Oct.11 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is now on the brink of wrapping up the 2015 world championships with four races still to run. And a late stewards’ call after the Russian grand prix that demoted Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen means that Mercedes has secured the constructors’ crown for the second consecutive time. Sochi winner Hamilton’s teammate Nico […]
F1 to meet to consider ‘token’ rule change for 2016
Oct.11 (GMM) A meeting that could result in a change to the engine development ‘tokens’ regulations for 2016 will take place in the coming days. The get-together comes amid concerns that Ferrari, but particularly Renault and Honda, have struggled to close the gap on dominant Mercedes this season under the existing regime. In 2015, the […]
Putin to attend Sochi race on Sunday
Oct.11 (GMM) Controversial president Vladimir Putin will attend the Russian grand prix at Sochi on Sunday, the state-owned Tass news agency reports. Adding that Putin plans to meet with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, a Kremlin spokesman confirmed: “The president will attend these (F1) competitions.” Tass said Putin has met with Abu Dhabi’s crown […]
Red Bull crisis hurtling towards F1 exit
Oct.10 (GMM) As the Red Bull engine crisis continues to unfurl, F1 seems increasingly destined to lose the energy drink company. As almost unprecedentedly-frenzied negotiations took place in the Sochi paddock on Friday, every iteration had its moment — talks involving Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault, and all with the involvement now of Bernie Ecclestone. “There […]
Verstappen eyes top team ‘third car’ if Red Bull quits
Oct.10 (GMM) Even amid Red Bull’s ever-deepening engine crisis, Max Verstappen’s father is not very worried. The energy drink company could be set to pull its four cars from the grid ahead of the 2016 season, throwing into doubt the future of the stable’s drivers. But up and down the paddock, very few are concerned […]
More success will drive Mercedes’ costs down – Wolff
Oct.10 (GMM) Continuing success will drive Mercedes towards a clean balance sheet in formula one. That is the claim of team boss Toto Wolff, after it emerged recently that the Brackley team recorded a more than $100 million loss as it raced to the titles last year. That loss is despite premium sponsorship deals with […]
Sainz ‘calm’ as airlifted after Sochi crash – manager
Oct.10 (GMM) Carlos Sainz’s manager had good news about the condition of the Toro Rosso driver following a big crash at Sochi in Saturday practice. The session was stopped during nervous moments in the final session before qualifying for the Russian grand prix, when images showed that the 21-year-old’s car was buried deep under tec-pro […]
Honda finally making progress with upgraded engine
Oct.10 (GMM) Struggling Honda appears to finally be making progress with its F1 power unit. Fernando Alonso was at the controls of a new specification of the Japanese carmaker’s turbo V6 at Sochi on Friday, making use of the final four in-season development ‘tokens’. Trackside observers noted that Alonso’s Honda had a notably different engine […]
Russia determined to have long F1 future
Oct.10 (GMM) Russia appears determined to establish a long-term future on the F1 calendar. The race at Sochi, a resort city on the Black Sea coast, was initially controversial amid the Vladimir Putin regime, where the circuit was built on the site of the 2014 winter olympics. But talks are now taking place between authorities […]
Manor seat not guaranteed for Wehrlein – Wolff
Oct.10 (GMM) Manor’s new engine deal does not guarantee Pascal Wehrlein a race seat with the British backmarker. That is the claim of Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, who recently signed off the deal to supply the German marque’s title-winning ‘power unit’ to Manor next year. Many believe it is a sure sign that Mercedes’ […]
Manor hits back at Alonso’s ‘aeroplane’ jibe
Oct.10 (GMM) F1 backmarker Manor hit back with a cheeky jibe on Friday following an insult made by double world champion Fernando Alonso. Spaniard Alonso was asked by the British broadcaster Sky at Sochi if he had any concerns that the new engine deals between Manor and Mercedes, and Haas and Ferrari, could mean that […]
Mercedes offered ‘cheap engine’ to rivals
Oct.10 (GMM) Mercedes had no takers when it offered a more affordable version of its title-winning power unit to potential customers last year. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims the German camp proposed to sell the unit, based on the championship-winning turbo V6, to customers for EUR 10 million. That is reportedly EUR 7 million […]
Uncertainty still hanging over Lotus
Oct.9 (GMM) Renault has signed a letter of intent, but that does not mean life at Lotus suddenly became comfortable. The Enstone team refuted rumours that it was locked out of its hospitality area at Sochi earlier this week, but a source told us: “Some of our equipment arrived late. “We’re here, we’re ready to […]
Mateschitz’s October deadline ‘good’ – Ricciardo
Oct.9 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has backed the October deadline set by his boss to end Red Bull’s current engine crisis. If the deadline comes and goes without the energy drink company finding engines for its two F1 teams, Red Bull and Toro Rosso will have to pull out of the sport. But at least the […]
F1 seat without sponsor was ‘a miracle’ – Merhi
Oct.9 (GMM) Roberto Merhi says he has not given up on remaining in F1 next year, even though four drivers are clamouring at the two seats at Manor. The Spaniard is back at the wheel for Sochi, but that is only because new paying driver Californian Alexander Rossi has reverted back to his GP2 title […]
Nasr aims to end Sauber struggle with new engineer
Oct.9 (GMM) Felipe Nasr has begun working with a new race engineer. After an impressive start to his F1 career with Sauber this year, the Brazilian rookie entered a slump characterised by recurring brake problems and a consistent struggle to match resurgent teammate Marcus Ericsson. Brazil’s UOL Grande Premio reports that Nasr, 23, has now […]
Button defends Alonso after ‘GP2 engine’ outbursts
Oct.9 (GMM) Jenson Button has defended his McLaren-Honda teammate, following Fernando Alonso’s controversial radio outbursts at Suzuka. Spaniard Alonso, who called Honda’s “embarrassing” power unit akin to a “GP2 engine”, explained at Sochi that he was simply “frustrated” to be passed by cars before the braking zone. He also called for a ban on F1’s […]
Ecclestone and Mackenzie ‘might buy F1’ – report
Oct.9 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has now stepped away from his earlier claim that the sale of formula one is imminent. Earlier this week, the F1 supremo indicated that he thinks one of three interested parties will take over from current owner CVC “very shortly”. In the wake of the comments, the Financial Times reported that […]
2015 Ferrari engine ‘acceptable’ for Toro Rosso
Oct.9 (GMM) The talk in the Sochi paddock on Friday is all about Red Bull. And the rumours are developing by the minute. One is that Ferrari has now ruled out working with the premier crisis-struck energy drink owned team in 2016, even though it is prepared to offer a 2015-spec engine to sister squad […]
Kvyat not ruling out Renault reconciliation for Red Bull
Oct.9 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat on Friday would not dismiss paddock speculation that Red Bull and Renault could call off their impending divorce. As the energy drink outfit’s engine crisis develops at speed ahead of the Russian grand prix, the latest rumour is that – with the Mercedes and Ferrari options increasingly sidelined – talks to […]