Mar.17 (GMM) Fernando Alonso thinks F1 is taking a backwards step with the further clampdown on pit-to-car radio communication in 2016. The clampdown made a tentative first step last year, but now the allowed messages between the pitwall and the driver will be further tightened in a bid to end the impression that engineers are […]
Raikkonen needs strong start to 2016 – manager
Mar.17 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen’s manager has admitted 2016 will be a crucial year for the 2007 world champion. Most pundits are predicting that, if Ferrari is able to match Mercedes’ might this season, it could be a three-way battle between the silver-clad drivers and Sebastian Vettel. Indeed, Vettel’s teammate Raikkonen has struggled during his current […]
Hulkenberg unfazed by Mallya troubles
Mar.17 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg on Thursday put a brave face on the speculation swirling around the future of Force India. The speculation is the result of team co-owner and boss Vijay Mallya’s legal troubles in India, with the former billionaire said to be appearing for questioning relating to huge debts on Friday rather than attending […]
2016 feature not working as planned – Pirelli
Mar.17 (GMM) Paul Hembery on Thursday admitted Pirelli’s efforts to design tyres that reach a sudden grip ‘cliff’ did not work out as planned for 2016. We have reported that, to force more pitstops and spice up the show, a feature of this year’s tyre construction is a special layer that, when reached, results in […]
Webber expects Button retirement talk in 2016
Mar.16 (GMM) Before even a single lap in the 21-race grand prix calendar has been logged, Jenson Button’s future in formula one is already being discussed. In part, that is because McLaren supremo Ron Dennis kicked off the week of the 2016 season opener by admitting openly that Stoffel Vandoorne could make his debut for […]
Troubled Mallya set to sit out Melbourne
Mar.16 (GMM) Force India deputy Bob Fernley has hinted that team owner Vijay Mallya will likely skip this weekend’s 2016 season opener in Melbourne. The Indian media is searching furiously for the former billionaire’s current whereabouts, after he left the country amid his legal troubles over the Kingfisher airlines debt. Mallya has said through an […]
Kovalainen predicts ‘difficult’ start for Haas
Mar.16 (GMM) Heikki Kovalainen thinks F1’s new American team Haas will have a “very difficult” debut season. Haas, however, has entered the sport with a lot of confidence. “Generally, this race in Australia can throw up some surprises,” team driver Romain Grosjean, who has switched from Lotus, told France’s Auto Hebdo. “I think overall, we […]
Merhi says Mercedes ‘strongest’ again
Mar.16 (GMM) Although the action begins in Melbourne this weekend, Roberto Merhi is still not ruling out a role in formula one in 2016. “It is what it is,” the former Manor racer told Spanish radio Cadena Cope, referring to the team’s decision to replace him for 2016. “I am just happy I was lucky […]
Police investigated Hamilton’s NZ trip
Mar.16 (GMM) On his trip ‘down under’, Lewis Hamilton found himself in hot water even before setting foot on Australian soil. A Mercedes spokesman confirmed that the world champion has been in New Zealand this week for personal reasons rather than any official duties. Indeed, he was at Sky City casino in Auckland when he […]
F1 success driving ‘huge’ car sales – Zetsche
Mar.16 (GMM) Success in formula one is translating perfectly into Mercedes’ road car sales. That is the claim of Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche, with the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial reporting that growth in Mercedes’ sales has been 20 per cent since the start of the new ‘power unit’ era. “Last year we sold more cars […]
Qualifying not enough to improve F1 – Berger
Mar.16 (GMM) Gerhard Berger is yet another pundit who believes Mercedes will once again rule the roost in 2016. “Well, it looks as though not much in the balance of power has really changed,” he told the Austrian newspaper Tiroler Tageszeitung. “Ferrari is likely to be a little closer, winning a race here and there, […]
Ferrari will snap up ‘slightest mistake’ – Lauda
Mar.16 (GMM) Ferrari is now within an uncomfortable striking distance of Mercedes’ dominance, according to Niki Lauda. “I see clearly that Ferrari is catching us with great strides,” the F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman told the German broadcaster RTL. “I suspect they have moved to within two, three tenths of us. That’s a dangerously […]
Renault to unveil all-yellow livery
Mar.16 (GMM) Renault is set to unveil an all-yellow race livery for 2016. As recently as this week, even though the wraps will come off the Melbourne car on Wednesday, the carmaker’s Jerome Stoll was giving nothing away. “In Melbourne it will be different,” he said, referring to Renault’s all-black testing colours, “but just as […]
Lauda understands Schumacher information blackout
Mar.16 (GMM) Niki Lauda has backed the decision of Michael Schumacher’s family to safeguard the privacy of the F1 great. Lauda, the Mercedes team chairman and triple world champion, admits the total lack of information about Schumacher’s condition has led to wild tabloid speculation, which is “not good”. “The family protects him and I understand […]
Mercedes ‘has the edge’ on Ferrari – Jos Verstappen
Mar.15 (GMM) Jos Verstappen thinks Mercedes will come out of the blocks in Melbourne this weekend with its dominance intact. The German team has easily won every drivers’ and constructors’ title in the new ‘power unit’ era, and had a conspicuously smooth winter pre-season period. “Let’s hope Ferrari has made a big step forward,” said […]
CVC sale could change how F1 is run – Ecclestone
Mar.15 (GMM) CVC’s decision about selling formula one could change how Bernie Ecclestone runs the sport, the F1 supremo said on Tuesday. The potential sale has been on the cards for months, but Ecclestone is now urging CVC co-chairman Donald Mackenzie to make a decision. “I’m hoping that Donald Mackenzie will decide if he wants […]
Marko hints F1 to ‘equalise’ engine performance
Mar.15 (GMM) Moves are afoot to close the performance gaps between the four ‘power units’ in formula one. Dr Helmut Marko, the outspoken Red Bull official, said his boss Dietrich Mateschitz thought seriously about quitting F1 last year. Mateschitz was reportedly disillusioned with the new era in which Mercedes and Ferrari are utterly dominant and […]
Renault not spending more as works team – Stoll
Mar.15 (GMM) Renault is apparently not having to spend much more on its formula one programme despite returning to full works status in 2016. As well as supplying Red Bull once again this year, the French carmaker acquired the struggling Lotus team ahead of the new season. Jerome Stoll, the Renault Sport chief who was […]
‘Silly season’ not more important in 2016 – Bottas
Mar.15 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has played down claims he might be caught up in a more hectic than usual ‘silly season’ later this year. The Finn’s boss Claire Williams recently predicted a chaotic grab for the best 2016 race seats will take place, as there will be potential vacancies at Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and […]
Strife may not hold Sauber back – Jos Verstappen
Mar.15 (GMM) Sauber’s already-troubled 2016 campaign has taken another hit with the shock departure of its technical boss. Mark Smith only joined the Swiss team mid last year, but he has “decided to go back to the UK for family reasons”, Sauber admitted in a media statement mere days before the season opener in Melbourne. […]