Nov.8 (GMM) Up to four or more engine suppliers may be interested in joining F1 in 2021. Despite early opposition from Mercedes and Ferrari, the sport’s new owners intend to introduce a cheaper, louder and simpler engine formula after the current era ends in 2020. The BBC reports that Ilmor and Cosworth, two independent engine […]
Month: November 2017
Toro Rosso not worried about Honda switch
Nov.7 (GMM) Franz Tost says he is looking forward to Toro Rosso’s switch to works Honda power for 2018. McLaren has dumped the Japanese engine manufacturer after a failed three-year collaboration, switching instead to the customer Renault deal enjoyed currently by Toro Rosso. But Tost, the Toro Rosso team boss, says the Faenza based team […]
Hamilton named in major tax scandal
Nov.7 (GMM) World champion Lewis Hamilton has found himself at the centre of an international tax avoidance scandal. A trove of documents known as the ‘Paradise Papers’ reveals that the Mercedes driver as well as wealthy peers including Bono, Apple, Nike and even the Queen avoid tax through a series of secret offshore deals. The […]
Whiting rejects need for permanent F1 stewards
Nov.6 (GMM) Gunther Steiner thinks F1 needs a panel of permanent race stewards. Currently, the stewards panel changes at every race, and Haas team boss Steiner thinks that is why so many recent decisions have been so controversial. “Every time, decisions are being made differently and this sometimes hurts the small teams more,” he told […]
Liberty, FIA helped broker ‘complex’ deal – Brown
Nov.6 (GMM) Liberty Media and the FIA helped to keep Fernando Alonso at McLaren and Honda in formula one. That is the admission of Zak Brown, the McLaren executive. He is referring to the complex recent negotiations about 2018, with McLaren and Honda splitting, Renault signing Carlos Sainz and the formation of Toro Rosso-Honda. “Liberty […]
McLaren set to announce 2018 reserve driver
Nov.6 (GMM) The driver market is still simmering at the tail end of 2017. Over the weekend, Felipe Massa announced his second and final retirement, with Robert Kubica, Paul di Resta, Pascal Wehrlein and Daniil Kvyat in the mix to replace him. But the next announcement is actually expected to come out of McLaren, who […]
Pirelli to introduce sixth tyre in 2018
Nov.6 (GMM) Pirelli is planning to introduce a sixth tyre compound for 2018. Auto Motor und Sport said the new, extra compound – a sort of ‘ultra ultra-soft’ tyre – will be at the softest end of the official F1 supplier’s range. But it is suggested that all the current compounds will be a step […]
Perez ‘surprised’ by teammate Ocon’s 2017 pace
Nov.6 (GMM) Sergio Perez has admitted he was impressed by the performance of his rookie Force India teammate Esteban Ocon this year. The pair will line up for the Silverstone based team again in 2018, despite a recent ban preventing them from racing one another after a series of clashes. Mexican Perez told France’s Auto […]
Rosberg rules out F1 comeback
Nov.6 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has once again dismissed any claims he might be thinking about returning to F1. Days after winning his 2016 title, the German decided to quit the sport completely and Rosberg now says he is still happy with his call. “A comeback is out of the question,” he is quoted by DPA […]
No ‘excuse’ for being behind Verstappen – Ricciardo
Nov.6 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he has no “excuse” for being regularly humbled by his young teammate Max Verstappen this year. Although Verstappen has had the lion’s share of the poor reliability at Renault-powered Red Bull this year, it is the Dutchman who has been shining the brightest recently. “I do not give any excuses,” […]
Mercedes, Ferrari hit back at Liberty plans
Nov.6 (GMM) Top teams Ferrari and Mercedes are pushing back against Liberty Media’s plans to modernise formula one. Ferrari is threatening to quit the sport after new F1 owners Liberty announced their intention to substantially change the engine rules for 2021. Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone thinks the threat is real. “If the regulations come […]
Marchionne issues new Ferrari quit threat
Nov.3 (GMM) President Sergio Marchionne has threatened to pull Ferrari out of formula one. The threat comes after new F1 owner Liberty Media announced plans to change the engine regulations beyond 2020, and just days before details of a planned 2019 ‘budget cap’ are to be announced. Germany’s specialist Auto Motor und Sport reports that […]
Vettel to skip 2018 Race of Champions
Nov.3 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has counted himself out of next year’s running of the well-known Race of Champions event. Fans of the fun annual event were surprised recently when it was announced that it would be held next January in the controversial Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Vettel is a Race of Champions regular, reportedly having […]
Vettel ‘not afraid of Hamilton’
Nov.2 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is already setting his sights on stopping Lewis Hamilton from winning yet another title in 2018. In Mexico, Mercedes’ Hamilton matched Vettel’s career tally by securing his fourth drivers’ crown. “Only very few athletes on the planet have four world championship titles in their pockets, so that must be honoured,” Ferrari […]
Boss admits Haas may have started 2018 car too early
Nov.2 (GMM) Gunther Steiner said only time will tell if Haas’ decision to abandon the 2017 car project quite early was the right one. The American team’s boss made an early call this year to move the focus to the 2018 car, which is hurting performance at the end of this season. “We took a […]
Ferrari not ruling out using ‘veto’ for engine rules
Nov.2 (GMM) Ferrari is not ruling out using its controversial ‘veto’ to block Liberty Media’s plans for the future of F1. Already, it is believed manufacturers Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault are opposing the new F1 owner’s plans to make substantial changes to the engine rules for 2021. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has accused […]
Red Bull is true ‘top team’ for Verstappen – father
Nov.2 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father is confident the 20-year-old has selected a true “top team” to race for through 2020. The young Dutch sensation had been linked with potential moves to Mercedes or Ferrari, but instead extended his stay at Red Bull for the next three years. And former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, Max’s father […]
Mercedes not happy with 2021 engine concept – Wolff
Nov.1 (GMM) Mercedes has come out in opposition to Liberty Media’s proposed new engine formula for 2021. On Tuesday, the German marque as well as Ferrari, Renault, Honda and other manufacturers including Porsche got together to hear the new F1 owner’s plans for the next-generation engine. Liberty wants the 2021 engine to be louder, cheaper, […]
Gravel traps not ‘simple’ answer – Alonso
Nov.1 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has sided with F1 race director Charlie Whiting over the issue of getting rid of the circuits’ asphalt run-off zones. Drivers abusing ‘track limits’ has been a hot topic in recent days, but Max Verstappen – at the centre of a major controversy after the US grand prix – thinks he […]
Former engineer says Ferrari must end ‘crisis’
Nov.1 (GMM) Ferrari too easily slips into a “crisis” that it then finds difficult to escape from. That is the view of former top Ferrari engineer Toni Cuquerella, as he assessed the recent collapse of Sebastian Vettel’s 2017 title challenge. “Ferrari were much more competitive than in previous years,” he wrote in El Pais newspaper. […]