Jul.27 (GMM) “Whoever said formula one is boring looks stupid now,” declared F1 legend Niki Lauda after a thrilling Hungarian grand prix. Sunday marked the end to Mercedes’ impressive and – to some – tedious run of dominance, as it was the first race in the new ‘power unit’ era not featuring a set of […]
Ecclestone denies Ferrari in TV ‘boycott’
Jul.27 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone and Ferrari have denied wild claims the television broadcast of Sunday’s Hungarian grand prix amounted to a ‘boycott’ of the fabled Italian team. The accusation was made by Gianfranco Mazzoni, a commentator for Italian television Rai, who suggested that the Ecclestone-controlled Formula One Management had arranged that images of Sebastian Vettel […]
Renault racing towards future without Red Bull
Jul.27 (GMM) Renault appears to be charging towards a future without Red Bull. With the French carmaker’s next move a hot topic in the Hungaroring paddock, boss Cyril Abiteboul fired a barb at its ever-complaining team partner. “When we read that Red Bull loses money with Renault, that (comment) is completely unacceptable,” he told RMC […]
Button future ‘not priority now’ – Boullier
Jul.27 (GMM) Jenson Button looks set to be retained by McLaren-Honda in 2016. Recently, when team supremo Ron Dennis was asked about the 2009 world champion’s future, he answered: “Jenson Button has a two-year contract with McLaren. “We are not even thinking about drivers at the moment.” While some took that to mean he is […]
Hungary ‘ideal’ for Red Bull – Massa
Jul.26 (GMM) Hungary might be a one-off for the much more competitive Red Bull team. That is the claim of Felipe Massa, who had gone into this weekend warning that the tight and twisty Hungaroring might not suit Williams’ FW37 car. On the other hand, the lack of straights makes it ideal for teams with […]
Teams concerned about 21-race calendar
Jul.26 (GMM) Team bosses are concerned about F1’s plans for an unprecedented 21 grands prix next year. Earlier, it was believed the sport had set an upper acceptable limit of 20 races per season. So when asked about the Bernie Ecclestone-penned, 21-date provisional 2016 schedule now rubber-stamped by the FIA, Lotus driver Romain Grosjean grinned: […]
New car would put Manor ‘closer’ to McLaren – Merhi
Jul.26 (GMM) Manor might have points on the board if it was powered by an up-to-date engine. That is the view of Spanish team driver Roberto Merhi, as he hailed his half-second qualifying advantage over teammate Will Stevens in Hungary. Earlier, it was suggested Merhi might be on the verge of losing his race seat, […]
Hamilton ‘light years ahead’ in Hungary – Lauda
Jul.26 (GMM) Niki Lauda has hailed the dominance of Lewis Hamilton this weekend in Hungary. As Nico Rosberg scratched his head at the nearly 6 tenth gap to his teammate in qualifying, Lewis Hamilton surmised that he has simply mastered his “favourite” Hungaroring circuit. “The gap that he has on this track is light years […]
F1 ‘not as exciting’ now – Alonso
Jul.26 (GMM) Fernando Alonso was a hero of qualifying in Hungary, although he admitted formula one is “not as exciting” to him anymore. McLaren-Honda’s nightmare 2015 continued on Saturday when Alonso broke down, but the Spaniard thrilled the crowd by pushing his broken machine back to the pits. But he was then told the rules, […]
Lauda tips McLaren-Honda to succeed
Jul.26 (GMM) Niki Lauda has tipped Fernando Alonso and McLaren-Honda to bounce back from their current trough. The once-great team’s abysmal 2015 was summed up in Hungarian qualifying, when Spaniard Alonso broke down and pushed his hopeless MP4-30 back to the pits. But former McLaren champion Lauda tipped the team’s struggling engine supplier Honda to […]
Alonso struggle ‘would be hard’ – Rosberg
Jul.26 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has sympathy for the plight of former champion Fernando Alonso. The Mercedes driver said that, before he began to duel for wins and the title against Lewis Hamilton, struggling for mere points in F1 was “not so difficult” because “I didn’t understand what it was like to have a car capable […]
Lotus admits Renault talks taking place
Jul.26 (GMM) Lotus has admitted it is in talks to be bought out by Renault. The Enstone team arrived at the Hungaroring amid a dispute with tyre supplier Pirelli, as it emerged that a $500,000 payment to the Italian marque was overdue. “We had a problem with the bank transfer,” insisted deputy team boss Federico […]
Hamilton says Mercedes not most dominant ever
Jul.26 (GMM) From Valtteri Bottas to Max Verstappen, drivers up and down pitlane are being linked with a Ferrari seat for 2016. Not Lewis Hamilton, although he does admit to having ‘contact’ with the Maranello marque. “Every year. I love their road cars!” he laughed in an interview with Spain’s El Mundo. When it comes […]
Red Bull ‘must take control of future’ – Horner
Jul.26 (GMM) Red Bull needs to take back control of its destiny in formula one, according to team boss Christian Horner. The once-dominant outfit has struggled in the new ‘power unit’ era, with the finger of blame always pointed squarely at engine partner Renault. Earlier, it was suggested Renault would finally trade in its performance […]
Boullier not thrilled with 2016 testing cuts
Jul.26 (GMM) Eric Boullier says he is not thrilled with the further reduction of testing in formula one. For 2016, the official pre-season programme has been cut from 12 days to just 8, while in-season testing has been axed altogether. Asked if he is happy with that, McLaren-Honda team boss Boullier answered: “I don’t think […]
Pirelli eyeing ‘super-super soft’ tyre for 2016
Jul.25 (GMM) A tyre even softer than Pirelli’s so-called ‘super soft’ looks set to make its bow in 2016. As the Italian marque competes with applicant Michelin for the 2017-2019 F1 contract, Paul Hembery said Pirelli is planning some improvements next year. 2016 could turn out to be Pirelli’s last season on the grid, even […]
Schumacher plight ‘very sad’ – Montezemolo
Jul.25 (GMM) Luca di Montezemolo has credited F1 legend Michael Schumacher as he was inducted into the Automotive ‘Hall of Fame’ in Detroit. “I don’t know if I would have received this award without him,” said the former long-time Ferrari president, according to Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. “It is dedicated to him, because he […]
Merhi hoping to finish season with Manor
Jul.25 (GMM) Roberto Merhi is now hoping to make it all the way to the end of the season with Manor. Until now, the Spanish rookie has been on a race-by-race deal with the struggling former Marussia team, as Manor left the door open to a driver with much-needed sponsor backing. One candidate has now […]
Holding pattern emerges as Renault decides F1 future
Jul.25 (GMM) Many in the paddock are in a holding pattern as Renault’s future in formula one remains unclear. After Lotus was almost left without tyres to use in Hungary practice, it became clear that the Enstone team is waiting to pay overdue bills while team buyout talks with Renault, the French carmaker, are taking […]
Former F1 doctor battling cancer – report
Jul.25 (GMM) Former McLaren doctor Aki Hintsa is reportedly battling cancer. The 56-year-old Finn stepped away from F1 at the end of 2013, although he continued to treat various current drivers at his clinic in Geneva. Now, the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat reports that Dr Hintsa has begun a fight against cancer, after an abdominal […]