Mar.10 (GMM) Force India has asked its drivers to lose weight before Melbourne. Up and down the pitlane, drivers have put on as much as 5-6 kilograms of muscle over the winter to prepare for the new cars’ much higher G-forces. But Force India is struggling with handling problems, and Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport […]
Wehrlein explains blacked-out Mercedes logo
Mar.10 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has explained the black patch at the front of his helmet in Barcelona. Eagle-eyed observers have noticed that the German has blacked out the prominent Mercedes star from just above his visor. Wehrlein is a Mercedes-backed driver, but he has switched from Manor to Ferrari-powered Sauber for 2017. When asked about […]
McLaren drivers must control frustration – Vandoorne
Mar.10 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he and McLaren-Honda teammate Fernando Alonso need to keep their frustration under control. Ahead of the works Anglo-Japanese collaboration’s third consecutive season, it is clear patience is running out as Honda struggle once again to supply a competitive and reliable power unit. But amid the situation, rookie Vandoorne sounds calmer […]
Bottas must get up to speed quickly – Wolff
Mar.10 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Valtteri Bottas does not have long to get up to speed in 2017. Recently, after the champion team signed up the Finn to replace Nico Rosberg, chairman Niki Lauda said Bottas has four races to start emulating Rosberg’s former contribution. “I agree with Niki,” team boss Wolff has now told […]
Hamilton faster than Bottas – Lauda
Mar.10 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is currently faster than his new teammate Valtteri Bottas. That is the view of Mercedes’ team chairman and F1 legend Niki Lauda. Finn Bottas was signed by Mercedes on a one-year contract for 2017, after world champion Nico Rosberg’s shock decision to quit the sport. “What I’ve seen so far is […]
Renault engine set for Melbourne fix – Verstappen
Mar.9 (GMM) Renault is working hard to solve some problems with its new engine before Melbourne. That is the claim of Max Verstappen, after Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Renault’s own works team suffered a slew of reliability problems with the ’95pc new’ power unit for 2017. “I am told that the Renault guys already […]
Ferrari faster than Mercedes – Lauda
Mar.9 (GMM) Niki Lauda has joined fellow Mercedes stablemate Lewis Hamilton in declaring Ferrari the early favourite for 2017. Before Kimi Raikkonen crashed the new red car on Wednesday, Mercedes team chairman and F1 legend Niki Lauda watched it from the side of the track in Barcelona. “The Ferrari looks the fastest,” he told Auto […]
Todt undecided over third FIA presidency term
Mar.9 (GMM) Jean Todt says he has not decided if he will run for a third consecutive term as FIA president. The former Ferrari chief took over from Max Mosley in 2010, and then secured a new four-year term covering 2014-2017. 71-year-old Todt’s presidency has often been controversial, as he keeps a much lower profile […]
F1 won’t return to V10 engines – Todt
Mar.9 (GMM) Jean Todt has ruled out a reversion to screaming V10 engines for formula one. Liberty Media’s new F1 sporting chief Ross Brawn admitted at the Barcelona test that although the faster cars are good, engine sound is still a major issue for the sport. “I miss the V10 engines,” agreed Fernando Alonso this […]
GP2 set to become Formula 2
Mar.9 (GMM) GP2 looks set to be rebranded as ‘Formula 2’. Ross Brawn, F1’s sporting chief on behalf of new owner Liberty Media, told Sport Bild: “The ultimate goal is putting formula one, F2 and F3 all together” in the way that the MotoGP categories are layered. And that plan appears to be also backed […]
Perez confirms winter struggle for Force India
Mar.9 (GMM) Sergio Perez has admitted Force India is struggling through the 2017 pre-season. Fourth overall last year, winter testing for the small Silverstone based outfit has been marred by obvious problems and a lack of pace. “It is all solvable, but we need time,” Mexican Perez is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. “Hopefully […]
Father worried about pressure on Verstappen
Mar.9 (GMM) Jos Verstappen has admitted he is worried about the pressure that is mounting on the shoulders of his 19-year-old son. Max Verstappen is now heralded as a rare, Senna-like young hero in formula one, but his father and former F1 driver Jos worries about that mounting popularity and pressure. “Max can no longer […]
Villeneuve backs Stroll sponsor deal
Mar.9 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has defended a new sponsorship deal agreed between the Williams team and the Canadian business jet company Bombardier. In the Canadian press, Bombardier’s backing of Lance Stroll was criticised on the basis that the company has received state funding, while Stroll’s father is a billionaire. “A Canadian sponsor supporting a Canadian […]
Renault advisor Prost ‘big fan’ of Sainz
Mar.9 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has received a ringing endorsement from official Renault team advisor and F1 legend Alain Prost. The quadruple world champion said he advised his old team Ferrari last year that it should sign up the Toro Rosso driver. “I would like to see how he would do in a major team,” Prost […]
F1 needs Schumacher-like ‘heroes’ – Brawn
Mar.9 (GMM) F1 must return to an era when the top drivers were “heroes”. That is the view of the sport’s new chief Ross Brawn, who pointed to his old protege Michael Schumacher as a perfect example. “Michael was a hero,” the Briton told Sport Bild. “But hero worship is no longer promoted,” said Brawn, […]
Alonso hints he will race beyond 2017
Mar.9 (GMM) Even amid his obvious frustration with the Honda situation, Fernando Alonso has given the strongest indication yet that he will stay in F1 beyond 2017. Until now, the Spaniard has been making no promises beyond his expiring McLaren-Honda contract. But he said in Barcelona that even though Honda is lacking “30 kilometres per […]
McLaren’s ‘one problem’ is Honda – Alonso
Mar.9 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has isolated Honda as the only missing piece in his quest to get back to winning in F1. McLaren’s works partner is struggling yet again at the beginning of its third consecutive season with the British team, and Alonso has now made his frustration clear. Asked if the new regulations mean […]
Ferrari must be ‘unbeatable’ again – Marchionne
Mar.8 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne says Ferrari “has to” return to the famous team’s Schumacher-like glory years. Until now, the Italian team has kept an awkward silence ahead of the 2017 season, but the new red car is performing well and Lewis Hamilton thinks Ferrari is even the “favourite”. “It’s nine years that we haven’t won […]
Teenager Stroll hits back at criticism
Mar.8 (GMM) Lance Stroll insists he is “ready” for formula one. However, the pressure is already piling on the 18-year-old rookie’s young shoulders, following three mistakes including a crash in winter testing so far. With his billionaire father, some think the Canadian is a ‘pay driver’ who is not ready for the much faster and […]
Boullier plays down ‘huge’ McLaren-Honda problems
Mar.8 (GMM) Eric Boullier has moved to play down the severity of the rift between McLaren and Honda. Reports from Barcelona on Tuesday said “huge” pressure had opened up between the two sides as Honda grapples with engine problems for the third consecutive year. But McLaren boss Boullier said McLaren and Honda are sticking together. […]