Mar.30 (GMM) McLaren has played down reports Fernando Alonso’s carbon seat was ‘broken’ in his high-speed Melbourne crash. We reported this week that amid claims the seat was broken amid the 46G forces, the FIA had launched an investigation so as to learn from the incident. “Yes, it (the seat) was cracked but not broken, […]
McLaren, Red Bull opposed ‘musical chairs’ tweak
Mar.30 (GMM) The lack of time and unanimity means F1 is stuck with the hated ‘musical chairs’ qualifying system for Bahrain. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff, who like most other stakeholders declared the new 90 second countdown system “rubbish” after its farcical debut in Australia, sounded exasperated on Tuesday when faced with the prospect of a repeat […]
FIA doctors must green-light Alonso return
Mar.30 (GMM) Fernando Alonso will not be cleared to race in Bahrain this weekend until a meeting with FIA doctors on Thursday. Following the Spaniard’s terrifying high-speed crash in Melbourne, Alonso hinted on social media that he has been unable to train this week due to the effects. And a report in the Spanish sports […]
Allison takes break after death of wife
Mar.30 (GMM) James Allison is spending some time away from formula one as he mourns the recent death of his wife, it has emerged. On his wife Rebecca’s Facebook page, the 48-year-old Briton confirmed to friends and family last week that she died suddenly from meningitis. “We at Ferrari are united with him and his […]
Stewart says F1 ‘not in crisis’
Mar.30 (GMM) F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart has played down suggestions the sport he has been involved with for over five decades is broken. “Look, everyone only sees the bad,” the triple world champion told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. “I have to say the field is too far apart — there is too little […]
Gold Coast eyes future Australian GP
Mar.29 (GMM) Queensland has flagged a potential bid to poach the Australian grand prix from rival state Victoria, the current host of the F1 season opener in Melbourne. In recent times, it has been New South Wales looking to steal Melbourne’s thunder by proposing a race in famous Australian city Sydney. But Queensland’s major events […]
Letter not just about qualifying – Wurz
Mar.29 (GMM) Alex Wurz insists the dissenting letter written on behalf of the current F1 drivers is not a mere reaction to the qualifying format debacle. Through the Wurz-led Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), the drivers hit out at the sport’s current governance last week hot on the heels of the farcical ‘musical chairs’ debut […]
Preferred successor Briatore ruled out – Ecclestone
Mar.29 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that “blocks” have been placed on his preferred successor. The apparent lack of a succession plan for the 85-year-old Briton has long been an issue, but supremo Ecclestone says his main suggestions were “thrown out”. “There are a million people who think they can do it, but it is […]
Newey not lifting F1 workload beyond 50pc
Mar.29 (GMM) Even rules for significantly faster F1 cars in 2017 will not change Adrian Newey’s 50 per cent focus on the sport. That is the news of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, even though he confirms that the famous F1 designer’s work on America’s Cup yacht design is now finished. “We’ve completed the […]
Wolff slams decision to keep ‘musical chairs’
Mar.29 (GMM) Toto Wolff has slammed the decision to keep the highly controversial ‘musical chairs’ qualifying format in place for Bahrain. After the system’s farcical debut in Melbourne, team bosses got together on Sunday before the season-opening race and agreed to scrap it. But amid calls for a governance overhaul of the sport, the change […]
F1 could hit reverse on faster cars
Mar.29 (GMM) F1 could be about to hit reverse on its move to speed up the cars for 2017. According to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, April 30 is the date on which the sport is tipped to approve technical changes including the widening of the cars for next season. However, there is now some […]
FIA eyes Alonso’s broken seat after crash
Mar.29 (GMM) The FIA has launched an investigation into Fernando Alonso’s spectacular Melbourne crash, with insiders saying the Spaniard was lucky to survive. Reports including one in the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reveal the governing body’s probe follows revelations Alonso’s seat was actually broken as his McLaren-Honda flipped through the Albert Park gravel. It […]
Dane backs Magnussen after Palmer defeat
Mar.29 (GMM) A countryman of F1 returnee Kevin Magnussen has defended the Dane’s performance at the recent Australian grand prix. Jolyon Palmer, a rookie and Magnussen’s teammate at Renault, has been quoted as saying out-qualifying and then beating the former McLaren driver to the chequered flag on debut is a boost to his confidence. But […]
F1 ‘not as attractive today’ – Sato
Mar.29 (GMM) Former driver Takuma Sato says that, amid the category’s obvious challenges, he still loves F1. The Japanese is now a mainstay of America’s top open wheeler series Indycar, telling the Spanish daily Marca that he thinks F1 was better in his day. “I do not see F1 as attractive as before,” said the […]
Verstappen can be free agent for 2017 – report
Mar.28 (GMM) Just as details of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull deal emerge, the Dutchman has thrown some praise in the direction of Ferrari number 1 Sebastian Vettel. Writing for the authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport, Luigi Perna suggested that a clause in the 18-year-old’s current contract means he would be free to switch to another […]
Ecclestone coy over Monza’s F1 future
Mar.28 (GMM) The saga over the future of historic Monza’s grand prix continues, with Bernie Ecclestone making conflicting comments regarding its chances. After reports suggested talks between the Italians and the F1 supremo have broken down, Ecclestone told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I think it (the race) will continue. “It is a fact that as […]
No surprise Alonso ‘aching’ after crash – doctor
Mar.28 (GMM) It is no surprise Fernando Alonso endured a tough week in the wake of his terrifying Melbourne crash. That is the claim of Jurgen Lindemann, an FIA doctor who said the Spaniard was in fact lucky to leave Australia with his life after flipping through the gravel in the 2016 season opener. “In […]
F1 must restore ‘credibility’ – Villeneuve
Mar.26 (GMM) F1 must return to its glorious roots or risk collapsing, according to 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. The French Canadian is just the latest in a long line of insiders, experts and pundits who are exasperated at the current off-track goings-on at the pinnacle of motor sport. The turmoil reached its peak last […]
‘Musical chairs’ stays in place for Bahrain
Mar.25 (GMM) The controversial and unpopular ‘musical chairs’ qualifying format will decide the grid for next weekend’s Bahrain grand prix. That is despite the fact the new concept, featuring 90-second countdown eliminations, was widely declared an unmitigated failure on debut in Melbourne. Team bosses voted before the race on Sunday to revert to the popular […]
Lauda denies Mercedes still sandbagging
Mar.24 (GMM) Niki Lauda has hit back at claims Mercedes is still sandbagging, one race into its 2016 championship campaign. It was rumoured the dominant champions of 2014 and 2015 held fire on its full performance potential over the winter, and Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko charged even after Melbourne that Mercedes could actually have […]