Jan.6 (GMM) The FIA has devised a points system as part of its clampdown on the ease of achieving an F1 super licence. With Max Verstappen set to debut this year at the controversially young age of 17 and just one year out of karts, the governing body has moved to toughen the criteria for […]
Category: Recent stories
Mercedes set for 50hp engine boost in 2015 – report
Jan.5 (GMM) Delaying a start-of-season engine ‘freeze’ may be nowhere near enough for Mercedes’ rivals to catch up in 2015. Although the rule ‘loophole’ championed by Ferrari and Renault will now allow them to develop their turbo V6 engines beyond February 28, it will also apply to Mercedes, F1’s dominant champions of 2014. “We’re not […]
Rookie Verstappen plays down high expectations
Jan.5 (GMM) Max Verstappen has moved to play down expectations ahead of his record-making formula one debut in 2015. With the FIA set to clamp down on very young drivers from 2016, the Dutchman’s record of racing in Melbourne at the tender age of 17 could stand for some time. Verstappen, whose former F1-racing father […]
F1 engine makers to meet in Geneva
Jan.5 (GMM) As ever in formula one, the future is always just around the next bend. On Tuesday, at Bernie Ecclestone’s behest, representatives of the four engine manufacturers – Mercedes, Renault, Ferrari and newcomer Honda – will get together in Geneva. The F1 supremo wants them to talk about a new beginning for F1 in […]
Struggling teams still face uncertain future
Jan.5 (GMM) Less than a month before official winter testing begins, the future of the ailing backmarkers Marussia and Caterham remains unclear. Marussia’s administrators have auctioned team equipment, and the factory at Banbury could even be sold to the new American team for 2016, Haas. That is to pay back a long list of creditors, […]
Mercedes, McLaren to change colours in 2015 – report
Jan.5 (GMM) At least two top teams will enter the 2015 season with fundamentally different colour schemes, it has emerged. Spain’s El Mundo Deportivo reports that new reigning champions Mercedes intend to switch from silver to a striking mirror-like chrome paint-job this year. The report said the special chrome paint for the 2015 livery is […]
Force India sets January 21 launch date
Jan.5 (GMM) Force India has set a firm date for the launch of its 2015 car, the Mercedes-powered VJM08. After finishing the 2014 season a career-high sixth in the constructors’ championship, the Silverstone based team renewed with its major backer America Movil. It means the Sergio Perez-linked Telmex, Telcel and Claro branding will also appear […]
Sainz’s father says surname no ticket to F1
Jan.5 (GMM) Carlos Sainz insists his famous name alone did not power his 20-year-old son all the way to formula one. Carlos Sainz jr, the new reigning Formula Renault 3.5 champion, will make his debut for Toro Rosso in 2015, having emerged as the cream of Red Bull’s famous driver development programme. Nonetheless, a famous […]
Button’s McLaren engineer switches to Williams
Jan.5 (GMM) Jenson Button’s race engineer at McLaren is moving to Williams. The resurgent Williams team beat not only fellow Mercedes-powered grandee McLaren in 2014, but also fabled Ferrari. In a media statement on Monday, the Grove based team said it has appointed Dave Robson – who since 2010 has been Button’s race engineer – […]
Honda excluded as engine upgrades allowed in 2015
Jan.3 (GMM) F1 newcomer Honda has been left out as rival engine suppliers prepare to develop their turbo V6 power units throughout the 2015 season. It has emerged in recent days that, because the wording of the regulations is unclear, the sport’s 2014 suppliers Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari do not in fact have to present […]
Lotus could tweak team name for 2015 – report
Jan.2 (GMM) Lotus may be in no danger of dropping out of formula one. On an updated official entry list for the 2015 season, the Enstone team was listed recently with a “subject to confirmation” asterisk alongside its name. It sparked fears Lotus, whose Gerard Lopez led the angry complaints of midfield teams including Force […]
Williams revival surprised team champion Villeneuve
Jan.2 (GMM) The meteoric return to form of his old title-winning team Williams last year surprised 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. In 2013, amid the Grove team’s slump, the French Canadian told the Portuguese language magazine Revista Warmup that “When a team is reduced to hiring pay-drivers, it’s over”. At the time, he was referring […]
Mercedes to test 2015 car in January – Wolff
Jan.2 (GMM) Mercedes is on course to launch its title-defending car on the eve of the first winter test, team boss Toto Wolff has revealed. “We are on schedule and have a clear idea of where we are in terms of chassis and engine,” he told Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport whilst holidaying in the […]
Williams ‘most dangerous’ 2015 rival – Wolff
Jan.2 (GMM) Toto Wolff has singled out Williams as the most dangerous opponent for title defenders Mercedes in 2015. Mercedes utterly dominated the first year of the new turbo V6 era last season, with 2010-2013 world champions Red Bull in second place. But it was Mercedes-powered Williams that ended the season as arguably the works […]
Alonso first in line for Hamilton’s seat – Wolff
Jan.2 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is at the top of Mercedes’ list, should Lewis Hamilton not stay with the dominant German team beyond this year. That is the admission of team boss Toto Wolff, in comments that might be interpreted as a ‘hurry up’ to F1’s new reigning world champion. Briton Hamilton’s Mercedes deal runs out […]
Ferrari bench better than Caterham seat – Vergne
Jan.1 (GMM) Jean-Eric Vergne insists his new Ferrari test role is better than a race seat at struggling backmarker Caterham. The 24-year-old Frenchman was dropped by Red Bull after contesting the last three seasons for the energy drink company’s second F1 team Toro Rosso. Ferrari has signed him for 2015 to be primarily a simulator […]
Button marks new year with wedding
Jan.1 (GMM) Jenson Button has rung in the new year by announcing he is now a married man. “Happy New Year from Mr and Mrs Button!” he declared to his almost 2 million followers on Twitter. British newspaper the Daily Mail, publishing paparazzi wedding photos of the 2009 world champion and his long-time girlfriend, Japanese […]
Marciello is new Sauber reserve
Jan.1 (GMM) Raffaele Marciello is Sauber’s new test and reserve driver for 2015. The 20-year-old Swiss-born Italian driver is a leading and long-time member of Ferrari’s driver academy. Ferrari is Swiss team Sauber’s engine supplier. “Apart from his formula one responsibilities,” the Maranello based team announced, “the Italian youngster, born in 1994, will continue to […]
Montagny fails Formula E drugs test
Jan.1 (GMM) Former F1 driver Franck Montagny failed a drugs test at a recent Formula E race, the French daily L’Equipe reported on Thursday. The 36-year-old, a former Renault and Jordan test driver who raced seven times for Super Aguri in 2006, drove for the Andretti team in the new Formula E series this year […]
Austrian broadcaster ORF rethinks F1 deal
Dec.31 (GMM) Another German-language F1 broadcaster is rethinking its commitment to the sport. Earlier this month, Germany’s RTL blamed F1’s “incomprehensible rules” and “counterproductive external representations” for a significant ratings decline this year. And now, the Austrian broadcaster ORF is also rethinking its formula one commitment, according to the Austrian news agency APA. “My position […]