Dec.14 (GMM) Mika Salo says it is very possible a golden opportunity for his fellow Finn Valtteri Bottas to step up to Mercedes might fall through. Bottas is understood to be Mercedes’ favourite to replace the retiring world champion Nico Rosberg for 2017. But while managed by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, the 26-year-old is firmly […]
Bottas and Wehrlein ‘excellent’ candidates – Rosberg
Dec.14 (GMM) New world champion Nico Rosberg insists that Mercedes has been “understanding” about his late decision to quit the team and F1. That is despite the fact that the reigning world champion team’s options for replacing him look severely limited, with top drivers Sebastian Vettel and now Fernando Alonso ruling themselves out. “I believe […]
Rosberg exit ‘not good’ for F1 – Ecclestone
Dec.13 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone and new F1 director Chase Carey are in contact with Toto Wolff about the identity of Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes successor. That is the claim of respected Brazilian correspondent Livio Oricchio, as the German giant continues to grapple with Rosberg’s shock decision to retire. Writing in Globo Esporte, Oricchio claims F1 supremo […]
Massa not Brazilian motor sport saviour
Dec.13 (GMM) Felipe Massa has ruled out going it alone to put Brazil back on track for a healthy future in F1. With the former Ferrari and Williams driver now retiring, it seems the only other Brazilian on the grid, Felipe Nasr, looks set to lose his place at Sauber. So with his respected reputation, […]
Maldonado working on 2017 F1 return
Dec.13 (GMM) Pastor Maldonado says he is working on his return to formula one. With a controversial driving style, the 31-year-old raced for Williams and Lotus until 2015, when his sponsor PDVSA struck trouble amid the Venezuelan oil crisis. But Maldonado said at an event at Colombia’s Autodromo de Tocancipa: “I’m talking to some teams […]
Magnussen to gain 3 kilos for 2017 – trainer
Dec.12 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has rejected the advice of Le Mans legend and Danish countryman Tom Kristensen. Some days ago, Kristensen said that to compete with new Haas teammate Romain Grosjean next year, Magnussen should consider losing some weight. However, reports indicate that Magnussen is already just 68kg, which is slightly less than the taller […]
Sirotkin eyes Renault race seat for 2018
Dec.12 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin has admitted he is pushing to become Renault’s race driver by 2018. Third in this year’s GP2 standings, the young Russian was a Renault test driver this year but is slated to become official third driver in 2017. “I can say little about the future,” Sirotkin told Russia’s Sportbox. “With Boris […]
Lowe to Williams, Allison to Mercedes – report
Dec.12 (GMM) Paddy Lowe looks set to leave Mercedes and return to Williams. At the weekend, McLaren denied reports claiming Lowe, 54, was actually set to vacate his post as Mercedes’ technical chief in order to return to another of his former employers. Now, Germany’s Bild newspaper says Lowe actually seems headed to Williams, where […]
Williams not commenting on Bottas reports
Dec.12 (GMM) Williams is not commenting on reports it rejected an initial offer from Mercedes to buy out Valtteri Bottas’ 2017 contract. As Mercedes looks to replace Nico Rosberg, Finn Bottas – managed by team boss Toto Wolff but under firm contract to Williams – has been named as a top contender. But Britain’s Sun […]
Hamilton, Wolff, end Abu Dhabi controversy
Dec.12 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff are looking to put the controversy of the Abu Dhabi finale firmly in the past. After the 2016 finale, Mercedes boss Wolff was said to be considering disciplining the triple world champion for ignoring team orders and backing Nico Rosberg into rival cars. But Wolff has now been […]
Rosberg situation helps me – Nasr
Dec.12 (GMM) Felipe Nasr says Nico Rosberg’s shock decision to retire improves his chances of staying in F1 next year. Until Rosberg’s shock news, the Brazilian looked set to lose his place at Sauber, following the departure of his major backer Banco do Brasil. But with Mercedes now shaking up the driver market with its […]
Agostini questions Rosberg ‘passion’
Dec.12 (GMM) Giacomo Agostini, arguably the greatest motorcycle racing legend of all time, says he cannot understand new F1 champion Nico Rosberg’s decision to quit. The Italian, who switched to non-championship F1 after his glittering moto career ended in the 70s, was asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport to comment on 31-year-old Rosberg’s decision to […]
Pirelli wants to monitor tyre data in-race
Dec.12 (GMM) Pirelli sounds determined to keep clamping down on how F1 teams are using their tyres. The sport’s official supplier was unpopular among many teams this year as it demanded controversially high operating tyre pressures. So now with the tyres getting bigger and grippier for 2017, Pirelli F1 chief Mario Isola confirmed reports the […]
‘Difficult’ to be better in 2017 – Force India
Dec.12 (GMM) Force India has acknowledged it will be difficult to defend fourth place in the constructors’ world championship next year. Despite having one of the smallest budgets in the sport, the Silverstone based team finished fourth in 2016 behind the might of Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari. When asked by Auto Motor und Sport […]
McLaren denies Lowe returning to Woking
Dec.10 (GMM) McLaren has rubbished reports Mercedes’ technical boss Paddy Lowe is set to leave the reigning world champions and return to Woking. As his current contract nears an end, Briton Lowe, 54, had been linked with James Allison’s old job at Ferrari. But reports in the Italian press now suggest Lowe could in fact […]
‘Three names’ on Mercedes shortlist – Wolff
Dec.9 (GMM) It is becoming clearer and clearer that Pascal Wehrlein will join Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate in 2017. Following new world champion Rosberg’s shock decision of a week ago to retire, F1 has been a hotbed of rumours when it comes to his replacement. The headline rumour has been all about Fernando […]
Liberty to vote on F1 buyout in January
Dec.9 (GMM) F1’s acquisition by Liberty Media will speed ahead early next year. Currently, the company headed by US media tycoon John Malone has started to take over the commercial rights from CVC, but the deal is far from complete. “I think it is too early to talk about how it (F1) will be with […]
Growing financial loss at Austrian GP – report
Dec.8 (GMM) Austrian grand prix venue, the Red Bull Ring, has recorded an alarming financial loss for 2016. That is the claim of the Austrian weekly business magazine Trend, shortly after it was confirmed that Germany will not host a race next year for financial reasons. Trend said the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, having […]
Ferrari dominance better for F1 – Kaltenborn
Dec.8 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn says it would be better if Ferrari rather than Mercedes was dominating formula one. “Of course it would be better if several teams were to fight for the title,” the Sauber team chief told German radio Deutschlandfunk. But she said it is not Mercedes’ fault that it simply aced the new […]
French GP revival ‘surprised’ Ecclestone
Dec.8 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he is “surprised” a deal to revive the French grand prix is finally done. “It’s taken a long time but eventually we got there,” the F1 supremo told L’Equipe, after the five-year contract starting in 2018 at his own Paul Ricard circuit was announced. “I am very, very happy […]