Jul.25 (GMM) A week after Jules Bianchi’s death, the tragedy was still front and centre on Friday when Sergio Perez rolled over in his Force India in Hungary practice. The Mexican was “lucky to be alive” after the “horror crash”, Britain’s Express newspaper dramatically exclaimed. The Times called the crash and the completely unharmed Perez’s […]
Ball in Williams’ court over Bottas move – manager
Jul.25 (GMM) The ball is in Williams’ court regarding a potential move for Valtteri Bottas. That is the claim of the Finn’s manager Didier Coton, amid swirling speculation about the future of the talented 25-year-old driver. Bottas himself admits that the rumours, linking him with a sensational move to replace countryman Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari, […]
Hungary GP set to stay on F1 calendar
Jul.25 (GMM) The Hungarian grand prix looks set to stay on the F1 calendar. This year, the Hungaroring near Budapest is celebrating its 30th year on the schedule, after race organisers and Bernie Ecclestone took F1 behind the Iron Curtain for the first time in 1986. And now, it emerges that organisers have entered negotiations […]
Only Bottas to get new front wing in Hungary
Jul.24 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas will be running the only version of a new front wing on his Williams in Hungary. In some teams, when only a single copy of a new technical innovation is available at a grand prix, the driver that gets to use it is often selected by the toss of a coin. […]
Lotus late to pay for Pirelli tyres in Hungary
Jul.24 (GMM) More supplier problems struck the Lotus team in Hungary on Friday. Just before the first practice session, rumours began to circulate that Pirelli had not released tyres to the Enstone based team. Lotus, linked with an imminent buyout by the French carmaker Renault, hit the headlines for similar reasons recently, when transmission specialists […]
‘Document’ helped calm Hamilton-Rosberg rivalry
Jul.22 (GMM) A piece of paper helped to calm the situation between warring teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Alone with their dominance in 2014, the pair’s title battle spiralled out of control. But although they are still fighting head-to-head in a close championship contest again in 2015, the waters have appeared much calmer so […]
Teams set to scrap behind Mercedes in Hungary
Jul.22 (GMM) Williams might have to take a back seat in Hungary this weekend, despite dicing with Mercedes for victory last time out. And for its part, Ferrari is hoping Silverstone was just a downwards blip on its trajectory of 2015 resurgence, and that softer tyres and hotter weather will favour the SF15-T package. At […]
Early season criticism ‘not pleasant’ – Kvyat
Jul.22 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat has admitted to some relief that his difficulties of early 2015 are now behind him. After stepping up from his rookie season with Toro Rosso to the big team Red Bull for 2015, the young Russian initially struggled to match Daniel Ricciardo. It triggered speculation the energy drink stable might oust […]
F1 scraps in-season testing for 2016
Jul.22 (GMM) F1 has scrapped in-season testing for 2016, Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport reports. And in June, the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport revealed that Jerez had been dropped as a venue for winter testing next year. It said the pre-season schedule for 2016 has been trimmed for cost reasons from three to […]
Mourning drivers to carry Bianchi message
Jul.22 (GMM) Mourning F1 drivers will carry on their cars the ‘CiaoJules’ hashtag tribute to their fallen rival Jules Bianchi this weekend in Hungary. The collective tribute comes in the wake of the talented Frenchman’s tragic death last Friday, nine months after falling into a coma following his 2014 Suzuka crash. No less than 36 […]
Win risk for smaller teams ‘unacceptable’ – Lopez
Jul.22 (GMM) Williams finds itself in the same predicament as Lotus, when the Enstone team tried to push towards the very top of formula one. That is the claim of Gerard Lopez, the low-profile-in-2015 Lotus team owner, who is currently in the midst of Renault buyout rumours and legal trouble with unpaid suppliers. However, Lopez […]
Tost urges Renault to improve performance
Jul.21 (GMM) Toro Rosso chief Franz Tost is hoping Renault can now add much-needed performance to its 2015 ‘power unit’. As the season reaches its mid-point, experts increasingly agree that the James Key-designed STR10, despite the team’s modest budget, is one of the very best chassis on the grid this year. However, the Red Bull […]
Lotus reaches agreement with supplier – report
Jul.21 (GMM) Lotus has swerved being ordered into administration by reaching an agreement with a disgruntled supplier. Earlier in July, a spokesperson for London’s Companies Court confirmed reports that an order to ‘wind up’ the Enstone team had been brought by a creditor. It was confirmed that the unpaid supplier is Xtrac, a transmission specialist. […]
Rookies deny F1 now ‘easy’
Jul.21 (GMM) Toro Rosso’s young rookies have hit back at claims formula one is increasingly “easy”. With the unprecedentedly-young Max Verstappen, 17, and 20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Sainz thriving this year despite their inexperience, many critics see it as a sure sign the pinnacle of motor sport is not as difficult as it once was. But […]
F1 stars shed tears to farewell Bianchi
Jul.21 (GMM) F1’s stars let tears flow on Tuesday as their friend and rival Jules Bianchi was laid to rest. From world champion Lewis Hamilton to F1 legend Alain Prost, representatives of the pinnacle of motor sport turned out in numbers to say goodbye to the talented Frenchman. Pastor Maldonado and Felipe Massa were locked […]
Allison vows to ‘finish my work’ at Ferrari
Jul.21 (GMM) James Allison has hit back at rumours he might be the victim of Ferrari’s new slump. Last week, as the Italian press analysed the apparent dip in Ferrari’s 2015 resurgence, eyes began to shift to technical boss Allison’s unextended contract. It was claimed the Briton’s deal runs out in less than a year, […]
Rosberg sure he can win 2015 title
Jul.21 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is sure he can keep pushing teammate Lewis Hamilton in the fight for the 2015 title. Last year, the Mercedes pair had a close duel for spoils, with Hamilton emerging with his second career title and a palpable boost in confidence. The Briton appeared to carry that form into this season […]
F1 drivers to attend Bianchi’s funeral
Jul.21 (GMM) A number of current F1 drivers will travel to Nice on Tuesday for the funeral of their fallen rival Jules Bianchi. Germany’s Sport Bild claims that Sebastian Vettel, Felipe Massa, Nico Rosberg and Nico Hulkenberg will be among the late 25-year-old’s closest friends and family as they farewell the former Marussia driver. The […]
Alonso not guilty of ‘bad decisions’ – Sainz
Jul.20 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has defended his countryman and mentor Fernando Alonso, amid claims ‘bad decisions’ have marred the Spaniard’s F1 career. Like many of his peers, rookie Sainz considers Alonso the very best driver on the grid. “With Fernando, you know he will do a perfect qualifying, a perfect start, a perfect first lap, […]
Williams signs Massa for 2016 season – report
Jul.20 (GMM) Williams has taken up its contract ‘option’ on Felipe Massa for the 2016 season. That is the claim of Diario Motorsport, a specialist Portuguese publication that in 2013 also correctly reported that the Brazilian driver was set to switch to the Grove team from Ferrari. Now, hot on the heels of speculation Massa’s […]