Dec.16 (GMM) Two more F1 figures say it would not be good for the sport if Austin falls off the 2016 calendar. Although many say the US grand prix is now a highlight of the season, a funding dispute between organisers and the Texas government means Austin has been granted mere provisional status on next […]
Ferrari expects ‘more competitive’ McLaren-Honda
Dec.16 (GMM) Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene has tipped McLaren-Honda to take a clear step forward for 2016. As the iconic partnership reunited this year, McLaren-Honda endured a nightmare campaign and finished the championship ahead only of backmarker Manor. Team supremo Ron Dennis says those in the Woking factory will be working hard this winter. […]
Jock Clear joining Ferrari but not Hoyle
Dec.16 (GMM) Benjamin Hoyle, an engineer at the centre of a new espionage saga in F1, will never be joining Ferrari. That is the claim of Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, a week after it emerged that Mercedes is suing Hoyle for copying confidential data about the German marque’s championship-winning F1 ‘power unit’. Bloomberg news […]
No German GP again in 2017 – Ecclestone
Dec.16 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is not confident about the future of the German grand prix. Just a decade ago, the country was still in the grip of Michael Schumacher fever, which had revolutionised the popularity of F1 in Germany. But even though Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg and Mercedes proudly wave the flag today, spectator numbers […]
Ricciardo leaving options open for 2017
Dec.15 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he doesn’t want to turn his mind to his expiring Red Bull contract quite yet. The Australian admits he became frustrated at times this year, as the energy drink stable’s premier team struggled for a second consecutive year. “The frustration built up more than I would have liked,” Ricciardo told […]
Alfa Romeo could return to F1 – Marchionne
Dec.15 (GMM) Alfa Romeo could return to formula one, Fiat Chrysler president Sergio Marchionne has announced. He was speaking as Ferrari president at the fabled marque’s end-of-year media events, but said fans also recall the glory days of another historic Italian marque. “It’s incredible how the Alfa Romeo brand remains in people’s hearts,” said Marchionne. […]
Look to MotoGP for new F1 rules model – Marchionne
Dec.15 (GMM) F1 should look to the two-wheeled world of MotoGP for a system of simpler rules. That is the claim of Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne, who said the status quo in formula one is too complex. “The rules we have in F1 have nothing to do with the rules in MotoGP,” he said. “In […]
Williams to run Jaguar’s Formula E team
Dec.15 (GMM) F1 team Williams will run a new Formula E outfit for Jaguar Land Rover, the Indian-owned British carmaker. Williams “will be responsible for the operational running of the Jaguar Formula E race team”, the Oxfordshire based team announced on Tuesday. “We are delighted that they have chosen Williams Advanced Engineering as their technical […]
Domenicali linked with move to Lamborghini
Dec.15 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali, the former Ferrari team boss, looks set for yet another new challenge. Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Italian, who after leaving F1 found a new role at Audi, is now being lined up as the next CEO of Lamborghini. Both carmakers are owned by Volkswagen. Domenicali, 50, recently […]
F1 could find new US GP venue – Haas
Dec.15 (GMM) America’s future in F1 is not endangered by the problems facing the current US grand prix in Austin. That is the view of Gene Haas, the founder and owner of the sport’s new Ferrari-linked American team for 2016. The US grand prix in Austin is in doubt for the future over a funding […]
Ecclestone must solve engine problem – Marchionne
Dec.15 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne pulled no punches when asked about an apparent ‘war’ with Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA. Recently, the F1 supremo as well as Jean Todt questioned Ferrari’s historic ‘veto’. And the latest exchange is that the Marchionne-led Ferrari is now challenging a “mandate” given to the FIA president and Ecclestone to fix […]
Toro Rosso could beat Red Bull in 2016 – Marko
Dec.15 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has admitted Red Bull could be outpaced by the energy drink team’s secondary team in 2016. Carlos Sainz said recently he thinks it is possible Toro Rosso’s switch to 2015-spec Ferrari engines could mean the Faenza team outpaces the still Renault-powered premier outfit Red Bull Racing next year. “In theory,” […]
Ferrari ‘nothing to do’ with spy story – Marchionne
Dec.15 (GMM) Ferrari has continued to distance itself from the new ‘spy story’ in formula one. Recently, it emerged that Mercedes is suing a member of its engine team for trying to take confidential data with him ahead of a reported move to Ferrari. But a Ferrari spokesman insisted recently: “There were talks but it’s […]
Vettel ‘more Ferrarista’ than Alonso ever was – Marchionne
Dec.15 (GMM) In assessing Sebastian Vettel’s first year at Ferrari, president Sergio Marchionne aimed a pointed barb at Fernando Alonso. Vettel replaced the McLaren-Honda bound Alonso at the fabled Maranello team this year, and Marchionne sounds more than happy with the move. “Vettel is fantastic. Last Saturday here in Maranello he made a speech in […]
Ecclestone wrong to say F1 ‘boring’ – Hamilton
Dec.15 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has no reason to be “bored” by today’s formula one, back-to-back world champion Lewis Hamilton insists. F1 supremo Ecclestone said recently that urgent rule changes are necessary due to Mercedes’ unprecedented dominance. But Hamilton told the Chinese news agency Xinhua: “Why should he be bored? “I am definitely not bored at […]
Teams need more money for 21 races – Marchionne
Dec.15 (GMM) Ferrari has backed Mercedes in worrying about next year’s unprecedentedly-long race calendar. The FIA recently approved an increase in the maximum number of races per season from 20 to 21, as Germany returns and Azerbaijan joins the calendar. But Mercedes chief Toto Wolff thinks the new schedule pushes teams beyond what is “feasible” […]
Marko hopes ‘watch will not stop’ in 2016
Dec.15 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko said he is hopeful changes at Renault will help Red Bull to charge back towards the front in F1. The energy drink company tried to dump Renault and switch to an alternative supplier for 2016, but instead will simply re-brand its French units as ‘Tag Heuer’. “Tag Heuer is the […]
Floatation will not hurt Ferrari in F1 – Marchionne
Dec.15 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne has denied that Ferrari’s floatation will affect the fabled F1 team. Earlier, owner Fiat Chrysler floated 10 per cent of the Maranello marque’s shares. And now president Marchionne has confirmed that the bulk of the remainder will be listed on the Milan Stock Exchange on January 4. It is said the […]
Vettel not sure Verstappen ready for Ferrari
Dec.14 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is not sure F1 teen sensation Max Verstappen is ready for a Ferrari seat. Showered with praise and awards at the end of his exciting and impressive rookie season, 18-year-old Dutchman Verstappen has also been linked with a move to a top team. Max will stay at Toro Rosso next year, […]
Mercedes drivers understand team axe warning – Wolff
Dec.14 (GMM) Mercedes chief Toto Wolff thinks the dominant team’s two drivers have heard his warning about the intensity of their feud. As the 2015 season ended recently with the silver camp sweeping 16 of the 19 wins, Wolff nonetheless warned that if Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s bickering spills into the overall “team spirit”, […]