Sep.21 (GMM) After attending just one grand prix, F1’s new executive chairman is already making plans for big changes. Chase Carey was trackside in Singapore, one of the jewels in the F1 crown with its highly popular city night race. But afterwards, he told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt that he plans to make grands […]
Month: September 2016
Singapore denies Arrivabene littering reports
Sep.20 (GMM) Singapore authorities have rejected reports that Maurizio Arrivabene was detained and fined for discarding a cigarette butt last week. Based on information from the Spanish dailies ABC and Marca, and repeated by Britain’s Telegraph, we reported earlier that the Ferrari chief was in custody for six hours and fined 1000 Singapore dollars. The […]
Kvyat ‘passion’ back to normal in Singapore
Sep.20 (GMM) It was a tale of reverse fortunes for two drivers on the Singapore grid last weekend. Daniil Kvyat has had a horror few months in the wake of his Red Bull demotion, struggling to regain form, confidence and passion at the junior team Toro Rosso. But in Singapore, he had a breakthrough. “I […]
Alonso eyes ‘title fight’ for McLaren in 2017
Sep.20 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is still targeting a tilt at the 2017 world championship. That is despite the fact that he is also saying next year could be his last in formula one, as he recoils from a category that he says was once so much more exciting. Alonso told the El Larguero programme on […]
Ferrari must open base in England – Briatore
Sep.20 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is struggling amid the current situation at Ferrari, according to a respected Italian journalist. “Frankly, despite the comeback (in Singapore), Seb is not at all convincing,” Giorgio Terruzzi said. “I don’t know why, but he seems a little lifeless.” Ferrari and Vettel started the season high in confidence, but it is […]
F1 paddock ponders Rosberg as 2016 champion
Sep.20 (GMM) The F1 paddock is musing the possibility that Nico Rosberg will be crowned the sport’s next world champion. His teammate Lewis Hamilton has won the last two titles, but it is the sister Mercedes driven by Rosberg that has won three grands prix on the trot. “Quiet, balanced and optimistic,” La Gazzetta dello […]
No new Singapore GP deal agreed yet
Sep.19 (GMM) The Singapore grand prix weekend was run and won without a new deal being agreed for the future. We reported that talks took place at the scene of the spectacular night race because Singapore organisers’ contract runs out after the 2017 edition. “I think in due course you will hear more about it,” […]
Rosberg not surprised by Hamilton ‘respect’
Sep.19 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says there is still “respect” between himself and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton. With his victory in Singapore – his third on the trot – German Rosberg recaptured the lead of the world championship. It was on the occasion of his 200th career grand prix, but earlier Hamilton had answered “Not really” […]
Singapore Grand Prix – Rosberg wins!
Rosberg wins from Ricciardo, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Vettel, Verstappen, Alonso, Perez, Kvyat & Magnussen. Gutierrez, Massa, Nasr, Sainz, Palmer, Wehrlein, Ericsson and Ocon make the rest of the field. Retirements: Grosejan, Hulkenberg, Bottas, Button It was a fascinating race particularly in the last third of the race when Ricciardo put on fresh tyres and Rosberg decided […]
Singapore Grand Prix Qualifying
Rosberg on Pole with a 1:42.584 from Ricciardo (+0.531), Hamilton (+0.704), Verstappen (+0.744), Raikkonen (+0.956), Sainz (+1.613), Kvyat (+1.885), Hulkenberg (+1.895), Alonso (+1.969) & Perez (+1.998). Knocked out of Q2: Bottas, Massa, Button, Gutierrez, Grosjean and Ericsson. Rosberg quickest. Grosjean hit the barriers nearing the end of the session forcing drivers behind him to abort […]
Sainz, even Kvyat, linked with Renault switch
Sep.17 (GMM) Both of Toro Rosso’s drivers are being linked with a sensational switch to the works Renault team for 2017. Rumours that team owner Red Bull could ‘sell’ Carlos Sainz to Renault and get an engine price discount in return have been circulating for some time. Those rumours are still swirling in the Singapore […]
Rivals see three-team battle in Singapore
Sep.17 (GMM) Singapore 2016 could be a close, three-way battle for victory. Mercedes has dominated this year, but last season the German team mysteriously struggled under the city-state’s floodlights. Red Bull, meanwhile, is very strong on the tighter street circuits, and it was Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel who won in Singapore a year ago. But Dr […]
Lauda hits back at Verstappen’s ‘psychiatrist’ reply
Sep.17 (GMM) Niki Lauda says he is not sorry about criticising Max Verstappen’s aggressive driving. Amid widespread criticism of the 18-year-old’s driving at Spa recently, F1 legend Lauda suggested Verstappen needed a “psychiatrist”. The Red Bull driver and teenager hit back: “If I go, then we might as well go together.” Now, Mercedes team chairman […]
Pirelli scraps plans for 2016 tyre change
Sep.17 (GMM) Pirelli has scrapped its plans to introduce a new construction for its 2016 tyres. F1’s official supplier had hoped to take an apparently safer construction to Malaysia in a fortnight, but it would have required the unanimous consent of the teams or the intervention of the FIA on safety grounds. “Unfortunately, there was […]
Ferrari, Mercedes deny Lowe switch rumours
Sep.17 (GMM) Ferrari has now played down rumours linking Mercedes’ Paddy Lowe with a move to Maranello. Amid reports in the Italian press that the Briton had been targeted as a potential long-term successor to James Allison, Lowe insisted: “I am not talking to Ferrari and they are not talking to me.” Mercedes team boss […]
Talks on to keep Singapore on calendar
Sep.17 (GMM) Talks are on to keep F1’s popular Singapore night race on the calendar beyond 2017. The local Straits Times newspaper reports that a deal ‘is likely’. Government official Low Yen Ling said in Singapore: “It is something we are still deliberating about and I think in due course you will hear more about […]
Haryanto in talks for 2017 return – mother
Sep.17 (GMM) Rio Haryanto could be on the way back into F1 for 2017. Haryanto lost his race seat at Manor to the Mercedes and Renault-backed Esteban Ocon in August, after his state-linked Indonesian funding dried up. But Haryanto’s mother, Indah Pennywati, has told the Antara news agency: “Yes, we are in talks with new […]
Europe could put brakes on F1 sale – Mosley
Sep.17 (GMM) Former FIA president Max Mosley has warned that the European Commission could put the brakes on the sale of F1 to Liberty Media. Before current majority owners CVC can get the deal through, it needs to be approved not only by the governing FIA but also the European Commission (EC). That is because, […]
F1 teams keen on buying into sport
Sep.17 (GMM) F1 teams are open to the concept of buying into the sport’s commercial rights. US media tycoon John Malone’s Liberty Media group is taking over from CVC and reportedly wants to offer up to 20 per cent of the commercial rights to the teams. “The idea sounds good,” said Mercedes’ Toto Wolff in […]
Lowe hits back at Ferrari switch rumours
Sep.16 (GMM) Paddy Lowe has hit back at rumours linking him with a switch to Ferrari. The Italian newspaper La Stampa claimed that, with James Allison recently stepping down at Ferrari amid suggestions Mattia Binotto is only a temporary solution, leading Mercedes chief Lowe could be signed up. “When someone of his calibre is available, […]