Jul.7 (GMM) Felipe Massa has played down the furore surrounding the Mercedes drivers’ latest crash, saying what happened in Austria was just a “racing incident”. Before Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg headed to Silverstone on Thursday, they started the day at Mercedes’ nearby Brackley HQ for a stern meeting with boss Toto Wolff. It is […]
Month: July 2016
Lauda hits reverse over Hamilton comments
Jul.6 (GMM) Niki Lauda has hit reverse on his comments about world champion Lewis Hamilton. On Tuesday, footage of the Mercedes team chairman speaking on Austrian broadcaster Servus TV emerged during which Lauda alleged Hamilton trashed a hospitality room after crashing in Baku qualifying. Lauda also said Hamilton “lied” about the positive nature of his […]
Pirelli, Ferrari set date for 2017 tyre test
Jul.6 (GMM) The first date for Pirelli’s track testing for its bigger and wider 2017 tyres has reportedly been set. Speed Week reports that the first of 24 days in total with specially-modified test mules will take place at Ferrari’s own Fiorano track on August 2. “We agreed with Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes that […]
F1 could lose Brazil GP, drivers – Massa
Jul.6 (GMM) Felipe Massa has warned it is possible Brazil will fall out of formula one altogether at the end of 2016. Bernie Ecclestone has warned that the Interlagos race is endangered, while F1 veteran Massa himself is out of contract at Williams. Also ending is fellow Brazilian Felipe Nasr’s deal at Sauber, including the […]
Wolff to meet Mercedes drivers on Thursday
Jul.6 (GMM) Toto Wolff will sit with Mercedes’ two drivers to decide the next steps after their Austria run-in — whether Lewis Hamilton wants to or not. That is the claim of team chairman and F1 legend Niki Lauda, after the German newspaper Bild quoted Hamilton as saying he had no intention of discussing the […]
F1 must be ‘careful’ with next safety steps – Lauda
Jul.6 (GMM) Niki Lauda thinks F1 needs to learn lessons from its recent past, balancing safety against safeguarding “the DNA” of the sport. The F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman thinks that after a few difficult and less popular years for the pinnacle of motor sport, “We are now back on the road to the […]
Hamilton trashed room in Baku – Lauda
Jul.5 (GMM) World champion Lewis Hamilton destroyed a hospitality room after crashing in Baku qualifying. F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda made the revelation on Austrian television Servus TV, also claiming Hamilton “lied” about having a good relationship with Nico Rosberg. “The more Rosberg is in front, the wilder Lewis gets,” Lauda said, […]
Rumours link Wehrlein with Force India seat
Jul.5 (GMM) Rumours are linking Pascal Wehrlein with a potential move to Force India for 2017. In Austria, after the rookie German qualified his Manor in 12th place and then secured an ultra-rare point for the backmarker team, Toto Wolff said any lingering doubts that Wehrlein is “very special” had been erased. Wolff, the Mercedes […]
‘Westschleife’ won’t be ready for 2017 – Marko
Jul.5 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has played down rumours next year’s Austrian grand prix could be held on a new layout at the Red Bull Ring. Heading into last weekend’s race at the picturesque Spielberg venue, reports emerged that team owner Dietrich Mateschitz was looking into reviving the old and audacious ‘Westschleife’ section. But some […]
No celebrations after Max’s podium – father
Jul.5 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father says there were no celebration parties after the 18-year-old finished second in Austria. That is despite the fact that the young Dutchman’s mentor, Dr Helmut Marko, admitted to raising a glass to the latest triumph. “With a good glass of wine,” he told De Telegraaf newspaper, when asked how he […]
Ericsson backers behind Sauber rescue – report
Jul.5 (GMM) It is Marcus Ericsson’s main backer that is rescuing and buying the embattled Sauber team. That is the claim of the respected Brazilian journalist Livio Oricchio, amid reports the Swiss team might be mere days from making an official announcement. In April, it emerged that Sauber was only able to make the trip […]
Raikkonen looks set for new contract
Jul.5 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen looks set to keep his place at Ferrari in 2017, according to the latest specialist reports from Italy. Although other drivers have been linked with the Finn’s place, his podium in Austria and Sebastian Vettel’s DNF means the pair are now equal on points after 9 races this year. La Gazzetta […]
Austria crash won’t change future decision – Rosberg
Jul.5 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says the events in Austria on Sunday will not affect his decision about the future. Although Mercedes boss Toto Wolff called Rosberg’s collision with teammate Lewis Hamilton “brainless”, the Austrian chief insisted it would not affect the negotiations over a new multi-year contract for the German driver. And now, the Belgian […]
Mercedes to decide on team orders this week
Jul.5 (GMM) Mercedes will decide in the next two days how to proceed in the wake of the latest collision between teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Boss Toto Wolff left Austria declaring that team orders would be back on the table in the talks to be held prior to the British grand prix this […]
F1 needs more races like Austria – Mateschitz
Jul.4 (GMM) F1 would be in better health if there were more races like Sunday’s Austrian grand prix. That is the claim of Dietrich Mateschitz, the owner not only of F1’s two Red Bull teams but also the picturesque scene in the Styrian mountains of the weekend’s race action. Asked if he is happy with […]
Ferrari helping Pirelli with tyre explosion probe
Jul.4 (GMM) Ferrari and Pirelli are investigating the race-ending tyre explosion that stopped Sebastian Vettel in his tracks on Sunday. The German driver was leading the Austrian grand prix when a rear tyre exploded and ended his race at the Red Bull Ring. Team boss Maurizio Arrivabene denied suggestions Ferrari pushed the boundaries by running […]
FIA says Aeroscreen not scrapped yet
Jul.4 (GMM) Ferrari will try again to debut the updated ‘Halo 2’ cockpit protection this weekend ahead of the British grand prix. The Maranello team intended to run the revised, titanium technology with a modified cockpit position over an installation lap in Friday practice in Austria, but Sebastian Vettel’s car developed a technical problem and […]
Manor punts Sauber into prize-money peril
Jul.4 (GMM) Austria 2016 set the scene for both good and bad news regarding the future of the struggling Sauber team. The Swiss outfit went into the Red Bull Ring event sounding confident about the future, after finally paying staff and indicating a rescue buyout deal is on the cards for the near future. But […]
Rumours still swirling around Sainz future
Jul.4 (GMM) Even though team owner Red Bull has taken up its option on Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz, rumours continue to swirl around the impressive young Spaniard. Formerly comparable to the teen sensation Max Verstappen at the Faenza team, 21-year-old Sainz was being linked with Renault and even Ferrari prior to Red Bull declaring […]
Clash will not hurt Rosberg contract talks – Wolff
Jul.4 (GMM) Although furious after Sunday’s Austrian grand prix, Toto Wolff said events at the Red Bull Ring will not affect the contract negotiations over a new deal for Nico Rosberg. Before Rosberg was penalised for running teammate Lewis Hamilton off the track in a last-lap incident that cost Mercedes a certain one-two, team boss […]