Jul.23 (GMM) Robert Kubica has denied reports he could be set to drive for Haas in 2019. Currently the Williams reserve, former BMW and Renault driver Kubica has also been linked with Force India for next year. “I do not read gossip,” the Pole told Eleven Sports at Hockenheim. “I have always preferred to do […]
Month: July 2018
Marchionne condition ‘irreversible’ – reports
Jul.23 (GMM) Sergio Marchionne is in a coma in intensive care, according to reports from Italy. Ansa news agency reports that, after the Italian-Canadian had to step down from Ferrari and Fiat amid a health crisis, Marchionne is now in what is described as an “irreversible” condition. Fiat Chrysler, the Ferrari parent, did not confirm […]
Last champ Villeneuve says Williams ‘dead’
Jul.23 (GMM) Poor management and unsuited drivers are at the core of Williams’ problems. That is the claim of Jacques Villeneuve, who in 1997 became the once-great British team’s last world champion. But now, Williams is struggling with F1’s slowest car. “The team is dead. There is no management,” Villeneuve told Russia’s Sport-Express. “They had […]
Wolff not accusing Ferrari of ‘illegal’ engine
Jul.23 (GMM) Toto Wolff has played down reports Ferrari’s 2018 power unit could be ‘illegal’. “We do not ask ourselves that,” said the Mercedes boss. At Hockenheim, with Ferrari clearly now leading in the horse power stakes, rumours swirled that a supposed trick with Ferrari’s turbocharger had some rivals suspicious. “It’s not our attitude,” Wolff […]
Wolff denies ‘team orders’ now in play
Jul.23 (GMM) Toto Wolff has denied that team orders will characterise the rest of Mercedes’ 2018 season. At Hockenheim, as Lewis Hamilton executed a stunning recovery to win from far down the grid, teammate Valtteri Bottas was asked during the race to hold station behind him. Asked if Bottas will be the number 2 for […]
Giovinazzi shapes up for Sauber seat
Jul.22 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi has emerged as the big favourite to drive for Sauber in 2019. The rumour stepped up a notch at Hockenheim, where he drove for the Swiss team in Friday practice. The Italian is a member of Ferrari’s driver academy. This year, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is at Sauber, but he is linked […]
F1 shocked as Ferrari president departs
Jul.22 (GMM) The F1 paddock at Hockenheim is shocked that Ferrari’s president Sergio Marchionne has suddenly departed the team and formula one. Sources and Fiat Chrysler said the Italian-Canadian was recovering from shoulder surgery when his condition “worsened significantly”. His current condition is unknown, but he is suddenly no longer the boss at both Ferrari […]
Alonso will leave F1 before 2021
Jul.22 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he will not be in formula one in 2021. At Hockenheim, the paddock is abuzz with news about the sport’s post-Concorde Agreement era, including the switch to low profile 18-inch tyres. “I don’t know and I don’t really care,” McLaren driver Alonso said. “I will not be here in 2021.” […]
McLaren admits interest in Sainz
Jul.22 (GMM) McLaren has admitted it considers Carlos Sainz as a potential team driver for 2019. Fernando Alonso’s current teammate, Stoffel Vandoorne, has been the slowest driver all weekend at Hockenheim. Alonso defended the Belgian. “I don’t think it should damage his reputation,” said the Spaniard. “It was the same at Silverstone — there is […]
Williams could be Mercedes ‘B team’
Jul.22 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted that Williams might be getting lined up as a Mercedes ‘B team’. Although the Grove team is resisting the move, Williams has the slowest car on the 2018 grid and could now lose main financer Lawrence Stroll to Force India. At the same time, thanks to its ties with […]
Ocon could switch to Renault in 2019
Jul.22 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has emerged as a serious contender to switch to Renault in 2019. It is believed he is the main candidate should Red Bull rescind its ‘loan’ to the French team of Carlos Sainz. Frenchman Ocon, who currently drives for Force India, is himself under contract to the Mercedes development programme. “I […]
Russia in F1 ‘grid girls’ talks
Jul.22 (GMM) Organisers of the Russian grand prix are considering ignoring F1’s ‘grid girls’ ban. The Sochi round takes place in September. Already this year, Monaco and Austria sidestepped Liberty Media’s controversial ‘grid girls’ ban by using attractive women for other roles. “We want them (grid girls) to be in,” Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry […]
Eyebrows raise as Ferrari engine races ahead
Jul.22 (GMM) Mercedes has admitted it is falling clearly behind Ferrari in engine power. Lewis Hamilton’s main problem in Hockenheim qualifying was a hydraulic failure, but arguably a bigger issue is that Ferrari has made huge strides with its power unit. “That’s correct. We are behind Ferrari in that area now,” said team boss Toto […]
Bottas ‘satisfied’ with one year contract
Jul.21 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is determined to stay at Mercedes for more than just another season. Although the Finn consistently declared that he wants a two-year contract extension, team boss Toto Wolff confirmed that Bottas’ new deal is actually just for 2019. “The contract with Valtteri is in the one-plus-one style,” he said, […]
No Hungary F1 test for Haas
Jul.21 (GMM) Haas will not participate in the F1 tests immediately after the Hungarian grand prix. Speed Week reports that the small American team has made the decision on cost grounds. “We will use the time after the grand prix differently,” said boss Gunther Steiner. “Rather than testing, we prefer to evaluate the data we […]
Hamilton objects to Rosberg interview – report
Jul.21 (GMM) Nico Rosberg will not conduct the post-race interviews this weekend at Hockenheim. In the recent Liberty Media era, a pundit such as a former driver is normally selected to talk to the F1 stars immediately after qualifying and the races. Bild newspaper reports that Rosberg, the 2016 world champion, was slated to do […]
Leclerc ready to jump at Ferrari seat
Jul.21 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says he will not turn down the opportunity to drive for Ferrari in 2019. Some believe the Monaco-born rookie, 20, is not ready to replace Kimi Raikkonen at the famous Maranello team. But Leclerc said: “So far they haven’t told me anything. “But ever since I was little I dreamed of […]
Vandoorne sure F1 career safe
Jul.21 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he is confident his F1 future is safe. The Belgian has struggled alongside Fernando Alonso at McLaren for the past two years, and now Lando Norris is strongly linked with his seat. “I am confident I will be in formula one next year,” Vandoorne told Het Laatste Nieuws. When asked […]
Sauber not denying Raikkonen rumour
Jul.21 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur is not denying speculation Kimi Raikkonen could switch to Sauber for 2019. The Swiss team’s boss was also asked by a reporter about a rumour linking Sergio Perez to Sauber. “It’s very nice that the team attracts strong drivers,” said Vasseur. “This allows us to choose rather than wait for the […]
18 inch tyres for F1 in 2021
Jul.21 (GMM) F1 will switch to 18-inch tyres in 2021. The news comes after the FIA released the 2020-2023 tyre manufacturer tender process. In 2020, the tyres will remain as they are now, and then switch to the all-new low profile in 2021. “I think the biggest challenge will be for the tyre manufacturer. If […]