Feb.9 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he is confident Lewis Hamilton will get along with his new Mercedes teammate in 2017. This week, triple world champion Hamilton’s father Anthony said his son would “much rather” still be paired with Nico Rosberg rather than the retired German’s replacement Valtteri Bottas. Hamilton snr also warned: “Lewis kills drivers. […]
Kaltenborn says Wehrlein not ‘junior’ driver
Feb.8 (GMM) Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn has denied claims the Swiss team has signed up a “junior” for 2017. In the media, Pascal Wehrlein is often referred to as a junior due to his prominent role in Mercedes’ driver development programme. But the 22-year-old made his debut with Manor in 2016 and this year is […]
Ousting Ecclestone a mistake – Mosley
Feb.8 (GMM) Max Mosley thinks F1’s new owners have made a mistake by dumping Bernie Ecclestone. Although given the honorary title ‘chairman emeritus’, 86-year-old Briton Ecclestone has been effectively ousted and replaced by Liberty Media’s Chase Carey and Ross Brawn. For years, Ecclestone and Mosley was a formidable double-act, and now the former FIA president […]
F1 designer worried about 2017 rules shakeup
Feb.8 (GMM) A well-known F1 engineer is concerned the sport is setting off down the wrong path with its radical new rules for 2017. On social media, Carlos Sainz posted a photo demonstrating that he has drastically bulked up muscle in preparation for the much faster cars set to race this year. But Luca Furbatto […]
Verstappen-Vandoorne like Senna-Prost – pundit
Feb.8 (GMM) F1 could be heading into a new ‘Senna versus Prost’ era. That is the view of a well known F1 pundit, as two youngsters from the Benelux region prepare to go head-to-head in 2017. Peter Windsor, a former Williams team manager turned journalist, told the Dutch magazine Formule 1: “I’m a big fan […]
Rosberg backs Kubica for F1 test comeback
Feb.8 (GMM) World champion Nico Rosberg has welcomed news Robert Kubica could be looking to get back into F1. The Pole had to leave the category after almost severing his wrist in a 2011 rally crash, but he will return to full-time circuit racing in 2017 with a top prototype Le Mans seat. And now […]
Bank guarantee secures 2018 French GP return
Feb.8 (GMM) France’s return to the F1 calendar is definitely on for 2018. In December, it emerged that after a decade’s absence, France will be back on the 2018 schedule with a race at Paul Ricard and a new five-year contract. But until now the actual deal was not complete. However, French publications including La […]
Hamilton could be Bottas ‘career killer’ – father
Feb.8 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s father has fired an ominous warning in the direction of Mercedes newcomer Valtteri Bottas. Anthony Hamilton, who guided his son’s early career in formula one, said anyone signing up to be the triple world champion’s teammate puts their entire career at risk. Finn Bottas, 27, has signed just a one-year contract […]
De Vries still with McLaren team – spokesman
Feb.7 (GMM) Nyck de Vries remains with the McLaren team, a spokesman for the British outfit told us on Tuesday. Earlier, the Dutch broadcaster RTL GP cited “sources” as it reported the 22-year-old Dutchman, who for years has been a McLaren development driver, is now seeking a seat for 2017 without the British team’s support. […]
Young driver de Vries loses McLaren support – report
Feb.7 (GMM) Nyck de Vries is losing the support of McLaren, according to the Dutch media. A report by the Dutch broadcaster RTL GP said the 22-year-old, who for years has been a McLaren development driver, is now seeking a seat for 2017 without the British team’s support. That is despite the fact that, on […]
Wehrlein injury puts 2017 testing in doubt
Feb.7 (GMM) Two weeks later, Pascal Wehrlein is still recovering from a scary rollover crash that occurred during the race of champions event in Miami. Last month, the Sauber driver was sidelined by doctors at the event after rolling a bizarre three-wheeler into a barrier following contact with Felipe Massa. “It’s no more than mild […]
McLaren confirms Jost Capito exit
Feb.7 (GMM) McLaren has now confirmed the departure of Jost Capito. Just four months after he started work, it emerged before Christmas that the 58-year-old German – who had left VW to be McLaren’s new CEO – was in fact now leaving McLaren. The news came amid a period of upheaval for the beleaguered British […]
VW no longer ruling out F1
Feb.6 (GMM) Volkswagen is no longer ruling out a future F1 foray. Earlier, it was suggested that amid the diesel emissions scandal, and VW’s rumoured disdain for Bernie Ecclestone’s management style, the German car giant had ruled out entering the sport. But Ecclestone is now gone, and Liberty Media has taken over and is promising […]
Wolff comments on Carey’s ‘super bowl’ hopes
Feb.6 (GMM) Two F1 figures have shrugged at new chief executive Chase Carey’s aim of turning every grand prix weekend into “the super bowl”. “The super bowl,” former FIA president Max Mosley told ITV when asked about the new F1 chief’s American football analogy. “Is that so wonderful?” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff agreed: “The […]
Finnish track eyes F1 future
Feb.6 (GMM) Finland might soon be in a position to host a round of the F1 world championship. The small northern European country has had plenty of drivers in F1, but never a round of the modern formula one series. However, the Kymi Ring is currently under construction north east of capital Hensinki, and it […]
Briatore not expecting strong Ferrari in 2017
Feb.6 (GMM) Ferrari fans should not expect the famous Italian team to be stronger in 2017. That is the view of former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore, following the Maranello marque’s disappointing year in 2016 featuring not a single race win. And now, the 66-year-old Italian doubts anything will change for 2017. “The team is […]
McLaren team rejects BMW rumours
Feb.6 (GMM) McLaren has dismissed rumours linking the British team with a potential F1 tie-up with German manufacturer BMW. McLaren’s current works partner in F1 is Honda, the Japanese marque that since 2015 has been clearly the least impressive ‘power unit’ performer on the grid. It then emerged that, for its future road car projects, […]
Alonso-Mercedes rumours ‘baseless’ – Briatore
Feb.6 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has rejected speculation Fernando Alonso was ever a serious contender to drive for Mercedes in 2017. When the reigning champion team suddenly had to replace the retiring Nico Rosberg, Spaniard Alonso was on everyone’s lips as the spectacular potential choice. But Briatore, still involved in the management of McLaren driver Alonso’s […]
Rosberg wanted Alonso to replace him
Feb.6 (GMM) World champion Nico Rosberg has admitted he would have liked Mercedes to replace him for 2017 with Fernando Alonso. Actually, the German marque has signed up Williams driver Valtteri Bottas, having also seriously considered its own junior Pascal Wehrlein. When asked what his preference would have been, Rosberg told the Spanish sports daily […]
Berger, Briatore doubt Ecclestone will return
Feb.6 (GMM) Two experienced F1 pundits do not believe Bernie Ecclestone will mount a comeback. The deposed F1 supremo has already dismissed claims he might set up a rival ‘breakaway’ series, but retired reigning world champion Nico Rosberg is not so sure. “Ecclestone has said that but you can’t believe it because he’s done it […]