Feb.4 (GMM) F1’s complex and controversial engine development ‘token’ system will be scrapped for 2017. That was the claim on Wednesday of Cyril Abiteboul, the Renault managing director. He was speaking at the Renault launch in Paris, taking place hot on the heels of a spate of high-level recent meetings about the future shape of […]
Renault wants 200 more staff at Enstone
Feb.4 (GMM) Renault is aiming to add 200 staff to its Enstone chassis factory by the end of next year. “A lot of positions are opening up,” admitted chassis technical director Nick Chester during Wednesday’s Paris launch. When the team was sold by Renault to Lotus some years ago, it was downsized and the current […]
Renault seat ‘a surprise’ – Magnussen
Feb.4 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen was still letting the news sink in as he stepped onto the stage as a works Renault race driver on Wednesday. At the eleventh hour, the French team split with the controversial contracted driver Pastor Maldonado, and new racing director Frederic Vasseur said Dane Magnussen was the “obvious choice”. “I don’t […]
2016 right time to enter F1 – Vasseur
Feb.4 (GMM) The sport’s newest team boss, Frederic Vasseur, said 2016 is the right time for him to enter the world of formula one. For years, the Frenchman has been on the very edge of the pinnacle of motor racing as he ran the top GP2 team ART with Nicolas Todt, whose father is the […]
Magnussen brings sponsor to F1 ‘second chance’
Feb.4 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen said he felt lucky to have been given a rare “second chance” in formula one. The Dane was unveiled as a race driver for the new Renault works team on Wednesday, replacing Pastor Maldonado at the eleventh hour over a sponsorship dispute. And Magnussen, 23, has his own backer, Danish billionaire […]
Jorda has ‘no problem’ with Ocon deal
Feb.4 (GMM) A surprise face at the Renault launch on Wednesday belonged to Carmen Jorda. Last year, the Spaniard and former GP3 driver was the female development driver at Lotus, which has been taken over by Renault for 2016. But Jorda told Spain’s Europa Press that she will have the “same role” this year too. […]
F1 sponsor hails Magnussen’s return
Feb.4 (GMM) A Danish businessman has hailed Kevin Magnussen’s return to F1. In 2014, the Danish bank Saxo Bank entered F1 as a sponsor with Lotus. Now, Danish driver Kevin Magnussen has joined the same Enstone based team just as it returns to being the works Renault outfit. Lars Seier Christensen is no longer the […]
Toro Rosso still ‘on schedule’ for test debut
Feb.4 (GMM) Toro Rosso remains “on schedule” to debut its 2016 car on the first day of Barcelona testing. Earlier, it was suggested the Red Bull junior team might be running late due to the eleventh-hour switch from Renault to Ferrari power. “Yes, I would like more time, but our technical department has many experienced […]
F1 pushing ahead with ‘halo’, faster tyres for 2017
Feb.4 (GMM) F1 will press ahead with its plans to protect the drivers’ cockpits in 2017, according to Alex Wurz. Earlier, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) president said his F1 racing members were unanimously in favour of adding the ‘halo’-style solution to the cars. But rumours from the most recent F1 meetings in London […]
Renault to have ‘difficult year’ – Prost
Feb.4 (GMM) Alain Prost has played down Renault’s hopes for 2016. The quadruple world champion is remaining an ambassador for the French carmaker, after Renault bought back its old works team that in recent years has been known as Lotus. “It will not be possible already in 2016 to compete against the best,” Prost, whose […]
Red Bull to get technical equality – Renault
Feb.4 (GMM) Red Bull will enjoy the very same equipment as the Renault works team in 2016, the French carmaker has assured. Even though Red Bull has reverted to mere customer status for the new season, even re-branding its power units as ‘Tag Heuer’, official Dr Helmut Marko said recently that the team’s Renault deal […]
Renault chance ‘even better’ than McLaren – Magnussen snr
Feb.4 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen’s father thinks the new Renault adventure has even more potential than if the 23-year-old had been retained by McLaren. Jan Magnussen, himself a former F1 driver, was not in Paris on Wednesday as son Kevin walked onto the stage in his new black overalls. “It was great to see him go […]
Ghosn wants Renault return for Alonso
Feb.4 (GMM) Carlos Ghosn on Wednesday did not hide that enticing Fernando Alonso back to the new works Renault team is an objective. “Would I like to sign Alonso? For sure,” he told the Spanish sports daily AS at the Paris launch of the new project. In 2005 and 2006, Alonso won back-to-back titles for […]
No 2016 car or race livery at Renault launch
Feb.4 (GMM) Renault revealed neither its 2016 car nor the race livery as the wraps came off a mostly black single seater during Wednesday’s Paris event. “Here is the Renault RS16 that you will see in Barcelona in two weeks,” declared the French carmaker’s Carlos Ghosn. It soon emerged, however, that the mainly black livery […]
Marchionne wanted Alfa Romeo deal for Toro Rosso
Feb.3 (GMM) Fiat Chrysler president Sergio Marchionne wanted Toro Rosso to be powered by Alfa Romeo-branded engines in 2016. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Bild Motorsport, in the wake of the so-called ‘Red Bull engine crisis’ that almost silenced the energy drink brand in F1. Ultimately for 2016, Renault agreed to de-brand its […]
F1’s big names attend key Milan meeting
Feb.3 (GMM) A landmark meeting starring the biggest names in formula one took place in Milan on Tuesday. Pirelli had sent out the invitation to the sport’s leading authorities and figures and also disgruntled F1 drivers, who want key changes to the tyre characteristics for 2017. F1’s official tyre supplier, in turn, is pushing for […]
Renault may change black livery by Melbourne
Feb.3 (GMM) Renault on Wednesday revealed a black livery for its return as a works F1 team. The RS16 became the first car of the 2016 season to be unveiled, at an event held before the world’s media at Renault’s Technocentre on the outskirts of Paris. A sign of how eagerly the world of F1 […]
Williams signs simulator driver Paffett
Feb.3 (GMM) Williams has signed up former long-time McLaren test driver Gary Paffett. The 34-year-old Briton, who races in the German touring car series DTM, was a McLaren tester for a decade until the team’s Mercedes era ended. But Paffett is now returning to duty in F1 with a role as Williams’ “simulator driver”. “We’re […]
Force India to lose co-owner, title sponsor Sahara
Feb.3 (GMM) Force India looks set to lose its major co-owner and title sponsor Sahara. The Indian conglomerate Sahara’s chief, Subrata Roy, has been in a Delhi jail since 2014, and local reports say he is desperately trying to raise the money for bail. The Times of India says Sahara on Tuesday asked the supreme […]
Manor not an option for Maldonado – manager
Feb.3 (GMM) Pastor Maldonado’s manager has played down speculation the Venezuelan might rescue his tattered F1 career by joining Manor in 2016. Reportedly amid problems between his crisis-struck sponsor PDVSA and the new Renault works team, 30-year-old Maldonado confirmed this week that he will not be on this year’s grid. “I will not go into […]