Aug.4 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has moved to temper speculation that Daniil Kvyat is set to definitely lose Red Bull’s backing. A poor run of form for the young Russian following his demotion to the junior team Toro Rosso, coupled with rumours in the Russian media, have led some to conclude that Kvyat’s F1 career […]
Renault could turn blue for 2017 – reports
Aug.4 (GMM) The works Renault team could be set to change colours for 2017, according to the latest international reports. El Mundo Deportivo, a Spanish sports newspaper, reports that the currently yellow cars could turn predominantly deep blue next year. There are rumours Renault is in talks with Movistar, a major Spanish mobile operator, and […]
Mercedes, McLaren in dispute over engineer
Aug.3 (GMM) A dispute is bubbling between world champions Mercedes and rival F1 team McLaren over an engineer. Spanish media reports, including El Mundo Deportivo newspaper, claim McLaren recently signed a deal to woo Loic Serra from his role as Mercedes’ head of vehicle dynamics. The report claims Mercedes, who are not commenting, then succeeded […]
Wolff urges Renault to sign Ocon
Aug.3 (GMM) Esteban Ocon looks set to be the next teenage charger to make his mark in formula one. Backed by Mercedes, the Frenchman is on loan to Renault this year as reserve and occasional Friday driver. And international media sources claim Ocon is first in line to emerge after the summer break as the […]
Lauda to help Rosberg bounce back
Aug.3 (GMM) Championship rivals Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have got off to very different starts to their F1 summer break. A happy and relaxed world championship leader Hamilton headed to Barbados, where he took part in a raucous and scantily-clad street parade. But Bild newspaper reports that German Rosberg, who suffered four consecutive race […]
Father defends Magnussen’s F1 commitment
Aug.3 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen’s father has hit back at media speculation that his future is Renault is under a cloud because of his work ethic. A British magazine has added fuel to the uncertainty about the Dane’s place at the French works team for 2017 by suggesting he does not work hard enough and lacks […]
Marchionne ‘not satisfied’ but staying the course
Aug.3 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has this week suggested Ferrari will stay the course, despite admitting that the great Italian marque has disappointed in the opening half of 2016. Both in the influential Italian press and beyond, the perception is that Ferrari is now in ‘crisis’, having failed to deliver president Marchionne’s pre-season targets and now […]
Williams opens door to Button, Perez
Aug.3 (GMM) Williams has made clear its door may be open to not only Jenson Button but also Sergio Perez for the 2017 season. It is an uncomfortable period for the Grove team’s existing drivers Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas, with plenty of rivals including Daniil Kvyat and Lance Stroll having already been linked with […]
Rosberg ‘lost the title’ in July – Montagny
Aug.2 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton may now be a sure bet to win his third consecutive world championship this year. Earlier with a 43-point deficit to Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, a winning streak has seen Hamilton race into the summer break with a 19-point lead. “He has become a winning machine,” said Italy’s La Gazzetta dello […]
Hamilton sued over $4.6m Grenada villa
Aug.2 (GMM) World champion Lewis Hamilton is in a $4.6 million legal battle with an Italian property developer. The Sun newspaper reports that the 2016 world championship leader ordered a luxury villa be built in Grenada, where his father’s family emigrated from, including a custom recording studio, gym and private jetty. But Hamilton reportedly pulled […]
Hockenheim wants help to secure German GP future
Aug.2 (GMM) A cloud continues to hang over the future of the German grand prix. The Nurburgring’s woes meant there was no race in Germany last year, and it appears unlikely the track will be able to resume its alternation deal with the Hockenheim for 2017. “2017 is the Norburgring’s turn,” track chief Georg Seiler […]
Haryanto pushing hard for Spa backing
Aug.2 (GMM) Rio Haryanto says his management will not be resting during F1’s summer break. At present, the Indonesian may not return to the cockpit of his Manor at Spa later this month, after his government-linked backing ran dry. “The summer holiday is the right time to take a rest, but I won’t be able […]
Italy backs Rosberg over FIA penalty
Aug.2 (GMM) The Italian media has backed Nico Rosberg after he was penalised for an overtaking move on Max Verstappen at Hockenheim. “Lewis (Hamilton) knows,” Dutch teen Verstappen smiled after the German grand prix, referring to what happened between the Mercedes teammates in Austria. The stewards levied a penalty against German Rosberg at Hockenheim, ruling […]
Ecclestone hails police after kidnapping raid
Aug.2 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has hailed Brazilian police after his mother-in-law was freed unhurt from kidnappers following a daring raid. British newspapers report that the mastermind of the attempted $37 million ransom operation was a helicopter pilot who worked for the F1 supremo during the annual Brazilian grand prix. 85-year-old Ecclestone told the ‘papers: “I’m […]
Ecclestone’s mother-in-law safe after kidnapping
Aug.1 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone’s mother-in-law is safe and well, after being kidnapped in Sao Paulo over a week ago. The Brazilian broadcaster Globo reported that 67-year-old Aparecida Schunck, the mother of his Brazilian wife Fabiana Flosi, has returned to her family without the ransom of $37 million having been paid. The report claimed police, who […]
Kvyat not giving up on F1 career
Aug.1 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat is not ready to give up on his formula one career quite yet. After a woeful qualifying, the young Russian appeared closed to tears amid reports he will definitely be dumped completely by employer Red Bull at the end of the year. But Kvyat, 22, then had a better race. “I […]
Mick Schu’s next step is F3, not F1 – manager
Aug.1 (GMM) Mick Schumacher’s manager has put the brakes on any suggestion the 17-year-old might soon be set to join fellow teenager Max Verstappen in F1. Rumours, however, were obviously fired at Hockenheim at the weekend as the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher visited the Mercedes and Ferrari garages. The last team of his […]
McLaren heading for 2017 wins – Dennis
Aug.1 (GMM) McLaren-Honda is on target for “victories” in 2017. That is the claim of the great Woking team’s supremo Ron Dennis, referring to the big step taken by the works Anglo-Japanese collaboration this year after a woeful 2015. “The car was designed for a three-year process,” he is quoted by the Spanish sports daily […]
Boss plays down Sachsenring rumours
Aug.1 (GMM) Reports that the Sachsenring could be in the running to rescue the German GP for 2017 have been played down. Germany’s Auto Bild reported at Hockenheim that the well-known MotoGP venue has been targeted by Bernie Ecclestone as a potential venue to take over from struggling Hockenheim and the Nurburgring — perhaps with […]
Magnussen still in play for 2017 seat – report
Aug.1 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen remains in the running to keep his works Renault seat beyond 2016. The Dane admitted at Hockenheim that speculation he and teammate Jolyon Palmer will lose their places for 2017 was “annoying”. But Denmark’s BT newspaper says it knows that Magnussen’s backer, billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen whose ‘Jack and Jones’ logo […]