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 […]
Verstappen slams GPDA and fan survey
Jul.4 (GMM) Max Verstappen has ridiculed the importance of the global fan survey commissioned by his fellow F1 drivers. The 17-year-old is not a member of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, and told Algemeen Dagblad newspaper he has no intention of joining. And he said his anti-GPDA stance has only been reinforced in recent weeks […]
Pirelli waiting for tyre tender news
Jul.4 (GMM) Paul Hembery says he is waiting to know if Pirelli will remain F1’s official tyre supplier beyond 2016. “No news yet,” the Briton, who is the Italian company’s F1 chief, said at Silverstone. Pirelli is going head-to-head with former F1 supplier Michelin for the 2017-2020 contract. “As I understand it,” Hembery explained, “the […]
Teams not confirming ‘mini-GP’ race format shakeup
Jul.4 (GMM) Team bosses at Silverstone were reluctant to confirm the details of a race weekend format shakeup that could save the increasingly slated sport. Information leaked to specialist publications ahead of the British grand prix indicated the Strategy Group is considering adding extra races to the traditional weekend format. One could be contested by […]
Hamilton accepts invite to Rosberg’s BBQ
Jul.3 (GMM) They may not be the best of friends, but title contenders Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will share a gourmet hamburger this weekend at Silverstone. The Mercedes duo’s motor homes are parked side-by-side inside the British grand prix venue, and Rosberg – although joking he would erect a “big fence” between them – […]
Terror alert high at British grand prix
Jul.3 (GMM) Security personnel are on full alert at the British grand prix. The increased tension is due to the terror attack in Tunisia last week, in which 30 of the 38 people gunned down were British. It is also the tenth anniversary of the London terror bombing attacks. So the Daily Express newspaper said […]
Massa confident of keeping Williams seat
Jul.3 (GMM) Felipe Massa is confident he will keep his seat at Williams in 2016. “Why not?” the diminutive Brazilian smiled at Silverstone. Brazil’s Globo quoted team technical boss Pat Symonds as saying the former Ferrari driver Massa alongside Valtteri Bottas is among the best pairing he has seen “in the 30 years I have […]
Alonso scratched but bullish in Britain
Jul.3 (GMM) Fernando Alonso strolled into the Silverstone paddock on Thursday with a bandaged hand. But he said it has nothing to do with his big crash with Kimi Raikkonen in Austria two weeks ago. “I fell off my bike while training,” the McLaren-Honda driver and cycling enthusiast told Spanish reporters ahead of the British […]
Vettel ‘doesn’t care’ about Webber claims
Jul.3 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has shrugged off explosive claims made by his former Red Bull teammate Mark Webber. In his newly published autobiography, retired F1 star Webber slammed the quadruple world champion’s “arrogance”, revealing Vettel even threatened to sue Red Bull in the wake of the so-called Multi-21 team orders affair. “I really don’t care […]
‘Toro Rosso among best cars in 2015’
Jul.3 (GMM) Max Verstappen agrees with his boss that the 2015 Toro Rosso is one of the very best cars on the grid. The STR10’s designer James Key said recently that “With a Mercedes engine we would be at the front”. And it is not only those in the Faenza based camp who are saying […]
Hulkenberg has ‘chance’ of Ferrari seat – Berger
Jul.2 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen’s exit from Ferrari and formula one is all but “sealed”, the influential Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport claims. “Only a sensational breakthrough can avert his farewell” now, claimed correspondent Luigi Perna ahead of the British grand prix. That is despite the fact that, as the results of the Grand Prix […]
Imola bid also gaining regional support
Jul.2 (GMM) Imola’s bid to return to the F1 calendar is also gaining regional support. Earlier, the president of the Lombardy region, Roberto Maroni, made clear he is campaigning to safeguard endangered Monza’s place on the calendar. “The right way is to apply pressure, involving public opinion, the Italian government and Ferrari,” he said. But […]
‘Arrogant’ McLaren management ‘a mess’ – Jordan
Jul.2 (GMM) McLaren’s “arrogance” is holding the once-great team back. That is the controversial claim of former F1 team owner and boss Eddie Jordan, as he rubbished Ron Dennis’ message about all being well at Woking. As team figures including boss Eric Boullier and driver Jenson Button warn that the current troubles could soon carry […]
Nasr hoping for braking problems fix
Jul.2 (GMM) Felipe Nasr is still calling on Sauber to solve his persistent braking issue. Brazil’s Globo said the rookie, although a standout performer earlier in 2015, has struggled with his brakes first in Canada and then again in Austria. “The question of feeling more confident on the brakes was resolved in Austria,” Nasr said, […]
Internet is key to F1’s next generation
Jul.2 (GMM) A debate is raging among F1 insiders as to whether the pinnacle of motor sport is being left behind in the internet age. It has emerged that the average age of those who participated in the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association fan survey was 37, and “more than half” don’t even watch the races […]
Verstappen eyes Le Mans with father
Jul.2 (GMM) Max Verstappen could be the next F1 driver heading to Le Mans. Nico Hulkenberg breathed new life into his career by winning the fabled endurance race at the first attempt. And now 17-year-old Verstappen, despite his age and his rookie status in F1, is also casting eyes at Le Mans. That could be […]
Rosberg keeping focus in Hamilton title fight
Jul.2 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton may be in the “public eye”, but Nico Rosberg has vowed to keep his eye on the world championship. Bernie Ecclestone said recently Rosberg is “not good for business”. “I took that with a pinch of salt,” said the German ahead of the British grand prix. “He was comparing me with […]
Hamilton hits out at F1 ‘kids’
Jul.2 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has hit out at the lack of “gentlemen” on a grid increasingly full of “kids”. “There are too many kids in the sport now,” the reigning world champion told Germany’s Sport Bild. He is obviously referring to the trend for younger and younger race drivers, like 17-year-old Max Verstappen, as he […]
Formula E ‘too slow’ to be F1 rival
Jul.1 (GMM) Two motor racing figures have dismissed a controversial claim that Formula E is set to take F1’s place as the pinnacle of the sport. Virgin’s Sir Richard Branson, once with a F1 team but now in the all-electric single seater series, claimed at the London finale last weekend that Formula E would “take […]