Apr.20 (GMM) Talks over the future of the embattled Italian grand prix at Monza are still taking place. That is the latest news from Angelo Sticchi Damiani, the president of the Italian automobile club Aci, amid the troubled negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone over a contract beyond 2016. “The negotiations for the grand prix at Monza […]
Kaltenborn not ruling out Alfa Romeo rumours
Apr.20 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn has joined Sergio Marchionne in not dismissing speculation Sauber might be snapped up by Alfa Romeo. Marchionne, the Fiat Chrysler and Ferrari president, has said multiple times recently that Alfa Romeo might rekindle its historic F1 foray in the not-too-distant future. The financially struggling Sauber team has been linked with those […]
Lifestyle not reason for Hamilton slump – Heidfeld
Apr.20 (GMM) Nick Heidfeld has hit out at speculation Lewis Hamilton’s full-speed celebrity lifestyle might be affecting his focus on formula one. The reigning triple world champion has seen his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg win the last six grands prix, triggering suggestions the German might finally be ready to win his first title in 2016. […]
Massa admits ‘three teams’ better than Williams
Apr.20 (GMM) Felipe Massa has acknowledged that Williams has fallen behind the top three teams in 2016. The independent British team finished third overall in both 2014 and 2015, the other two seasons in the new ‘power unit’ era. But after the third race of this year, in China, Brazilian driver Massa admitted: “I think […]
Vettel-Kvyat a ‘normal racing incident’ – Heidfeld
Apr.20 (GMM) More pundits have sided with Daniil Kvyat, after Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel slammed the young Russian following the Chinese grand prix. Kvyat, 21, held his ground amid Vettel’s verbal rebuke just before the podium ceremony in Shanghai, after the Red Bull driver’s first-corner passing move that preceded a collision between the two Ferraris. “A […]
Ericsson willing to swap cars with Nasr
Apr.19 (GMM) Marcus Ericsson says he is willing to swap chassis with struggling teammate Felipe Nasr ahead of the forthcoming Russian grand prix. Amid Sauber’s obvious financial troubles, Brazilian Nasr claims his personal performance struggle so far in 2016 is due to a problem with his chassis. “I am 100 per cent sure the car […]
Haryanto raising F1 backing by text message
Apr.19 (GMM) A novel campaign in Indonesia to keep Rio Haryanto on the 2016 grid has been launched. CNN Indonesia reports that the government has organised five telecommunications companies – Telkomsel, Indosat, Smartfren, XL Axiata and Tri – to help the rookie compile the last EUR 4.2 million he owes to Manor. Fans can text […]
Grosjean blames ‘adrenaline’ for Ericsson attack
Apr.19 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has blamed “adrenaline” on his post-race rants about rival Marcus Ericsson following the Chinese grand prix. Swede Ericsson, who drives for Sauber, blasted the “unprofessional” Frenchman Grosjean, who had called Ericsson names following a collision in Shanghai. “He said that I was an idiot, I’m blind — (Grosjean was) not behaving […]
Palmer performance ’embarrassing’ in China
Apr.19 (GMM) Jolyon Palmer’s performance in China last weekend was “embarrassing”. That is the view of Jason Watt, a former F3000 driver and pundit who scoffed at Briton Palmer finishing dead last in his Renault in Shanghai. “Kevin (Magnussen) really got the upper hand” in China, Watt, a Dane like Magnussen, told Ekstra Bladet newspaper. […]
2017 F1 tyre supply crisis averted
Apr.19 (GMM) A tyre supply crisis in formula one has been averted at the eleventh hour. As he departed Shanghai, Pirelli’s F1 chief Paul Hembery warned that unless an agreement for much more tyre testing ahead of the 2017 regulations was rubber-stamped immediately, the Italian company would pull out of the sport. But Italy’s La […]
Montagny thinks Ferrari fastest in China
Apr.19 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel was furious after the Chinese grand prix, but he actually has reason to smile. That is the view of former F1 driver Franck Montagny, even though the clashing red cars in Shanghai meant Vettel was disappointed with second place. But Montagny told the French newsmagazine Le Point: “I think Ferrari were […]
Kvyat tips Red Bull to catch Mercedes
Apr.19 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat is expecting Red Bull to challenge F1 pacesetter Mercedes later in 2016. The Russian surprised with his podium finish in China last weekend, the day after teammate Daniel Ricciardo qualified on the front row of the grid. “I believe the Red Bull is the best chassis on the grid,” works Renault […]
Montagny wonders about Hamilton ‘focus’
Apr.19 (GMM) Yet another expert is wondering if a loss of focus might explain Lewis Hamilton’s poor start to the 2016 season. Although reliability problems badly marred his weekend in Shanghai, the reigning world champion’s defeat to teammate Nico Rosberg was his sixth in succession. Hamilton is already 36 points behind the sister Mercedes, but […]
Rosberg ‘not thinking about new contract’ – Lauda
Apr.19 (GMM) Championship leader Nico Rosberg and Mercedes have played down rising speculation about the German driver’s expiring contract. Reports have suggested Rosberg is on pole position for a new deal beyond 2016, given his six straight wins. But Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda told Bild newspaper in Berlin: “Nico is not thinking about a […]
Hakkinen hopes Alonso has ‘patience’ to win again
Apr.19 (GMM) Mika Hakkinen hopes Fernando Alonso has the “patience” to wait for McLaren-Honda to succeed in formula one. Reigning back-to-back world champion Lewis Hamilton, Alonso’s 2007 teammate, grinned a clear “No!” on Monday when asked if he would feel good to be in the Spaniard’s current shoes. “It reminds me of the decision I […]
‘No reason’ Magnussen won’t stay at Renault
Apr.18 (GMM) Renault official Cyril Abiteboul says he has been impressed with the team’s 2016 race driver Kevin Magnussen. The young Dane joined the new works Renault project at Enstone this year having been dropped as McLaren’s reserve driver. “He is a natural leader,” Renault official Cyril Abiteboul told the Danish newspaper BT in China. […]
Renault could stop 2016 car development soon
Apr.18 (GMM) Renault is close to deciding to abandon development of its 2016 car, according to the Danish newspaper BT. It follows a mainly uncompetitive start to the season for the Enstone team, following the eleventh hour takeover of Lotus. “At the moment there will be small, aerodynamic improvements,” said Renault official Cyril Abiteboul in […]
Ericsson hits back at ‘unprofessional’ Grosjean
Apr.18 (GMM) Marcus Ericsson has hit back at “unprofessional” rival Romain Grosjean after the Chinese grand prix. After two dream points finishes for the brand new Haas team, Frenchman Grosjean endured a nightmare weekend in Shanghai. He slammed “ridiculous” Pirelli tyre pressures and, on the occasion of his 30th birthday on Sunday, collided with Marcus […]
Ferrari not backing Vettel’s Kvyat rebuke
Apr.18 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel’s bosses did not rally around the German after he pointed an angry finger at rival Daniil Kvyat in China. Vettel was furious that Red Bull youngster Kvyat’s first-corner charge had resulted in him needing to jink the Ferrari left and crash into the sister red car of Kimi Raikkonen. Vettel apologised […]
Marchionne not ruling out Sauber buyout by Alfa Romeo
Apr.18 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has not dismissed speculation the struggling Swiss team Sauber could become Alfa Romeo. Marchionne, the Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler president, has been saying repeatedly in the past weeks and months that Alfa Romeo could revive its historic place on the F1 grid. “This (F1) is the maximum technological expression of the […]