Jul.31 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has admitted Sauber could become “a kind of junior team” for Ferrari. Last week, former F1 team founder Gian Carlo Minardi said the so-called Ferrari ‘B team’ Haas announcing an unchanged driver lineup for 2018 was “a missed opportunity for Ferrari”. That’s because Ferrari junior drivers Antonio Giovinazzi and Charles Leclerc […]
Month: July 2017
Horner not commenting on Toro Rosso-Honda link
Jul.31 (GMM) Another senior figure in the Red Bull camp has declined to comment on reports Toro Rosso is set to become Honda-powered in 2018. Already in Hungary, the Red Bull junior team’s Carlos Sainz refused to comment on rumours Honda’s rifts with McLaren and Sauber could result in Toro Rosso signing a deal with […]
Vettel and Raikkonen ‘want to stay’ – Marchionne
Jul.31 (GMM) Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne has confirmed speculation the Italian team will probably keep its driver lineup the same in 2018. Italian sources had reported that, having made a new deal for Kimi Raikkonen a condition, Sebastian Vettel was now ready to ink a contract beyond 2017. Reportedly, the deal will be announced at […]
Ricciardo ‘will accept’ Verstappen apology
Jul.31 (GMM) Max Verstappen has apologised for punting his Red Bull teammate out of the Hungarian grand prix. The normally smiling Daniel Ricciardo was furious after the incident, swearing and calling Dutch teenager Verstappen a “sore loser” and “amateur”. “Inexperience is too kind. It was just immaturity,” said the Australian. Their boss, Christian Horner, said […]
Horner questions Mercedes ‘team order’ decision
Jul.31 (GMM) Mercedes has admitted a team decision in Hungary may cost Lewis Hamilton the world championship. During the Hungaroring race, Valtteri Bottas let Hamilton past in order to give the Briton a chance to attack the Ferraris and reduce his 1 point championship deficit to Sebastian Vettel. But Hamilton could not pass the Ferraris, […]
Red Bull eyes independent engine supplier for future
Jul.30 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has played down early links between Red Bull and Volkswagen brands interested in entering F1 in the future. That is despite the fact Marko said Red Bull is now basically ready to take on Mercedes and Ferrari for the title, with the only missing link being a top engine. “From […]
Ferrari to announce Vettel-Raikkonen at Monza
Jul.30 (GMM) Ferrari is set to keep its current race driver lineup intact for 2018. That is the claim of the Italian broadcaster Sky, amid existing speculation that Sebastian Vettel made a new deal for Kimi Raikkonen a condition of his own decision to stay with the Maranello team beyond this year. Citing sources, Sky […]
Leclerc eyes Sauber move for 2018
Jul.30 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has admitted he is starting to look towards a possible move into F1 for 2018. The 19-year-old from Monaco is currently dominating the Formula 2 series, and thanks to his ties to Ferrari is being linked with a move into F1 next year. Some reports say a Haas or Sauber drive […]
Mercedes not dumping F1 for Formula E – Lauda
Jul.30 (GMM) Niki Lauda says there is no risk Mercedes will dump F1 in favour of the increasingly-popular all-electric series Formula E. Mercedes and Porsche made waves earlier this week by pulling out of DTM and Le Mans respectively in order to enter Formula E. But Lauda, the Mercedes F1 team chairman, says there is […]
F1 defends editing negative Halo comments
Jul.30 (GMM) F1 says cutting negative opinions about the ‘Halo’ safety concept from press conference footage was an “editorial decision”. In Thursday’s FIA press conference in Hungary, drivers including Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen criticised the controversial forward protection system that is compulsory for 2018. But only drivers with positive opinions were included in the […]
Ferrari ‘simply better’ on slow circuits – Wolff
Jul.30 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks Mercedes’ victory chance in Hungary is “one per cent”. That is despite the fact the reigning champions have appeared generally stronger than Ferrari in recent races. Some believe the recent Mercedes boost has been at least in part due to a Ferrari slump, connected to rumours the Italian team has […]
Sainz not commenting on Toro Rosso-Honda rumour
Jul.30 (GMM) Carlos Sainz will not comment on rising speculation about a change of engine supplier for Toro Rosso. Rumours suggest that after the Sauber-Honda split and continuing talk of a McLaren-Honda divorce, it could be the second Red Bull team that gets Japanese power for 2018. “It is a rumour and so I will […]
Alonso eyes McLaren engine ‘gift’ for 2018
Jul.30 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has hinted he will stay with McLaren next year, depending on the outcome of the team’s engine supplier crisis. The team held a surprise birthday party for the 36-year-old in Hungary after qualifying, and boss Eric Boullier said: “Now we hope we will celebrate your 37th birthday together.” And Marca sports […]
Mercedes eyes di Resta as F1 reserve
Jul.30 (GMM) Paul di Resta is now in reigning world champions Mercedes’ sights. It comes after the former Force India driver performed admirably as he stood in for the unwell Felipe Massa in qualifying in Hungary. It is believed Massa is suffering from Labyrinthitis, a virus that is sweeping the F1 paddock and struck down […]
Porsche not ruling out F1 move
Jul.29 (GMM) Porsche is not ruling out a move into formula one in the future. The famous German carmaker, as well as Mercedes, made big waves this week by pulling out of Le Mans and DTM respectively in order to enter Formula E. The Le Mans promoter, the Automobile Club de L’Ouest, subsequently hit out […]
Alonso admits 2018 Indycar switch possible
Jul.29 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is not ruling out a switch to America’s top open wheeler category Indycar for 2018. Amid his frustration in the third year of McLaren-Honda’s hapless collaboration, the Spaniard said in Hungary that “the Indy 500” was his only positive moment of 2017. Earlier, he said moving full-time to Indycar was not […]
Unwell Massa checked in Budapest hospital – report
Jul.29 (GMM) Felipe Massa was taken to hospital following Friday’s practice sessions in Hungary. Eight years ago, the Brazilian was left fighting for his life after being hit by a spring during qualifying at the same circuit near Budapest. But this time, now as a Williams driver, Massa simply felt unwell after Friday’s action. “He […]
Wing controversy ‘storm in a teacup’ – Red Bull
Jul.29 (GMM) Red Bull has hit back at claims its new front wing design is teetering on the brink of legality. The former champions appear to be in the running to take on Mercedes and Ferrari for outright victory on the twisty Hungaroring. The pace boost comes hot on the heels of claims a new […]
Sauber not ruling out Ferrari-linked driver
Jul.29 (GMM) Sauber is not ready to think about its 2018 driver lineup. That is the view of the Swiss team’s brand new boss Frederic Vasseur, as he attends his first grand prix in Sauber colours in Hungary. Vasseur’s first act as boss was to axe the new Sauber-Honda deal, instead signing a new arrangement […]
McLaren hopes for Toro Rosso-Honda deal – report
Jul.29 (GMM) McLaren has its fingers crossed Honda will agree an engine deal for 2018 with the Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso. That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, as the crisis at the hapless McLaren-Honda works collaboration continues in Hungary. McLaren has been in talks with Mercedes and Ferrari about […]