May 14 (GMM) Renault and Pirelli are puzzled as to the cause of Jolyon Palmer’s high-speed tyre blowout in Friday practice. In the morning session, it was youngster Esteban Ocon at the wheel of the yellow car, but his rear puncture is said to have been clearly caused by debris. Later, however, the cause of […]
Haas drivers unhappy in Spain
May 14 (GMM) Haas, F1’s new American team, fielded two very unhappy race drivers in practice ahead of the Spanish grand prix. Romain Grosjean, for one, swore on the radio about an “undriveable” car. “Romain wants us to make progress,” boss Gunther Steiner is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. “If he tells us only […]
Raikkonen not too old for 2017 seat – Arrivabene
May 14 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene has indicated Kimi Raikkonen stands a strong chance of keeping his seat at Ferrari for 2017. The Finn has often struggled since returning to Maranello alongside first Fernando Alonso and then Sebastian Vettel, but has appeared in better form so far in 2016. Indeed, as he referred to Vettel and […]
Verstappen says Toro Rosso engineer exits ‘strange’
May 14 (GMM) Following Max Verstappen’s switch to Red Bull, it is increasingly clear there is little love lost between the Dutchman and Toro Rosso. The energy drink company undoubtedly promoted the 18-year-old to keep him out of the clutches of Ferrari and Mercedes, but it is also believed it ended a period of tension […]
Rosberg aims to avoid first lap drama
May 14 (GMM) Championship leader Nico Rosberg said he will wary at the start of Sunday’s Spanish grand prix, following a spate of first-corner crashes in 2016. While the German has serenely won all four races so far this season and escaped the chaos, it is believed the issue of his rivals – notably Daniil […]
Customers happy with Ferrari engine upgrade
May 14 (GMM) Ferrari’s 2016-spec engine customers have given the thumbs up to the new ‘power unit’ specification released by the Maranello marque for Spain. The works team debuted the update in Russia, but it is now up and running at the customer teams Sauber and Haas as well. “It’s a track on which we […]
McLaren on track for clash with FIA over engines
May 14 (GMM) McLaren-Honda could be shaping up to clash with F1’s governing body over the new engine regulations. Fabrice Lom, the FIA’s engine chief, said in Barcelona that the rules now say teams potentially left without an engine next year will be supplied by the manufacturer with the fewest number of customers. As the […]
Magnussen quiet over Renault’s young drivers
May 14 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he is not sure what Renault has in mind with its growing list of young test drivers. So far in 2016, Russian Sergey Sirotkin and Frenchman Esteban Ocon have driven the yellow car on a Friday morning. And now it emerges that the French marque plans to give a […]
Button, Vandoorne enter 2017 ‘silly season’
May 14 (GMM) ‘Silly season’ rumours about the futures of Jenson Button and Stoffel Vandoorne are revving up in Barcelona. When asked ahead of the Spanish grand prix if he would like to have the veteran Button as his 2017 teammate, Williams’ Valtteri Bottas answered: “Yes.” But according to the Spanish daily Marca, a press […]
Ricciardo says contractual situation ‘open’
May 14 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo is not completely ruling himself out of the 2017 ‘silly season’. Last year, the Australian put forward his name as a contender to switch to Ferrari, but Red Bull officials are once again insisting that Ricciardo is firmly under contract. It is noteworthy, however, that those same officials have seldom […]
Next circuits better for Ferrari – Vettel
May 14 (GMM) Amid rising pressure, Ferrari is still upbeat about 2016. President Sergio Marchionne is piling on the expectations of victory, and rumours are swirling around the future of team boss Maurizio Arrivabene. But Sebastian Vettel actually thinks Ferrari, already looking fast in Barcelona, has a real chance this weekend. “On paper yes but […]
Hamilton could take year off in 2017 – rumour
May 14 (GMM) A wild rumour is being whispered in the Barcelona paddock about Lewis Hamilton’s future in F1. The rumour follows a poor run of reliability for the Briton’s Mercedes, as his teammate Nico Rosberg lines up an eighth consecutive win in the Spanish grand prix. “I am sure we will get through it […]
Hockenheim chief in Spain for Ecclestone talks
May 14 (GMM) Hockenheim chief Georg Seiler has admitted he is in talks with Bernie Ecclestone about the future of the German grand prix. After the country’s absence from the F1 calendar last year, Seiler and a German delegation are in the Barcelona paddock to whip up interest in July’s Hockenheim race. German F1 drivers […]
Arrivabene jokes about Ferrari axe rumours
May 13 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene on Friday dismissed speculation he might soon be ousted as Ferrari team boss. Italy’s Autosprint had suggested moves are afoot to replace the Italian with James Allison, with Aldo Costa then returning from Mercedes to fill Allison’s spot as technical chief. “They were talking of Allison, they were talking of […]
Verstappen admits father taking step back
May 13 (GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted his father Jos may need to take a step back now that he races for Red Bull’s senior team. Until now, as the teen sensation honed his craft at Toro Rosso, former F1 driver Jos was a permanent fixture in the garage. But there was no sign of […]
Red Bull poised for new Renault deal
May 13 (GMM) Red Bull looks poised to agree a new customer engine deal with Renault. Relations between the parties has improved this year, with Red Bull – rebadging the units as Tag-Heuer – much happier with performance. Daniel Ricciardo said recently a new deal is “likely”, but Auto Motor und Sport says the two […]
F1 serious about engine ‘convergence’
May 13 (GMM) F1’s governing body on Friday said it is serious about ‘performance convergence’ when it comes to the engines in F1. When asked for his dream regulation on Friday, Red Bull’s Christian Horner joked: “Mercedes engines for everyone, free of charge!” But part of the new rules package agreed in the past days […]
Dennis says no Honda customers before title
May 13 (GMM) Ron Dennis has indicated he will not give the green light for Honda to begin supplying engines to customer teams. A new rule means engine manufacturers in F1 must be prepared to supply up to three teams per season, but McLaren supremo Dennis has a reported contractual veto guaranteeing an exclusive works […]
Hulkenberg happy with Force India upgrade
May 13 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg on Thursday sounded upbeat about a major upgrade package introduced by Force India for the Spanish grand prix. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said the Silverstone based team has taken “practically a new car” to Barcelona, featuring new wings, floor, sidepods, engine cover and brake ducts for an up to […]
Palmer dismisses Renault axe rumours
May 13 (GMM) Jolyon Palmer on Thursday said he is not worried about rumours Renault might oust him before the end of the 2016 season. The French marque’s new works team is actively promoting the young careers of Russian-backed Sergey Sirotkin as well as French youngster Esteban Ocon. Ocon will even drive Palmer’s yellow car […]