Mar.9 (GMM) At least one seasoned observer is happy Mercedes’ advantage appears overwhelming in 2015. It is Jacques Villeneuve, who is quoted by Italian publications as saying the German marque’s advantage of 2014 was too big for its rivals to track down in just a single winter. So he is happy, therefore, that the gap […]
McLaren-Honda in ‘terrible trouble’ – Brundle
Mar.9 (GMM) McLaren-Honda has found itself in “terrible trouble” ahead of the 2015 season. That is the view of former team driver Martin Brundle, observing that McLaren has struggled simply to run its newly works Honda-powered MP4-30 in testing. Not only that, star recruit Fernando Alonso is missing the Melbourne season opener, amid rampant speculation […]
Hamilton linked with Ferrari switch
Mar.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton claims his fans in Italy urge him to join Ferrari. The reigning world champion and Mercedes claim they are now close to a deal to extend the 30-year-old’s contract beyond 2015. But the long-delayed deal is still not done, triggering rumours boss Toto Wolff is reluctant to agree to the British […]
Hamilton focused despite Scherzinger split
Mar.9 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has played down any suggestion his split from long-time girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger could affect his performance in 2015. In the past, the often controversial and emotional Briton’s personal struggles have arguably interfered with his focus on formula one. So his latest split from Scherzinger might give his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg […]
Electric shock theory will not go away
Mar.9 (GMM) Now just days before the start of the season, the now-rampant doubts about Fernando Alonso’s mysterious testing crash will not go away. Previously, suggestions there is more than meets the eye to what McLaren-Honda called a “normal” crash and concussion for the Spaniard were dismissed as mere conspiracy theories. On Twitter, Alonso called […]
McLaren not ‘covering up’ Alonso crash truth – Wolff
Mar.9 (GMM) Toto Wolff on Monday sided with McLaren-Honda amid the ongoing saga surrounding Fernando Alonso’s crash and recovery. The Mercedes chief said he does not believe the conspiracy theories that suggest McLaren is “covering up” what happened on February 22 and beyond. “And the FIA has its eye on it,” Wolff told the Austrian […]
Nurburgring ‘not willing to pay fee’ – Ecclestone
Mar.9 (GMM) The fate of the 2015 German grand prix is a simple matter of “the fee”. That is the claim of Bernie Ecclestone, who is set to imminently decide if the country will be removed from the F1 calendar for the first time in decades. Officially, the Nurburgring is scheduled to host the July […]
Van der Garde drive would be ‘dangerous’ – Sauber
Mar.9 (GMM) Sauber has argued that letting Giedo van der Garde race in Melbourne would be a safety risk. On Monday, Dutch driver van der Garde’s case against the Swiss team was heard by the supreme court in Melbourne. Both sides acknowledge that the 29-year-old has a valid contract to race this year, but Sauber […]
Judge delays ruling in van der Garde case
Mar.9 (GMM) A Melbourne court on Monday postponed its ruling in a case brought by Dutch driver Giedo van der Garde. The 29-year-old asked the Victorian supreme court to enforce a recent arbitration ruling in Switzerland, having found that van der Garde’s contract to race with Sauber this year is valid. Sauber’s lawyer on Monday […]
Taxman voted against Manor return – report
Mar.9 (GMM) The British government did not support Marussia’s F1 revival. Now reborn as Manor Marussia, the outfit is touching down in Melbourne this week having emerged from administration thanks to support from creditors including McLaren and Ferrari. But another creditor, according to the Telegraph newspaper, is the UK tax collector HM Revenue and Customs. […]
Ferrari takes ‘conservative’ engine to Aus – report
Mar.9 (GMM) Ferrari is travelling to Australia early this week with a few less horse power in the luggage. The Italian team was arguably the surprise of the 2015 pre-season, with much of its improved pace credited to a much better turbo V6 ‘power unit’. But the authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport reveals that Ferrari […]
Leimer’s Manor hopes shrink
Mar.8 (GMM) Fabio Leimer’s chances of securing the last seat on the 2015 grid have shrunk. Earlier, it was reported that the 2013 GP2 champion had escaped his new contract with the Mugen team in Japan’s premier open wheeler series Super Formula. Some thought that indicated the 25-year-old Swiss, whose earlier career was backed by […]
Ecclestone admits EUR 15m ‘plan B’ for small teams
Mar.8 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he devised a contingency plan for F1’s most struggling teams. Earlier, amid Marussia and Caterham’s decline and the similar financial issues of even bigger teams, it was reported that the F1 supremo was working on a ‘plan B’. It would involve a kind of ‘division two’ on the grid, […]
Villeneuve slams Alonso for lack of Ferrari ‘respect’
Mar.8 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has sided firmly with Ferrari after F1’s highest profile driver move. Over the winter, Fernando Alonso left the Maranello team and joined McLaren-Honda, who have struggled simply to run the new MP4-30 car. And the Spaniard is now recovering from his mysterious Barcelona testing crash. Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, says […]
Hamilton in ‘final stages’ of contract talks
Mar.8 (GMM) As he touched down in Australia to begin his title defence, Lewis Hamilton admitted he is close to agreeing a deal to stay at Mercedes beyond 2015. It is bad news for his rivals, as the Briton apparently hit back at rumours that while his new Mercedes is fast, it may be difficult […]
Ecclestone sure Mercedes will win 2015 title
Mar.8 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he has no doubt who will win the 2015 world championship. “Yes. I would put everything I own on it,” the British billionaire told the German newspaper Welt. He is referring to the occupant of a works silver Mercedes. Ecclestone says the turbo V6 ‘power unit’ rules he so despises […]
Button considered 2016 Olympic bid
Mar.8 (GMM) Jenson Button has admitted he thought about quitting formula one to launch a quest for the Olympics. As his F1 seat hung in the balance at McLaren last year, the Briton said at the time he took the opportunity to assess if he even wanted to extend his 15-year run into the 2016 […]
Now Wurz plays down boycott rumours
Mar.8 (GMM) Alex Wurz has joined Australian grand prix organisers in playing down the threat of boycott. Wild reports had suggested teams were nervous about the safety implications of Fernando Alonso’s mysterious Barcelona testing crash. Then it emerged that Grand Prix Drivers’ Association president Alex Wurz had circulated a letter to the active drivers about […]
Leimer in frame for second Manor seat
Mar.7 (GMM) 2013 GP2 champion Fabio Leimer has leapt into contention to complete this year’s formula one grid. After conquering F1’s main feeder series, the 25-year-old Swiss was disappointed that, even with a strong sponsor in tow, he was not able to secure his grand prix debut last year. “The formula one system is sick,” […]
McLaren, Alonso hit back at ‘creative’ crash rumours
Mar.7 (GMM) Fernando Alonso and McLaren have hit back at reports about the severity of the Spanish driver’s memory loss. Spain’s El Pais newspaper had claimed Alonso thought he was a 13-year-old kart racer when he regained consciousness after his mysterious testing crash two weeks ago. “In a few days the championship starts and we […]