Mar.24 (GMM) Max Verstappen has played down claims his rivalry with teammate Carlos Sainz has turned into a feud. The Dutchman was furious at the Australian grand prix, launching foul-mouthed tirades on the radio after getting stuck behind the sister Toro Rosso. In an interview with Laureus, Verstappen admitted he was frustrated. “Qualifying was absolutely […]
Month: March 2016
Bahrain qualifying could be ‘musical chairs’ hybrid
Mar.24 (GMM) F1 is heading into its second consecutive grand prix of 2016 amid looming uncertainty about the qualifying format. In Melbourne, the to-ing and fro-ing about the new ‘musical chairs’ format culminated in the farcical session on Saturday, and a rapid decision by the team bosses to tear it up ahead of Bahrain. “Thank […]
Ecclestone confirms ‘musical chairs’ may survive
Mar.24 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed reports the controversial ‘musical chairs’ qualifying format could actually have survived the 2016 season opener. After the farcical debut session in Melbourne last Saturday, team bosses got together before Sunday’s race and voted unanimously to scrap it ahead of Bahrain. “I was also confused as it was the first […]
F1 drivers say governance threatens sport’s future
Mar.24 (GMM) F1 drivers have caused a stir by criticising the governance of the sport. An open letter published by the normally safety-oriented Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) was described by some media on Wednesday as being an “extraordinary revolt” and an “astonishing act of public rebellion”. Headed by Alex Wurz and current F1 racers […]
Red Bull ‘halo’ alternative keeps F1 DNA – Marko
Mar.23 (GMM) Red Bull’s alternative to the ‘halo’ cockpit protection concept would be better for crashes like those suffered by Fernando Alonso in Melbourne. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, even though the newly-unveiled alternative championed by Red Bull has already been ruled out by the FIA. But that was before Alonso’s McLaren-Honda […]
F1 still ‘miles’ from loud enough engines
Mar.23 (GMM) F1 is still “miles away” from sounding like the pinnacle of motor sport. That is the claim of two insiders, notwithstanding efforts over the winter to turn up the meagre volume of the controversial ‘power unit’ era. Following criticisms in 2014 and 2015, changes to the technical regulations for 2016 mandated extra exhaust […]
Hamilton could retire with fourth title – Stewart
Mar.23 (GMM) One more title could be enough to satisfy Lewis Hamilton’s ambition. That is the view of Sir Jackie Stewart, who like Hamilton is a triple world champion. Briton Hamilton has always said his goal was to match the championship tally of another triple title winner, Ayrton Senna, but the 31-year-old has just commenced […]
Tyre rules have spiced up F1 – Hembery
Mar.23 (GMM) Pirelli is sure the new tyre selection rules have succeeded in spicing up F1. Although the rules are complex, teams and drivers are essentially now allowed to choose three compounds of tyres for each grand prix. Towards the chequered flag in Melbourne, for instance, it resulted in a fascinating battle between the Mercedes […]
Verstappen defended after Melbourne ‘anger’
Mar.23 (GMM) Max Verstappen has found some allies in the wake of his anger and outbursts at the Australian grand prix. The teen Dutchman was widely criticised after fuming on the radio that a bungled pitstop and being stuck behind Toro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz was “a f—–g joke”. But his father, aptly known during […]
Alonso, Raikkonen’s engines survived Melbourne
Mar.23 (GMM) The engine, gearbox and monocoque aboard Fernando Alonso’s otherwise-mangled McLaren-Honda survived his famous crash in Melbourne last Sunday. Marca, a Spanish sports daily, estimated the damage caused by the shattered carbon-fibre and other disposable components at EUR 300,000, after Alonso barrel-rolled through the gravel after a 300kph impact with Esteban Gutierrez. But the […]
Bottas hopes new nose boosts Williams
Mar.23 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says it is too early to become overly disappointed with the pace of Williams’ 2016 car. The Finn finished just eighth in Australia, having qualified in the midfield. “It is difficult to say much about the pace in qualifying as I didn’t get any clear air and then I got the […]
Haryanto actually won ‘driver of the day’ vote
Mar.23 (GMM) Rio Haryanto actually won the popular vote as F1 debuted its new official ‘driver of the day’ plaudit in Australia. Many were surprised in the hours after the 2016 season opener when the results of the poll were not published. Belatedly, the winner was declared as having been Romain Grosjean, who powered team […]
Sparkling wine, not champagne, on 2016 podiums
Mar.23 (GMM) Champagne will not be sprayed on the F1 podiums in 2016. In January, we reported that the sport’s long-time champagne sponsor Mumm is leaving the sport, with reports saying the $5.5m it paid per year was deemed “insufficient” by Bernie Ecclestone. Mumm is now the official champagne partner of Formula E. So after […]
Mercedes ‘can lap entire field’ – Marko
Mar.23 (GMM) The big question after Melbourne is whether Ferrari can really challenge Mercedes’ dominance in 2016. Sebastian Vettel looked set to win the season opener last Sunday until the red flag and a tyre choice blunder, but not everyone is convinced. “Mercedes can hide their superiority,” Dr Helmut Marko, the outspoken Red Bull official, […]
Vasseur happy with drivers, new F1 job
Mar.23 (GMM) New team boss Frederic Vasseur says he is happy with Renault’s drivers after the first race weekend of 2016. As the French carmaker returns to full works status this year, it inherited Jolyon Palmer’s race contract from predecessor Lotus. New boss Vasseur, fresh from his own junior team ART, then failed to secure […]
F1 Commission asked to approve quali axe
Mar.23 (GMM) Eyes will now turn to the F1 Commission, after team bosses voted unanimously to scrap the new ‘musical chairs’ qualifying format before Bahrain. “I think the F1 Commission will listen to our opinion, especially as it was unanimous,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said. Approval by the Commission, comprised of F1’s other stakeholders […]
‘Red and silver teams’ eye Ricciardo – Marko
Mar.22 (GMM) The 2017 ‘silly season’ is already underway. Several top drivers are out of contract at the end of the year, including Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen. And both of those teams are interested in Daniel Ricciardo, the smiling Australian’s Red Bull chief Dr Helmut Marko revealed on Tuesday. “Ferrari are much […]
Verstappen criticised for Melbourne ‘anger’
Mar.22 (GMM) F1 teen sensation Max Verstappen has been criticised for his behaviour at the Australian grand prix. While tipped for greatness by most pundits, the 18-year-old “showed his age” at the 2016 season opener as he lost his cool with Toro Rosso and teammate Carlos Sainz, British commentator Martin Brundle said. “These were the […]
Quali u-turn shows F1 needs ‘dictatorship’ – Alesi
Mar.22 (GMM) Jean Alesi says the latest events in F1 show that the sport needs a “dictatorship”. The former Ferrari driver spoke to the French broadcaster Canal Plus about F1’s u-turn over the new ‘musical chairs’ qualifying format, which will be scrapped after just a single race in Australia. “Personally, I liked qualifying” in Melbourne, […]
Press celebrates end of ‘Mercedes playground’
Mar.22 (GMM) Helmut Marko is not so sure Ferrari is really ready to challenge Mercedes in 2016. On the face of it, it might be said Sebastian Vettel only lost victory in Melbourne because of the red flag and a tyre choice blunder by the Maranello team. “The Mercedes playground is over,” wrote Italy’s La […]