Mar.13 (GMM) Williams has joined Mercedes in hitting out at a proposal to ban wind tunnels in formula one. The proposal, admittedly “extreme” and “controversial” in the words of boss Christian Horner, has come from the Red Bull camp. He says the sport’s enormous costs need to be cut, but it should also be remembered […]
Sauber loses appeal, Perez backs van der Garde
Mar.12 (GMM) Sergio Perez has sided with Giedo van der Garde over his legal dispute with Sauber. Dutchman van der Garde’s court battle with Sauber has been criticised in some quarters for endangering the very survival of the already struggling team. Melbourne’s Age newspaper claims the Hinwil camp, having now lost its appeal against van […]
FIA still investigating Alonso crash
Mar.12 (GMM) The FIA is still investigating Fernando Alonso’s mysterious Barcelona testing crash last month. The Spanish driver is sitting out Melbourne amid ongoing speculation about his medical condition and what caused him to hit the wall on February 22. “We are working with McLaren and our medical department is still looking at all the […]
Wolff hits out at wind tunnel ban proposal
Mar.12 (GMM) Mercedes has hit out at Red Bull’s suggestion that wind tunnels should be banned from formula one. As smaller teams struggle for survival, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner proposed a novel solution to help cut costs — ban the wind tunnel. The Briton’s Mercedes counterpart, Toto Wolff, scoffed at the suggestion. “I […]
Software could sideline Manor in Australia
Mar.12 (GMM) Against all the odds, Manor made it to Australia and on Thursday both cars soared through scrutineering for the 2015 season opener. But the team might not be able to run in Melbourne. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that the problem is simple but significant — software. Correspondent Michael Schmidt wrote: “During […]
Van der Garde has no super licence – report
Mar.12 (GMM) Giedo van der Garde’s bid to race for Sauber in Melbourne could stumble at the final hurdle. It has been established that the Dutchman has a valid contract and, despite the Swiss team’s court appeal on Thursday, he looks set to win his legal case. But the question being asked in the Albert […]
Red Bull pushing to run short nose in Melbourne
Mar.12 (GMM) Red Bull is still pushing to introduce a new bodywork package including a short nose for its 2015 car. Rumours in the Melbourne paddock suggested the team’s bid to draw closer to dominant Mercedes this weekend had not succeeded because the new nose failed the crash test. But Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko […]
Teams late in tyre, hotel payments – report
Mar.12 (GMM) Tyres for the 2015 season opener were only released by Pirelli to three teams one day ago, it has emerged. As small teams struggle to survive, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that three teams had failed to pay the official tyre supplier as recently as March 11 — Wednesday. The news follows […]
Vettel names first Ferrari ‘Eva’
Mar.12 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has named his first Ferrari ‘Eva’. The quadruple world champion has continued his personal tradition of giving his F1 machine a female nickname after switching from Red Bull to the fabled Maranello team. The big question now is whether ‘Eva’ is able to take the title fight to dominant Mercedes in […]
Dennis now admits Alonso crash ‘a mystery’
Mar.12 (GMM) Ron Dennis has admitted bungling the Fernando Alonso saga, finally now joining those who agree the Barcelona test crash is a “mystery”. Since the Spaniard hit the wall on February 22, McLaren has claimed it was a “normal” incident and a mere concussion for the team’s new star driver. But supremo Dennis insisted […]
Alonso could also miss Malaysia
Mar.12 (GMM) Already absent in Australia, attention is now turning to whether Fernando Alonso will be back in action in Malaysia in just over two weeks. Officially, the Spaniard is simply sitting out a 21-day period in the wake of his February 22 concussion. McLaren-Honda supremo Ron Dennis confirmed that to reporters in Melbourne, but […]
Whitmarsh joins Newey at America’s Cup team
Mar.12 (GMM) Former McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh has re-emerged in the world of America’s Cup racing. After 25 years with the Woking team, the 56-year-old Briton was ousted ahead of the 2014 season, and has kept a low profile ever since. “I’ve been travelling,” he told London’s Telegraph. “Formula one is a sport that […]
Ecclestone’s TV strategy worries sponsors – report
Mar.12 (GMM) Sponsors have expressed concern about Bernie Ecclestone’s television strategy for formula one. Increasingly, the trend has been away from free-to-air to subscription-based coverage of the full world championship, with the latest example being a new deal with Fox in Australia. It is maximising revenue for the sport’s commercial rights holder CVC, but contributing […]
Sauber could have cars seized amid dispute
Mar.12 (GMM) Giedo van der Garde is now racing to get the super licence he needs to contest this weekend’s Australian grand prix. The Dutchman has won his case in the Melbourne courts to force Sauber to accommodate him, after the Swiss team reneged on his contract. “Sauber has to work with us now,” said […]
Sauber fights for survival in Melbourne court
Mar.12 (GMM) Sauber is fighting for survival in a Melbourne court. The Swiss team has appealed a local judge’s ruling that Giedo van der Garde can take his rightful place on the 2015 grid, despite Sauber’s other binding contracts with Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr. So as the proceedings took place early on Thursday, the […]
Van der Garde appeal delayed until Thursday
Mar.11 (GMM) A resolution of Sauber’s legal dispute with Giedo van der Garde is facing yet another delay. After the Dutchman successfully petitioned to race for the Swiss team this weekend, Sauber lodged an appeal. It was heard on Wednesday afternoon, but it is believed Sauber applied for leave until Thursday — the day before […]
Frank Williams back up to speed after hospital stay
Mar.11 (GMM) Sir Frank Williams is out of hospital and back up to speed. Late last year, when the Grove team’s 72-year-old boss and co-founder stopped coming to races, it emerged he had been hospitalised with pressure sores. The Briton, whose daughter Claire is Williams’ deputy team principal, has been tetraplegic and confined to a […]
Rosberg vows to improve wheel-to-wheel skills
Mar.11 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has identified wheel-to-wheel combat as his main weakness alongside reigning world champion and teammate Lewis Hamilton. With their dominant 2014 Mercedes, the pair duelled intensely for last year’s title but Briton Hamilton ultimately won in the championship finale. Rosberg did secure F1’s new ‘pole position trophy’ of 2014, but acknowledged that […]
Van der Garde denies being ‘unprepared’ for Sauber seat
Mar.11 (GMM) Giedo van der Garde on Wednesday declared himself “happy, fit and ready to drive” this weekend in Melbourne. A local court has ruled that the Dutchman can take his place at Sauber this year, after the Swiss team signed him but then replaced him with Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr. The ruling is […]
Berger says Mercedes well clear of rivals
Mar.11 (GMM) Gerhard Berger has played down Mercedes’ claim it will be challenged for victory early in 2015. Team chairman and F1 legend Niki Lauda warned this week that, contrary to suggestions the German marque is well clear of any rivals, Mercedes is not expecting to dominate in Australia and beyond. “The competition with be […]