May 24 (GMM) Mercedes has rubbished reports Lewis Hamilton might miss this weekend’s prestigious Monaco grand prix. An Italian newspaper had suggested that Pascal Wehrlein may only have tested in Barcelona last week due to world champion Hamilton’s involvement in a mysterious nightclub incident in Cannes that could now see him sidelined. But Hamilton has […]
Month: May 2016
Lauda plays down Rosberg-Ferrari rumours
May 23 (GMM) Niki Lauda has played down rumours Nico Rosberg might be contemplating a switch to Ferrari for 2017. After the Spanish grand prix, the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera claimed Rosberg was “flirting with Ferrari” as his current Mercedes contract expires. “As long as he is not flirting with me,” Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, […]
Le Mans rules out French GP revival
May 23 (GMM) Le Mans has ruled itself out of the running to revive the French grand prix. Pierre Fillon is the president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the organiser of the fabled 24 hour endurance race at the Le Mans circuit. He told Le Maine Libre newspaper that FIA president Jean Todt […]
Honda to use all tokens by Spa – report
May 23 (GMM) Honda is planning to hand in all of its engine performance ‘tokens’ by Spa-Francorchamps in August. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, citing the information of an unnamed engineer. “By then we will be able to feed in more electrical power,” the engineer is quoted as saying. The […]
Newspaper says Hamilton could miss Monaco
May 23 (GMM) The next wild rumour is now firing in formula one, ahead of the championship’s ‘jewel in the crown’ event in Monaco this weekend. Corriere dello Sport, an Italian newspaper, reports that a mysterious incident involving Lewis Hamilton’s attendance at red carpet events in Cannes last week could mean the world champion sits […]
Verstappen says he must stay grounded
May 23 (GMM) Max Verstappen is sure becoming F1’s youngest ever winner will not go to his head. Hot on the heels of entering the category as the world’s first 17-year-old grand prix driver last year, the Dutch sensation broke through for victory in Barcelona — mere days after being promoted to Red Bull’s top […]
Motor racing needs more minimum age rules – Wolff
May 23 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks the world of premier motor racing might need to revisit the issue of driver age, following an enormous crash at the weekend. Li Zhi (Peter) Cong is currently in hospital with broken vertebrae, but he was otherwise lucky to survive an incredible rear-end smash into a rival who spun […]
Montezemolo expected bigger Ferrari step
May 23 (GMM) Luca di Montezemolo says he expected Ferrari to make a bigger step forward in 2016. Towards the end of 2014, Ferrari’s long-time president was stepped down and replaced by Sergio Marchionne, before the new regime got a lot of credit for the performance boost of 2015. But the 68-year-old Italian insists: “I […]
Mercedes dominance ‘part of F1’ – Todt
May 20 (GMM) Jean Todt has played down the need to stop Mercedes’ dominance of F1, arguing that it has always been a feature of the sport. While the FIA has agreed with future measures like engine performance ‘convergence’, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone appears determined to stop the German marque’s now two and a half […]
Renault doesn’t need ‘big name’ driver – Vasseur
May 20 (GMM) Renault is open-minded about the composition of the driver lineup for its new works team beyond 2016, according to boss Frederic Vasseur. Having inherited Jolyon Palmer’s contract from Lotus and then signing up Kevin Magnussen at the eleventh hour, speculation about the next Renault lineup has swirled in the F1 paddock so […]
Vettel expected stronger Williams in 2016
May 20 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he expected Williams to be putting up a tougher fight in 2016. The Grove based team finished third overall in the past two world championships — behind Ferrari last year, and Red Bull in 2014. But both of those teams are ahead of Williams so far in 2016, causing […]
Force India could halt 2016 car development – report
May 19 (GMM) Force India is reportedly considering halting its car development programme for 2016 in order to focus on preparing for next year’s new rules. The Silverstone based team’s founder and boss Vijay Mallya has been missing from the paddocks so far this year amid his financial and legal troubles in India. Force India […]
Ricciardo first in line for Renault upgrade – Lauda
May 19 (GMM) If Renault brings its new engine to Monaco, the French marque may only be able to supply one version apiece to the two French-powered teams. Although Renault has actually slated Canada as the debut race for the 35 horse power, 5-tenths-per-lap power unit upgrade, officials are considering fast-tracking the process to Monaco […]
Wehrlein pushing to advance F1 career
May 19 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein says he was more than happy to step in at the last minute and test the championship-leading Mercedes on Wednesday. The German marque turned heads early on Wednesday morning when it suddenly decided against putting Esteban Ocon, also Renault’s reserve driver, in the car as per schedule. Some suspected Mercedes […]
Red Bull denies Ricciardo given losing strategy
May 19 (GMM) Red Bull has denied Max Verstappen was deliberately given the preferred race strategy to win last Sunday’s Spanish grand prix. While the young Dutchman – who had qualified just behind his teammate on Saturday – was celebrating his first race win on debut for Red Bull, Daniel Ricciardo was openly unhappy. “I […]
Jean Alesi’s son steps up to GP3
May 19 (GMM) Jean Alesi’s well-known F1 face will be a common sight in the paddock this year. That’s because his 16-year-old French son Giuliano, whose mother is Jean’s Japanese wife Kumiko Goto, has stepped up into the F1 feeder category GP3 this year. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said Alesi jr will spend up […]
Honda not confirming Canada upgrade yet
May 19 (GMM) Honda’s Yusuke Hasegawa has played down growing reports that McLaren will get a highly-anticipated engine upgrade in Montreal next month. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be Canada,” the Japanese is quoted by the Spanish sports daily Marca. “We do not know when we will use the tokens.” Honda and McLaren officials are […]
Real estate development threatens Monaco GP
May 19 (GMM) The future of the Monaco grand prix is under threat, race organiser Michel Boeri has warned. “The project of Mr Caroli, if it were to happen, would automatically lead to the end of the formula one grand prix. I guarantee it,” Boeri, president of the organising Automobile Club de Monaco, told the […]
Ferrari pushing over limit to catch Mercedes – Vettel
May 19 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says Ferrari’s aggressive strategy of full attack will not always work out for the ambitious Maranello team. The German insists he is driving a better car than in 2015, even though a year ago he had already won the first of his three races for the season. “We have become […]
Rosberg not commenting on ‘future’ plans
May 19 (GMM) The big rumour swirling in F1 circles at present is whether Nico Rosberg is really contemplating a switch from Mercedes for 2017. Italy’s Corriere della Sera claims talks between the championship leader and Ferrari are underway. When asked about that as he departed the Barcelona test, Rosberg said: “I feel very good […]