Jul.22 (GMM) F1 has scrapped in-season testing for 2016, Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport reports. And in June, the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport revealed that Jerez had been dropped as a venue for winter testing next year. It said the pre-season schedule for 2016 has been trimmed for cost reasons from three to […]
Month: July 2015
Mourning drivers to carry Bianchi message
Jul.22 (GMM) Mourning F1 drivers will carry on their cars the ‘CiaoJules’ hashtag tribute to their fallen rival Jules Bianchi this weekend in Hungary. The collective tribute comes in the wake of the talented Frenchman’s tragic death last Friday, nine months after falling into a coma following his 2014 Suzuka crash. No less than 36 […]
Win risk for smaller teams ‘unacceptable’ – Lopez
Jul.22 (GMM) Williams finds itself in the same predicament as Lotus, when the Enstone team tried to push towards the very top of formula one. That is the claim of Gerard Lopez, the low-profile-in-2015 Lotus team owner, who is currently in the midst of Renault buyout rumours and legal trouble with unpaid suppliers. However, Lopez […]
Tost urges Renault to improve performance
Jul.21 (GMM) Toro Rosso chief Franz Tost is hoping Renault can now add much-needed performance to its 2015 ‘power unit’. As the season reaches its mid-point, experts increasingly agree that the James Key-designed STR10, despite the team’s modest budget, is one of the very best chassis on the grid this year. However, the Red Bull […]
Lotus reaches agreement with supplier – report
Jul.21 (GMM) Lotus has swerved being ordered into administration by reaching an agreement with a disgruntled supplier. Earlier in July, a spokesperson for London’s Companies Court confirmed reports that an order to ‘wind up’ the Enstone team had been brought by a creditor. It was confirmed that the unpaid supplier is Xtrac, a transmission specialist. […]
Rookies deny F1 now ‘easy’
Jul.21 (GMM) Toro Rosso’s young rookies have hit back at claims formula one is increasingly “easy”. With the unprecedentedly-young Max Verstappen, 17, and 20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Sainz thriving this year despite their inexperience, many critics see it as a sure sign the pinnacle of motor sport is not as difficult as it once was. But […]
F1 stars shed tears to farewell Bianchi
Jul.21 (GMM) F1’s stars let tears flow on Tuesday as their friend and rival Jules Bianchi was laid to rest. From world champion Lewis Hamilton to F1 legend Alain Prost, representatives of the pinnacle of motor sport turned out in numbers to say goodbye to the talented Frenchman. Pastor Maldonado and Felipe Massa were locked […]
Allison vows to ‘finish my work’ at Ferrari
Jul.21 (GMM) James Allison has hit back at rumours he might be the victim of Ferrari’s new slump. Last week, as the Italian press analysed the apparent dip in Ferrari’s 2015 resurgence, eyes began to shift to technical boss Allison’s unextended contract. It was claimed the Briton’s deal runs out in less than a year, […]
Rosberg sure he can win 2015 title
Jul.21 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is sure he can keep pushing teammate Lewis Hamilton in the fight for the 2015 title. Last year, the Mercedes pair had a close duel for spoils, with Hamilton emerging with his second career title and a palpable boost in confidence. The Briton appeared to carry that form into this season […]
F1 drivers to attend Bianchi’s funeral
Jul.21 (GMM) A number of current F1 drivers will travel to Nice on Tuesday for the funeral of their fallen rival Jules Bianchi. Germany’s Sport Bild claims that Sebastian Vettel, Felipe Massa, Nico Rosberg and Nico Hulkenberg will be among the late 25-year-old’s closest friends and family as they farewell the former Marussia driver. The […]
Alonso not guilty of ‘bad decisions’ – Sainz
Jul.20 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has defended his countryman and mentor Fernando Alonso, amid claims ‘bad decisions’ have marred the Spaniard’s F1 career. Like many of his peers, rookie Sainz considers Alonso the very best driver on the grid. “With Fernando, you know he will do a perfect qualifying, a perfect start, a perfect first lap, […]
Williams signs Massa for 2016 season – report
Jul.20 (GMM) Williams has taken up its contract ‘option’ on Felipe Massa for the 2016 season. That is the claim of Diario Motorsport, a specialist Portuguese publication that in 2013 also correctly reported that the Brazilian driver was set to switch to the Grove team from Ferrari. Now, hot on the heels of speculation Massa’s […]
Bianchi plan was Ferrari race seat – Domenicali
Jul.20 (GMM) The late Jules Bianchi was destined for a future race seat at Ferrari. That is the claim of the Maranello team’s former boss Stefano Domenicali, as the F1 world mourns the talented 25-year-old Frenchman’s tragic death. Bianchi, who was 25 when his Marussia struck a recovery vehicle in Japan last year, died in […]
Hulkenberg still eyeing Raikkonen’s seat
Jul.20 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg may still be in the running to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari next year. Late last week, a report in Italy’s Corriere dello Sport fired up the ‘silly season’ as it appeared Valtteri Bottas had been snapped up by the Maranello team. But the authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport claims Williams […]
‘Small mistakes’ led to Bianchi death
Jul.20 (GMM) F1 is pressing ahead with safety advances as the sport mourns the death of former Marussia driver Jules Bianchi. The 25-year-old Frenchman’s death, following a nine month coma in the wake of his crash during the Japanese grand prix last year, is the first for a race driver since Ayrton Senna in 1994. […]
Nurburgring admits 2017 F1 race uncertain
Jul.20 (GMM) Former German grand prix venue the Nurburgring has admitted the fate of the race in 2017 is uncertain. After the country fell off this year’s schedule, the German grand prix is definitely returning next year with a race at Hockenheim. But the 2015 absence was due only to the Nurburgring’s tumultuous financial and […]
Critics ‘unaware’ of F1 challenge – Kvyat
Jul.20 (GMM) Two F1 drivers have hit back at suggestions the world championship is no longer the pinnacle of motor sport. As the category’s stakeholders consider what changes to make to rekindle interest, Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat shakes his head at claims driving the modern cars is no longer a serious challenge. “The challenge […]
Michelin still in running for 2017 deal
Jul.20 (GMM) Michelin is still in the running to become F1’s new tyre supplier in 2017. Although some had questioned the French marque’s push to ensure the sport moves to a lower-profile wheel rim size, it is believed Michelin has satisfied the FIA that it is technically competent to be considered for the 2017-2019 contract. […]
Lotus ordered to pay 27 bills – report
Jul.20 (GMM) Lotus is behind in 27 bills adding up to almost $1 million, the Sunday Express reports. Earlier, it emerged that the Enstone team, now linked with a buyout by the French carmaker Renault, is facing a winding-up petition brought by a disgruntled transmission supplier called Xtrac. But F1 business journalist Christian Sylt said […]
Jules Bianchi dies aged 25
Jul.18 (GMM) F1 driver Jules Bianchi has died. Aged 25, the talented Frenchman has been unconscious since striking a recovery vehicle in fading light and wet conditions during last October’s Japanese grand prix. The former Marussia driver’s family confirmed his death in a statement, saying Bianchi “passed away last night” in hospital in his native […]