Apr.12 (GMM) Claire Williams thinks F1 has learned from the ‘musical chairs’ qualifying debacle. F1’s governing body announced late on Monday that the World Motor Sport Council rubber-stamped by ‘e-vote’ the decision to revert to the 2015 format ahead of this weekend’s Chinese grand prix. Williams, the Grove team’s deputy, suggested the episode has been […]
Little ‘synergy’ with Red Bull now – Toro Rosso
Apr.12 (GMM) Toro Rosso technical chief James Key says there is no longer much ‘synergy’ between the Faenza based team and the senior Red Bull outfit. In the past, although Haas has now allied strongly with Ferrari, the rules allowed a closer collaboration between senior and junior teams. “There are certain areas where there were […]
Monza could have F1 deal by early May – report
Apr.12 (GMM) It is still not clear if historic Monza will continue to host the endangered Italian grand prix beyond September’s 2016 race. Bernie Ecclestone’s negotiations with race organisers have been publicly tumultuous, culminating in the recent resignation of Ivan Capelli from the organising body Sias. But Sias president Andrea Dell’Orto insists he is going […]
Rosberg plays down expiring contract
Apr.12 (GMM) Claire Williams has tipped the F1 paddock to host a fascinating driver ‘silly season’ this year. Seats at multiple top teams, including Williams but also Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, Renault and McLaren, will potentially be up for grabs for 2017. The most sought after will arguably be Nico Rosberg’s spot at the title-winning […]
Italy hails new ‘Schumi’ after race wins
Apr.11 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is pressing the throttle on the next stage in his quest for future F1 glory. The son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, the 17-year-old is racing in both the Italian and German F4 series this year and at the weekend he kicked off his 2016 campaign with two wins in damp […]
McLaren ‘confident’ Alonso to race in China
Apr.11 (GMM) McLaren is “confident” Fernando Alonso will be shown the green light for his return to racing action this weekend in China. With the McLaren-Honda driver sidelined in Bahrain with chest injuries following his huge Melbourne crash, Spaniard Alonso has been giving insight into his recovery to followers of his social media accounts. On […]
Haas’ controversial approach divides F1 opinion
Apr.11 (GMM) The early success of the new F1 team Haas is splitting opinion in the paddock. While some hail Romain Grosjean’s double points-scoring efforts in Australia and Bahrain, others wonder if the close alliance with Ferrari is really a good thing for F1. Frenchman Grosjean, meanwhile, is delighted at his decision to leave Enstone […]
Honda now turning focus to ‘power’
Apr.11 (GMM) Honda is ready to push ahead with finding more performance from its 2016 power unit. After the unmitigated disaster of 2015, when McLaren and Honda reunited but finished an embarrassing ninth overall, this season has started better for the Anglo-Japanese collaboration. But the once-great team is still not yet a contender, causing former […]
2017 rules could fail at Pirelli hurdle – report
Apr.11 (GMM) F1’s radical rules changes for 2017 may stumble at the last hurdle, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports. Earlier, it emerged that eight of the 11 active teams actually now oppose the rules for much faster cars next year, fearing they will only increase costs and actually exacerbate the sport’s overtaking problem. Explaining […]
F1 must not repeat ‘erratic’ quali decisions – Wolff
Apr.11 (GMM) With the third round of the season now looming, F1 is heaving a collective sigh of relief that the hated ‘musical chairs’ qualifying is now gone. “There was simply too much criticism,” Jos Verstappen, a former F1 driver and father of Toro Rosso sensation Max, is quoted by De Telegraaf newspaper. “The elimination […]
Vettel – ‘I am not a hero’
Apr.11 (GMM) Quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel insists he has no desire to behave like a “hero”. While the reigning title winner Lewis Hamilton is commonly called a F1 “superstar”, Ferrari’s Vettel refuses even to sign up for Twitter or Instagram. “I am a normal person like everyone else on the road,” he told the […]
GPDA letter a mistake – Johansson
Apr.11 (GMM) F1 veteran Stefan Johansson has blasted today’s drivers for their recent open letter. Although signed off by the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), it emerged recently in Bahrain that the letter was in fact backed by the entire field of F1’s active drivers. But some, like Jacques Villeneuve, have hit back at the […]
Boss eyes ‘solution’ to Sauber financial strife
Apr.8 (GMM) Sauber is working hard to find “a lasting solution” to its obvious financial problems, boss and co-owner Monisha Kaltenborn has revealed. The struggling Swiss team was late to pay wages to its 300 staff in February and March, with driver Felipe Nasr also revealing that the delayed launch of the 2016 car was […]
‘Too early’ for silly season to start – Bottas
Apr.8 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has refused to rule out playing a starring role in this year’s ‘silly season’. Last year, the Finn admitted strong rumours linking him with a potential switch to Ferrari were a distraction. Now, an opening at the fabled Maranello team will once again be up for grabs for 2017, amid similar […]
Monza boosts F1 hopes with Capelli exit – reports
Apr.8 (GMM) Amid intense and faltering negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone, former F1 driver Ivan Capelli has resigned as a chief of Monza’s circuit operator Sias. Just last weekend in Bahrain, F1 supremo Ecclestone had admitted a new deal for the historic Italian grand prix beyond 2016 was being held up over local politics. “I know […]
FIA clears Ferrari over ‘coded’ pit board message
Apr.8 (GMM) Ferrari has been cleared of wrongdoing in the wake of reports Sebastian Vettel was shown an illegal ‘coded’ message on his pit board in Australia. Although it is the radio rules that have been severely limited for 2016, Charlie Whiting said recently they also apply to pit boards “so if we see anything […]
Teams vow to reconsider qualifying change for 2017
Apr.8 (GMM) F1 teams have promised to revisit the possibility of spicing up the qualifying hour ahead of the 2017 season. The pledge has been made in return for the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone finally agreeing the scrap the hated ‘musical chairs’ format that took place in Australia and Bahrain. Although tasked with considering an […]
Toro Rosso duo poses Red Bull promotion ‘dilemma’
Apr.8 (GMM) Red Bull is facing a “dilemma” as it ponders the future of its young F1 stars Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. That is the view of David Coulthard, a veteran F1 driver who knows Red Bull well, having spent the last four seasons of his racing career with the energy drink marque. In […]
Imola takes position as Monza alternative
Apr.7 (GMM) Imola is ramping up its bid to keep Italy on the F1 calendar. Amid historic Monza’s troubled negotiations with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, the former San Marino GP venue Imola has put its hand up as a potential alternative. Uberto Selvatico Estense, boss of Formula Imola, travelled to Bahrain last week for talks […]
Verstappen could be at Mercedes or Ferrari in 2017 – father
Apr.7 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father and manager has ramped up his bid for a top seat in formula one for 2017. In the past days and weeks, bosses for Mercedes and Ferrari have admitted their interest in the 18-year-old Dutch sensation. It comes amid speculation Verstappen could be a free agent for 2017 unless Red […]