Jul.10 (GMM) The current rulebook is dissuading more carmakers, like Toyota, from entering F1. That is the claim of Bernie Ecclestone, whose solution is simple: “Let’s tear the bloody rulebook up and start again,” the F1 supremo told the Guardian newspaper. The problem, he admits, is that he does not see eye-to-eye with the current […]
FIA clamps down after Mercedes’ pitstop ‘dummy’
Jul.10 (GMM) The FIA has warned teams against following Mercedes’ lead in ‘faking’ pitstops. After Williams and Mercedes duelled for the win at Silverstone, Toto Wolff admitted his strategists had tried to trick Williams into altering their race strategy. “You guys think you can fool us?” the Mercedes chief’s wife Susie, who works for Williams, […]
Ron Dennis still believes in me – Magnussen
Jul.10 (GMM) As he pushes to return to the grid, Kevin Magnussen hopes McLaren supremo Ron Dennis’ effort pays off. In May, Dennis travelled to Magussen’s native Denmark, where he made an appeal to local companies to sponsor the 22-year-old’s F1 comeback. “We told them that it was not only for me that they needed […]
Button understands call for more F1 ‘danger’
Jul.10 (GMM) When it comes to making F1 more “dangerous”, Jenson Button is also on board. Recently, F1 legends Niki Lauda and Kimi Raikkonen used the word to describe what the sport needs to do to rekindle the imagination of a dwindling audience. “I wouldn’t use the word ‘dangerous’ myself,” Button, the most experienced driver […]
Honda upgrade depends on FIA green light – report
Jul.10 (GMM) Honda is waiting only on the FIA to deploy more of its in-season engine development ‘tokens’. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, as the pressure on McLaren’s struggling engine partner increases. Asked if he thinks Honda is taking the right approach on its return to formula one, frustrated team […]
Jorda looking ahead to first F1 test
Jul.9 (GMM) Carmen Jorda says she is still on course to make her formula one driving debut at some point in the future. The 27-year-old former GP3 racer and Spaniard is now a regular at grands prix in 2015, as she works as a ‘development driver’ for Lotus. But so far, she has not actually […]
Button not guaranteed 2016 McLaren seat
Jul.8 (GMM) Two British correspondents say they do not believe reports that Jenson Button will definitely still be a McLaren driver in 2016. A report by the British broadcaster Sky this week exclaimed that team supremo Ron Dennis “insists Jenson Button will stay at McLaren for 2016”. The headline followed comments by Dennis at Silverstone […]
Not quite ‘free choice’ for tyres in 2016
Jul.8 (GMM) Pirelli has ruled out giving teams ‘free choice’ on their selection of tyre compounds for 2016. The measure had been proposed by Force India and adopted by the Strategy Group as a central measure to spice up the spectacle of the sport. It was also believed to have earned the approval of the […]
Wolff sure F1 will agree 2017 reforms
Jul.8 (GMM) Toto Wolff is confident F1 will ultimately adopt a much faster formula for 2017. The sport has collectively agreed that the cars of today are turning off fans because they are too slow, so plans to speed up to the tune of 5-6 seconds per lap in 2017 are racing ahead. But that […]
Aston Martin says F1 project ‘improbable’
Jul.7 (GMM) Aston Martin chief Andy Palmer has played down speculation the British carmaker is set to enter formula one. CEO Andy Palmer was spotted on the grid of the British grand prix, in conversation with the likes of FIA president Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone. It preceded rumours Aston Martin could come to the […]
Lotus dodges ‘winding up petition’ in court
Jul.7 (GMM) Reports of financial strife at Lotus have resurfaced this week. Amid speculation the team’s absent-in-2015 owner Gerard Lopez is set to sell the Enstone squad back to Renault, reports said a matter went before a London court on Monday. Reuters said it was a “winding-up petition”, which is basically a legal request made […]
Hamilton’s lucky pitstop call ‘annoying’ – Rosberg
Jul.7 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton simply lucked into the perfect strategy call that raced him to victory at Silverstone. That is the view of his Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg, even though one publication crowned Hamilton a “tactical-God” after the British grand prix. Hamilton appeared to agree with that assessment on Monday, telling British […]
F1 ratings improve in struggling German market
Jul.7 (GMM) Things could be looking up in formula one, mere days after urgent calls were being made to end a ‘crisis’. Indeed, the sport is now entering an unplanned three-week gap between Silverstone and Hungary, because the flagging F1 market in Germany meant that country’s race was axed for the first time in decades. […]
Alonso plays down ‘turn off TV’ advice
Jul.7 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has clarified his comments, after suggesting “bored” McLaren fans should “turn off the TV until next year”. In the midst of McLaren-Honda’s abysmal 2015, the Spaniard at Silverstone warned fans who are frustrated that more of the same pain will be felt for the rest of the season. “So whoever is […]
Bottas hits back at ‘exaggerated’ claims
Jul.7 (GMM) Felipe Massa has hit back at claims he spoiled Williams’ shot at victory at the British grand prix. Some believe that if teammate Valtteri Bottas had passed the Brazilian rather than been told to hold station after their meteoric starts, the Finn might have charged away from the two Mercedes at Silverstone. “I […]
Ferrari’s title dream slipping away again – press
Jul.7 (GMM) Ferrari may be slipping back into old habits, the worried Italian media observed after the British grand prix. La Repubblica said Silverstone had been the Maranello team’s “worst performance of the season”, while Tuttosport said the “dream of the title is slipping further and further away”. The question being asked now is whether […]
Former boss says Ferrari should oust Raikkonen
Jul.7 (GMM) The pressure is continuing to pile on Kimi Raikkonen. Amid swirling speculation about the Finn’s future, Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene departed Silverstone with the message: “What I want now is for Kimi to remain calm so he can do his job.” But as far as the specialist Italian press is concerned, Arrivabene […]
Marko hits back at Verstappen rumours
Jul.7 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has hit back at speculation Red Bull could lose Max Verstappen to a key rival after just a single season in F1. Amid his meteoric debut this year at the unprecedented age of 17, young Dutchman Verstappen is already being linked with a sensational switch to Ferrari. But Marko, boss […]
Fan survey ‘too late’ for immediate impact
Jul.7 (GMM) The fan survey commissioned by F1 drivers may have come ‘too late’ to make an immediate difference. But Alex Wurz, the president of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, insists the data collected by over 200,000 fans from 194 countries is “worth gold”, he told the German broadcaster Sky. So far, however, the results […]
Did ‘team orders’ cost Williams the win?
Jul.6 (GMM) After launching off the grid and into the lead, Williams was left to rue an opportunity lost in Sunday’s British grand prix. Part of the reason the Silverstone race was so exciting was because Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas got a surprise jump on the two Mercedes at the start. But then came […]