Sep.26 (GMM) McLaren insists there is nothing controversial about Ron Dennis’ absence from Suzuka so far this weekend. Amid reports of ‘crisis talks’ having been held at Honda’s Sakura headquarters earlier this week, rumours are now swirling not only about Jenson Button’s future at the struggling team, but also Fernando Alonso’s. “Ron Dennis is in […]
Renault to make announcement next week – Lotus
Sep.26 (GMM) The long wait for clarity over the future of Renault and Lotus in F1 appears to be almost over. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who is not in Japan, told the Reuters news agency from London on Friday that Renault is “apparently” going to buy the embattled Lotus team. But he also admitted: “It’s […]
Red Bull threats no threat to Verstappen – father
Sep.26 (GMM) Red Bull chiefs were having more meetings with their Ferrari counterparts on Saturday. The talks at Suzuka are amid the very real threat that the energy drink company could pull both of its teams – Red Bull and Toro Rosso – out of the sport after November’s Abu Dhabi grand prix. With Mercedes […]
Prost sure Vettel to beat career victory tally
Sep.26 (GMM) Fellow quadruple world champion Alain Prost has admitted he expects Sebastian Vettel to soon trouble another of his impressive personal records. In Singapore last weekend, Ferrari’s Vettel won his 42nd career victory, moving clear of the late and great Ayrton Senna’s tally of 41. The next target is therefore Frenchman Prost, whose 51 […]
Lauda tells Dennis to ‘pay Button the money!’
Sep.26 (GMM) F1 legend Niki Lauda suggests the uncertainty about Jenson Button’s future is all about money. Until now, it has been rumoured the 35-year-old veteran’s deliberations have been about his lost “joy” amid McLaren-Honda’s struggles, and the realisation that the team’s recovery might take too long. But earlier, a story circulated that McLaren and […]
Berger hints Mercedes deal on table for Red Bull
Sep.26 (GMM) As the uncertainty about Red Bull’s future in F1 races on, Gerhard Berger suggests the team could be back in the running for Mercedes power. It is believed the Daimler board only recently rejected the matter of leaping to Red Bull’s rescue, with the divorce from Renault now just days away. However, with […]
Ferrari, Raikkonen to help Vettel win title – Massa
Sep.25 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he would play a team role in order to help friend and Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel win the world championship. Happy now at Williams, former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa said the interests of the Maranello team has always been greater than the individual. That is why Vettel, and Fernando Alonso […]
Button retirement rumours growing despite delay
Sep.25 (GMM) Even though Jenson Button delayed his expected announcement on Thursday, rumours the McLaren driver is ending his long F1 career are only growing. That speculation has been further fired up by Chris Evans, the new host of the British motoring programme Top Gear. It is rumoured that, if Button ends his 16-year grand […]
2016 title ‘really difficult’ at Williams – Bottas
Sep.25 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has conceded it will be “really difficult” to win next year’s world championship with Williams. Earlier, until the great Italian team re-signed Kimi Raikkonen, the younger Finn was strongly linked with a move to Ferrari for 2016. “It (winning the world championship) is the only thing we’re all here for. It’s […]
VW scandal sends Audi deal ‘up in smoke’ – Horner
Sep.25 (GMM) There was almost as much action going on behind the scenes as there was on a slippery Suzuka circuit on Friday. The big topic is engines — who is going to get what, and who is going to left without a ‘power unit’ to fire. For Lotus, time is clearly running out. Bernie […]
Tost’s Verstappen defence ‘surprised’ Sainz
Sep.25 (GMM) In the wake of Max Verstappen’s defiant refusal to obey team orders in Singapore, teammate Carlos Sainz has hinted he remains unhappy with Toro Rosso. In Singapore, the teenage sensation Verstappen was asked repeatedly to let Sainz past so that with his fresher tyres he could have a shot at passing Sergio Perez. […]
McLaren wants Button to stay – Neale
Sep.25 (GMM) McLaren on Friday declared that it wants to keep Jenson Button on board for 2016. Actually, the world’s media assembled at Suzuka on Thursday expecting the 2009 world champion to declare that his lost “joy” for F1 meant he had decided to call time on his 16-year career. “I get the sense from […]
Alonso may leave F1 to find winning car – Briatore
Sep.25 (GMM) If Fernando Alonso cannot return to having a winning car, he will seek it outside of formula one. That is the stark warning issued by Flavio Briatore, who signed up the Spaniard as a teenager more than 15 years ago and still plays a role in his management. The flamboyant Italian, who was […]
Audi ‘definitely’ welcome in F1 – Wolff
Sep.25 (GMM) Mercedes says it would welcome Audi to formula one. As Red Bull desperately seeks an alternative after splitting with Renault, rumours suggest the Volkswagen Group is now eyeing a project for its Audi brand. The sting in those rumours has been blunted by the international VW diesel emissions scandal, but Mercedes – having […]
Haas schedules driver announcement next week
Sep.25 (GMM) Haas, the new American team for 2016, has scheduled a driver announcement for next week. The Ferrari-linked outfit has invited journalists to its Kannapolis headquarters next Tuesday, where it says a “driver announcement” will take place. It is strongly rumoured that Ferrari reserve Esteban Gutierrez will be one driver, with Romain Grosjean probably […]
Force India ends Perez-to-Renault rumours
Sep.24 (GMM) Force India has ended speculation it may lose Sergio Perez and his Mexican backing to the new Renault works team in 2016. Reports this week suggested the 25-year-old could be set to replace the Haas-bound Romain Grosjean at Enstone. But at Suzuka ahead of the Japanese grand prix, Force India said Perez is […]
Kvyat not worried about F1 future
Sep.24 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat on Thursday insisted he is not worried about the future — not his own, nor that of his Red Bull team. At present, Red Bull is without an engine deal for 2016 and threatening to pull both of its teams out of F1 if Ferrari does not release an ‘A’ spec […]
Lotus’ struggles laid bare, no news on Button retirement
Sep.24 (GMM) Lotus’ financial woes were laid literally bare at Suzuka on Thursday. Crates of equipment were laying wet in the paddock, the hospitality unit was completely empty as the struggling team was locked out, and there were rumours the Mercedes engines for the black and gold cars were not yet even at Suzuka. Amidst […]
Mercedes car not designed for Singapore – Lowe
Sep.24 (GMM) Mercedes sounded a little wiser on Thursday about its mysterious performance slump of Singapore. Although just a few days of head-scratching and analysis have passed since arguably the team’s worst performance of the ‘power unit’ era, technical chief Paddy Lowe sounded sure Singapore was the culmination of a multitude of small factors. Firstly, […]
‘Always hope’ despite latest Schumacher reports
Sep.24 (GMM) The late Jules Bianchi’s father has urged the world not to lose hope about the recovery of F1 legend Michael Schumacher. Updates about the condition of the great seven time world champion have been scarce since he left hospital to return home to Switzerland more than a year ago. International reports in the […]