May 8 (GMM) Audi appears to have taken a step closer to formula one. Mere days ago, constant rumours that the Volkswagen brand is considering a grand prix foray were given a boost by former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo. “A mutual friend told me that (Red Bull owner Dietrich) Mateschitz is thinking of selling […]
Massa ‘not worried’ about Williams future
May 8 (GMM) Felipe Massa had a simple message as he prepared for the Spanish grand prix — I’m not worried. The paddock rumour mill is whispering loudly about the Ferrari-themed future of his current Williams teammate Valtteri Bottas. Former Ferrari driver Massa, on the other hand, is hoping he will stay at Grove for […]
Alonso not happy as Pirelli ‘goes soft’
May 8 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has criticised Pirelli’s decision to ‘go soft’ for the rest of the 2015 season. The official F1 supplier’s Paul Hembery declared this week that, in an effort to prompt more exciting three-stop strategies, Pirelli will lean towards bringing the softer compound tyres in its range to races from now on. […]
Hulkenberg ‘no F1 critic’ after Porsche debut
May 8 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has played down his reported deliberations over a full-time future at Le Mans. Between Bahrain and Barcelona, the German made his world endurance sports car debut driving Porsche’s prototype at Spa, ahead of his high-profile Le Mans bow next month. Reports after Spa suggested Hulkenberg is now considering a permanent […]
Vettel happy if Raikkonen stays
May 8 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he would be happy if Kimi Raikkonen remains his teammate beyond 2015. Williams’ Valtteri Bottas on Thursday did not deny that he might be driving for a different team in 2016, amid rumours the young Finn’s future is Ferrari-red. The existing Maranello duo of Vettel and personal friend Raikkonen, […]
Lotus weighing up ‘Crashtor’ Maldonado
May 8 (GMM) Pastor Maldonado seems to be losing the battle in trying to shake off his ‘Crashtor’ nickname. One dedicated website mischievously asks ‘HasMaldonadoCrashedToday.com’?, but until now it has been assumed the Venezuelan driver’s lucrative, government-backed sponsorship almost guarantees him a place on the grid. But Lotus chief executive Matthew Carter this week insisted […]
Alonso hits back after ‘dark and moody’ jibe
May 8 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has hit back at former Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo’s claim that the Spaniard was “dark and moody” last year. Although the Italian team’s long-time president is also no longer wearing red, Montezemolo claimed he participated in the decision to look into the future with Sebastian Vettel. Alonso hit back […]
Pirelli denies changing tyre selection philosophy
May 8 (GMM) Paul Hembery has denied reports Pirelli is shifting its focus towards softer compound choices in 2015. When asked about claims F1’s official supplier wanted to spice up races by bringing softer tyres to grands prix this year, Fernando Alonso was unimpressed. “I say that they should stay with whatever was the original […]
Ricciardo cool on struggling Kvyat’s contribution
May 8 (GMM) In the space of four races, Daniil Kvyat has gone from rising sensation to arguable liability. Outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve thinks Red Bull is now paying for its “arrogant” driver choice in having replaced the Ferrari-bound quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel with a 20-year-old Russian wielding only a year of […]
Hulkenberg denies losing interest in F1
May 8 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has played down suggestions he is losing interest in formula one. “I enjoy every moment,” he told the German news agency DPA. However, the German obviously wasn’t enjoyed Friday practice in Barcelona, as he struggled with the handling of his Force India and made his feelings clear by radio. He […]
‘Leaked’ calendar is pressure on GP hosts – reports
May 7 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is ramping up the pressure with his “leaked” provisional calendar for 2015. “It would appear that the proposed 2016 calendar has been leaked,” the F1 supremo’s Formula One Management said in a statement after the 21-race schedule began to emerge on the internet recently. “This calendar has not yet been […]
Alonso wearing sunglasses for eye infection
May 7 (GMM) Eyebrows were being raised on Thursday as Fernando Alonso refused to take his dark sunglasses off during the official FIA press conference. Earlier this week, on social media, the McLaren driver showed photographs of a stye in his eye, and then his trip to McLaren’s driver simulator in Woking — wearing dark […]
Pirelli to go soft to spice up F1 – Hembery
May 7 (GMM) Pirelli is aiming to spice up races by leaning towards soft-compound tyre choices as the 2015 season progresses. Having faced intense criticism of its deliberately heavily-degrading tyres of the past, F1’s official supplier went notably more conservative for the start of the new ‘power unit’ era last year. Pirelli vowed to ramp […]
‘Arms race’ to decide 2015 title – Vettel
May 7 (GMM) Mercedes is now set for a head-to-head fight with Ferrari starting in Barcelona this weekend. That is the view of the reigning world champion team’s F1 chairman Niki Lauda, who is certain Mercedes no longer wields a horse power advantage over the resurgent camp in red. “Ferrari has closed the gap from […]
Lotus short nose fails crash test
May 7 (GMM) Lotus has had to leave the centrepiece of its Barcelona car upgrade in the luggage. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reported that the Enstone team wanted to debut a new, ultra-short nose at the Spanish grand prix, but it failed the mandatory crash test. The debut of the nose and wing has […]
Bottas plays down Ferrari rumours
May 7 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas on Thursday tried to play down rumours he is shaping up as a Ferrari driver of the future. The Williams driver denied the wilder of the reports, for instance that he has already signed a ‘pre-agreement’ to join the fabled Italian marque. “I saw some and heard plenty of stories […]
Second chance likely for struggling Kvyat
May 7 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat looks set to be given a second chance to shine at Red Bull. After his meteoric debut at the mere age of 19 for the junior team Toro Rosso last year, the confident Russian was promoted to replace the Ferrari-bound quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel for 2015. Kvyat’s start at […]
Arm surgery for Arrivabene before Barcelona
May 7 (GMM) Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene has headed to Barcelona just a few days after undergoing surgery under general anaesthetic. That is the news of renowned Ferrari insider Leo Turrini, who said the 58-year-old Italian is likely to be wearing a sling ahead of the Spanish grand prix. In Bahrain, insiders had already […]
Webber no longer ‘at odds’ with Vettel
May 6 (GMM) Mark Webber has admitted the venom has gone from his relationship with former F1 teammate Sebastian Vettel. The pair were teammates at Red Bull until the Australian’s retirement at the end of 2013. Webber, now a leading Le Mans prototype driver for Porsche, told a Dubai radio station it was Vettel’s “trophy […]
De la Rosa admits F1 career probably over
May 6 (GMM) Pedro de la Rosa has admitted his career in formula one appears over. From his first test laps for Jordan in 1998 to his Ferrari role that ended last year, the 44-year-old Spaniard’s F1 adventure spanned 16 years. He raced more than 100 times for five teams, through the highly-competitive McLaren team […]