Oct.31 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has suggested he will not be unhappy once the chequered flag waves in Abu Dhabi. McLaren has had a much better season this year than 2015, when the new works partnership with Honda began. But Spaniard Alonso still sounds frustrated. During the Mexican grand prix, he hit back at an engineer […]
German GP not secure for 2017 – Ecclestone
Oct.31 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says there is still no guarantee there will be a German grand prix in 2017. After Germany’s return to the calendar this year at Hockenheim, the circuit has been allocated a mere provisional date for the 2017 schedule. That is because next year is actually the Nurburgring’s turn to host the […]
Haas admits 2017 talks with Magnussen
Oct.31 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has admitted Haas has been in touch with Kevin Magnussen about 2017. With Dane Magnussen’s future at Renault uncertain, reports emerged in Mexico at the weekend that the American team Haas has made him an offer. But team boss Steiner denied that. “I was surprised by the story,” he told the […]
Mexican drama explodes behind Hamilton win
Oct.31 (GMM) The drama was behind Lewis Hamilton as the Briton kept his world championship hopes just alive in Mexico. Teammate Nico Rosberg, however, duly finished second, meaning that a win Brazil next time out will guarantee the title for Mercedes’ German driver. “Nico is doing a great job to pull in the positions that […]
F1 drivers no longer drug-tested – Button
Oct.30 (GMM) Jenson Button thinks the world anti-doping agency (Wada) is dropping the ball when it comes to F1. The F1 veteran said he and his rivals must comply with strict protocols, but revealed that no driver he knows has been tested recently. The Sun quoted Button as saying his latest urine sample was taken […]
Hulkenberg admits Renault deal boosting form
Oct.30 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has admitted that securing his future for 2017 and beyond may be translating into a performance boost. While Sergio Perez is the home town hero, it’s German Hulkenberg who is the on-form Force India driver in Mexico as he qualified ahead of the Ferraris. He was also strong in Austin, after […]
Wurz says Rosberg ‘clearly’ on the defense
Oct.30 (GMM) Notwithstanding Nico Rosberg’s media strategy, Alex Wurz thinks the German is now playing a defensive game for the championship. At the decisive phase of the season and 26 points ahead of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, Rosberg has effectively closed himself off to the press, insisting only that he is focused on winning every […]
Wolff has no problem with Ecclestone, Brawn
Oct.30 (GMM) Toto Wolff insists he can still work two of the most important F1 personalities of today and tomorrow. The first is F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who has not been shy in the last year to heavily criticise both Mercedes and its Austrian chief. For instance, Ecclestone’s latest accusation is that, unlike great bosses […]
Promoter, mayor say Interlagos on track for 2017
Oct.30 (GMM) Race organisers insist the Brazilian grand prix remains on track for the future. Earlier, F1 authorities cast a shadow over the race by giving the Interlagos round mere provisional status on the 2017 calendar. But Sao Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad on Saturday inaugurated the latest building works at the track, while promoter Tamas […]
Wolff not commenting on Petronas exit rumours
Oct.30 (GMM) Toto Wolff is not commenting on reports Mercedes may lose its title sponsor. Earlier, it emerged that Malaysia is considering not extending its contract to host an annual race at Sepang beyond next year. That could have implications for Petronas, the government owned Malaysian oil company that sponsors not only the race near […]
Alonso forgives Vettel for ‘frustration’
Oct.29 (GMM) Fernando Alonso smiled in Mexico as he said he forgives Sebastian Vettel for calling him an “idiot”. Vettel, who replaced the Spaniard at Ferrari last year, fired the insult in Alonso’s direction after having a flying lap disturbed in Friday practice. “I don’t give it much importance,” Spanish media quote McLaren-Honda’s Alonso as […]
Lotus chief Lopez to buy football team
Oct.29 (GMM) Former Lotus chief Gerard Lopez has received the backing of his F1 friends as he prepares to take his next step in the sporting world. Still a minor shareholder of the works Renault team, the Luxembourger reportedly looks set to buy Losc Lille, a French football club. “He is so creative, with fifty […]
Nasr rejects Sauber ‘sabotage’ claims
Oct.29 (GMM) Felipe Nasr has rubbished suggestions Sauber is actively sabotaging his progress at the tail end of 2016. Wild rumours have suggested recent problems for the Brazilian might be because the Swiss team is trying to derail his and key sponsor Banco do Brasil’s speculated switch to Force India. What Nasr would admit is […]
Magnussen says Halo view ‘not good’
Oct.29 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has criticised the Halo cockpit protection system after trying it during practice in Mexico. The debut of the system has been delayed until at least 2018, but the FIA is determined that every driver give his feedback by testing it in practice sessions and answering a questionnaire. But Halo did not […]
F1 team member robbed at gunpoint
Oct.29 (GMM) A member of Mercedes’ F1 race team was robbed at gunpoint ahead of the Mexican grand prix, according to the Sun newspaper. The report said the team member was “shaken up” after he was targeted by thieves as a chauffeur drove him from the airport in Mexico City. A Mercedes spokesman confirmed that […]
McLaren losing Mobil to Red Bull
Oct.29 (GMM) Red Bull has snatched a top, long-term sponsor from F1 rivals McLaren, it has emerged in Mexico. Two weeks ago, we reported that the British oil multinational BP is looking at returning to the grid with a $30 million deal, with McLaren and Renault both in the running. It now emerges that McLaren […]
Button hits out at misleading magazine quote
Oct.29 (GMM) Jenson Button has hit back at a magazine cover that suggested Ron Dennis pushed him into retirement. After 17 years in F1, the 36-year-old is taking a sabbatical next season whilst remaining under contract to McLaren for the next two years. But F1 Racing, a British magazine, quoted Button as saying on its […]
Brawn admits F1 top job ‘appealing’
Oct.29 (GMM) Ross Brawn has admitted he is interested in returning to F1. But the former Ferrari and Mercedes chief fended off speculation he could come back from retirement with a prominent role at McLaren. Instead, he indicated that a top job overseeing the sport – perhaps with a sporting-specific role working with Liberty Media […]
Rosberg defends silent tactic in title charge
Oct.29 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has defended his decision to charge for the 2016 title whilst shutting himself off from the world. Bernie Ecclestone hit out at the German last week, suggesting he hopes Lewis Hamilton actually wins the title because the Briton is a better ambassador. “I am here to win races. Not to make […]
Frank Williams battling pneumonia in hospital
Oct.29 (GMM) F1 legend and team founder Sir Frank Williams is in hospital battling pneumonia. The news emerged in Mexico City, when team CEO Mike O’Driscoll made a rare appearance in front of the assembled media, in the place of deputy Claire Williams. “Frank was taken ill at the Monza race,” he revealed. Williams, 74, […]