May 5 (GMM) The Lewis Hamilton contract saga looks set to continue throughout yet another race weekend or two. The reigning world champion’s repeatedly delayed new Mercedes deal has triggered rumours he might be considering a switch to Ferrari. But in the last days, German reports indicated a new three-year agreement has finally been signed […]
Vettel a F1 great, Hamilton ‘not yet’ – Moss
May 5 (GMM) F1 legend Sir Stirling Moss has admitted he is an avowed fan of Sebastian Vettel. That is despite the fact that it is Moss’ fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton who is dominating formula one at present. But “I don’t think Lewis is great yet,” the 85-year-old, commonly referred to as the best driver […]
Lopez urges team support for ‘viable future’
May 5 (GMM) Gerard Lopez, the Lotus team owner, has urged other formula one outfits to “stand together” to make the sport more sustainable. Caterham has collapsed, Marussia (now Manor) almost followed suit and midfield teams including Lotus, Force India and Sauber’s financial problems have been well documented. Even the competitive Williams recorded a $50 […]
McLaren confirms ‘graphite-grey’ livery change
May 5 (GMM) McLaren on Tuesday confirmed reports it is tweaking its livery ahead of the Spanish grand prix. Earlier media reports suggested the works Honda-powered team was set to drop the chrome from its identity, perhaps as it is too closely related to its Mercedes-linked past. Some had even speculated that McLaren might return […]
Honda not giving up on podium in 2015
May 4 (GMM) Honda is not yet abandoning the idea of powering McLaren to the podium in 2015. Amid all the hype about the reunion of the ultra-successful names in formula one, McLaren-Honda has struggled so far this season. But the MP4-30 has made significant progress since the Melbourne season opener, and star driver Fernando […]
Iran planning F1 track – official
May 4 (GMM) Iran is once again being mentioned as a potential new host for formula one. In 2011, the country bordering Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq came onto the F1 radar when it emerged officials had approved plans for a circuit close to the capital Tehran. International journalists described the thought of an Iranian grand […]
Alonso to reunite with Barcelona hospital team
May 4 (GMM) Fernando Alonso will this week reunite with the medical team that nursed him back to health after his winter testing crash. Spain’s El Mundo newspaper reports that the McLaren-Honda driver has invited members of the Hospital General de Catalunya out for dinner ahead of this weekend’s Spanish grand prix at the Barcelona […]
Raikkonen now happy with ‘English’ engineer
May 4 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen is now happy with his relationship with his race engineer. Last year, as the Finn struggled with the 2014 Ferrari, Raikkonen was also at odds in the garage as he struggled to adapt to working with Italian Antonio Spagnolo. The 35-year-old had reportedly wanted to take with him to Ferrari […]
Catching Mercedes will take ‘a while’ – Vettel
May 4 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted that Ferrari continues to trail F1 pacesetter Mercedes. At the wheel of his resurgent red car, the German won the Malaysian grand prix while Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen came close to challenging for victory two weeks ago in Bahrain. “We are trying to bother Mercedes,” Vettel told Welt […]
Ricciardo not sure Red Bull quit threats ‘real’
May 4 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has admitted he is not sure Red Bull’s F1 quit threats are “real”. When the extent of Red Bull’s 2015 struggle and dissatisfaction with the rules and engine partner Renault became clear earlier this season, the team’s Austrian faction headed by Helmut Marko and owner Dietrich Mateschitz indicated the energy […]
Commentator to miss Barcelona after horse fall
May 4 (GMM) German television Sky will be without one of its F1 commentators this weekend in Barcelona. Swiss Marc Surer, a veteran of 88 grands prix until the mid-80s, fell off a horse last week during the gap between the Bahrain and Spanish grands prix. “The horse shied and fell,” the 63-year-old, now also […]
Arrivabene hints at 2017 deal for Bottas
May 3 (GMM) Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene has not ruled out a move to the fabled Maranello team for Valtteri Bottas in 2017. The Italian was interviewed by Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper following speculation Finn Bottas may already have inked a ‘pre-agreement’ with Ferrari to move from Williams at the end of the season. […]
Ferrari caught out ‘relaxed’ Mercedes – Villeneuve
May 1 (GMM) Mercedes was caught by surprise by Ferrari’s 2015 resurgence, according to 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. In Australia, the reigning world champion team appeared to have maintained or even extended its dominance of 2014 by easily driving to a one-two. But then in Malaysia, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel won on merit. “It seems […]
Sauber says Mosley’s budget cap ‘good idea’
May 1 (GMM) Sauber has backed former FIA president Max Mosley’s renewed call for a budget cap in formula one. Earlier this week, ahead of the Strategy Group’s crunch meeting on May 14 about the future, Mosley told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport that teams should revisit the idea of limiting their budgets to $100 […]
Massa intends to stay at Williams
May 1 (GMM) Felipe Massa says he has no plans to leave Williams or formula one at the end of the season. Many believe that, in the wake of his near-fatal 2009 crash, the Brazilian never quite returned to the type of form that almost carried him to the title with Ferrari. Indeed, the 34-year-old […]
Alonso could quit if McLaren-Honda stagnates – Massa
May 1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso might decide to retire rather than keep struggling with McLaren-Honda. That is the claim of the Spaniard’s former Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa. Speaking to UOL Esporte, Massa had been asked about Alonso’s move from Ferrari just as the Italian team surged back to the front of the grid. In contrast, […]
Source denies Bottas has signed Ferrari deal
May 1 (GMM) A Finnish media source has hit back at rumours Valtteri Bottas is closing on a switch to Ferrari. Italian sources this week reported that the Williams driver could replace fellow Finn Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari next year, and may even have already signed a pre-agreement. But Oskari Saari, a well-connected commentator for […]
Sauber could struggle after Barcelona – Nasr
May 1 (GMM) Barcelona could be a “turning point” in Sauber’s 2015 campaign, driver Felipe Nasr has admitted. Having struggled financially through 2014 and then fended off Giedo van der Garde’s legal advances in Australia, the Swiss team has surprised so far this season with its pace and results. And Brazilian rookie Nasr, 22, has […]
Alonso also decided against Le Mans – McLaren
May 1 (GMM) The decision to sit out Le Mans this year was also taken by Fernando Alonso himself, McLaren insists. This week, during the three-week lull between grands prix, the media has taken a moment to consider the reasons for the demise of Alonso’s 2015 Le Mans plans. Late last year, it seemed certain […]
Aero boss Fallows says Red Bull can catch up
May 1 (GMM) Aerodynamics chief Dan Fallows thinks Red Bull can catch up despite its obvious engine disadvantage. Although Adrian Newey is known as the sport’s aerodynamic genius, Fallows’ quality was demonstrated last year as Red Bull and McLaren tussled over his services. Now, as Red Bull laments the fact the ‘power unit’ supplied by […]