Mar.12 (GMM) Ron Dennis has admitted bungling the Fernando Alonso saga, finally now joining those who agree the Barcelona test crash is a “mystery”. Since the Spaniard hit the wall on February 22, McLaren has claimed it was a “normal” incident and a mere concussion for the team’s new star driver. But supremo Dennis insisted […]
Alonso could also miss Malaysia
Mar.12 (GMM) Already absent in Australia, attention is now turning to whether Fernando Alonso will be back in action in Malaysia in just over two weeks. Officially, the Spaniard is simply sitting out a 21-day period in the wake of his February 22 concussion. McLaren-Honda supremo Ron Dennis confirmed that to reporters in Melbourne, but […]
Whitmarsh joins Newey at America’s Cup team
Mar.12 (GMM) Former McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh has re-emerged in the world of America’s Cup racing. After 25 years with the Woking team, the 56-year-old Briton was ousted ahead of the 2014 season, and has kept a low profile ever since. “I’ve been travelling,” he told London’s Telegraph. “Formula one is a sport that […]
Ecclestone’s TV strategy worries sponsors – report
Mar.12 (GMM) Sponsors have expressed concern about Bernie Ecclestone’s television strategy for formula one. Increasingly, the trend has been away from free-to-air to subscription-based coverage of the full world championship, with the latest example being a new deal with Fox in Australia. It is maximising revenue for the sport’s commercial rights holder CVC, but contributing […]
Sauber could have cars seized amid dispute
Mar.12 (GMM) Giedo van der Garde is now racing to get the super licence he needs to contest this weekend’s Australian grand prix. The Dutchman has won his case in the Melbourne courts to force Sauber to accommodate him, after the Swiss team reneged on his contract. “Sauber has to work with us now,” said […]
Sauber fights for survival in Melbourne court
Mar.12 (GMM) Sauber is fighting for survival in a Melbourne court. The Swiss team has appealed a local judge’s ruling that Giedo van der Garde can take his rightful place on the 2015 grid, despite Sauber’s other binding contracts with Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr. So as the proceedings took place early on Thursday, the […]
Van der Garde appeal delayed until Thursday
Mar.11 (GMM) A resolution of Sauber’s legal dispute with Giedo van der Garde is facing yet another delay. After the Dutchman successfully petitioned to race for the Swiss team this weekend, Sauber lodged an appeal. It was heard on Wednesday afternoon, but it is believed Sauber applied for leave until Thursday — the day before […]
Frank Williams back up to speed after hospital stay
Mar.11 (GMM) Sir Frank Williams is out of hospital and back up to speed. Late last year, when the Grove team’s 72-year-old boss and co-founder stopped coming to races, it emerged he had been hospitalised with pressure sores. The Briton, whose daughter Claire is Williams’ deputy team principal, has been tetraplegic and confined to a […]
Rosberg vows to improve wheel-to-wheel skills
Mar.11 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has identified wheel-to-wheel combat as his main weakness alongside reigning world champion and teammate Lewis Hamilton. With their dominant 2014 Mercedes, the pair duelled intensely for last year’s title but Briton Hamilton ultimately won in the championship finale. Rosberg did secure F1’s new ‘pole position trophy’ of 2014, but acknowledged that […]
Van der Garde denies being ‘unprepared’ for Sauber seat
Mar.11 (GMM) Giedo van der Garde on Wednesday declared himself “happy, fit and ready to drive” this weekend in Melbourne. A local court has ruled that the Dutchman can take his place at Sauber this year, after the Swiss team signed him but then replaced him with Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr. The ruling is […]
Berger says Mercedes well clear of rivals
Mar.11 (GMM) Gerhard Berger has played down Mercedes’ claim it will be challenged for victory early in 2015. Team chairman and F1 legend Niki Lauda warned this week that, contrary to suggestions the German marque is well clear of any rivals, Mercedes is not expecting to dominate in Australia and beyond. “The competition with be […]
Newey’s son joins Mick Schumacher in F4 team
Mar.11 (GMM) Mick Schumacher will have a teammate with another famous surname in the German formula 4 series this year. Recently, it was announced that 15-year-old Mick, whose dad is the legendary seven time world champion, is stepping up to single seater racing this year with a Dutch team. Now, Van Amersfoort Racing is staying […]
Kvyat, 20, thinks Verstappen too young for F1
Mar.11 (GMM) Even another F1 teen, Daniil Kvyat, thinks Max Verstappen might be too young for the pinnacle of motor sport. Russian ‘Dany’ Kvyat turns 21 next month, and he has replaced departed quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull. But when he made his grand prix debut for Toro Rosso a year ago, […]
Merhi needs a sponsor to keep Manor seat
Mar.11 (GMM) Roberto Merhi has admitted his new race seat at Manor may be short-lived. F1’s governing body has now confirmed the race number 98 for the 23-year-old Spanish rookie, who is joining Will Stevens at the resurrected Manor team in Australia. But Merhi admitted to Spanish radio Cadena Cope that the former Marussia team, […]
Audi chief ‘will not comment’ on F1 rumours
Mar.11 (GMM) Audi chief Rupert Stadler is no longer clearly denying speculation the Volkswagen-owned German carmaker is preparing to enter formula one. The regular speculation hit a higher gear in the last six months, after ousted Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali joined Audi and conducted a feasibility study about a F1 project. “Ah, you want […]
Experts worry about McLaren-Honda project
Mar.11 (GMM) Experts continue to worry about the early phase of McLaren-Honda’s new collaboration. Honda announced its intention to return to the sport with the British team way back in May 2013, but almost two years later, the MP4-30 is struggling simply to run. “I’m surprised that it’s not working out,” former F1 driver and […]
Sauber appeals van der Garde ruling
Mar.11 (GMM) Sauber is appealing a Melbourne court’s ruling that Giedo van der Garde should race for the Swiss team this weekend. Earlier on Wednesday, a supreme court judge sided with the Dutchman after he was replaced despite having a valid 2015 contract. “I reject the arguments advanced by the respondent (Sauber) and the other […]
Vettel ‘did not exist’ in Italy – Briatore
Mar.10 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has giggled at the new ‘Sebastian Vettel fever’ at Maranello. The former Renault boss was commenting on Ferrari’s public delight at having secured the quadruple world champion to replace Fernando Alonso. Briatore still oversees the management of Alonso, who has switched to McLaren-Honda. “In Italy it’s amazing,” he told Italy’s Sky […]
Ferrari link for Hamilton ‘nonsense’ – Lauda
Mar.10 (GMM) Niki Lauda has scoffed at reports Lewis Hamilton could switch to Ferrari rather than sign a new Mercedes contract beyond 2015. Briton Hamilton is conducting his own negotiations with the German marque, and has reportedly hit a snag in his demands for $1.5 million per week. Team boss Toto Wolff has already slammed […]
New McLaren ‘better than it seems’
Mar.10 (GMM) It has been a tumultuous winter for the fledgling McLaren-Honda collaboration. The MP4-30 has been unreliable and uncompetitive, and now star driver Fernando Alonso is on the sidelines after his mysterious testing crash. But team boss Eric Boullier insists: “The package is better than it seems.” As things stand, not everyone believes that. […]