Jun.23 (GMM) Sergio Perez’s bid for a Ferrari race cockpit for 2017 could have got an eight-digit boost. The Mexican is riding a wave of confidence and form at present after two podiums in the last three races for the little Silverstone-based team Force India. “He still has the fiery image of a young driver […]
Official says Monza deal now ‘on the home straight’
Jun.22 (GMM) Italian automobile club (Aci) chief Angelo Sticchi Damiani says a new F1 race deal for Monza beyond 2016 is now “on the home straight”. Bernie Ecclestone admitted in Baku last weekend that reports another well-known Italian circuit – Imola – could poach the race are true. The F1 supremo also warned that Italy […]
Tost hopes to keep Toro Rosso drivers for 2017
Jun.22 (GMM) Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost said he would be happy if the Faenza team lined up with the same drivers in 2017. It looks almost certain that team owner Red Bull will trigger the automatic 1-year extension of Carlos Sainz’s contract, with an announcement expected imminently. “It’s very, very close,” Tost told the […]
Capito to start at McLaren in late August
Jun.22 (GMM) A couple more months will pass until McLaren’s new chief executive will start work at the Woking team. We reported a month ago that Jost Capito, currently VW’s racing chief, would probably start work in late August, despite being signed up by McLaren in January. The German had said he would not leave […]
Dave Ryan ‘sure’ McLaren will win again
Jun.22 (GMM) Dave Ryan is sure McLaren will eventually returning to winning ways in F1. The New Zealander is now the racing director at Manor, but for the bulk of his F1 career until the well-known ‘lie-gate’ scandal he was the sporting director at the Woking based team. “They will return to the top of […]
Todt plays down need for radio ban rethink
Jun.22 (GMM) Jean Todt has played down the need for F1 to revisit the controversial ban on certain pit-to-driver radio communications. The issue has arisen after Sunday’s Baku race, during which Lewis Hamilton in particular struggled for power due to an engine mode setting he was unable to resolve. Kimi Raikkonen had a similar problem […]
Allison says 2017 cars to be ‘beautiful’
Jun.22 (GMM) F1 is creating a fleet of “beautiful” next-generation cars. That is the news from Ferrari’s technical boss James Allison, when speaking about the sweeping new rules for 2017 featuring wider cars and Pirelli tyres. “We made a small step forward already to get rid of the horrible noses that we had a couple […]
Only ‘real’ Hamilton can beat Rosberg – Webber
Jun.21 (GMM) Mark Webber thinks world champion Lewis Hamilton can bounce back and secure his third consecutive title this year. Another another troubled weekend in Baku, Hamilton’s deficit to Nico Rosberg blew back out to 24 points as he declared “It’s looking like a good year for Nico”. But former F1 driver Mark Webber said […]
Rosberg back to winning after helmet change
Jun.21 (GMM) Nico Rosberg put his championship charge back on track in Baku after following Lewis Hamilton’s lead — with his helmet. World champion Hamilton ended his career-long association with Arai helmets last year by switching to Bell, an American manufacturer. His Mercedes teammate Rosberg, however, had won all of his grand prix victories until […]
Imola not determined to shut out Monza – mayor
Jun.21 (GMM) Imola and Monza may be able to peacefully co-exist in F1. That is the claim of Daniele Manca, mayor of the town of Imola, whose local circuit hosted many San Marino grands prix until 2006. Bernie Ecclestone has been in troubled negotiations with Monza over a new contract beyond 2016, with Imola near […]
Kvyat to make ‘own decisions’ on F1 future
Jun.21 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat’s future in F1 is not as secure as that of his current Toro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz. It is believed Sainz is on the cusp of having a one-year contract extension triggered by Toro Rosso owner Red Bull, even though the Spanish daily Marca reports that Renault is also interested in […]
Briatore says Alonso’s McLaren move ‘my fault’
Jun.21 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has hinted for the first time that Fernando Alonso’s move to McLaren-Honda may have been a mistake. The management of Spaniard Alonso’s career is still directed by his former Renault boss Briatore. The 66-year-old Italian told Gr Parlamento Rai radio that Alonso does not regret the five years he spent at […]
No F1 foray for Lamborghini – Domenicali
Jun.21 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has played down any suggestion Lamborghini might enter formula one. “In the short term, no,” said the Italian, who became the Italian sports car marque’s new CEO earlier this year. Domenicali, of course, is best known for his long career in formula one at Ferrari, where between 2008 and 2014 he […]
Ferrari should focus on 2017 and ‘internationalise’
Jun.21 (GMM) Ferrari might be wise to write off 2016 and focus all of its efforts on beating Mercedes next year. That is the view of one section of the Italian press, even though team president Sergio Marchionne said in Baku that the fight for the 2016 crown is still on. But Tuttosport, an Italian […]
Perez not ruling out Ferrari switch
Jun.21 (GMM) Sergio Perez is not dismissing speculation he is in the running to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari for 2017. The Mexican has been showing the way to 2015 Le Mans winner and Force India teammate Nico Hulkenberg this year, and scored two podium finishes in the past three races. “No, I think we’ll […]
Tilke relieved after first Baku race
Jun.20 (GMM) Hermann Tilke has admitted he breathed a sigh of relief once the chequered flag waved on Sunday. The German is F1’s renowned and highly experienced circuit designer, but the wall-lined, high speed Azerbaijan street layout was the most extreme circuit project he has headed. “Of course I was nervous,” Tilke admitted to Auto […]
Mercedes denies Rosberg smarter than Hamilton
Jun.20 (GMM) Mercedes on Monday said it is not right to conclude that Lewis Hamilton struggled with his engine settings in Baku because he is less studious than Nico Rosberg. The story had emerged after the Azerbaijan race, when team chairman Niki Lauda said Rosberg struggled with a similar problem in the race but managed […]
Ferrari in no hurry to decide Raikkonen’s future
Jun.20 (GMM) Ferrari has admitted Kimi Raikkonen’s future remains uncertain beyond the end of his 2016 contract. However, one impeccable source close to the Maranello team insists the Finn looks set to stay. “I can confirm that the renewal of Kimi’s contract is approaching,” Leo Turrini, a well-known Italian blogger, is quoted by the Finnish […]
Sainz waiting for Red Bull’s decision on future
Jun.20 (GMM) Carlos Sainz looks set to stay at Toro Rosso for a third consecutive season in 2017. Amid rumours of interest from Ferrari and Renault, it is believed Red Bull has decided to take up an option on the Spaniard’s contract that will keep him at the Faenza based junior team next year. Red […]
No GP2-like ‘chaos’ for F1 in Baku race
Jun.20 (GMM) After two calamitous GP2 races in Baku, the stage was set for a thrilling and incident-filled inaugural formula one battle on the Azerbaijani streets. But the excitement did not materialise. That was partly due to the fact that, with Ferrari and Red Bull having closed the gap in the previous three races, Mercedes’ […]