Feb.17 (GMM) Former Minardi driver Patrick Friesacher has joined the ranks who argue F1 took a sharp wrong turn. The Austrian, now 34, drove for the Faenza based backmarker in 2005, qualifying and finishing last at the famous six-car US grand prix. Speaking to the Servus TV broadcaster, Friesacher admitted that while he retains his […]
McLaren still struggling to run 2015 car – reports
Feb.17 (GMM) McLaren-Honda may still be struggling to make progress. Exactly one month before Melbourne, the new British-Japanese works collaboration hit the track early in Barcelona, the scene of this week’s second test before the 2015 season opener. The official action does not kick off until Thursday, but Jenson Button was in action on Monday […]
F1 should ‘respect’ Alonso’s Ferrari exit – Campos
Feb.17 (GMM) Ferrari’s management situation led to the departure of number 1 driver Fernando Alonso. That is the view of Adrian Campos, a former F1 driver who in 2010 founded the team that became known as Hispania. The 54-year-old Spaniard now operates junior teams including a GP2 outfit, and spoke to the sports daily AS […]
Mercedes to decide token strategy before Melbourne
Feb.17 (GMM) A big unknown ahead of the 2015 season is how F1’s manufacturers will manage the new engine ‘unfreeze’. Earlier, Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and newcomer Honda were bound to freeze their respective 2015 specifications by Melbourne, but now they are freer to deploy performance development ‘tokens’ throughout the season. It triggered rumours Mercedes, so […]
F1 struggles hurt Ferrari brand power – study
Feb.17 (GMM) On-track struggles in formula one have hurt fabled Ferrari’s brand power, according to a study by asset valuation company Brand Finance. Last year, Ferrari retained its post as the most powerful brand in the world, but a newly-published list shows that toy company Lego has made an overtaking move. “Ferrari has been slipping […]
Ferrari reveals vision of F1 future
Feb.17 (GMM) Just as the F1 Commission meets in Geneva, Ferrari has outlined its vision of the sport’s future. Earlier in February, the powerful Strategy Group met to discuss plans to spice up F1 with powerful and noisy engines, and more aggressive looking cars. At that meeting, Red Bull and McLaren reportedly tabled aggressive-looking drawings […]
F1 Commission to consider future on Tuesday
Feb.17 (GMM) F1 will round another corner to the future on Tuesday. Writing for Brazil’s Globo, respected correspondent Livio Oricchio reports that the topic of a dramatic change of regulations will be debated during the F1 Commission meeting in Geneva on Tuesday. On the table is a 1,000 horse power engine formula and significantly different […]
Vettel like ‘carbon copy’ of Schumacher – Arrivabene
Feb.17 (GMM) The true 2015 pecking order will still not become clear at this week’s Barcelona test. That is the view of new Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene, after the Italian team surprisingly topped the times at the first test of the winter at Jerez. Now, the sport is setting up at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, […]
Manor pays 2015 fee, FIA leaves door open – report
Feb.17 (GMM) Manor, formerly known as Marussia, is plotting its course for a 2015 return. Earlier, the backmarker appeared doomed, as administrators auctioned equipment and the 2016 entrant Haas moved into its Banbury headquarters. But last week, there were crucial signs of life. ‘Manor F1 Team’ emerged on the internet and with official social media […]
FIA study shows F1 costs could be halved – report
Feb.17 (GMM) A study commissioned by the FIA reportedly shows that costs in formula one could be halved without hurting the ‘show’. With Caterham and Marussia ailing and even better-funded midfielders struggling financially, it emerged on Tuesday that New York-based McKinsey and Company, a multinational consulting firm, recently examined the finances of nine F1 teams […]
Schumacher progress ‘painfully slow’ – report
Feb.16 (GMM) Nearly 14 months after his late 2013 skiing accident, little new is known about the great Michael Schumacher’s medical progress. The 46-year-old is reportedly cared for by a private medical team numbering 15 professionals around the clock at his mansion on the shores of Lake Geneva. But in a new report published by […]
Force India working hard on 2015 car
Feb.16 (GMM) Force India is reportedly now hard at work on preparing its new car. Earlier, it was rumoured that due to financial and supplier troubles, the Silverstone based team had not even taken delivery of the monocoque for the VJM08, let alone passed the mandatory FIA crash tests. That would explain the absence of […]
Grosjean not expecting winning Lotus in 2015
Feb.16 (GMM) Lotus is not expecting a return to the top step of the podium in 2015. In 2012 and 2013, when the returning Kimi Raikkonen was at the wheel of the black and gold car, the Finn managed to win races as the Enstone team soared to fourth in the constructors’ standings. But last […]
Prodromou created McLaren ‘masterpiece’
Feb.16 (GMM) Going extreme with the new MP4-30 is a “calculated risk”, McLaren supremo Ron Dennis has revealed. Although it has struggled to run amid early troubles with new works engine partner Honda, the British team’s 2015 car has been hailed by management as the first ‘size-zero’ F1 car. McLaren is referring to the tight […]
Sainz happy to be in Verstappen’s shade
Feb.16 (GMM) Carlos Sainz jr insists he is happy to be in the shade of his high-profile Toro Rosso teammate. Spaniard Sainz, whose father and namesake is the world rally legend, is making his grand prix debut for Red Bull’s junior team this year as the highly rated reigning champion of Formula Renault 3.5. But […]
Nasr defends lack of success in GP2
Feb.16 (GMM) Felipe Nasr has defended his move into formula one this year despite not matching the success of others in the sport’s feeder category. The Brazilian will make his debut next month in the new Sauber, which in 2015 bears the prominent colours of his personal sponsor, Banco do Brasil. But Nasr, 22, is […]
F1 management is ‘blockage’ for sponsors – Lopez
Feb.16 (GMM) Gerard Lopez has hit out at F1’s “archaic management”. Refuting rumours he is looking for new investors to replace the Lotus boss, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone earlier this month insisted the Luxembourger is “a friend”. But Lopez, who at the end of last season was leading the charge as angry midfield teams demanded […]
Wehrlein to test 2014 Force India in Barcelona – report
Feb.15 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein looks set to make his formula one test debut next week — in a Force India. After skipping Jerez amid rumours of unpaid bills and supplier trouble, the Silverstone based team is now bound for Barcelona for the second test. But the 2015 car – the unseen VJM08 – is still […]
Renault ‘not solely to blame’ for 2014 – Lopez
Feb.14 (GMM) It is clear there is little love lost between Lotus and its former engine supplier. The Enstone team, fourth overall in 2012 and 2013, slumped to an horror eighth in the constructors’ standings last year. Owner Gerard Lopez does not entirely blame Renault, but he is hopeful a much brighter future awaits with […]
2017 reform could entice Newey back – Horner
Feb.13 (GMM) A big change to the regulations could convince Adrian Newey to return to full throttle in formula one. That is the claim of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who insists Newey’s step backwards to work on other technology projects is actually a good opportunity for other engineers to show their worth. It […]