May 6 (GMM) Mark Webber has admitted the venom has gone from his relationship with former F1 teammate Sebastian Vettel. The pair were teammates at Red Bull until the Australian’s retirement at the end of 2013. Webber, now a leading Le Mans prototype driver for Porsche, told a Dubai radio station it was Vettel’s “trophy […]
De la Rosa admits F1 career probably over
May 6 (GMM) Pedro de la Rosa has admitted his career in formula one appears over. From his first test laps for Jordan in 1998 to his Ferrari role that ended last year, the 44-year-old Spaniard’s F1 adventure spanned 16 years. He raced more than 100 times for five teams, through the highly-competitive McLaren team […]
Alonso ‘dark and moody’ at Ferrari – Montezemolo
May 6 (GMM) Fernando Alonso had become “dark and moody” by the time Ferrari realised it needed a change. That is the claim of the ousted former long-time Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who this week hit back at suggestions it was in fact his successor Sergio Marchionne who made the decisive move for Sebastian […]
Lotus now ready to join ‘second group’
May 6 (GMM) Lotus thinks it is ready to join the action in the “second group” behind the title-warring Mercedes and Ferrari. Like most teams, the Enstone camp has brought what driver Romain Grosjean refers to as a “major upgrade” for its 2015 car to Barcelona. “Unlike last year, we now have a car that […]
Mateschitz ‘wants Audi to enter F1’ – Montezemolo
May 6 (GMM) Luca di Montezemolo claims Ferrari’s new guard has been “lucky” to be so successful in 2015. The Maranello marque’s long-time and now former president admits that the end of his tenure following a power struggle with Sergio Marchionne was not a happy one. He is therefore critical of how new president Marchionne […]
Susie Wolff feels ‘far away’ from F1 debut
May 6 (GMM) Susie Wolff has admitted she still feels “very far away” from the formula one grid. Actually, the 32-year-old is much closer than others, as she will take over Valtteri Bottas’ Williams on Friday morning ahead of the Spanish grand prix. It will mark the “40th anniversary of the last time a female […]
F1 ‘no longer real racing’ – Briatore
May 6 (GMM) Flavio Briatore, who for two decades presided over often title-winning success on the pitwall, says he is now only an occasional viewer of grands prix. “On Sunday I watched the (Bahrain) race for ten minutes and then did something else,” the Italian told Rai radio earlier this week. “They spend (EUR) 300 […]
McLaren hits back at ‘critics’ in a hurry
May 6 (GMM) McLaren has reacted “angrily” to claims it has failed to live up to the hype of its works Honda partnership. Ahead of the fifth race of 2015 in Spain, Britain’s Times newspaper said team boss Eric Boullier hit out at “critics” who “inflated expectations” that McLaren-Honda could instantly recapture the successful glory […]
Ferrari not joining ‘short nose’ camp
May 6 (GMM) Ferrari has opted against joining the ‘short nosed’ camp on the 2015 grid. Mercedes and Williams have designed their 2015 aerodynamic concepts around an ultra-short nose, and now Red Bull is hoping to make up ground from Barcelonan onwards with perhaps the most radical solution to date. Ferrari’s SF15-T, however, has a […]
McLaren reveals dark new F1 livery
May 6 (GMM) McLaren has revealed a striking new ‘graphite’ livery ahead of the Spanish grand prix. The British team confirmed on Tuesday that it is launching a new look for Barcelona and beyond. Some believe the move was to distance McLaren from its chrome-themed, Mercedes-powered past, especially in light of the new works partnership […]
Rosberg ‘must try to catch’ Hamilton – Lauda
May 6 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is facing a tough task to get back on terms with Lewis Hamilton. Earlier, F1 legend Sir Stirling Moss insisted that Hamilton, although a double world champion and on-form championship leader, is “not yet” a great. But he is quoted by the Swiss newspaper Blick: “Hamilton is in another league. […]
Berger not surprised by Renault’s V6 struggle
May 6 (GMM) Even Sebastian Vettel would not have made a difference to Red Bull’s tough season in 2015. “In (terms of) car development, maybe,” said the now Ferrari-driving German’s former boss and mentor Dr Helmut Marko. “For example, we have now changed back to the brake manufacturer that he (Vettel) always wanted to have,” […]
New Manor car not due until Belgium – report
May 6 (GMM) Another half a dozen races may pass before Manor is ready to debut a 2015 car. So far in 2015, the former Marussia team has fought back from near collapse and administration with a hurriedly-modified version of last year’s car. It is fitted with last year’s Ferrari engine, which is significantly down […]
Red Bull now targeting third-best Williams
May 5 (GMM) Red Bull is setting its sights on F1’s third-best team. The 2010-2013 champions have already ruled out a tilt for this year’s title, with engine supplier Renault taking most of the blame so far. But Red Bull is also working hard on its chassis, with a big upgrade for Barcelona set to […]
Many drivers bring sponsors to F1 – Nasr
May 5 (GMM) Felipe Nasr has hit back at any lingering claims he might be written off as a typical ‘pay driver’. It was said the Brazilian’s arrival at Sauber with his sponsor Banco do Brasil – whose blue and yellow colours now dominate the 2015 livery – helped to save the embattled Swiss team. […]
Lauda tips Mercedes to keep ‘small’ advantage
May 5 (GMM) Niki Lauda is expecting Mercedes to maintain a “small” advantage at best over title challenger Ferrari in 2015. The German camp has admitted that the level of Ferrari’s resurgence since 2014 was a surprise. “They (Ferrari) have created a very big project this year,” F1 legend Lauda, also the Mercedes team chairman, […]
No quick fix for McLaren – Hakkinen
May 5 (GMM) Rumours McLaren may appear with a radical new livery this weekend in Barcelona are wide of the mark. Earlier, reports emerged that the British team – already criticised in 2015 for not adopting an all-new look for its new works Honda era – would race in Spain this weekend with more grey […]
Juncadella not sorry he left Force India
May 5 (GMM) Former Force India reserve Daniel Juncadella says he does not regret leaving the Silverstone based team. Last year, the young Spaniard worked with the Mercedes-powered team, attending races and occasionally driving in Friday practice sessions. But now, he is focusing only on racing his Mercedes in the German touring car series DTM, […]
Lauda insists ‘no fifth engine’ in 2015
May 5 (GMM) Drivers will not be allowed to use a fifth ‘power unit’ in 2015 and escape penalty, according to Niki Lauda. That is despite Red Bull team boss Christian Horner saying less than two weeks ago that the change to the ‘four engines per season’ rule had been agreed “unanimously” in March. “That […]
Mercedes does not want to dominate – Briatore
May 5 (GMM) Flavio Briatore claims Mercedes actually has no desire to dominate the 2015 season. The controversial former Renault chief told Italian radio Rai that, having utterly dominated last season, Mercedes is now happy to have its heels nipped by a resurgent Ferrari. It follows Red Bull chief Dr Helmut Marko’s sensational claim late […]