May 11 (GMM) The sorry saga of the now-axed 2015 German grand prix has nothing to do with Hockenheim. That is the claim of circuit chief Georg Seiler, after some F1 fans and even insiders reacted with pleasant surprise when it emerged at the weekend that Germany will definitely be back on the calendar next […]
Ricciardo not committing to Red Bull yet
May 11 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo is not yet committing to the increasingly crisis-struck Red Bull beyond 2015. In Barcelona, rumours that the troubled former champion team’s Australian lead driver had signed a new deal for 2016 and beyond did the rounds. “We’re talking about it,” Ricciardo is quoted by Sky Italia, “but it depends on […]
Ferrari rumours ‘too early’ for Bottas – Massa
May 11 (GMM) All the talk about Valtteri Bottas’ future has come “too early”. That is the view of Felipe Massa, the former long-time Ferrari driver who today is the rising Finnish sensation’s teammate at Williams. In the past days and weeks, 25-year-old Bottas has been increasingly linked with a switch to Ferrari, having reportedly […]
‘Fuel flow story’ puts Ferrari on back foot
May 11 (GMM) The Hamilton versus Rosberg show is back on, according to Mercedes chief Toto Wolff after the Spanish grand prix. Team chairman Niki Lauda beamed at Barcelona on Sunday as he declared Nico Rosberg is “back” after ending a run of defeats to his on-form teammate Lewis Hamilton. “We saw it last year” […]
Ecclestone ‘always has upper hand’ – Barcelona chief
May 11 (GMM) Race chief Sebastia Salvado says his “worst memory” in the quarter-century history of the Spanish grand prix at Barcelona features none other than Bernie Ecclestone. Last weekend, the Circuit de Catalunya announced it has extended its deal to keep organising the formula one race at the track in Montmelo. But when asked […]
Volkswagen in F1 ‘would be great’ – Ecclestone
May 11 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has added even more fuel to the ever-growing ‘Audi-to-F1’ speculation. Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and F1 legend Gerhard Berger fuelled the rumours last week, suggesting Dietrich Mateschitz is pushing hard for the Volkswagen-owned marque to power or even buy his struggling team Red Bull. Recently, arguably the biggest […]
Wolff admits wife Susie at F1 ‘crossroads’
May 10 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted his wife Susie has come to “a crossroads” in her F1 journey. Earlier in 2015, despite looking ahead to two Friday practice outings with Williams, 32-year-old tester Susie Wolff was overlooked by the British team for its vacant role as official reserve driver. Wolff admitted in Barcelona that […]
Manager says Schumacher condition ‘improving’
May 10 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s manager says the condition of the seven time world champion is “improving”. Sabine Kehm, who is now guiding Schumacher’s son Mick on his first steps in single seaters, appeared in the Barcelona paddock ahead of the Spanish grand prix. When asked about the mostly unknown fate of F1’s most successful […]
Wolff happy to give Hamilton his freedom
May 10 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he is happy to give Lewis Hamilton his freedom. In the three week ‘break’ between Bahrain and Spain, the reigning world champion racked up the equivalent of a full circumnavigation of planet Earth in his red, $30 million private jet. Reports say he hopped from Bahrain to Monaco and […]
Red Bull crisis deepens in Barcelona
May 10 (GMM) Renault has turned down the performance of its troubled ‘power unit’ as it stands on the cusp of an embarrassing run of F1 grid penalties. Drivers powered by the French engines are rapidly running through their allocation of four units for the whole 2015 season. So when asked about the performance of […]
Lauda hears rumours of cars with ‘extra tank’
May 10 (GMM) The issue of ‘fuel flow’ has returned to the formula one paddock. A few races ago, we reported that the FIA was clamping down on monitoring the maximum allowed fuel flow limit, amid suspicions top manufacturers may have found a loophole. It was suspected some teams – perhaps Ferrari and Mercedes – […]
Berger doubts Strategy Group can save F1
May 10 (GMM) Roberto Merhi has arguably the least enviable job in all of formula one — the slowest driver at the wheel of the slowest car. So slow is the Spaniard’s Manor in Barcelona that he would also have qualified dead last for the this weekend’s GP2 race on the very same circuit. “It’s […]
2016 German GP return ‘1,000pc safe’ – Hockenheim
May 10 (GMM) Hockenheim’s boss says he is “1,000 per cent” sure the German grand prix will return in 2016. After failing to rescue this year’s event, Bernie Ecclestone said recently there is also no guarantee Hockenheim will return to the 2016 calendar, despite its bi-annual contract. But when asked about the 2016 German grand […]
Rosberg’s ‘humiliation over now’ – Lauda
May 10 (GMM) Nico Rosberg’s “humiliation” is finally over. That is the claim of Mercedes’ always-blunt team chairman Niki Lauda, who had urged the German to urgently find a way to stop Lewis Hamilton’s “extra-terrestrial”-like run of form. “The humiliation of the first races is over,” the F1 legend told RTL television after Saturday in […]
Alonso ‘disillusioned’ but not ‘dark and moody’
May 10 (GMM) Even McLaren’s dark new livery could give the British team a boost. British newspapers report that the switch from chrome to ‘graphite grey’ in Barcelona has resulted in an up to 3kg weight saving for the MP4-30. “Everybody is looking to shave off time in any way you can,” confirmed managing director […]
Mercedes supports fifth engine yet again
May 10 (GMM) Mercedes has changed its position yet again over the ‘fifth engine’ issue. Concerned that too many drivers will easily run through their allocation of four engines and start serving multiple grid penalties, talks about adding another ‘power unit’ took place recently. “There was a certain degree of unanimous agreement amongst the teams […]
Audi can win in F1 with Red Bull – Berger
May 9 GMM) The latest rumours about Audi are now growing by the day. Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo poured on fuel just days ago when he said a “mutual friend” had told him Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz is pushing hard for the Volkswagen brand to enter formula one. And Gerhard Berger, a […]
Sainz disappointed with speed of F1
May 9 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is disappointed with the speed of modern formula one. The Spanish rookie is the reigning champion of Formula Renault 3.5, and he said after practising in his Toro Rosso on Friday: “I’ve driven faster cars here. “It’s not so nice in the cockpit when you’re going so slowly,” […]
F1 ‘will be happy’ with final calendar – Ecclestone
May 9 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone claims “everyone will be happy” when he finalises the 2016 calendar. However, some drivers are worried about the recent trend, with Germany missing in 2015 and the F1 supremo warning that historic Monza could be next. “Silverstone, Spain, Italy, Germany — they’re the foundations of this sport,” reigning world champion […]
Ferrari picks successor for ousted Rivola
May 9 (GMM) Ferrari has already nominated a replacement for its absent-in-Barcelona sporting director Massimo Rivola. Earlier reports said Rivola, a key figure at the resurgent Maranello team, as well as a logistics manager and chef, had been suspended or dismissed over an unknown matter. For now, team boss Maurizio Arrivabene is shedding no light. […]