Sep.22 (GMM) Jenson Button has admitted he has made a decision about his future in formula one. Multiple British newspapers on Monday claimed F1’s veteran of 16 consecutive seasons is preparing to announce his retirement ahead of this weekend’s Japanese grand prix. McLaren has an option on the 2009 world champion’s services for 2016, but […]
Grosjean hints Lotus exit for Haas ‘risky’
Sep.22 (GMM) Even with a takeover by the French carmaker Renault now imminent, Romain Grosjean appears destined for the Lotus exit. It is believed the Frenchman, despite earlier gushing about the prospect of a Renault works team, has accepted an offer to spearhead the new Haas-Ferrari lineup next year, almost certainly with Esteban Gutierrez as […]
Ferrari should give engines to Red Bull – Fiorio
Sep.22 (GMM) Cesare Fiorio, the former Ferrari team boss, says that if he was still running the Maranello marque, he would supply engines to Red Bull. As it is splitting with Renault, the former quadruple world champions have warned that unless Ferrari agrees to release a supply of power units for 2016, Red Bull and […]
Renault’s Prost hints Grosjean leaving Enstone
Sep.22 (GMM) Alain Prost has hinted he knows that Romain Grosjean is departing Lotus. As Renault ambassador, the F1 legend is tipped to take a leading role and perhaps also a shareholding once the French carmaker’s Lotus buyout is complete. French countryman Grosjean had earlier enthused at the prospect of Prost’s return to the pitwall […]
Italy hails Vettel-Alonso exchange ‘masterpiece’
Sep.22 (GMM) 13 races and 4 victories into Sebastian Vettel’s first year in red, the passionate, fickle and partisan Italian press could not be happier. “When you consider that he earns less,” La Repubblica said after the Singapore grand prix, “the exchange of Alonso for Vettel was a masterpiece.” The gushing praise comes after Vettel’s […]
Audi rejects latest Red Bull rumours
Sep.22 (GMM) Audi has denied reports it has decided to enter formula one in 2018. Citing sources close to the Ingolstadt board, Germany’s Auto Bild said on Monday that the VW brand Audi will collaborate with Red Bull, whose split from existing engine partner Renault is now almost complete. The report said that, in the […]
Perez set for 2016 Lotus switch – Gazzetta
Sep.22 (GMM) Sergio Perez is set to be unveiled as the second Lotus driver for 2016, Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport is reporting on Tuesday. Even though the Renault buyout is said to be imminent, it is believed Frenchman Romain Grosjean is departing the Enstone team for Haas-Ferrari. At the same time, Mexican Perez was […]
Verstappen thought of father as he defied team orders
Sep.21 (GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted to thinking about his forceful father when Toro Rosso issued team orders during the Singapore grand prix. Told to let his teammate Carlos Sainz past so that the Spaniard on fresher tyres could try to attack the car ahead, 17-year-old Verstappen instantly shouted back “No!” “He was asked four […]
Mercedes admits close to Manor engine deal
Sep.21 (GMM) Mercedes is now all but confirming that it will begin to supply engines to the British backmarker Manor from 2016. As well as running its works team, the German marque already supplies its industry-leading ‘power unit’ to customers Williams, Force India and Lotus. But with Lotus set to be bought by Renault, Mercedes […]
Audi to enter F1 with Red Bull – report
Sep.21 (GMM) Audi’s Ingolstadt board has given the green light to formula one, the German publication Audi Bild claimed exclusively on Monday. Actually, the latest rumours about the Volkswagen Group putting together a F1 foray for one of its brands was broken at the weekend by Eddie Jordan, the former F1 team owner who as […]
Button to announce retirement in Japan – reports
Sep.21 (GMM) Jenson Button is preparing to announce his decision to end his sixteen-year F1 career, according to multiple British reports on Monday. With McLaren’s contract option on the British driver for 2016 set to expire at the end of September, and the parties rumoured to have been bickering over a scheduled pay increase, 35-year-old […]
Toro Rosso wants engine uncertainty to end
Sep.21 (GMM) Boss Franz Tost says he wants a quick decision to be taken about Toro Rosso’s engine supplier for 2016. Although Red Bull chiefs have insisted the senior team can afford a longer delay, Tost says the situation is slightly different for Faenza based Toro Rosso. It is believed that, at least behind the […]
Horner hints Verstappen to have Red Bull future
Sep.21 (GMM) Max Verstappen may be about to leap into contention for a meteoric promotion to Red Bull Racing. Hot on the heels of his sensational debut as a 17-year-old and recent rumours linking him with Ferrari, the latest gossip is that the talented Dutchman is now shaping up for a move from Red Bull’s […]
Vergne, Ocon linked with second works Renault seat
Sep.21 (GMM) The candidates are already beginning to shape up to join Pastor Maldonado at the new works Renault team next year. Even though the French carmaker’s buyout of the Enstone team is not yet formalised, it is strongly believed that a deal is now done. So after the Singapore grand prix, although still known […]
Suzuka could be ‘business as usual’ after Mercedes slump
Sep.21 (GMM) All eyes are on Mercedes as the team otherwise dominant in the ‘power unit’ era suffered a mysterious loss of form in Singapore. One might be forgiven for thinking Fernando Alonso would recoil at his old team Ferrari’s third win of the season on Sunday. But the McLaren-Honda driver told Italy’s Rai: “It’s […]
Rosberg should consider Mercedes exit – Marko
Sep.20 (GMM) If the balance of power at Mercedes persists, Nico Rosberg should consider leaving the team. That is the view of Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko, as the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag analysed whether Rosberg can hit back at the increasingly on-form Lewis Hamilton. Eddie Jordan, a former F1 team owner and […]
Slow Mercedes baffled but rejects ‘conspiracy’
Sep.20 (GMM) As Mercedes’ long and dominant form mysteriously disappeared under the Singapore floodlights, it did not take long for the speculation to begin. Everyone at Marina Bay and beyond could not believe that, just two weeks after the utter domination of Monza, the silver cars are suddenly much slower than Ferrari and Red Bull. […]
Rumours, reports say Renault completes Lotus buyout
Sep.20 (GMM) Rumours swirling in the Singapore paddock and among international correspondents indicate the buyout deal between Renault and Lotus is finally now done. France’s RMC said it could be announced in one week, ahead of the Japanese grand prix at Suzuka. Major publications including Auto Motor und Sport and Bild newspaper in Germany refer […]
Renault hints Grosjean leaving Enstone team
Sep.20 (GMM) Romain Grosjean’s switch to Haas for 2016 was all but confirmed on Sunday. It is well known that Lotus, Grosjean’s current team, is in detailed talks with Renault about a buyout. Those discussions obviously sped up throughout the Singapore race weekend, aided by the Renault ambassador Alain Prost. But the F1 legend insisted: […]
Wild rumours link Alonso to Red Bull-Ferrari
Sep.20 (GMM) Wild speculation is being whispered in the Singapore paddock about Fernando Alonso’s future. McLaren supremo Ron Dennis has insisted the Spaniard is on a fixed contract for 2015, 2016 and 2017 without exit clauses, but Italian and Spanish media sources this weekend have insisted those clauses do exist. And so the rumours have […]