Aug.28 (GMM) F1 steward Mika Salo has defended the decision to penalise Kimi Raikkonen at Spa. The Ferrari driver hit out at his penalties for failing to lift the throttle for the double waved yellow flags caused by Max Verstappen’s retirement. But his Finnish countryman Salo, a former F1 driver, defended his call. “It’s a […]
Month: August 2017
Wehrlein admits Sauber exit likely
Aug.28 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has given the strongest sign yet that he will leave Sauber at the end of the year. Recently, both the German, his Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, and Sauber chiefs have hinted that Wehrlein will be replaced next year by a junior Ferrari driver. Wehrlein, 22, admitted at Spa: “I do not […]
Red Bull drops young talent
Aug.28 (GMM) Another Red Bull junior driver looks set to bite the dust. The energy drink company is known not only for producing great F1 talents, but also ruthlessly dropping youngsters who do not live up to expectations. “Talents like Verstappen or Vettel or Ricciardo don’t come along every season,” said Red Bull’s Christian Horner. […]
Verstappen questions commitment to Red Bull
Aug.28 (GMM) Max Verstappen and his father Jos have questioned their commitment to Red Bull. At Spa, in front of thousands of Dutch fans, the 19-year-old’s car broke down for the sixth time in twelve races so far this year. Engine supplier Renault got the blame. “All we can do is put pressure on our […]
Force India eyes race bans for Perez, Ocon
Aug.28 (GMM) Force India is not ruling out imposing race bans on its drivers. At Spa, weeks of tension between Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon spilled over as the pair collided twice during the Belgian grand prix. “We have to look back to Baku where he put me in the wall,” said Perez. “I’m not […]
Alonso, Williams not denying 2018 rumours
Aug.27 (GMM) Fernando Alonso and Williams are not denying rumours that they might team up for 2018. At Spa, Spaniard Alonso seems out of patience for Honda, who have struggled since day one of the works McLaren project. “The current situation didn’t arise in a single day — it’s been three years,” he said. And […]
Ricciardo rules out Ferrari move
Aug.27 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has counted himself out of the running for a Ferrari seat in the foreseeable future. The Australian is regularly linked with a switch to red, but he now sees Sebastian Vettel’s new three-year deal as a clear sign that Ferrari is planning without him. “When Kimi’s contract was confirmed, I knew […]
‘Another 2018 option’ for Wehrlein – Wolff
Aug.27 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein is not yet out of the running for a F1 seat in 2018. That is the view of Toto Wolff, who oversees the career of the Mercedes-backed German driver. Currently, Wehrlein is at Sauber, but the Swiss team looks set to take on a Ferrari junior like Antonio Giovinazzi or Charles […]
Renault deal for McLaren ‘impossible’ – Prost
Aug.27 (GMM) Renault has played down the chances it might supply engines to McLaren next year. As the British team struggles with Honda, Mercedes and Ferrari have already made clear they will not be leaping to McLaren’s rescue. So at Spa, rumours emerged that if McLaren does split with Honda, the only option could be […]
Mercedes to decide team orders ‘race by race’
Aug.27 (GMM) Mercedes will take a race-by-race approach to the issue of team orders for the remaining nine grands prix of 2017. In Hungary, Lewis Hamilton lost precious points to Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel as the Briton honoured an agreement to return a place to his teammate Valtteri Bottas. “Some people said we are naive in […]
Bottas to get 2018 contract before Monza
Aug.27 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is set to be the next piece of the 2018 driver puzzle to slot into place. With Ferrari’s current lineup staying next year, the path is now clear for Finn Bottas to ink a new single-year contract with Mercedes. “It goes without saying that Valtteri is staying,” team boss Toto Wolff […]
Kubica set for Friday practice in Malaysia
Aug.27 (GMM) Robert Kubica could be set for another outing in Renault’s 2017 car. Recently, the Pole caused a stir with an impressive performance in the post-Hungarian GP test. But Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul said it was not enough to be sure that the former BMW driver is really ready to return to F1 six […]
Lauda plays down Vettel talks confusion
Aug.27 (GMM) Niki Lauda has played down the confusion about whether Mercedes came close to signing Sebastian Vettel for 2018 and beyond. At Spa, Ferrari ended the uncertainty about Vettel’s future by saying it has agreed a new three-year contract with the championship leader. The news came just 24 hours after Vettel said there would […]
Mercedes breaks ‘gentleman’s agreement’ – report
Aug.26 (GMM) A spat has reportedly broken out behind the scenes between title protagonists Mercedes and Ferrari. Auto Bild reports that Mercedes surprised its Italian rival by launching a new engine specification at Spa Francorchamps. The controversy surrounds the recent ‘oil in fuel’ saga, with the FIA having declared that as of the next race […]
Now Perez slams ‘dirty’ Magnussen
Aug.26 (GMM) Sergio Perez on Friday joined Nico Hulkenberg in condemning the driving style of Haas racer Kevin Magnussen. Hulkenberg and Magnussen famously fell out in Hungary amid the “suck my b-lls” affair, and at Spa-Francorchamps Perez admitted his fury after the Dane apparently swerved into him during practice. Mexican Perez said he thinks Magnussen […]
Marko admits Red Bull unhappy with Toro Rosso
Aug.26 (GMM) Red Bull is not happy with its second formula one team, Toro Rosso. That is the admission of the energy drink company’s key official Dr Helmut Marko, who is regarded as the closest motor racing confidante of Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz. He said of Toro Rosso: “We bought the team because the […]
Alonso went to McLaren for ‘money’ – Lauda
Aug.26 (GMM) Niki Lauda says he has little sympathy amid the situation facing Fernando Alonso. Recently, the likes of Nico Rosberg and Mark Webber have said they feel sorry for the Spaniard, who has struggled since 2015 with McLaren-Honda rather than raced at the front where he really belongs. But when asked what advice he […]
Hamilton eyes new three-year contract – report
Aug.26 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton could be set to extend his stay at Mercedes beyond 2018. The triple world champion’s current deal runs out late next year, and he has been hinting that retirement or a move to Ferrari could be on the cards. But now, Sport Bild reports that Hamilton, 32, has told Mercedes team […]
Williams eyes Alonso for 2018
Aug.26 (GMM) British team Williams is making a bid to sign Fernando Alonso for 2018, according to multiple media reports. After three years of struggling with McLaren-Honda, the Spanish driver is openly assessing his limited options for next season. But McLaren is making clear it wants to keep him. “We will do everything we can […]
Alonso says September is ‘decision month’
Aug.25 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has admitted the time is nearing for a decision about his future beyond 2017. The Spaniard said previously he would contemplate his next move during the summer break, so as the F1 circus reconvened at Spa, Alonso was asked if he has decided. “I’ve always said that September would be the […]