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, […]
Toro Rosso returns to Renault for 2017
May 29 (GMM) Toro Rosso is returning to Renault power for 2017, it emerged ahead of Sunday’s Monaco grand prix. Earlier in Monaco, technical boss James Key had said the Faenza team wanted to improve its engine situation for 2017, as the year-old Ferrari units “are not developing”. “It would be nice to be current […]
Massa admits he could leave Williams
May 29 (GMM) Felipe Massa has admitted that 2016 could be his last season driving for Williams. Speculation in Monaco is linking not only the Red Bull Racing refugee Daniil Kvyat with Massa’s seat for 2017, but also McLaren-Honda’s Jenson Button. Massa, 35 years old and with 11 Ferrari race wins under his belt, admitted […]
Button wants to keep McLaren-Honda seat
May 29 (GMM) Jenson Button says he wants to keep racing with McLaren-Honda. However, it is slowly becoming an open paddock secret that McLaren intends to replace the 36-year-old with youngster Stoffel Vandoorne for 2017. Button told Corriere della Sera in Monaco: “While I have the chance to drive a competitive car, and maybe it […]
Grosjean hopes to end France’s winning drought
May 29 (GMM) Romain Grosjean is hoping France will not have to wait twenty more years for its next grand prix win. Monaco this weekend is the 20th anniversary of Olivier Panis’ fortuitous win in a Ligier — the last time a French driver has won a formula one race. Now 49, Panis thinks the […]
Verstappen will bounce back in 2016 – Doornbos
May 29 (GMM) Max Verstappen will bounce back from his crash to earth in Monaco, according to fellow Dutch racer Robert Doornbos. After all the praise and plaudits following Barcelona, where the 18-year-old became F1’s youngest ever winner, Verstappen crashed to earth during Q1 in Monaco with a thumping impact into the unforgiving barriers. Former […]
Wolff excuses Hamilton for bad mood in Monaco
May 29 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Lewis Hamilton’s bad mood on Saturday was understandable. Reporters said the reigning world champion – usually calm and chirpy in 2016 – was obviously annoyed in Monaco after yet another engine glitch left him just third on the grid. The Briton said reliability trouble has “become the norm” on […]