Jul.30 (GMM) Discontent is brewing over F1’s proposed calendar for 2016. After the most recent meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, the FIA declared that a 21-date provisional schedule for next year “was approved”. Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn, however, expressed concerns that stretching beyond an agreed limit of 20 races will require “additional staff […]
Button backs Montoya’s plan to improve F1
Jul.30 (GMM) Jenson Button has backed former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya’s proposal to spice up the sport “straight away”. Asked about F1’s high-profile struggle to maintain its position at the very pinnacle of motor sport, former McLaren and Williams driver Montoya suggested that tyre and brake temperature sensors should simply be banned. The Colombian, […]
Vettel ‘a threat’ to Mercedes’ title – Hakkinen
Jul.30 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is in the hunt for the 2015 title. That is the claim of former double world champion Mika Hakkinen, after Ferrari’s Vettel broke through for an unexpected second victory of the season in Hungary. It means the German’s gap to Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg is now just 21 points, while just another […]
Baku welcomes summer date on 2016 calendar
Jul.30 (GMM) Organisers of the inaugural grand prix in the Azerbaijan capital Baku have welcomed their summer race date on the 2016 calendar. The Baku race, scheduled to take place on city streets in the former Soviet state, has controversially pushed the F1 schedule over its limit of 20 grands prix. Race chief Arif Rahimov, […]
Monza takes step towards securing GP
Jul.29 (GMM) Monza has reportedly taken a major step towards securing the future of its historic Italian grand prix. Local media reports say the Senate has belatedly agreed to make EUR 20 million in funding for the F1 race and the modernisation of the Monza circuit exempt from tax. “It is an important signal that […]
Rossi hints at Haas talks
Jul.29 (GMM) GP2 driver Alexander Rossi is not ruling out a move into formula one next year with the new American team Haas. The closely Ferrari-aligned Haas has played down reports it categorically wants an American in the cockpit, insisting that a pair of drivers with experience would be ideal for its first season on […]
Ferrari to let Raikkonen ‘option’ expire – report
Jul.29 (GMM) Ferrari looks set to allow the 2016 ‘option’ in Kimi Raikkonen’s current contract to lapse. Roger Benoit, the veteran correspondent for the Swiss newspaper Blick, says that if Ferrari simply wants to retain the Finn by extending his deal, it must decide to do so before July 31 — Friday. But team boss […]
Wolff defends Hamilton after dire Hungary GP
Jul.29 (GMM) For the first time in the ‘power unit’ era otherwise dominated by the German team, Mercedes “did not deserve” a podium finish in Hungary. That is the admission of team boss Toto Wolff, even though he defended the erratic driving of reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton was slammed by the British press […]
Button linked with Top Gear presenter role
Jul.29 (GMM) Jenson Button has been linked with a shock move from the F1 grid to the television presenter’s chair. The Daily Mail reports that the veteran grand prix driver could be part of the new lineup for the popular British motoring programme Top Gear. Earlier this year, the BBC sacked Top Gear’s controversial presenter […]
F1 would welcome Mosley back – Ecclestone
Jul.29 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone thinks F1 is too democratic. “The trouble is that formula one today is too much of a democracy. And I’m a little bit against democracy,” the sport’s so-called ‘supremo’ told the Spanish F1 broadcaster Movistar. For years, the now 84-year-old Briton ruled formula one hand-in-hand with the similarly autocratic Max Mosley. […]
Singapore tweaks set to boost overtaking
Jul.29 (GMM) A tweak to the layout of Singapore’s F1 street circuit could boost overtaking. That is the view of track engineer Jonathan Giesecke, who has overseen the tweak that was made due to city enhancements in the area around turns 11 to 13 of the highly-popular F1 night race layout. The local Channel Newsasia […]
Renault close to deciding F1 future – Ecclestone
Jul.29 (GMM) Among Renault’s top brass, it is decision time. That is the claim of the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, reporting that CEO Carlos Ghosn, Alain Prost and Cyril Abiteboul all met in Paris on Tuesday. “Renault are close to a decision,” said F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. “Formula one is still good for […]
Russia GP promoter buoyed by Kvyat podium
Jul.28 (GMM) The promoter of the Russian grand prix is hoping Daniil Kvyat can challenge for victory at Sochi later this year. Earlier in July, reports circulated that the Sochi race this year could collapse as organisers hold out for a 64 million euro government bailout amid a deep economic crisis. But race promoter Sergey […]
Mercedes ‘still strongest’ despite Vettel win – Ferrari
Jul.28 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen may have moved a step closer to keeping his Ferrari race seat for 2016. Corriere dello Sport, however, stands by its earlier report that Ferrari’s contract buyout deal with Williams to secure Valtteri Bottas’ services is already done. For his part, Finn Bottas is glad the summer break has arrived. “I […]
Mercedes worried about bad race starts
Jul.28 (GMM) Mercedes is worried a developing problem with its race starts could begin to dent the team’s cruise to the 2015 world championships. At Silverstone, a poor getaway for the German team allowed Williams to fight for victory, and now in Hungary the issue resurfaced and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel went on to win. Team […]
Red Bull teams eye Mercedes, Honda power for 2016 – report
Jul.28 (GMM) Red Bull is not expecting its surge in form to stay on track beyond the Hungarian grand prix. Amid an uncompetitive season so far for the former champions, both Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo were on the podium at the twisty Hungaroring track. But Dr Helmut Marko said: “Sadly it will not be […]
Italian PM invited to fight for Monza
Jul.28 (GMM) The Italian prime minister could add more muscle to Monza’s fight to retain its historic formula one race. With Bernie Ecclestone and race organisers at a stalemate in their negotiations for a new contract, it has emerged that the local Confidustria (industry group) and the Lombardy region are campaigning for Monza. And now […]
Force India denies trading safety for speed
Jul.28 (GMM) Force India has denied compromising safety in the close fight for fifth in this year’s constructors’ world championship. At present, the Silverstone team holds the coveted fifth place, but only by mere points ahead of Lotus and Toro Rosso. Force India introduced a more competitive ‘B spec’ car at Silverstone recently, but in […]
Sainz plays down favouritism ‘controversy’
Jul.28 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has played down his anger with Toro Rosso, after making comments suggesting the team may be favouring Max Verstappen. The Spanish rookie admitted he was “angry” with the Red Bull junior team after Hungary, as Verstappen was called in first for pitstop service even though it was Sainz who was ahead […]
Force India eyes curbs after ‘B’ car failures
Jul.27 (GMM) Fingers were being pointed at the Hungaroring’s curbs after Force India suffered a second failure of the weekend with its new ‘B’-spec car. The Silverstone based team was buoyed by the early promise of the heavily modified machine, until Sergio Perez suffered his spectacular roll-over shunt in Friday practice. As a precaution, teammate […]