Apr.12 (GMM) F1’s new sparks have been blamed for a couple of incidents ahead of the Chinese grand prix. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton drove to pole on Saturday, but not before complaining repeatedly about an unusually hot seat. “We changed the seat,” said team boss Toto Wolff, “improved the insulation but in the end we did […]
Month: April 2015
Ecclestone wants Mercedes power for entire grid
Apr.12 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone would like to see every car on the grid equipped with a Mercedes engine. The F1 supremo is increasingly frustrated with the current turbo V6 rules, as Mercedes is dominating and many fans and promoters are unhappy with the milder engine note. Asked specifically what he wants, Ecclestone told Sport Bild: […]
Force India confirms ‘B’ car for Austria
Apr.12 (GMM) Force India has confirmed reports it is working on a ‘B’ version of its 2015 car. With winter troubles having delayed this year’s VJM08, drivers Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg are now struggling merely to race out of the ignominious ‘Q1’ segment of qualifying. “It is disappointing to go out in Q1,” German […]
Manor could change livery for Barcelona
Apr.12 (GMM) Manor has not ruled out keeping its current driver lineup for the rest of the season. Until now, the former Marussia team as well as Roberto Merhi have admitted that the Spanish rookie is not guaranteed his place throughout 2015. Merhi, 24, has not even given up his full-time race seat in the […]
‘Bad’ eye not reason for Rosberg mood
Apr.12 (GMM) A frustrated Nico Rosberg admitted he lost pole by “the blink of an eye” in China. He was referring to the mere four-hundredths gap to Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, not the conspicuously red eye he was sporting after qualifying in Shanghai. Rosberg explained that he has been dealing with the left eye problem […]
‘Short nose’ finally coming in Spain – Marko
Apr.12 (GMM) Red Bull is hoping its long-awaited ‘short nose’ will put the former world champions back on track. Having pointed the finger of blame squarely at engine supplier Renault, team owner Dietrich Mateschitz has already written off the 2015 title, telling the Austrian press this week that “second place” is now the best Red […]
Fifth engine rule not in place yet – Wolff
Apr.12 (GMM) There is still no agreement on the introduction of a fifth engine per driver in 2015. Dismayed that the strict allocation of just four ‘power units’ per driver this year was discouraging track action on Fridays, Bernie Ecclestone recently proposed that a fifth engine be added to the allocation. Reports subsequently emerged that […]
Rosberg accuses Hamilton of spoiling China GP
Apr.12 (GMM) It was after the chequered flag flew that the real fireworks began in China between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Rosberg, beaten in Shanghai, re-fired old tensions with his Mercedes teammate by accusing Briton Hamilton of deliberately spoiling his race. Rosberg had been heard during the race asking strategists to push Hamilton’s pace, […]
Ferrari unhappy with Raikkonen qualifying
Apr.12 (GMM) Ferrari was not happy with Kimi Raikkonen’s performance after qualifying in Shanghai. Until now, the Maranello team and the Finn have said Raikkonen, after a poor 2014 season, is fully back up to speed this year with the vastly improved SF15-T car. But Raikkonen’s troubles only continued on Saturday, and this time Ferrari […]
Manor leaving 107pc headache behind – Merhi
Apr.11 (GMM) Manor looks set to put its ‘107 per cent’ headache in the past. That is the claim of Roberto Merhi, who said the struggling former Marussia team is now taking “giant steps” after a stuttering and controversial start to its season. “I am very satisfied with the work we have done,” the rookie […]
Williams slams Force India over wind tunnel jibe
Apr.11 (GMM) Williams’ Pat Symonds has slammed Force India for dismissing wind tunnels as “dinosaur technology”. Red Bull has controversially proposed that wind tunnels be banned from formula one. It did not receive widespread support, except from the Force India deputy chief Bob Fernley, who said in Malaysia two weeks ago that F1 should move […]
Red Bull eyes F1 television rights – rumour
Apr.11 (GMM) Rumours continue to swirl around the future of Red Bull in formula one. The former world champions are struggling so far in 2015, pointing fingers at engine supplier Renault but also grappling with chassis issues. At the same time, the energy drink company is threatening to pull out of the sport. The threats […]
Verstappen ‘more Dutch than Belgian’ – father
Apr.11 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father has hit back at claims the 17-year-old is really Belgian. The issue hit the headlines a week ago, when the Toro Rosso rookie’s mother Sophie Kumpen said the Belgian-born driver cannot apply for Dutch nationality until he turns 18 in September. “In the meantime, he is Belgian and nothing else,” […]
Quirky Chinese F1 enthusiasm spills over
Apr.11 (GMM) The quirkiness of the Chinese fans spilled over at the scene of the 2015 race in Shanghai. Even before travelling to the sprawling city, world champion Lewis Hamilton was bracing for the unique fan experience. “I don’t know how they know but from the moment we land at the airport they know we’re […]
F1 would thrive with ’20 Mercedes engines’ – Lauda
Apr.11 (GMM) Niki Lauda has lashed out at Mercedes’ struggling engine rivals, daring them to quit formula one. Although Ferrari has closed the gap in 2015, rival manufacturers Renault and Honda are still struggling to match Mercedes under the new turbo V6 rules. It has led to calls to scrap the hybrid engine formula altogether, […]
McLaren-Honda ready to race away from Q1
Apr.11 (GMM) McLaren-Honda might already be leaping into the F1 midfield. Initially dead-last in 2015, upbeat members of the new Anglo-Japanese collaboration have insisted much of the progress made in recent weeks has been invisible publicly. But the cat might be out of the bag in China. “I was looking for Alonso’s name in the […]
Ferrari plays down title hopes
Apr.11 (GMM) Ferrari’s technical boss has played down hopes the fabled Maranello marque might already be ready to charge for the title. Sebastian Vettel won in Malaysia, is just three points behind Mercedes’ championship leader Lewis Hamilton, and teammate Kimi Raikkonen was second fastest in China on Friday. “That was very surprising,” 1997 world champion […]
Hamilton ‘not worth $200 million’ – Rosberg
Apr.11 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s monetary value has a limit, according to Nico Rosberg. While the German has struggled so far in 2015, reigning world champion Hamilton is leading the 2015 standings and on top form. Off-track, however, Hamilton’s season has been less smooth as he handles his own negotiations for a new Mercedes contract beyond […]
Lauda tells Rosberg to ‘sort himself out’
Apr.11 (GMM) Niki Lauda has urged Nico Rosberg to “sort himself out” after a mediocre start to the 2015 season. German Rosberg fought teammate Lewis Hamilton all the way to the 2014 title finale, but so far this year has conspicuously lagged behind the new reigning champion. “Yes, Nico is definitely a little bit behind […]
Lotus-linked company ‘in liquidation’ – reports
Apr.10 (GMM) There are reports of financial trouble at Lotus’ team owners. The Luxembourg newspaper L’Essentiel reports that Gravity Sport, the driver management arm of Lotus’ team owner Genii, was placed in voluntary administration at the request of its minority shareholder. The minor shareholder has a 33 per cent stake, with the rest held by […]