May 23 (GMM) Efforts to put the future of the Italian grand prix back on track appear to have faltered. With Bernie Ecclestone warning that his axe is hanging above historic Monza, Italian automobile club president Angelo Sticchi-Damiani and official Ivan Capelli, representing the promoter Sias, met on Friday with the F1 supremo in Monaco. […]
Ecclestone pushing ahead with ‘customer cars’
May 23 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone’s push for ‘customer cars’ in formula one has taken another step forward. The issue reportedly got the green light at the recent Strategy Group meeting. And now Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that the F1 supremo, Niki Lauda (Mercedes), Christian Horner (Red Bull) and Ron Dennis (McLaren) met in […]
Hamilton contract a blow for Rosberg – Prost
May 22 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s new contract is a psychological blow to Nico Rosberg. That is the view of F1 legend Alain Prost. Earlier this week, Mercedes announced a new three-year contract for Hamilton, the reigning world champion. Multiple sources estimated the deal at up to an incredible $50 million per season — and possibly […]
Race to be tyre supplier in 2017 begins
May 22 (GMM) F1’s governing body has launched the official tender process for the selection of the tyre supplier in 2017 and beyond. Often controversially, Pirelli has been the sole supplier since 2011, but in recent days the former F1 manufacturer Michelin admitted it is considering a return. Both Pirelli and Michelin appear to back […]
Verstappen steals the show in Monaco
May 22 (GMM) Max Verstappen is threatening to steal the show in Monaco. Already hailed by mentor Dr Helmut Marko as a ‘new Senna’, the 17-year-old sensation appeared to fulfil that promise on Thursday by almost beating world champion Lewis Hamilton to the best time in the dry first practice session. “For a guy that […]
Surveys in vogue as F1 asks fans for help
May 22 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone gave the F1 drivers his support as they launched a global fan survey in Monaco. The F1 supremo was photographed with the drivers outside his motor home as they advertised the online survey, asking fans what they think of the sport. “The people, the fans, must be asked what they […]
Force India ‘B’ car failed crash test – report
May 22 (GMM) The debut of Force India’s much-needed ‘B’ car in Austria is now in doubt. Earlier, the struggling Silverstone based team’s 2015 car was delayed over the winter due to supplier and financial trouble. In the form of Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez, Force India now has a pair of disappointed drivers who […]
Bianchi family must consider ‘death’ – father
May 22 (GMM) Jules Bianchi’s father has admitted the family is having to consider the idea of the unconscious F1 driver’s death. Eight months after the Frenchman’s horror crash at Suzuka, Bianchi is on the sport’s mind this weekend as it recalls his points-scoring and Manor-saving feats of Monaco a year ago. Jules lies in […]
Alonso struggling to admit McLaren ‘mistake’ – Massa
May 22 (GMM) Felipe Massa says his former Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso made a clear “mistake” in leaving the Italian team. Actually, Alonso insists he has no regrets about joining McLaren-Honda, as beating dominant Mercedes requires a new and innovative long-term project. And the Spaniard has also said that his Ferrari successor Sebastian Vettel only […]
Now Hulkenberg linked with Ferrari move
May 22 (GMM) The latest name linked with a move to Ferrari is Nico Hulkenberg. Before Kimi Raikkonen was signed for 2014, 27-year-old German Hulkenberg was linked with a move to the fabled Italian team. Instead, Hulkenberg is now struggling with Force India, and showing his apparent malcontent by splitting his attention in 2015 between […]
Vettel featured in giant cigarette ads
May 22 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he has no problem being featured as the new ‘Marlboro man’. In many countries, and in formula one in general, tobacco advertising is strictly banned. But not in Monaco, the micro-state and famous tax haven. And just days after it emerged that Ferrari has renewed its low-profile yet multi-million […]
Ecclestone faces $1.6 billion tax bill
May 22 (GMM) British tax authorities have resumed a $1.6 billion pursuit of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Bloomberg reports that the 84-year-old initially settled the dispute over his family trust Bambino. “The tax and interest demanded as a result of the decision is over 1 billion pounds,” London judge Kenneth Parker declared on Thursday. The […]
Rosberg surprised by Hamilton qualifying choice
May 21 (GMM) Nico Rosberg furrowed his brow on Wednesday when told about teammate Lewis Hamilton’s Monaco strategy. A year ago in the Principality, Hamilton accused his silver stablemate of deliberately ruining a qualifying lap and therefore the Briton’s shot at pole. This time, Hamilton has reportedly declared that the decision has been made and […]
Pirelli not sure F1 needs ‘tyre war’
May 21 (GMM) Pirelli is not sure a ‘tyre war’ is the solution to F1’s problems. In the past days and weeks, the fact the driving ‘heroes’ are often doing little more than keep their tyres alive at GP2-like pace has been a big topic of conversation. Indeed, the Strategy Group declared last week that […]
Red Bull admitting own car problems now – Ricciardo
May 21 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says Red Bull can no longer complain only about its struggling ‘power unit’. Earlier in 2015, officials of the energy drink-owned team were pointing the finger angrily at Renault, bemoaning a lack of power, driveability and reliability. But Australian Ricciardo, Red Bull’s lead driver, said on Wednesday it is now […]
F1 recalls Bianchi ‘miracle’ on Monaco return
May 21 (GMM) The entire world of F1 is thinking of Jules Bianchi this weekend. Just 30 minutes from the glitz and glamour of the world’s most famous street race, the Frenchman lies in a coma in Nice. But one year ago, the then 24-year-old defied the odds by scoring points for the backmarker Marussia, […]
Hamilton ‘deserves’ his millions – Lauda
May 21 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton deserves what he will earn under the terms of his new Mercedes contract. That is the opinion of Niki Lauda, who was closely involved in the long negotiations that finally ended on Wednesday with news of a new three-year deal. Respected media sources say the deal will earn 30-year-old Hamilton […]
Too soon for Ferrari ‘silly season’ – Bottas
May 21 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas on Wednesday said the ‘silly season’ has come too soon. There was an awkward moment between countrymen Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen on Wednesday, when the latter Finn was asked what he thought of rumours Ferrari is considering replacing him. “Who knows?” said Raikkonen. “We are both Finns but we don’t […]
Ferrari to try again with Barcelona upgrade
May 21 (GMM) Ferrari is persevering with a major car upgrade that did not work last time out in Barcelona. The Maranello team’s 2015 resurgence came to a halt at the Spanish grand prix, when a big package of ‘improvements’ for the 2015 car actually resulted in a widening of the gap between it and […]
Alonso says ‘slow’ F1 took a wrong turn
May 21 (GMM) Last decade, F1 took a wrong turn. That is the view of Fernando Alonso, as at Monaco on Wednesday the topic of whether ‘the show’ is delivering for the fans was front and centre. In 2015, a series like GP2 is now nipping the heels of its big brother in terms of […]