Oct.25 (GMM) As a U-turn on the Red Bull-Renault alliance now appears possible, it could be Lotus that is the team left without an engine to fire. At one point, the Enstone team looked to have not one but two ‘power units’ for 2016: an existing contract with Mercedes, and an incoming Renault as the […]
Hulkenberg reveals he lost weight in 2015
Oct.24 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has admitted he has slimmed down during the course of the 2015 season. Although highly rated and the reigning Le Mans champion, German Hulkenberg has struggled at times at Force India this year, where his teammate is Sergio Perez. Mexican Perez is just 5 foot 6, while Hulkenberg is – on […]
‘Travesty’ if Magnussen locked out of F1 – Carlin
Oct.24 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen could be left with no role at all in F1 in 2016, after McLaren-Honda showed him the door. Team boss Eric Boullier on Friday hit back at suggestions the Dane was actually “fired”, amid reports it was Ron Dennis’ secretary who broke the bad news via email — on Magnussen’s birthday. […]
Horner not denying Red Bull-Honda reports
Oct.24 (GMM) Suddenly, almost everything is back on the table as the crisis-struck Red Bull plots a course to stay in formula one. Mercedes power, however, is one possible exception, as Toto Wolff has repeatedly and consistently ruled out supplying the energy drink-owned camp. Asked on Friday why he was smiling, boss Christian Horner joked: […]
FIA to launch tender for new F1 engine supplier
Oct.24 (GMM) The FIA has agreed to launch a tender process for a new parallel engine formula. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, reporting that Bernie Ecclestone has managed to convince FIA president Jean Todt. Ecclestone, backed by his old sparring partner Max Mosley, has made clear that he thinks the […]
2015 title will not be Hamilton’s best memory – Andretti
Oct.24 (GMM) According to F1 legend Mario Andretti, Lewis Hamilton has been “outstanding” as he raced to match point in the 2015 world championship. But the 75-year-old, who won his title in 1978, does not think 2015 will be the “most significant” memory when the soon-to-be triple world champion looks back on his career. Asked […]
Kaltenborn hits back after Lauda attack
Oct.24 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn has hit back in the wake of an equally venomous attack by the F1 legend Niki Lauda. Lauda, the Mercedes team chairman, recently lashed out at Sauber for joining Force India in the complaint about F1’s governance to the European Commission. But he also attacked boss and co-owner Kaltenborn personally, saying […]
Haas books chassis crash tests for January
Oct.24 (GMM) Haas’ preparations for its 2016 formula one debut are speeding up. Gunther Steiner, the new American team’s boss, is on site in Austin this weekend, and on Friday was spotted chatting with Esteban Gutierrez in the Ferrari hospitality. Mexican Gutierrez, currently the Ferrari reserve, is expected to be named as Romain Grosjean’s teammate […]
Palmer joins but Lotus’ future still clouded
Oct.24 (GMM) The future is still clouded, but Lotus at least has a full driver lineup for the 2016 season. 2014 GP2 champion and current team reserve Jolyon Palmer, it was announced on Friday, will be Pastor Maldonado’s teammate. Briton Palmer is the son of former F1 driver Jonathan Palmer, but despite his successes he […]
Hurricane could ruin US and Mexican grands prix
Oct.24 (GMM) As rain streamed down and lightening spooked those cowering in the grandstands, F1 was forced to cancel the second Friday practice session in Austin. One question it raised was, if the field can cope with fewer practice laps, why doesn’t formula one permanently cancel the long and unpopular ‘free practice’? “If it’s the […]
Honda has ‘found the way’ with upgrade – Alonso
Oct.23 (GMM) It sounds odd, but Jenson Button says he wants McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso to “annihilate” him this weekend in Austin. That is because only the Spaniard’s car is equipped for the US grand prix with struggling partner Honda’s newly-upgraded engine. It was debuted only in practice two weeks ago in Russia, triggering unusual […]
Red Bull, Renault ‘talking again’ – Jos Verstappen
Oct.23 (GMM) Renault and Red Bull are at least “talking again”. That is the news of Jos Verstappen, a former F1 driver who now travels the globe with his son Max. Max, newly 18, drives for Red Bull’s junior team Toro Rosso, which like the senior outfit could be pulled out of the sport if […]
Lauda’s role as TV pundit now in doubt
Oct.23 (GMM) Niki Lauda admits he is not sure he will still split his time between Mercedes and working for German television beyond this season. At the Russian grand prix a fortnight ago, the F1 legend was conspicuously absent from his usual post in front of the cameras for the German broadcaster RTL. “I have […]
Russian official urges Ecclestone to revive V8s
Oct.23 (GMM) Russian grand prix chief Igor Ermilin has backed Bernie Ecclestone’s desire to force the return of screaming V8 power in formula one. As Red Bull struggles to secure a V6 ‘power unit’ deal for 2016, and the issue of quiet engines remains a problem, the F1 supremo reportedly took the V8 proposal to […]
Mercedes fixes Sochi glitches for Austin
Oct.22 (GMM) Mercedes has travelled to Austin with fixes for the two reliability problems suffered at Sochi recently. Nico Rosberg’s title chances were effectively destroyed when a small and inexpensive ‘O-ring’ in the throttle mechanism broke. It was a tried and tested design, but Auto Motor und Sport reports that Mercedes has reacted by re-designing […]
Three drivers in race for two Manor seats
Oct.22 (GMM) At Manor, three divided by two plus a Mercedes power unit means the British team has revved up its asking price for 2016. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes chief, has said now on several occasions that while he would like to place Pascal Wehrlein at Manor next year, the two sides are currently negotiating […]
Rosberg refusing to admit 2015 title now gone
Oct.22 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is refusing to give up on the 2015 drivers’ championship, although even his Mercedes boss does not agree. “It’s a shame that Nico was not able to keep fighting for the title because he has done very well,” Toto Wolff told the Spanish daily Marca ahead of the US grand prix. […]
Charlie Whiting approves Mexico City circuit
Oct.22 (GMM) Mere days before the F1 teams begin to touch down in Mexico City, the renovated Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit has been officially approved by the FIA. On his way to Austin for this weekend’s US grand prix, FIA race director Charlie Whiting inspected the Mexican site, which last hosted a grand prix in […]
Marko now ‘confident’ of Red Bull crisis solution
Oct.22 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he is “confident” Red Bull’s engine supply crisis will finally end this weekend in Austin. If it is not solved, team owner Dietrich Mateschitz’s end-of-October deadline will arrive and the Austrian billionaire could pull the plug on the sport. “It would suck,” Daniel Ricciardo, the lead driver of the […]
Ricciardo signs with former Beckham manager
Oct.22 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has signed up with sports manager Simon Bayliff, known for managing Tour de France star Mark Cavendish and formerly with British football legend David Beckham. Earlier in 2015, Australian Ricciardo – whose career to date has been guided by Red Bull – played down the need for a manager. “Red Bull […]