Jul.26 (GMM) Manor might have points on the board if it was powered by an up-to-date engine. That is the view of Spanish team driver Roberto Merhi, as he hailed his half-second qualifying advantage over teammate Will Stevens in Hungary. Earlier, it was suggested Merhi might be on the verge of losing his race seat, […]
Hamilton ‘light years ahead’ in Hungary – Lauda
Jul.26 (GMM) Niki Lauda has hailed the dominance of Lewis Hamilton this weekend in Hungary. As Nico Rosberg scratched his head at the nearly 6 tenth gap to his teammate in qualifying, Lewis Hamilton surmised that he has simply mastered his “favourite” Hungaroring circuit. “The gap that he has on this track is light years […]
F1 ‘not as exciting’ now – Alonso
Jul.26 (GMM) Fernando Alonso was a hero of qualifying in Hungary, although he admitted formula one is “not as exciting” to him anymore. McLaren-Honda’s nightmare 2015 continued on Saturday when Alonso broke down, but the Spaniard thrilled the crowd by pushing his broken machine back to the pits. But he was then told the rules, […]
Lauda tips McLaren-Honda to succeed
Jul.26 (GMM) Niki Lauda has tipped Fernando Alonso and McLaren-Honda to bounce back from their current trough. The once-great team’s abysmal 2015 was summed up in Hungarian qualifying, when Spaniard Alonso broke down and pushed his hopeless MP4-30 back to the pits. But former McLaren champion Lauda tipped the team’s struggling engine supplier Honda to […]
Alonso struggle ‘would be hard’ – Rosberg
Jul.26 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has sympathy for the plight of former champion Fernando Alonso. The Mercedes driver said that, before he began to duel for wins and the title against Lewis Hamilton, struggling for mere points in F1 was “not so difficult” because “I didn’t understand what it was like to have a car capable […]
Lotus admits Renault talks taking place
Jul.26 (GMM) Lotus has admitted it is in talks to be bought out by Renault. The Enstone team arrived at the Hungaroring amid a dispute with tyre supplier Pirelli, as it emerged that a $500,000 payment to the Italian marque was overdue. “We had a problem with the bank transfer,” insisted deputy team boss Federico […]
Hamilton says Mercedes not most dominant ever
Jul.26 (GMM) From Valtteri Bottas to Max Verstappen, drivers up and down pitlane are being linked with a Ferrari seat for 2016. Not Lewis Hamilton, although he does admit to having ‘contact’ with the Maranello marque. “Every year. I love their road cars!” he laughed in an interview with Spain’s El Mundo. When it comes […]
Red Bull ‘must take control of future’ – Horner
Jul.26 (GMM) Red Bull needs to take back control of its destiny in formula one, according to team boss Christian Horner. The once-dominant outfit has struggled in the new ‘power unit’ era, with the finger of blame always pointed squarely at engine partner Renault. Earlier, it was suggested Renault would finally trade in its performance […]
Boullier not thrilled with 2016 testing cuts
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 […]