Apr.30 (GMM) Rumours in Italy suggest Valtteri Bottas’s formula one future is coloured in red. Former double world champion Mika Hakkinen, now involved in the management of the Williams driver’s career, said this week that if he was the decision-maker at Ferrari, he is not sure he would retain Kimi Raikkonen. On the other hand, […]
Silverstone makes ‘plea’ for better F1 show
Apr.29 (GMM) Silverstone chief Patrick Allen has added his voice to calls for a rules shakeup in formula one. He has told British newspapers that races are too predictable because of the dominance of technology, joking that the winning “technical directors” should stand at the top of the podium rather than the drivers. Allen said […]
Rosberg should ‘start from scratch’ in 2015 – Lauda
Apr.29 (GMM) Nico Rosberg needs to “start from scratch” as he tries to take on teammate Lewis Hamilton in 2015. That is the advice of Mercedes’ team chairman Niki Lauda, who is also one of the most famous names in F1 history. After fighting Hamilton hard throughout 2014, German Rosberg has notably struggled this season […]
2016 season to get late start in April
Apr.29 (GMM) The F1 season will get off to a late start next year. Australian media reports say the Melbourne race, which is guaranteed the opening spot on the sport’s annual calendar, will be held on April 3, 2016. In the past few years, the season-opening Australian grand prix has been held a couple of […]
Red Bull to finally debut ‘short nose’ in Spain
Apr.29 (GMM) Red Bull is tipped to finally debut the so-called ‘short nose’ version of its 2015 car at the forthcoming Spanish grand prix. “The modified car is arguably an RB11 ‘B’,” declared Spain’s El Mundo Deportivo. The former world champions, who have struggled so far in 2015 with both the car and its Renault […]
McLaren to keep same car concept in 2016
Apr.29 (GMM) Next year’s McLaren car will be an “evolution” of the current MP4-30. Last year, the famous British team finished the season just fifth best, despite having clearly the best engine in the field in the form of the Mercedes. Behind the scenes, team boss Eric Boullier now admits, things were just not working. […]
Hamilton ready for Vettel-like title run
Apr.29 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has issued an ominous warning to his rivals. The reigning world champion has won three of the four races so far this season, leaving his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg trailing in his wake. Niki Lauda says the German, Rosberg, needs to hit a metaphorical ‘reset’ now and start his 2015 campaign […]
Alesi concerned by Mick Schumacher ‘media exposure’
Apr.29 (GMM) Former F1 driver Jean Alesi has expressed alarm at the “media exposure” surrounding Michael Schumacher’s 16-year-old son. Mick Schumacher’s step from karting to the German Formula 4 series this year has captured the imagination of the world’s media. But former Ferrari driver Alesi’s 15-year-old son, Giuliano, also made the move into F4 this […]
Alonso move not necessarily a mistake – Gene
Apr.29 (GMM) Ferrari test driver Marc Gene does not agree that Fernando Alonso’s decision to leave the Italian team has been proved definitely wrong. As the famous Spaniard slumped deep into the midfield at McLaren-Honda, while his successor-in-red Sebastian Vettel races into title contention, many observers have concluded that Alonso seriously erred in making the […]
F1 ‘has become boring’ – Glock
Apr.29 (GMM) Former F1 driver Timo Glock has denounced the pinnacle of motor sport as “boring”. The 33-year-old German drove for Toyota until 2009, when the Japanese giant suddenly pulled out. He raced on with Marussia until 2012, but was ultimately a victim of the ever-growing ‘pay driver’ trend. Glock now races for BMW in […]
Mosley proposes budget cap with rules freedom
Apr.28 (GMM) Max Mosley has urged F1 teams to rethink the idea of a budget cap — with an added twist. In 2015, the issue of spiralling and unmanageable costs is high on the agenda, and not just following the collapse of Caterham and Marussia. Three bigger teams – Force India, Lotus and Sauber – […]
F1 sponsors drivers in GP2, GP3 – report
Apr.28 (GMM) The company that runs formula one sponsors key junior drivers in the feeder categories GP2 and GP3. That is the finding of F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, having studied the prospectus of the sport’s planned stock market floatation. With colleague Kate Hewitt, he wrote in Forbes that the identity of the drivers who […]
Rosberg ‘didn’t care’ as he attacked in Bahrain
Apr.28 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says he has changed tack after complaining about teammate Lewis Hamilton’s driving in the recent Chinese grand prix. The German had accused his Mercedes teammate of driving too slowly and compromising his strategy whilst leading the Shanghai race. But a week later in Bahrain, Rosberg appeared to have changed tack by […]
Alonso ‘knew’ Ferrari would improve – Gracia
Apr.28 (GMM) Fernando Alonso “knew” Ferrari would take a step forward in 2015. That is the claim of Carlos Gracia, the head of Spain’s motor racing federation. “People keep saying Fernando was wrong to go to McLaren,” he told the Spanish sports daily Marca ahead of the country’s home grand prix next weekend. Indeed, after […]
Williams spent $3m on staff bonuses last year
Apr.28 (GMM) Williams spent $3 million on bonuses to its staff at the end of last year, British newspapers report. The news follows hot on the heels of the Grove based team admitting on Monday it recorded a $50 million financial loss last year, as a result of lower sponsorship and official prize-money as well […]
Claire Williams says father will never retire
Apr.28 (GMM) Claire Williams says her legendary father will be “face down on the desk” on the day he retires from his role as team principal. Claire, 38, is now the Grove team’s deputy and undoubtedly first in line to succeed her father Sir Frank, who founded his racing team almost 50 years ago. In […]
Hakkinen not sure Ferrari should keep Raikkonen
Apr.27 (GMM) Mika Hakkinen is not sure he would advise Ferrari to keep his countryman Kimi Raikkonen beyond 2015. Finn Raikkonen, who replaced Hakkinen at McLaren some 13 years ago, is currently pushing to be retained by Ferrari and in Bahrain finished second behind Lewis Hamilton. But when asked about Ferrari’s deliberations, Hakkinen said: “At […]
Rosberg not focusing on title situation
Apr.27 (GMM) Nico Rosberg insists he is not focusing on the championship standings at present. After just four of the nineteen races this year, the German is already 27 points behind his Mercedes teammate and reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton. It has triggered suggestions Rosberg is no longer capable of mounting the sort of season-long […]
Sauber set for more legal trouble
Apr.27 (GMM) Sauber’s legal troubles could be set to explode again next week in Spain. Ahead of the 2015 season opener, the Swiss team found itself in a near-terminal court struggle with Giedo van der Garde. The Dutchman ultimately escaped with a reported EUR 15 million in compensation, after Sauber unilaterally reneged on his signed […]
Todt unhurt in Nepal earthquake
Apr.27 (GMM) FIA president Jean Todt has emerged unscathed from a massive earthquake that killed thousands in Nepal on Saturday. The Frenchman was heading the governing body’s Asia-Pacific Regional Congress in the capital Kathmandu when the 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck. “All members of the FIA party and congress delegates are safe and accounted for,” said the […]