silly season Tag

By Christopher DeHarde, IndyCar & Road to Indy Writer In an announcement that came out of left field, Colton Herta was announced as Andretti Autosport’s fourth driver in their Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires program alongside Dalton Kellett, Nico Jamin and Ryan Norman today. Herta’s entry is funded with a partnership between Andretti Autosport and Steinbrenner Racing, which is owned by the same family that purchased the New York Yankees in 1973. After racing British F4 in 2015 and EuroFormula Open in 2016, the son of current IndyCar team co-ownerRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor Dashing the Christmas wishes of many drivers, Mercedes has announced that it will not name a successor to Nico Rosberg’s vacated seat till 2017. After newly crowned Rosberg announced his retirement, Mercedes has been in desperate straits to name his replacement ahead of the largest technical changes the sport has seen in 20 years. Much to their chagrin, top drivers Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel are under ironclad contracts with McLaren-Honda and Ferrari. Recently retired veterans like Jenson Button and Felipe Massa are not viable optionsRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor Fernando Alonso has announced that he is committed to staying on at McLaren despite recent rumors linking him with the vacant seat at Mercedes. News had barely broken of Nico Rosberg’s shock retirement before the silly season went full steam ahead and rumors of Alonso jumping ship to Mercedes were rife. Despite the Spaniard’s past history of unexpected team changes, it looks like the speculation has been put to rest, at least for the time being. Speaking at the McLaren factory in Surrey he said, “IRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor Reports are starting to emerge that Valtteri Bottas is Mercedes main target as a replacement for recently retired world champion Nico Rosberg. In any other year this would be a slam dunk move, as Mercedes boss Toto Wolff manages Bottas and would gladly give a large discount to Williams on their Mercedes engines for the next season. Wolff has already made an offer as such, roughly $10 million off for Williams engine package for 2017, but Williams has said no. They did so because this isRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor After much speculation Williams has finally announced that European F3 Champion Lance Stroll will join Valtteri Bottas for the 2017 Formula One season, replacing retiring veteran Felipe Massa. Stroll, who turned 18 last Saturday, has followed in the path of Max Verstappen, by showing incredible promise in the junior series. In further assistance to Williams and its battle to stay at the sharp end of the grid is Lawrence Stroll, his billionaire father, an investor and fashion magnate in their native Canada, who also happens toRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor Nico Hulkenberg has reportedly signed a 2017 race contract that will see him move from his long time home of Sahara Force India, to the bright yellow cars of Renault. The much speculated move has finally come into the light as both Hulkenberg and Renault seek to build a partnership that will move them up the Formula One grid and into championship contention in several seasons’ time. Hulkenberg’s contract is good through 2018, with an option for 2019 that will likely be taken up, as theRead More

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service CONCORD, N.C. – After announcing a multiyear extension to drive for Stewart-Haas Racing, 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick used much of his media session on Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway to set the record straight about rumors that had run amok since the announcement earlier this season that SHR would switch from Chevrolet to Ford in 2017. Harvick said there wasn’t a shred of truth to reports he had been contacted by Hendrick Motorsports to replace Kasey Kahne in the No.Read More

By Adam Tate, Managing Editor The recent rumors of Pastor Maldonado leaving Lotus/Renault have been confirmed today. The Grand Prix winner made the announcement via social media with the following statement: “Today with the utmost humility I inform you that I will not be present at the starting grid for the 2016 F1 season. Thanks for all your messages of support, passion and concern for my future.” It has yet to be confirmed if ex-McLaren man Kevin Magnussen will replace him, but sources expect a Magnussen announcement alongside Renault’s launch of theirRead More

Sauber played its hand in the 2016 driver market today by announcing contract extensions with both Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr. This comes after intense speculation over Nasr’s 2016 seat. The Brazilian had been rumored for a ride at Williams to replace the seemingly Ferrari bound Valtteri Bottas. It also seeks to bring much needed stability to Sauber after several seasons where they had a revolving door of drivers coming and going – culminating in the controversial lawsuit brought to the team by former driver Geido Van der Garde earlierRead More