Sep.6 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne thinks Kimi Raikkonen’s new contract has moved the Finn to a new level. On a Ferrari president’s customary visit to Monza, the Italian-born Canadian said he was delighted to witness a new engine upgrade deliver the goods, as the two red cars qualified second and third. But it was actually Raikkonen’s […]
McLaren wants Honda to sack Arai – reports
Sep.6 (GMM) Behind the scenes, McLaren is lobbying for Honda’s F1 chief to be sacked. That is the claim of multiple British newspapers, including the Times, Telegraph and Mail on Sunday, amid yet another woeful weekend for the Anglo-Japanese outfit. McLaren has “written to the company’s president, Takahiro Hachigo, calling on him to replace … […]
Verstappen is F1’s answer to Marquez – engineer
Sep.6 (GMM) Max Verstappen is F1’s answer to the young MotoGP sensation Marc Marquez. That is the claim of Dutchman Verstappen’s Toro Rosso race engineer Xevi Pujolar, who earlier said the teenager is better than Juan Pablo Montoya, Mark Webber and all other drivers he has worked with in F1. “Max is the Marquez of […]
Mercedes not worried about Hamilton engine
Sep.6 (GMM) There was good news from the Mercedes camp for Lewis Hamilton early on Sunday. Before qualifying, Nico Rosberg had to revert to an older engine, when a problem with his new specification unit was discovered. Mercedes went into the weekend with concerns about the new spec, which will set the direction for development […]
Hamilton win in doubt over illegal tyre pressure
Sep.6 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s Monza win has fallen under a dark cloud. In the closing laps of the Italian grand prix, the Briton was told by his Mercedes engineers to speed up — but they did not tell him why. “Those last few laps were not cool,” Hamilton said on the victory lap. And boss […]
Renault delays Sochi upgrade until Austin
Sep.6 (GMM) Renault has delayed the introduction of a much-anticipated performance upgrade for its 2015 power unit. Earlier, the Red Bull teams were holding out for October’s Russian grand prix at Sochi, because Renault was planning to debut a new engine improved by trading in performance ‘tokens’. But Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said […]
Teams were warned by Pirelli, FIA over pressures
Sep.6 (GMM) F1 teams were sternly warned before the Italian grand prix to adhere to Pirelli’s new tyre pressure guidelines. After the blowout saga of Spa-Francorchamps, and now the threat of Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification at Monza, it emerges that Pirelli also discovered cuts in its tyres in practice and qualifying before the Italian grand prix. […]
Engine worry for Hamilton before Monza race
Sep.6 (GMM) Mercedes is heading into Sunday’s Italian grand prix with concerns about the engine that powered Lewis Hamilton to pole. The dominant team entered the Monza weekend with a new specification of ‘power unit’ that is the basis of Mercedes’ development direction for 2016. Making use of the remaining 7 in-season ‘tokens’, boss Toto […]
Vettel’s partner Hanna had second daughter – reports
Sep.5 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is not the only German driver with a brand new baby at home. The German newspaper Bild reports that the fiercely-private Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel’s partner Hanna gave birth to their second daughter a few days ago in Switzerland. Kolner Express, a German tabloid, said Hanna may even have had a […]
Cash-strapped McLaren set to keep Button
Sep.5 (GMM) Jenson Button looks set to keep his place at McLaren-Honda into 2016. However, it is rumoured that the team’s woeful performance this year could mean the loss of some of the last remaining sponsors, such as Johnnie Walker and Santander. The whisky brand confirmed to the Telegraph newspaper that “ongoing conversations” with the […]
2016 season to end in December – Ecclestone
Sep.5 (GMM) F1’s race calendar for 2016 looks set for another radical change. According to the provisional schedule, the unprecedentedly-long 21-race calendar will start later than usual next year, cutting into the summer break. But the team bosses were not impressed with that plan. “The travelling staff need to have that summer break and if […]
Mercedes testing 2016 engine at Monza – report
Sep.5 (GMM) Mercedes’ engine customers are yet to benefit from the very latest specification of the dominant German marque’s power unit. Ahead of the Italian grand prix, Mercedes handed in its remaining 7 in-season development tokens and unveiled what the Italian press is calling the ‘super motor’. Indeed, the gap to Ferrari and the rest […]
Lotus denies reports of pre-Singapore team collapse
Sep.5 (GMM) Lotus has hit back at reports Monza could be the last race in the Enstone team’s long history. Neither side can hide now that discussions about a buyout by Renault are taking place, as many of the details are being leaked to the media. France’s RMC Sport, for instance, is reporting that alongside […]
Drivers silenced as Pirelli survives Spa blowout saga
Sep.5 (GMM) The Pirelli blowout saga reached its zenith at Monza, when an unprecedented summit took place ahead of the Italian grand prix. Bernie Ecclestone was there for the one-hour meeting, as well as fellow hard-hitters Marco Tronchetti Provera, the Pirelli CEO, and the most vocal Pirelli critics like Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso. According […]
Marchionne not denying Red Bull engine talks
Sep.5 (GMM) If Ferrari impressed with its new engine and second and third qualifying places on Saturday, president Sergio Marchionne said the Tifosi will be delighted in 2016. On his first visit to the Italian grand prix in the wake of the long Luca di Montezemolo era, Marchionne said at Monza: “This year, the new […]
Promoter says ‘no panic’ in Monza future talks
Sep.5 (GMM) According to Bernie Ecclestone, the future of the Italian grand prix at Monza is hanging by a thread. Italian reports quote the F1 supremo as warning that, even after new meetings with circuit chiefs, the fate of the fabled and popular race is not looking good. “The renewal of the contract is unlikely,” […]
Drivers still nervous after Spa blowout saga
Sep.4 (GMM) Formula one drivers are still nervous about the tyre blowout saga, but Bernie Ecclestone has made clear he is perfectly happy with Pirelli. Just as he also negotiates with Michelin about the official supply contract beyond 2016, the F1 supremo indicated it is Pirelli on pole position, even after Sebastian Vettel said his […]
Gastaldi admits Lotus dramas not over yet
Sep.4 (GMM) Federico Gastaldi has admitted Lotus’ legal dramas are not over yet. Ultimately, the embattled Enstone team managed to escape the court bailiffs at Spa-Francorchamps and get to Monza just in time. But when it comes to the action brought by disgruntled former reserve driver Charles Pic, it is not over yet. “No, the […]
McLaren ‘best chassis behind Red Bull’ – Alonso
Sep.4 (GMM) McLaren is reverting to its older ‘long nose’ solution for the high-speed Italian grand prix. With struggling engine partner Honda, the British team has acknowledged that Monza’s long straights will leave Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button with blunt weapons this weekend. So McLaren has elected to take more engine-change grid penalties in preparation […]
Hamilton warns against Red Bull engine deal
Sep.4 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes should think again if it is considering supplying an engine to arch-rivals Red Bull. “It would be like giving Ferrari an engine,” the reigning champion, and current championship leader, told Spain’s Antena 3 broadcaster. “I think if we’re serious about winning world championships, we shouldn’t do it. Red Bull […]