Sep.16 (GMM) Carlos Ghosn has confirmed that Renault will cease to be merely an engine supplier in F1 beyond the end of 2015. “We have said very clearly: it’s over,” the German news agency DPA quoted him as saying at the Frankfurt motor show. Currently the supplier to Red Bull and Toro Rosso, who are […]
Ricciardo unsure as Red Bull eyes ‘customer’ status
Sep.16 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo is not convinced that reverting to engine ‘customer’ status will be a guarantee of success for Red Bull. In the new ‘power unit’ era so far, the former quadruple world champions have struggled with Renault’s V6. The French carmaker’s CEO Carlos Ghosn confirmed on Tuesday that Renault will no longer merely […]
Magnussen to miss Singapore with broken hand
Sep.16 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen will miss this weekend’s Singapore grand prix after breaking his hand. The Dane, who is McLaren’s reserve driver, tweeted a photo of his plastered arm and confirmed that he “Won’t be in Singapore for the night race this year”. “Next year! Better stick to four wheels,” he added. A team spokesman […]
Vandoorne not new McLaren reserve
Sep.16 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne has not been drafted into McLaren’s lineup as reserve driver, the British team said on Wednesday. Regular reserve Kevin Magnussen is not in Singapore this weekend after breaking his hand in a cycling crash. The Dane has also been linked with a move for 2016 to Haas. So when fellow McLaren […]
BMW rules out F1 return
Sep.16 (GMM) BMW has issued a clear “no” on the issue of a potential F1 comeback. First with Williams, and then as team owner in the BMW-Sauber era, the German carmaker raced throughout almost all of last decade. After pulling out at the end of 2009, BMW returned to the German touring car championship in […]
McLaren will not stop Magnussen exit
Sep.16 (GMM) McLaren has denied reports it allowed the option on Kevin Magnussen’s contract to “lapse”. The reports coincided with intense speculation the Danish driver is set to leave Woking to drive for the new Ferrari ‘B’ team Haas in 2016, partnered by either Esteban Gutierrez or Jean-Eric Vergne. Magnussen, absent in Singapore this week […]
Sauber’s Zehnder sure haze won’t stop Singapore GP
Sep.16 (GMM) Singapore’s skies remain hazy, but one paddock veteran is sure the popular and floodlit street race will go ahead. Preparations at Marina Bay are in full swing, drivers have been busily performing promotional duties throughout Wednesday, and Sauber team manager Beat Zehnder thinks “unhealthy” air quality will not stop the racing. “Until two […]
Rosberg to use Monza engine in Singapore
Sep.16 (GMM) This weekend in Singapore, Nico Rosberg will use the very same new-specification Mercedes engine that was removed from his car ahead of qualifying at Monza. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, as new details about Mercedes’ upgraded ‘power unit’ now begin to emerge. Auto Bild, another German publication, describes […]
Austrian broadcaster may stop F1 coverage
Sep.16 (GMM) Austria could be set to lose its F1 television broadcaster. The publication TV Media claims that the contract held by ORF, whose coverage includes the former F1 driver and GPDA chairman Alex Wurz as pundit, expires at the end of 2016. Reportedly, the Austrian public broadcaster ORF may no longer be prepared to […]
Ghosn all but confirms Red Bull split
Sep.15 (GMM) Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn on Tuesday all but confirmed speculation the French carmaker is set to split with F1 partners Red Bull and Toro Rosso. At the Frankfurt Motor Show, he admitted Renault is “renegotiating” its deals with the two energy drink-owned teams, amid intense speculation the decision to split has already been […]
Merhi sees ‘options’ to stay at Manor in 2016
Sep.15 (GMM) Roberto Merhi admits there is no guarantee he will be back with the Manor team next year. Last week, it emerged that the Spanish rookie will no longer split his time this year between F1 and his other race seat in the Formula Renault 3.5 series. His team Pons explained that it was […]
Pollution not stopping Singapore GP yet
Sep.15 (GMM) The Singapore grand prix is going ahead, despite the haze situation in the skies above the popular floodlight street circuit. Authorities on Tuesday declared that the air quality in the city-state due to Indonesian forest fires remains “unhealthy”, and “may deteriorate” further on Wednesday. So as international coverage of the haze situation increases […]
‘Impossible to be happy’ at Ferrari – Massa
Sep.15 (GMM) Felipe Massa says he has no regrets about being ousted by Ferrari. At Maranello, the Brazilian was competitive alongside the great Michael Schumacher and almost won the world championship whilst Kimi Raikkonen’s teammate in 2008. Some believe it was Massa’s near-fatal crash in 2009 that subsequently hurt his form, but now fully back […]
McLaren let Magnussen option lapse – report
Sep.15 (GMM) McLaren reportedly allowed the option on Kevin Magnussen’s contract covering the 2016 season to lapse. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that the option ran out at the end of August, which would explain the most recent spate of rumours linking the Dane with a potential move to Haas or elsewhere. Currently the […]
Pirelli, FIA to avoid repeat of Monza controversy
Sep.14 (GMM) Pirelli and the FIA are working to avoid a repeat of the post-race controversy that followed the recent Italian grand prix. After the Monza race, and with the sport still nervous about the Spa blowout saga, Lewis Hamilton’s win was in doubt for some time because his tyres had been found to be […]
Singapore organisers nervous beneath hazy skies
Sep.14 (GMM) Organisers of the Singapore grand prix are looking nervously to the hazy skies above the floodlit Marina Bay street circuit. Authorities have declared the air quality in Singapore as “very unhealthy” due to forest fires in Indonesia, and so far the University Games and a football match have been cancelled. The Singapore grand […]
McLaren wants race seats for Magnussen, Vandoorne
Sep.14 (GMM) McLaren says it will work hard to ensure team juniors Kevin Magnussen and Stoffel Vandoorne are on the F1 grid next year. It appears likely that the Woking based team, enduring its high-profile struggle this year with Honda power, will retain the champion line-up of Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button in 2016. Current […]
F1 to test new FIA camera in practice session
Sep.14 (GMM) The bespoke high-speed camera that will help F1 in its fight against head injuries has now emerged. Developed by Magneti Marelli, the FIA intends to mandate the fitting of the USB stick-sized camera and data device to the front of the cockpit – looking back at the driver – for 2016. The camera […]
Ferrari says Allison staying ‘long term’
Sep.14 (GMM) Ferrari confirmed reports its technical boss James Allison is staying put at Maranello. In the days before the Italian grand prix, Ferrari media insider Leo Turrini claimed that contrary to mid-season speculation, Briton Allison recently signed a new deal through 2018. Team boss Maurizio Arrivabene confirmed: “I already confirmed that in Belgium. Yeah, […]
Williams may not use latest Mercedes spec
Sep.14 (GMM) Williams is not sure it will get its hands on the latest specification of Mercedes’ field-leading engine. Red Bull’s Christian Horner described the performance of the latest Mercedes engine – introduced by the works team at Monza – as “scary”. It will reportedly form the basis of the 2016 unit, but the power […]