Jun.1 (GMM) F1 teams should have less money to squander on “absurd” driver salaries. That is the view of former FIA president Max Mosley, speaking to the men’s magazine GQ not long after Lewis Hamilton’s lucrative new deal was signed. It is believed Hamilton’s Mercedes deal brings him in line with the dozens of millions […]
F1 can learn from MotoGP – Arrivabene
Jun.1 (GMM) F1 can learn from its two-wheeled equivalent, according to Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene. The Italian made a visit to Mugello at the weekend, as the Ferrari-owned circuit hosted the world of MotoGP. “I believe that this category has a lot to teach formula one,” Arrivabene told Italian media. “Here, if you a […]
Verstappen getting on with ‘rival’ Sainz
Jun.1 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he is still getting on well with his rookie teammate. The young Toro Rosso duo, whose combined age is an amazing 37, have been making their mark on formula one so far in 2015. Spaniard Carlos Sainz, 20, knows what the target is. At the weekend, he demonstrated a Red […]
German broadcaster wants F1 to improve
Jun.1 (GMM) RTL, F1’s free-to-air broadcaster in Germany, wants the sport to improve. We reported last week that, with the traditional market already losing its grand prix in 2015, Germany’s main television host may now also be eyeing the F1 exit. “It is said that RTL will invest all its energy into football,” said the […]
Monza, not Mugello, should host F1 – Arrivabene
Jun.1 (GMM) Monza should be the permanent home of the Italian grand prix. That is the claim of Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari’s team boss. At the weekend, he made a visit to Mugello, which has often been mentioned as a potential alternative venue for the Italian grand prix. Monza’s current place on the schedule is in […]
Manor signs up Bob Bell
Jun.1 (GMM) Backmarker Manor on Monday said it has signed up highly-respected F1 manager and engineer Bob Bell. Ulsterman Bell resigned as Mercedes’ technical director a year ago, formally leaving the German giant last November. Most recently, it was reported the 57-year-old, who served as Renault’s interim team boss after the ‘crash-gate’ scandal of 2009, […]
F1 drivers ‘all looking to Le Mans’ – Dumas
Jun.1 (GMM) F1 drivers are now taking the world of prototype sports cars seriously. That is the claim of Romain Dumas, a French driver who races for Porsche in the increasingly high-profile world endurance championship (WEC). WEC’s profile has been lifted even more in recent times by Dumas’ Porsche teammates: famous ex-F1 driver Mark Webber, […]
‘No plans’ to make ART ‘B’ team – McLaren
May 30 (GMM) McLaren has played down claims about a 2016 ‘B’ team. After the FIA kicked off a search for a new F1 team late this week, speculation suggested an early frontrunner could be ART, a French GP2 outfit. Leading the McLaren-liveried team in the feeder series’ 2016 championship is Stoffel Vandoorne, a McLaren-backed […]
Kehm defends handling of Schumacher privacy
May 30 (GMM) Manager Sabine Kehm has defended her handling of the media since Michael Schumacher’s skiing crash seventeen months ago. Kehm and Schumacher’s wife Corinna have often been criticised for guarding privacy so fiercely since the late December 2013 accident. It means the great German has not been seen publicly, while the nature of […]
GP2 team ART on pole for 2016 debut – report
May 29 (GMM) An early frontrunner to be the twelfth team in 2016 has already emerged. The FIA surprised the F1 media on Thursday by announcing it is searching for another team to join newcomer Haas, perhaps as soon as 2016. Given it is already almost June, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport on Friday suggested […]
Ecclestone not ruling out India return
May 29 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is not ruling out a return to the F1 calendar for India. Last week, a source close to the former promoter Jaypee indicated that the New Delhi race – scrapped for financial and bureaucratic reasons after its third edition in 2013 – appeared unlikely to return any time soon. Indeed, […]
Massa thinks Monaco one-off slump for Williams
May 29 (GMM) Felipe Massa has backed Williams to recover immediately from a bad weekend in Monaco. Valtteri Bottas said after the street race that it was the “second year in succession” the British team struggled in Monaco. Technical boss Pat Symonds told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport: “There is no excuse. “We had the […]
Grosjean ‘annoyed’ by brake-test claim
May 29 (GMM) Romain Grosjean on Friday hit back at Max Verstappen’s claim he “brake-tested” the rookie Dutchman in Monaco. It was 17-year-old Verstappen who was penalised by the FIA following his heavy Ste Devote crash, but the Toro Rosso driver nonetheless claimed he was “brake-tested”. Already denied this week by Lotus chief Alan Permane, […]
Dennis asks Denmark to power Magnussen return
May 29 (GMM) McLaren supremo Ron Dennis jetted into Denmark this week to ask local companies to power Kevin Magnussen back onto the grid. As Fernando Alonso was drafted in for the start of the works McLaren-Honda era, Danish rookie Magnussen was relegated to the reserve driver role. But now the 22-year-old is pushing to […]
Ecclestone eyeing new promoter for Italy GP
May 28 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he is open to working with a new race promoter if it saves the embattled Italian grand prix. With the F1 supremo warning that Monza must pay more to stay on the calendar beyond 2016, Italian automobile club chief Angelo Sticchi Damiani and Ivan Capelli, representing the promoter Sias, […]
Hamilton saga ‘cannot be undone’ – Hakkinen
May 28 (GMM) Mika Hakkinen has tipped Lewis Hamilton to bounce back from the Monaco grand prix. Regarding the basic strategy error that cost the world champion a sure victory on the fabled streets, Hakkinen said: “It was a mistake that nobody can change now. “There are now certainly a few meek colleagues who will […]
Deadline on Lotus-Renault buyout deal looming
May 28 (GMM) International media sources believe Lotus is on the cusp of being sold. Just two weeks ago, amid rumours the Enstone team was in talks with its former owner Renault, Lotus chief Matthew Carter declared: “My shareholders have said quite specifically the team isn’t for sale”. But the speculation did not stop. It […]
FIA not banning alcohol advertising in F1 – Todt
May 28 (GMM) Jean Todt has ruled out banning alcohol sponsorship in formula one. During the Monaco grand prix weekend, a European alcohol policy group called Eurocare said the amount of alcohol-related exposure in the sport is “extreme”. “We now urge the involved bodies in F1 to move away from alcohol sponsorship,” the group declared. […]
New Barcelona mayor says F1 funding ‘not priority’
May 28 (GMM) The Spanish grand prix might be losing the backing of the city of Barcelona. At the Circuit de Catalunya’s latest F1 race earlier this month, it was announced that the Spanish grand prix contract has been extended through 2017, 2018 and 2019. But on Sunday, while F1 cars raced around Monaco, the […]
De Villota investigation ‘unfortunate’ – father
May 28 (GMM) Maria de Villota’s father has expressed disappointment with the way an investigation into a 2012 crash was concluded. Britain’s Health and Safety Executive this week announced that “no enforcement action is being taken” against the former Marussia team regarding de Villota’s horror crash into a truck loading ramp whilst aerodynamic testing at […]