Feb.9 (GMM) Flavio Briatore does not think any F1 rivals are ready to challenge Mercedes’ dominance in 2015. Ferrari set the pace at the Jerez test last week, while Red Bull and Williams are expected to have taken steps forward since 2014. But former Renault chief Briatore insisted: “The one constant in formula one at […]
Good Lotus puts smile back on Grosjean
Feb.9 (GMM) Romain Grosjean is once again wearing his customary smile. Having emerged from his personal ‘crash-kid’ crisis of 2012, the Frenchman’s F1 career gathered momentum in 2013 before he spent last season racing the woeful black and gold Lotus. Now, as the Enstone team looks to get back on track, Grosjean has confirmed that […]
Van der Garde to test GP2 car on Monday
Feb.9 (GMM) Giedo van der Garde will return to the cockpit of a GP2 car this week. The Dutchman, who debuted for Caterham in 2013, spent last year as Sauber’s reserve and was disappointed not to secure a race seat with the Swiss team for 2015. Now, the Dutch daily De Telegraaf is reporting that […]
Qatar now close to F1 race deal – official
Feb.9 (GMM) Qatar claims it is about to join the F1 calendar. Earlier, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said that despite the oil-rich Arab state’s interest, Qatar’s grand prix aspirations were being blocked by Bahrain. “They (Bahrain) said to me would I give them a guarantee I wouldn’t stage another race in the Gulf, and I […]
Strategy Group rejects V8 engines for 2017
Feb.7 (GMM) The powerful strategy group on Thursday rejected Ferrari’s proposal to replace the current V6 engines with a twin-turbo V8 formula for 2017. However, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that plans to boost the sport cars to a whopping 1,000 horse power nonetheless remain on track. The report said that when Ferrari’s V8 […]
Force India denies not paying supplier bills
Feb.7 (GMM) Force India has hit back at reports it could be the next team to spin out of formula one. The Silverstone based team missed the Jerez test and will also not have its 2015 car at the forthcoming Barcelona session. According to Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt, it has triggered rumours […]
Manor still determined to return in 2015 – boss
Feb.7 (GMM) The former Marussia team has confirmed reports it has not given up on returning to formula one in 2015. Looking to exit administration with new investors, and now called Manor F1 Team, the newly Dinnington-based outfit hit a roadblock on Thursday when the strategy group blocked its application to use a 2014 car […]
Bottas not denying interest in Raikkonen’s seat
Feb.6 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has not denied he might be looking to take Kimi Raikkonen’s place at Ferrari for 2016. Raikkonen, who struggled last year, remains under contract to the Maranello team for this season, with an ‘option’ still in place for 2016. When asked about that at the Jerez test, the Finn answered: “It’s […]
Marussia now targets China comeback with 2015 car
Feb.6 (GMM) Thursday’s Paris blow may not be the death knell for Marussia. At the strategy group meeting, Force India and other rival teams blocked the ailing backmarker’s bid to return as Manor this year by using its 2014 car. But Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims on Friday that Manor has a new plan. […]
Force India defends blocking Manor revival
Feb.6 (GMM) Force India has defended blocking Marussia’s application to return to F1 this year with a 2014-spec car. Now called Manor, the ailing backmarker once known as Marussia had reportedly secured the backing of former Sainsbury’s chief Justin King and intended to exit administration later this month. So team president Graeme Lowdon made a […]
Ecclestone confirms teams blocked Manor return
Feb.6 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed reports that Marussia will not be allowed to return to formula one this year with its 2014-spec car. Former Sainsbury’s boss Justin King is reportedly behind the efforts to bring the team – now called Manor – out of administration and back to F1 in 2015. But as suggested […]
Haas plans yellow livery for 2016 team – report
Feb.6 (GMM) F1’s new team for 2016, the American entrant Haas, could race with a distinctive yellow livery. It has emerged in recent days that former McLaren and Red Bull engineer Rob Taylor will head the design of the first Haas car, in collaboration with Ferrari and Dallara. “We do not want to make a […]
F1 actually no louder in 2015 – report
Feb.6 (GMM) A Spanish correspondent has contradicted the ears of many by insisting F1 is no louder in 2015. At Jerez, numerous trackside observers agreed that the turbo V6-powered field is audibly louder than it was last year. Indeed, Marco Canseco, writing for the Spanish daily Marca, agrees that the sound produced by the 1.6 […]
‘Upset’ Magnussen eyes Indycar ‘option’
Feb.6 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen is not ruling out looking elsewhere to keep his racing instincts sharp. Just a year into his F1 racing career, the 22-year-old has been pushed aside by McLaren in favour of its all-champion lineup for 2015 featuring Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button. He admits he is disappointed. “Personally, I think I […]
Insiders doubt Alonso can succeed in 2015
Feb.6 (GMM) Respected insiders are not expecting McLaren-Honda to shine in 2015. With the Japanese engine maker Honda returning to the sport this year to revive its iconic collaboration with the British team, it has notably struggled so far simply to run its compact and complex turbo V6. McLaren-Honda managed to secure arguably F1’s best […]
Mercedes ‘out of reach’ for 2015 – Mateschitz
Feb.6 (GMM) Team owner Dietrich Mateschitz does not think Red Bull can mount a serious championship challenge in 2015. The Austrian billionaire made an ultra-rare paddock visit this week at the opening test of the pre-season. After Jerez, Mateschitz said: “Mercedes is again out of reach. “I think if we are able to reduce the […]
Rumours swirl around Manor revival
Feb.5 (GMM) Rumours are now swirling around the future of the ailing backmarker formerly called Marussia. It emerged on Wednesday that the John Booth-founded ‘Manor’ outfit is planning to exit administration later this month ahead of an effort to return for the 2015 season. According to speculation, however, the first obstacle may be met as […]
McLaren-Honda working on cultural barriers – report
Feb.5 (GMM) Horse power and downforce are not the only challenges taking place behind closed garage doors at McLaren-Honda this pre-season. A report in the Spanish sports daily Marca claims that although the famous companies achieved huge success in F1 decades ago, they are once again going through the motions of learning how to work […]
Silent Hamilton in a spin after split
Feb.5 (GMM) Defending champion Lewis Hamilton went into a silent spin on Wednesday as the first test of the 2015 pre-season concluded at Jerez. The Briton was back in his silver Mercedes for the last of four test days in southern Spain, just as news hit the celebrity headlines about his latest split from long-time […]
Schumacher son close to F4 contract – reports
Feb.5 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s son is set to begin down his own road to formula one. Following in the footsteps of his father and also uncle Ralf, 15-year-old Mick – who has raced karts in recent years under the pseudonym ‘Mick Junior’ – is reportedly about to tread into the world of single-seater cars. Dutch […]