Oct.2 (GMM) Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda have indicated they aim to keep their working relationship together at Mercedes. Boss Wolff has been linked with Bernie Ecclestone’s job, while F1 legend and team chairman Lauda’s contract is also reportedly set to expire at the end of 2017. Wolff told German television Sky: “We enjoy what […]
Alonso echoes Magnussen’s ‘Halo’ fire fears
Oct.2 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has backed Kevin Magnussen’s doubts about the safety of the ‘Halo’ cockpit protection system in the event of fire. Magnussen suffered a fuel leak and fire in the Sepang pitlane during practice, and because the flames were behind him, he leapt from the car within seconds from the front of the […]
Sochi not ruling out 2018 night race
Oct.2 (GMM) Russian race organisers are still not ruling out the possibility Sochi could switch to a night race format in the future. However, the Russian news agency Tass insists that the 2017 Russian grand prix will definitely be held in the day. Promoter Sergey Vorobyov confirmed: “There will not be a night grand prix […]
Ferrari denies tool left in Raikkonen’s car
Oct.2 (GMM) Ferrari has denied Kimi Raikkonen’s claim that a mechanic left a flashlight in the footwell of the Finnish driver’s car during practice at Sepang. According to Germany’s Bild newspaper, the Italian team initially put an unscheduled return to the pits for Raikkonen as down to “setup problems”. But Raikkonen later told Finnish television: […]
Kvyat ‘not interested’ in Gasly rumours
Oct.2 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat says he is not considering the possibility that Pierre Gasly will end his F1 career at the tender age of 22. The young Russian admits his demotion from Red Bull this year was hard to cope with, but says he now has his mind fully back on track. “The people who […]
Current 21-race calendar ‘too much’ – Alonso
Oct.2 (GMM) Fernando Alonso thinks the current F1 calendar is at the limit. There are 21 races this year and there will be 21 again in 2017, but beyond that, the sport’s new owner Liberty Media has talked about expanding the calendar to as many as 25 dates. “I understand and I respect the reasons […]
Raikkonen will cope with fast 2017 cars – trainer
Oct.2 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen’s trainer insists the Finn will be ready for the faster cars of 2017. With Jenson Button’s impending retirement, it will be Raikkonen – who turns 37 this month – who is clearly the oldest driver in formula one next year. New chassis and tyre rules will make the cars several seconds […]
Perez staying at Force India
Oct.2 (GMM) The saga of Sergio Perez’s future appears to be ending, with authoritative sources reporting that the Mexican is staying put at Force India. The 26-year-old had been linked with a potential move to Renault, warning earlier at Sepang that he had set a one-week deadline for certainty. But now, it seems Perez will […]
Malaysian Grand Prix Qualifying
Hamilton on Pole from Rosberg (+0.414), Verstappen (+0.570), Ricciardo (+0.617), Vettel (+0.734), Raikkonen (+0.782), Perez (+1.469), Hulkenberg (+1.639), Button (+1.668), Massa (+1.821). Knocked out of Q2: Bottas, Grosjean, Gutierrez, Magnussen, Kvyat and Sainz Knocked out of Q1: Ericsson, Nasr, Palmer, Ocon, Wehrlein and Alonso
Lauda makes Hamilton do Pirelli testing – report
Oct.1 (GMM) Niki Lauda has insisted that Mercedes’ two race drivers take part in Pirelli’s 2017 tyre testing. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims that, with Pascal Wehrlein having done the running in Mercedes test mule so far, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg did not want to do any of the running as Pirelli tests […]
Wurz denies ‘Halo’ more dangerous in fire
Oct.1 (GMM) Alex Wurz has denied that the ‘Halo’ cockpit protection device could actually make a car fire like that suffered by Kevin Magnussen at Sepang even more dangerous. The Dane leapt from his flaming Renault in the Sepang pitlane within seconds following a fuel leak during practice. When asked how he thought ‘Halo’ might […]
Wolff responds to Hamilton ‘psychological’ comments
Oct.1 (GMM) Toto Wolff has responded to Lewis Hamilton’s claim that a team staff reshuffle hurt him “psychologically” this year. The reigning world champion trails his Mercedes teammate by 8 points following a three-race winning streak by Nico Rosberg. Hamilton suggested at Sepang that a pre-season decision by boss Wolff to reshuffle some key mechanics […]
Sochi promoter denies 2017 race doubts
Oct.1 (GMM) Russian grand prix promoter Sergey Vorobyov has denied that Sochi is another race that could be endangered for 2017. The FIA has now released a 21-race 2017 calendar that showed only provisional dates for Canada, Germany and Brazil. But the latest reports from Russia have suggested waning support from the local Krasnodar region, […]
Silly season sizzling in Sepang heat
Oct.1 (GMM) Although the top seats are mainly secured, the driver silly season is now in full swing. The key to the market, it seems, is Sergio Perez. Indeed, the Mexican sounds so confident of his position that he has even declared a one-week deadline. But even Force India, his existing team, sounds relaxed. “It […]
Schumacher taking steady road to F1
Oct.1 (GMM) Mick Schumacher insists he is still taking it steady on his road to F1. The 17-year-old is running second not only in Italian F4 this year but also in the German series. But when asked about the German broadcaster Sport1 about emulating his famous father Michael with the move into F1, Mick said: […]
Red Bull denies Verstappen collapsed
Oct.1 (GMM) Red Bull has denied reports that Max Verstappen passed out after a practice session in Malaysia. British newspapers The Times and The Telegraph said that on the occasion of the Dutchman’s 19th birthday on Friday, he collapsed due to dehydration at Sepang. Given the searing heat in Kuala Lumpur, the story sounded credible. […]
Malaysian Grand Prix – 3rd Free Practice
Hamilton quickest with a 1:34.434 from Verstappen (+0.445), Rosberg (+0.619), Raikkonen (+0.716), Vettel (+0.736), Ricciarado (+1.027), Hulkenberg (+1.342), Bottas (+1.468), Sainz (+1.788) amd Massa (+1.793). Perez, Button, Gutierrez, Palmer, Grosjean, Magnussen, Kvyat, Ericsson, Nasr, Ocon, Wehrlien and Alonso make the rest of the field. Ricciardo covered the most number of laps with 22 followed by Massa, Palmer and Kvyat with 20 laps each. […]
Hockenheim says no 2017 contract yet
Sep.30 (GMM) Track boss Georg Seiler says Hockenheim does not yet have a contract to host the German grand prix in 2017. Earlier this week, the FIA published a race calendar for next year featuring a provisional race date for the track. It is rumoured Bernie Ecclestone could become the semi-promoter of the race, taking […]
Renault drivers still in dark over future
Sep.30 (GMM) Renault’s two drivers are still in the dark over whether they will drive for the French works team in 2017. “As far as I know there are still two seats for next year and I hear the names in the rumour mill, but it is the team’s decision what they want to do […]
Sauber needs reserve driver in 2017 – boss
Sep.30 (GMM) Sauber has acknowledged it may need to appoint an official reserve driver for 2017. Until a buyout deal, the Swiss team spent the first part of the championship fighting for mere financial survival. Now in Malaysia, Marcus Ericsson has arrived from a training camp in Thailand covered in bandages, having crashed his road […]