Jul.15 (GMM) Renault will be in Formula 1 “for a long time”, according to the French works outfit’s former boss. Flavio Briatore told Italy’s Tuttosport that he helped his protege Fernando Alonso negotiate the Spaniard’s return to Formula 1 for next year. “We negotiated the return together. I have known for two months,” he said. […]
Ricciardo insists Abiteboul relationship ‘cool’
Jul.15 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo insists “everything is cool” between himself and his current team boss Cyril Abiteboul. After it emerged that the Australian driver is moving to McLaren for 2021, a statement issued by Renault indicated that Abiteboul questioned Ricciardo’s loyalty. “In our sport, and particularly within the current extraordinary situation, reciprocated confidence, unity and […]
Vettel not confirming Aston Martin move for 2021
Jul.15 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is poised to rescue his beleaguered Formula 1 career by signing up with Aston Martin for 2021. That is the claim of Germany’s Bild newspaper, reporting that “only details” of the contract with the Lawrence Stroll-owned team that is currently called Racing Point are still to be clarified. It is believed […]
FIA bans Wolff’s clear face shield
Jul.15 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he will no longer wear a clear face shield in the Formula 1 paddock. With the wearing of masks now mandatory amid the corona crisis, Mercedes’ team boss took it a step further in Austria by donning a unique clear face shield that is worn like glasses. “My face shield […]
Ferrari has identified Binotto’s successor – report
Jul.15 (GMM) Mattia Binotto’s successor as Ferrari team boss may already have been found. Formula 1’s media contingent agrees that the Maranello team is in deep crisis after just two races of the 2020 season. “There was a long briefing in Maranello this week to find out what is being done with the car for […]
Honda no match for Mercedes power in 2020
Jul.15 (GMM) The big difference between title contenders Mercedes and Red Bull in 2020 is engine power. That is the claim not only of Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, but also the F1 legend Gerhard Berger. “The Mercedes engine is obviously extremely powerful,” Berger told Servus TV. “Mercedes worked hard through the winter. Honda too, […]
Berger says ‘pink Mercedes’ protest is important
Jul.15 (GMM) Renault’s protest against the ‘pink Mercedes’ fielded by Racing Point this year could be a significant moment for Formula 1. That is the view of F1 legend Gerhard Berger, who said he faced a similar “headwind” when he was co-owner of Red Bull’s second team Toro Rosso. The FIA has seized brake parts […]
Kneeling ‘against the Russian mentality’ – Kvyat
Jul.14 (GMM) It is a “personal choice” whether drivers want to kneel or stand amid the new wave of racial politics that is sweeping through Formula 1, according to Daniil Kvyat. For the second consecutive Sunday, only a minority of the drivers refused to join the Lewis Hamilton-led gesture in support of Black Lives Matter […]
F1 should reject ‘pink Mercedes’ protest – Schumacher
Jul.14 (GMM) Racing Point should get away with fielding its ‘pink Mercedes’ in 2020, according to former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher. The Lawrence Stroll-owned team, which will become Aston Martin next year, says it is “extremely disappointed” that Renault lodged a formal protest about the legality of the car after last Sunday’s race in Austria. […]
Sainz may regret signing for Ferrari – Doornbos
Jul.14 (GMM) Carlos Sainz might be the first ever driver who regrets signing a Ferrari contract before even racing a car with the Prancing Horse logo. That is the view of former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos, who says Spaniard Sainz faces the prospect of swapping a more competitive McLaren for a sluggish red car […]
Constant driver changes ‘not good’ – Abiteboul
Jul.14 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has admitted that Renault has been changing drivers too often in recent years. Since returning to F1 as a full constructor in 2016, the French works team has changed its lineup every single season – and will continue this trend with Fernando Alonso joining next year. Team boss Abiteboul, however, said […]
Leclerc ‘killed Vettel politically’ – Schumacher
Jul.14 (GMM) Charles Leclerc “killed Sebastian Vettel politically” at Ferrari. That is the view of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, who hails the way Leclerc simply accepted full responsibility for the first-lap crash last Sunday. “I have to say honestly that Leclerc seems smarter than Sebastian in that way,” he told Sky Deutschland. “He immediately […]
Binotto admits car ‘concept’ may be flawed
Jul.14 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has admitted the basic “concept” of Ferrari’s 2020 car may be flawed. After the opening two races of 2020, the entire world of Formula 1 has apparently concluded that Ferrari is in deep crisis. “The problem is the team,” F1 legend and former Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger told Servus TV. Tuttosport, […]
Ferrari should have fined Leclerc – Briatore
Jul.14 (GMM) Charles Leclerc should have been fined by Ferrari for crashing into his teammate in Austria. That is the view of former Renault boss Flavio Briatore, after Leclerc took all of the blame for an incident described by Bernie Ecclestone to Bild newspaper as “embarrassing for Ferrari”. The contrite 22-year-old even called himself as […]
Bottas, Hamilton set to sign new F1 deals
Jul.14 (GMM) Mercedes is reportedly well on the way to signing up its current drivers for 2021. There had been speculation that Mercedes junior George Russell or even Sebastian Vettel were in the running for a seat with the German works team. But Damiler CEO Ola Kallenius said in Austria: “We’re staying with our two […]
Boss says Haas ‘happy’ to welcome Vettel
Jul.13 (GMM) One door may have just swung open for Sebastian Vettel. Having lost his Ferrari seat for 2021, the quadruple world champion is hitting back hard at the notion that he asked for too much money. “Schwachsinn!” he is quoted by Osterreich newspaper, uttering a word that is often translated from German as ‘bull**it’. […]
Boss Horner defends struggling Albon
Jul.13 (GMM) Red Bull boss Christian Horner has defended Alex Albon following a round of criticism in Austria. Some have observed that, while the Mercedes team can count on the fully competitive services of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, Albon is normally off the pace of his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen. In Austria, the […]
F1 definitely moving on to Hungary
Jul.13 (GMM) Formula 1 is definitely moving on to Budapest this week. In Austria at the weekend, rumours emerged that the sport may choose to stay at the Red Bull Ring for a third consecutive race. That was because Hungarian authorities had warned that British drivers and team staff face huge fines and even jail […]
Magnussen ‘not nervous’ about Haas future
Jul.13 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen insists he is not “nervous” that his Formula 1 career might be about to end. The former McLaren and Renault driver’s career was rescued by Haas in 2017, but now team owner Gene Haas is openly considering quitting the sport. “No, I’m not going to say I’m nervous,” Magnussen told the […]
Hamilton hits out at Ferrari over racial politics
Jul.13 (GMM) Toto Wolff insists “everyone’s perspective” must be respected amid a spate of racial politics in Formula 1. As he pushes the Black Lives Matter agenda, Mercedes’ six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton on Sunday scolded Ferrari for staying silent. “You look at Ferrari, who have thousands of people working for them, and I’ve not […]