Feb.17 (GMM) A study commissioned by the FIA reportedly shows that costs in formula one could be halved without hurting the ‘show’. With Caterham and Marussia ailing and even better-funded midfielders struggling financially, it emerged on Tuesday that New York-based McKinsey and Company, a multinational consulting firm, recently examined the finances of nine F1 teams […]
Schumacher progress ‘painfully slow’ – report
Feb.16 (GMM) Nearly 14 months after his late 2013 skiing accident, little new is known about the great Michael Schumacher’s medical progress. The 46-year-old is reportedly cared for by a private medical team numbering 15 professionals around the clock at his mansion on the shores of Lake Geneva. But in a new report published by […]
Force India working hard on 2015 car
Feb.16 (GMM) Force India is reportedly now hard at work on preparing its new car. Earlier, it was rumoured that due to financial and supplier troubles, the Silverstone based team had not even taken delivery of the monocoque for the VJM08, let alone passed the mandatory FIA crash tests. That would explain the absence of […]
Grosjean not expecting winning Lotus in 2015
Feb.16 (GMM) Lotus is not expecting a return to the top step of the podium in 2015. In 2012 and 2013, when the returning Kimi Raikkonen was at the wheel of the black and gold car, the Finn managed to win races as the Enstone team soared to fourth in the constructors’ standings. But last […]
Prodromou created McLaren ‘masterpiece’
Feb.16 (GMM) Going extreme with the new MP4-30 is a “calculated risk”, McLaren supremo Ron Dennis has revealed. Although it has struggled to run amid early troubles with new works engine partner Honda, the British team’s 2015 car has been hailed by management as the first ‘size-zero’ F1 car. McLaren is referring to the tight […]
Sainz happy to be in Verstappen’s shade
Feb.16 (GMM) Carlos Sainz jr insists he is happy to be in the shade of his high-profile Toro Rosso teammate. Spaniard Sainz, whose father and namesake is the world rally legend, is making his grand prix debut for Red Bull’s junior team this year as the highly rated reigning champion of Formula Renault 3.5. But […]
Nasr defends lack of success in GP2
Feb.16 (GMM) Felipe Nasr has defended his move into formula one this year despite not matching the success of others in the sport’s feeder category. The Brazilian will make his debut next month in the new Sauber, which in 2015 bears the prominent colours of his personal sponsor, Banco do Brasil. But Nasr, 22, is […]
F1 management is ‘blockage’ for sponsors – Lopez
Feb.16 (GMM) Gerard Lopez has hit out at F1’s “archaic management”. Refuting rumours he is looking for new investors to replace the Lotus boss, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone earlier this month insisted the Luxembourger is “a friend”. But Lopez, who at the end of last season was leading the charge as angry midfield teams demanded […]
Wehrlein to test 2014 Force India in Barcelona – report
Feb.15 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein looks set to make his formula one test debut next week — in a Force India. After skipping Jerez amid rumours of unpaid bills and supplier trouble, the Silverstone based team is now bound for Barcelona for the second test. But the 2015 car – the unseen VJM08 – is still […]
Renault ‘not solely to blame’ for 2014 – Lopez
Feb.14 (GMM) It is clear there is little love lost between Lotus and its former engine supplier. The Enstone team, fourth overall in 2012 and 2013, slumped to an horror eighth in the constructors’ standings last year. Owner Gerard Lopez does not entirely blame Renault, but he is hopeful a much brighter future awaits with […]
2017 reform could entice Newey back – Horner
Feb.13 (GMM) A big change to the regulations could convince Adrian Newey to return to full throttle in formula one. That is the claim of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who insists Newey’s step backwards to work on other technology projects is actually a good opportunity for other engineers to show their worth. It […]
Force India on road to Barcelona test
Feb.13 (GMM) Signs of life emerged from Force India on Friday. The Silverstone based team sat out the opening test of the winter at Jerez amid rumours of financial problems and crippling debts to suppliers. Team racer Nico Hulkenberg has at least been filling his idle time with track action, testing the new Porsche in […]
Button happy to be Alonso’s teammate
Feb.13 (GMM) Jenson Button insists he is happy to be paired with Fernando Alonso. Both sides of the new McLaren-Honda garage have won world championships, but Spaniard Alonso is regarded not only as arguably the best on the grid, but perhaps often difficult to share a team with. Notably, he clashed at McLaren with Lewis […]
Renault not yet ‘exploring limits’ of 2015 engine
Feb.13 (GMM) Renault has confirmed reports it did not hit full throttle at the recent Jerez test. Works team Red Bull evidently had a difficult start to the winter season, struggling for pace and laps with the new RB11 car. Under its skin is a heavily-upgraded Renault ‘power unit’, the result of a sweeping restructuring […]
Engine boss thinks Mercedes’ rivals can catch up
Feb.12 (GMM) Dominant 2014 champion Mercedes thinks its rivals can catch up. Germany’s authoritative Auto Motor und Sport on Thursday estimated the marque’s advantage last year at as much as 60 horse power. Many believe that is too great a gap to bridge in just one winter, but Renault has worked hard on its structure […]
Horner plays down early 2015 troubles for Red Bull
Feb.12 (GMM) Christian Horner has played down reports Red Bull is entering a second consecutive season amid early troubles. Although ultimately the championship runner-up, the formerly title-dominant team went into 2014 in technical crisis as engine partner Renault struggled at the start of the new turbo V6 era. Renault subsequently underwent a sweeping restructuring and […]
Williams plays down Ferrari link for Bottas
Feb.12 (GMM) Williams is not taking seriously reports star driver Valtteri Bottas is looking to replace Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen next year. The seat occupied by fellow Finn Raikkonen, who struggled at the Maranello team last year, is technically open for 2016 due to the existence of a contract ‘option’. “If it goes badly and I […]
Malaysia undecided over F1 contract extension
Feb.12 (GMM) Talks to renew Malaysia’s F1 contract are still ongoing. Last month, Sepang circuit boss Razlan Razali travelled to London to discuss the expiring deal with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. “I am very confident this year’s F1 (race) won’t be the last,” he said. Three weeks on, a deal for 2016 and beyond still […]
‘Calm’ Williams sparked Massa revival
Feb.12 (GMM) A “calmer” environment may have contributed to the return to form of former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa. In 2008, the Brazilian went wheel-to-wheel with Lewis Hamilton for the world championship, but a year later he was fighting for his life after the qualifying accident in Hungary. Massa admitted to Spain’s El Confidencial that […]
Red Bull to speed up in Barcelona – Marko
Feb.12 (GMM) Red Bull will begin to step on the throttle at the forthcoming Barcelona test. That is the news of the energy drink marque’s Dr Helmut Marko, apparently responding to reports the 2014 runner-up failed to shine at the opening test at Jerez. Indeed, the camouflaged RB11 did not feature highly on the lists […]