Jun.8 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne on Sunday made his first appearance at a grand prix since taking over as Ferrari president. He said in Montreal that the work done by the resurgent Maranello team and its new boss Maurizio Arrivabene so far in 2015 has been “exceptional”. “There is nothing to regret,” said the Italian-born Canadian, […]
No corruption scandal in F1 – Todt
Jun.8 (GMM) F1 will not suffer the same sort of scandal that is currently gripping the world of football. That is the claim of FIA president Jean Todt. Currently, officials of FIFA, the world football governing body, are caught up in accusations of fraud, collusion and bribery. “There is no way that the FIA could […]
McLaren offers ‘more resources’ to help Honda
Jun.8 (GMM) McLaren has offered to help works engine partner Honda to end the current crisis before it becomes “embarrassing”. Team figures have put a brave and united face on the struggles throughout 2015 to date, but Canada was a particularly bad weekend marred by performance, fuel consumption and reliability problems. Fernando Alonso showed the […]
Alonso still happy with ‘risky’ McLaren move
Jun.8 (GMM) Fernando Alonso showed the first signs of frustration on Sunday as he accused McLaren-Honda of making him look like an “amateur”. Asked to save fuel during the Canadian grand prix, the Spaniard hit back via radio: “I don’t want (to), I don’t want!” Told that he would have “big problems” later in the […]
Le Mans switch not tempting Hulkenberg yet
Jun.5 (GMM) As far as his racing calendar goes, Nico Hulkenberg is just about to hit a new high gear. The German will contest Sunday’s Canadian grand prix for Force India, and then immediately board a plane bound for France and the fabled 24 Hours of Le Mans. He is uniquely splitting his time between […]
Hamilton unmoved two weeks after Monaco
Jun.5 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton insisted he has “moved on” after Monaco, as reporters pressed hard about the strategy blunder that cost him a deserved victory. The world champion has said little in the two weeks since that ill-fated extra pitstop, and it is believed the only contact he had with Mercedes was a single email. […]
McLaren, Button play down 2016 split rumours
Jun.5 (GMM) McLaren has played down reports it is already looking to replace Jenson Button for 2016. Britain’s Sun newspaper predicted the Honda-powered team could “boot” the 2009 world champion despite him having a two-year contract in his pocket. The Sky broadcaster quoted a McLaren insider as dismissing the speculation as “tittle-tattle”. And just last […]
‘Aggressive’ Ferrari to race new engine – Vettel
Jun.5 (GMM) Ferrari has decided to race its performance-upgraded engine this weekend in Canada. Earlier, although the Italian team had traded in some in-season performance ‘tokens’, it was unclear if the new engine would actually be used this weekend. But in Montreal, Sebastian Vettel confirmed the news. “Hopefully it is a step in the right […]
Teams should not decide F1 rules – Wurz
Jun.5 (GMM) Alex Wurz has added his concerns to the current governance of formula one. Wurz, a former Benetton and Williams driver, is today the president of the F1 drivers’ union GPDA. In Monaco, the body launched a wide-ranging online fan survey, amid apparent dwindling global interest in the sport and complaints from F1 drivers […]
Pirelli not sure Michelin wants F1 contract
Jun.5 (GMM) Pirelli chief Marco Tronchetti Provera has admitted it is not clear if the Italian company will face any rivals to remain F1’s sole tyre supplier beyond 2016. Already in Monaco, Pirelli’s chairman and CEO made a rare appearance in the paddock to officially confirm his desire to win the next official supply contract […]
Raikkonen ‘doesn’t need’ Arrivabene’s homework
Jun.5 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he does not need to be given homework. Refusing so far to sign the 2016 ‘option’ in the Finn’s current contract, Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene left Monaco insisting Raikkonen must improve. “So I give him homework — to write a hundred times ‘I must do better in qualifying’,” the charismatic […]
‘No driver problem’ at Red Bull – Horner
Jun.5 (GMM) Christian Horner has defended Red Bull as rumours swirl around the struggling F1 giant. The energy drink-owned outfit’s title run ended just as Renault’s obvious troubles with the new ‘power unit’ era began. But Red Bull also lost its quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel. Asked if that hurt the team, boss Horner insisted […]
No medical check necessary for Verstappen
Jun.5 (GMM) FIA doctors did not check Max Verstappen’s fitness ahead of the Canadian grand prix. Earlier reports suggested that due to the severity of the teenager’s Monaco shunt, he would need clearance from the governing body to race this weekend. But the young Dutchman was obviously unhurt, driving karts and demonstrating Formula Renault 3.5 […]
No ‘raw power’ boost in Canada – Alonso
Jun.5 (GMM) Canada could be a blip in McLaren’s recent run of progress. Having scored the first points of 2015 in Monaco, Honda headed to Montreal after trading in some performance ‘tokens’ to upgrade its engine for the first time. “We have used two tokens of the nine available,” Fernando Alonso was quoted on Thursday […]
Hamilton trust damaged by Mercedes gaffe – pundits
Jun.4 (GMM) Two respected pundits think the relationship between Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton was damaged by the Monaco strategy gaffe. After an extra pitstop cost Hamilton a sure victory in the Principality, team boss Toto Wolff apologised but said both sides would be able to move on. “Trust is a key value within our team,” […]
F1 still in talks with key broadcaster
Jun.4 (GMM) Crucial negotiations between Bernie Ecclestone and Germany’s free-to-air F1 broadcaster appear to have advanced. We have reported recently that, with the German grand prix already gone in 2015, the country’s terrestrial television broadcaster RTL may also be eyeing the F1 exit. The Hamburger Morgenpost and Kolner Express newspapers claimed talks were underway as […]
Slump due to ‘technical’ reasons – Maldonado
Jun.4 (GMM) Pastor Maldonado says “technical” reasons explain his current slump. Earlier, as the Venezuelan struggles to finish races in 2015 and throw off his growing reputation as a ‘crasher’, Lotus chief Matthew Carter warned that Maldonado’s millions in PDVSA backing do not make him “untouchable”. The 30-year-old is among just four drivers who are […]
Ex-Diageo chief walks away from F1
Jun.4 (GMM) A supposed threat to Bernie Ecclestone’s reign appears to have ended. Late last year, reports began to emerge that Paul Walsh, the former Diageo chief, was being lined up as the sport’s new chairman. The reports speculated that Walsh intended to “marginalise” 84-year-old Ecclestone, or at least “rein in” the diminutive Briton. To […]
Ferrari could take on Mercedes in Canada – Surer
Jun.4 (GMM) F1 pundit Marc Surer thinks Ferrari could be set to take on Mercedes this weekend in Canada. Reports this week suggested an engine performance upgrade for the Italian team could move it within 15 horse power of dominant Mercedes. And Speed Week separately reports that Ferrari’s works oil partner Shell has developed a […]
Honda still targeting podium in 2015
Jun.4 (GMM) Honda still has its sights on the podium in 2015. After a highly unreliable and uncompetitive start, the new works collaboration with McLaren netted its first points last time out in Monaco. McLaren-Honda is openly expecting to struggle on Montreal’s long straights this weekend, but the collaboration is also pushing ahead with improvements. […]