Oct.22 (GMM) US grand prix promoter Bobby Epstein has warned that more races in America could actually hurt F1 initially. With US media tycoon John Malone’s Liberty Media taking over the sport, there is talk of an expansion of the calendar beyond 21 races and potentially more in the States. The Guardian newspaper said Los […]
Rivals want new rule amid Verstappen controversy
Oct.22 (GMM) Max Verstappen found himself the hot topic of conversation yet again, this time behind closed doors during a lengthy drivers’ briefing in Austin. The latest controversy triggered by the young Dutchman’s aggressive style was triggered by his defensive move under braking during his late-race duel with Lewis Hamilton. One of the apparent problems […]
Palmer, Magnussen clinging to F1 careers
Oct.22 (GMM) Renault drivers Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer are now clinging onto their F1 careers. According to paddock rumours, British rookie Palmer has already been told by team management that he will not be needed beyond next month’s Abu Dhabi finale. He said in Austin that he thinks Renault do not “appreciate” his and […]
Brawn not ruling out F1 return
Oct.22 (GMM) Ross Brawn could be set to sensationally return to formula one. The highly respected former technical chief and team boss caused a stir this week when excerpts of his new book blamed his departure on Mercedes’ Toto Wolff, Niki Lauda and Paddy Lowe. “I was surprised,” Wolff told the Telegraph in Austin, “because […]
Alonso unmoved over 10-year title anniversary
Oct.22 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he is unmoved by the ten-year anniversary of his second and last world championship. Still regarded as arguably the best driver on the grid today, the Spaniard has failed to win a third title since winning back-by-back with Renault in 2006. “Whether it’s ten years, five or 12, it’s just […]
Rosberg deserves title more than Hamilton – Massa
Oct.22 (GMM) There is “no doubt” that Nico Rosberg deserves to be the 2016 champion. That is the claim of F1 veteran Felipe Massa, as the paddock watches on for the final four-race run for the crown between Mercedes’ warring drivers. “Nico has had a better year than (Lewis) Hamilton,” the Williams driver told the […]
Bahrain pre-season test plan scrapped
Oct.22 (GMM) The push to have pre-season testing take place in Bahrain early next year has failed. Two tests in Barcelona had been provisionally scheduled, but Pirelli – strongly supported by Mercedes – was pushing for at least one outing in the guaranteed warmer and drier climes of Bahrain. “The way the regulations are written, […]
Sauber eyes driver call before season end
Oct.21 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn says Sauber is in no rush to announce its driver lineup for 2017. With seats at Force India, Renault, Williams, Manor and Toro Rosso also still technically open, the F1 driver ‘silly season’ is now in high gear. But when asked if Sauber might make a move soon, team boss Kaltenborn […]
Wehrlein now plays down Force India link
Oct.21 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has played down suggestions he will definitely fill the vacant spot left by Nico Hulkenberg at Force India for 2017. Many in the paddock believe the Mercedes-backed Manor driver is assured the seat with the Silverstone based team, but Wehrlein said in Austin that a deal is not done. “It’s not […]
Magnussen will not extend Renault option again
Oct.21 (GMM) Renault’s current drivers say they are still in the dark as to whether they will be kept or dropped by the French works team for 2017. But the fact that Nico Hulkenberg has signed means that either Kevin Magnussen or Jolyon Palmer – or both – do not have a future in yellow. […]
Toto and Susie Wolff expecting first child
Oct.21 (GMM) Toto Wolff is set to become the next father in the F1 paddock. Bild newspaper in Germany reports that the Mercedes team chief’s wife Susie, the former Williams test driver, is pregnant with their first child. “Yes, it’s true,” Wolff, 44, confirmed in Austin. “My wife Susie is pregnant and we are expecting […]
Vettel ‘important’ for Ferrari – Montezemolo
Oct.21 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has brushed aside talk about his future at Ferrari. With sections of the Italian press saying the German as well as the Maranello team are in ‘crisis’, speculation Vettel may leave Ferrari after 2017 had arisen. So when asked if any contract talks had taken place, Vettel said in Austin: “I […]
Kvyat not denying Force India rumours
Oct.21 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat is not denying paddock rumours in Austin that he is in the running to replace Nico Hulkenberg at Force India for 2017. The young Russian and current Toro Rosso driver has had an up and down season in the Red Bull camp, but he has seemed back in form and happier […]
Sainz not willing to wait for Red Bull seat
Oct.21 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he doesn’t want to be a back-up Red Bull driver for the rest of his career. The Spaniard had eyed a move from Toro Rosso to the senior team, and was then short-listed by the works Renault team for 2017. But Red Bull is keeping him at Toro Rosso, not […]
Hamilton behaving better before Austin GP
Oct.21 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton said ahead of the US grand prix that he will “try to take it like a man” if he is beaten to the 2016 world championship. Now 33 points behind Nico Rosberg with four races to go, the reigning world champion caused a stir at Suzuka with his press conference antics, […]
Fernandes not ruling out future F1 return
Oct.20 (GMM) Tony Fernandes says he has not closed the door on formula one forever. The prominent Malaysian businessman headed the backmarker team Caterham until late 2014, when it collapsed. “It was very hard to manage everything,” Fernandes told Vedomosti, a Russian business daily. “All my life I was focused but businesses such as football […]
PDVSA crisis is bad news for Maldonado
Oct.20 (GMM) Pastor Maldonado’s hopes of returning to F1 appear slim, given the latest news emerging from Venezuela. The former Williams and Lotus driver’s seats were backed strongly by PDVSA, the government-run oil giant and embattled Venezuela’s primary source of income. Maldonado, 31, attended the Monaco grand prix this year – where he lives – […]
Mercedes duo free to fight for title – Wolff
Oct.20 (GMM) Mercedes has cleared the path for its two drivers to fight unimpeded for the 2016 title. The German newspaper Bild said that with the constructors’ championship now wrapped up, team boss Toto Wolff has given the green light to Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. Previously, there has been talk of rules of engagement […]
F1 foray a ‘dream’ for Lamborghini – Domenicali
Oct.20 (GMM) Former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has repeated his denial that Lamborghini might soon enter formula one. Domenicali becoming Audi-owned Lamborghini’s chief executive earlier this year ramped up speculation about a F1 foray. But 51-year-old told the Italian broadcaster Sky: “Motor sport is part of the DNA of Lamborghini, which is music to my […]
Report links Boullier with Ferrari move
Oct.20 (GMM) Amid what the Italian press is calling a ‘crisis’, the rumours about a change at the top at Ferrari are resurfacing again. Several Italian sources are hinting at a rift between president Sergio Marchionne and team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, with new technical boss Mattia Binotto a favourite to step in. And the Spanish […]