Feb.7 (GMM) Nyck de Vries is losing the support of McLaren, according to the Dutch media. A report by the Dutch broadcaster RTL GP said the 22-year-old, who for years has been a McLaren development driver, is now seeking a seat for 2017 without the British team’s support. That is despite the fact that, on […]
Month: February 2017
Wehrlein injury puts 2017 testing in doubt
Feb.7 (GMM) Two weeks later, Pascal Wehrlein is still recovering from a scary rollover crash that occurred during the race of champions event in Miami. Last month, the Sauber driver was sidelined by doctors at the event after rolling a bizarre three-wheeler into a barrier following contact with Felipe Massa. “It’s no more than mild […]
McLaren confirms Jost Capito exit
Feb.7 (GMM) McLaren has now confirmed the departure of Jost Capito. Just four months after he started work, it emerged before Christmas that the 58-year-old German – who had left VW to be McLaren’s new CEO – was in fact now leaving McLaren. The news came amid a period of upheaval for the beleaguered British […]
VW no longer ruling out F1
Feb.6 (GMM) Volkswagen is no longer ruling out a future F1 foray. Earlier, it was suggested that amid the diesel emissions scandal, and VW’s rumoured disdain for Bernie Ecclestone’s management style, the German car giant had ruled out entering the sport. But Ecclestone is now gone, and Liberty Media has taken over and is promising […]
Wolff comments on Carey’s ‘super bowl’ hopes
Feb.6 (GMM) Two F1 figures have shrugged at new chief executive Chase Carey’s aim of turning every grand prix weekend into “the super bowl”. “The super bowl,” former FIA president Max Mosley told ITV when asked about the new F1 chief’s American football analogy. “Is that so wonderful?” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff agreed: “The […]
Finnish track eyes F1 future
Feb.6 (GMM) Finland might soon be in a position to host a round of the F1 world championship. The small northern European country has had plenty of drivers in F1, but never a round of the modern formula one series. However, the Kymi Ring is currently under construction north east of capital Hensinki, and it […]
Briatore not expecting strong Ferrari in 2017
Feb.6 (GMM) Ferrari fans should not expect the famous Italian team to be stronger in 2017. That is the view of former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore, following the Maranello marque’s disappointing year in 2016 featuring not a single race win. And now, the 66-year-old Italian doubts anything will change for 2017. “The team is […]
McLaren team rejects BMW rumours
Feb.6 (GMM) McLaren has dismissed rumours linking the British team with a potential F1 tie-up with German manufacturer BMW. McLaren’s current works partner in F1 is Honda, the Japanese marque that since 2015 has been clearly the least impressive ‘power unit’ performer on the grid. It then emerged that, for its future road car projects, […]
Alonso-Mercedes rumours ‘baseless’ – Briatore
Feb.6 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has rejected speculation Fernando Alonso was ever a serious contender to drive for Mercedes in 2017. When the reigning champion team suddenly had to replace the retiring Nico Rosberg, Spaniard Alonso was on everyone’s lips as the spectacular potential choice. But Briatore, still involved in the management of McLaren driver Alonso’s […]
Rosberg wanted Alonso to replace him
Feb.6 (GMM) World champion Nico Rosberg has admitted he would have liked Mercedes to replace him for 2017 with Fernando Alonso. Actually, the German marque has signed up Williams driver Valtteri Bottas, having also seriously considered its own junior Pascal Wehrlein. When asked what his preference would have been, Rosberg told the Spanish sports daily […]
Berger, Briatore doubt Ecclestone will return
Feb.6 (GMM) Two experienced F1 pundits do not believe Bernie Ecclestone will mount a comeback. The deposed F1 supremo has already dismissed claims he might set up a rival ‘breakaway’ series, but retired reigning world champion Nico Rosberg is not so sure. “Ecclestone has said that but you can’t believe it because he’s done it […]
Wehrlein ‘as fast as Bottas’ – Lauda
Feb.6 (GMM) Only his lack of experience meant Pascal Wehrlein was overlooked for the top Mercedes cockpit in 2017. That is the claim of team chairman Niki Lauda, amid criticism that the fact Mercedes signed Valtteri Bottas demonstrated a lack of faith in the marque’s top junior, 22-year-old Wehrlein. “With Wehrlein it was only about […]
Mercedes can assess Bottas after four races – Lauda
Feb.6 (GMM) Niki Lauda has urged Valtteri Bottas to get quickly up to speed at Mercedes. The Finn was drafted in at the eleventh hour to replace the suddenly-retired Nico Rosberg, but team chairman Lauda has tipped Bottas to be as competitive as his German predecessor. “I think he can bring the performances we expect […]
SMP not looking to deepen F1 involvement
Feb.3 (GMM) Boris Rothenberg, who heads Russia’s major SMP Bank and a racing division called SMP Racing, said he is not looking to expand the F1 programme. SMP has been represented across motor racing, including Le Mans and Indycar, but the centrepiece is its involvement in formula one. Last year, it was in the form […]
2017 rules good for F1 and for me – Magnussen
Feb.3 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen thinks the 2017 rules will be good for formula one — and for him. The Danish driver, who has switched from Renault to the small Ferrari-linked American team Haas, argues that the bigger tyres and more downforce is exactly what the sport needed. “It’s great,” he told the Danish newspaper BT. […]
Heavier 2017 cars will still be faster
Feb.3 (GMM) Although the weight of the cars is rising yet again, the 2017 grid will still be considerably faster. Speed Week, a German language publication, said the minimum weight trend in F1 has been creeping steadily up since the 70s when the cars weighed just over 500kg. More recently it was just over 700kg, […]
F1 must free the ‘artist’ in drivers – Zanardi
Feb.3 (GMM) F1 must liberate the drivers if it wants to improve the on-track spectacle. That is the view of former driver Alex Zanardi, who said restrictive rules and over-zealous stewards are damaging the sport. “Formula one today? A bit too boring,” the 50-year-old Italian and paralympic champion is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport. […]
Ferrari considering buying into F1 – Marchionne
Feb.3 (GMM) Ferrari could be the first F1 team to take up Liberty Media’s offer of shares in the sport. We have reported that despite Liberty’s eagerness for the teams to take up to 20 per cent of the commercial rights, none have accepted the offer so far mainly because it would not include the […]
McLaren-BMW deal sparks F1 rumours
Feb.3 (GMM) F1 journalists are wondering if McLaren’s works relationship with Honda could be on unsteady ground. The British team made progress in 2016, but the now more than two year relationship with Honda following the Japanese carmaker’s return to F1 has been otherwise troubled. So it is with interest that some commentators digested this […]
Kubica to race top prototype at Le Mans
Feb.3 (GMM) Robert Kubica is inching tantalisingly close to his old days in formula one. The Pole, now 32, has competed at the highest level of world rallying, but been unable to return to single seaters after almost severing his wrist in a 2011 crash. But the former BMW and Renault driver has now signed […]