May 26 (GMM) A Monza official has hit out at Imola, the former San Marino grand prix host that is reportedly shaping up as an alternative venue for Italy’s annual F1 race. With negotiations between Monza and Bernie Ecclestone about 2017 and beyond still dragging on, officials at Imola – a famous circuit east of […]
Renault eyes leap into Q3
May 25 (GMM) Renault’s works team is eyeing a sudden leap into Q3 this weekend in Monaco. After the eleventh-hour Lotus takeover, it has been an uncompetitive full works return for the French marque in 2016 so far. But there are now signs of clear progress. This weekend, two versions of the Canada-spec engine upgrade, […]
Schumacher gets award for ‘life’s work’
May 25 (GMM) Michael Schumacher will be honoured at an award ceremony this week, the German newspaper Bild reports. The report said the inaugural ‘Nurburgring Award’ trophy will go to the great German on Friday after he won at the fabled circuit a record five times. As he is still recovering from his 2013 skiing […]
Wolff hopes drivers ‘have learned’ from crash
May 25 (GMM) Toto Wolff is heading into Monaco this weekend determined that Mercedes’ drivers will not crash again. From the moment Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg tangled and ended in the Barcelona gravel, the German team’s boss has played down the explosive incident. But now, just a day before track action resumes in Monaco […]
Verstappen ‘unbelievable’ at 18 – Prost
May 25 (GMM) F1 legend Alain Prost says Max Verstappen has been impressive beyond his mere age of 18. Some pundits are warning the F1 world not to go overboard in praise for the sport’s youngest ever winner, but Frenchman Prost is not among them. A winner of 51 grand prix wins and four titles, […]
Just 2 engines per driver by 2019 – report
May 25 (GMM) F1’s long-life engine rules will get more than twice as arduous for manufacturers beyond 2019. A few weeks ago, after a long period of negotiations, changes to further converge performance and cut costs were finally agreed. At the time, the FIA said cost reduction will be possible through a “progressive reduction of […]
F3 team Prema linked with F1 entry – report
May 24 (GMM) The next new team for F1 could now be on the horizon, according to Germany’s Auto Bild Motorsport. The publication suggested that Prema Powerteam, a lower-category Italian outfit that fields Lance Stroll in F3 and Mick Schumacher in Formula 4, could be first in line to emulate the successful new ‘Haas’-like model. […]
Too soon to predict Verstappen greatness – Petrov
May 24 (GMM) It might be too early to predict greatness for F1 teen sensation Max Verstappen, according to a former grand prix driver. Even before his first win in Barcelona, many insiders were wondering if Red Bull’s 18-year-old Dutchman might eventually break the great Michael Schumacher’s record tally of seven career titles. But Vitaly […]
Haryanto admits he could lose Manor seat
May 24 (GMM) Rio Haryanto has admitted for the first time that he might not make it through the 2016 season. Although backed by the Indonesian government and highly popular in his native country, it is understood the rookie is only paid up at Manor until mid-season. But his manager Piers Hunnisett told us in […]
Father still involved in Verstappen’s career
May 24 (GMM) Jos Verstappen has admitted that while he has taken a step back, he is still closely involved in his son’s meteoric F1 career. It has been suggested that while Toro Rosso was happy for the former Benetton driver to be closely involved, Red Bull has asked Jos to take a step back […]
Massa not sure Red Bull better than Mercedes
May 24 (GMM) Felipe Massa is in a realistic mood about Williams’ chances ahead of this weekend’s race in Monaco. The British team was third overall in 2014 and 2015 but has clearly fallen behind both Red Bull and Ferrari this year. “I think we will be behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull,” Massa told […]
McLaren chassis better than Ferrari – Boullier
May 24 (GMM) McLaren-Honda appears to be finally emerging from its long slump, with bosses Ron Dennis and Eric Boullier sounding particularly upbeat ahead of Monaco. Dennis, the Woking team’s supremo, told the BBC: “I honestly believe that the next world champions after Mercedes will be McLaren. We’ll get to that goal before other people.” […]
Shift to 2017 focus ‘delicate’ – Vasseur
May 24 (GMM) A decision is looming about how Renault will handle the transition from 2016 to 2017, team boss Frederic Vasseur has admitted. It is widely believed that, with the French marque having taken over Lotus at the eleventh hour, Renault regarded 2016 as little more than a transitional season as it focused much […]
Heineken deal to be announced soon
May 24 (GMM) F1 looks set to lift the lid on its major new sponsorship deal with Heineken ahead of next month’s Canadian grand prix. Last week, following a leak in the press, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone all but confirmed reports the Dutch beer brewer is entering the sport not only with a trackside advertising […]
FIA working on F1 engine ‘sound generator’
May 24 (GMM) F1’s governing body is backing development of a “sound generator” to spice up the muted tones of the current generation of power units. After the turbo V6s fitted with energy recovery systems replaced the screaming V8s of old, the sport reacted for 2016 by mandating extra tailpipes for the wastegate. Bernie Ecclestone […]
Mercedes scoffs at Hamilton rumour
May 24 (GMM) Mercedes has rubbished reports Lewis Hamilton might miss this weekend’s prestigious Monaco grand prix. An Italian newspaper had suggested that Pascal Wehrlein may only have tested in Barcelona last week due to world champion Hamilton’s involvement in a mysterious nightclub incident in Cannes that could now see him sidelined. But Hamilton has […]
Lauda plays down Rosberg-Ferrari rumours
May 23 (GMM) Niki Lauda has played down rumours Nico Rosberg might be contemplating a switch to Ferrari for 2017. After the Spanish grand prix, the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera claimed Rosberg was “flirting with Ferrari” as his current Mercedes contract expires. “As long as he is not flirting with me,” Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, […]
Le Mans rules out French GP revival
May 23 (GMM) Le Mans has ruled itself out of the running to revive the French grand prix. Pierre Fillon is the president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the organiser of the fabled 24 hour endurance race at the Le Mans circuit. He told Le Maine Libre newspaper that FIA president Jean Todt […]
Honda to use all tokens by Spa – report
May 23 (GMM) Honda is planning to hand in all of its engine performance ‘tokens’ by Spa-Francorchamps in August. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, citing the information of an unnamed engineer. “By then we will be able to feed in more electrical power,” the engineer is quoted as saying. The […]
Newspaper says Hamilton could miss Monaco
May 23 (GMM) The next wild rumour is now firing in formula one, ahead of the championship’s ‘jewel in the crown’ event in Monaco this weekend. Corriere dello Sport, an Italian newspaper, reports that a mysterious incident involving Lewis Hamilton’s attendance at red carpet events in Cannes last week could mean the world champion sits […]