Apr.6 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is taking on a busy calendar in 2016 as he continues his push towards formula one. Now 17, F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s son began his open wheel adventure last year in German Formula 4, but Bild reports that the young German will also race in parallel in the Italian series this […]
Ecclestone says European Commission talks underway
Apr.6 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says “discussions” with the European Commission are currently taking place. Last September, midfield teams Force India and Sauber lodged an official complaint to the European Union’s anti-competition unit about F1’s allegedly “unlawful” governance and income-distribution systems. The complaint was pointed specifically at Ecclestone, but the F1 supremo – also frustrated by […]
FIA investigating Ferrari coded message
Apr.6 (GMM) F1’s governing body is looking into whether Ferrari stretched the new radio clampdown rules, according to a report in Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. While the new rules severely limit what can be said on the radio, the FIA’s Charlie Whiting said in Melbourne that they also apply to dashboard displays and pit […]
Ferrari working to fix injector problem – insider
Apr.6 (GMM) Ferrari is confident it will quickly solve the engine flaw that stopped Sebastian Vettel from even starting Sunday’s Bahrain grand prix. Kimi Raikkonen’s failure was with the turbo in Australia, and so teammate Vettel’s smoky exit on the parade lap in Bahrain had ramped up speculation the Italian team is grappling with fundamental […]
‘Best driver’ Alonso resumes training
Apr.6 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has resumed training as he fights to be fit to return to the cockpit of his McLaren-Honda in China. On the Bahrain grid last Sunday, with Stoffel Vandoorne filling in, Alonso said he was “99 per cent” sure his chest injuries would not stop him from racing in China in two […]
Lawyer says Rosberg not evading tax
Apr.6 (GMM) Nico Rosberg’s lawyer has denied claims the Mercedes driver is evading tax. The 2016 championship leader’s name was mentioned among the millions of leaked financial documents known globally as the ‘Panama Papers’, amid suggestions countless prominent people are hiding wealth and evading tax. German reports alleged that the documents, originating from a Panama […]
Sauber in talks with investors – reports
Apr.6 (GMM) Amid Sauber’s obvious financial problems early in 2016, new media reports suggest the struggling Swiss team could soon be sold. Co-owner and boss Monisha Kaltenborn was not in Bahrain last weekend, with sources reporting she stayed at Hinwil for crucial talks over the team’s future. But alarming speculation that Sauber’s 23-year F1 adventure […]
Hamilton calm, Ferrari ‘fragile as glass’
Apr.5 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is keeping calm, even though he is already 17 points behind at the start of his 2016 championship defence. Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg has extended his late 2015 winning streak into the start of the new season, winning both in Australia and Bahrain. Hamilton’s Bahrain race was marred by another bad […]
Vandoorne ‘the next Alonso’ – Boullier
Apr.5 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne appears to have put his F1 career on the fast track after making an impressive race debut in Bahrain. Although Fernando Alonso says he is “99 per cent” sure his chest injuries will be in the past by China in ten days, McLaren now sounds more convinced than ever that it […]
F1 car seized amid Fittipaldi’s mounting debts
Apr.5 (GMM) F1 great Emerson Fittipaldi has had legendary racing cars from his private collection seized amid reports of deep financial problems. O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper said 69-year-old Fittipaldi, one of Brazil’s most famous racing names and a two-time world champion, has accumulated debts to the tune of $27 million. The report said Brazilian […]
Rosberg named in ‘Panama Papers’ tax evasion leak
Apr.5 (GMM) Championship leader Nico Rosberg’s name is among hundreds implicated in an enormous global leak of documents known as the ‘Panama Papers’. The 11.5 million confidential documents come from a law firm in Panama called Mossack Fonseca, exposing a web of secret offshore companies allegedly used to hide wealth, evade tax and launder money, […]
Amid rumours, Horner backs pressured Kvyat
Apr.5 (GMM) Christian Horner has moved to lift the pressure from the shoulders of Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat. There is speculation the energy drink company may need to promote the meteoric teenager Max Verstappen from Toro Rosso or risk losing him to a major rival like Mercedes or Ferrari for 2017. It could be […]
Developing car next hurdle for Haas – Grosjean
Apr.5 (GMM) The real challenge for Haas will be keeping up with the lightening speed of F1’s in-season development, Romain Grosjean has admitted. The French driver and new American team have stunned F1 over the opening two race weekends in the life of Haas, scoring enough points to see Grosjean sandwiching the works Ferrari drivers […]
Vettel slams ‘aggregate’ qualifying format
Apr.5 (GMM) Quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel is once again leading the fierce criticism amid the latest instalment of the 2016 qualifying format debacle. The Ferrari driver did not hide his anger when F1 switched to the hated ‘musical chairs’ system without the backing of drivers and engineers, and now he has blasted news that […]
Verstappen showed maturity in Bahrain – father
Apr.5 (GMM) After the criticism of Australia, Max Verstappen put his reputation back on track in Bahrain. That is the view of his father Jos, after the 18-year-old Toro Rosso driver lashed out at his team and teammate Carlos Sainz during the 2016 season opener. Verstappen then finished sixth in Bahrain. “Yes, it comes at […]
Alonso says Button criticism ‘not fair’
Apr.4 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he is “99 per cent” sure he will be back at the cockpit of his McLaren in China. Sidelined with chest injuries in Bahrain, the Spaniard angrily rejected the advice of pundit Johnny Herbert to seize the opportunity and hang up his helmet for good. Asked if he was surprised […]
Kaltenborn skips Bahrain amid collapse rumours
Apr.4 (GMM) In the early rounds of the 2016 season, Sauber is clinging to mere survival. The Swiss team cleared a high hurdle recently after falling behind in February wage payments to its 300 staff, but more problems are now obviously on display. Felipe Nasr, the Brazilian driver whose sponsor Banco do Brasil is Sauber’s […]
Azerbaijan says fighting no risk to F1 race
Apr.4 (GMM) Azerbaijan says intense fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed local region, does not jeopardise forthcoming sports events like the inaugural Baku street race. A war with Armenian separatists ended in 1994, but at least 30 soldiers and one child were killed and civilians injured in intense fighting taking place as recently as Sunday. “Azerbaijan, […]
Haas taking F1 on wrong road – Symonds
Apr.4 (GMM) Romain Grosjean is no longer being asked if switching from what became the Renault works team this year to the all-new Haas project was a wise choice. The Frenchman is now fifth overall in the world championship, ahead even of Ferrari’s championship contender Sebastian Vettel. “It’s not bad!” Grosjean grinned after a second-consecutive […]
Ferrari will not use veto over qualifying
Apr.4 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene says Ferrari will not wield its famous veto to prevent F1 from solving the current impasse over qualifying. With the sport needing to find an agreeable format by Thursday, some have wondered whether F1 could be stuck with the hated ‘musical chairs’ if Ferrari uses an unique veto it has over […]