Oct.30 (GMM) Imola wants to stay on the Formula 1 calendar beyond 2020. Alongside other popular replacement venues including Mugello, Portimao and Istanbul, Imola was drafted onto the sport’s ‘corona calendar’ at the eleventh hour. But Andrea Corsini, the tourism chief for the regional Emilia-Romagna jurisdiction, said Imola would like to stay on the calendar […]
Melbourne confirms ‘covid-safe’ 2021 season opener
Oct.30 (GMM) Organisers of the Australian GP have confirmed that Melbourne will kick off the 2021 season. The news follows rumours that with the Victorian capital still on high alert as a city-wide covid lockdown begins to ease, Bahrain could take over as the first Formula 1 race of next year. “We are pleased to […]
Vettel in ‘dangerous’ Ferrari situation – Schumacher
Oct.30 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel may be playing a “dangerous” game as his relationship with Ferrari enters the final stretch. After Portugal, following comments made by the struggling quadruple world champion, team boss Mattia Binotto had to deny that Vettel is being supplied inferior machinery compared to his teammate Charles Leclerc. “I think Binotto is handling […]
Alonso relationship ‘working well’ – Prost
Oct.30 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s new relationship with Renault is already “working well”, according to F1 legend and team advisor Alain Prost. Spaniard Alonso, 39, is returning to the sport and the team as it becomes Alpine for 2021, but he will be trackside this weekend at Imola. Prost says the working relationship with Alonso began […]
Team founder says Alfa Romeo should keep Raikkonen
Oct.30 (GMM) Alfa Romeo’s F1 team founder is urging the Swiss outfit to keep Kimi Raikkonen for 2021. On Thursday, the Hinwil based team announced that Sauber Motorsport has extended its naming rights deal with the Ferrari-linked carmaker Alfa Romeo “until at least the end of the current era of Formula 1 regulations”. The next […]
Haas hints at Ferrari engine overheating
Oct.30 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has hinted that a major problem with Ferrari’s struggling 2020 engine relates to overheating. Departing Haas driver Romain Grosjean told L’Equipe recently that the Maranello-made power unit “is not great”. He said after Portimao: “Since the start of the weekend we have had problems with the suspension. The car keeps changing […]
Williams driver decision is ‘commercial’ – Wolff
Oct.30 (GMM) George Russell’s future is only in doubt because of “political and commercial” considerations at Williams. That is the claim of Toto Wolff, who oversees Russell’s career as part of the Mercedes driver program. Recently, reports indicated that despite his impressive performance at Williams in 2019 and 2020, the British team’s new owners could […]
Hamilton, Wolff futures to be decided this year
Oct.30 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has reassured his fans that he will remain in Formula 1 next year – even though he is yet sign a contract. The reasons for the delay are not clear, with theories ranging from Hamilton’s demands for a pay increase to complex questions about the future of the Mercedes team and […]
Marko denies trying to ‘blackmail’ Todt over engines
Oct.30 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has denied Jean Todt’s charge that he is trying to “blackmail” the FIA president over his demands regarding Red Bull’s engine decision for 2022. Red Bull has threatened to quit Formula 1 if it cannot take over the departing Honda’s engine program, insisting it will require a 2022 development ‘freeze’. […]
Hamilton’s political power surprises Ecclestone
Oct.29 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is surprised about the success of Lewis Hamilton’s political influence at Mercedes. Earlier in 2020, the former F1 supremo was criticised by Hamilton, who said comments made by the 90-year-old about racism were “uneducated and ignorant”. “Don’t think about what your skin colour is – think about what colour your mind […]
Ecclestone tells Red Bull to sign Hulkenberg
Oct.29 (GMM) Half of Red Bull’s Formula 1 driver lineups for 2020 remain uncertain. Max Verstappen is certainly leading the top team, while the energy drink company announced on Wednesday that Pierre Gasly is definitely staying at Alpha Tauri next year. The identity of Gasly’s teammate is not clear, however. Daniil Kvyat looks likely to […]
Hamilton plays poker ‘with four aces’ – Ecclestone
Oct.29 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says it is “tragic” that those who laid the foundations of Mercedes’ utter dominance of Formula 1 are not getting the credit. As Lewis Hamilton cruises to his sixth world championship in silver this year, having broken Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 91 wins last time out, Ecclestone said the British […]
Ecclestone told Aston Martin to sign Vettel
Oct.29 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that he helped Sebastian Vettel to secure a seat at Aston Martin for 2021. The pair have long been friends and backgammon partners, with former F1 supremo Ecclestone revealing on his 90th birthday on Wednesday that he still speaks with quadruple world champion Vettel. “Yes, we talk on the […]
Red Bull sets deadline for engine decision
Oct.29 (GMM) Red Bull has set a deadline for clarity about its engine plans for 2022. ‘Plan A’ is clearly to take over the IP of departing engine partner Honda’s technology and operations, but Dr Helmut Marko is demanding that a corresponding ‘freeze’ be put on engine development up and down pitlane. “It’s postponed,” he […]
Ferrari not aiming for 2021 title – Binotto
Oct.29 (GMM) Ferrari’s goal for 2021 is a return to podium positions, according to team boss Mattia Binotto. The Maranello team has struggled in 2020, but consecutive car upgrades over the last three races culminated in P4 for Charles Leclerc in Portimao. Binotto said: “We have to check if that was because of the car […]
Teams agree to $30m driver salary cap
Oct.29 (GMM) Formula 1 looks set to impose a salary cap for Formula 1 drivers. The Daily Mail and other sources report that teams will only be allowed to spend $30 million on drivers from 2023. The teams reportedly voted unanimously for the measure in Monday’s key meeting in Portimao, during which the reverse grid […]
Authorities ban spectators from Imola
Oct.29 (GMM) At the eleventh hour, local authorities have banned spectators from this weekend’s race at Imola. We reported on Monday that despite the promoters being earlier granted permission for 13,000 spectators, rising covid infections meant that was now in doubt. Indeed, Formula Imola announced on Wednesday that “negotiations on the interpretation of the prime […]
Toto Wolff defends F1’s ‘pay drivers’
Oct.28 (GMM) Toto Wolff has defended some of F1’s so-called ‘pay drivers’, insisting their disparaging image is unfair. “Just name one driver who doesn’t deserve to be here this season,” the Mercedes team boss told motorsport-magazin.com. It is no surprise that Wolff, a minor Aston Martin shareholder, is defending Lance Stroll, the son of Racing […]
Abiteboul denies Ocon-Gasly rumours
Oct.28 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has denied rumours suggesting Renault might oust Esteban Ocon. Rumours in Portimao had claimed the works team is so disappointed with Ocon’s performance on his return to Formula 1 this year that Renault is now eyeing fellow Frenchman and Monza winner Pierre Gasly for 2021. Team boss Abiteboul denies it. “Next […]
Ferrari not ready to discuss Red Bull engine ‘freeze’
Oct.28 (GMM) Red Bull’s plans to run its own engine program from 2022 have hit a snag. In a key meeting in Portimao early this week, the sport’s stakeholders discussed Red Bull’s request that engine performance be frozen from 2022 so that the energy drink company is able to run the Honda engines for itself. […]