Sep.6 (GMM) Max Verstappen has told his critics to “get used to” his on-track style. The 18-year-old was the hot topic of conversation in the Monza paddock, a week after riling Kimi Raikkonen and many of his rivals at Spa. F1 legend Niki Lauda even urged the Dutchman to go to a “psychiatrist” to temper […]
Nyck de Vries eyes Vandoorne’s McLaren role
Sep.6 (GMM) The next young charger is now stepping up a notch at McLaren. The British team announced at Monza that veteran Jenson Button is stepping aside for 2017, to be replaced by hot 24-year-old Belgian rookie Stoffel Vandoorne. That is also good news for Nyck de Vries, a 21-year-old Dutchman who is also part […]
Verstappen no fan of ‘Halo’ system
Sep.6 (GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted he is no fan of the ‘Halo’. The 18-year-old became the latest driver to try the controversial cockpit protection system at Monza, as the governing FIA seeks the feedback of the entire grid before introducing it in 2018. Verstappen told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: “It is difficult to […]
Race for Singapore win could be close
Sep.6 (GMM) The race could be on for victory in next weekend’s Singapore grand prix. The inter-team fight for the title, however, is all but over, with Ferrari having already ceded defeat to Mercedes. “I have already said a few times that work on the 2017 car began very early and very intensely,” said team […]
Williams to replace Massa with Stroll – sources
Sep.5 (GMM) Williams looks set to replace the retiring Felipe Massa with Canadian rookie Lance Stroll for 2017. Earlier, Jenson Button was a leading candidate to replace Massa next year, but the Briton announced at Monza that he is taking a sabbatical and can return only with McLaren in 2018. Speed Week reports that “various […]
Vettel ‘struggling’ at Ferrari – Lauda
Sep.5 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is currently “struggling” in his role as Ferrari’s lead driver. That is the view of Ferrari legend and current Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda, as the fabled Maranello team writes off its chances of winning the 2016 title. “We wanted to win and have a say in the title,” team boss […]
Marko, Gasly deny Kvyat axe rumours
Sep.5 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has hit back at rumours Red Bull junior Pierre Gasly is set to take over Daniil Kvyat’s Toro Rosso seat with immediate effect. At Monza on Sunday, French GP2 driver Gasly reportedly told Spanish television Movistar that he looks set to make his debut in Singapore. “I hope that’s true,” […]
Villeneuve no longer Raikkonen critic
Sep.5 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve says he is no longer a critic of Kimi Raikkonen. Earlier, the 1997 world champion regularly hit out at the performance and questionable motivation of the Ferrari driver. But Villeneuve said at Monza: “I have become a Kimi fan. “I’m very surprised by how much Kimi has improved, and how well […]
Magnussen, Palmer in running for 2017 – Vasseur
Sep.5 (GMM) Renault’s existing drivers are still in the running for the race seats in 2017. That is the claim of the French works team’s boss Frederic Vasseur, after the ‘silly season’ heated up at Monza with announcements by Felipe Massa and Jenson Button. “By late September, early October, it should be a lot clearer,” […]
Rumours swirl about Ecclestone’s future
Sep.5 (GMM) As big rumours swirl about the sale of F1’s commercial rights, Bernie Ecclestone has named a potential successor as chief executive. At Monza, speculation swirled in the paddock that owner CVC had agreed an $8.5 billion sale deal with Liberty Media, headed by US media tycoon John Malone. Multiple authoritative publications predicted that […]
Italian Grand Prix
Rosberg wins from Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Bottas, Verstappen, Perez, Massa & Hulkenberg. Grosjean, Button, Gutierrez, Alonso, Sainz, Ericsson, Magnussen and Ocon make the rest of the field. Retirements: Nasr, Palmer, Wehrlein and Kvyat Hamilton had a poor start, dropped back to 6th but managed to recover to second. Race Commentary
Sale of F1 by CVC definitely done – reports
Sep.4 (GMM) The deal is definitely done on the sale of F1’s majority stake by current owners CVC, according to multiple authoritative publications. Auto Motor und Sport (Germany), La Gazzetta dello Sport and Sky (Italy), the Sunday Times (Britain) and Auto Bild (Germany) all agree that Liberty Media, headed by US tycoon John Malone, is […]
Perez not confirming Force India stay rumours
Sep.4 (GMM) Sergio Perez says his plans for the 2017 season are not quite ready to be revealed. On Saturday, British television announced at Monza that the Mexican will definitely be staying at Force India next year rather than switching to Renault or Williams. But official confirmation did not follow. “What I know is that […]
Ferrari ‘in right hands’ after Allison exit – Marchionne
Sep.4 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has backed Mattia Binotto as the right man to lead Ferrari back to winning. Appearing at Monza, the Ferrari president commented on the recent departure from Maranello of the highly-respected technical chief James Allison. “James, I’m sure, had an abundance of knowledge but it was really time to give a jolt […]
2017 pre-season test dates emerge
Sep.4 (GMM) The 2017 calendar is really starting to take shape, as the dates for the pre-season test schedule now emerge in the Monza paddock. Earlier, it was suggested Pirelli wanted some pre-season running for the bigger 2017 tyres to take place in a hot country, but that now appears unlikely. “The understanding is that […]
Manager backs Verstappen over Villeneuve row
Sep.4 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s manager has moved to put a lid on a war of words between the 18-year-old driver and 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. After Villeneuve suggested that the kind of aggression the Red Bull driver showed at Spa could kill someone, Verstappen hit back by referring to an incident in 2001 when […]
Massa could race elsewhere in 2017 – father
Sep.4 (GMM) Felipe Massa’s father says it is possible the retiring F1 driver will switch to another category in 2017. Brazilian Massa, 35, announced at Monza that he will not be extending his long F1 career into a sixteenth consecutive season next year. But his father, Luis Antonio, told Sportv: “He could race somewhere because […]
Button on standby for Alonso exit – Surer
Sep.4 (GMM) Jenson Button surprised the F1 paddock at Monza by announcing he is taking a sabbatical in 2017. Asked if he is retiring, the McLaren driver said: “That is a terrible word and I’m definitely not doing that.” In a typical announcement by the British outfit, which is overseen by the detail-obsessed Ron Dennis, […]
Italian Grand Prix – Qualifying
Hamilton on Pole from Rosberg, Vettel, Raikkonen, Bottas, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Perez, Hulkenberg & Gutierrez Knocked out of Q2: Massa, Grosjean, Alonso, Wehrlein, Button and Sainz. Knocked out of Q1: Kvyat, Nasr, Ericsson, Palmer, Magnussen and Ocon (no time). Session Commentary
Italian Grand Prix – 3rd Free Practice
Hamilton quickest with a 1:22.008 from Rosberg (+0.393), Vettel (+0.938), Raikkonen (+1.141), Bottas (+1.492), Massa (+1.639), Ricciardo (+1.701), Verstappen (+1.732), Perez (+1.909) & Gutierrez (+2.026) Hukenberg, Button, Sainz, Grosjean, Palmer, Ericsson, Alonso, Nasr, Magnussen, Kvyat, Wehrlein and Ocon make the rest of the field. Ricciardo did the most number of laps with 23 followed by […]