May 9 (GMM) The big talking point heading into the Spanish grand prix will be Red Bull’s shock jump on the 2017 ‘silly season’. The energy drink marque has pulled Max Verstappen out of contention for a switch to Ferrari or Mercedes by immediately promoting him from Toro Rosso on a long-term deal with Red […]
Max pledged ‘long term’ future to Red Bull – Jos
May 9 (GMM) Despite Mercedes and Ferrari’s obvious interest, Jos Verstappen says his son Max has pledged his “long term” future to Red Bull. The Verstappen and Red Bull camps shocked the F1 world last week by announcing that the 18-year-old Dutchman will graduate with immediate effect from the junior outfit Toro Rosso ahead of […]
Toro Rosso could be first Honda customer – report
May 9 (GMM) Toro Rosso could become the first customer of Honda’s engines in F1. That is the claim of the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat, who said rumours of the Red Bull-owned team’s interest actually dates back to 2015. But it is believed Ron Dennis still intends to fiercely defend an apparent clause in his […]
Report links Kubica with Pirelli testing
May 9 (GMM) A respected F1 correspondent says Robert Kubica could get involved in Pirelli’s preparations for the new tyre rules for 2017. The sport’s official supplier has already started work with a 2014 Ferrari driven by Jean-Eric Vergne at Fiorano. And a GP2 car driven by Lotus refugee Pastor Maldonado at Mugello and Barcelona […]
Alarming reports about Schumacher health
May 9 (GMM) International publications are repeating alarming news about the health of F1 legend Michael Schumacher. Spain’s Diario Sport, Italy’s Corriere dello Sport and La Derniere Heure in Belgium say an American source called ‘Newseveryday’ has quoted an anonymous doctor who was involved in Schumacher’s recovery from serious head injuries. The original source reportedly […]
Sainz eyes Verstappen-like Red Bull move
May 9 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s mid-season promotion to Red Bull Racing is not necessarily a blow to his now former Toro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz. That is the view of the Spaniard himself, although some might forgive Sainz for being disappointed it was not him who was selected to replace Daniil Kvyat. “If he (Max) […]
Vettel engine survived Kvyat clashes – report
May 9 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel’s engine survived his clashes with Daniil Kvyat in Russia, according to the Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport. Last week, we reported that the gearbox aboard the German’s red car was damaged in the controversial melee, but will be replaced without incurring a penalty ahead of the Spanish grand […]
Ex F1 team boss in tax fraud probe
May 9 (GMM) The former chief executive of a F1 team is accused of income tax fraud, according to reports in Spain. In 2011, the F1 team HRT or Hispania was sold to a Spanish firm called Thesan Capital, linked to the Japanese financial group Nomura. Marca, a Spanish sports daily, and El Confidencial say […]
Wehrlein hopes Haryanto keeps Manor seat
May 9 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein says he always knew his 2016 Manor teammate Pascal Wehrlein was a good driver. Indeed, amid reports labelling the Indonesian government-backed Haryanto as merely the next bankrolled ‘pay-driver’ in F1, fellow rookie Wehrlein insisted months ago that “Rio is being portrayed as worse than he is”. Indeed, after four races […]
Le Mans wants FIA to stop F1 race clashes
May 9 (GMM) The organiser of Le Mans is confident next year’s edition of the fabled 24 hour sports car race will not clash with formula one. Nico Hulkenberg, who drives full-time for Force India, is unable to defend his 2015 Le Mans crown next month because the race clashes with the first grand prix […]
McLaren denies Dennis to challenge new FIA rule
May 7 (GMM) McLaren has played down reports team supremo Ron Dennis is furious about a new engine rule in formula one. We reported this week that Dennis vowed to sue the FIA if it enforces the new regulation where manufacturers may be compelled to supply customer engines. “You will never get an engine from […]
Wehrlein puzzled by Kvyat demotion
May 7 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat’s demotion is not the end of the world for the young Russian. That is the view of Pascal Wehrlein, the reigning DTM champion who with Mercedes’ strong backing stepped up to formula one this year. But it is Red Bull’s decision to demote Kvyat, swapping his seat with Max Verstappen […]
Russian backer joins Kvyat at Toro Rosso
May 7 (GMM) A Russian backer is more than happy with Daniil Kvyat’s controversial return to Toro Rosso ahead of the Spanish grand prix. Moscow-based online newspaper Lenta reports that, mere days after Red Bull decided to demote 22-year-old Kvyat, Russian businessman Sergey Belousov signed on the dotted line of a sponsorship deal with the […]
Renault ‘happy’ with Palmer – boss
May 7 (GMM) Renault has dismissed speculation Jolyon Palmer is in danger of losing his race seat. In the same week that Red Bull demoted Daniil Kvyat, rumours continued to circulate that rookie Palmer, the 2014 GP2 champion, was in danger of losing his Renault seat to a young team charger like Sergey Sirotkin or […]
Engineers leave Toro Rosso – reports
May 6 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s race engineer has also left Toro Rosso. However, Xevi Pujolar – a highly experienced engineer who has also worked for Williams with race winners Mark Webber and Juan Pablo Montoya – is not accompanying the 18-year-old Dutchman to the senior team Red Bull. Rumours suggest he fell out with Toro […]
Mercedes still investigating Hamilton failures
May 6 (GMM) Mercedes has admitted it is still working on fixing the engine problems that have thwarted Lewis Hamilton’s championship campaign so far in 2016. In China and again in Russia, the reigning triple world champion struck trouble with identical problems aboard two different V6 ‘power units’. Then in the Sochi race, the Briton […]
Ferrari can still win 2016 title – Marchionne
May 6 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne says Ferrari “deserves” to keep charging for the 2016 world championship. That is despite the fact Sebastian Vettel, widely regarded as Maranello’s lead driver, is already a whopping 67 points behind Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg. Ferrari and Fiat president Marchionne famously set Ferrari the target of winning immediately in 2016, but […]
2017 rules will not stop overtaking – Boullier
May 6 (GMM) Eric Boullier has hit back at suggestions the 2017 regulations could actually hurt formula one. Part of Mercedes’ opposition to the wider cars with bigger wings for next year was the argument that more downforce will just make overtaking more difficult. “I disagree with some comments made by our rivals in the […]
Red Bull waiting to decide future with Renault
May 6 (GMM) Red Bull is waiting until Canada before turning its attention to the future of its deal with engine supplier Renault. After a tumultuous semi-works relationship came to a head last year, the former world champion team agreed a one-year customer deal with Renault for 2016 involving the re-branding of the ‘power units’ […]
Kvyat can still revive F1 career – Salo
May 6 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat still has his supporters in formula one, despite being demoted by Red Bull after just four races in 2016. Igor Ermilin, the presidential advisor to the Russian automobile federation, called it the most “stupid decision I have ever seen in formula one”. He told Russia’s Sport Express: “It is surprising […]