Sep.19 (GMM) After the FIA and Pirelli moved to clear up the tyre pressure controversy, it still is not clear whether drivers might be penalised this weekend in Singapore and beyond. Instead of disqualifying Lewis Hamilton at Monza, after his tyre was found to be 0.3 PSI under Pirelli’s mandated minimum, F1’s governing body declared […]
Lack of sponsors led to Manor seat exit – Merhi
Sep.19 (GMM) Roberto Merhi has admitted his lack of sponsorship backing opened the door for Alexander Rossi to take his place at Manor. Spaniard Merhi said he only found out about his sidelining once he had actually travelled to Singapore for this weekend’s race. “I was looking forward to Singapore already since Monaco, where I […]
Two-tier engine caps, wind tunnel bans may never fire
Sep.19 (GMM) The engines may never fire on two cost-cutting proposals that have leaked out of this week’s strategy group meeting. The first proposal, reportedly carried through a majority vote, is that a cap should be put on the cost of a ‘power unit’ for customer teams. Currently, a team like Williams reportedly pays a […]
Hamilton works as hard as Rosberg – Willis
Sep.19 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton works just as hard for success as his teammate Nico Rosberg. That is the claim of Mercedes technical boss Geoff Willis, just days after F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone declared that the reigning world champion’s extravagant lifestyle is spinning out of control. “Thanks to Facebook or Twitter, he lets everyone think that […]
VW not commenting on Red Bull rumours
Sep.19 (GMM) Volkswagen on Saturday said it would not comment on speculation it might be the solution to Red Bull’s engine dilemma. With the energy drink-owned stable now confirming its impending split with Renault, team officials also admitted in Singapore that an alternative engine deal with Ferrari is still not agreed. Eddie Jordan, a former […]
Singapore trains threaten hybrid F1 cars – report
Sep.19 (GMM) Team engineers are nervous each time their cars approach Singapore’s Anderson Bridge, according to a report in the German newspaper Bild. It is said that a strange magnetic or electrical interference, probably related to subway lines that run nearby and underground, is threatening to grind the sophisticated, hybrid F1 cars of 2015 to […]
Lauda sure Ferrari will supply engines to Red Bull
Sep.19 (GMM) Along with a clear quit threat, Red Bull has announced that it is splitting with long-time engine supplier Renault. “The separation from our engine partner at the end of the season is by mutual agreement,” the energy drink owned stable’s owner Dietrich Mateschitz declared to his local newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten. “There was no […]
Bottas ‘surprised’ by ‘underrated’ Massa
Sep.19 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas admits his teammate Felipe Massa is a definite thorn in his side as he bids to up his credentials in formula one. Earlier, the 26-year-old was the hot favourite to oust fellow Finn Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari next year, until Williams refused to let the Italian team buy out Bottas’ contract. […]
Ferrari ‘obviously’ new Red Bull supplier – Verstappen
Sep.19 (GMM) Former F1 driver Jos Verstappen is sure that splitting with Renault is the best move for the Red Bull camp. As speculation swirls in the Singapore paddock, the Dutchman admitted that his “only concern” is the interests of his son Max, who drives for the Red Bull-owned junior team Toro Rosso. “This year […]
Raikkonen practiced 100 race starts after Monza glitch
Sep.18 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen is confident he will not suffer another disastrous race start this weekend in Singapore. After qualifying on the front row at Monza, the Finn dropped to last before the first corner after his Ferrari went into ‘anti-stall’ as he dropped the clutch. Initially, the Finn and the Maranello team disagreed about […]
Grosjean admits choice between Lotus and Haas
Sep.18 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has shed no further light on what decision he has taken regarding his future. The Frenchman announced during Thursday’s FIA press conference that while he definitely knows what he will be doing in 2016, he will not give any details yet. So amid rumours Grosjean will either stay at Lotus or […]
Struggling McLaren ‘lacked humility’ – Perez
Sep.18 (GMM) Sergio Perez says McLaren’s current predicament is “sad”, even though there is little love lost between the Woking team and the Mexican. Perez drove for a then Mercedes-powered McLaren in 2013, but he told the Spanish broadcaster Movistar in Singapore that it was not a happy year. “It was a disaster,” said Perez, […]
Fates of Lotus, Renault and Red Bull in the balance
Sep.18 (GMM) For three very different reasons, the fates of three F1 competitors are currently hanging in the balance. For Lotus, the big problem is money, as lawyers for the Enstone team on Friday again faced the threat of administration in the London high court over an unpaid tax bill. While the black and gold […]
Rosberg to use final engine in Singapore
Sep.18 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is heading into the Singapore grand prix weekend with his fourth and final engine of 2015. Earlier, it was reported Mercedes intended to run the new-specification unit – his third for the season – that, amid reliability concerns, was removed from the German’s car before qualifying at Monza. That followed a […]
Hamilton will not dent Senna legacy – Massa
Sep.18 (GMM) If Lewis Hamilton wins this weekend, he will match the career tally of his childhood hero Ayrton Senna. But rival Felipe Massa, who like Senna is a Brazilian, thinks that even when Briton Hamilton matches the F1 legend’s victory tally of 41, it will not detract from the Senna legacy. “Definitely not,” the […]
Vandoorne ‘not afraid’ of Alonso pairing
Sep.18 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne should be under consideration for a F1 race seat in 2016, his current boss insists. With fellow McLaren junior Kevin Magnussen now linked with a switch to Haas, some believe Belgian Vandoorne is favourite should talks between the Woking team and Jenson Button break down. The rumour in Singapore is that […]
Haze situation improves above Singapore
Sep.18 (GMM) Singapore authorities have denied rumours they are clearing the unhealthy haze above the Marina Bay circuit by ‘cloud seeding’. Rain and wind has helped to ease the haze that threatened to spoil F1’s premier night race, but some believed authorities had induced rain chemically by controversially adding silver iodide to the clouds. Singapore’s […]
2016 ‘triple header’ worries Button
Sep.18 (GMM) Jenson Button has expressed concerns about Bernie Ecclestone’s latest plans to amend the 2016 race calendar. After teams pushed for the restoration of the summer break and shutdown period, which had been diminished in the provisional 21-race schedule for next year, a revised draft calendar began to circulate the paddock. According to France’s […]
Grosjean ‘has decided’ 2016 team
Sep.17 (GMM) Romain Grosjean on Thursday said he has made his decision about what team to drive for in 2016. The Frenchman currently drives for Lotus, the cash-strapped team whose very survival may depend on whether Renault decides to buy it. Grosjean has also been linked with a switch to Haas, the new Ferrari B-team, […]
Button admits F1 future remains open
Sep.17 (GMM) Jenson Button has hinted news about his future might be just a “few weeks” away. Speaking in Singapore, the Briton was responding to speculation that while McLaren wants to keep him for 2016, the two sides are having discussions about money. “I’ve had a couple of very good chats with Ron (Dennis),” Button […]