May 11 (GMM) Watching over his own motocross team at the weekend, Kimi Raikkonen had a typical answer when asked for an interview. “No,” the German newspaper Mitteldeutsche Zeitung quotes him as saying. Raikkonen’s rider Max Nagl, however, is happy to talk about the Ferrari driver, saying at the motocross event in Teutschenthal: “I am […]
Red Bull eyed Alfa Romeo power – Marchionne
May 11 (GMM) Red Bull expressed interest in being powered by Alfa Romeo engines in F1. That is the revelation of Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler president Sergio Marchionne, who said moves are still afoot to bring the Italian carmaker back to the grid. “Alfa Romeo may be there one day,” Italian reports quote him as […]
Ferrari slow to react to rule changes – Baldisserri
May 11 (GMM) Luca Baldisserri, a former key manager and engineer at Ferrari, says the Maranello team should work on adapting better to rule changes. 53-year-old Baldisserri was a key member of the team in the hugely successful Michael Schumacher era, but in recent years he headed Ferrari’s young driver programme and now oversees the […]
Force India hopes for Mallya return soon
May 11 (GMM) The UK government has turned down India’s request for Vijay Mallya to be deported. Former billionaire Mallya has been absent from the F1 paddocks this year over his highly-publicised dispute with the Indian government, regarding the collapse of his airline Kingfisher and massive debts. The 60-year-old is currently holed up at his […]
Honda undecided over engine ‘token’ spend
May 11 (GMM) Honda says it has not decided when to deploy its tally of performance ‘tokens’ in 2016. Barcelona, the first European race of the season, is traditionally the scene of big update packages and McLaren is indeed ready with an improved car. “We hope it will be a big step forward,” Yusuke Hasegawa, […]
Hembery hopes 2017 rules not ‘boring’
May 10 (GMM) Paul Hembery said Pirelli will not be to blame if F1 races become more boring next season. In a difficult political climate at present, F1 legend Niki Lauda said the new chassis and engine rules are the result of a “compromise” agreement. “Whether it fulfils expectations remains to be seen,” the Mercedes […]
Allison could replace Arrivabene – report
May 10 (GMM) Wild speculation in Italy suggests Ferrari could be set for yet another change at the top of the fabled Maranello team. After the ultra-successful Jean Todt era, Ferrari has raced through team principals Stefano Domenicali, Marco Mattiacci and now the charismatic Maurizio Arrivabene. “Ferrari has made some important steps forward,” Todt, now […]
Replacing Ecclestone not easy – Lauda
May 10 (GMM) Niki Lauda has played down mounting speculation he is in pole position to succeed Bernie Ecclestone. It is claimed that Ferrari’s Sergio Marchionne, backed by Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, is advocating that a group of three should take over from the 85-year-old F1 ‘supremo’. “When I think about the sporting side, then […]
DTM drivers do not miss F1 careers
May 10 (GMM) Two former F1 drivers insist they do not miss the pinnacle of motor racing. In 2013 and 2014, Dani Juncadella tested for the Williams and Force India teams, but now the 25-year-old Spaniard races for Mercedes’ premier DTM outfit. Asked if he misses F1, he told El Confidencial: “No, because for the […]
Verstappen will miss ousted engineer Pujolar
May 10 (GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted he will miss working with his ousted Toro Rosso engineer Xevi Pujolar. Not only is the experienced Pujolar not accompanying the young Dutchman to Red Bull, he has been ousted from formula one altogether. Ilta Sanomat, a Finnish newspaper, reports that Pujolar and Verstappen’s data engineer Olivier Helvig […]
Rivals’ budgets hurting Williams – Symonds
May 10 (GMM) Williams chief Pat Symonds admits the British team is no longer F1’s third force. In 2014 and again last year, Williams finished the constructors’ championship in third place, behind Red Bull in 2014 and Ferrari last year as engine supplier Mercedes dominated in the new ‘power unit’ era. “Either one of them […]
Vettel denies link to Kvyat demotion
May 10 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has expressed some sympathy for the plight of Daniil Kvyat, following the Russian’s sudden demotion from Red Bull Racing. 22-year-old Kvyat, who actually replaced Vettel at the energy drink company’s premier F1 team in 2015, will spend the rest of the season with Toro Rosso. The demotion follows two consecutive […]
Verstappen had to seize Red Bull chance – van der Garde
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 […]