Nov.8 (GMM) The UK government has launched an investigation into the takeover of F1 by American tycoon John Malone’s Liberty Media. Bernie Ecclestone said last week that the takeover is in fact not yet complete. And it may not be for some time yet, with the British government department the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) […]
Audi’s Jorg Zander to join Sauber – report
Nov.7 (GMM) Audi’s withdrawal from Le Mans is a blessing in disguise for Sauber. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, even though Audi’s world endurance championship programme was the exclusive client of the Swiss F1 team’s state-of-the-art wind tunnel in Hinwil. That exclusive deal is now ending, but Audi will reportedly […]
No problem with ‘rebel’ Verstappen – Hulkenberg
Nov.7 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he has little problem with F1’s “rebel” Max Verstappen. 19-year-old Dutchman Verstappen is making waves among the sport’s rule makers and his fellow drivers for a spate of aggressive driving. But German driver Hulkenberg told the Dutch talk show Pauw: “Max is a bit of a rebel at the moment. […]
Stroll helps embattled Canada GP – promoter
Nov.7 (GMM) Lance Stroll is a timely shot of good news for the embattled Canadian grand prix. That is the view of Montreal race promoter Francois Dumontier, who is currently in talks with Bernie Ecclestone about the event’s mere provisional status on the 2017 calendar. The 2017 race is reportedly uncertain due to delays in […]
Gasly made too many mistakes – Marko
Nov.7 (GMM) Pierre Gasly’s failure to win the GP2 championship partly explains his failure to break into F1 for 2017. That is the hint of Dr Helmut Marko, the architect of Red Bull’s F1 driver programme who recently decided to keep Daniil Kvyat alongside Carlos Sainz at the junior team Toro Rosso for another year. […]
McLaren risks losing Alonso – Ramirez
Nov.7 (GMM) McLaren-Honda risks losing Fernando Alonso if the team cannot significantly up its game. That is the view of the famous British team’s well-known former team coordinator Jo Ramirez. “It’s still painful,” the 75-year-old told Spanish sports daily AS. “McLaren’s evolution is good but it’s too slow. “They’re losing sponsors and will lose Alonso […]
FIA rejects push for more gravel traps
Nov.7 (GMM) The FIA has reportedly rejected calls for asphalt and grass run-off areas to be replaced with gravel. In Mexico, only Max Verstappen was penalised for cutting the first corner, even though championship chaser Lewis Hamilton did the same thing. The ensuing debate was actually timely, given Bernie Ecclestone’s contentious argument that track limits […]
Bottas denies being Williams team leader
Nov.7 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has played down suggestions his job description is fundamentally changing for 2017. Ever since debuting for Williams in 2013, the Finn has had a more experienced teammate, most recently the Ferrari veteran Felipe Massa. But Massa is being replaced by teenager Lance Stroll for 2017; the second-youngest rookie in F1 history. […]
Verstappen slams F1 rule ‘double standards’
Nov.7 (GMM) Max Verstappen has hit out at “ridiculous” F1 rules. Amid the controversy about the young Dutchman’s aggressive driving, the Red Bull driver defended his style. “Many drivers had a problem with the way I defended under braking,” Verstappen said, referring to his dice with Lewis Hamilton at Suzuka. “There was a demand for […]
F1 will show Stroll how to suffer – Villeneuve
Nov.7 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has warned countryman Lance Stroll that his toughest challenges lie ahead in F1. Just like Villeneuve in 1996, Stroll is a young Canadian with a famous father who is set to break into formula one with the British team Williams. But Villeneuve, now 45, is in fact a regular critic of […]
Brawn to be new F1 supremo ‘nonsense’ – Ecclestone
Nov.4 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has moved to put a lid on speculation he is about to lose his spot at the very top of F1. Reports this week suggested former Ferrari and Mercedes chief Ross Brawn has been lined up by new F1 owner Liberty Media to be the sport’s new sporting CEO. The 61-year-old […]
Frank Williams out of hospital
Nov.4 (GMM) Sir Frank Williams is now out of hospital after a long illness. It emerged last weekend that the 74-year-old, perhaps the oldest living tetraplegic following his 1986 car crash, was suffering from pneumonia. Team officials admitted founder and boss Williams had been in hospital since falling ill at the Italian grand prix in […]
Whiting has question to answer after Mexico – Prost
Nov.4 (GMM) Charlie Whiting has a question to answer in the wake of last weekend’s Mexican grand prix. That is the view of F1 legend Alain Prost, referring to a controversy about drivers cutting corners at the Mexico City circuit. Daniel Ricciardo in particular was furious, when Lewis Hamilton was not penalised despite getting a […]
Renault almost ready to name driver
Nov.4 (GMM) Renault is almost ready to make its decision about the identity of Nico Hulkenberg’s teammate for 2017. Kevin Magnussen and Kevin Magnussen are waiting impatiently to see if they will be retained by the works team, with candidates including Esteban Ocon, Felipe Nasr and others linked with the seat. “The talks are moving […]
Stroll debut cost father $80 million – report
Nov.4 (GMM) Lance Stroll’s billionaire father ploughed nothing short of an incredible $80 million into the 18-year-old’s 2017 debut for Williams. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, as the British team finally admitted the badly kept secret that the Canadian will race alongside Valtteri Bottas next year. At the reveal event […]
Vandoorne not worried about Button contract
Nov.4 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he does not feel under pressure even though McLaren will have three contracted drivers on its books next year. 2015 GP2 champion Vandoorne is stepping up to F1 with the famous British team in 2017, but veteran Jenson Button has curiously been kept under contract by McLaren not only for […]
Schumacher on cusp of F3 step
Nov.4 (GMM) Mick Schumacher has admitted he is poised to step up to one of the final steps before hitting formula one — European F3. Teenager Lance Stroll, who at 18 is just a year older than F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s son, will himself step up to formula one next year with Williams. Stroll is […]
‘Silly season’ to end in Brazil – Steiner
Nov.3 (GMM) A long driver ‘silly season’ is finally coming to an end, according to Haas boss Gunther Steiner. While it appears there are only a few seats left for 2017, vacancies at Force India, Renault, Manor and Sauber remain open. Williams will confirm Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll on Thursday. And Auto Motor und […]
Rosberg should target win, title in Brazil – Berger
Nov.3 (GMM) Two former grand prix winners are tipping Nico Rosberg to wrap up his first world championship next weekend in Brazil. Although his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton has won the last two races, Gerhard Berger thinks Rosberg was simply driving tactically in Austin and Mexico to protect his big points lead. “I believe Nico […]
Overtaking may be harder in 2017 – Perez
Nov.3 (GMM) Sergio Perez is not so sure F1’s new regulations will deliver on their full promise next year. To deliver a more spectacular product to the public, the cars will be faster and the tyres grippier next year, delivering a 5 second per lap boost. “Next year we will have to adapt to the […]