Jan.17 (GMM) Ferrari needed a sweeping change after a “disastrous” start to the new turbo V6 era. That is the view of Sergio Marchionne, the Fiat-Chrysler chief who last year ousted the Maranello marque’s long-time president and figurehead Luca di Montezemolo. “Luca did a great job for 23 years,” Marchionne is quoted by Italy’s La […]
Category: Recent stories
FIA to be flexible with new super licence system
Jan.17 (GMM) F1’s governing body has suggested its tough new criteria for the awarding of super licences in 2016 may actually be flexible. The FIA clamped down on the 2016 qualifying criteria for obtaining F1’s mandatory credential due to the controversial debut this year of 17-year-old Max Verstappen. But when the strict new criteria was […]
FIA allows Honda to join engine ‘unfreeze’
Jan.17 (GMM) Honda has been granted some engine development freedom for 2015. The Japanese manufacturer had argued to the FIA that being left out of 2014 suppliers Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari’s ‘unfreeze’ loophole was unfair. F1’s governing body originally believed Honda should have to stick to the strict February 28 homologation deadline, as it had […]
Rossi ‘interested’ in 2016 Haas debut
Jan.17 (GMM) Alexander Rossi has admitted he is “really interested” in becoming the first American driver to race a Haas car in formula one. Although Californian, the 23-year-old has risen through the European racing ranks over the past six years, including in Formula BMW, the Renault world series and finally GP2. This year, he came […]
Nurburgring not giving up on 2015 race
Jan.17 (GMM) The Nurburgring is not giving up on hanging onto the German grand prix. Bernie Ecclestone has announced that, amid the Nurburgring’s ownership uncertainties, its return to the calendar this year is now off. The F1 supremo is now negotiating with Hockenheim to take the place on this year’s schedule. “We have a contract […]
2015 hosts rule out F1 night races
Jan.17 (GMM) Two F1 hosts have ruled out switching to a night race format for 2015. Malaysia has been under consistent pressure in recent years from Bernie Ecclestone to switch to a floodlit format, to emulate the Singapore-like spectacle and provide a better television timeslot for the global audience. “In the past he was pushing,” […]
No Telefonica deal for McLaren
Jan.17 (GMM) Telefonica has ruled out becoming McLaren’s title sponsor. The famous British team raced throughout 2014 without a title backer, following the withdrawal of Vodafone. But the return to Woking of Fernando Alonso, to spearhead the team’s new works Honda era, fired rumours the Spanish telecommunications brands Movistar or Telefonica could headline at McLaren […]
Vergne admits Le Mans ‘options’
Jan.17 (GMM) Jean-Eric Vergne is determined to remain one of the world’s top racing drivers. After three years at Red Bull’s junior F1 team Toro Rosso, the 24-year-old was dropped but he has kept his dream alive with a simulator role at the sport’s fabled team, Ferrari. “I still have a future in formula one,” […]
Mercedes to begin 2015 with ‘old’ engine
Jan.17 (GMM) Mercedes looks set to begin the 2015 season with its ‘old’ F1 engine. It is the latest development in the so-called ‘engine unfreeze’ saga, after the FIA conceded a loophole in the 2015 regulations can indeed be legitimately exploited by suppliers. That Ferrari and Renault can now develop their turbo V6s during the […]
2015 race deal not done yet – Hockenheim
Jan.16 (GMM) Hockenheim’s circuit boss has warned that a deal to host the German grand prix this year has not yet been reached. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on Thursday that, amid the Nurburgring’s ongoing ownership uncertainty, the track will not host the race next year as scheduled. “It is going to be at Hockenheim […]
Nurburgring loses 2015 German grand prix
Jan.15 (GMM) The Nurburgring has lost its round of the 2015 world championship, Germany’s Bild newspaper reported on Thursday. The fabled circuit was due to host the German grand prix this year, after Hockenheim staged it in 2014. Until now, the two German circuits have annually alternated a single race allocation on the calendar. But […]
Marchionne expects Ferrari form in late 2015
Jan.13 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has warned Ferrari fans yet again that 2015 will be a difficult season for the fabled Scuderia. Speaking at the Detroit auto show on Tuesday, he refused to wade in deeper on a war of words with the Italian marque’s ousted long-time president, Luca di Montezemolo. “Unfortunately we have dropped back, […]
Bahrain refuses to budge on Qatar race
Jan.13 (GMM) Bahrain is blocking Qatar’s plans to join the F1 calendar. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said last month that despite negotiating with a keen Qatari group, a race in the oil-rich Arab state is actually unlikely. That is because he made one of his famous “handshake deals” with Bahrain’s crown prince years ago not […]
Renault hits back at new super licence system
Jan.12 (GMM) Renault has reportedly hit back at the FIA’s controversial new system for issuing F1 super licences. In light of 17-year-old Max Verstappen’s controversial debut this year, the governing body is installing a new system for 2016 to ensure new grand prix drivers are older, more experienced and successful in the junior classes. But […]
McLaren denies pre-Jerez test for 2015 car
Jan.12 (GMM) McLaren has denied reports it will run its Honda-powered 2015 car a few days before its launch and official test debut. Spain’s El Mundo Deportivo claimed that, following news the MP4-30 will be launched on 29 January, the car will actually clock up some laps beforehand. “A few days before (the launch), the […]
Verstappen passes theory driving test
Jan.12 (GMM) Max Verstappen has cleared the first hurdle as he seeks a normal road car driving licence. The controversy sparked by the young and inexperienced driver’s impending grand prix debut reportedly triggered the FIA’s tough clampdown on the rules for qualifying for a super licence beyond this year. One of the stipulations for 2016 […]
Williams’ next step will be harder – Symonds
Jan.12 (GMM) Pat Symonds has admitted Williams’ next step will be more difficult than the giant leap of 2014. After a career slump that hit bottom in 2013 with ninth in the constructors’ standings, the once-great Grove team managed to end last year as arguably Mercedes’ closest challenger. But Red Bull designer Adrian Newey thinks […]
Ferrari spends EUR 40m on new technology – report
Jan.12 (GMM) Ferrari is spending a whopping EUR 40 million as it steps up its off-track technology at Maranello. Having struggled in 2014 and subsequently undergone a revolutionary shakeup, the fabled Italian marque is now spending big on a dynamic platform that will allow in-factory testing of the entire car-plus-engine package. Italy’s La Gazzetta dello […]
Melbourne not keen on earlier race start time
Jan.12 (GMM) Race organisers are reluctant to shift the start time for the 2015 Australian grand prix. In response to Jules Bianchi’s horror crash at Suzuka, the governing FIA vowed to look into ensuring that races are no longer started too close to dusk. Races at the season opener Melbourne, for instance, are traditionally now […]
Ricciardo confident of catching Mercedes
Jan.12 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has expressed confidence Red Bull can close the gap on dominant 2014 title winners Mercedes this year. Given Mercedes’ level of dominance last season and the restraints of the engine development freeze, many believe the German team will be hard to challenge even in 2015. La Gazzetta dello Sport, for instance, […]