Oct.21 (GMM) One of Michael Schumacher’s closest friends and former colleagues says there is still “hope” the F1 legend will recover. As the two-year anniversary of the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver’s horror skiing accident looms, official news about his condition has now completely dried up. The latest media reports indicate that Schumacher, listed at […]
Month: October 2015
Rule tweaks give Honda, Renault ‘room to breathe’ – Wolff
Oct.21 (GMM) Mercedes agreed for F1 to ease its engine development restrictions because the sport needs more competitive teams. That is the claim of Toto Wolff, after a key engine summit in Geneva last week also saw the FIA and Ferrari agree to tweaks that should help struggling Renault and Honda to catch up next […]
Force India waiting for F1 investigation ‘answer’
Oct.21 (GMM) It may be weeks or months before the European Commission decides whether or not to investigate formula one. The anti-competitive arm of the executive body has confirmed it recently received the formal complaint lodged by disgruntled midfield teams Sauber and Force India. But Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that the EC will […]
Montoya opposed to covering cockpits
Oct.20 (GMM) Juan Pablo Montoya says he is opposed to the idea of covering the cockpits of open-wheel racing cars. Recent deaths in formula one (Jules Bianchi) and Indycar (Justin Wilson) have ramped up calls for cockpit canopies, covers or cages. Colombian Montoya is a race winner in both categories, and this year finished runner-up […]
Engine manufacturers ‘not interested’ in reducing costs – Todt
Oct.20 (GMM) The only real problem with today’s engine regulations is the cost, according to FIA president Jean Todt. In a joint interview with German broadcaster ZDF, however, Bernie Ecclestone and Todt’s predecessor Max Mosley painted a very different picture. There are rumours that a parallel bi-turbo V6 formula could soon arrive, and F1 supremo […]
Europe still ‘assessing’ F1 teams’ complaint
Oct.20 (GMM) The risk of an investigation into F1’s structure by the European Commission is still hanging over the sport. “We have received a complaint,” a spokesman confirmed to the Telegraph, “and will assess it.” The complaint was lodged recently by Force India and Sauber, two financially-struggling midfield teams who bemoan the unfairness of Bernie […]
Ecclestone could sue Red Bull over F1 exit
Oct.20 (GMM) Red Bull’s rivals, and even F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, have admitted their sympathy for the former champions is low amid the engine supply crisis. Having terminated the deal with Renault prematurely, the energy drink company is saying it will pull both of its teams out of the sport if manufacturers Mercedes or Ferrari […]
Extra exhausts will improve F1 sound – Cowell
Oct.20 (GMM) Mercedes’ engine chief is confident changes to the regulations will turn up the volume for 2016. The mild tones of the sport since the dawning of the new ‘power unit’ era has been highly controversial, with Bernie Ecclestone leading the criticism. “It (the noise problem) was pointed out to me again by some […]
Ecclestone, Mosley want Cosworth back in F1
Oct.20 (GMM) The German broadcaster ZDF has published a joint interview involving F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and his old sparring partner Max Mosley. It has reignited speculation as to what the pair might be up to, especially as one source believes Briton Mosley, although long since succeeded by Todt as FIA president, plans to visit […]
‘Good timing’ powered Hamilton titles – Montoya
Oct.20 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s looming back-to-back title triumph is more about “timing” than driving brilliance. That is the claim of former F1 race winner and 2015 Indycar runner-up Juan Pablo Montoya. “It is always the same thing in formula one,” said the Colombian. He admits that Briton Hamilton has done a “good job”, but said […]
Saxo Bank, Magnussen linked with Lotus for 2016
Oct.19 (GMM) A Dutch bank’s departing chief is not sure Saxo Bank is going to continue as a sponsor of the Lotus team beyond 2015. Currently, the fate of the entire Enstone team is uncertain, despite Renault having signed a letter signalling its intention to buy the outfit. Amid the uncertainty, Romain Grosjean decided to […]
Ecclestone defends ‘opinions’ after pro-Putin interview
Oct.19 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has defended airing his “opinions” in a controversial interview with Russian state-funded television RT. Just as his sport makes to the trek to Austin for this weekend’s action, the F1 supremo ruffled feathers by publicly backing Russian president Vladimir Putin. “(He is) super. I’m his best supporter,” Ecclestone, 84, said. Putin […]
Rosberg says he’s fighting Hamilton, not Vettel
Oct.19 (GMM) According to some, Lewis Hamilton has now established himself as clearly the de-facto ‘number 1’ at Mercedes. Indeed, as that pecking-order appears ever-clearer, all of the fuel of the earlier bitter rivalry between the Briton and Nico Rosberg has now burned out. “I just want to mention what a great teammate Nico is,” […]
Verstappen leaves options open amid Red Bull crisis
Oct.19 (GMM) An 18-year-old rookie is clearly the hottest property on F1’s driver market. Max Verstappen is under firm contract to Red Bull, but the energy drink company is threatening to pull out of F1 over its engine supply crisis. Verstappen’s father Jos and manager Raymond Vermeulen have already been spotted in conversation with Mercedes, […]
Report names Lauda as candidate to replace Ecclestone
Oct.19 (GMM) Niki Lauda, the F1 legend and current Mercedes team chairman, has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Bernie Ecclestone. That is the claim of the Austrian newspaper Osterreich, amid the latest speculation about the impending sale of the sport. F1 supremo Ecclestone caused a stir recently when he announced that the sale […]
Renault delay adds ‘compromises’ to 2016 car – Permane
Oct.19 (GMM) Leading Lotus engineer Alan Permane has admitted every passing day risks adding “compromises” to the design of next year’s car. The troubled Enstone team is in the midst of a long delay as Renault considers turning its ‘letter of intent’ into the French carmaker’s new works team. If it happens, Lotus will need […]
Marko hopes for Red Bull crisis solution in Austin
Oct.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is hoping a solution to Red Bull’s engine crisis is just around the corner. The energy drink company is splitting with its current partner Renault, but it has hit brick walls in attempting to secure an alternative engine supply from Mercedes or Ferrari for 2016. “At the moment nothing has […]
Merhi not hitting back at Alonso’s ‘aeroplane’ jibe
Oct.19 (GMM) Roberto Merhi has refused to criticise countryman Fernando Alonso for mocking the British backmarker Manor. With Manor switching to Mercedes power for 2016, a cheeky Alonso recently ridiculed at notion that the F1 minnow might actually beat McLaren-Honda next year. “With total respect for Manor,” the Spaniard said, “I think they can put […]
Manor seat could be too expensive for Wehrlein – Wolff
Oct.19 (GMM) Toto Wolff has repeated his warning that there is no guarantee Pascal Wehrlein will make his F1 debut with Manor next year. Before the newly 21-year-old German wrapped up the DTM championship at the weekend, Mercedes’ Wolff had warned that Manor’s new Mercedes engine deal was no guarantee of a route into F1 […]
Todt willing to help solve Red Bull crisis
Oct.19 (GMM) Jean Todt has not ruled out getting involved to help keep Red Bull in formula one. The current FIA president is regularly criticised for his low-profile, hands-off approach to F1. And he told the Finnish newspaper Ilta Sanomat that he is not sure whether the energy drink company will pull both of its […]