Jul.26 (GMM) Eric Boullier says he is not thrilled with the further reduction of testing in formula one. For 2016, the official pre-season programme has been cut from 12 days to just 8, while in-season testing has been axed altogether. Asked if he is happy with that, McLaren-Honda team boss Boullier answered: “I don’t think […]
Pirelli eyeing ‘super-super soft’ tyre for 2016
Jul.25 (GMM) A tyre even softer than Pirelli’s so-called ‘super soft’ looks set to make its bow in 2016. As the Italian marque competes with applicant Michelin for the 2017-2019 F1 contract, Paul Hembery said Pirelli is planning some improvements next year. 2016 could turn out to be Pirelli’s last season on the grid, even […]
Schumacher plight ‘very sad’ – Montezemolo
Jul.25 (GMM) Luca di Montezemolo has credited F1 legend Michael Schumacher as he was inducted into the Automotive ‘Hall of Fame’ in Detroit. “I don’t know if I would have received this award without him,” said the former long-time Ferrari president, according to Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. “It is dedicated to him, because he […]
Merhi hoping to finish season with Manor
Jul.25 (GMM) Roberto Merhi is now hoping to make it all the way to the end of the season with Manor. Until now, the Spanish rookie has been on a race-by-race deal with the struggling former Marussia team, as Manor left the door open to a driver with much-needed sponsor backing. One candidate has now […]
Holding pattern emerges as Renault decides F1 future
Jul.25 (GMM) Many in the paddock are in a holding pattern as Renault’s future in formula one remains unclear. After Lotus was almost left without tyres to use in Hungary practice, it became clear that the Enstone team is waiting to pay overdue bills while team buyout talks with Renault, the French carmaker, are taking […]
Former F1 doctor battling cancer – report
Jul.25 (GMM) Former McLaren doctor Aki Hintsa is reportedly battling cancer. The 56-year-old Finn stepped away from F1 at the end of 2013, although he continued to treat various current drivers at his clinic in Geneva. Now, the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat reports that Dr Hintsa has begun a fight against cancer, after an abdominal […]
Spokesman confirms former McLaren doctor’s cancer
Jul.25 (GMM) A spokesman has confirmed reports former McLaren doctor Aki Hintsa is battling cancer. We reported earlier that the 56-year-old Finn, who stepped away from F1 at the end of 2013 to focus on his clinic in Geneva, was diagnosed with an abdominal tumour. “Dr Aki Hintsa was diagnosed very recently with a malignant […]
Bianchi still on minds as Perez rolls in Hungary
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. […]