Mar.11 (GMM) Carlos Sainz’s famous father has joined his son in putting the brakes on claims Toro Rosso could be ready to race to the podium in 2016. It was the Red Bull-owned junior team’s boss Franz Tost who set the podium target recently, but 21-year-old Sainz jr warned that “Under normal circumstances, I don’t […]
Month: March 2016
Wehrlein sure Manor right for F1 debut
Mar.11 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein is confident Manor is the right place for his F1 debut. The reigning DTM champion is stepping up with the strong backing of Mercedes, but some believe defending his title in 2016 and waiting for a better F1 seat might have been a better option for the talented German. But Wehrlein, […]
Lauda, Horner reveal Melbourne qualifying doubts
Mar.11 (GMM) Niki Lauda has defended F1’s controversial new qualifying format on the basis that the alternative floated by Bernie Ecclestone was “absurd”. After some back and forth, the World Motor Sport Council finally rubber-stamped the new ‘musical chairs’ system that will debut in Australia next weekend. However, Red Bull chief Christian Horner thinks there […]
‘Halo’ decision must be made soon – FIA
Mar.11 (GMM) Time is running short for F1 to introduce better cockpit protection for 2017. The FIA is pushing to put the controversial ‘halo’ on the cars next year, with Ferrari signalling that intention by running a mock-up for Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel to try during last week’s Barcelona test. FIA president Jean Todt […]
Hulkenberg eyes first ever podium in 2016
Mar.11 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has set his sights on finally reaching the podium in 2016. Remarkably, although one of the most highly-rated midfield drivers in F1, the 28-year-old has never finished one of his almost 100 grands prix in the top three. “It must be a podium,” he told the German broadcaster RTL when asked […]
Ecclestone criticism ‘sad’ – Murray Walker
Mar.11 (GMM) Murray Walker, the iconic voice of formula one, has added his disapproval to the latest criticisms of his beloved sport. Now 92, and having retired as Britain’s lead commentator some 15 years ago, Walker will play a minor role in 2016 for Channel 4’s new coverage of F1. So it was with dismay […]
Rosberg aims to carry form into 2016
Mar.10 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says he is determined to make 2016 “my year”, after two consecutive championship defeats to his teammate Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes driver said the lowest point came in Austin, where he threw away a race win – and later his cap – allowing Hamilton to wrap up the title with three […]
Hamilton should re-think ‘halo’ stance – Surtees
Mar.10 (GMM) F1 veterans have revealed they disagree with reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton’s stance about the ‘halo’ cockpit cage slated for 2017. Some of the Mercedes driver’s colleagues have also admitted their opposition to the safety device, but Hamilton went a step further by calling it the “worst looking mod in F1 history”. Hamilton’s […]
Mercedes dominance might be over – Surer
Mar.10 (GMM) Mercedes’ utter dominance of formula one in the ‘power unit’ era could finally be over. That is the view of former driver turned pundit Marc Surer, even though many other experts believe the German team cannily sandbagged throughout the winter season. Asked if Mercedes will therefore dominate again in 2016, Surer told the […]
Struggling Sauber pays staff
Mar.10 (GMM) Sauber has now paid the two thirds of its 300-strong workforce in Switzerland who were waiting for their overdue February wages. “The financial situation for Sauber is tense,” announced the well-connected Swiss newspaper Blick, “but at least the outstanding February wages are now paid. “Sauber can breathe, but not breathe easy,” the report […]
India may seek Mallya extradition, arrest – report
Mar.10 (GMM) Doubts Vijay Mallya might have to miss next weekend’s season opener in Australia appear over, but the Force India chief’s troubles in India are far from over. As over a dozen aggrieved banks line up to recover debts following the collapse of the former billionaire’s airline Kingfisher, they called for the seizure of […]
Wolff sells last shares in Williams team
Mar.10 (GMM) Toto Wolff has severed his last ties to the Williams team. The Austrian entered F1 in 2009 when he bought into the British team and became a director. He left in 2013 when he bought 30 per cent of Mercedes’ new works team and became boss, promising to parent Daimler that he would […]
Plans for faster cars still on track – Lauda
Mar.10 (GMM) F1 remains on track to speed up significantly in the future, according to Niki Lauda. It has been suggested that, despite touted plans to make the cars considerably faster, the teams and Pirelli were struggling to find a unified road forwards. But F1 legend Lauda, the team chairman at back-to-back world champions Mercedes, […]
Austin ends 2016 US GP uncertainty
Mar.10 (GMM) US grand prix organisers brushed aside any doubts about the 2016 race by revealing Taylor Swift, one of the world’s top pop acts, will perform at the October event. It ends weeks of speculation about the future of the popular Austin race, after it was given only provisional status on the final 2016 […]
FIA approves Mugello for F1 races
Mar.10 (GMM) While Charlie Whiting was at Watkins Glen (US), FIA inspectors were also in Italy. Whiting, the F1 race director, visited the iconic Watkins Glen circuit in New York and declared it would make a “wonderful” addition to the annual calendar. “But we all know it is not quite as simple as that,” he […]
Boss Boullier warns against McLaren ‘expectations’
Mar.9 (GMM) Eric Boullier says he does not want McLaren-Honda to set any firm targets for 2016. But Fernando Alonso, the team’s Spanish race driver, clearly does not agree, as he set a couple of clear objectives on Tuesday during a visit to the site of June’s inaugural grand prix in Azerbaijan. “The objective in […]
Honda ‘not yet’ on schedule – Boullier
Mar.9 (GMM) Honda is running behind schedule so far in 2016, McLaren team boss Eric Boullier revealed on Wednesday. After the disaster of 2015, Boullier seems happy with the management change at Honda, although the impending arrival at McLaren of Jost Capito might be reason for him to be nervous. “I did not hire him,” […]
Mercedes proposes 20hp boost for engine rivals
Mar.9 (GMM) A surprising proposal by Mercedes could help solve the issue of Mercedes’ seemingly endless domination in the new ‘power unit’ era. As many predicted a third consecutive season of regular silver-coloured one-twos this year, the so-called ‘Power Unit Working Group’ was this week meeting in London. The group has been tasked with tabling […]
Austin back on track, Monza still in trouble
Mar.9 (GMM) The US grand prix in Austin looks to be back on track. Although now a popular stop on the annual calendar, the race’s October date was given mere provisional status due to a funding dispute between organisers and the Texas government. But F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone told Forbes two weeks ago: “I think […]
F1 trio question ‘celebrity’ Hamilton’s focus
Mar.9 (GMM) A trio of former F1 drivers have considered whether world champion Lewis Hamilton’s increasing global celebrity will hurt his bid for a fourth title in 2016. Some, like current GPDA president Alex Wurz, think the Mercedes driver’s off-track antics – his ‘rock star’ or jet-set lifestyle and amateur forays in the worlds of […]