Mar.8 (GMM) Fabio Leimer’s chances of securing the last seat on the 2015 grid have shrunk. Earlier, it was reported that the 2013 GP2 champion had escaped his new contract with the Mugen team in Japan’s premier open wheeler series Super Formula. Some thought that indicated the 25-year-old Swiss, whose earlier career was backed by […]
Month: March 2015
Ecclestone admits EUR 15m ‘plan B’ for small teams
Mar.8 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he devised a contingency plan for F1’s most struggling teams. Earlier, amid Marussia and Caterham’s decline and the similar financial issues of even bigger teams, it was reported that the F1 supremo was working on a ‘plan B’. It would involve a kind of ‘division two’ on the grid, […]
Villeneuve slams Alonso for lack of Ferrari ‘respect’
Mar.8 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has sided firmly with Ferrari after F1’s highest profile driver move. Over the winter, Fernando Alonso left the Maranello team and joined McLaren-Honda, who have struggled simply to run the new MP4-30 car. And the Spaniard is now recovering from his mysterious Barcelona testing crash. Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, says […]
Hamilton in ‘final stages’ of contract talks
Mar.8 (GMM) As he touched down in Australia to begin his title defence, Lewis Hamilton admitted he is close to agreeing a deal to stay at Mercedes beyond 2015. It is bad news for his rivals, as the Briton apparently hit back at rumours that while his new Mercedes is fast, it may be difficult […]
Ecclestone sure Mercedes will win 2015 title
Mar.8 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he has no doubt who will win the 2015 world championship. “Yes. I would put everything I own on it,” the British billionaire told the German newspaper Welt. He is referring to the occupant of a works silver Mercedes. Ecclestone says the turbo V6 ‘power unit’ rules he so despises […]
Button considered 2016 Olympic bid
Mar.8 (GMM) Jenson Button has admitted he thought about quitting formula one to launch a quest for the Olympics. As his F1 seat hung in the balance at McLaren last year, the Briton said at the time he took the opportunity to assess if he even wanted to extend his 15-year run into the 2016 […]
Now Wurz plays down boycott rumours
Mar.8 (GMM) Alex Wurz has joined Australian grand prix organisers in playing down the threat of boycott. Wild reports had suggested teams were nervous about the safety implications of Fernando Alonso’s mysterious Barcelona testing crash. Then it emerged that Grand Prix Drivers’ Association president Alex Wurz had circulated a letter to the active drivers about […]
Leimer in frame for second Manor seat
Mar.7 (GMM) 2013 GP2 champion Fabio Leimer has leapt into contention to complete this year’s formula one grid. After conquering F1’s main feeder series, the 25-year-old Swiss was disappointed that, even with a strong sponsor in tow, he was not able to secure his grand prix debut last year. “The formula one system is sick,” […]
McLaren, Alonso hit back at ‘creative’ crash rumours
Mar.7 (GMM) Fernando Alonso and McLaren have hit back at reports about the severity of the Spanish driver’s memory loss. Spain’s El Pais newspaper had claimed Alonso thought he was a 13-year-old kart racer when he regained consciousness after his mysterious testing crash two weeks ago. “In a few days the championship starts and we […]
Vettel footage key to Alonso mystery – report
Mar.7 (GMM) The theory Fernando Alonso was already unconscious before he crashed in Barcelona two weeks ago is growing stronger by the hour. Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the key to the mystery could be the on-board footage captured by the Ferrari driven by Sebastian Vettel. Vettel said immediately after the incident that […]
Melbourne promised season opener, day race
Mar.7 (GMM) Melbourne is guaranteed its place at the top of F1’s annual calendar, it has emerged. Local media Fairfax has revealed Melbourne’s new race contract until 2020 stipulates the season-opening slot for the almost 20-year-old Albert Park race. “We have clauses in there about (being) the first race of the season,” Australian Grand Prix […]
Sauber sacked van der Garde to save 330 jobs
Mar.6 (GMM) Sauber has found itself in legal trouble just one week before first practice in Melbourne. It emerged on Thursday that, with a valid contract for 2015, Giedo van der Garde is suing the Swiss team in Melbourne and demanding he race this year. The Dutchman’s case is based on a recent ruling in […]
Bianchi still in coma in Nice – report
Mar.6 (GMM) Five months after his horror Suzuka crash, Jules Bianchi remains in a coma. That is the claim of the major German daily Bild, even though official news about the health of the talented former Marussia driver had stopped some time ago. But just a week before the new F1 season begins, the newspaper […]
V6 rules going nowhere – Todt
Mar.6 (GMM) Jean Todt sounds unlikely to agree to any major revisions to F1’s current engine regulations. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has led the charge for the quiet and controversial turbo V6s to be scrapped. And even Niki Lauda, team chairman of the ultra-dominant Mercedes team, thinks the technical regulations need to be revamped. He […]
Aus GP denies boycott threat
Mar.6 (GMM) Australian grand prix organisers insist next weekend’s 2015 season opener in Melbourne will not be boycotted. German reports had suggested teams had safety concerns about racing in light of the mysterious circumstances of Fernando Alonso’s recent testing crash. But Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief Andrew Westacott played down the claims. “We’re talking to […]
Vettel was right to leave Red Bull – Villeneuve
Mar.6 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel made the right choice in deciding to leave Red Bull for Ferrari. That is the view of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who said it became clear last year that despite winning four titles with the energy drink marque, the Vettel era at Red Bull was over. “There was this young […]
Alonso ‘surprised’ by McLaren crash saga – Ecclestone
Mar.6 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has reportedly said the circumstances of Fernando Alonso’s bizarre testing crash are “completely inexplicable”. The F1 chief executive, however, admitted that after the Spaniard’s four days in hospital, he is not surprised the new McLaren-Honda driver is sitting out Melbourne. “What has surprised me is what happened (in Barcelona). It is […]
German GP must meet ‘conditions’ – Ecclestone
Mar.6 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has suggested the matter of the embattled German grand prix is purely financial. The F1 chief executive has set a deadline of this weekend for the conclusion of contract talks with the Nurburgring or Hockenheim. Many, however, have argued that as one of F1’s traditional host nations, the sport should make […]
Buying F1 team ‘not excluded’ admits Renault
Mar.6 (GMM) Renault is now openly contemplating a return to full works status in formula one. After running a works team until 2010, the French carmaker remained on the grid only as a supplier, helping Red Bull to win multiple titles. But officials are now admitting a better marketing strategy for the future might be […]
Manor passes crash tests with 2015-legal car
Mar.6 (GMM) Manor Marussia is on the way to Melbourne. Although the revived team officially launched its 2015 earlier this week, it was still scrambling to prepare a car for the new regulations. The modified 2014 car was crash tested on Thursday, with the team now confirming “We have passed”. “That’s it,” Manor said on […]