Feb.22 (GMM) Although just a rookie, Pascal Wehrlein has been given the lead role at Manor for 2016. With Mercedes’ backing, the reigning DTM champion will make his F1 debut this year for the newly Mercedes-powered backmarker team. Wehrlein, 21, will be partnered at Manor by fellow rookie Rio Haryanto, who is bringing millions to […]
Hartstein attacks Ecclestone after interview
Feb.22 (GMM) Former F1 doctor Gary Hartstein has launched a stinging attack on the sport’s ‘supremo’ Bernie Ecclestone. The tirade on Twitter follows 85-year-old Ecclestone having declared to the Daily Mail newspaper that the sport is “the worst it has ever been”. “I wouldn’t spend my money to take my family to watch a race. […]
No early-season crisis for Force India in 2016
Feb.22 (GMM) Force India has avoided repeating the crisis of last winter. A year ago, the Silverstone based team’s early campaign was derailed by financial problems, reportedly as suppliers refused to release work due to unpaid bills. “Because of what happened with Caterham and Marussia, some suppliers tightened the thumbscrews,” sporting director Otmar Szafnauer told […]
F1 set for another key meeting over future
Feb.22 (GMM) Another important meeting will take place regarding F1’s future this week. While the main eyes are on the track action in Barcelona, the sport’s top figures will soon head to Geneva where the car and engine rules for 2017 and beyond will be discussed once again. Earlier, Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt seemed […]
Debut shock as Haas front wing fails
Feb.22 (GMM) Haas got a rude welcome to formula one as testing began on Monday. On the unlucky 13th lap of the American team’s new F1 adventure, the front nose of the car driven by Romain Grosjean catastrophically failed at 320kph. “Suddenly the front of the car went up in the air,” the Frenchman is […]
Correspondent disappointed with 2016 Williams
Feb.22 (GMM) Livio Oricchio, a leading F1 correspondent, has admitted to some disappointment at the sight of Williams’ new car for 2016. While Ferrari is taking an obviously bold step in its bid to beat Mercedes this year with an innovative car, Williams’ FW38 looks almost identical to its predecessor. That is despite the fact […]
Ecclestone son-in-law faces jail
Feb.22 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone’s son-in-law is facing up to seven years in jail, according to reports in Britain. The Sun newspaper said the F1 supremo’s daughter Tamara, who is married to former trader Jay Rutland, is “sick with worry” after her 34-year-old husband was arrested, charged and bailed. He faces a London court next month. […]
Father launches Jules Bianchi kart
Feb.22 (GMM) Jules Bianchi will race again, thanks to his father who has launched a new kart in the late F1 driver’s honour. According to the French source RMC, the ‘JB’ kart featuring Bianchi’s red and white colours and the now-familiar JB17 tribute, will make its debut this weekend at an international competition. “It was […]
F1 ‘the worst it has ever been’ – Ecclestone
Feb.22 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has sided with Sebastian Vettel rather than reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton over the current state of formula one. Ferrari’s Vettel declared last week that F1 is no longer “about the sport and which driver is the fastest” amid the new era of “far too complex” technical regulations. The quadruple world […]
Allison will not attend all races in 2016
Feb.21 (GMM) James Allison has revealed he will travel to less grands prix in 2016. Ferrari’s technical director says he is relieved to be splitting his duties for the new season with Jock Clear, who in 2015 served a full year of ‘gardening leave’ after leaving Mercedes. “Last year was very tough for me,” admitted […]
Four F1 refugees eye Indycar switch
Feb.20 (GMM) A swathe of out-of-work F1 drivers are looking to pick up the pieces in America’s top open wheeler series. It is already known that, having lost their Manor and Renault drives respectively, Alexander Rossi and Pastor Maldonado are linked with a switch to Indycar for 2016. Spanish media reports now suggest Roberto Merhi, […]
Mercedes happy after 2016 car debut
Feb.20 (GMM) Nico Rosberg gave Mercedes’ new 2016 car an early thumbs-up on Friday. On Silverstone’s short layout, the German driver was the first at the wheel of the W07 during a 100 kilometre ‘filming day’. “It was a good feeling to start with,” he told Britain’s Sky television. “I felt at home straight away. […]
Ferrari ‘much more optimistic’ for 2016 – Marchionne
Feb.20 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne said the Maranello team is “much more optimistic” about its title-winning chances for 2016. The Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler president was absent on Friday as the fabled Maranello team revealed its new red and white car for 2016. When asked about the goal, team boss Maurizio Arrivabene said during the online […]
Schumacher moves to Ferrari-linked team
Feb.20 (GMM) Mick Schumacher’s team switch within the lower-tier categories of Formula 4 has now been confirmed. In early January, we reported that the 16-year-old son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher was looking to switch from his Van Amersfoort team to the top Ferrari-linked outfit Prema for 2016. The move was announced officially on Friday, […]
Verstappen unfazed by Tost warning
Feb.20 (GMM) Max Verstappen is unfazed by a warning issued by his boss at Toro Rosso. According to De Telegraaf newspaper, boss Franz Tost warned recently that Verstappen, F1’s Dutch teen sensation, and teammate Carlos Sainz must be careful in 2016 to not try to over-deliver for their second seasons on the grid. “They cannot […]
Bottas could replace feuding Mercedes driver – Salo
Feb.20 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas should have his fingers crossed that bitter teammate warring at Mercedes continues in 2016. That is the view of former F1 driver Mika Salo, who thinks his fellow Finn Bottas would be the beneficiary of a driver shake-up at the title-winning team. Toto Wolff, who is not only Mercedes’ team boss […]
F1 may miss crash-king Maldonado – Salo
Feb.19 (GMM) Mika Salo is not among those who are celebrating the departure from F1 of the sport’s ‘crash king’ Pastor Maldonado. Many believe the oil sponsor-fuelled Venezuelan and his penchant for crashing was bad for formula one, but Salo thinks Maldonado was actually a character to follow. Asked if he will be missed, the […]
Verstappen cautious amid Toro Rosso talk
Feb.19 (GMM) Max Verstappen is not getting carried away with talk Toro Rosso could beat the premier Red Bull team in 2016. With the junior Faenza squad switching to Ferrari power but Red Bull Racing staying with Renault this year, it is suggested Toro Rosso could be higher on the grid. “At the start of […]
Raikkonen must beat Vettel in 2016 – Salo
Feb.19 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen should not be regarded as ‘number 2’ to teammate Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari. That is the view of fellow Finn and former Ferrari driver Mika Salo, who nonetheless admitted that Raikkonen has a tough challenge ahead of him to return to his title-winning days. “At any rate, I do not see […]
Ricciardo no fan of no-glitz F1 launches
Feb.19 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he is no fan of F1’s new no-glitz approach to ‘launching’ cars. In the past, teams threw lavish events amid live Spice Girls performances, while the norm these days is to launch new cars via the internet or simply roll out into the testing pitlane for a photo opportunity. And […]