Jul.1 (GMM) If Azerbaijan is pushing towards the formula one grid, then so too should Russia. That is the view of Igor Ermilin, the presidential advisor of the Russian Automobile Federation. His comments follow reports Azerbaijan, a former Soviet state, is considering starting a F1 team or at least sponsoring one as it joins the […]
Hamilton must be better loser – Hill
Jul.1 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton must find a way to cope with losing. That is the view of 1996 world champion Damon Hill, who also warned the Mercedes driver to strike a better balance between his professional and private lives. Hill told Germany’s Kolner Express tabloid that Hamilton, the 2015 championship leader and reigning world champion, […]
Bottas to wear red if Raikkonen leaves
Jul.1 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has been singled out as the ideal replacement should his countryman Kimi Raikkonen depart Ferrari. Multiple Italian media sources agree that, notwithstanding speculation Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg are also in the running, it is Williams’ Bottas who is first in line in the event fellow Finn Raikkonen is ousted. On […]
Burti tips Hamilton to beat Rosberg
Jul.1 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is the clear favourite to win the 2015 title. That is the claim of former F1 driver turned Brazilian commentator Luciano Burti, even though Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg has found his form at recent races. 40-year-old Burti, who raced for Jaguar and Prost early last decade, told Globo: “Hamilton has […]
Massa defends radio instructions in F1
Jul.1 (GMM) Felipe Massa has defended the radio instructions given to today’s formula one drivers. As the sport analyses what is turning off fans, some are arguing that the sport should push ahead with its plans to further limit the exchange of information between the pitwall and the supposed ‘heroes’ at the racing wheel. But […]
McLaren should prioritise pace over reliability – Button
Jul.1 (GMM) Jenson Button has urged McLaren-Honda to prioritise performance over reliability. Team boss Eric Boullier said recently that, as works partner Honda’s awkward return to the sport continues, the ongoing troubles will soon begin to affect preparations for the 2016 season. At a sponsor event this week, Button agrees: “You can’t finish this year […]
Hamilton hopes to avoid ‘plastic’ trophy at home GP
Jul.1 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is hoping the iconic golden trophy is on the British grand prix podium on Sunday. Last year, as he won his home race at Silverstone, he publicly ridiculed the “plastic” trophy commissioned by race sponsor Santander that fell apart in his hands on the podium. Later, he posed in the press […]
Tilke to start work on Baku layout
Jun.30 (GMM) Once considered an unlikely fit for formula one, Azerbaijan is racing into its grand prix future. Bernie Ecclestone has inked a deal for a street race in Baku, the oil-rich former Soviet country’s capital, and asked if it is going ahead, the F1 supremo insisted: “Yep. Sure. “It’s going to be great. People […]
More penalties looming for Alonso
Jun.30 (GMM) This weekend will not be a happy home grand prix for McLaren. The British team’s season hit new lows in Canada and Austria, and the hits will keep on coming this weekend at Silverstone. “It’s never the way you want to get to the British grand prix after the two weekends we’ve had,” […]
Red Bull not losing Ricciardo – Horner
Jun.30 (GMM) Christian Horner on Tuesday said there is “no risk” Red Bull is set to lose Daniel Ricciardo to Ferrari. Ricciardo, whose frustration with the situation at Red Bull is beginning to show, earlier told reporters that Ferrari’s apparent interest for 2016 is “nice” and “a compliment”. But he also acknowledged that he is […]
Toro Rosso shines amid Red Bull-Renault debacle
Jun.30 (GMM) Amid the Red Bull-Renault debacle of 2015, the only winner appears to be the junior team Toro Rosso. A report in Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims the James Key-designed STR10 is perhaps among the three best cars on the grid this season. “With a Mercedes engine we would be at the front,” […]
Raikkonen says future not in his hands
Jun.30 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen does not agree that his future at Ferrari is in his own hands. “Raikkonen’s fate is in his hands,” Italian media have quoted team boss Maurizio Arrivabene as saying, amid swirling speculation about the Finn. Some sources have reported that Raikkonen, 35, has been given only another couple of races to […]
Attention returns to Strategy Group on Wednesday
Jun.30 (GMM) F1’s attention will return to the Strategy Group on Wednesday. Six weeks ago, as the sport’s main protagonists insisted formula one must turn a corner, the group met and voted on a package. But, since then, it has become clear that the proposed changes are not ready to be pushed to the World […]
De Villota family still considering legal action
Jun.30 (GMM) Maria de Villota’s family is not ruling out legal action after more details of her 2012 Marussia crash emerged. Last month, Britain’s Health and Safety Executive said action would not be taken against the backmarker team even though the 33-year-old Spaniard died 15 months after suffering horror injuries in the crash at Duxford […]
Lombardy says Ferrari to help Monza keep F1
Jun.30 (GMM) Ferrari is willing to help Monza keep the Italian grand prix. That is the claim of regional Lombardy president Roberto Maroni, just a day after he vowed to “to go war” with Bernie Ecclestone over the endangered future of the historic track. “The right way is to apply pressure, involving public opinion, the […]
Ricciardo admits eye on Raikkonen’s seat
Jun.30 (GMM) As F1 heads to Silverstone, all eyes are on Ferrari. And that is not because the Maranello team expects to beat Mercedes at the British grand prix. In fact, the red-coloured team is set to use a different approach this weekend. After often looking a match for Mercedes in Friday practice recently, boss […]
Todt tells Ecclestone to keep criticism quiet
Jun.30 (GMM) Jean Todt has urged Bernie Ecclestone to keep quiet about formula one’s problems. Ecclestone, the F1 supremo, has been the harshest critic of the sport’s new turbo V6 era, calling the technology a “crappy product” in a recent interview. And now, in a joint interview with teen sensation Max Verstappen posted on the […]
Red Bull not commenting on Webber claims
Jun.30 (GMM) Red Bull declined to comment on Mark Webber’s latest claims about his intense rivalry with former teammate Sebastian Vettel. Earlier this month, quadruple world champion Vettel said he was not concerned amid reports his old Australian rival would ‘tell all’ in a forthcoming autobiography. To be published in July, the book will reportedly […]
Formula E means 2016 ‘not lost year’ – Abiteboul
Jun.30 (GMM) Success in Formula E means 2015 will not be a “lost year” for Renault. That is the view of Cyril Abiteboul, who is managing director of the French carmaker’s formula one arm, Renault Sport F1. Renault is having a nightmare run at the beginning of the sport’s ‘power unit’ era, struggling in 2014 […]
Calls for engine rules fix grow louder
Jun.30 (GMM) Calls for F1 to revisit the detail of its engine rules are growing stronger. In Austria, the full extent of the current situation became clear when McLaren’s cars were ordered an extraordinary 50 places down the 20-position grid. “It’s ridiculous,” said former F1 driver and Britain’s lead Sky commentator Martin Brundle. The situation, […]