Jun.3 (GMM) Frans Verschuur, who runs a GT4 team, thinks Renault should oust its team boss Cyril Abiteboul. “In my opinion there are three of them in Formula 1 that have to go,” the Dutchman told the F1 aan Tafel podcast. “Abiteboul, Claire Williams and Mattia Binotto,” he said. Explaining his opposition to Frenchman Abiteboul, […]
Sainz denies he will be Ferrari ‘number 2’
Jun.3 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has hit back at claims he will be Ferrari’s ‘number 2’ driver from 2021. A Ferrari insider this week said Charles Leclerc “is our future”, using a football strategy analogy to explain that the earlier policy of having two strikers is ending. “No, I have not signed anything that makes me […]
Carey wants F1 ‘hero’ Vettel to stay
Jun.3 (GMM) Chase Carey appears to want Sebastian Vettel to remain in Formula 1 beyond 2020. It seems that joining Mercedes or Renault, or simply retiring, are the quadruple world champion’s options for when he leaves Ferrari later this year. Renault appears poised to sign its former champion Fernando Alonso. Correspondent Ralf Bach’s f1-insider.com claims […]
Ferrari should have signed Giovinazzi – Minardi
Jun.3 (GMM) Former F1 team owner and boss Giancarlo Minardi says he would not have signed Carlos Sainz for 2021 if he was in charge at Ferrari. Sainz has been selected to replace Sebastian Vettel, but Minardi told Il Resto del Carlino newspaper: “I would have given (Antonio) Giovinazzi a chance, also to protect the […]
Frank, Claire Williams should leave F1 – Schumacher
Jun.3 (GMM) Williams failed to keep up with the pace of modern Formula 1, according to former team driver Ralf Schumacher. The German, who won six grands prix for the British team until 2004, was asked by Speed Week to comment on news that Williams is currently for sale. “It looks like neither Frank Williams […]
Budget cap ‘loopholes’ for McLaren – Marko
Jun.3 (GMM) McLaren could be a winner of the budget cap measures set to take effect next year. That is the view of Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko, who told Auto Motor und Sport that McLaren is set to benefit from faster rivals Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull needing to significantly slash staff numbers. […]
‘Ghost race’ organisers not paying a fee
Jun.3 (GMM) Organisers of the Spanish GP have confirmed they will not pay Liberty Media a fee for hosting one of the initial eight European ‘ghost races’ this year. Liberty Media finally announced the schedule on Tuesday, with F1 CEO Chase Carey hoping to publish a “full calendar” of 15-18 races “before the end of […]
Two teams oppose F1’s reverse grid plan
Jun.2 (GMM) It is believed Racing Point has now joined the works Mercedes team in indicating it will vote against experimenting with short qualifying sprints and reverse grids once the ‘ghost races’ get up and running in July. Before the corona crisis struck, Liberty Media had similarly tried to shake up the race weekend format, […]
Marko has no sympathy for sacked Daniel Abt
Jun.2 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has little sympathy for sacked Formula E driver Daniel Abt. Audi’s works team, which was originally owned by Abt’s family, sacked the 27-year-old German recently after it emerged that he had secretly allowed a professional gamer to drive in his place during an official Formula E esports race. Marko, the […]
Source says Ferrari will have one striker in 2021
Jun.2 (GMM) An unnamed Ferrari insider has admitted that the Maranello team is planning to succeed by rallying around Charles Leclerc. Not long after former number 1 and quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel was ousted for 2021 and beyond, the insider told Auto Motor und Sport: “Charles Leclerc is our future.” Using football tactics to […]
‘Complicated’ for F1 to get up and racing again – Kubica
Jun.2 (GMM) Robert Kubica says he has a “big” desire to get back to work at the race tracks. As Alfa Romeo tester and a DTM race driver, the Pole had been shaping up for a very busy season when the corona crisis struck. “The situation is still dynamic, but one thing is certain,” he […]
F1 world still waiting for ‘corona calendar’
Jun.2 (GMM) Formula 1 is now expected to publish its official ‘corona calendar’ of initial spectator-less races in Europe on Wednesday. Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto wrote in La Gazzetta dello Sport that the fact the team factories are all now awaking from a prolonged shutdown period “is not only a sign of optimism but […]
Wave of US politics rolls over Formula 1
Jun.2 (GMM) A wave of politics is rolling over Formula 1 amid widespread protests and rioting throughout America. Although the world championship is British and European based, six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton began the new trend among F1 drivers, personalities and teams by hitting out at those “staying silent” after a death in custody in […]
Boss wants Williams to keep name after sale
Jun.1 (GMM) Williams will have new colours once the racing gets up and running in July. Last Friday, the famous backmarker team not only announced its split with title sponsor Rokit, Williams also admitted it may be sold. “This certainly doesn’t mean that the team won’t go on for many years,” team deputy Claire Williams, […]
‘A lot happening’ at Mercedes – Marko
Jun.1 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks “a lot is happening” behind the scenes at Mercedes. The Red Bull chief’s former charge Sebastian Vettel, who will leave Ferrari at the end of the year, is being linked with a move to Mercedes for 2021. Others say Vettel could go to ‘Aston Martin’ – which according to […]
No intention of ‘ever’ leaving Red Bull – Verstappen
Jun.1 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he would like to spend his entire Formula 1 career at Red Bull. Early this year, the Dutch driver signed a reportedly lucrative new contract through 2023. The 22-year-old told local broadcaster Radio 538: “Yes, I want to stay with Red Bull and I have no intention of ever leaving. […]
Signing Alonso risks Renault ‘revolution’ – Zecchi
Jun.1 (GMM) A former F1 team boss has warned Renault that signing Fernando Alonso for 2021 could be dangerous. The French works team’s boss Cyril Abiteboul has admitted that filling Daniel Ricciardo’s place by reuniting with former two-time champion Alonso is “an option”. “It could be a lot of drivers,” Abiteboul told the RMC program […]
Ferrari had ‘safer’ options than Sainz – Kubica
Jun.1 (GMM) Robert Kubica admits he was “surprised” when Ferrari decided to sign up Carlos Sainz as a replacement for Sebastian Vettel next year. “If the relationship was not good and not getting better, then it’s better to make a decision,” the Polish driver told Corriere della Sera. “I was a little surprised but I […]
F1 not entering ‘pay-driver’ era – Danner
Jun.1 (GMM) Formula 1 is not about to enter the era of the so-called ‘pay-driver’, according to Christian Danner. As a result of the corona crisis, which is also threatening established midfield teams like McLaren and Renault, it is feared that teams may need to lean even more heavily on drivers who can take substantial […]
‘Unclear’ if media can attend F1 ghost races
Jun.1 (GMM) It is not clear if television broadcasters will be allowed to attend F1’s first ‘ghost races’ in Austria next month. The sport is poised to unveil its plan for spectator-less races on Monday, but RTL commentator Florian Konig says he isn’t sure if he will be there. “We have deliberately not done that […]