May 9 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has launched a new stinging attack on the current F1 regulations, urging the sport to act during a crunch meeting next week. Lead Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo struck even more Renault engine trouble in Barcelona practice, meaning the team could not fully evaluate its major new aerodynamic package […]
Month: May 2015
Lauda says Ferrari now ‘closer’ to Mercedes
May 9 (GMM) Niki Lauda insists Ferrari is continuing to close the gap to championship leaders Mercedes. The resurgent Italian camp arrived in Barcelona with arguably the bigger update package, but Sebastian Vettel said after practice that he is not yet on Mercedes’ pace. “The gap is still there — that is the bad news […]
Barcelona staying on F1 calendar
May 9 (GMM) Barcelona is staying on the F1 calendar. The Circuit de Catalunya, scene of this weekend’s Spanish grand prix, announced that the contract with Bernie Ecclestone has been extended until 2019. “We are extremely proud to announce this renewal in such a special year, marking the 25th anniversary of formula one being hosted […]
Susie Wolff to rethink F1 role after Silverstone
May 9 (GMM) Susie Wolff is expected to rethink her role at Williams after Silverstone. On Friday, the 32-year-old test driver made her opening Friday practice appearance of 2015 for the British team, and she will reprise the role at Silverstone in July. But earlier in 2015, Wolff admitted her disappointment when Williams made clear […]
Wins ‘impossible’ for McLaren in 2015 – Rosberg
May 9 (GMM) Fernando Alonso must be patient for success at McLaren-Honda. That is the claim of Alain Prost, who won three of his four world championships with the British team, including his Honda-powered win in 1989. But the diminutive Frenchman told Spain’s EFE news agency that Alonso cannot expect immediate success. “It is a […]
Ferrari switch ‘no problem’ for Hamilton – Ecclestone
May 9 (GMM) Niki Lauda has admitted there is a “delay” in the finalisation of Lewis Hamilton’s 2016 contract. The comments come amid rumours in the Barcelona paddock that Hamilton, the on-form championship leader and reigning world champion, is seriously considering a switch to the fabled and resurgent Ferrari team. “There is no hitch, there […]
Lotus tension brewing over ‘Friday’ issue
May 9 (GMM) Tension is reportedly brewing between Romain Grosjean and his Lotus teammate Pastor Maldonado. In China and Bahrain, Frenchman Grosjean sat out Friday practice so that team reserve Jolyon Palmer – who reportedly brings EUR 4 million to the team – could drive. Ahead of this weekend’s Spanish grand prix, it emerged that […]
Marciello determined to show potential in 2015
May 9 (GMM) Raffaele Marciello is determined to make his mark in 2015. The Swiss-born Italian is now the cream of Ferrari’s development programme. This weekend in Barcelona, the 20-year-old is splitting his time between a ‘Friday’ practice programme for Sauber and his GP2 racing duties. And next week, he will re-emerge for the post-race […]
Ferrari chief Rivola ‘dismissed’ – reports
May 8 (GMM) Ferrari is without its sporting director Massimo Rivola in Spain this weekend. Italy’s La Repubblica claims he was “removed from his duties” during the three-week break between Bahrain and Barcelona. “Two other team members – the logistics manager and a cook – were suspended,” the newspaper added. Rivola was reportedly close to […]
‘Party animal’ Hamilton vs ‘couch potato’ Rosberg
May 8 (GMM) As far as one German newspaper is concerned, the contrast between Mercedes’ two drivers could not be more stark. In the three-week ‘break’ between Bahrain and Spain, Nico Rosberg stayed with his pregnant wife in their Monaco apartment and made one trip to their second home in Ibiza. Hamilton, on the other […]
Audi admits ‘looking at’ F1 project
May 8 (GMM) Audi appears to have taken a step closer to formula one. Mere days ago, constant rumours that the Volkswagen brand is considering a grand prix foray were given a boost by former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo. “A mutual friend told me that (Red Bull owner Dietrich) Mateschitz is thinking of selling […]
Massa ‘not worried’ about Williams future
May 8 (GMM) Felipe Massa had a simple message as he prepared for the Spanish grand prix — I’m not worried. The paddock rumour mill is whispering loudly about the Ferrari-themed future of his current Williams teammate Valtteri Bottas. Former Ferrari driver Massa, on the other hand, is hoping he will stay at Grove for […]
Alonso not happy as Pirelli ‘goes soft’
May 8 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has criticised Pirelli’s decision to ‘go soft’ for the rest of the 2015 season. The official F1 supplier’s Paul Hembery declared this week that, in an effort to prompt more exciting three-stop strategies, Pirelli will lean towards bringing the softer compound tyres in its range to races from now on. […]
Hulkenberg ‘no F1 critic’ after Porsche debut
May 8 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has played down his reported deliberations over a full-time future at Le Mans. Between Bahrain and Barcelona, the German made his world endurance sports car debut driving Porsche’s prototype at Spa, ahead of his high-profile Le Mans bow next month. Reports after Spa suggested Hulkenberg is now considering a permanent […]
Vettel happy if Raikkonen stays
May 8 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he would be happy if Kimi Raikkonen remains his teammate beyond 2015. Williams’ Valtteri Bottas on Thursday did not deny that he might be driving for a different team in 2016, amid rumours the young Finn’s future is Ferrari-red. The existing Maranello duo of Vettel and personal friend Raikkonen, […]
Lotus weighing up ‘Crashtor’ Maldonado
May 8 (GMM) Pastor Maldonado seems to be losing the battle in trying to shake off his ‘Crashtor’ nickname. One dedicated website mischievously asks ‘HasMaldonadoCrashedToday.com’?, but until now it has been assumed the Venezuelan driver’s lucrative, government-backed sponsorship almost guarantees him a place on the grid. But Lotus chief executive Matthew Carter this week insisted […]
Alonso hits back after ‘dark and moody’ jibe
May 8 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has hit back at former Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo’s claim that the Spaniard was “dark and moody” last year. Although the Italian team’s long-time president is also no longer wearing red, Montezemolo claimed he participated in the decision to look into the future with Sebastian Vettel. Alonso hit back […]
Pirelli denies changing tyre selection philosophy
May 8 (GMM) Paul Hembery has denied reports Pirelli is shifting its focus towards softer compound choices in 2015. When asked about claims F1’s official supplier wanted to spice up races by bringing softer tyres to grands prix this year, Fernando Alonso was unimpressed. “I say that they should stay with whatever was the original […]
Ricciardo cool on struggling Kvyat’s contribution
May 8 (GMM) In the space of four races, Daniil Kvyat has gone from rising sensation to arguable liability. Outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve thinks Red Bull is now paying for its “arrogant” driver choice in having replaced the Ferrari-bound quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel with a 20-year-old Russian wielding only a year of […]
Hulkenberg denies losing interest in F1
May 8 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has played down suggestions he is losing interest in formula one. “I enjoy every moment,” he told the German news agency DPA. However, the German obviously wasn’t enjoyed Friday practice in Barcelona, as he struggled with the handling of his Force India and made his feelings clear by radio. He […]