Sep.12 (GMM) Lance Stroll says he is ready to drive a formula one car. Still just 17, the Canadian is now the favourite to replace Felipe Massa at Williams for 2017. Stroll’s father is the well-known fashion billionaire Lawrence Stroll, but Lance is also the runaway leader of the highly-competitive European F3 series. So when […]
Month: September 2016
Kaltenborn expects European decision ‘soon’
Sep.12 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn has tipped the European Commission to rule on the fairness of the governance and income distribution in formula one “soon”. At Sauber and Force India’s behest, the anti-competition authorities are investigating whether the way the big teams receive the lion’s share of the annual prize money, and wield the most decision-making […]
Engine survived big Magnussen crash – report
Sep.12 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen looks set to re-use the power unit that was aboard his Renault when he crashed heavily at Eau Rouge recently. The car was destroyed and the Dane needed a trip to hospital after the violent accident, but Ekstra Bladet newspaper reports that the engine itself survived. “We will probably use Kevin’s […]
Abu Dhabi could be Ecclestone’s last race – report
Sep.12 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone’s future might not be as secure as it was earlier thought. US media tycoon John Malone, whose ‘Darth Vader’ nickname was coined by Al Gore, was understood to have signed the F1 supremo to a new three-year deal as he moved to take over the sport’s commercial rights from CVC. But […]
Bottas gets married in Helsinki
Sep.12 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has enjoyed an exciting preparation for this weekend’s Singapore grand prix. Turun Sanomat, a Finnish newspaper, reports that the 27-year-old Williams driver married his long-term girlfriend Emilia Pikkarainen in Helsinki in the days after Monza. The newspaper published a photo of the happy bride and groom, and explained that a couple […]
Manager had Renault, Haas talks – Massa
Sep.9 (GMM) Felipe Massa has admitted his manager had contact with other teams before he decided to retire from F1 at the end of the year. But the Brazilian insists it was nothing like when he left Ferrari three years ago and was desperate to keep racing at the pinnacle of motor sport. “The market […]
Formula E boss plays down F1 role rumours
Sep.9 (GMM) Formula E boss Alejandro Agag has played down suggestions he is set to help run formula one in the wake of the buyout by US media tycoon John Malone. “It’s not true,” the 45-year-old Spaniard, who founded the electric series Formula E and is often closely linked with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, told […]
F1 takeover must clear two hurdles
Sep.9 (GMM) F1’s sale to US tycoon John Malone’s Liberty Media is yet to clear two significant hurdles. The first is the approval of the sport’s governing body, the FIA. FIA president Jean Todt said in a statement that while he welcomes the “long-term investment” by an impressive company, the FIA needs “further information” about […]
Verstappen not ruling out Singapore win
Sep.9 (GMM) Max Verstappen is not ruling out a bid for victory under the Singapore lights next weekend. Amid a strong run of form for Red Bull, the team faltered at Monza, with team figures admitting the improved Renault engine is still no match for Mercedes and Ferrari. “Monza is our weakest circuit,” admitted boss […]
Ocon seems destined for Renault seat
Sep.8 (GMM) Esteban Ocon’s future at Renault appears all but guaranteed. The French works team has reportedly told Kevin Magnussen that a decision about the 2017 driver lineup is now imminent. And according to Speed Week, one cockpit will surely be filled by 19-year-old French rookie Ocon, who was loaned by Mercedes to Renault this […]
Whiting denies job talks with F1 teams
Sep.8 (GMM) Charlie Whiting has slammed reports suggesting he is looking for another job in F1. Germany’s Auto Bild claimed last week that the sport’s long-serving race director and starter wants to leave the FIA and is already in talks with a couple of teams. “That’s preposterous,” the 64-year-old told Auto Motor und Sport. “I […]
Ecclestone wanted 7-year Monza deal – Capelli
Sep.8 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone wanted Monza’s new deal to be for a full seven years, according to race consultant Ivan Capelli. The F1 supremo and Italian grand prix officials finally announced last weekend that Monza’s future on the calendar is secure at least until 2019. However, Ecclestone usually prefers long-term, 7-year contracts rather than the […]
Verstappen thanks Hamilton for backing
Sep.8 (GMM) Max Verstappen has thanked Lewis Hamilton after the reigning world champion backed the driving of the controversial 18-year-old. With the Dutchman under attack recently for what some see as an overly aggressive racing style, Hamilton said at Monza: “Give the guy a break, he is 18 years old.” Verstappen, having faced a barrage […]
Perez staying amid Force India buyout rumours
Sep.8 (GMM) Sergio Perez is staying with Force India, amid rumours in Mexico that his backers may even buy the Silverstone based team. It is now considered an open secret that, despite flirting with Renault, the on-form Perez is actually staying with Force India for 2017. “The new contract is signed,” sporting boss Otmar Szafnauer […]
Vandoorne wants to beat Alonso in 2017
Sep.8 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne insists he is looking forward to going up against Fernando Alonso next year at McLaren. It was announced at Monza that the 24-year-old Belgian rookie will make his full-time F1 debut next year with the British team. Spaniard Alonso had a bad experience of going up against a highly-rated rookie at […]
Ecclestone staying as F1 sale announced
Sep.8 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is staying in formula one, despite earlier speculation that the F1 supremo would be ousted amid the sale deal to Liberty Media. That deal was announced late on Wednesday but must first be approved by European authorities and the FIA. But when it does go through, Ecclestone will still be chief […]
Russian GP2 driver reveals F1 talks
Sep.7 (GMM) Artem Markelov, a Russian GP2 driver, claims he is in talks with “a number of teams” about entering formula one. The 21-year-old, who is linked to the ownership of the Russian Time GP2 team, is currently 11th in the standings and won the Monaco feature race this year. “Now I can say that […]
Sainz plays down latest Renault switch rumours
Sep.7 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has played down any lingering speculation that he might still be in the running to change teams for 2017. Earlier, there were suggestions Red Bull might agree to release the Toro Rosso driver to engine supplier Renault, in exchange for a better deal on the ‘power unit’ supply. Those rumours resurfaced […]
Massa rules out returning to Brazil
Sep.7 (GMM) Felipe Massa has ruled out continuing his racing career next year in Brazil’s domestic stock car series. The 15-year F1 veteran announced at Monza that he will retire from the category at the end of 2016. Massa’s father, Luis Antonio, said subsequently that it is possible the 35-year-old will keep racing next year […]
Ecclestone not committing to post-sale F1
Sep.7 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is not committing to his current role in charge of F1 if the sale to US media tycoon John Malone’s Liberty Group goes through. The first instalment in the billion dollar deal is expected to arrive on Wednesday, with Malone said to be keen to put Chase Carey, a 21st Century […]