Mar.15 (GMM) Moves are afoot to close the performance gaps between the four ‘power units’ in formula one. Dr Helmut Marko, the outspoken Red Bull official, said his boss Dietrich Mateschitz thought seriously about quitting F1 last year. Mateschitz was reportedly disillusioned with the new era in which Mercedes and Ferrari are utterly dominant and […]
Renault not spending more as works team – Stoll
Mar.15 (GMM) Renault is apparently not having to spend much more on its formula one programme despite returning to full works status in 2016. As well as supplying Red Bull once again this year, the French carmaker acquired the struggling Lotus team ahead of the new season. Jerome Stoll, the Renault Sport chief who was […]
‘Silly season’ not more important in 2016 – Bottas
Mar.15 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has played down claims he might be caught up in a more hectic than usual ‘silly season’ later this year. The Finn’s boss Claire Williams recently predicted a chaotic grab for the best 2016 race seats will take place, as there will be potential vacancies at Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and […]
Strife may not hold Sauber back – Jos Verstappen
Mar.15 (GMM) Sauber’s already-troubled 2016 campaign has taken another hit with the shock departure of its technical boss. Mark Smith only joined the Swiss team mid last year, but he has “decided to go back to the UK for family reasons”, Sauber admitted in a media statement mere days before the season opener in Melbourne. […]
‘Mature’ Hamilton tips better Rosberg relations
Mar.15 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton thinks he and Nico Rosberg will handle their rivalry better than ever in 2016. Although once friends as boyhood karting teammates, the Mercedes duo has had a notably rocky relationship in the last two years as they fought at the front for the world championship. And now, an even more intense […]
Magnussen ‘bigger talent’ than Palmer – Doornbos
Mar.14 (GMM) Former F1 driver Robert Doornbos says he is not expecting Renault to shine in 2016. One of the problems, the former Minardi and Red Bull driver said, is Jolyon Palmer, who Doornbos does not rate highly. “He was the GP2 champion in 2014,” the Dutchman acknowledged to Ziggo Sport Totaal, “but that was […]
Ferrari gap down to mere tenths – Mercedes
Mar.14 (GMM) Mercedes is getting specific amid its claims Ferrari has definitely closed the gap over the winter. Silver-clad figures have been playing up Ferrari’s chances of mounting a challenge this year, and now team chairman Niki Lauda is even willing to put a figure on it. “It isn’t Mercedes’ fault if we’ve been faster […]
Kaltenborn hopes March salaries paid on time
Mar.14 (GMM) The sponsorship and income situation in formula one has left Sauber fighting for survival. The Swiss team has at least caught up with late wage payments to its 300 staff at Hinwil, with an apologetic boss Monisha Kaltenborn promising better times ahead. “I really regret the situation and hope we did not put […]
Zak Brown could succeed Ecclestone – report
Mar.14 (GMM) F1 could be poised for a big change at the top, a leading correspondent has claimed. Luis Vasconcelos, writing for Finland’s Turun Sanomat newspaper, claims sources have told him Zak Brown could be set to take over from Bernie Ecclestone. American Brown is well known in F1 as the head of Just Marketing, […]
‘Musical chairs’ to go ahead in Melbourne
Mar.14 (GMM) Any doubt that the controversial ‘musical chairs’ qualifying format will make its bow in Melbourne have been swept aside. Even though the format – which will see cars eliminated in 90-second segments in 2016 in a bid to spice up the grid – passed through all of F1’s decision-making processes, doubts were still […]
Mercedes-like dominance not new in F1 – Montoya
Mar.14 (GMM) Juan Pablo Montoya says the current Mercedes era is no different to any other team’s dominance throughout recent F1 history. The former Williams and McLaren driver kicked off the new Indycar series with victory in Florida, so when asked if he misses the so-called pinnacle of motor sport, he insisted: “No!” “I have […]
‘No alternative’ to Schumacher silence – manager
Mar.14 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s manager has defended the ongoing secrecy about the condition of the most successful F1 driver of all time. Now more than two years after his skiing crash in the French alps, almost nothing is known about the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver’s health — even whether he can walk or talk. […]
Kvyat ‘ready’ to fight for F1 title
Mar.14 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat on Monday said he feels ready to fight for the world championship. The Red Bull driver’s former team boss, Toro Rosso chief Franz Tost, reportedly said recently that the 21-year-old Russian is now good enough to win a title. “I thank Franz for these words,” Kvyat told the Russian news agency […]
Mercedes warns ‘musical chairs’ could backfire on F1
Mar.14 (GMM) F1’s new qualifying format could backfire on the sport, Mercedes has warned. The controversial ‘musical chairs’ elimination system has been enshrined in the sporting regulations ahead of its debut in Melbourne on Saturday. The intention is to spice up the action and potentially shake up the grid, but Mercedes chiefs Niki Lauda and […]
Rosberg contrasts ‘focus’ with Hamilton’s lifestyle
Mar.14 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says he has worked to simplify his life and narrow his focus upon beating Lewis Hamilton for the first time in three years. Even if Mercedes dominates yet again, the all-silver driver battle could be fascinating in 2016. That is because Hamilton dominated Rosberg for most of last season until he […]
Mateschitz renews Red Bull quit threat
Mar.13 (GMM) Dietrich Mateschitz’s thoughts about quitting formula one are apparently still alive. Last year, amid the arguments with Renault and dissatisfaction about the direction of the sport, the Red Bull mogul and billionaire reportedly thought seriously about pulling his two teams out of F1. Ultimately, Red Bull is still in the paddock, but Toro […]
Wehrlein says Haryanto ‘not bad driver’
Mar.13 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has defended the credentials of his 2016 teammate. While the strongly Mercedes-backed and reigning DTM champion Wehrlein is highly rated, there has been scant praise in comparison for Rio Haryanto. The Indonesian is sponsored by the Indonesian government, he has been derided by the German press, and pundit Robert Doornbos recently […]
More freedom for Mercedes driver fight in 2016
Mar.12 (GMM) Mercedes will ease the rules of engagement between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg for their 2016 battle. Team boss Toto Wolff ended last season with a warning that more bad feeling between the warring teammates could prompt a change to the driver lineup. The tension between the silver-clad drivers was obvious during Friday’s […]
Brazil plays down doubts over 2016 race
Mar.11 (GMM) Just as the US grand prix ended its uncertainty, doubts have now emerged about whether this year’s Brazil race will take place in November. Brazilian reports say F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone told a media outlet that talks with organisers about solving a financial matter were underway. The Portuguese-language Grande Premio quoted Interlagos race […]
Podium target too high for Sainz – father
Mar.11 (GMM) Carlos Sainz’s famous father has joined his son in putting the brakes on claims Toro Rosso could be ready to race to the podium in 2016. It was the Red Bull-owned junior team’s boss Franz Tost who set the podium target recently, but 21-year-old Sainz jr warned that “Under normal circumstances, I don’t […]