Aug.25 (GMM) Felipe Massa has played down any claims he might keep his racing dream alive for 2017 by switching to Indycar. As Williams reconsiders its next driver lineup, the Brazilian has said he needs a competitive seat in order to stay in F1 for a sixteenth season. But Turun Sanomat, a Finnish newspaper, said […]
Pace step for 2017 ‘like GP2 to F1’ – Hembery
Aug.25 (GMM) Paul Hembery has tipped a huge performance leap for formula one as a result of the rules changes for 2017. In response to dwindling spectator numbers, the sport collectively agreed that it needs to dramatically speed up the cars next year. “I think formula one lost a little bit of its excitement,” Sebastian […]
Engine upgrades abound ahead of Spa
Aug.25 (GMM) Ferrari is not the only team taking engine upgrades to this weekend’s Belgian grand prix. We reported earlier that while a new specification will be at the Spa-Francorchamps track, the Maranello team might not actually use it until Monza. Nonetheless, the upgrade has cost Ferrari all of its remaining 3 upgrade tokens for […]
Hamilton faces penalties, Rosberg to test ‘halo’
Aug.24 (GMM) Mercedes has revealed world championship leader Lewis Hamilton is “likely” to face penalties this weekend at Spa. We reported earlier that the British driver was in fact more likely to take his unscheduled sixth engine – and therefore a grid penalty – at Monza, where it is even easier to overtake. But Mercedes […]
Ferrari taking new engine to Spa – report
Aug.24 (GMM) Ferrari has a new engine specification in its luggage as the sport prepares to wake from its August slumber this weekend in Belgium. The development follows a less than impressive mid-season period for the Italian team, having fallen off Mercedes’ heels and even behind Red Bull as well. So Speed Week cites Italian […]
Ecclestone in talks to be Hockenheim race promoter
Aug.24 (GMM) Hockenheim and Bernie Ecclestone look to be on track to secure Germany’s place on the F1 calendar. Until recently, Hockenheim and the Nurburgring were annually alternating Germany’s F1 race, but the latter circuit struck financial and ownership trouble. Germany sat out 2015 but was back at Hockenheim this year — but the race […]
Mick Schumacher ‘missing his dad’ – priest
Aug.24 (GMM) Former F1 priest Don Sergio Mantovani has tipped Michael Schumacher to keep fighting. As the sport emerges from its summer slumber, minds are being cast back to 25 years ago, when as a 22-year-old the F1 legend made his meteoric debut for Jordan at Spa, qualifying seventh and launching his record-setting grand prix […]
F1 race to avoid dead last heats up
Aug.24 (GMM) Even at the very back of the grid, a spicy and crucial battle is taking place. The glory and the mega dollars may be at the upper echelons of the grid, but right at the bottom of the table, a battle for survival is taking place – simply to avoid last place. Traditionally, […]
Spa promoter thrilled with F1 ticket sales
Aug.23 (GMM) The race promoter is heralding almost unprecedented interest in this weekend’s Belgian grand prix. Andre Mas, organiser of the fabled Spa-Francorchamps race, told La Derniere Heure newspaper that he is delighted with ticket sales as F1 emerges from its summer break. The ticket boost for 2016 is almost certainly due to the popularity […]
Nasr seeks help for 2017 Renault seat – report
Aug.22 (GMM) Felipe Nasr took a bid for a works seat in formula one all the way to the top last week, according to a Brazilian media outlet. Last week, the Sauber driver was forced to deny claims he took a side in Brazil’s controversial current political situation by visiting the acting president Michel Temer. […]
Toro Rosso ‘good place’ for 2017 – Kvyat
Aug.22 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat has admitted staying at Toro Rosso would be a “very good place” for him to continue his career in formula one. Earlier in 2016, the Russian seemed psychologically destroyed by his demotion from Red Bull’s top team. Kvyat, 22, doesn’t deny it. “I love formula one, but I did not enjoy […]
Tyres to dominate battle for fourth – Symonds
Aug.22 (GMM) Mastering Pirelli’s tyres will be the key to a close battle for top spot behind F1’s ‘big three’ teams in the latter phase of the 2016 championship. That is the view of Williams’ technical boss Pat Symonds, referring to the British team’s efforts to fend off the threat posed by Force India but […]
Hamilton to take engine penalty at Monza
Aug.22 (GMM) It has been decided that Lewis Hamilton will slide down the grid at Monza. The reigning world champion extended his lead in the 2016 standings recently, but insisted he still doesn’t feel like the true leader because he is running short on engines. “It’s still not enough because I’m not a race win […]
Teen Ocon can handle F1 pressure – Lagrue
Aug.22 (GMM) The head of Mercedes’ driver development programme insists Esteban Ocon is ready for F1. The 19-year-old Frenchman is set to make his grand prix debut this weekend at Spa, after Manor racer Rio Haryanto’s funding dried up. Ocon is stepping up from being Renault’s reserve driver, and is under consideration for a full […]
Track limits must be policed – Whiting
Aug.22 (GMM) Two F1 team bosses have slammed the current situation in the sport regarding the thorny topic of so-called ‘track limits’. Just before the summer break, leading team chiefs approached Charlie Whiting to plead for a change of heart, with interpretations of the legal limits of the track having controversially changed from corner to […]
No F1 deal for Las Vegas race yet – Tilke
Aug.19 (GMM) Plans to take F1 back to Las Vegas remain in the air for now. That is the news from Dr Carsten Tilke, the son of grand prix circuit designer Hermann Tilke. Carsten has a central role at his father’s circuit-designing company, which has been engaged to start work on a project in the […]
Sepang reveals circuit changes for 2016
Aug.19 (GMM) Malaysia’s F1 chief has revealed that the Sepang circuit has undergone significant changes ahead of the 2016 race. Usually one of the first races each year, the event just outside Kuala Lumpur has instead been paired with the nearby and popular Singapore night race this season. “On Monday after race day in Singapore, […]
Ocon eyes debut and Renault, Mercedes future
Aug.19 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has not denied that his forthcoming nine-race stint at Manor is effectively an audition for a Renault race seat for 2017. “No idea,” the French teen, who is backed not only by the French marque but also Mercedes, said ahead of his F1 race debut at Spa-Francorchamps next weekend. Ocon is […]
Spa to be first race for McLaren-Honda’s Capito
Aug.19 (GMM) Jost Capito has confirmed he will soon start work at McLaren. The German was actually signed up in January to become the Honda-powered team’s new chief executive, but Capito said he would not vacate his current role at Volkswagen until a replacement is found. Now, at the Rallye Deutschland, Capito has announced that […]
Ferrari a ‘great disappointment’ in 2016 – Webber
Aug.18 (GMM) Mark Webber does not think Mercedes’ rivals are quite ready to pounce on the German team’s dominance. The Australian’s former team, Red Bull, has sped past Ferrari in recent races, with Max Verstappen the only non-Mercedes driver in 2016 to have won a race. “They’re making ground on Mercedes,” Webber, now a sports […]