Aug.5 (GMM) Other engine manufacturers were not willing to match Ferrari’s offer when Haas was looking to set up its F1 entry for 2016. That is the claim of founder Gene Haas, whose American team is on target to make its grand prix debut next March. Haas’ approach to 2016, however, has been controversial, as […]
Goal of catching Mercedes still on track – Vettel
Aug.5 (GMM) While Ferrari is looking up the road to pacesetters Mercedes, Williams says the fabled Italian team should also be watching over its shoulder. Entering the summer break with victory in Hungary, Sebastian Vettel says Ferrari’s 2015 resurgence is right on track. “A second win, several podiums — and after major changes (within the […]
Lauda doubts Bianchi tribute caused Hamilton slump
Aug.5 (GMM) Niki Lauda has played down suggestions the Jules Bianchi tragedy may have contributed to Lewis Hamilton’s bad performance in Hungary. As Mercedes failed to make the podium for the first time in the new ‘power unit’ era, Hamilton apologised to the team and admitted he was “all over the place”. “I don’t know […]
Symonds slams Ferrari over Bottas rumours
Aug.5 (GMM) Pat Symonds has hit out at Ferrari, accusing the Italian team of triggering the speculation about Valtteri Bottas’ future. Finn Bottas has clearly been targeted by Ferrari for 2016, but the 25-year-old driver is already firmly under contract to Williams. So when asked by Italy’s Autosprint magazine if he can imagine Bottas replacing […]
Renault taking longer to decide future – report
Aug.4 (GMM) Renault is giving itself more time to decide its future. That is the claim of Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, amid earlier reports that the French carmaker is now on the cusp of announcing its return to full works status by buying the Enstone team Lotus. “Decision in September,” F1 chief Cyril Abiteboul […]
Verstappen plays down ‘second best car’ comment
Aug.4 (GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted Toro Rosso has a “really good car” in 2015. However, F1’s teen sensation made headlines at the recent British grand prix when he reportedly said the James Key-designed STR10 is actually the best car on the grid behind dominant world champions Mercedes. “Actually I didn’t quite say that,” the […]
Lauda’s new Twitter account is fake
Aug.4 (GMM) Niki Lauda is not on Twitter. Earlier, excitement swirled around F1’s world of social media when Matthias Lauda, the F1 legend’s son, announced on Twitter that he would help the 66-year-old with his brand new Twitter account. Among Lauda’s immediate new followers were Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz, Paddy Lowe and 22,000 others. But […]
Sauber has not developed 2015 car – Nasr
Aug.4 (GMM) Felipe Nasr says Sauber will get back in gear later this year as the Swiss team prepares for 2016. Newly re-signed by the struggling Hinwil outfit for next year, Brazilian Nasr admitted that after a strong start, Sauber is suffering a mid-season slump. The team is behind Force India, Lotus and Toro Rosso […]
Johansson urges Manor to follow Haas approach
Aug.4 (GMM) Former F1 driver Stefan Johansson has urged Manor to consider following the lead of the 2016 entrant Haas. Manor, the former Marussia team and clear 2015 backmarker, has admitted in recent days it is wary of the threat posed by the incoming Haas’ novel approach to F1. Haas is pushing to the limit […]
Gutierrez keen to exploit 2016 ‘opportunities’
Aug.4 (GMM) Esteban Gutierrez has admitted there may be “opportunities” for him to return to the F1 grid next year. Last week, the new 2016 entrant Haas’ founder Gene Haas confirmed reports that the Mexican driver, as well as Jean-Eric Vergne and Nico Hulkenberg, may be in the running for a race seat. “Two of […]
Mercedes says Red Bull ‘faster than us’ in Hungary
Aug.4 (GMM) Red Bull is moving to end its slump and return consistently to the upper positions on the F1 grid. The former quadruple world champions have insisted all season that the base of the RB11 is solid, with fingers pointed squarely at engine supplier Renault. There is no doubt, however, that the actual car […]
Lowe backs August shutdown
Aug.4 (GMM) Mercedes technical chief Paddy Lowe has backed F1’s August shutdown. Tension is brewing between Bernie Ecclestone and the teams at present, as the four-week summer gap in the calendar has been shrunk to three weeks on the expanded calendar for 2016. For the past several seasons, the month-long hiatus has meant teams have […]
FIA’s Mouton plays down Carmen Jorda controversy
Aug.3 (GMM) An FIA official has played down a media row with Lotus’ female ‘development driver’ Carmen Jorda. Michele Mouton, a French female former driver who finished the world rally championship second in 1982, is now president of the FIA’s ‘women in motor sport’ commission. She said recently that while respecting drivers like Susie Wolff […]
Sauber eyes Renault engine switch – report
Aug.3 (GMM) Sauber could be set for a change of engine supplier for 2016. That is the news of the Swiss newspaper Blick, whose veteran and well-connected correspondent Roger Benoit claims that talks took place recently in Hungary. Currently, Hinwil based Sauber is supplied by its long-time partner Ferrari, but the ‘power unit’ market looks […]
Nasr says Williams talk was just ‘speculation’
Aug.3 (GMM) Felipe Nasr has played down earlier speculation that linked him with a potential switch to Williams for 2016. It was said the impressive Brazilian rookie and his Banco do Brasil sponsorship dollars could be headed to Grove to replace a potentially Ferrari-bound Valtteri Bottas. But Sauber then announced that both Nasr and his […]
Boss likens Verstappen to champion Vettel
Aug.3 (GMM) Franz Tost, the team boss at Toro Rosso, has compared F1 teen sensation Max Verstappen to quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel. “There are many parallels,” he told Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper. “Max has a similar way of thinking, working methods and the same focus as Sebastian,” Tost added. “Actually it’s more like […]
No summer shutdown for Honda and Renault
Aug.3 (GMM) F1’s teams and drivers may be packing their bags for the summer break, but there will be no such factory shutdown at Honda. Unlike the teams, the sport’s engine manufacturers are not subject to the mandatory, two-week ‘shutdown’ that must be served during the big gap in the race calendar between Hungary and […]
Haas admits trio head 2016 race seat shortlist
Aug.1 (GMM) A trio of drivers has emerged at the top of the shortlist to race for the new F1 team Haas in 2016. As Haas Factory Outlet Portugal’s new headquarters was inaugurated near Oporto, the outfit’s Californian founder Gene Haas confirmed that Jean-Eric Vergne, Esteban Gutierrez and Nico Hulkenberg have all been linked with […]
Hockenheim cuts ticket prices for 2016 return
Jul.31 (GMM) Hockenheim has cut ticket prices as it bids to secure the future of formula one in Germany. Amid the Nurburgring’s financial troubles, Germany was absent from the F1 calendar this year for the first time in decades. But according to the existing race-alternating contract with Bernie Ecclestone, Hockenheim is back for 2016. “We […]
Ferrari not quite ready for 2015 title – Berger
Jul.31 (GMM) Gerhard Berger has hailed the performance in 2015 of his old team Ferrari. Earlier, some were arguing that Ferrari only appeared to have improved this year due to the collapse of its rival grandees like Red Bull and McLaren. And after Sebastian Vettel’s breakthrough win in Malaysia, the resurgence seemed to taper, and […]