to such an extent that Mercedes’ team chairman Niki Lauda said a silver-clad comeback for the 31-year-old in the future is now “impossible”. But […]
Even Massa not ruling out Mercedes seat
Dec.5 (GMM) Even newly retired drivers are being linked with Nico Rosberg’s surprisingly vacant Mercedes seat for 2017. Rumours have mentioned Jenson Button as a contender to reunite with his former teammate Lewis Hamilton, while Brazil’s Globo even asked Felipe Massa if he is interested. “I am very happy with my decision to retire,” he […]
Mercedes ‘not ruling out’ Alonso for 2017 seat
Dec.5 (GMM) Fernando Alonso and Mercedes have played down rumours linking the Spanish driver with Nico Rosberg’s newly-vacant 2017 seat. Team boss Toto Wolff has made a point of saying almost every F1 driver has been in contact since Rosberg’s seismic retirement news on Friday. Some reports said Alonso, currently under contract to McLaren-Honda, was […]
Wehrlein ‘ready’ for Rosberg seat
Dec.5 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has declared himself “ready” to step up and become Lewis Hamilton’s new Mercedes teammate. Bosses Niki Lauda and Toto Wolff say almost the entire F1 grid has offered to replace Nico Rosberg following the new world champion’s shock retirement decision. But Speed Week quotes F1 legend Gerhard Berger as saying: “For […]
Lauda criticises Rosberg over shock decision
Dec.5 (GMM) Niki Lauda has hit out at Nico Rosberg’s decision to quit Mercedes just days after winning the world championship. The German’s decision was just as shocking to his bosses Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda as it was to the rest of the world. “He told me it was because of stress,” team chairman […]
Vettel plays down Mercedes move rumour
Dec.5 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has responded to the seismic Nico Rosberg retirement story simply by referring to his Ferrari contract. The German’s name is linked with his departing countryman’s 2017 seat, and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has not denied that tentative contact has already been made. “Only two drivers have not called me: Daniil […]
Red Bull distances itself from Rosberg story
Dec.5 (GMM) Red Bull and its drivers have distanced themselves from Nico Rosberg’s seismic decision to leave Mercedes and F1. Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo are among F1’s top drivers and therefore speculatively linked with the top seat alongside Lewis Hamilton for 2017. But Verstappen told De Telegraaf newspaper: “I will be driving again next […]
Ferrari could lose drivers after 2017 – Marchionne
Dec.5 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has admitted Ferrari is at risk of losing its champion drivers after 2017. However, the great marque’s president played down rumours that Sebastian Vettel is a real contender to replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes next year. “Both drivers are under contract for 2017,” he said at Ferrari’s world finals event in […]
Red Bull ‘left us behind’ – Marchionne
Dec.5 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne says Ferrari’s biggest problem in 2016 was falling behind the development curve. Some think the great Italian marque’s year was disastrous, but Ferrari president Marchionne said the team actually began 2016 well. “We were much more competitive than where we left in 2015,” he told Italian media at the team’s end […]
Biggest F1 names line up for Rosberg’s seat
Dec.3 (GMM) The big-name candidates are lining up, just hours after new world champion Nico Rosberg shocked the sporting world with the announcement of his retirement. “Not a lot surprises me, but this did,” F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda told the German broadcaster NTV. Mercedes proteges Pascal Wehrlein and Esteban Ocon were […]
Ecclestone opposed to format shakeup – Kaltenborn
Dec.2 (GMM) F1 should consider shaking up the race weekend format. That is the view of Monisha Kaltenborn, apparently echoing comments made recently by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone who said two shorter races per weekend might be more exciting. But Kaltenborn told Deutschlandfunk radio that the person most staunchly against shaking up the weekend format […]
Montoya sides with Verstappen amid criticism
Dec.2 (GMM) As the long 2016 season finally ends, Max Verstappen continues to divide opinion. Amid comparisons with greats like Senna and Schumacher, some criticise the young Dutchman for what they think is an overly aggressive driving style. “He is a boy full of talent,” said 1982 world champion Keke Rosberg, “but he needs a […]