Jun.21 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has played down any suggestion Lamborghini might enter formula one. “In the short term, no,” said the Italian, who became the Italian sports car marque’s new CEO earlier this year. Domenicali, of course, is best known for his long career in formula one at Ferrari, where between 2008 and 2014 he […]
Month: June 2016
Ferrari should focus on 2017 and ‘internationalise’
Jun.21 (GMM) Ferrari might be wise to write off 2016 and focus all of its efforts on beating Mercedes next year. That is the view of one section of the Italian press, even though team president Sergio Marchionne said in Baku that the fight for the 2016 crown is still on. But Tuttosport, an Italian […]
Perez not ruling out Ferrari switch
Jun.21 (GMM) Sergio Perez is not dismissing speculation he is in the running to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari for 2017. The Mexican has been showing the way to 2015 Le Mans winner and Force India teammate Nico Hulkenberg this year, and scored two podium finishes in the past three races. “No, I think we’ll […]
Tilke relieved after first Baku race
Jun.20 (GMM) Hermann Tilke has admitted he breathed a sigh of relief once the chequered flag waved on Sunday. The German is F1’s renowned and highly experienced circuit designer, but the wall-lined, high speed Azerbaijan street layout was the most extreme circuit project he has headed. “Of course I was nervous,” Tilke admitted to Auto […]
Mercedes denies Rosberg smarter than Hamilton
Jun.20 (GMM) Mercedes on Monday said it is not right to conclude that Lewis Hamilton struggled with his engine settings in Baku because he is less studious than Nico Rosberg. The story had emerged after the Azerbaijan race, when team chairman Niki Lauda said Rosberg struggled with a similar problem in the race but managed […]
Ferrari in no hurry to decide Raikkonen’s future
Jun.20 (GMM) Ferrari has admitted Kimi Raikkonen’s future remains uncertain beyond the end of his 2016 contract. However, one impeccable source close to the Maranello team insists the Finn looks set to stay. “I can confirm that the renewal of Kimi’s contract is approaching,” Leo Turrini, a well-known Italian blogger, is quoted by the Finnish […]
Sainz waiting for Red Bull’s decision on future
Jun.20 (GMM) Carlos Sainz looks set to stay at Toro Rosso for a third consecutive season in 2017. Amid rumours of interest from Ferrari and Renault, it is believed Red Bull has decided to take up an option on the Spaniard’s contract that will keep him at the Faenza based junior team next year. Red […]
No GP2-like ‘chaos’ for F1 in Baku race
Jun.20 (GMM) After two calamitous GP2 races in Baku, the stage was set for a thrilling and incident-filled inaugural formula one battle on the Azerbaijani streets. But the excitement did not materialise. That was partly due to the fact that, with Ferrari and Red Bull having closed the gap in the previous three races, Mercedes’ […]
Hamilton finds allies in radio rules complaint
Jun.20 (GMM) The big topic after Sunday’s inaugural F1 race in Baku was the controversial limitations on radio traffic between driver and pitwall. As his points comeback faltered on the streets of Azerbaijan, world champion Lewis Hamilton let his frustration show as he grappled with an engine setting problem that Mercedes engineers could not help […]
European Grand Prix – Rosberg wins!
Rosberg wins from Vettel (+16.696), Perez (+25.241), Raikkonen (+33.102), Hamilton (+56.335), Bottas (+1:00.886), Ricciardo (+1:09.229), Verstappen (+1:10.696), Hulkenberg (+1:17.708) and Massa (+1;25.375). Button, Nasr, Grosjean, Magnussen, Palmer, Gutierrez, Ericsson and Haryanto make the rest of the field. Hamilton’s charge from 10th stalled when he encountered an engine setting that he couldn’t figure out and the […]
Marchionne, in Baku, says title ‘wide open’
Jun.19 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne made a surprise appearance in Baku on Sunday and backed Ferrari to push on for the 2016 title. Earlier, at a business event in Venice on Saturday, the Ferrari president sounded critical of the Maurizio Arrivabene-led team in its efforts to give Sebastian Vettel a winning car. But he said in […]
Briatore claims credit for Azerbaijan’s F1 race
Jun.19 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has claimed credit for Azerbaijan’s spectacular street grand prix in Baku. The former Renault boss, who has one of his ultra-expensive ‘Billionaire’ outlets in the old Soviet city, was spotted in the Baku paddock for a brief visit on Saturday. “Without me, there would never have been this grand prix,” the […]
Hamilton leaves Lauda unimpressed in Baku
Jun.19 (GMM) Niki Lauda admitted he was less than impressed with Lewis Hamilton’s performance in Baku qualifying. The reigning world champion dominated the entire weekend on F1’s spectacular new street circuit until Saturday afternoon, which was strewn with errors until he smacked into a wall that leaves him tenth on the grid. “Just an off […]
Marchionne warns 2016 title slipping away
Jun.19 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has warned that time is running out for Ferrari to win the 2016 world championship. Despite urging for early wins this year as well as the title, Ferrari’s new president has seen the opening seven grands prix go past without victory for the Maranello team. A turbo upgrade in Canada looked […]
European Grand Prix – Qualifying
Rosberg on Pole with a 1:42.758 from Perez (+0.757), Ricciardo (+1.208), Vettel (+1.208), Raikkonen (+1.511), Massa (+1.725), Kvyat (+1.959), Bottas (+2.488), Verstappen (+2.812) & Hamilton.Hamilton touches a barrier on his flying lap and damages the front suspension. Ricciardo and Vettel set identical times on their final flyers and the order is determined by the driver […]
European Grand Prix – 3rd Free Practice
Hamilton quickest with a 1:44.352 from Rosberg (+0.258), Hulkenberg (+1.188), Ricciardo (+1.268), Vettel (+1.278), Perez (+1.383), Verstappen (+1.549), Button (+1.602), Kvyat (+1.629) & Raikkonen (+1.672) Alonso, Sainz, Grosjean, Massa, Gutierrez, Magnussen, Wehrlein, Palmer, Ericsson, Nasr, Haryanto make the rest of the field. Perez crashed right at the end of the session making his participation in […]
2017 Baku GP could be night race
Jun.18 (GMM) It is possible the next edition of the European grand prix at Baku could be held at night. With the F1 circus in town this weekend for the inaugural race in the Azerbaijan capital, most visitors have noticed that Baku is particularly spectacular once the sun goes down. But promoter Arif Rahimov had […]
Ecclestone admits Imola could replace Monza
Jun.18 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that Imola is in the running to snatch the Italian grand prix from Monza. As the F1 supremo’s troubled talks with Monza organisers over a 2017 contract drag on, Imola chief Uberto Selvatico Estense said this week that the former San Marino GP venue Imola is “ready” to take […]
Rosberg now close to 2017 contract – report
Jun.18 (GMM) Nico Rosberg and Mercedes and now edging close to agreeing a new contract for 2017 and beyond. That is the claim of the German newspaper Kolner Express, revealing that family friend Gerhard Berger’s efforts to negotiate on the 30-year-old’s behalf are paying off. One suggestion is that Mercedes may have sped up efforts […]
Sauber’s Nasr hits rock bottom in Baku
Jun.18 (GMM) Sauber could be about to hit rock bottom in F1, as Felipe Nasr was dead last after Friday practice in Baku. The Swiss team is struggling financially in 2016, and as most teams are now deep into their car development programmes, Sauber is trying merely to survive. “I’m using the engine from Australia […]