Sep.2 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen is the face of a new alcoholic drink in his native Finland. Famous also for his partying and drinking, it emerges that the Ferrari driver is backing the tinned gin and dry ‘Iceman Long Drink’. The marketing says the drink is “Served as cool as the Iceman himself”. Former McLaren boss […]
Lotus clinging to survival at Monza
Sep.2 (GMM) Lotus is clinging to survival ahead of the Italian grand prix. Bernie Ecclestone paid the latest $2.3 million wage bill for the embattled team’s 400 staff, which has ensured the black trucks are en route to Monza. But beyond that, fingers and toes are being crossed that the Renault buyout deal will be […]
More mixed messages as Honda tackles Monza
Sep.2 (GMM) Honda is going into yet another race weekend with mixed messages. As McLaren’s struggling Japanese supplier debuted an upgraded engine in Belgium recently, boss Yasuhisa Arai said it would be a match for Ferrari’s power unit. But Spa-Francorchamps turned out to be one of McLaren-Honda’s worst performances of the season. And now, at […]
Rosberg has not taken backwards step – Hamilton
Sep.2 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton does not think his teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg has taken a step backwards in 2015. Just like last year, the pair are still duelling effectively alone at the top of the standings for the drivers’ title. But many believe Hamilton, the reigning champion and current championship leader, has a […]
Monza rescue talks to hit highest gear
Sep.2 (GMM) Talks to secure Monza’s future on the F1 calendar will step into a high gear this weekend. Bernie Ecclestone has warned that unless a new deal is agreed, the historic circuit will fall off the schedule. So Roberto Maroni, the regional Lombardy president, resorted to humour this week when he was asked about […]
Michelin remains open to Pirelli tyre war
Sep.2 (GMM) Michelin remains open to going wheel-to-wheel with Pirelli in 2017. Currently, Bernie Ecclestone is in talks with the tyre manufacturers regarding which of them will be F1’s sole supplier beyond Pirelli’s 2016 deal. But after the tyre blowout controversy following the recent Belgian grand prix, Michelin is applying the pressure. “We know Spa […]
Hulkenberg set to keep Porsche seat for 2016
Sep.2 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg looks set to defend his title as Le Mans winner at next year’s edition of the fabled 24 hour sports car race. Splitting his time between his Force India and Porsche cockpits this year, the German won on debut in the premier class of arguably the world’s most famous motor race. […]
Pirelli to say debris caused Vettel blowout – report
Sep.1 (GMM) Pirelli could be set to announce that debris on the track caused Sebastian Vettel’s tyre blowout at Spa-Francorchamps. In the incident that sparked an expletive-filled post-race rant, F1’s controversial tyre supplier argued initially that excessive wear caused by Ferrari’s ambitious one-stop strategy was the cause of the failure. But earlier in the weekend, […]
Verstappen backs Pirelli over Vettel blowout
Sep.1 (GMM) Father and son Jos and Max Verstappen have sided with Pirelli over the tyre blowout saga. While F1’s official supplier has said Ferrari took too big a risk with an ambitious one-stop strategy at Spa-Francorchamps, Sebastian Vettel lashed out angrily at the quality of Pirelli’s tyres. But Toro Rosso driver Max told Austrian […]
Ecclestone paid Lotus staff wages – report
Sep.1 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone reportedly paid the wages of embattled Lotus’ 400 staff in August. The news, revealed by Britain’s Times newspaper, comes after the Enstone team’s equipment – including the black and gold cars – were prevented from leaving Spa-Francorchamps by court bailiffs after the recent Belgian grand prix. Correspondent Kevin Eason says the […]
Father says Verstappen ‘staying’ at Toro Rosso
Sep.1 (GMM) Max Verstappen is staying put at Toro Rosso for 2016, his father has announced. “He’s staying for another year at Toro Rosso,” Jos Verstappen, once a teammate to the great Michael Schumacher in the mid 90s, told Austrian television Servus TV. Earlier, 17-year-old rookie sensation Max was linked with a move to Ferrari, […]
Hartstein continues attack on F1 doctor
Sep.1 (GMM) Former F1 doctor Gary Hartstein has continued his attack on his successor, Jean-Charles Piette. Following the death of Jules Bianchi, Hartstein hit out at F1 drivers who are accepting the current situation, with Piette the medical delegate and the “even more clueless” Gerard Saillant running the FIA’s medical commission. He said Piette was […]
Force India signs Hulkenberg for 2016, 2017
Sep.1 (GMM) As reported on Monday, Nico Hulkenberg is staying with Force India. The Silverstone based team announced on Tuesday that the German has signed up for 2016 and 2017. 2015 Le Mans winner Hulkenberg, 28, had been linked with a move to Haas or Lotus, but said: “I know this team inside out and […]
Designer says Ferrari should have kept Alonso
Sep.1 (GMM) Ferrari should have kept Fernando Alonso, according to departed designer Nikolas Tombazis. At the end of last year, in a wide-ranging team shakeup, the fabled Maranello marque ousted not only Tombazis but also the British engineer Pat Fry. But Tombazis, who claims he is now shaping up to return to F1, told Italy’s […]
Gutierrez hints future taking shape
Sep.1 (GMM) Esteban Gutierrez could be close to announcing his plans for 2016. This year, after the Mexican lost his Sauber race seat, he signed up to be Ferrari’s reserve driver. And now it is reported the 24-year-old’s next step could be to the new Ferrari-linked American entrant Haas, backed by his powerful Mexican sponsors. […]
Rosberg becomes father before Monza
Aug.31 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is speeding into the Italian grand prix as F1’s newest father. The Mercedes driver has announced on Twitter that his and wife Viviane’s first child was born at the Princesse Grace hospital in Monaco on Sunday. “Our full moon baby girl was born yesterday afternoon. We are overwhelmed and totally in […]
Turkey F1 track becomes used car dealership
Aug.31 (GMM) Turkey’s chances of returning to the F1 calendar any time soon now appear dead. Istanbul Park hosted grands prix between 2005 and 2011, with the Hermann Tilke-penned circuit famous for its challenging turn 8. But the event collapsed for financial reasons and a lack of local interest. Now, the track that reportedly cost […]
Vettel ‘100pc right’ over Pirelli outburst – Webber
Aug.31 (GMM) Mark Webber has backed his former teammate Sebastian Vettel’s expletive-filled rant about the quality of the tyres supplied in F1 by Pirelli. The pair rarely saw eye-to-eye when fighting for titles at Red Bull, but when it comes to Vettel’s blowout at Spa-Francorchamps, Webber said: “Seb is 100 per cent right. “A blowout […]
Michelin weighs into Pirelli blowout saga
Aug.31 (GMM) Michelin has weighed into the Pirelli blowout saga, insisting it is committed to producing longer-life tyres in formula one. The two tyre companies are currently in competing talks with Bernie Ecclestone about which of them will be awarded the contract as F1’s sole supplier beyond 2016. Some believe Michelin’s bid got a boost […]
After quit threats, Red Bull now looking into F1 future
Aug.31 (GMM) Red Bull is re-setting its sights on the future of formula one, having earlier threatened to pull out of the sport. The team had bemoaned not only its competitive situation but also the rules and F1’s waning popularity, but it is believed Red Bull is playing an active role in helping to shape […]