May 4 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has ruled out returning to formula one. The flamboyant Italian left F1 in disgrace amid the ‘crashgate’ scandal, but he is still close to Bernie Ecclestone and recently attended a meeting over the future of Monza’s embattled race. But he told Chi, an Italian gossip weekly: “The circuit is not […]
Month: May 2016
Cockpit shield may be delayed until 2018 – report
May 4 (GMM) The introduction of cockpit-mounted head protection may need to wait until 2018, according to a report in Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. That is despite the fact F1 race director Charlie Whiting said in Sochi last weekend that a July 1 deadline had been set for the introduction of either the ‘halo’ […]
Mercedes in dark over Ferrari’s true pace
May 4 (GMM) Niki Lauda said Sebastian Vettel’s first-lap retirement at Sochi means Mercedes is still in the dark about Ferrari’s true pace. On the face of it, notwithstanding worries about reliability, reigning world champions Mercedes utterly dominated in terms of pace in Russia. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen finished third on Sunday, while Vettel did not […]
No testing for Sauber, Pirelli starts 2017 running
May 4 (GMM) Sauber will sit out the first in-season test of the 2016 season after next weekend’s Spanish grand prix. The Swiss team, openly struggling financially this year, said one reason for the decision is because it “will not introduce a car update” in Barcelona. And secondly, according to a Sauber update on Twitter, […]
McLaren-Honda can target podium in 2016 – Alonso
May 4 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says a podium goal might not be too far away for McLaren-Honda in 2016. The Spaniard opened his points account at Sochi with a strong sixth place, although he admitted the result flattered the true pace of the Anglo-British team’s package. “We are happy with how things are going and […]
Billionaire eyes Russian F1 team
May 4 (GMM) A billionaire has admitted he would like to establish a Russian formula one team. In February, as former F1 driver Vitaly Petrov signed for the Le Mans LMP2 team SMP Racing, he admitted: “Although nothing is defined yet, we will perhaps one day be in F1.” SMP Racing is the motor sport […]
Sainz hits out at Palmer incident penalty
May 3 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has hit out at the 10-second penalty imposed for his confrontation with rival Jolyon Palmer at Sochi. Even the Spaniard’s famous father, rally legend Carlos Sainz snr, called the punishment by the stewards “ridiculous”. “I did not see Palmer on my right,” Sainz, 21, told the Spanish broadcaster Movistar. “I […]
Now Ocon adds to pressure on Palmer
May 3 (GMM) The pressure on Jolyon Palmer will stay high in Barcelona next weekend. After new Friday tester Sergey Sirotkin outpaced Renault’s rookie British regular at Sochi, it will be now reserve Esteban Ocon’s turn at the wheel of the yellow car in practice for the forthcoming Spanish grand prix. Palmer had an awful […]
Putin meeting surprised Rosberg
May 3 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has admitted to being surprised when he met Russia’s controversial president Vladimir Putin after the race in Sochi. As the drivers prepared for the podium ceremony, Putin and his translator spoke separately with Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and race winner Rosberg. “He congratulated me,” Rosberg said, “but I was a […]
Stroll eyes F3 title before F1
May 3 (GMM) Lance Stroll is the latest teenager looking to break into formula one. The son of billionaire fashion mogul Lawrence, the 17-year-old Canadian is a development driver with Williams this year, whilst racing full-time for the top European F3 team Prema. “Right now I’m really focused on F3,” Lance told La Presse Canadienne […]
F1 drivers to discuss race start crashes – Alonso
May 3 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says F1 drivers will discuss the recent series of messy race starts in 2016. Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton collided in Bahrain, the two Ferraris clashed in China, and last Sunday at Sochi Sebastian Vettel was left furious after being punted into the barrier by the Red Bull of Daniil […]
Rosberg has ‘luck of a champion’ – Montagny
May 3 (GMM) Former F1 driver Franck Montagny thinks runaway championship leader Nico Rosberg will eventually strike problems in 2016. So far in 2016, the German’s run at the top of the field has been peerless, amid reigning champion and teammate Lewis Hamilton’s consistent bad luck. Briton Hamilton’s good mood also appeared to falter at […]
Vettel won’t seek revenge on Kvyat – Marko
May 3 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko doubts Dannil Kvyat’s now two-race spat with Sebastian Vettel will spill into even more race weekends. The pair argued before going onto the podium in China, before German Vettel launched a foul-mouthed radio tirade against the Russian in the wake of their Sochi clash. Maurizio Arrivabene said Vettel had […]
Lombardy concerned over Monza deal delay
May 3 (GMM) Lombardy president Roberto Maroni has admitted he is “concerned” a new deal for Monza’s Italian grand prix is taking too long. Increasingly, it is clear political problems between the four parties involved – Bernie Ecclestone, the automobile club Aci, organiser Sias and Lombardy – are holding up the renewal of the deal […]
Vettel feeling pressure of Ferrari situation – press
May 3 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is feeling the pressure as Ferrari’s 2016 title push flounders, according to the Italian press after the grand prix in Russia. “Vettel could not hide his anger,” wrote Corriere dello Sport, after the German was taken out by Daniil Kvyat at Sochi. “The gap between Ferrari and Mercedes deepens more […]
Red Bull ‘pressure’ led to Kvyat crash – Alesi
May 3 (GMM) Jean Alesi thinks Red Bull is partly to blame for Daniil Kvyat’s first-lap crashes with Sebastian Vettel at Sochi. But that is not to say former F1 driver Alesi is not also pointing the finger at the young Russian, likening him hitting the Ferrari twice to “an attack”. “Seb was hit, for […]
Russia not ready for more F1 races – minister
May 3 (GMM) Russia’s sports minister has played down suggestions the country might add another annual grand prix to the F1 calendar. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said at Sochi last weekend that he is so happy with the race and Vladimir Putin’s support that he would like to see more Russian grands prix take place […]
Marko to have ‘serious word’ with Kvyat
May 2 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene on Sunday said Daniil Kvyat could mount no justified defense of his driving after colliding with Sebastian Vettel twice at Sochi. A foul-mouthed German Vettel was incensed after being punted out of the Russian grand prix by the young local, and even Kvyat’s boss Dr Helmut Marko admitted the youngster […]
Ecclestone still waiting for Monza GP progress
May 2 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has suggested the uncertainty over the future of Monza’s F1 race could continue to drag. Reports suggested political and bureaucratic progress was made in the last couple of weeks over the expiring Italian grand prix deal, but F1 supremo Ecclestone is not as optimistic. “This year the race is (happening) […]
Mercedes’ gap to rivals ‘catastrophic’
May 2 (GMM) A Russian official on Sunday expressed concern that Mercedes’ continuing dominance is hurting formula one. “The difference between Mercedes and the other teams is catastrophic,” Igor Ermilin, the presidential advisor to the Russian automobile federation, told Tass news agency after the country’s grand prix. While there have been signs Ferrari and Red […]