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 […]
Ferrari should give engines to Red Bull – Fiorio
Sep.22 (GMM) Cesare Fiorio, the former Ferrari team boss, says that if he was still running the Maranello marque, he would supply engines to Red Bull. As it is splitting with Renault, the former quadruple world champions have warned that unless Ferrari agrees to release a supply of power units for 2016, Red Bull and […]
Renault’s Prost hints Grosjean leaving Enstone
Sep.22 (GMM) Alain Prost has hinted he knows that Romain Grosjean is departing Lotus. As Renault ambassador, the F1 legend is tipped to take a leading role and perhaps also a shareholding once the French carmaker’s Lotus buyout is complete. French countryman Grosjean had earlier enthused at the prospect of Prost’s return to the pitwall […]
Italy hails Vettel-Alonso exchange ‘masterpiece’
Sep.22 (GMM) 13 races and 4 victories into Sebastian Vettel’s first year in red, the passionate, fickle and partisan Italian press could not be happier. “When you consider that he earns less,” La Repubblica said after the Singapore grand prix, “the exchange of Alonso for Vettel was a masterpiece.” The gushing praise comes after Vettel’s […]
Audi rejects latest Red Bull rumours
Sep.22 (GMM) Audi has denied reports it has decided to enter formula one in 2018. Citing sources close to the Ingolstadt board, Germany’s Auto Bild said on Monday that the VW brand Audi will collaborate with Red Bull, whose split from existing engine partner Renault is now almost complete. The report said that, in the […]
Perez set for 2016 Lotus switch – Gazzetta
Sep.22 (GMM) Sergio Perez is set to be unveiled as the second Lotus driver for 2016, Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport is reporting on Tuesday. Even though the Renault buyout is said to be imminent, it is believed Frenchman Romain Grosjean is departing the Enstone team for Haas-Ferrari. At the same time, Mexican Perez was […]
Verstappen thought of father as he defied team orders
Sep.21 (GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted to thinking about his forceful father when Toro Rosso issued team orders during the Singapore grand prix. Told to let his teammate Carlos Sainz past so that the Spaniard on fresher tyres could try to attack the car ahead, 17-year-old Verstappen instantly shouted back “No!” “He was asked four […]
Mercedes admits close to Manor engine deal
Sep.21 (GMM) Mercedes is now all but confirming that it will begin to supply engines to the British backmarker Manor from 2016. As well as running its works team, the German marque already supplies its industry-leading ‘power unit’ to customers Williams, Force India and Lotus. But with Lotus set to be bought by Renault, Mercedes […]
Audi to enter F1 with Red Bull – report
Sep.21 (GMM) Audi’s Ingolstadt board has given the green light to formula one, the German publication Audi Bild claimed exclusively on Monday. Actually, the latest rumours about the Volkswagen Group putting together a F1 foray for one of its brands was broken at the weekend by Eddie Jordan, the former F1 team owner who as […]