Mar.18 (GMM) Mercedes has mixed up the crews of mechanics and engineers working on the German team’s two sides of the garage. Bild newspaper claims it is a ploy to bring better harmony to the silver ranks, as the fierce rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg threatens to spill into and infect the spirit […]
Drivers say Honda not McLaren’s only problem
Mar.18 (GMM) It is not just the Honda engine that is holding McLaren back, champion drivers Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button revealed in Melbourne. Until now, the official line has been that while the Woking based team has produced one of the very best cars in the field, it is Japanese engine partner Honda that […]
Magnussen backs Friday outings for Ocon
Mar.18 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has backed Renault’s decision to give new third driver Esteban Ocon some Friday practice outings in 2016. Ocon, the 19-year-old reigning GP3 champion, is ‘on loan’ to Renault from Mercedes’ junior programme, with Magnussen confirming he and Jolyon Palmer will have to make way in some Friday practice sessions later this […]
Whiting plays down Red Bull’s ‘halo’ alternative
Mar.18 (GMM) F1’s governing body is determined to push ahead with the controversial ‘halo’ cockpit protection system. That is despite not only the opposition of some drivers, but also the efforts of Red Bull to develop a more ‘elegent’ alternative to the Mercedes-devised concept that was given its debut by Ferrari over the winter. “We […]
Red Bull set for Aston Martin deal
Mar.17 (GMM) Aston Martin’s touted F1 foray is back on track, it emerged in the Melbourne paddock on Thursday. In January, Force India admitted that its rumoured tie-up with the British luxury carmaker had fallen through. “It probably won’t happen for 2016,” said team official Otmar Szafnauer, “but we’re still talking.” But before the Force […]
Ferrari link ‘motivated’ Haas switch – Grosjean
Mar.17 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has admitted that switching to Haas for 2016 moved him one step closer to a “dream” Ferrari seat. To the surprise of many, the Frenchman turned down the opportunity to ride the transition of Lotus into the Renault works team in order to instead join F1’s newest outfit. “We will get […]
Manor can benefit from qualifying mistakes – Wehrlein
Mar.17 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein is looking past the qualifying controversy and instead sees an opportunity for the Manor team. Many pundits and insiders are critical of the eleventh-hour ‘musical chairs’ tweak to the existing, popular elimination format. “Why play with something that worked,” veteran engineer Joan Villadelprat told El Confidencial, “when there are so many […]
Verstappen wants 2016 podium, ‘top car’ in 2017
Mar.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen has joined his boss Franz Tost in targeting a podium for 2016. After Toro Rosso chief Tost set the podium objective recently, team driver Carlos Sainz said he doubted the Faenza based outfit can achieve it. Teenager Verstappen, however, is aiming higher than Sainz. “Max has set the bar high for […]
Williams’ shorter nose passes crash test
Mar.17 (GMM) Williams’ much anticipated new nose for its 2016 car has finally passed the mandatory crash tests. Auto Motor und Sport reported from the Melbourne paddock that the ultra-short nose, right at the limit of the regulations at just 85cm, will make its bow in Bahrain in two weeks. “It took us 10 to […]
Ericsson thinks Sauber ‘problems’ over now
Mar.17 (GMM) Sauber’s drivers have put a brave face on swirling speculation about the future of the Swiss team. Before the 2016 season even starts in Melbourne this weekend, it emerged not only that Sauber paid its staff late for February, but that technical boss Mark Smith has suddenly left the team. Nonetheless, drivers Felipe […]
Honda to ‘break cycle’ in two years – Villadelprat
Mar.17 (GMM) F1 veteran Joan Villadelprat thinks Honda can eventually succeed in formula one. “If they were alone, I’d say no,” the Spaniard, a well-known former manager and engineer, told El Confidencial. “As they are with McLaren, I say yes. I think they will break the current cycle in the next two years, especially if […]
Renault admits focus will shift to 2017
Mar.17 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has more on his mind this week than the new colour of his 2016 car. Asked by the Danish press to rate out of ten his happiness as he returns to the grid, Magnussen beamed in Melbourne: “Eleven!” But the glare of the world’s media was on his RS16 car, now […]
Red Bull-Aston Martin deal confirmed
Mar.17 (GMM) As reported earlier, Aston Martin is entering formula one with Red Bull. The luxury British carmaker, earlier linked with a tie-up with Force India, will add its iconic wings logo to the livery of the energy drink-owned team’s cars, starting in Australia. But that is not all. The two brands announced in the […]
Radio clampdown not good for F1 – Alonso
Mar.17 (GMM) Fernando Alonso thinks F1 is taking a backwards step with the further clampdown on pit-to-car radio communication in 2016. The clampdown made a tentative first step last year, but now the allowed messages between the pitwall and the driver will be further tightened in a bid to end the impression that engineers are […]
Raikkonen needs strong start to 2016 – manager
Mar.17 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen’s manager has admitted 2016 will be a crucial year for the 2007 world champion. Most pundits are predicting that, if Ferrari is able to match Mercedes’ might this season, it could be a three-way battle between the silver-clad drivers and Sebastian Vettel. Indeed, Vettel’s teammate Raikkonen has struggled during his current […]
Hulkenberg unfazed by Mallya troubles
Mar.17 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg on Thursday put a brave face on the speculation swirling around the future of Force India. The speculation is the result of team co-owner and boss Vijay Mallya’s legal troubles in India, with the former billionaire said to be appearing for questioning relating to huge debts on Friday rather than attending […]
2016 feature not working as planned – Pirelli
Mar.17 (GMM) Paul Hembery on Thursday admitted Pirelli’s efforts to design tyres that reach a sudden grip ‘cliff’ did not work out as planned for 2016. We have reported that, to force more pitstops and spice up the show, a feature of this year’s tyre construction is a special layer that, when reached, results in […]
Webber expects Button retirement talk in 2016
Mar.16 (GMM) Before even a single lap in the 21-race grand prix calendar has been logged, Jenson Button’s future in formula one is already being discussed. In part, that is because McLaren supremo Ron Dennis kicked off the week of the 2016 season opener by admitting openly that Stoffel Vandoorne could make his debut for […]
Troubled Mallya set to sit out Melbourne
Mar.16 (GMM) Force India deputy Bob Fernley has hinted that team owner Vijay Mallya will likely skip this weekend’s 2016 season opener in Melbourne. The Indian media is searching furiously for the former billionaire’s current whereabouts, after he left the country amid his legal troubles over the Kingfisher airlines debt. Mallya has said through an […]
Kovalainen predicts ‘difficult’ start for Haas
Mar.16 (GMM) Heikki Kovalainen thinks F1’s new American team Haas will have a “very difficult” debut season. Haas, however, has entered the sport with a lot of confidence. “Generally, this race in Australia can throw up some surprises,” team driver Romain Grosjean, who has switched from Lotus, told France’s Auto Hebdo. “I think overall, we […]