Sep.28 (GMM) German carmaker BMW has made clear it is content for now outside of formula one. “They walked out of formula one seven years ago and now BMW have signalled that they are not coming back,” correspondent Kevin Eason wrote in the Times. “Instead, F1’s loss of one of the biggest brand names in […]
Berger hopes F1 avoids ‘power struggle’
Sep.28 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger has backed the sale of the sport’s commercial rights to American mogul John Malone’s Liberty Media. Liberty is buying F1 after ten years of controversial majority ownership by CVC, a mainly disengaged and profit-driven private equity group. “I’m glad that something is happening, because the structures have been bogged […]
Barcelona not confirming pre-season dates
Sep.28 (GMM) Barcelona is not yet confirming officially that pre-season testing will take place at the Circuit de Catalunya early next year. Reports indicate that the teams have now settled on two four-day group tests, both in Barcelona, to prepare for the new 2017 regulations. But Pirelli, and some teams including Mercedes, are reportedly pushing […]
Magnussen wants to stay at Renault – father
Sep.28 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen is hoping to stay with Renault so that 2016 is not a “lost” year. That is the claim of the Dane’s father, former F1 driver Jan Magnussen who was asked about his 23-year-old son’s chances of keeping his seat with the French works team. “I have the very distinct feeling that […]
Rosberg has chance to win 2016 title – Berger
Sep.27 (GMM) Gerhard Berger says he is ready to sit back and watch Mercedes’ two stars fight it out for the 2016 title. Not long ago, the F1 legend headed the negotiations for Nico Rosberg’s new contract with the German team. But now, Berger says he is impartial once again. “For me, it is now […]
Prost backs Ocon amid Renault rumours
Sep.27 (GMM) F1 legend Alain Prost has backed his countryman Esteban Ocon to keep climbing the sport’s ladder. With back-to-back European F3 and GP3 titles, the 20-year-old leapt from his DTM seat this year into his mid-season F1 debut with Manor, replacing Rio Haryanto. Frenchman Ocon has the backing not only of Mercedes but also […]
EU politician questions F1’s Liberty sale
Sep.27 (GMM) A European politician has questioned whether F1’s high profile sale to Liberty Media should be allowed to proceed. Earlier, it was British EU parliamentarian Anneliese Dodds who pushed hardest for Sauber and Force India to lodge their complaint about the sport’s income distribution and governance systems. And now, she is turning her attention […]
McLaren-Honda ‘ready to win’ – boss
Sep.27 (GMM) McLaren-Honda is expecting to match engine pacesetters Mercedes next year. Amid reports that Mercedes is now edging towards the 1000 horse power mark, McLaren’s once-struggling works supplier Honda is making strong strides forwards. “Next year we are equal to Mercedes in horse power,” Honda’s F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa is quoted by the Dutch […]
Kubica tested in Renault F1 simulator
Sep.27 (GMM) Robert Kubica recently tested in Renault’s F1 simulator, team boss Frederic Vasseur has admitted. The highly rated Pole Kubica, now 31, has been out of formula one since almost severing his arm in an early 2011 rallying crash. He has raced in the world rally championship, and last weekend he finished on the […]
Tost plays down Sainz to Renault rumours
Sep.27 (GMM) Toro Rosso chief Franz Tost does not believe the Faenza based team will lose Carlos Sainz. Spaniard Sainz has already denied persistent rumours that he could be the subject of a swap deal involving engine price between team owner Red Bull and Renault. Tost is quoted by Italy’s Tuttosport: “Carlos has a contract […]
Pirelli begins to bring down high pressures
Sep.27 (GMM) Pirelli is beginning to ramp down its controversially high compulsory minimum tyre pressures, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. Teams and drivers have complained that the high pressures, dictated by Pirelli on safety grounds, are so high that tyres are like ‘wood’ or ‘balloons’. But Auto Motor und Sport now claims that, […]
Zak Brown, Agag linked with F1 roles
Sep.26 (GMM) F1 sponsorship guru Zak Brown is lining up a top job in the sport, according to the respected business outlet Sky News. Journalist Mark Kleinman, who has predicted many key developments, says Brown is leaving his specialist sponsorship agency at the end of the year. Citing sources, the report said an announcement is […]
Sainz as good as Verstappen – de la Rosa
Sep.26 (GMM) Former F1 driver Pedro de la Rosa thinks countryman Carlos Sainz is just as good as Max Verstappen. When asked by Spain’s El Confidencial about Spaniard Sainz, he said: “I think he’s a driver who has surprised everyone. “People only talk about Verstappen, But Carlos has nothing to envy. I think he has […]
Kvyat says ‘no plan B’ amid Gasly rumours
Sep.26 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat has admitted he has no ‘plan B’ for his career. The Russian has had a rollercoaster of an F1 career so far: a debut for Toro Rosso at a young age, a speedy graduation to Red Bull Racing, and an equally speedy demotion back to the junior team. Now, it is […]
Raikkonen leaving F1 future open for now
Sep.26 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen is leaving open the door to extending his F1 career even beyond 2017. Ferrari has signed up the 2007 world champion for another season, but the Finn will turn 38 during the 2018 season and it will be his 16th year in F1. “I am thinking only of now, finishing the […]
Honda eyes second F1 team for 2018
Sep.26 (GMM) Honda has indicated it is inching towards being ready to supply more teams with engines in formula one. Until now, McLaren has been unwilling to budge on its apparent exclusive contract with the Japanese carmaker, despite the fact there is pressure on Honda from the FIA to become a customer supplier too. Asked […]
Wehrlein open to second year at Manor
Sep.26 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein is open to spending a second year at Manor. That is despite the fact that he admits making the move into F1 with the DTM title under his arm only to find himself at the back of the grid was a “shock”. “At first it was quite a shock,” he told […]
Vandoorne not bitter about younger rivals
Sep.26 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne insists he does not feel bitter that it took him so long to break into formula one. 2016 rookies including Pascal Wehrlein (21) and Esteban Ocon (20) are considerably younger than 24-year-old Belgian Vandoorne, who will make his full debut for McLaren next year. Not only that, Vandoorne is among the […]
Mercedes will not solve 2016 clutch problem
Sep.26 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted Mercedes’ two drivers may continue to struggle with their race starts this year. Just 8 points separate Nico Rosberg from Lewis Hamilton, and the latter has warned that a troublesome clutch system could actually decide the outcome over the final 6 races. “We have always had starts in the […]
Abu Dhabi boss hopes for title finale fight
Sep.26 (GMM) Abu Dhabi’s F1 boss is hoping the 2016 world championship goes right down to the wire. Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton are separated by just 8 points with 6 races to go in this year’s championship, which will conclude with the spectacular Yas Marina race at the end of November. And the […]