Sep.20 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he has no regrets even though his F1 career looks set to stall. Many in the paddock are joining the Frenchman in his disappointment that, despite his talent, he looks set to lose his place at Force India to the son of new team owner Lawrence Stroll. “I am disappointed […]
Month: September 2018
Hamilton focused on building ‘brand’
Sep.20 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he is focused on building himself up as a “brand”. The quadruple world champion, who looks to be heading for a fifth title in 2018, is also interested in the worlds of fashion, music, celebrity and pop culture. “I’m a brand and formula one is part of that brand,” the […]
Sainz hoping for better McLaren in 2019
Sep.20 (GMM) Carlos Sainz is hoping McLaren can make him a much better car for 2019. The Spaniard is switching from Renault to the once-great British team on a two-year contract starting next year. McLaren has struggled in recent years but Sainz says he is optimistic. “I have to be optimistic because it’s my nature, […]
Rosberg would forbid daughters from racing
Sep.20 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says he would forbid his daughters from becoming racing drivers. The now 33-year-old quit formula one altogether immediately after winning the 2016 world championship. Asked about his young daughters Naila and Alaia and the prospect of them wanting careers in motor racing, German Rosberg said that would be his “biggest nightmare”. […]
Toro Rosso to wait for Ticktum super license
Sep.20 (GMM) Red Bull looks set to wait to finalise the 2019 driver lineup for Toro Rosso. Earlier, we suggested the energy drink company could be set to announce Daniil Kvyat and Pascal Wehrlein as its all-new drivers for Toro Rosso next year. But Dr Helmut Marko says the plan is only to announce one […]
Honda poised to pass Renault for power
Sep.19 (GMM) Honda could be poised to overtake Renault and cease having the least powerful engine in F1. Auto Motor und Sport (Germany) and Marca (Spain) report that in Russia, the Japanese carmaker will introduce the third version of its 2018 power unit. The publications say that Honda’s Spec 3 engine will be 35 hp […]
Ferrari not ready to sign for 2021 – Camilleri
Sep.19 (GMM) Ferrari is still a long way from agreeing to stay in formula one beyond 2020. That is the view of Ferrari’s current CEO Louis Camilleri. The 63-year-old took over recently following the death of Sergio Marchionne, who had warned that as Liberty Media looked to make technical, financial and governance changes for 2021, […]
Lauda still old self after Wolff hospital visit
Sep.19 (GMM) According to Toto Wolff, F1 legend Niki Lauda is still his old self as he recovers from life-saving lung transplant surgery in Vienna. Lauda, the triple world champion and Mercedes team chairman, is not likely to be seen in the paddock for the rest of 2018, but his friend and colleague Toto Wolff […]
Vettel not giving up on 2018 title
Sep.19 (GMM) According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the highly influential Italian sports daily, Sebastian Vettel said “Ciao Mondiali” to his hopes in Singapore. It means goodbye to the world championship, but neither the German driver, his Ferrari boss, or his former chief at Red Bull agree that it’s quite over yet. Vettel fell a […]
Williams not only option for future – Kubica
Sep.19 (GMM) Robert Kubica says he is not fixated on Williams as his only option for returning full-time to the F1 grid. Currently the British team’s reserve driver, the Pole has been named by Williams as the most likely replacement if Lance Stroll switches to Force India this year. But Kubica says he is more […]
FIA clears legality of camera-blocking ‘fan’
Sep.18 (GMM) F1’s governing body has cleared Ferrari to keep using a controversial airbox fan. In the Singapore pits, the Italian team was fitting a new bespoke ‘cooling’ device to its airbox, having been told by the FIA to stop the practice of crudely covering the on-board camera with a bag of ice. It is […]
Wehrlein on pole for Toro Rosso seat
Sep.18 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has emerged as a top candidate to return to F1 next year. Just days ago, Mercedes admitted that after the German driver’s Manor and Sauber career ended, it has been unable to secure him another seat in F1 and is therefore ending the contract. “I am looking for new challenges and […]
Zanardi thinks Vettel’s title charge over
Sep.18 (GMM) Alex Zanardi has joined the Italian media in declaring Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari’s 2018 championship hopes essentially over. The former F1 and Indycar driver said that despite the Maranello team having the best car, “everything changed” for Ferrari and Vettel in Singapore. “It was only one race, but it reflected the state of […]
Ocon expects to keep seat for rest of season
Sep.17 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he should keep his Force India cockpit for the rest of the 2018 season. Earlier, there was speculation Lance Stroll could replace the Frenchman during the season, and perhaps as quickly as the recent Italian or Singapore grands prix. But Ocon actually looks set to stay. “As far as I […]
Vandoorne admits to looking outside F1
Sep.17 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne has admitted he may continue his motor racing career outside of formula one. After a highly promising junior career, the Belgian has lost his full-time McLaren seat after two seasons and is unlikely to find another cockpit elsewhere. “Staying in F1 is still possible but the chances are very, very, very […]
Vettel feeling pressure of 2018 battle – Newey
Sep.17 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel often struggles with pressure. That is the view of Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s famous technical boss who penned the cars that German Vettel drove to his four titles some years ago. Now at Ferrari, Vettel is struggling in his championship battle against Lewis Hamilton, with the deficit blowing out to a […]
Ricciardo is worth top dollar – Prost
Sep.17 (GMM) Paying the big bucks for Daniel Ricciardo is an expense that Renault can fully justify. That is the view of Alain Prost, an F1 legend who is now an ever-present special advisor for the French carmaker’s works team. He told the Guardian newspaper he is “very happy” with his current role. “Every time […]
George Russell on pole for Williams seat
Sep.16 (GMM) George Russell has leapt into pole position to race for Williams in 2019. Like Esteban Ocon, the 20-year-old Formula 2 championship leader is a leading member of Mercedes’ driver development stable. Brazil’s Globo reports that the “only missing detail” in Russell’s promotion to formula one is a signature on the page of a […]
Recovering Lauda ‘a lot better’ now – brother
Sep.16 (GMM) Niki Lauda’s brother says the F1 legend is “a lot better” as he recovers from a lung transplant. The F1 paddock has worried about the condition of the Mercedes team chairman, amid reports he will miss the rest of the season in intensive care. “Thank God, he’s a lot better now,” Florian Lauda, […]
F1 should reduce calendar to 16 races – Wolff
Sep.16 (GMM) Toto Wolff says F1 should consider slashing the number of races on the annual calendar. Recently, FIA president Jean Todt said he backed Liberty Media’s apparent intention to blow the number of races out from 21 currently to as many as 23 in the near future. But Mercedes boss Wolff said F1 should […]