Apr.11 (GMM) Manor looks set to put its ‘107 per cent’ headache in the past. That is the claim of Roberto Merhi, who said the struggling former Marussia team is now taking “giant steps” after a stuttering and controversial start to its season. “I am very satisfied with the work we have done,” the rookie […]
Williams slams Force India over wind tunnel jibe
Apr.11 (GMM) Williams’ Pat Symonds has slammed Force India for dismissing wind tunnels as “dinosaur technology”. Red Bull has controversially proposed that wind tunnels be banned from formula one. It did not receive widespread support, except from the Force India deputy chief Bob Fernley, who said in Malaysia two weeks ago that F1 should move […]
Red Bull eyes F1 television rights – rumour
Apr.11 (GMM) Rumours continue to swirl around the future of Red Bull in formula one. The former world champions are struggling so far in 2015, pointing fingers at engine supplier Renault but also grappling with chassis issues. At the same time, the energy drink company is threatening to pull out of the sport. The threats […]
Verstappen ‘more Dutch than Belgian’ – father
Apr.11 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father has hit back at claims the 17-year-old is really Belgian. The issue hit the headlines a week ago, when the Toro Rosso rookie’s mother Sophie Kumpen said the Belgian-born driver cannot apply for Dutch nationality until he turns 18 in September. “In the meantime, he is Belgian and nothing else,” […]
Quirky Chinese F1 enthusiasm spills over
Apr.11 (GMM) The quirkiness of the Chinese fans spilled over at the scene of the 2015 race in Shanghai. Even before travelling to the sprawling city, world champion Lewis Hamilton was bracing for the unique fan experience. “I don’t know how they know but from the moment we land at the airport they know we’re […]
F1 would thrive with ’20 Mercedes engines’ – Lauda
Apr.11 (GMM) Niki Lauda has lashed out at Mercedes’ struggling engine rivals, daring them to quit formula one. Although Ferrari has closed the gap in 2015, rival manufacturers Renault and Honda are still struggling to match Mercedes under the new turbo V6 rules. It has led to calls to scrap the hybrid engine formula altogether, […]
McLaren-Honda ready to race away from Q1
Apr.11 (GMM) McLaren-Honda might already be leaping into the F1 midfield. Initially dead-last in 2015, upbeat members of the new Anglo-Japanese collaboration have insisted much of the progress made in recent weeks has been invisible publicly. But the cat might be out of the bag in China. “I was looking for Alonso’s name in the […]
Ferrari plays down title hopes
Apr.11 (GMM) Ferrari’s technical boss has played down hopes the fabled Maranello marque might already be ready to charge for the title. Sebastian Vettel won in Malaysia, is just three points behind Mercedes’ championship leader Lewis Hamilton, and teammate Kimi Raikkonen was second fastest in China on Friday. “That was very surprising,” 1997 world champion […]
Hamilton ‘not worth $200 million’ – Rosberg
Apr.11 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s monetary value has a limit, according to Nico Rosberg. While the German has struggled so far in 2015, reigning world champion Hamilton is leading the 2015 standings and on top form. Off-track, however, Hamilton’s season has been less smooth as he handles his own negotiations for a new Mercedes contract beyond […]
Lauda tells Rosberg to ‘sort himself out’
Apr.11 (GMM) Niki Lauda has urged Nico Rosberg to “sort himself out” after a mediocre start to the 2015 season. German Rosberg fought teammate Lewis Hamilton all the way to the 2014 title finale, but so far this year has conspicuously lagged behind the new reigning champion. “Yes, Nico is definitely a little bit behind […]
Lotus-linked company ‘in liquidation’ – reports
Apr.10 (GMM) There are reports of financial trouble at Lotus’ team owners. The Luxembourg newspaper L’Essentiel reports that Gravity Sport, the driver management arm of Lotus’ team owner Genii, was placed in voluntary administration at the request of its minority shareholder. The minor shareholder has a 33 per cent stake, with the rest held by […]
Toro Rosso car ‘as good as Williams’ – Sainz
Apr.10 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says Toro Rosso must capitalise on its strong start to the 2015 season. The Spaniard, and his fellow rookie teammate Max Verstappen, have had a strong start as they currently sitting ahead of McLaren, Lotus, Force India and even the senior team Red Bull in the constructors’ standings. Not only that, […]
Vettel doubted Ferrari seat offer – Arrivabene
Apr.10 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene has admitted Sebastian Vettel was not sure last year if Ferrari’s offer of a race seat was genuine. Ultimately, the former quadruple world champion’s switch from Red Bull has been a fairytale for both sides, as Vettel delivered victory in Malaysia amid shades of the ultra-successful Michael Schumacher era. According to […]
Rosberg ‘up to date’ with Hamilton contract talks
Apr.10 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has joined the rest of the F1 world in tracking the saga of world champion Lewis Hamilton’s contract negotiations. “I am keeping up to date,” the Mercedes driver told Germany’s Die Welt newspaper, “as we are talking about who will be in the garage next to me next year.” Hardly anyone […]
Palmer at Lotus to ‘finance team budget’ – Grosjean
Apr.10 (GMM) As Romain Grosjean sat out Friday practice early in Shanghai, he said he understands the financial pressures on F1 teams. Temporarily in his Lotus cockpit in China is Briton Jolyon Palmer, the reigning GP2 champion and son of the former grand prix driver Jonathan. According to sources, it will not be 24-year-old Palmer’s […]
Mateschitz confirms Red Bull quit threat
Apr.10 (GMM) Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz has confirmed the threat to pull his energy drink company out of formula one. His right-hand man and fellow Austrian, Dr Helmut Marko, made the original warning after the Australian grand prix, saying the current rules are preventing the team from ever catching up with its pacesetting rivals. […]
Hamilton questions F1’s ‘green’ credentials
Apr.10 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has questioned F1’s need to boast its environmental credentials through the engine regulations. Partly to portray a ‘green’ image, the sport last year switched to fuel-restricted, 1.6 litre turbo V6 engines, and Mercedes immediately sped into the lead. Hamilton is now the reigning world champion and 2015 points leader, but he […]
Hamilton admits contract saga ‘a pain’
Apr.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s increasingly farcical contract saga looks set to continue. The reigning world champion has been saying for weeks that talks with Mercedes about extending the deal beyond 2015 are finally coming to an end. Reports have suggested a new contract, estimated to be worth up to a staggering $50 million a year […]
Renault can catch up without rule change
Apr.9 (GMM) Renault insists it will not argue for a change of rules to help it catch up with F1’s pacesetters. After Mercedes utterly dominated last year as the new turbo V6 era began, Ferrari has demonstrated already in 2015 that it has caught up. “I hope we have a race with those guys (Ferrari),” […]
Rosberg denies need for ‘number 2’ role
Apr.9 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has denied he will slip into a ‘number 2’ role in 2015. Despite putting up a hard fight against his teammate last year, the German has struggled to match reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton so far in 2015. Not only that, Mercedes’ previous dominance was challenged by Ferrari two weeks ago […]