Jun.1 (GMM) Monza chief Angelo Sticchi Damiani has confirmed that negotiations over the details of a new F1 race contract are now taking place. We reported on Tuesday that, after a long period of fraught negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone, officials had finally shaken hands on a deal with the F1 supremo in Monaco last weekend. […]
Villeneuve slams safety car start in Monaco
Jun.1 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has slammed F1’s race director for starting the ‘jewel in the crown’ Monaco race last Sunday behind the safety car. The 1997 world champion said it was “ridiculous” that just because it was raining in the Principality for the race start, the normal grid start was called off and the drivers […]
Prost admits ‘mixed feelings’ about Haas
Jun.1 (GMM) Alain Prost has admitted to having mixed feelings about F1’s newest team. The F1 legend and Renault ambassador is referring to Haas, the outfit founded by Nascar team co-owner Gene Haas who collaborated closely with Ferrari in order to prepare its 2016 car. “I have mixed feelings about Haas,” quadruple world champion Prost […]
Pundits disagree over Rosberg team orders
Jun.1 (GMM) Two F1 pundits disagree over whether Nico Rosberg did the right thing by obeying team orders during the Monaco grand prix. While struggling notably with his pace in the wet-dry street race, championship leader Rosberg let his teammate past and was later thanked by the winning Briton for being a “gentleman”. But former […]
Doornbos warns Ricciardo over ’emotional’ rhetoric
Jun.1 (GMM) Former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos has advised Daniel Ricciardo to tone down his post-race rhetoric in the wake of the Monaco grand prix. The Australian was nothing short of livid after finishing second to Lewis Hamilton last Sunday despite dominating the weekend overall. Responding to Ricciardo’s anger, one Australian bookmaker even refunded […]
Alonso says Honda engine upgrade coming for Canada
Jun.1 (GMM) McLaren and Honda have played down Fernando Alonso’s claim that the decision to take an upgraded engine to Canada next weekend has already been taken. The Anglo-Japanese team expected a more competitive weekend on the twisty streets of Monaco last weekend but Spaniard Alonso remains upbeat about what is coming. “There is much […]
Arrivabene eyes step forward for Canada
Jun.1 (GMM) Ferrari is eyeing a step forward for Canada, after not only failing to catch Mercedes but even falling behind Red Bull at the last two races. Sections of the partisan Italian media are now calling it a “crisis”, but team boss Maurizio Arrivabene is vowing to hit back. “We will accelerate some developments […]
Monaco leaves Ferrari in ‘crisis’ – press
May 31 (GMM) Ferrari has gone from targeting title glory to digging itself out of a “crisis”, according to the Italian press. Having aimed to chase and unseat dominant Mercedes this year, the Maranello outfit was in fact beaten to the win in Barcelona by Red Bull, and then to the Monaco podium by Force […]
Rossi did not dream of Indy 500 glory
May 31 (GMM) In one fell swoop, Alexander Rossi went from idle days at grand prix tracks to motor racing history. Still a reserve driver for Manor, the Californian completed the last handful of F1 races for the team last year but in 2016 lined up in the field for the 100th running of the […]
Podium proves Perez’s top-team credentials
May 31 (GMM) Sergio Perez hopes his Monaco podium serves to remind the F1 world that he is still a driver worthy of a top team. While it is often said that the Mexican’s Force India teammate Nico Hulkenberg – the reigning Le Mans champion – is the more talented, Perez has been on the […]
F1 popularity in Germany back on the rise
May 31 (GMM) The popularity of formula one might be back on the rise, after the German broadcaster RTL last weekend recorded its best TV ratings in three years. Germany’s Bild newspaper said 5.81 million Germans watched the free-to-air coverage of Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo dicing for the Monaco win. “Formula one is offering […]
Monza finally shakes hands with Ecclestone
May 31 (GMM) Monza officials may finally have shaken hands with Bernie Ecclestone on a new deal to secure the future of the Italian grand prix. The negotiations have been public, fraught and protracted but Italian automobile club chief Angelo Sticchi Damiani agreed terms last weekend in Monaco, according to Sky Italia. “After the drafting […]
Ericsson crashed deliberately in Monaco – report
May 31 (GMM) A Brazilian F1 correspondent claims Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson crashed deliberately into his teammate during the Monaco grand prix. Team boss Monisha Kaltenborn, who is struggling to keep the team alive financially, said both Ericsson and Felipe Nasr had shown “unacceptable behaviour” leading up to the crash. It was Swede Ericsson who […]
Verstappen still on track after bad Monaco
May 31 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s impressive F1 career is still on track despite a less-than-impressive showing in Monaco, his new boss Christian Horner insists. Just a fortnight after stunning the F1 world and drawing comparisons with Senna or Schumacher by winning in Barcelona, the 18-year-old Dutchman crashed not only in qualifying but also during the […]
Ferrari title not gone after anonymous Monaco – boss
May 30 (GMM) Despite a nearly anonymous Monaco for the great Italian marque, Maurizio Arrivabene insists the world championship is still within Ferrari’s grasp. However, after a poor weekend in Spain, the red cars were once again behind not just Mercedes but also a resurgent Red Bull and even Sergio Perez’s Force India on the […]
Decision looming on Renault’s 2017 approach – Prost
May 30 (GMM) Alain Prost thinks the time for Renault to switch its full focus to 2017 is now approaching. The quadruple world champion, now an ambassador for the French carmaker and a paddock television pundit, hailed Renault for the improvements it has made to its power unit this year. Prost was speaking in Monaco, […]
Santander eyes Ferrari deal beyond 2017
May 30 (GMM) The Spanish bank Santander is in talks about extending its major sponsorship contract with Ferrari beyond 2017. In 2012, it was reported that a new contract extension had pushed the existing Santander deal all the way until the end of next year. “Our sponsorship with Ferrari is the best marketing operation in […]
Sainz’s ‘chance will come’ – Marko
May 30 (GMM) While Daniil Kvyat’s place in the Red Bull programme might be in tatters, Carlos Sainz remains on track. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, the architect of Red Bull’s controversial driver programme that is speeding Max Verstappen to F1 glory and putting Russian Kvyat’s future in jeopardy. Now driving for […]
Ricciardo livid after another Red Bull bungle
May 30 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo left Monaco late on Sunday declaring he could not wait to “get the hell out of here”. The Australian, who started the wet-dry race on the Principality’s fabled streets from pole, was absolutely livid at having been beaten by world champion Lewis Hamilton. “It hurts. I’m not sure where to […]
Jost Capito not starting work yet – Boullier
May 29 (GMM) It is understood Jost Capito will start work at McLaren at the end of August. Capito was actually signed up by the Woking team to be its new chief executive in January, but he said he would only leave his role as VW’s racing chief once a successor is appointed. German Capito, […]