May 26 (GMM) FIA president Jean Todt has denied the need to radically shake up formula one. The overwhelming message from the F1 paddock in recent weeks has been that of a self-made ‘crisis’, as Mercedes dominates, audiences decline and small teams risk collapse. Todt, a low-profile figure since taking over from the more confrontational […]
Williams must fix Monaco slump – Bottas
May 26 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has urged Williams to get to the bottom of its Monaco slump. The British team’s dip in performance last weekend came at an awkward time, as Bottas is being strongly linked with a move elsewhere, possibly to Ferrari. “We must learn from this weekend,” the 25-year-old driver said, after an […]
No celebrations after first points – McLaren
May 26 (GMM) There were no celebrations on Sunday despite a major breakthrough for the burgeoning McLaren-Honda project. Six difficult races into the new Anglo-Japanese works era, Jenson Button scored the MP4-30’s first points at no less a venue than fabled Monaco. But team boss Eric Boullier said no champagne was sprayed in the garage. […]
International press slams Mercedes ‘absurdity’
May 26 (GMM) The international media joined British journalists in condemning Mercedes’ blundering strategy error that cost Lewis Hamilton victory in Monaco. The reaction of the British media corps was predictable, with the Times summing up the mood by blasting the “supposedly intelligent men” who “abandoned their senses” in calling Hamilton in for a fateful […]
Democracy at the cost of ‘entertainment’ – Ecclestone
May 26 (GMM) F1’s switch to “democracy” has been at the cost of “entertainment”. That is the view of the sport’s supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who is not hiding his frustration at being unable to tweak the current rulebook. “Would I like to change something? I would like to change a lot of things!” he told […]
Merhi cementing place at Manor in 2015
May 26 (GMM) Roberto Merhi looks to be cementing his place at the Manor team. In the days before Monaco, team chiefs were still admitting that the Spaniard might at some point be unseated. Unlike his full-time teammate Will Stevens, Spaniard Merhi is not substantially sponsored, with some reports saying he has been paid only […]
Red Bull not expecting to keep Monaco form
May 26 (GMM) Red Bull is not expecting to burst back into podium contention after a stronger weekend in Monaco. Just behind the top three on Sunday was the Red Bull duo of Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo — a clear step forward for the former champions after a bad start to the season. “I […]
Schumacher began ‘modern driver’ era – Ecclestone
May 26 (GMM) It was Michael Schumacher who kicked off the era of the ‘modern driver’. That is the view of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, following his widely-published comments about Nico Rosberg not being as ‘good for business’ as the more flamboyant Lewis Hamilton. Indeed, Hamilton’s latest press coverage is expected to thrill the 84-year-old […]
Hamilton ‘more dangerous’ after Monaco saga – Rosberg
May 26 (GMM) Nico Rosberg admits he needs to up his game in order to beat teammate Lewis Hamilton to the 2015 title. The German was ecstatic on Sunday after winning a third consecutive Monaco grand prix, and it was also his first ever back-to-back win in his long career. On the fact of it, […]
Rookie Nasr joins criticism of Verstappen
May 26 (GMM) Felipe Nasr has joined the chorus of criticism of F1 teenager Max Verstappen. Since controversially debuting as a 17-year-old this year, Verstappen has on one hand been hailed for his talent but simultaneously condemned for his age and lack of experience. Bernie Ecclestone, however, has been a vocal supporter. “It is like […]
Wolff hopes ‘grid girls’ return
May 26 (GMM) F1 does not need to make a habit of replacing the traditional ‘grid girls’. That is the view of Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, after Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel admitted his surprise on Sunday at having pulled up to find “George or Dave” holding his grid board. “I’ll speak with Bernie (Ecclestone) […]
No ‘gift win’ to repay Hamilton – Wolff
May 26 (GMM) Toto Wolff has ruled out taking drastic measures as Mercedes analyses what went wrong in Monaco. The German giant’s team boss has already said those responsible for Sunday’s strategy blunder will not pay with their jobs. And now he says Lewis Hamilton will not be paid back for losing the prestigious Monaco […]
Alonso aiming for championship bid in 2016
May 25 (GMM) Fernando Alonso was not too disappointed to miss out on his first points of the season in Monaco. Actually, the honour of becoming the first points scorer in the new McLaren-Honda era on Sunday went to teammate Jenson Button, who finished eighth. “This is a great stepping stone to winning in the […]
Vettel no fan of Monaco ‘grid boys’
May 25 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel was no fan of the ‘grid boy’ concept that debuted on Sunday’s Monaco grid. Normally, when F1 drivers pull into their grid hatching ahead of a race, they are greeted by a ‘grid girl’ holding a placard with their name and number. “What was that?!” Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel asked […]
Boss Arrivabene gives Raikkonen ‘homework’
May 25 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene sent Kimi Raikkonen away from the Monaco grand prix with some “homework”. Finn Raikkonen is already on notice to keep up his rate of improvement in 2015 if he wants the Ferrari boss to take up the 2016 ‘option’ in his contract. But amid swirling rumours Valtteri Bottas is in […]
Red Bull ‘not bad losers’ – Marko
May 25 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko insists he is just as critical of the current regime in F1 even after a better showing in Monaco this weekend. The Austrian had warned that, as the ‘power unit’ era stopped Red Bull’s run of titles, team owner Dietrich Mateschitz could now pull out of formula one. But […]
No heads to roll after Hamilton strategy howler
May 25 (GMM) No heads will roll after the catastrophic team error that cost Lewis Hamilton an easy win in Monaco. But that doesn’t mean an exhaustive post-race investigation, prompted immediately by furious Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda on Sunday, has not already found some heads to at least point at. “Our chief strategist James […]
Crash criticism for ‘Mad Max’ Verstappen
May 25 (GMM) The F1 press corps was quick to name the teenaged Dutchman ‘Mad Max’ Verstappen after his huge crash on Sunday. Initially, the Toro Rosso driver blamed Romain Grosjean for ‘brake-testing’ him on the run to Ste Devote, which sent Verstappen into the barrier at a terrifying speed. “Clearly you could see Grosjean […]
Mercedes on track to master ‘four engine’ rule
May 25 (GMM) Mercedes is right on track to master the tough new ‘four engines per driver’ rule in 2015. There had been moves recently to increase the controversial allocation to five engines, but in truth, dominant Mercedes could probably make do with just three turbo V6 ‘power units’ apiece for Lewis Hamilton and Nico […]
Champions unhappy with stewards after Monaco clashes
May 25 (GMM) Two champions left Monaco on Sunday admitting their displeasure with the FIA stewards. McLaren’s Fernando Alonso said he was unhappy for being given a five-second timed penalty for his collision with Nico Hulkenberg. The clash ended Hulkenberg’s race, but the Force India driver said: “For me, it’s racing. “That’s just first-lap fighting, […]