Jan.26 (GMM) Formula one needs Ferrari to give Mercedes a run for its money in 2016. That is the view of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, when told by the Austrian newspaper Tiroler Tageszeitung that Mercedes seems determined to dominate the sport for a third consecutive season. “No, that’s not good for them,” the 85-year-old said […]
Career twists for Doornbos, Villeneuve
Jan.26 (GMM) A former F1 driver’s career has taken a stimulating twist. In 2005 and 2006, Dutchman Robert Doornbos appeared in grands prix for Minardi and Red Bull. But CNET, a technology website, said the 34-year-old went on to found Kiiroo, an innovative sex toy company. Kiiroo’s website said its latest product uses online technology […]
Jock Clear starts work for Ferrari
Jan.26 (GMM) Jock Clear has finally started work at Ferrari, after serving a full year of so-called ‘gardening leave’. In late 2014, Mercedes announced that Lewis Hamilton’s highly regarded and experienced performance engineer is leaving the dominant German team. A full year later, Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene said just before Christmas: “The only new arrival […]
Monza eyes chicane in middle of Curva Grande – report
Jan.25 (GMM) Monza is eyeing a tweak to its fabled circuit layout. Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that, as the Autodromo Nazionale looks ahead to a future on motorcycle racing calendars, a chicane to break up the famous and sweeping Curva Grande may be necessary. In fact, the report said the change has already […]
Manor signs Pat Fry
Jan.25 (GMM) Manor has signed up another big name ahead of the 2016 season. Recently, the backmarker team signed former Ferrari designer Nikolas Tombazis. And now on Monday, Manor announced that Tombazis’ former Ferrari colleague, the similarly-ousted Pat Fry, has also joined the newly Mercedes-powered team. Fry, who also had a high-profile role at McLaren […]
Honda plays down 200hp power boost reports
Jan.25 (GMM) Honda has dismissed speculation it has found more than a whopping 200 horse power over the winter break. Earlier, the Spanish sports daily AS claimed McLaren’s works engine partner had closed the gap to the leading manufacturers for 2016 by improving the internal combustion engine and troublesome energy recovery systems. “Sakura, the Honda […]
Drivers want cockpit protection for 2017 – Wurz
Jan.25 (GMM) F1 drivers have agreed that the sport should implement better cockpit protection for 2017. Alex Wurz, president of the safety-oriented Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), told the BBC: “The research the FIA experts have done is very thorough and the process has brought forward a clear solution. “Now the drivers feel it’s time […]
Wehrlein still waiting for Manor news
Jan.13 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein says he is still waiting to know if he will make his formula one debut in 2016. Up and down the grid, the only official race seat vacancies still up for grabs for this year are at the backmarker Manor. Mercedes reserve and new reigning DTM champion Wehrlein, 21, is in […]
Renault not denying Maldonado rumours
Jan.13 (GMM) Renault has not denied speculation Pastor Maldonado could be ousted before the 2016 season opener. Britain’s Telegraph newspaper reported earlier that amid apparent problems with Maldonado’s lucrative PDVSA backing, ousted McLaren reserve Kevin Magnussen has been shown around the Enstone factory. PDVSA, the scandal-struck Venezuelan state oil company, is reportedly late with its […]
F1 budget worth every cent and more – Wolff
Jan.13 (GMM) Mercedes has no thoughts whatsoever about reassessing its commitment to formula one. The German carmaker left McLaren to become its own works team at the start of the decade, and in the new ‘power unit’ era has been utterly dominant. That recent success, however, has been thanks to a huge annual budget, but […]
Gutierrez admits Haas targeting debut points
Jan.13 (GMM) Haas is targeting points finishes in its debut season, driver Esteban Gutierrez has confirmed. While F1’s newest teams like HRT, Caterham and Manor struggled more for mere survival than for points, the American outfit Haas is coming into F1 with a different model. The team is working closely with Ferrari, even taking on […]
Two post-race tests in 2016 – report
Jan.13 (GMM) F1 teams will test in the days after two European grands prix in 2016, it emerged on Wednesday. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said there will be four days of in-season testing this year, at Barcelona and Silverstone in the days immediately after the Spanish and British grands prix respectively. Last year, the […]
Details of changes for 2016 Ferrari car emerge
Jan.13 (GMM) In Italy and across the world, anticipation about Ferrari’s new car for 2016 and a potential championship bid is building. A five-day countdown at the Maranello team’s website has begun, with some speculating that the as-yet unnamed 2016 challenger will be unveiled on 18 January. That, however, would be unlikely, given that official […]
Sauber signs Red Bull engineer
Jan.13 (GMM) Sauber has appointed a replacement for departing long-time senior engineer Giampaolo Dall’Ara. Last week, we reported that Dall’Ara has resigned from the Swiss team after 15 years in order to accept an offer to work in the German touring car series DTM. And Sauber has now revealed that the identity of its new […]
Magnussen could replace Maldonado – newspaper
Jan.13 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen is reportedly in talks with Renault about replacing Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado in 2016. Having taken over Lotus, there has been speculation the French carmaker might be re-thinking the Enstone team’s contracts with Maldonado and Jolyon Palmer. But it was British rookie Palmer who was believed to be most in danger, as […]
Humiliating 2015 ‘good for McLaren’ – boss
Jan.13 (GMM) McLaren’s abysmal season was actually “good” for the team, boss Eric Boullier says. Following the hype of Honda’s return to F1 last year and the reunion of the formerly-dominant Anglo-Japanese collaboration, McLaren slumped to the horror low of just ninth at the end of the world championship campaign. Boss Boullier admits the humiliation […]
Manufacturers to supply cheaper F1 engines – report
Jan.12 (GMM) F1’s manufacturers look set to agree to reduce the price of their engines, even if they want to press ahead with the current ‘power unit’ formula beyond 2017. After the carmakers rejected Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt’s idea of parallel regulations for an independent engine supplier, they were given until January 15 to […]
Ferrari targeting race win in Australia – Marchionne
Jan.12 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has reiterated Ferrari’s winning target for 2016. Although it has emerged that development of the Maranello team’s 2016 car was delayed last year, president Marchionne said recently that immediate wins and the title are the only goals for the forthcoming championship campaign. It could be because of Ferrari’s recent separation from […]
Zetsche happy with Mercedes’ driver lineup
Jan.12 (GMM) Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche says he is perfectly happy with Mercedes’ F1 driver duo. Team boss Toto Wolff warned recently that if the bitterness of the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg spills into the team spirit, he would consider making a change. But Zetsche told Auto Express that the Briton and […]
Van der Garde returns to racing in 2016
Jan.12 (GMM) Giedo van der Garde is putting the Sauber scandal of 2015 behind him as he returns to racing this season. The Dutchman’s bid to race in formula one last year famously ended in the courts, but now De Telegraaf newspaper said he will contest the fabled 24 hour Le Mans race in 2016. […]