Feb.3 (GMM) McLaren are continuing to put a brave face on its troubled start to the 2015 pre-season. After two of the 12 official test days before Melbourne, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button have each managed just 6 laps apiece in the Honda-powered MP4-30. “At least they are consistent,” a paddock insider smirked, according to […]
Vettel pace raises hopes of Ferrari revival
Feb.3 (GMM) Ferrari is emerging as a shock contender to take on mighty title defenders Mercedes in 2015. After Nico Rosberg stunned the paddock with his 157 laps on the W06’s debut on Sunday, world champion Lewis Hamilton could manage ‘only’ 91 on Monday amid a water leak. But the Mercedes driver said at Jerez: […]
F1 has turned up engine volume for 2015
Feb.3 (GMM) F1 has turned up the volume for 2015. As per the engine ‘freeze’ rules, 2014 manufacturers Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari have been allowed to upgrade their turbo V6s by a value of up to 48 per cent since the end of last season. Still, the slight relaxing of the homologation rules – the […]
Hamilton could retire after new Mercedes contract – report
Feb.3 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is on the cusp of agreeing a new deal that could see him live out the remainder of his F1 career at Mercedes. The reigning world champion has at Jerez been locked in tough talks with team chiefs Niki Lauda and Toto Wolff, amid speculation Mercedes might be eyeing Fernando Alonso […]
Wolff not expecting driver ‘harmony’ in 2015
Feb.3 (GMM) Toto Wolff is not expecting the current mood of peace between Mercedes’ drivers to last. Last year, the relationship between teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg deteriorated badly amid their two-horse duel for the 2014 title. But as soon as the final chequered flag waved in Abu Dhabi, German Rosberg congratulated the world […]
German GP demise ‘a disaster’ – Lauda
Feb.3 (GMM) Niki Lauda says the demise of the German grand prix would be a “disaster”. Amid the Nurburgring’s ownership troubles and Hockenheim not agreeing an alternative deal for 2015, the Rhein Zeitung newspaper on Monday quoted Bernie Ecclestone as saying: “I’m as sad as the fans that there will be no formula one race […]
Ecclestone ‘sad’ at 2015 German GP demise
Feb.3 (GMM) The fate of this year’s German grand prix remains dim, as local reports suggest Bernie Ecclestone has now written off the scheduled July race. Amid the Nurburgring’s ownership troubles and Hockenheim not agreeing a replacement deal for 2015, the Rhein Zeitung newspaper on Monday quoted F1 supremo Ecclestone as saying: “I’m as sad […]
Haas in no rush to sign 2016 drivers
Feb.3 (GMM) Gene Haas says he is in no rush to sign a pair of drivers for his 2016 F1 team. Accompanied by his team principal Gunther Steiner, the Californian is this week visiting the Jerez test, even though his Ferrari-powered outfit will not go racing for more than a full 12 months from now. […]
Hamilton, Dennis say Alonso not Mercedes-bound
Feb.2 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton and Ron Dennis have dismissed speculation Fernando Alonso could be planning to spoil their respective plans. While Nico Rosberg pounded around Jerez on Sunday in the impressive new Mercedes, world champion Hamilton was meeting with bosses Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda. The hot topic was a new contract, as the Briton’s […]
Kvyat loses wing, Lotus impresses with nose
Feb.2 (GMM) Red Bull and Lotus caused a stir on Monday as the first test of the 2015 pre-season continued at Jerez. Daniil Kvyat had a bad start to life as a race driver for the energy drink company’s senior team by running off the Spanish circuit and damaging the front wing. “That was the […]
Day of contrasts marks start of test season
Feb.2 (GMM) F1’s 2015 test season kicked off on Sunday amid stark contrasts, as Mercedes looked set to extend its utter dominance into a second championship campaign. The German giant, in fact, stunned rival engineers up and down the pitlane as Nico Rosberg pounded around the Jerez circuit almost 160 times — a first-day feat […]
Force India may miss Melbourne opener – report
Feb.2 (GMM) Rumours about the health of the Force India team are continuing to worsen. The Silverstone based squad has not fully explained its absence from the Jerez test this week. On social media, German driver Nico Hulkenberg posted a photo of himself training in the snow, remarking: “If I can’t be at Jerez I’m […]
McLaren not ruling out livery change
Feb.2 (GMM) McLaren supremo Ron Dennis is not ruling out a change of livery for the newly-launched MP4-30. We reported last week that, amid raised expectations of an orange or iconic red and white livery to herald the new works Honda partnership, some fans were disappointed when the familiar silver and black car was launched […]
Newey not expecting Red Bull to match Mercedes
Feb.2 (GMM) Adrian Newey has admitted that while Renault has improved its engine over the winter, it may not be enough to challenge Mercedes for the title. The Red Bull technical boss, while heavily involved with the newly-revealed RB11, is now taking a step back to work on other projects, including the America’s Cup and […]
Kobayashi to keep career alive in Japan
Feb.2 (GMM) F1 favourite Kamui Kobayashi has kept his motor racing career alive for 2015. The popular Japanese raced last year with Caterham, and although the ailing backmarker’s administrators have not given up, the team is not at Jerez for the first test of the new season. Kobayashi, 28, tested late last year for his […]
Alonso puts brave face on McLaren struggles
Feb.2 (GMM) Fernando Alonso on Sunday put on a brave face as he admitted his first day in the MP4-30 was a “slow start” to his new chapter at McLaren. The Spaniard, having switched from Ferrari to spearhead the new works Honda era, did just 6 uncompetitive laps all day in his new 2015 office, […]
Lotus missing as noses stir interest at Jerez test
Feb.1 (GMM) Only seven teams are up and running for the first day of official pre-season testing at Jerez. Missing altogether are the ailing backmarkers Caterham and Marussia, as well as Force India amid speculation of similar financial trouble. But also not running on Sunday is Lotus. Last week, reports suggested not only Lotus but […]
Winter season set to begin at Jerez
Feb.1 (GMM) F1 2015 is about to kick off in earnest. After a two-month ‘off season’, teams are now all set up at Jerez, where on Sunday the first of three official winter tests before Melbourne will begin. Toro Rosso opened proceedings on Saturday by revealing its new STR10, featuring a long, tongue-like front nose. […]
No ‘old’ engine strategy for Mercedes in 2015
Feb.1 (GMM) Mercedes has hit back at rumours it might begin the 2015 season with ‘old’ engines for strategic reasons. It has been suggested the title-defending team, expected to still be wielding a significant advantage this year, might race in Melbourne with the 2014-spec unit and therefore keep all 32 development ‘tokens’ up its sleeve […]
Ferrari, Sauber next to reveal 2015 cars
Jan.30 (GMM) Ferrari and the similarly-powered Sauber teams on Friday separately revealed their new 2015 cars. Ferrari’s long and low-nosed new car, to be raced by former Red Bull champion Sebastian Vettel, is the SF15-T. Team boss Maurizio Arrivabene said the Maranello team, having completed a revolutionary shake-up after its disappointing 2014, is targeting “at […]