Mar.21 (GMM) New F1 chief Chase Carey says he is still in contact with his ousted predecessor Bernie Ecclestone. But his comments are at odds with the news from 86-year-old Ecclestone himself, as he told the Daily Star newspaper that he is not “worried that these people have not bothered to contact me”. Carey told […]
Haas is team closest to Sauber – Ericsson
Mar.20 (GMM) Marcus Ericsson says he is not sure where Sauber will line up on the 2017 grid. Most observers think the small Swiss team, which almost joined Manor in collapsing recently, will bring up the rear starting in Melbourne this weekend. When asked where Sauber really is, driver Ericsson – whose sponsors are reportedly […]
Founder admits Sauber to be 2017 backmarker
Mar.20 (GMM) Team founder Peter Sauber has admitted the Swiss outfit is set to bring up the rear of the field in 2017. “There are ten teams,” he told the Swiss newspaper Sonntagsblick. “The initial position for Sauber is number ten.” But a worse fate seemed in store for Sauber not too long ago, with […]
Pirelli’s Isola agrees Ferrari in ‘good shape’
Mar.20 (GMM) Ferrari is on the cusp of returning to the top in formula one. That is the view of Mario Isola, who is taking over from Paul Hembery as the most prominent F1 figure representing the sport’s official tyre supplier Pirelli. He thinks the Italian marque has succeeded in making new, wider tyres that […]
Jos Verstappen could help another young driver
Mar.20 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father is not ruling out trying to help another youngster make his big mark on formula one. The former F1 driver masterminded his teenage son’s meteoric rise to prominence, but now admits to missing young Max. “There are times when I am at home and Max is in Monaco and I’ve […]
Lauda denies Mercedes eyeing Vettel for 2018
Mar.20 (GMM) Niki Lauda is heading to Australia denying rumours Mercedes is lining up a tilt to sign Sebastian Vettel. The German team does not deny that Nico Rosberg’s successor, Valtteri Bottas, was given a mere one-year deal so that a bigger name might be signed up for 2018. But F1 legend Lauda denies the […]
Verstappen plays down early race wins in 2017
Mar.20 (GMM) Max Verstappen has confirmed expectations that Red Bull will touch down in Australia this week with several improvements for the 2017 car. The energy drink owned team had a low profile winter, obviously behind Mercedes and Ferrari but amid suggestions Adrian Newey was planning a ‘miracle upgrade’ for Melbourne. Asked how the Melbourne-spec […]
Boss sure ‘year two’ easier for Haas
Mar.20 (GMM) Team boss Gunther Steiner is confident F1’s notorious ‘second year syndrome’ will not strike Haas. So often, a new team has a much tougher time in F1 in year two, but Steiner is sure life on the grid will actually be easier for Haas in 2017. “Compared to 2016, everything is calmer,” he […]
Briatore not excited by Ferrari test form
Mar.20 (GMM) Flavio Briatore’s big hope for 2017 is that Mercedes will be challenged for the world championship. The controversial former team boss was asked by F1 insider Leo Turrini if, like many Italians, he is excited by rumours that Ferrari’s title drought could finally end in 2017. “I do not share this optimism surrounding […]
Unclear if more teams will buy F1 – Lauda
Mar.20 (GMM) It is still not clear if more teams will join Ferrari in buying into formula one. Recently, it emerged that after Liberty Media made an offer to the teams, Ferrari had taken possession of shares in the company. Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda now tells Handelsblatt: “As far as I know, there is […]
McLaren engine switch rumours hard to believe – Sainz
Mar.20 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he cannot imagine McLaren deciding to dump Honda and switch to customer Mercedes engine power in the near future. Last week, the beleaguered British team did not outright deny speculation its situation is so bad it had been in contact with Mercedes about a last-minute engine switch. “It would be […]
Sainz flattered by Prost praise
Mar.20 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is flattered by the praise coming from F1 legend and Renault team advisor Alain Prost. It is believed Renault tried to sign the contracted Toro Rosso driver for 2017, while Prost said the 22-year-old was also good enough to drive for Ferrari. “For me, that someone like Prost says […]
Canamasas eyes F1 test role for 2017
Mar.20 (GMM) Formula 2 driver Sergio Canamasas is looking for a role in the F1 paddock for 2017. It appears likely the long-time GP2 driver, who is 28, will stay in the category this year as it transitions to become ‘Formula 2’. “At the moment I have done the tests,” Canamasas told Spain’s El Mundo […]
21 races ‘the maximum’ for F1 – Brawn
Mar.20 (GMM) Ross Brawn says there are enough races on the F1 calendar already. When Liberty Media took over the sport, reports circulated that new chief executive Chase Carey saw potential on the schedule for 25 or more races. Brawn, the new F1 sporting chief, agrees that some of the new races could be in […]
Alonso to ‘lose his patience’ – Ramirez
Mar.20 (GMM) Fernando Alonso will eventually “lose his patience” with McLaren-Honda. That is the view of the famous British outfit’s former long-time team manager Jo Ramirez. The Mexican declared recently that, given McLaren-Honda’s winter testing form, he predicts a dire season for the team. “Look, I want to be a little more optimistic,” Ramirez told […]
Ecclestone not done with F1
Mar.20 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is not yet done with formula one. That is despite the fact that he was ousted as the sport’s chief executive by Liberty Media, and insists he has “no idea” what his new title ‘chairman emirates’ really means. “I’d like some rules and regulations so I know what I am supposed […]
Teams wanted ‘shark fins’ for sponsors – Lauda
Mar.17 (GMM) Niki Lauda has suggested Mercedes backed Red Bull’s push to ban the ‘shark fin’ engine cover appendages before they were ever launched in 2017. Some believe the large stabilising fin, and the antennae-like ‘T wings’ also seen in winter testing, have ruined the otherwise aggressive look of the wider and faster new cars. […]
Brawn to create new F1 overtaking group
Mar.17 (GMM) F1 will look into producing rules that encourage more overtaking without resorting to artificial measures like DRS. That is the claim of the sport’s new sporting boss Ross Brawn, who is one of the new chiefs in the post-Bernie Ecclestone era. Brawn told the French magazine Auto Hebdo he supports the much faster […]
Magnussen distances himself from Haas ‘brake problems’
Mar.17 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has distanced himself from the reported ‘brake problems’ at his new F1 employer Haas. Last year, but then again as the American team tested its all-new car for the 2017 season, Romain Grosjean complained about braking issues relating to Haas’ current supplier Brembo. Brembo is an Italian brake manufacturer that comes […]
Wehrlein settles for ‘patience’ over top F1 seat
Mar.17 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein says Mercedes did not sign him up for 2017 in order to safeguard the longevity of his F1 career. German Wehrlein, 22, is the senior member of Mercedes’ driver development programme and was therefore a favourite when Nico Rosberg announced his shock decision to quit F1 late last year. But ultimately, […]