Jan.29 (GMM) F1’s future continued to take shape on Friday. In a meeting room at London’s Heathrow airport, representatives of the teams, FOM and the FIA got together to discuss – among other things – the new rules for 2017. It is the penultimate meeting before the March 1 deadline, coming shortly after it emerged […]
Manager, father not commenting on Magnussen reports
Jan.29 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen’s father as well as his manager are refusing to comment on widespread reports that the former McLaren reserve is now poised to return to the F1 grid. Specialist publications say the 23-year-old Dane, who was unceremoniously dumped by McLaren late last year, is likely to replace Pastor Maldonado at the new […]
Ferrari adding white to 2016 livery – source
Jan.28 (GMM) The livery for Ferrari’s 2016 car could include a novel dose of white, according to one Italian source. The authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport said the car, currently codenamed 667, will be revealed to the public via an online launch on January 19. That is just a couple of days before the start […]
Marko expects Mercedes to dominate again
Jan.28 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko, a leading Red Bull official, has bad news for F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Whilst spectating at the Kitzbuhel skiing world cup last week, Ecclestone said another season of dominance for Mercedes would be “not good for them, not good for the public, not good for anyone”. Marko, however, has now […]
Toro Rosso on schedule despite Ferrari switch – Key
Jan.28 (GMM) Toro Rosso is “on schedule” for the 2016 season, despite the late change of engine supplier. That is the claim of the Faenza team’s technical boss James Key, after parent company Red Bull’s so-called ‘engine crisis’ late last year led to Toro Rosso switching to a 2015-spec supply of Ferrari power for this […]
GP2 chief Vasseur to run Renault team – sources
Jan.28 (GMM) In the days before the news becomes official in Paris, sources report that Renault’s F1 management team is shaping up. Following the Lotus takeover, sources say leading directors of Renault Sport F1 will be Jerome Stoll, Cyril Abiteboul, Thierry Bollore and Patrice Ratti. And it is expected that Frederic Vasseur, who until now […]
Pirelli to help fans with live tyre information
Jan.28 (GMM) Pirelli is looking to tackle the complexity of the new tyre rules for 2016 by divulging more live information to the public during races. With the sport looking to spice up the action by offering drivers three compounds of tyres per weekend, Pirelli and the FIA had heads scratching when the actual rules […]
Pirelli turned down Mercedes for wet test
Jan.28 (GMM) Pirelli issued a polite ‘no’ to reigning world champion team Mercedes ahead of the recent wet tyre test at Paul Ricard. “When you’re driving, you’re always learning something,” Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel told reporters after running in the 2015 car on Tuesday. Indeed, some insiders expressed surprise when it emerged that Mercedes would not […]
Sainz reveals weight loss for 2016 season
Jan.28 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has revealed he is a new lightweight version for the 2016 season. It is believed some cars may be heavier this year, due to the tough new side-impact cockpit crash test requirements. “The load test has been increased from 15 to 50 Kilonewtons,” said Mercedes’ Paddy Lowe. “It’s a very significant […]
FIA proposes ‘halo’ cockpit solution for 2017
Jan.28 (GMM) F1’s governing body is believed to have shortlisted a cockpit protection system nicknamed ‘the halo’ for introduction in 2017, according to the British newspaper The Sun. Devised by Mercedes, the solution is designed to keep cockpits essentially open but stop flying objects and obstacles from striking the driver. The news follows GPDA president […]
Ecclestone backs call for ‘maximum attack’ tyres
Jan.28 (GMM) F1 could be set to take a sharp turn away from the era of Pirelli’s heavily degrading tyres. A few days ago, GPDA director Alex Wurz revealed that formula one drivers are calling upon a return to “maximum attack” racing. And the BBC quoted a source as saying: “To a man, the drivers […]
Tost ‘optimistic’ 2016 Toro Rosso will be ready
Jan.27 (GMM) Toro Rosso took on an 100 additional staff to cope with the challenge of preparing for the 2016 season. The Faenza based team’s schedule was thrown into chaos late last year amid the dispute between parent company Red Bull and Renault. In the end, Red Bull stayed with Renault power for 2015, but […]
Sainz tips ‘better’ season for Alonso
Jan.27 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has tipped his countryman and mentor Fernando Alonso to have a “better” season with McLaren-Honda. “I think that after 2015 it can only go better for them,” said the young Toro Rosso driver. “How much better, I don’t know,” added Sainz, as he met with members of the Spanish press on […]
Paul Ricard not ruling out France GP revival
Jan.27 (GMM) Paul Ricard is not ruling out hosting a revived French grand prix at the circuit near Marseille. This week, the track has been hosting three top F1 teams for Pirelli’s wet tyre test, but Paul Ricard chief Stephane Clair says his sights are set even higher. “Everything is possible,” he is quoted in […]
Vettel says Melbourne win not crucial
Jan.27 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has tested twice already in 2016, despite not even setting eyes on Ferrari’s new car. Indeed, while most of his rivals remain in their winter slumber, German Vettel recently ran a 2014 Ferrari at Fiorano. And on Tuesday at an artificially-watered Paul Ricard, he was running in last year’s red car […]
Pirelli plays down Raikkonen criticism
Jan.27 (GMM) Pirelli has played down reports that Kimi Raikkonen is unhappy with F1’s new generation of wet weather tyres. The Finnish driver was at the wheel of last year’s Ferrari when Pirelli began testing at the artificially-watered Paul Ricard track on Monday. Afterwards, he was quoted as saying he preferred the 2015 wets. “Kimi […]
Sainz not expecting Toro Rosso to beat Red Bull
Jan.27 (GMM) Carlos Sainz insists he is not running away with the “dangerous” idea that Toro Rosso could be better than Red Bull Racing in 2016. When the music of the recent ‘Red Bull engine crisis’ stopped, the senior team was left with its underpowered Renault units while Toro Rosso secured a supply of 2015-specification […]
Verstappen not stopping Red Bull dream – Sainz
Jan.27 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says his goal is to impress his bosses and win a promotion to Red Bull’s senior team. “I know what I need to do to impress them,” he said on Tuesday in a meeting with the Spanish media. “My goal is still to go to Red Bull and become the best […]
Maldonado’s cousin starts Formula 4 career
Jan.27 (GMM) Pastor Maldonado’s cousin is set to begin his own adventure in single seater racing. In 2012, then 12-year-old Manuel Maldonado became famous in the paddock for riding on his cousin Pastor’s back to escape a fire in the Williams garage. Now 15, Manuel will kick off his first year out of karts in […]
Ecclestone hopes Austin stays on calendar
Jan.27 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has not yet given up on the future of the US grand prix in Austin. Late last year, a dark cloud moved over the popular race when the governor of Texas dramatically slashed funding from $25 million a year to less than $20m. “To use a technical term,” promoter Bobby Epstein […]