Apr.21 (GMM) F1 needs to be looking ahead to the post-Bernie Ecclestone era. That is the view of Sergio Marchionne, the Ferrari and Fiat president, amid rumours the powerful manufacturers including Mercedes may be pushing for the retirement of the F1 supremo in the coming months. “There is much work to do,” said Marchionne when […]
‘Pressure’ also hurting Mercedes reliability – Marchionne
Apr.21 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne says the 2016 title is still within Ferrari’s reach. “Absolutely,” the Ferrari and Fiat president told Bild newspaper. “Of course I still believe in the title.” The Maranello team has come out this year with a competitive car, but race incidents and also problems with the engine mean Mercedes is still […]
Marko hints at Red Bull seat for Verstappen
Apr.21 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has dropped the biggest hint yet that Max Verstappen will be promoted to Red Bull Racing for 2017. It has been reported that unless the energy drink stable opens up a race seat for the teenage sensation, he and father Jos will be free to negotiate with fellow grandees like […]
Mayor ‘certain’ Italy GP has future
Apr.21 (GMM) The mayor of Monza says he is sure September’s Italian grand prix will not be the last at the fabled Autodromo Nazionale. Strained negotiations between race organisers and Bernie Ecclestone are still taking place. Monza mayor Roberto Scanagatti is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport: “September will not be the last F1 race […]
Too soon for contract talks – Raikkonen
Apr.20 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says it is too early to get involved in the 2016 driver ‘silly season’. Many experts are predicting a frenzied round of negotiations later this year, as key potential vacancies at Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Williams and elsewhere open up. 2007 world champion Raikkonen could be central to those moves as his […]
No motivation charge ‘absurd’ – Alonso
Apr.20 (GMM) Fernando Alonso insists he is still fully motivated for motor racing. The Spaniard said a career goal is to add wins at the iconic sports car race Le Mans, and also the Indianapolis 500, to his two world championships. “Yes,” he told the Spanish newspaper AS, “there are three competitions at the top […]
Monza contract talks still on – official
Apr.20 (GMM) Talks over the future of the embattled Italian grand prix at Monza are still taking place. That is the latest news from Angelo Sticchi Damiani, the president of the Italian automobile club Aci, amid the troubled negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone over a contract beyond 2016. “The negotiations for the grand prix at Monza […]
Kaltenborn not ruling out Alfa Romeo rumours
Apr.20 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn has joined Sergio Marchionne in not dismissing speculation Sauber might be snapped up by Alfa Romeo. Marchionne, the Fiat Chrysler and Ferrari president, has said multiple times recently that Alfa Romeo might rekindle its historic F1 foray in the not-too-distant future. The financially struggling Sauber team has been linked with those […]
Lifestyle not reason for Hamilton slump – Heidfeld
Apr.20 (GMM) Nick Heidfeld has hit out at speculation Lewis Hamilton’s full-speed celebrity lifestyle might be affecting his focus on formula one. The reigning triple world champion has seen his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg win the last six grands prix, triggering suggestions the German might finally be ready to win his first title in 2016. […]
Massa admits ‘three teams’ better than Williams
Apr.20 (GMM) Felipe Massa has acknowledged that Williams has fallen behind the top three teams in 2016. The independent British team finished third overall in both 2014 and 2015, the other two seasons in the new ‘power unit’ era. But after the third race of this year, in China, Brazilian driver Massa admitted: “I think […]
Vettel-Kvyat a ‘normal racing incident’ – Heidfeld
Apr.20 (GMM) More pundits have sided with Daniil Kvyat, after Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel slammed the young Russian following the Chinese grand prix. Kvyat, 21, held his ground amid Vettel’s verbal rebuke just before the podium ceremony in Shanghai, after the Red Bull driver’s first-corner passing move that preceded a collision between the two Ferraris. “A […]
Ericsson willing to swap cars with Nasr
Apr.19 (GMM) Marcus Ericsson says he is willing to swap chassis with struggling teammate Felipe Nasr ahead of the forthcoming Russian grand prix. Amid Sauber’s obvious financial troubles, Brazilian Nasr claims his personal performance struggle so far in 2016 is due to a problem with his chassis. “I am 100 per cent sure the car […]
Haryanto raising F1 backing by text message
Apr.19 (GMM) A novel campaign in Indonesia to keep Rio Haryanto on the 2016 grid has been launched. CNN Indonesia reports that the government has organised five telecommunications companies – Telkomsel, Indosat, Smartfren, XL Axiata and Tri – to help the rookie compile the last EUR 4.2 million he owes to Manor. Fans can text […]
Grosjean blames ‘adrenaline’ for Ericsson attack
Apr.19 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has blamed “adrenaline” on his post-race rants about rival Marcus Ericsson following the Chinese grand prix. Swede Ericsson, who drives for Sauber, blasted the “unprofessional” Frenchman Grosjean, who had called Ericsson names following a collision in Shanghai. “He said that I was an idiot, I’m blind — (Grosjean was) not behaving […]
Palmer performance ’embarrassing’ in China
Apr.19 (GMM) Jolyon Palmer’s performance in China last weekend was “embarrassing”. That is the view of Jason Watt, a former F3000 driver and pundit who scoffed at Briton Palmer finishing dead last in his Renault in Shanghai. “Kevin (Magnussen) really got the upper hand” in China, Watt, a Dane like Magnussen, told Ekstra Bladet newspaper. […]
2017 F1 tyre supply crisis averted
Apr.19 (GMM) A tyre supply crisis in formula one has been averted at the eleventh hour. As he departed Shanghai, Pirelli’s F1 chief Paul Hembery warned that unless an agreement for much more tyre testing ahead of the 2017 regulations was rubber-stamped immediately, the Italian company would pull out of the sport. But Italy’s La […]
Montagny thinks Ferrari fastest in China
Apr.19 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel was furious after the Chinese grand prix, but he actually has reason to smile. That is the view of former F1 driver Franck Montagny, even though the clashing red cars in Shanghai meant Vettel was disappointed with second place. But Montagny told the French newsmagazine Le Point: “I think Ferrari were […]
Kvyat tips Red Bull to catch Mercedes
Apr.19 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat is expecting Red Bull to challenge F1 pacesetter Mercedes later in 2016. The Russian surprised with his podium finish in China last weekend, the day after teammate Daniel Ricciardo qualified on the front row of the grid. “I believe the Red Bull is the best chassis on the grid,” works Renault […]
Montagny wonders about Hamilton ‘focus’
Apr.19 (GMM) Yet another expert is wondering if a loss of focus might explain Lewis Hamilton’s poor start to the 2016 season. Although reliability problems badly marred his weekend in Shanghai, the reigning world champion’s defeat to teammate Nico Rosberg was his sixth in succession. Hamilton is already 36 points behind the sister Mercedes, but […]
Rosberg ‘not thinking about new contract’ – Lauda
Apr.19 (GMM) Championship leader Nico Rosberg and Mercedes have played down rising speculation about the German driver’s expiring contract. Reports have suggested Rosberg is on pole position for a new deal beyond 2016, given his six straight wins. But Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda told Bild newspaper in Berlin: “Nico is not thinking about a […]