Jun.20 (GMM) Porsche could be contemplating a future move into formula one. The Volkswagen-owned German sports car maker has just won its third overall victory at Le Mans on the trot — and F1 could now be on the horizon. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Bild, saying Porsche has accepted an invitation to […]
Bottas wants ‘long term’ Mercedes deal
Jun.20 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is balancing his ambitions to win races against his desire to secure a “long term contract” with Mercedes. Having replaced the reigning champion Nico Rosberg this year, Bottas has impressed so far in 2017 and won his first grand prix in Sochi. Now, ahead of this weekend’s race in […]
Vettel defends social media absence
Jun.20 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has defended his decision to keep a low public profile. The German is notoriously private, as he is rarely photographed with his wife and children and has no social media profiles on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. “I just don’t understand why you have to constantly tell everyone what you are doing, […]
Tyre management not among McLaren’s problems
Jun.20 (GMM) Tyre management is not among McLaren’s problems in 2018. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, as the great British team races towards divorce with its hapless works engine partner Honda. McLaren’s actual 2017 chassis, however, is arguably one of the best in the field. One reason for that is […]
Carey ‘proud’ to revive European F1 races
Jun.20 (GMM) F1 chiefs say they are proud to be bringing two traditional European races back to the sport’s calendar. After a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Geneva, the FIA announced that despite their current absence, France and Germany are back for an unprecedented 21-race race schedule for 2018. “We are proud […]
New Chinese F1 team rumours gain speed – report
Jun.19 (GMM) Rumours about a potential eleventh team for 2018 are gaining momentum. The rumours began to swirl recently in the Montreal paddock, including suggestions the new F1 team project was being backed by Chinese investors. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport now has more details, saying the team would be based in Oxfordshire. Red Bull […]
Honda to deliver engine upgrade in Baku – report
Jun.19 (GMM) Honda looks set to deliver a much-needed engine upgrade this weekend in Baku. In Canada just over a week ago, McLaren chiefs admitted their frustration was at boiling point after the team’s hapless Japanese partner failed to deliver the upgrade as scheduled. Honda’s F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa then said he could not promise […]
Whiting gives Imola F1 circuit approval
Jun.19 (GMM) Imola remains on track for a future return to the F1 calendar. Before current Italian GP host Monza’s 2017 deal was signed last year, the now ousted F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone had admitted Imola was in the running to snatch the historic Italian GP. Now, Italy’s authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that […]
Rumour – Williams key to McLaren-Honda split?
Jun.19 (GMM) Williams has emerged as the potential key to fellow British team McLaren’s Honda divorce. Blick newspaper’s veteran correspondent Roger Benoit reports that Williams could drop its customer Mercedes engine deal for 2018 in order to become the new works Honda team. That would clear the way for McLaren and Honda to split, with […]
No Le Mans clash under Chase Carey’s watch
Jun.19 (GMM) F1 and Le Mans appear to be entering a new era of collaboration. At the weekend, new formula one CEO Chase Carey was the honorary official starter of the fabled 24 hour race at Le Mans. But just a year ago, the now ousted F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone was accused of having deliberately […]
Rosberg hits back at Wolff, Hamilton reports
Jun.19 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has dismissed comments made by his former boss, Toto Wolff. Last week, as he reflected on the acrimonious relationship between the now retired Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, team boss Wolff told a British newspaper that it was the German who was the main internal protagonist at Mercedes. “I know what Toto […]
‘Zero tension’ with Alonso – Zak Brown
Jun.16 (GMM) Amid the McLaren-Honda crisis, boss Zak Brown insists there is “zero tension” between the great British team and Fernando Alonso. Even with McLaren rumoured to be splitting with its hapless Japanese engine supplier, perhaps within weeks or months, Alonso is openly contemplating a change of team for 2018. “I think Fernando loves the […]
Agag wants Ferrari in Formula E
Jun.16 (GMM) Formula E boss Alejandro Agag has urged F1’s most famous team to enter the all-electric series. This week, FIA president said he is glad Renault is involved in both F1 and Formula E, adding: “I am confident that one day Ferrari will follow suit, and we would like to see that.” Agag agrees. […]
Only ‘the name’ the same at McLaren – de la Rosa
Jun.16 (GMM) The “only thing” that has survived the sweeping change at McLaren in recent years is “the name”. That is the claim of the once-great British team’s former long-time test and reserve driver Pedro de la Rosa. He told AS newspaper: “I don’t know the current McLaren very much. “There are still fantastic people […]
Alonso ‘should leave’ if not enjoying F1 – Massa
Jun.16 (GMM) If Fernando Alonso keeps complaining, the Spaniard should consider leaving formula one. That is the view of his former teammate Felipe Massa, as Alonso reaches a fork in the road of his career after three seasons with the hapless McLaren-Honda project. Alonso, however, also appears disaffected with F1 itself, declaring that if the […]
Engineer says Magnussen like Raikkonen
Jun.16 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen’s race engineer has likened the young Dane’s character to that of Kimi Raikkonen. Giuliano Salvi, who now works alongside Magnussen at Haas, has previously race engineered at Ferrari for the likes of Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso and Raikkonen. But he said Magnussen, 24, most reminds him of the Finn. […]
Red Bull drivers ‘cannot end contracts’ – Marko
Jun.15 (GMM) Red Bull has control of the destinies of its F1 drivers. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, the boss of the energy drink company’s driver programme. At Red Bull Racing, rumours have linked Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen with other teams for 2018, while Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz is obviously keen […]
Mercedes closing up on Ferrari – Bottas
Jun.15 (GMM) Mercedes is closing up on Ferrari in terms of managing Pirelli’s 2017 tyres. That is the claim of Valtteri Bottas, who finished second to his teammate Lewis Hamilton in Montreal. That is despite the fact Ferrari utterly dominated just one race earlier in Monaco, after more consistently getting the most from Pirelli’s tyres […]
Force India considers name change – report
Jun.15 (GMM) Team co-owner and boss Vijay Mallya is considering changing Force India’s name. The former billionaire, who is currently locked in a high profile legal battle with Indian authorities, bought the Spyker team and renamed it Force India ahead of the 2008 season. But La Gazzetta dello Sport claims Mallya called the Silverstone based […]
F1 will never go all-electric – Todt
Jun.15 (GMM) Jean Todt says F1 will never abandon its petrol-based origins and join Formula E as an all-electric powered series. “It’s impossible,” the FIA president told La Presse newspaper. “F1 is an absolutely different discipline,” he insisted. Todt said he is a great supporter and fan of Formula E, but he thinks F1 took […]