Jun.30 (GMM) Some better news is finally emerging from the Sauber camp, amid a troubled 2016 campaign for the struggling Swiss team. Sauber has been obviously counting its pennies so far this year, to the extent that salary payments to the 300 staff at Hinwil have often been delayed. But the well-connected Swiss newspaper Blick […]
Mick Schumacher ‘not on radar’ – Marko
Jun.30 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he is not currently interested in signing up Mick Schumacher to Red Bull’s famous driver development programme. At the same age of 17, Red Bull fast-tracked the meteoric F1 career of Max Verstappen. But when asked about Schumacher, the young Formula 4-racing son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, Marko […]
Rosberg admits eye on Williams in Austria
Jun.30 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has singled out Williams as a potential threat as he chases a hat-trick of Austrian grand prix wins this weekend. And the championship leader is not the only one expecting the Grove team to shine at the Red Bull Ring, despite the fact Ferrari and Red Bull have been more consistent […]
‘Brexit’ will not hurt English teams – pundit
Jun.30 (GMM) An F1 pundit has played down the impact of the ‘Brexit’ vote for formula one teams. Some alarming reports have suggested some of F1’s many UK-based teams might now be thinking about leaving Britain in order to re-link their outfits with the European Union for the future. But Marc Surer, a former F1 […]
Pundit tips FIA to close tyre pressure loophole
Jun.30 (GMM) F1 pundit Marc Surer thinks the sport’s governing body will quickly close a loophole regarding tyre pressures. It has emerged that world champions Mercedes have developed equipment that heat the entire axle and brake assembly on the grid so that a tyre will satisfy Pirelli’s strict minimum pressure but then lose pressure once […]
Ferrari in ‘time of change’ – Fiat’s Elkann
Jun.30 (GMM) Ferrari is in a period of “change”, according to John Elkann, chairman of parent carmaker Fiat Chrysler. Deep into the first half of the 2016 season, it is a tricky time for the fabled Maranello marque: arguably Mercedes’ closest challenger but yet to win a single grand prix this year. Ferrari president Sergio […]
Titanium ‘Halo 2’ to make Friday test debut
Jun.30 (GMM) The development of ‘Halo’ is entering its decisive phase, with an updated version to make its debut in practice this weekend in Austria. The running of the controversial cockpit protection, in titanium finish this time rather than naked carbon, will be done by Ferrari, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims. The news that […]
Perez ‘on the gas’ for Ferrari seat – Marko
Jun.30 (GMM) Red Bull has put the lid on its F1 driver lineup for 2017, only leaving the future of Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat slightly ajar. It follows the latest rumours about Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz, and suggestions either of them might be in the running to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari. “We read […]
Button slams ‘desperate’ new F1 drivers
Jun.29 (GMM) Jenson Button, F1’s most experienced active driver, has chastised the latest generation of new and “very erratic” grand prix stars. The 36-year-old, who by season’s end will match Michael Schumacher’s huge career tally of 308 race entries, says an increasingly young grid lacks the poise of former F1 generations. “I feel that there […]
Hockenheim admits German GP future in doubt
Jun.29 (GMM) Hockenheim promoter Georg Seiler this week admitted Bernie Ecclestone is right that Germany might once again be absent from the F1 calendar in 2017. The good news for fans of the German grand prix is that, after an absence in 2015 that Nico Hulkenberg describe on Tuesday as “almost criminal”, it is back […]
Relationship with Hamilton unchanged – Rosberg
Jun.29 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has applied the brakes to teammate Lewis Hamilton’s claim that the pair are once again friends. While their title-duelling relationship at Mercedes has been troubled at times, world champion Hamilton said it has improved to the point that they now hang out in their mutual apartment complex in Monaco. “When I […]
Rosberg unmoved after Lauda contract comments
Jun.29 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has played down reports this week that suggest he is on a fast-track to a new Mercedes contract. While promoting the forthcoming German grand prix at Hockenheim, the championship leader was asked on Tuesday about Niki Lauda’s suggestion that a new two-year deal is now basically agreed. “There is nothing to […]
Todt wants ‘Halo’ on all single seaters
Jun.28 (GMM) FIA president Jean Todt says he wants cockpit protection that is set to be introduced in formula one to also be applied to the junior categories. The Frenchman made a visit to the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed at the weekend, where a ‘Halo’ device – set for introduction in F1 next year […]
Bottas steps up management of own F1 career
Jun.28 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he has his F1 future in his own hands for the first time. With the ‘silly season’ about to shift into its high gear, the Williams driver told Finland’s Turun Sanomat that he is taking more responsibility for the management of his career. Earlier, Bottas – who turns 27 next […]
Mercedes tyre pressure trick revealed – report
Jun.28 (GMM) A trick employed by Mercedes to counter Pirelli’s high mandatory tyre pressures has emerged. Earlier, it was suspected that some top teams had found a clever way to reduce the high minimum tyre pressures once the car was up and running, thereby boosting laptimes. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport has now published photos […]
Pirelli CEO happy with F1 present and future
Jun.28 (GMM) Pirelli chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera said he is happy the Italian company is still involved in an ever more competitive formula one. The Milan-based multinational has finally had its new 2017-2019 contract as F1’s sole tyre supplier rubber-stamped. “For us, it is a double success,” Tronchetti Provera is quoted by La Gazzetta dello […]
Red Bull could revive old Spielberg layout
Jun.28 (GMM) Red Bull is looking into expanding the current layout of the Austrian grand prix venue in Spielberg. The energy drink brand took the former A1-Ring and Osterreichring back to the F1 calendar in 2014. But according to Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper, owner Dietrich Mateschitz is now considering reviving an iconic old section of the […]
Monza hopes for 2017 contract by September
Jun.28 (GMM) An official is hoping Monza finally ends its protracted negotiations over Monza’s F1 future by the Italian grand prix in September. “We are very close to closing the agreement for the Italian grand prix. At Monza,” said Italian automobile club Aci chief Angelo Sticchi Damiani. That is despite that fact rival Italian circuit […]
Symonds proud of Williams’ pitstop turnaround
Jun.28 (GMM) Pat Symonds is proud of Williams, who have emerged this year as the team with clearly the fastest pitstops in formula one. With a car outpaced by Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari in 2016 and a smaller budget than the top three teams, Grove based Williams did, however, set an overall record stationary […]
Kvyat breaks silence as Red Bull eyes future
Jun.28 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat has finally broken his long Twitter silence, having not uttered a word on his social media account since his calamitous home race at Sochi and demotion from Red Bull. “A bit going on lately,” the Russian now declares, “but hard work continues and I keep on pushing hard! Life’s good. Thanks […]