Jan.27 (GMM) The US GP venue in Austin is working to eliminate bumps in the track surface that Formula 1 figures slammed as “unacceptable” in 2019. Speed Week reports that the circuit has been closed in January for repair works, with 40 percent of the entire surface removed and replaced. Indeed, earlier in January the […]
Ferrari preparing two versions of 2020 car – Bobbi
Jan.27 (GMM) Ferrari is preparing two versions of its new 2020 car for next month’s winter testing season. That is the claim of Matteo Bobbi, a former Minardi test driver. His comments to Sky Italia follow reports that an aerodynamic flaw may have been discovered on Ferrari’s 2020 car. Last year, Mercedes took a basic […]
Aston Martin rumours gain more F1 steam
Jan.27 (GMM) Aston Martin, a name increasingly rumoured to be getting even closer to Formula 1, has suddenly pulled out of the German touring car championship DTM. Mere months before the start of the 2020 season, DTM has been left with just two car manufacturers after the R-Motorsport team lost the backing of Aston Martin […]
Leclerc best driver after Verstappen – Marko
Jan.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Charles Leclerc is “clearly” the most attractive driver who does not already race for Red Bull. Recently, Red Bull extended Max Verstappen’s contract through 2023, while Ferrari has secured the services of the similarly-aged Leclerc until 2024. When asked who the best non-Red Bull driver is at present, Marko […]
Hamilton wants new $66m per year Mercedes deal
Jan.27 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s teammate is his “only opponent” in Formula 1, according to Max Verstappen. In recent days, rumours have emerged from Italy suggesting that six-time world champion Hamilton has upped the stakes in his negotiations with Mercedes over 2021 and beyond. Corriere dello Sport reportedly claims that the 35-year-old wants his retainer to […]
Calderon expects new Alfa Romeo deal
Jan.27 (GMM) Tatiana Calderon is expecting to sign a new deal to remain a test driver for Alfa Romeo in 2020. The female Colombian driver raced in Formula 2 last year, finishing 22nd overall, but she will move over to Japan’s Super Formula series for 2020. In 2019, 26-year-old Calderon was also a test driver […]
Owner Penske wants F1 to return to Indianapolis
Jan.27 (GMM) Roger Penske says he would like to see the fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway return to the F1 calendar. Formula 1 is already working on a plan to add Miami to the schedule, to make it the second American race alongside Austin. But the Miami plans are facing political hurdles fuelled by opponents. So […]
FIA president says Leclerc ‘deserves’ title
Jan.27 (GMM) Charles Leclerc “deserves” to be a world champion, according to FIA president Jean Todt. 22-year-old Leclerc, who is managed by Todt’s son Nicolas, recently signed a new deal with Ferrari through 2024. “Charles has to make sure he has a car and a team that allows him to win races,” Todt is quoted […]
Todt’s comments about 25 races ‘outrageous’ – mechanic
Jan.27 (GMM) A mechanic at the small American team Haas has hit back at FIA president Jean Todt. Last week, amid concerns about future calendars that could be as long as 25 races, Todt said most people involved in Formula 1 are “privileged”. “If you have a beloved family, they will understand. And you don’t […]
Haas takes financial hit for 2020 – Steiner
Jan.27 (GMM) Haas boss Gunther Steiner admits the team has suffered a financial setback after the 2019 season. Not only did the small American team lose its title sponsor Rich Energy mid last year, finishing the championship second-to-last also means a drop in official F1 revenue. “It’s a big loss, but we need to move […]
F1 defends pay TV deals’ shrinking audiences
Jan.24 (GMM) It is an “oversimplification” to say that Formula 1 is suffering because of the move away from free-to-air television. That is the view of the sport’s director of media rights Ian Holmes, off the back of reports that in Britain alone, Sky’s exclusive live rights have cost Britain 8.6 million TV viewers. Writing […]
Red Bull ‘tough environment’ for Sainz – Brown
Jan.24 (GMM) Red Bull was a “tough” environment for Carlos Sainz to thrive in, according to McLaren supremo Zak Brown. Sainz, now 25, made his debut via the Red Bull junior program, racing for Toro Rosso for three years until 2017 before switching to Renault and finally signing a contract with McLaren that began in […]
Sports minister eyes F1 return for Argentina
Jan.24 (GMM) Argentina’s new sports and tourism minister wants Formula 1 to return to Buenos Aires. Matias Lammens, who was appointed in December, told Diario AS Argentina: “We would like to work towards recovering Formula 1 in a few years. “It would be very interesting for Argentina from a sporting and a tourism point of […]
2021 contract talks now in ‘final stages’ – Carey
Jan.24 (GMM) F1 is now in the “final stages” of negotiating new commercial agreements binding the teams to the sport beyond 2020. That is the news from Chase Carey, who was speaking to Bloomberg at the world economic forum in Davos, Switzerland. “We’re in the final stages of it,” said the F1 CEO, referring to […]
Coronavirus could threaten Chinese GP
Jan.24 (GMM) A dark cloud has moved above April’s running of the Chinese GP. Over 800 cases of the coronavirus, which has killed 18 people so far, have been detected in China. As a result, the country is quarantining entire cities and China’s automobile federation has even banned “all sports competitions until April”. The federation […]
F1 made Vergne feel like ‘a robot’
Jan.24 (GMM) Jean-Eric Vergne does not sound keen on a potential return to Formula 1. His former boss, Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, this week all but ruled out a return for the two-time Formula E champion. But Frenchman Vergne, 29, says the sport actually made him feel like a “robot”. “They constantly told me […]
Sim racing ‘great preparation’ for 2020 – Verstappen
Jan.24 (GMM) Max Verstappen says racing on his driving simulator at home “keeps the calluses on my hands” throughout the winter season. The Red Bull driver and McLaren’s Lando Norris both race for the professional online team called Redline. Their latest competition was a 24 hour Daytona race. “It’s great preparation for the new season,” […]
Hamilton better than Senna, Schumacher – Barrichello
Jan.24 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton may already be “even greater” than F1 legends Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. That is the view of former long-time F1 driver Rubens Barrichello, who idolised his Brazilian countryman Senna and was Schumacher’s teammate at Ferrari. “Hamilton has a talent that is possibly even greater than that of Ayrton and Schumacher,” […]
Indycar driver says no to F1 midfield seat
Jan.23 (GMM) Swedish driver Felix Rosenqvist says he has little interest in launching a Formula 1 career. “Formula 1? No thank you. I want to win races,” he told the Swedish newspaper Expressen. Rosenqvist, 28, had a highly promising junior career in Europe, winning the European F3 title in 2015, back-to-back wins at Macau, and […]
Todt plays down worries about 25 races
Jan.23 (GMM) FIA president Jean Todt has played down concerns about F1’s ever-expanding race calendar. With many in the sport already unhappy about the unprecedentedly-long calendar for 2020, Liberty Media has negotiated a new cap of up to 25 races for the future. Indeed, the F1 commercial rights holder is open about wanting to add […]