Feb.23 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has a “good chance” to take on triple world champion Lewis Hamilton in 2017. That is the view of F1 legend Alain Prost, while other observers wonder if Mercedes newcomer Bottas is up to the challenge of a head-to-head with Hamilton at the sport’s dominant team. “I think Valtteri has a […]
Ferrari won’t win 2017 title – Prost
Feb.23 (GMM) Alain Prost does not think a Ferrari driver will win the world championship in 2017. Despite high expectations, the fabled Italian team failed to win even a single race in 2016. But now the technical regulations are changing radically, with former Ferrari driver Prost commenting: “When the rules and the cars change a […]
Verstappen ready for F1 title – Marko
Feb.23 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks Max Verstappen is ready to battle for the F1 title. This week, 19-year-old Max’s father Jos said he thinks the young Dutchman needs another year before Red Bull is ready to take on Mercedes. But Marko, who is Red Bull’s driver manager, said on the Dutch programme Jinek: “Now […]
F1 legend Stuck likes 2017 cars
Feb.23 (GMM) As the new generation of F1 cars are steadily unveiled this week, German legend Hans-Joachim Stuck likes what he sees. So far, Williams, Sauber, Renault and now Force India have shown off their new cars that are tipped to be up to 6 seconds per lap faster than in 2016. “It’s the right […]
Zanardi not sure Ferrari ready to win
Feb.23 (GMM) Alex Zanardi is not sure Ferrari is ready to ace the new regulations in 2017. Like many fans, the former F1 driver is looking forward to the reveal of the new red car, following a disappointing campaign last year. “I have no doubt the men at Maranello are extremely keen to redeem themselves […]
F1 teams face split over income – source
Feb.23 (GMM) F1 teams could be set to split into two camps, as a new row about income distribution threatens to break out. How the sport’s vast revenues are distributed is a thorny topic up and down pitlane, with Red Bull arguing this week that it deserves to keep receiving more than the small teams […]
Big teams deserve more money – Marko
Feb.22 (GMM) Bigger teams deserve more income because they give more to the sport. That is the claim of Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, as the European Commission considers whether to investigate the sport’s practices and amid new owner Liberty Media’s plans for the next commercial contracts beyond 2020. Some, however, think the small teams […]
Mercedes ‘curious’ to see Honda progress
Feb.22 (GMM) Mercedes’ engine chief has admitted to being “curious” to spot Honda’s progress of the winter period. While Mercedes has utterly dominated the ‘power unit’ era, Honda notably struggled in 2015 and 2016 at the beginning of the works partnership with McLaren. And Andy Cowell, who is the engine boss at Mercedes, agrees with […]
Villeneuve tips Vettel to shine in 2017
Feb.22 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has tipped Sebastian Vettel to be a standout performer in 2017. More widely, pundits are naming the Mercedes and Red Bull drivers as the likely pacesetters this year. But 1997 title winner Villeneuve said fans should also be watching a red car. “Sebastian’s driving style fits perfectly with the new cars,” […]
Ferrari splits with reserve Vergne
Feb.22 (GMM) Jean-Eric Vergne has confirmed that he will no longer work with Ferrari in 2017. Earlier, the former Toro Rosso driver was Ferrari’s reserve driver, but that role has been filled for this year by GP2 runner-up and Italian Antonio Giovinazzi. “It was clear from the beginning that I would not continue as reserve […]
Renault eyes Spanish driver for future
Feb.22 (GMM) Renault has admitted it might be interested in signing up a Spanish driver in the future. With Carlos Sainz having revealed that Red Bull blocked him from accepting an offer from Renault for 2017, the Spanish press got excited this week when the French works team unveiled Spanish company Mapfre as a new […]
Marchionne plays down loss of engineers
Feb.22 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has played down some high-profile personnel losses at Ferrari. Ferrari took a step back in 2016 and some believe the fabled Italian team is now handicapped by some of its inefficient practices of the past. President Marchionne, however, is more upbeat, even though he is refusing to set public goals for […]
I still believe in Ferrari – Vettel
Feb.22 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he still ‘believes’ in his dream of becoming world champion with Ferrari. After the fabled team took a step backwards in 2016, current world champion Nico Rosberg said Vettel must now be considering linking up with Mercedes for 2018. But German Vettel said he is sticking with his Ferrari plan. […]
Prost becomes Renault team advisor
Feb.22 (GMM) F1 legend Alain Prost has stepped up his role with the works Renault team for 2017. Earlier, the quadruple world champion was simply a brand ambassador, but he will now be a consultant or advisor. “It is important that Renault is competitive and will win races eventually,” said the 61-year-old. “My role is […]
F1 team could ‘do a Brawn’ – Palmer
Feb.22 (GMM) Jolyon Palmer is not ruling out the possibility a F1 team could “do a Brawn” in 2017. He is referring to 2009, when after Honda suddenly withdrew from F1, Ross Brawn’s new privateer team stunned the F1 world by winning the title thanks to the ‘double diffuser’ innovation. Actually, Palmer’s works Renault team […]
Marko backs Brawn over DRS axe
Feb.21 (GMM) Red Bull is backing calls for F1 to rid itself of the controversial ‘DRS’ overtaking solution. For the past several years, in a bid to boost the spectacle of the sport, F1 cars have been fitted with a moveable rear wing flap that helps a chasing driver to execute a successful overtaking move. […]
Wolff ‘extends power at Mercedes’ – report
Feb.21 (GMM) Toto Wolff has reportedly upped his pay and “extended his power” at Mercedes ahead of the 2017 season. Following a period of speculation, the German marque has announced that team boss Wolff and chairman Niki Lauda have extended their contracts through 2020. The German newspaper Bild claimed: “In fact, Wolff has expanded his […]
Sainz is Red Bull ‘reserve driver’ – Marko
Feb.21 (GMM) Red Bull is clinging to its “reserve driver” Carlos Sainz, according to the energy drink marque’s Dr Helmut Marko. Some are raising their eyebrows after Renault, who earlier made a bid to sign Spaniard Sainz for 2017, unveiled a new F1 sponsorship deal with Spanish company Mapfre. “Historical affinities between Renault, F1 and […]
Bottas to heed Hakkinen’s title-winning advice
Feb.21 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is happy to have a two-time world champion in his corner as he steps up to F1’s top team in 2017. Now almost two decades ago, it was fellow Finn Mika Hakkinen who found himself at F1’s dominant team – McLaren-Mercedes – and he duly won back to back […]
Too early for Verstappen title in 2017 – father
Feb.21 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father has played down the 19-year-old Dutchman’s chances of winning the world championship in 2017. Red Bull is tipped to be Mercedes’ closest challenger this year as the sport’s technical rules change significantly, and Verstappen has been marked out as an obvious title winner of the future. But Max’s father Jos, […]