Sep.19 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says there is still “respect” between himself and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton. With his victory in Singapore – his third on the trot – German Rosberg recaptured the lead of the world championship. It was on the occasion of his 200th career grand prix, but earlier Hamilton had answered “Not really” […]
Singapore Grand Prix – Rosberg wins!
Rosberg wins from Ricciardo, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Vettel, Verstappen, Alonso, Perez, Kvyat & Magnussen. Gutierrez, Massa, Nasr, Sainz, Palmer, Wehrlein, Ericsson and Ocon make the rest of the field. Retirements: Grosejan, Hulkenberg, Bottas, Button It was a fascinating race particularly in the last third of the race when Ricciardo put on fresh tyres and Rosberg decided […]
Singapore Grand Prix Qualifying
Rosberg on Pole with a 1:42.584 from Ricciardo (+0.531), Hamilton (+0.704), Verstappen (+0.744), Raikkonen (+0.956), Sainz (+1.613), Kvyat (+1.885), Hulkenberg (+1.895), Alonso (+1.969) & Perez (+1.998). Knocked out of Q2: Bottas, Massa, Button, Gutierrez, Grosjean and Ericsson. Rosberg quickest. Grosjean hit the barriers nearing the end of the session forcing drivers behind him to abort […]
Sainz, even Kvyat, linked with Renault switch
Sep.17 (GMM) Both of Toro Rosso’s drivers are being linked with a sensational switch to the works Renault team for 2017. Rumours that team owner Red Bull could ‘sell’ Carlos Sainz to Renault and get an engine price discount in return have been circulating for some time. Those rumours are still swirling in the Singapore […]
Rivals see three-team battle in Singapore
Sep.17 (GMM) Singapore 2016 could be a close, three-way battle for victory. Mercedes has dominated this year, but last season the German team mysteriously struggled under the city-state’s floodlights. Red Bull, meanwhile, is very strong on the tighter street circuits, and it was Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel who won in Singapore a year ago. But Dr […]
Lauda hits back at Verstappen’s ‘psychiatrist’ reply
Sep.17 (GMM) Niki Lauda says he is not sorry about criticising Max Verstappen’s aggressive driving. Amid widespread criticism of the 18-year-old’s driving at Spa recently, F1 legend Lauda suggested Verstappen needed a “psychiatrist”. The Red Bull driver and teenager hit back: “If I go, then we might as well go together.” Now, Mercedes team chairman […]
Pirelli scraps plans for 2016 tyre change
Sep.17 (GMM) Pirelli has scrapped its plans to introduce a new construction for its 2016 tyres. F1’s official supplier had hoped to take an apparently safer construction to Malaysia in a fortnight, but it would have required the unanimous consent of the teams or the intervention of the FIA on safety grounds. “Unfortunately, there was […]
Ferrari, Mercedes deny Lowe switch rumours
Sep.17 (GMM) Ferrari has now played down rumours linking Mercedes’ Paddy Lowe with a move to Maranello. Amid reports in the Italian press that the Briton had been targeted as a potential long-term successor to James Allison, Lowe insisted: “I am not talking to Ferrari and they are not talking to me.” Mercedes team boss […]
Talks on to keep Singapore on calendar
Sep.17 (GMM) Talks are on to keep F1’s popular Singapore night race on the calendar beyond 2017. The local Straits Times newspaper reports that a deal ‘is likely’. Government official Low Yen Ling said in Singapore: “It is something we are still deliberating about and I think in due course you will hear more about […]
Haryanto in talks for 2017 return – mother
Sep.17 (GMM) Rio Haryanto could be on the way back into F1 for 2017. Haryanto lost his race seat at Manor to the Mercedes and Renault-backed Esteban Ocon in August, after his state-linked Indonesian funding dried up. But Haryanto’s mother, Indah Pennywati, has told the Antara news agency: “Yes, we are in talks with new […]
Europe could put brakes on F1 sale – Mosley
Sep.17 (GMM) Former FIA president Max Mosley has warned that the European Commission could put the brakes on the sale of F1 to Liberty Media. Before current majority owners CVC can get the deal through, it needs to be approved not only by the governing FIA but also the European Commission (EC). That is because, […]
F1 teams keen on buying into sport
Sep.17 (GMM) F1 teams are open to the concept of buying into the sport’s commercial rights. US media tycoon John Malone’s Liberty Media group is taking over from CVC and reportedly wants to offer up to 20 per cent of the commercial rights to the teams. “The idea sounds good,” said Mercedes’ Toto Wolff in […]
Lowe hits back at Ferrari switch rumours
Sep.16 (GMM) Paddy Lowe has hit back at rumours linking him with a switch to Ferrari. The Italian newspaper La Stampa claimed that, with James Allison recently stepping down at Ferrari amid suggestions Mattia Binotto is only a temporary solution, leading Mercedes chief Lowe could be signed up. “When someone of his calibre is available, […]
Poor starts could cost Hamilton title
Sep.16 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has admitted he is worried poor starts could cost him the 2016 world championship. The Briton has had several poor race starts in 2016, most recently at Monza where he was slow off the line from pole and teammate Nico Rosberg closed the points gap to just 2. “If you gauge […]
F1 ‘silly season’ extends to Ecclestone’s job
Sep.16 (GMM) It’s not just ‘silly season’ in the F1 driver camp. British newspapers – including the Times, Guardian and Telegraph – are all reporting that, with Liberty Media taking over and Bernie Ecclestone’s existing role in doubt, the leadership of the sport could be split into two. The two arms would be sporting and […]
Magnussen hints power struggle behind Renault driver delay
Sep.16 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has admitted to some frustration about Renault’s delayed decision about the shape of the works team’s 2017 driver lineup. Earlier, it was believed the team would inform the Dane of its decision in Singapore, but team boss Frederic Vasseur has now been quoted as saying the call could be made as […]
Honda can target Mercedes for 2017 – Alonso
Sep.16 (GMM) Fernando Alonso thinks Honda can be targeting Mercedes for 2017. The works McLaren-Honda project struggled in 2015 but has made big strides forwards this year. And according to media reports, the Japanese manufacturer is planning an even bigger step for 2017. “I am very optimistic about the engine for next year,” Alonso told […]
2017 ‘good time’ to make Williams debut – Stroll
Sep.16 (GMM) Lance Stroll says he thinks 2017 is a “good time” for him to make his F1 debut. Still 17, the French Canadian and European F3 championship leader is the favourite to become Valtteri Bottas’ new teammate at Williams for 2017. “It is a fact that I’m going to have a new teammate next […]
Vettel not denying Lowe to Ferrari rumours
Sep.15 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel on Thursday did not deny rumours linking Mercedes chief Paddy Lowe with a move to Ferrari. It is not the only rumour swirling in the Singapore paddock. Another is that Mercedes is using an innovation that mimics active suspension that cannot be outlawed by the FIA until 2018. “To what extent […]
Hamilton not worried about Singapore slump
Sep.15 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he is not too worried about a repeat this weekend of Mercedes’ poor showing in the Singapore grand prix last year. Amid three seasons of dominance for the German team in 2014, 2015 and now 2016, Singapore last year was a rare blip, as Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel won. “Last year, […]