Jul.2 (GMM) Felipe Massa has hinted he might take a pay-cut in order to continue his F1 career into 2017. Williams is openly re-thinking its lineup of the veteran Brazilian alongside Finn Valtteri Bottas. Asked in Austria by Brazil’s UOL if a cut to his estimated EUR 4 million retainer might be on the cards, […]
FIA did Halo extraction test in Austria
Jul.2 (GMM) Despite some early fanfare in Austria, problems on Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari meant the titanium ‘Halo 2’ did not make its practice debut on Friday. But the FIA has been working on it in the background anyway, it now emerges. Auto Motor und Sport reports that a mechanic was sat at the wheel of […]
Pirelli hints pressures could come down now
Jul.2 (GMM) Pirelli has indicated that the FIA closing a loophole could mean exorbitantly high tyre pressures can be eased in the forthcoming races. F1’s governing body has put a stop to teams heating the wheel assembly prior to the tyres being fitted on the grid, which had allowed those tyres to be inflated less […]
Magnussen confident he will stay at Renault
Jul.2 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen said he is feeling “no stress” over his future in F1. The Dane has been arguing that Renault should give up on its uncompetitive 2016 car in order to focus fully on the new regulations. Some have inferred that means Magnussen is feeling confident about being retained for a second season […]
A bad day for Hamilton in Austria
Jul.2 (GMM) It was not a good start to the weekend for world champion Lewis Hamilton in Austria. Bidding to close his points gap to Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, the Briton had to admit after Friday practice that so far he is “off the pace”. And Hamilton’s rivals then began to round on him in […]
Austrian Grand Prix – 2nd Friday Practice
Rosberg quickest with a 1:07.967 from Hamilton (+0.019), Hulkenberg (+0.613), Vettel (+0.622), Ricciardo (+0.682), Sainz (+0.746), Verstappen (+0.794), Raikkonen (+0.853), Bottas (+0.974) & Button (+1.027). Alonso, Massa, Kvyat, Perez, Magnussen, Palmer, Wehrlein, Gutierrez, Ericsson, Grosjean, Nasr and Haryanto make the rest of the field The session started dry then heavy rain arrived and towards the […]
Wolff flags ‘multi-year’ deal for Rosberg
Jul.1 (GMM) Toto Wolff has flagged a new “multi-year” contract with Nico Rosberg. Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda hinted at a new two-year contract for the championship leader last week, but German Rosberg denied anything is signed. “With myself, Gerhard Berger and Niki Lauda, you have three Austrians in the room negotiating and it’s difficult,” […]
FIA moves to stop tyre pressure loophole
Jul.1 (GMM) As predicted by an F1 pundit, the FIA has quickly closed a loophole allowing teams to minimise tyre pressures. It emerged after Baku that Mercedes and Red Bull were leading the charge with sophisticated axle heating equipment that allows tyres to be minimally inflated on the grid. Jenson Button said on Friday that […]
Grosjean sure Dallara fixing Haas problems
Jul.1 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has defended Haas’ chassis-making partner Dallara, after a series of wing failures in 2016. “We have made serious efforts to stop this problem so hopefully it will not happen again,” the new American team’s French driver, having criticised Haas following the most recent front wing failure, said in Austria. Haas is […]
International group set to buy Sauber – report
Jul.1 (GMM) Sauber is reportedly on the cusp of being sold. We reported earlier that amid a troubled campaign for the financially struggling Swiss team, the 300 staff at Hinwil have now been paid for May and June. “We are in the process of a comprehensive solution,” confirmed team boss and co-owner Monisha Kaltenborn, speaking […]
Vettel takes penalty, Hamilton expects to follow suit
Jul.1 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel’s Austrian GP campaign has taken an early hit as he will drop five places down the grid due to a gearbox change. Reports indicate metal debris was detected inside the unit and will be changed, with a Ferrari spokesman confirming the news. “I called Sebastian to tell him and he said […]
Massa says he will decide F1 future
Jul.1 (GMM) Felipe Massa insists he is in control of his next move in F1, as his current Williams contract runs out. Rivals Jenson Button and Daniil Kvyat are among drivers linked with the Brazilian veteran’s current seat, but 35-year-old Massa said he will not just sit back and wait for decisions to be made. […]
Sainz should be happy with Toro Rosso news – Alonso
Jul.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says his young countryman Carlos Sainz should not be disappointed he is staying at Toro Rosso for a third year in 2017. Team owner Red Bull has taken up its option on the Spaniard, even though he had been linked with Ferrari. “Everyone knows that if they want to negotiate with […]
Raikkonen still best choice for Ferrari – Salo
Jul.1 (GMM) Mika Salo thinks his countryman Kimi Raikkonen remains the best choice for Ferrari beyond 2016. The fabled Maranello team is clearly shopping around for alternatives to the Finn, with rumours Sergio Perez and others are in the frame. But Salo told Finland’s Ilta Sanomat newspaper: “I do not see any reasonable options. “If […]
Red Bull will not accept less income – Horner
Jul.1 (GMM) Christian Horner says Red Bull will not accept a reduction in the income it gets from F1’s Bernie Ecclestone-led organisation. F1 supremo Ecclestone has flagged changes to the controversial system that distributes the lion’s share of the commercial revenue to the biggest teams — including handsome ‘bonuses’. “Yes, no bonus,” the 85-year-old said […]
Austrian Grand Prix – 1st Friday Practice
Rosberg quickest with a 1:07.373 from Hamilton (+0.357), Vettel (+0.649), Raikkonen (+0.849), Ricciardo (+1.155), Sainz (+1.430), Massa (+1.451), Verstappen (+1.589), Kvyat (+1.617) & Bottas (+1.625). Grosjean, Hulkenberg, Button, Alonso, Magnussen, Wehrlein, Palmer, Ericsson, Gutierrez, Nasr, Haryanto and Celis (Force India test driver) make the rest of the field. Verstappen went off into the gravel and […]
Perez rumours ‘an incentive’ – Hulkenberg
Jun.30 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg on Thursday said rumours linking Sergio Perez to Ferrari are simply an “incentive” for his own side of the Force India garage. The Red Bull Ring paddock is abuzz with speculation Mexican Perez, who has stunned with his podium-worthy form in 2016, could be headed to Ferrari, even though he has […]
Prost ‘expected more’ from Renault in 2016
Jun.30 (GMM) F1 legend Alain Prost says Renault needs more time for its works team to start shining. After the eleventh hour buyout of Lotus, the newly branded Renault works team has struggled for performance in 2016 to the extent that it is often fighting with Manor and Sauber for the last places on the […]
Sauber pays staff amid ‘solution’ to issues
Jun.30 (GMM) Some better news is finally emerging from the Sauber camp, amid a troubled 2016 campaign for the struggling Swiss team. Sauber has been obviously counting its pennies so far this year, to the extent that salary payments to the 300 staff at Hinwil have often been delayed. But the well-connected Swiss newspaper Blick […]
Mick Schumacher ‘not on radar’ – Marko
Jun.30 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he is not currently interested in signing up Mick Schumacher to Red Bull’s famous driver development programme. At the same age of 17, Red Bull fast-tracked the meteoric F1 career of Max Verstappen. But when asked about Schumacher, the young Formula 4-racing son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, Marko […]