Jul.7 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has hit back at speculation Red Bull could lose Max Verstappen to a key rival after just a single season in F1. Amid his meteoric debut this year at the unprecedented age of 17, young Dutchman Verstappen is already being linked with a sensational switch to Ferrari. But Marko, boss […]
Fan survey ‘too late’ for immediate impact
Jul.7 (GMM) The fan survey commissioned by F1 drivers may have come ‘too late’ to make an immediate difference. But Alex Wurz, the president of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, insists the data collected by over 200,000 fans from 194 countries is “worth gold”, he told the German broadcaster Sky. So far, however, the results […]
Did ‘team orders’ cost Williams the win?
Jul.6 (GMM) After launching off the grid and into the lead, Williams was left to rue an opportunity lost in Sunday’s British grand prix. Part of the reason the Silverstone race was so exciting was because Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas got a surprise jump on the two Mercedes at the start. But then came […]
Bottas hopes for future clarity by Monza
Jul.6 (GMM) Even Carlos Sainz has found himself embroiled in the increasingly explosive ‘silly season’. His fellow rookie teammate Max Verstappen, although just 17, was already linked with a sensational switch to Ferrari to replace the struggling Kimi Raikkonen. But also Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg’s names have been mentioned, and now the […]
Arrivabene wants ‘calm’ Raikkonen amid speculation
Jul.6 (GMM) If the British grand prix changed the course of Kimi Raikkonen’s future, Maurizio Arrivabene is not saying. Reportedly on notice that Silverstone and Hungary are his last chances to up his game or be ousted for 2016, the Finn duly had a stronger weekend in Britain. He was on or above the on-form […]
Dennis not fair to call Jordan idiot – Coulthard
Jul.6 (GMM) Ron Dennis has returned fire after his old contemporary Eddie Jordan slammed McLaren’s “arrogance”. Jordan, the colourful former team boss turned television pundit, had said it is not right that struggling carmaker Honda is getting all the blame for the McLaren “mess”. “Ron Dennis sacked Martin Whitmarsh,” he said, “but Whitmarsh never did […]
‘Crisis off’ after Silverstone thriller?
Jul.6 (GMM) A single exciting grand prix was the perfect antidote amid F1’s so-called ‘crisis’. “Crisis called off?” Toto Wolff, boss of the dominant Mercedes team, said sarcastically after the British grand prix. Amid calls for urgent change as the struggling sport bleeds fans, 140,000 spectators filled the Silverstone grandstands on Sunday as the Williams […]
Red Bull in talks with Aston Martin – report
Jul.5 (GMM) Aston Martin could be Red Bull’s ticket back to the front of the grid. Autocar, a British weekly, reports that the British luxury road car manufacturer is in talks with the former world champions. It follows Saturday’s news that, with Red Bull and Renault looking increasingly likely to split, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff is […]
Ecclestone says he, Mackenzie, could buy F1
Jul.5 (GMM) Yet another potential buyer for F1’s commercial rights has emerged. Earlier, it was reported that current owner CVC and Bernie Ecclestone could sell their respective stakes to a consortium involving the Miami Dolphins’ Stephen Ross and Qatar’s sports investment arm. But also reportedly interested is Sky and international telcom Liberty, and separately the […]
Raikkonen not happy despite race seat boost
Jul.5 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen insisted he took no joy or repose from his performance on Saturday. Under severe pressure to up his game or lose his Ferrari seat, the Finn outqualified his on-form teammate Sebastian Vettel at Silverstone for only the second time this season. It is a timely boost amid his campaign to stay […]
Wolff not ‘categorically’ ruling out Red Bull engine deal
Jul.5 (GMM) All sides came out fighting on Saturday following speculation Red Bull is set for a sensational switch to Mercedes power. A British magazine earlier reported the engines could be re-branded as Aston Martin, a British luxury carmaker that is 5 per cent owned by Mercedes. But Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko said on […]
Wolff open to letting rivals ‘catch up’
Jul.5 (GMM) Even dominant Mercedes might be willing to facilitate change amid F1’s so-called ‘crisis’. Many believe the biggest problem is that while the German marque has utterly mastered the new ‘power unit’ era, the cost-limiting development ‘freeze’ will prevent struggling Renault and Honda from ever catching up. Bernie Ecclestone has reportedly proposed that, to […]
McLaren’s Arai, Boullier asked if it’s time to go
Jul.5 (GMM) As McLaren-Honda’s 2015 season goes from worse to woeful, questions about the men in charge are now being asked. Although the new Anglo-Japanese ‘marriage’ has been all smiles amid the turmoil so far, McLaren is now heaping the pressure on its struggling partner. “For Honda, if it’s a five year project, and if […]
Now Verstappen linked with Ferrari switch
Jul.4 (GMM) Teen sensation Max Verstappen has burst into the running for Kimi Raikkonen’s seat at Ferrari. A source told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that the 17-year-old Dutchman is considered “a serious option” by the fabled Maranello team. Toro Rosso rookie Verstappen, however, is firmly under contract to team owner Red Bull, meaning Ferrari […]
Market expert points finger at Ecclestone
Jul.4 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone and formula one are being left behind by the “digital generation”. That is the view of Lars Stegelmann, an executive of the market intelligence experts Repucom. Commissioned by the F1 drivers’ union GPDA, Repucom headed the recent global fan survey. Speaking to the German news agency DPA, Stegelmann said that in […]
Too early to consider Red Bull move – Sainz
Jul.4 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is not getting his hopes up about a potential move to Red Bull’s senior team for 2016. With Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo linked with a move to Ferrari, there could be an opportunity for a Toro Rosso driver to make the step up. But 20-year-old Sainz, who like […]
Wolff open to ‘solution’ if Lotus drops Mercedes power
Jul.4 (GMM) Toto Wolff has indicated Mercedes is ready to be flexible amid rumours Renault is looking to take over Lotus. Officially, no party is willing to confirm the increasingly-widespread speculation about Renault, the French carmaker, buying back 51 per cent of the Enstone team from Gerard Lopez. Lopez, however, has been conspicuously absent in […]
Wolff says Bottas to wear ‘blue or red’ in 2016
Jul.4 (GMM) Toto Wolff has confirmed speculation Valtteri Bottas will either keep driving for Williams next year or switch to Ferrari. Wolff, who is Mercedes’ F1 chief, is also involved in the management of Bottas’ career. The Finn is strongly linked with a move to Ferrari next year to replace his struggling countryman Kimi Raikkonen. […]
Rosberg must ‘save 2015 championship’ – Ecclestone
Jul.4 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says Mercedes is still clearly the favourite for British grand prix victory. On Friday – as is increasingly the case in 2015 – Ferrari looked poised to pose a real challenge to the dominant champions this weekend at Silverstone. Asked how much he can improve after practice, championship leader Lewis Hamilton […]
Monza officials meet Ecclestone once again
Jul.4 (GMM) Monza is stepping up its campaign to save the embattled Italian grand prix. After one recent meeting moved Bernie Ecclestone to declare “stalemate”, officials of the fabled Autodromo Nazionale met again this week with the F1 supremo. “It was a positive meeting, which was also attended by Andrea Dell’Orto,” Monza official and former […]