Mar.17 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he is willing to wait a couple of years before gunning for the world championship with Renault. If he does not make it into the top 3 race finishers by Monza in September, the 29-year-old German will take over from Adrian Sutil as the most experienced F1 driver without a […]
Sainz tells son to forget Renault for now
Mar.17 (GMM) Carlos Sainz’s father has advised the Toro Rosso driver to forget about rumours linking him with Renault for now. It is believed the French works team made moves to sign the impressive Red Bull-contracted Spaniard for 2017, with Renault advisor Alain Prost still interested in the 22-year-old. But Carlos Sainz Snr says his […]
Ferrari had best test season ever – Marc Gene
Mar.17 (GMM) Ferrari test driver Marc Gene says the Maranello team is heading into the 2017 season in a particularly bullish mood. Most observers believe the Italian marque is close to or even ahead of the formerly-dominant Mercedes team’s pace after recent Barcelona testing. Spaniard Gene agrees: “I’ve been at Ferrari for 13 years and […]
McLaren not denying Mercedes engine rumours
Mar.17 (GMM) McLaren have not denied media speculation the British team is considering dumping its hapless works engine partner Honda. With a dire test season now over, most observers agree that the once-great British team will enter the year faster only than Sauber. The blame is being pinned squarely on Honda, who in three years […]
No tension between Hamilton-Bottas yet – Lauda
Mar.16 (GMM) Niki Lauda says he has been impressed with how Valtteri Bottas is getting up to speed at Mercedes. Recently, comments attributed to the Mercedes team chairman indicated the Finn is struggling to match the pace set by his teammate Lewis Hamilton. But Lauda told the Austrian broadcaster ORF that he is in fact […]
Wolff applauds F1 social media changes
Mar.16 (GMM) Toto Wolff has applauded the tweaks already made in F1’s post-Bernie Ecclestone era. Since Liberty Media’s buyout was completed and F1 supremo Ecclestone was ousted, former paddock and pitlane restrictions on the use of social media for instance have already been notably relaxed. Asked if that was an important step, Mercedes chief Wolff […]
Budget caps a possibility for F1 – Brawn
Mar.16 (GMM) Ross Brawn has admitted that tweaks to the commercial arrangements inside F1 could be a key to a strong future for the sport. Currently, one assessment of the situation in pitlane is that running a team is near-impossible for a privateer, not only financially but in terms of being competitive. “You are right,” […]
Kvyat could not push Ricciardo – Marko
Mar.16 (GMM) Max Verstappen is a much better teammate for Daniel Ricciardo than was his Red Bull predecessor. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, having last year made the controversial decision to oust Daniil Kvyat and promote the teenage Dutchman Verstappen. Russian Kvyat announced this week that his title dream is still alive, […]
Rosberg not ruling out return as F1 boss
Mar.16 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has admitted he could return to formula one as a team boss some day. The new reigning world champion shocked the world by retiring just days after winning the 2016 title, but was back for a visit to the Barcelona test paddock recently. But he told Germany’s Sport Bild: “A comeback […]
Vettel admits aiming for 2017 title
Mar.16 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted he stands a chance of winning the world championship in a red suit. “Yes!” the German declared to Sport Bild magazine. “If not, I wouldn’t go to the grid.” It’s a standard answer from the 29-year-old, who after winning four consecutive titles for Red Bull opted to switch to […]
Vettel ‘can be strongest’ in 2017 – Ricciardo
Mar.16 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says Red Bull is not alarmed to be starting the season apparently off the pace of Ferrari and Mercedes. In fact, the Australian says he hopes Ferrari’s leading pace at the Barcelona test is realised when the grid lines up in Melbourne next weekend. “From the first test day, Ferrari made […]
Azerbaijan hits back at Liberty over GP jibe
Mar.16 (GMM) The promoter of Azerbaijan’s grand prix has hit back hard at the chief executive of F1’s new owner Liberty Media. Forbes this week quoted Liberty CEO Greg Maffei as strongly criticising Bernie Ecclestone’s former approach to signing up race hosts. He said Azerbaijan, for instance, pays “a big race fee” but does “nothing […]
Mercedes had crankshaft trouble in test – source
Mar.15 (GMM) Mercedes ran through the recent Barcelona tests with a secret reliability problem. That is the claim of Leo Turrini, a well-known Italian media insider who is famously close to Ferrari. On his blog, he says it is noteworthy that while Mercedes figures are hinting that Ferrari has the edge for 2017, Ferrari insist […]
Alonso ‘has spoken’ about 2018 – Boullier
Mar.15 (GMM) Eric Boullier has admitted Fernando Alonso’s future could depend on the competitiveness of the McLaren-Honda package in 2017. On the face of it, the Anglo-Japanese collaboration is set for a third consecutive tough campaign as Honda grapples with the new design of its power unit. “I see faces of anguish and desperation as […]
2017 to be ‘tough’ for Mick Schumacher – Rosberg
Mar.15 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is facing a “tough” introduction to Formula 3 this year. That is the claim of Nico Rosberg, who says he knows what it is like to be entering the upper echelons of world motor sport as the son of a famous father. “Once you’re asked about it 100 times, it starts […]
Drivers to keep saving fuel in 2017 – Marko
Mar.15 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has admitted he is worried fuel economy could affect the ‘show’ in 2017. Red Bull’s top official told the Austrian broadcaster Servus TV he is happy with the much faster cars in 2017, including a tougher physical challenge for the drivers who can push on more robust Pirelli tyres. But […]
‘Provocative’ Vettel to be strong – Marko
Mar.15 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel’s “provocative” behaviour shows Ferrari is entering the 2017 season as a favourite. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, who as Red Bull’s driver chief brought the German into F1 and guided his four titles. Now, Vettel is at Ferrari but Marko says he senses the 29-year-old is feeling very […]
2017 cars not harder to drive – Perez
Mar.15 (GMM) Sergio Perez says he was surprised when he sampled F1’s much faster cars for the first time in Barcelona testing recently. The 2017 rules were penned to make the cars much faster, in turn requiring the drivers to train harder and put on muscle to deal with the greater G-forces. But Mexican Perez […]
Mercedes defends removal of Schumacher branding
Mar.15 (GMM) Mercedes has defended its decision to remove the ‘KeepFightingMichael’ hashtag branding from the livery of its F1 car. Ever since former team driver Michael Schumacher’s horror skiing crash and brain injuries some years ago, Mercedes has published the supportive message on its car. But some fans have noted with dismay that the 2017 […]
Old engine makes Sauber’s life ‘hard’ – Wehrlein
Mar.15 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has admitted Sauber’s year-old engines will be a disadvantage for the Swiss team in 2017. Last year, Sauber almost collapsed financially, with its survival ensured only by a Marcus Ericsson-linked buyout and millions in F1 prize money snatched from the grasp of Wehrlein’s former team Manor. “Yes, the loss of the […]