Jan.18 (GMM) Former F1 driver Heikki Kovalainen has admitted he made a bid to replace the Mercedes-bound Valtteri Bottas at Williams for 2017. Amid strong speculation that Bottas would leave the British team, Kovalainen said he recently offered his services to replace his fellow Finn at Williams. “Yes, I sent Claire (Williams) an email,” the […]
Lotus F1 foray ‘not a failure’ – Lopez
Jan.18 (GMM) Former F1 team owner Gerard Lopez has defended his record in the sport, insisting the Lotus foray was “not a failure”. The Luxembourg entrepreneur, who is now buying the French football club Losc Lille, sold the Enstone based Lotus team to Renault at the end of 2015 for a symbolic single Euro. But […]
Honda in talks with Sauber over 2018 – report
Jan.18 (GMM) Honda’s plans to begin supplying a second F1 team with engines are now shaping up. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, who said the obvious first customer for Honda is Sauber. “The Swiss team has not extended its contract with Ferrari,” correspondent Michael Schmidt revealed. Currently, Honda’s exclusive works […]
Liberty still seeking FIA green light
Jan.18 (GMM) Only one hurdle remains as F1’s new owner Liberty Media looks to complete its buyout of the sport. This week, Liberty’s shareholders got together in Colorado to vote on the F1 acquisition, the company headed by US media tycoon John Malone confirmed in a statement. It said shareholders duly “approved” the purchase, including […]
Alonso ‘not afraid’ of rookie Vandoorne
Jan.18 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he is “not worried” even though he has a rookie teammate for 2017. It is now a full decade ago that the Spaniard, then as a reigning back-to-back champion, thought he had a clear run at McLaren only to be paired with rookie Lewis Hamilton. Now, history could repeat itself […]
Lauda ‘tension’ gone after Bottas signing
Jan.18 (GMM) Niki Lauda says he feels relaxed now that Valtteri Bottas has been signed up for 2017. Earlier, the F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman sounded almost angry that Rosberg had left the world champions in the lurch by quitting after winning his title. “My tension, which had resulted from the withdrawal of Nico, […]
Rosberg “curious” to watch successor Bottas
Jan.18 (GMM) World champion Nico Rosberg says he is looking forward to seeing a “great battle” between Mercedes’ new driving duo in 2017. After an eleventh hour scrabble to replace Rosberg after the German sensationally quit Mercedes and F1, the team announced this week that Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate will be Williams driver Valtteri Bottas. […]
Vandoorne unsure McLaren can win in 2017
Jan.17 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne is not sure McLaren will be ready to win races in 2017. After two seasons of struggle but steady improvement, the Honda-powered team has announced it will launch its new car on February 24 — the same day as Ferrari. There is already speculation the car will be in McLaren’s traditional […]
One year deal for Bottas ‘strange’ – Salo
Jan.17 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas’ one-year contract to drive for Mercedes in 2017 is “really strange”. That is the view of Mika Salo, a fellow Finn and former F1 driver. Bottas’ switch from Williams to replace the suddenly-retired reigning world champion Nico Rosberg at Mercedes was finally unveiled on Monday. But sources quickly reported that the […]
‘Angry’ Sainz also ‘patient’ for future
Jan.17 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has admitted he is “angry” but also “patient”, as his career stalls for now at Toro Rosso. Actually, the Spaniard had a very good 2016 season, but it was his Toro Rosso teammate Max Verstappen who got the call to move into the senior team. Not just that, Sainz got an […]
Last pieces of 2017 puzzle in place
Jan.17 (GMM) The last major pieces of the 2017 grid have fallen into place. Mercedes announced that Valtteri Bottas is joining the reigning world champions, Williams said Felipe Massa will replace the Finn, while the Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein’s Sauber deal was also unveiled. “I must thank Williams for their cooperation in allowing Valtteri to […]
Mateschitz undecided over F1 shares
Jan.16 (GMM) Dietrich Mateschitz says he is yet to decide if he will accept Liberty’s offer and buy shares in formula one. “I honestly don’t know if I should buy shares,” the 72-year-old Austrian, who is the owner of Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso, told Speed Week. “On the one hand it is obvious, […]
Renault will help Red Bull close gap – Mateschitz
Jan.16 (GMM) Renault will help Red Bull “get closer” to Mercedes in 2017. That is the claim of Dietrich Mateschitz, the low-profile billionaire founder and owner of Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso. After a 2015 falling out, Red Bull’s relationship with Renault improved last year to the point that the main team passed Ferrari […]
Wehrlein ‘delighted’ to join Sauber – report
Jan.16 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has admitted he is heading to Sauber for 2017. It is yet another strong sign that Valtteri Bottas’ move from Williams to Mercedes to replace new world champion Nico Rosberg is complete. Wehrlein was earlier a strong contender to replace the retiring Rosberg, but recent reports suggested a deal for the […]
Minardi defends ‘pay driver’ Stroll
Jan.16 (GMM) Gian Carlo Minardi has hit out at criticism of Lance Stroll’s impending debut in F1. Undoubtedly, the 18-year-old Canadian’s rapid rise to formula one has been powered in part by his billionaire father Lawrence. For instance, Stroll has been embarking on an arguably unprecedented global F1 testing tour with a 2014 Williams, including […]
Boullier targets top four for McLaren
Jan.16 (GMM) McLaren is not setting its targets too high for 2017. That is the news from Eric Boullier, the works Honda-powered team’s boss. Some are saying that, after a two year struggle with Honda and political strife, 2017 is finally the season in which the famous British team shines again. But the Spanish newspaper […]
Rosberg may regret retirement decision – Berger
Jan.16 (GMM) Gerhard Berger says he does not relate to Nico Rosberg’s decision to quit F1 at the age of 31. Rosberg has said he called time on his career after achieving his boyhood dream of the world title, but at first Berger says he could not believe the content of the text message from […]
Ecclestone doubts Red Bull can win title
Jan.16 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone doubts Mercedes can be beaten in 2017. Many are hoping and expecting that, with the major aerodynamic regulation changes, 2016 runner-up Red Bull can mount a serious title tilt this year. But F1 supremo Ecclestone told the Munich newspaper TZ: “If Red Bull believes they can beat Mercedes with better aerodynamics, […]
Giovinazzi deserves F1 race seat – Minardi
Jan.16 (GMM) New Ferrari reserve Antonio Giovinazzi actually deserves a seat on the 2017 grid. That is the claim of former Italian F1 team owner Gian Carlo Minardi, referring to the Italian 23-year-old who almost won this year’s GP2 title. “He is already worthy of F1, possessing all the skills that enable a driver to […]
Red Bull, Haas cars pass crash tests
Jan.16 (GMM) Two more F1 teams are on track for pre-season testing late next month. We have already reported that Toro Rosso and Force India had their respective 2017 chassis approved by the FIA following mandatory crash tests. Now, Brazil’s UOL quotes Red Bull designer Adrian Newey as saying: “We have passed the crash tests, […]