Jun.8 (GMM) The days when Lewis Hamilton earns eye-popping amounts of money per year from Formula 1 are over. That is the view of Bernie Ecclestone, who warned the six-time world champion against “playing poker” with Mercedes over his expiring current contract. “Lewis will never make EUR 50 million (per year) again,” the former F1 […]
Bill Gates tipped to attend F1’s ‘corona’ re-start
Jun.8 (GMM) Bill Gates is slated to attend the opening ‘ghost race’ of 2020 in Austria. Austrian reports suggest that Red Bull owner and fellow billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz has personally invited the American magnate – who made his money at Microsoft and now fronts the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – to attend. When asked […]
Binotto chides Mercedes for reverse grid veto
Jun.8 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has revealed that Ferrari was in favour of Liberty Media’s ‘reverse grid’ idea for the initial spectator-less races in 2020. It was reported that both Mercedes and its ally Racing Point had vetoed the plan, arguing it was too gimmicky for Formula 1. Ferrari team boss Binotto is not happy about […]
Wolff buys back some Williams shares – source
Jun.8 (GMM) Toto Wolff has reportedly bought back into struggling F1 team Williams. The British team, which recently revealed that it is for sale, was actually Wolff’s route into Formula 1 when he bought shares in 2009. Wolff become Williams’ executive director in 2012 but joined Mercedes the following year. He sold 20 percent of […]
Indycar owner reveals Ferrari talks
Jun.8 (GMM) Ferrari has already had talks about joining Indycar for 2022, according to series owner Roger Penske. Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has indicated that the Maranello team could avoid sacking staff due to the incoming F1 budget cap by moving excess personnel over to another racing program. “Concern is not the word, it’s more […]
Binotto admits Ferrari not favourite for Austria
Jun.8 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has admitted Ferrari is not the favourite to win the first ‘ghost races’ of 2020. Figures for both Mercedes and Red Bull are saying that, based on winter testing, the Maranello based team is not in a position to win on merit in Austria next month. When asked if the problems […]
Sainz ‘fast enough’ to be champion – Binotto
Jun.8 (GMM) Ferrari will not prevent Carlos Sainz from becoming a world champion in red. That is the insistence of team boss Mattia Binotto, after Spaniard Sainz also denied that he has been signed as number 2 driver for 2021. However, Binotto admits that Ferrari is betting big on Charles Leclerc. “We invested a lot […]
Engine rules tweaks revealed before 2020 re-start
Jun.8 (GMM) One month before the racing resumes, the FIA has installed some new engine rules in the wake of the Ferrari legality scandal of 2019. During the corona shutdown, the big news was all about budget caps and the ‘silly season’, including Ferrari’s decision to replace Sebastian Vettel with Carlos Sainz for 2021. Nico […]
Binotto hopes Vettel moves to Mercedes
Jun.8 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has denied that Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel parted ways because of the details of a proposed contract. Some reports have suggested that the Maranello team was insisting on a significantly less lucrative contract and just a one-year extension for the quadruple world champion. But team boss Binotto told Spain’s Marca: “It […]
Mercedes hits out at ‘worse tyre’ for 2022
Jun.5 (GMM) James Allison says the 18-inch rims for 2022 means that Formula 1 is switching to a “worse tyre” that is heavier and slower. Mercedes’ technical boss noted the current tyre specifications have remained similar for “decades”, and surmised that the new rule is essentially for the aesthetic effect and road car relevance. “This […]
Verstappen ‘anxious’ ahead of 2020 re-start – Marko
Jun.5 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits that the corona crisis has rattled Max Verstappen. The Red Bull official says his star Dutch driver will not attend a couple of planned promotional events ahead of the back-to-back season re-start in Austria. “I have to say that he is anxious,” Marko told RTL. “We had a couple […]
F1 engines finally revving again in 2020
Jun.5 (GMM) Formula 1 is finally revving its engines in 2020. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas will test the team’s 2018 car during a session at Silverstone next week to “practice protocols” ahead of the first ghost races in early July. And McLaren driver Lando Norris has shaken out the rust with a test […]
Wolff admits he could change job title
Jun.5 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted he may soon have a different job title. Currently, the Austrian is Mercedes’ team boss – but former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher thinks “very exciting” changes are around the corner. That is because Wolff has bought shares in Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll’s new Aston Martin venture. According to […]
Red Bull taking ‘different’ package to Austria
Jun.5 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko hopes Red Bull is ready to take on Mercedes once the ‘ghost racing’ gets up and running in 2020. He said the energy drink-owned team will be aggressive in what could turn out to be a shorter than expected season amid the corona crisis. “Normally we are strong by the […]
Sochi open to hosting second race in 2020
Jun.5 (GMM) Organisers of the Russian GP say they are open to hosting a second race at Sochi on the 2020 ‘corona calendar’. So far, only eight races are featured on the initial Europe-only calendar, with F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn admitting the dates are “pretty firm”. After those races, F1 wants to start travelling […]
Ecclestone seeks buyer for Williams
Jun.5 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he will help his old friend Sir Frank Williams find a buyer for the embattled F1 backmarker. Having finished dead last in 2019 and now splitting with title sponsor Rokit amid the corona crisis, the now Claire Williams-led team announced that it is looking for investors and potentially a buyer. […]
Brawn hits back at Wolff over reverse grids
Jun.5 (GMM) Ross Brawn has hit back at Toto Wolff’s reasoning behind blocking the introduction of qualifying sprints and reverse grids for next month’s ‘ghost races’. It is believed Racing Point, whose owner Lawrence Stroll is now in business with Wolff in the Aston Martin project, joined Mercedes in blocking the move. “Personally, I don’t […]
Combining F1 and Indy ‘dangerous’ for drivers – Brown
Jun.4 (GMM) Zak Brown does not think other active drivers will follow Fernando Alonso in combining Formula 1 with a bid to win the fabled Indy 500. McLaren is unique among the ten F1 teams in also having an Indycar operation. Spaniard Alonso skipped Monaco in 2017 to contest his first Indy 500 and, now […]
Brother staying silent over Schumacher condition
Jun.4 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher says he will not break his rule about talking to the media about the health of his brother. Michael Schumacher won a record seven world championships and 91 grand prix wins, but almost nothing is known about his condition since he sustained brain injuries in a late 2013 skiing crash. When […]
Vettel an ‘outsider’ for Mercedes seat – Wolff
Jun.4 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is only an “outsider candidate” for a Mercedes race seat in 2021. That is the news from team boss Toto Wolff, who said he will not join Ferrari and McLaren in announcing Mercedes’ 2021 lineup so far ahead of time. “I don’t want to pull the corset too tight in terms […]