Dec.2 (GMM) New world champion Nico Rosberg this week did not want to comment on the latest rumours surrounding his teammate Lewis Hamilton. Following his title defeat to Rosberg, rumours about Hamilton threatening to quit Mercedes earlier this year, and then refusing to do the post-Abu Dhabi tyre test, have abounded. Asked about the quit […]
France set for 2018 F1 calendar return – media
Dec.2 (GMM) After a decade’s absence, France will return to the F1 calendar in 2018. That is the claim of several authoritative French-language media sources, including the L’Equipe daily, RMC and Europe 1 radio, and the Auto Hebdo magazine. They say that although the last French grand prix was held at Magny Cours in 2008, […]
F1 stewards vow to improve ‘consistency’
Dec.2 (GMM) F1 stewards are looking to speed up their deliberating and be more consistent in their decisions. Particularly among the driver camp, the stewards have faced increasing criticism in recent months as some incidents went unnoticed while others attracted penalties. Amid that climate, the stewards got together in Vienna this week ahead of the […]
Sauber to be first with 2017 car
Dec.2 (GMM) Sauber looks set to be first out of the blocks with its 2017 car. Auto Motor und Sport reports that the Swiss team has already booked a date with the FIA to homologate its car for the new regulations — 19 December. Prior to an investor bailout, Sauber almost collapsed financially this year, […]
Hamilton will not quit Mercedes – Hill
Dec.1 (GMM) Damon Hill has rubbished rumours Lewis Hamilton might quit Mercedes. In Abu Dhabi, Hamilton refused to comment on speculation he almost quit after his collision with teammate Nico Rosberg in Spain. Now, the Briton is off-side with team management again after his controversial ‘backing up’ tactics in the 2016 finale. But 1996 world […]
Raikkonen ‘amazing’ to beat Vettel in 2016 – manager
Dec.1 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen’s improvement in 2016 was nothing short of “amazing”. That is the view of the 2007 world champion’s manager Steve Robertson, when discussing Raikkonen’s performance this year with the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat. “It’s amazing what difference a year makes,” he said. “If you think back to a year ago, I don’t […]
Rosberg unsure how far Hamilton tactics would go
Dec.1 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has admitted he was unsure if Lewis Hamilton would take his ‘backing up’ tactics in Abu Dhabi to the next level. Hamilton is already under fire for trying to drive the chasing Ferrari and Red Bull into his title nemesis, but Rosberg has said he has no problem with the Briton’s […]
Sauber wants to sign second driver ‘soon’
Dec.1 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn says Sauber would like to complete its 2017 driver lineup “as soon as possible”. The Swiss team’s chief headed into the last two races of this season declaring that, with Marcus Ericsson now under contract for 2017, the Swede’s teammate would be named before the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi. But […]
Champions don’t connect with German people – Lauda
Dec.1 (GMM) Niki Lauda has linked the demise of the German grand prix with how the public interacts with the country’s champion drivers Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg. In Vienna on Wednesday, the FIA confirmed a tweaked 2017 calendar that ends the controversial clash between Baku and the fabled Le Mans 24 hour sports car […]
Button ‘perfect’ for 2017 role – Boullier
Dec.1 (GMM) Jenson Button will continue to contribute to McLaren-Honda in 2017. That is the claim of team boss Eric Boullier, even though in the wake of team supremo Ron Dennis’ departure, Button in Abu Dhabi was suddenly referring to it as his “last race” rather than the start of a sabbatical. But France’s Auto […]
Abu Dhabi showed Rosberg ‘the right champion’ – Lauda
Dec.1 (GMM) Niki Lauda says the Abu Dhabi grand prix was proof in itself that Nico Rosberg deserves the 2016 world championship. As the controversy about Lewis Hamilton’s ‘backing up’ tactics continues, Mercedes’ team chairman said how the Briton and German Rosberg handled it is crucial to interpreting the outcome of their title battle. “If […]
Massa in talks to be F1 television pundit
Nov.30 (GMM) Felipe Massa has revealed that he should still be a familiar face in the F1 paddock next year. Brazil’s UOL Esporte claims the Brazilian is set to sign up as a regular commentator or pundit, but not for the country’s own broadcaster TV Globo. “I will not work with Globo because they are […]
Vettel admits not wanting to spoil title fight
Nov.30 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted he was careful in the closing laps of the Abu Dhabi finale to not ruin the battle for the 2016 world championship. However, the Ferrari driver denied that he deliberately did not overtake Nico Rosberg in order to support his German countryman, as Lewis Hamilton did his controversial ‘backing […]
Magnussen looking forward to ‘simple’ Haas team
Nov.30 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has admitted he is looking forward to the simplicity of the Haas team, after a year at the French works outfit Renault. At his final grand prix with Renault in Abu Dhabi, the Dane was spotted in meetings with his 2017 bosses, Haas team owner Gene Haas and principal Gunther Steiner. […]
F1 drivers back Hamilton amid controversy
Nov.30 (GMM) F1 drivers past and present have leapt to the defence of Lewis Hamilton, as the controversy about his ‘backing up’ tactics in Abu Dhabi continues. Mercedes is contemplating punishing the triple world champion for ignoring team orders, but 1979 world champion Jody Scheckter said that would be “ridiculous”. “Tactics are a part of […]
Podium a ‘realistic goal’ for Honda – boss
Nov.30 (GMM) Honda is targeting the podium for 2017. That is despite the fact that Fernando Alonso has never ruled out the possibility that, after McLaren-Honda’s struggles in 2015 and this year, the title remains a goal for next season. “Everyone has improved a lot in the year, both at McLaren and at Honda,” said […]
‘Unwell’ Hamilton quits Abu Dhabi tyre test
Nov.30 (GMM) As predicted earlier this week, Lewis Hamilton pulled out of the Pirelli tyre test in Abu Dhabi. Ahead of the session attended by Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull’s ‘mule’ test cars, we reported that following his championship defeat to teammate Nico Rosberg, Hamilton was refusing to drive in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. A […]
Monza finally signs new GP contract
Nov.29 (GMM) Monza and Bernie Ecclestone have finally signed on the dotted line of their race contract extension. After a long-running saga, the 2017-2019 deal was actually agreed in September but actual signatures on the documents were missing until now. But Monza’s official Twitter account announced on Tuesday that the deal is now “signed”. “The […]
Rosberg tells F1 to ‘drop’ Hamilton controversy
Nov.29 (GMM) World champion Nico Rosberg says F1 should “drop” the current discussion about teammate Lewis Hamilton’s tactics in Abu Dhabi. Hamilton is being criticised, and Mercedes is reportedly considering sanctioning the Briton, after he deliberately backed Rosberg into chasing rivals on Sunday. Rosberg told BBC radio on Tuesday that he can “understand” why the […]
Williams must not lose Rob Smedley – boss
Nov.29 (GMM) Claire Williams says the British team she leads does not want to lose Rob Smedley. In the past decade, British engineer Smedley’s career has been intricately linked with that of Felipe Massa, who headed into retirement at the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi. And recently, Smedley indicated that he might follow his friend’s […]