Sep.24 (GMM) Lotus’ financial woes were laid literally bare at Suzuka on Thursday. Crates of equipment were laying wet in the paddock, the hospitality unit was completely empty as the struggling team was locked out, and there were rumours the Mercedes engines for the black and gold cars were not yet even at Suzuka. Amidst […]
Mercedes car not designed for Singapore – Lowe
Sep.24 (GMM) Mercedes sounded a little wiser on Thursday about its mysterious performance slump of Singapore. Although just a few days of head-scratching and analysis have passed since arguably the team’s worst performance of the ‘power unit’ era, technical chief Paddy Lowe sounded sure Singapore was the culmination of a multitude of small factors. Firstly, […]
‘Always hope’ despite latest Schumacher reports
Sep.24 (GMM) The late Jules Bianchi’s father has urged the world not to lose hope about the recovery of F1 legend Michael Schumacher. Updates about the condition of the great seven time world champion have been scarce since he left hospital to return home to Switzerland more than a year ago. International reports in the […]
McLaren at Honda’s HQ for ‘crisis talks’
Sep.24 (GMM) McLaren is holding so-called ‘crisis talks’ ahead of struggling Honda’s home grand prix in Japan. This week, team boss Eric Boullier has been at Sakura, the Japanese carmaker’s F1 base, almost 500 kilometres from the Honda-owned Suzuka track. With Honda struggling so obviously, there is plenty to talk about. Writing for the Telegraph, […]
Lotus locked out of hospitality at Suzuka – report
Sep.24 (GMM) As the rest of the paddock prepared for the Japanese grand prix, Lotus was locked out of its hospitality unit at Suzuka. That was the claim of the French publication L’Equipe, as the embattled Enstone team’s next court date in London on Monday threatens to put them into administration. The buyout by Renault […]
Teams still arguing over Pirelli tyre test
Sep.24 (GMM) F1 teams are reportedly still arguing over whether Pirelli’s new ‘ultra soft’ compound for the 2016 season will be tested in Abu Dhabi after the November season finale. Paul Hembery said in Singapore that a two-day session at the Yas Marina circuit has been lined up, as Pirelli aims to introduce a fifth […]
Vettel ‘dangerous’ to Mercedes’ title charge – Lauda
Sep.24 (GMM) Ahead of the Japanese grand prix, Niki Lauda has admitted to some concern about Mercedes’ mysterious performance slump just days ago in Singapore. Theories – some wild – about the reason for the usually-dominant German team’s slip behind Ferrari and Red Bull are still circulating, as it is believed even Mercedes is still […]
Pirelli, Hamilton reject Singapore conspiracies
Sep.24 (GMM) Pirelli on Thursday moved to dismiss a conspiracy theory about Mercedes’ mysterious loss of performance last week in Singapore. The world champions’ sudden slump had tongues wagging in the paddock, with most seasoned observers agreeing that it was – at the very least – strange. “In all my time in formula one I […]
Bianchi’s father cannot watch Japanese GP
Sep.24 (GMM) One year on, as F1 returns to the scene of the first ultimately-fatal crash since Ayrton Senna’s in 1994, Jules Bianchi’s father admitted he will not be watching the Japanese grand prix. “No,” Philippe Bianchi told France’s RMC in an exclusive interview. “Since the accident, I have not watched the races. “I was […]
Red Bull pressuring Ferrari for rescue engine deal
Sep.23 (GMM) Red Bull is stepping up its F1 quit threat by putting pressure on the sport’s authorities, and potential supplier Ferrari. At present, the energy drink camp is in the throes of divorce from Renault, but Mercedes’ Toto Wolff has confirmed that the German carmaker is not interested in bailing out Red Bull and […]
Hakkinen sympathises with Mercedes’ Singapore slump
Sep.23 (GMM) Mika Hakkinen says Mercedes’ performance problem of Singapore is perhaps not as unique as it seemed. The otherwise-dominant team’s sudden slump on the floodlit streets was fuel for F1’s usual conspiracy theorists, with some surmising that Pirelli may have supplied the ‘wrong tyres’ as payback for the Monza pressure saga. “I don’t believe […]
Honda could supply Toro Rosso in 2016 – report
Sep.23 (GMM) A big talking point heading into the Japanese grand prix is whether Red Bull will be able to secure a new engine deal. It is now known that the energy drink stable, also including the junior team Toro Rosso, is splitting with Renault after the Abu Dhabi finale in November. It could be […]
Sutil expecting poignant return to Suzuka
Sep.23 (GMM) F1’s return to Suzuka will be particularly poignant for Adrian Sutil. Last year in fading light and on a damp track, talented Frenchman Jules Bianchi slid off the challenging Japanese circuit and into a recovery vehicle. He never regained consciousness, and ten months later, Bianchi died. The vehicle he struck was recovering the […]
Surer understands if Button quits F1
Sep.23 (GMM) Former F1 driver Marc Surer says he can understand rumours Jenson Button is ready to call time on his 16-year formula one career. It is expected the Briton will make his announcement this weekend at his ‘second home race’ in Japan. “In his place I would have already thrown in the towel,” Surer […]
Prost not buying Renault works team stake
Sep.23 (GMM) Alain Prost has played down reports he is set to return to F1 as a team owner. The paddock grapevine has suggested that as Renault looks to acquire Lotus, the deal will involve Prost stepping up his current ambassadorial role to actually buy into the Enstone team. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport says […]
Hakkinen backs ‘tough’ Verstappen after team order
Sep.23 (GMM) Mika Hakkinen says he is increasingly impressed with F1’s teenage sensation Max Verstappen. The young Dutchman was back in the headlines after the Singapore grand prix, not only after fighting through the field from dead last but also for defying Toro Rosso’s team orders with a loud and clear “No!” “No driver likes […]
Hamilton has ‘no confidence’ of Suzuka comeback
Sep.23 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton was giving mixed messages this week in the wake of Mercedes’ mysterious Singapore slump. The otherwise-dominant German squad was suddenly slower not only than Ferrari but also Red Bull on the floodlit streets, and it doesn’t know why. “Singapore was a strange weekend but I’m chilled about it,” Hamilton was quoted […]
Mercedes must ‘think about’ team orders – Wolff
Sep.23 (GMM) After Mercedes’ mysterious performance slump of Singapore, boss Toto Wolff is no longer ruling out team orders. Earlier, Wolff said he would continue to allow the silver-clad drivers to duel freely at the front, while Nico Rosberg insisted he is not worried Lewis Hamilton’s championship lead would lead to a team pecking order. […]
Button admits announcement about future imminent
Sep.22 (GMM) Jenson Button has admitted he has made a decision about his future in formula one. Multiple British newspapers on Monday claimed F1’s veteran of 16 consecutive seasons is preparing to announce his retirement ahead of this weekend’s Japanese grand prix. McLaren has an option on the 2009 world champion’s services for 2016, but […]
Grosjean hints Lotus exit for Haas ‘risky’
Sep.22 (GMM) Even with a takeover by the French carmaker Renault now imminent, Romain Grosjean appears destined for the Lotus exit. It is believed the Frenchman, despite earlier gushing about the prospect of a Renault works team, has accepted an offer to spearhead the new Haas-Ferrari lineup next year, almost certainly with Esteban Gutierrez as […]