Oct.21 (GMM) Toto Wolff is set to become the next father in the F1 paddock. Bild newspaper in Germany reports that the Mercedes team chief’s wife Susie, the former Williams test driver, is pregnant with their first child. “Yes, it’s true,” Wolff, 44, confirmed in Austin. “My wife Susie is pregnant and we are expecting […]
Vettel ‘important’ for Ferrari – Montezemolo
Oct.21 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has brushed aside talk about his future at Ferrari. With sections of the Italian press saying the German as well as the Maranello team are in ‘crisis’, speculation Vettel may leave Ferrari after 2017 had arisen. So when asked if any contract talks had taken place, Vettel said in Austin: “I […]
Kvyat not denying Force India rumours
Oct.21 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat is not denying paddock rumours in Austin that he is in the running to replace Nico Hulkenberg at Force India for 2017. The young Russian and current Toro Rosso driver has had an up and down season in the Red Bull camp, but he has seemed back in form and happier […]
Sainz not willing to wait for Red Bull seat
Oct.21 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he doesn’t want to be a back-up Red Bull driver for the rest of his career. The Spaniard had eyed a move from Toro Rosso to the senior team, and was then short-listed by the works Renault team for 2017. But Red Bull is keeping him at Toro Rosso, not […]
Hamilton behaving better before Austin GP
Oct.21 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton said ahead of the US grand prix that he will “try to take it like a man” if he is beaten to the 2016 world championship. Now 33 points behind Nico Rosberg with four races to go, the reigning world champion caused a stir at Suzuka with his press conference antics, […]
Fernandes not ruling out future F1 return
Oct.20 (GMM) Tony Fernandes says he has not closed the door on formula one forever. The prominent Malaysian businessman headed the backmarker team Caterham until late 2014, when it collapsed. “It was very hard to manage everything,” Fernandes told Vedomosti, a Russian business daily. “All my life I was focused but businesses such as football […]
PDVSA crisis is bad news for Maldonado
Oct.20 (GMM) Pastor Maldonado’s hopes of returning to F1 appear slim, given the latest news emerging from Venezuela. The former Williams and Lotus driver’s seats were backed strongly by PDVSA, the government-run oil giant and embattled Venezuela’s primary source of income. Maldonado, 31, attended the Monaco grand prix this year – where he lives – […]
Mercedes duo free to fight for title – Wolff
Oct.20 (GMM) Mercedes has cleared the path for its two drivers to fight unimpeded for the 2016 title. The German newspaper Bild said that with the constructors’ championship now wrapped up, team boss Toto Wolff has given the green light to Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. Previously, there has been talk of rules of engagement […]
F1 foray a ‘dream’ for Lamborghini – Domenicali
Oct.20 (GMM) Former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has repeated his denial that Lamborghini might soon enter formula one. Domenicali becoming Audi-owned Lamborghini’s chief executive earlier this year ramped up speculation about a F1 foray. But 51-year-old told the Italian broadcaster Sky: “Motor sport is part of the DNA of Lamborghini, which is music to my […]
Report links Boullier with Ferrari move
Oct.20 (GMM) Amid what the Italian press is calling a ‘crisis’, the rumours about a change at the top at Ferrari are resurfacing again. Several Italian sources are hinting at a rift between president Sergio Marchionne and team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, with new technical boss Mattia Binotto a favourite to step in. And the Spanish […]
Hulkenberg to help Renault take ‘giant leap’
Oct.20 (GMM) Renault has been tipped to take a “giant leap” ahead in 2017. Marc Surer, a former F1 driver and pundit for the German broadcaster Sky, hailed Nico Hulkenberg’s decision to accept an offer to join the French works team. “As the opportunities with the other teams diminished, it was the best thing he […]
Brawn quit F1 over lack of ‘trust’ at Mercedes
Oct.20 (GMM) Ross Brawn says he left F1 at the end of 2013 because he “couldn’t trust” Mercedes’ management team. The highly respected Briton was team boss until the end of 2013, and he now says he decided to quit rather than try to work with current chiefs Toto Wolff, Niki Lauda and Paddy Lowe. […]
Dennis’ long McLaren reign to end – reports
Oct.19 (GMM) British newspapers on Wednesday are reporting that Ron Dennis’ long reign at McLaren may be coming to an end. The Times said the Woking team’s long-time supremo is “fighting to hold onto his job” amid a battle between himself and fellow co-owners Mansour Ojjeh and the Bahrain sovereign wealth fund. “Ojjeh has aligned […]
F1 door opens wider for Berger’s nephew
Oct.19 (GMM) The door to F1 may have just swung open a little wider for Lucas Auer. Last month, Toto Wolff said “the door is open” to the young Austrian, who is the 22-year-old nephew of former F1 driver and legend Gerhard Berger. Auer currently drives for Mercedes in the German touring car series DTM. […]
Hamilton cannot be written off – Wehrlein
Oct.19 (GMM) Mercedes has confirmed reports Lewis Hamilton will be summoned to appear yet again in the FIA’s official press conference. The world champion caused a stir at Suzuka by playing with ‘Snapchat’ throughout the Thursday event, and he then refused to take questions from the written media in a Mercedes-organised press conference on Saturday. […]
Verstappen aggression nothing new – Ocon
Oct.19 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says Max Verstappen’s controversially aggressive driving style in formula one is nothing new. Just two years ago, the pair were fighting wheel-to-wheel in the premier European F3 championship — and Frenchman Ocon emerged the victor. But it is the younger of the pair, 19-year-old Verstappen, who has risen the most meteorically […]
Magnussen’s Indycar comments ‘strategic’ – official
Oct.19 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has dismissed reports linking him with a potential move to Indycar for 2017. With Renault having already confirmed Nico Hulkenberg for next year, whilst admitting that Esteban Ocon and Valtteri Bottas are also targets, it is also relevant that an extended ‘option’ on Magnussen’s 2017 services ran out last week. Then, […]
F1 set for five second boost in 2017 – Wehrlein
Oct.18 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein thinks predictions of a five second per lap boost for F1 next year could be right. The German is among only a handful of drivers who have been taking part in Pirelli’s testing of the bigger and wider slicks next year. Wehrlein’s latest running took place in less than ideal weather […]
FIA to put Hamilton back in spotlight – report
Oct.18 (GMM) The FIA is tipped to put Lewis Hamilton back in the spotlight ahead of this weekend’s US grand prix. At Suzuka recently, the reigning world champion triggered a controversy and then lashed out at his treatment by the media, after ‘Snapchatting’ his way through the official FIA press conference on the Thursday. The […]
Jordan King eyes Manor seat for 2017
Oct.18 (GMM) Jordan King looks set to be another rookie on the 2017 grid. The 22-year-old Briton, currently fifth in the GP2 championship, will drive the Manor car in Friday practice this weekend in Austin. He is the son of wealthy businessman Justin King, the former boss of British supermarket chain Sainsbury’s and now Manor […]