Oct.21 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted Mercedes might consider imposing ‘team orders’ yet again this weekend in Austin. The world championship looks certain to fall eventually to Lewis Hamilton, but Mercedes boss Wolff admitted that if it can be wrapped up sooner rather than later, Valtteri Bottas may be asked to move aside. “We discussed […]
Month: October 2018
Alonso not ruling out 2020 return
Oct.21 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is not ruling out a return to formula one in 2020. Many think the Spaniard is tired of F1 and “retiring” from the category. But now it emerges that, contrary to speculation, he doesn’t want to do the full Indycar championship next year. He remains open to a one-off Indy 500 […]
Albon leaves Formula E to join Toro Rosso
Oct.21 (GMM) Toro Rosso looks to have made its decision about Daniil Kvyat’s teammate for 2019. It appears it will be rookie Alexander Albon, a Briton with Thai heritage who raced in Formula 2 but recently signed a long-term Formula E contract with Nissan. Formula Spy reports that Red Bull has managed to negotiate an […]
Kubica not waiting long for Williams decision
Oct.21 (GMM) Robert Kubica has repeated his claim that he will not wait too long for Williams to make its decision about 2019. Claire Williams has admitted the British team is considering the Pole as well as Esteban Ocon or Sergey Sirotkin as candidates to be George Russell’s teammate next year. “We’re taking our time […]
Honda progress ‘scary for Renault’ – Sainz
Oct.20 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says it is “scary for Renault” how much progress Honda has made in recent races. Previously, with Ferrari and Mercedes speeding ahead at the front, Renault at least had the edge over F1’s fourth-best engine supplier, Honda. But Sainz, who is switching from the Renault works team to Renault-powered McLaren in […]
Brazilian to be McLaren reserve in 2019 – report
Oct.20 (GMM) Formula 2 driver Sergio Sette Camara looks set to enter F1 for 2019. The Globo broadcaster reports that the 20-year-old Brazilian is expected to become McLaren’s third driver, replacing Lando Norris. The deal should be announced at the Interlagos race next month, with Sette Camara tipped to drive in some Friday morning sessions. […]
Alonso slams wet tyre rules
Oct.20 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has hit out at F1’s wet tyre rules. So often in modern formula one, drivers are reluctant to practice in wet conditions as in Austin because they do not have enough wet tyres for the weekend. “It would be as easy as bringing 20 or 40 more sets of tyres to […]
No Indycar season for McLaren, Alonso in 2019
Oct.20 (GMM) McLaren has decided against entering a full-time team in the Indycar series for 2019. It coincides with related news that the retiring McLaren driver Fernando Alonso is also saying no to a full-time Indycar campaign next year. “I would like to do it someday, but not next year,” El Mundo Deportivo quotes him […]
Force India planning new EUR 80m factory
Oct.20 (GMM) Force India is planning to build a new factory. That is the claim of Auto Motor und Sport, revealing that new team owner and billionaire Lawrence Stroll is prepared to spend EUR 80 million on the project. A location will be found by the end of October, and the factory will be ready […]
Magnussen vows to keep pushing boundaries
Oct.20 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he is blocking out continuing criticism of his driving style. Many of the Dane’s rivals are on an ever-growing list of those who think some of his on-track attacking and defensive moves are beyond the pale. But Magnussen is not backing down. He told Ekstra Bladet in Austin: “I do […]
Kubica a contender for 2019 seat – Williams
Oct.20 (GMM) Claire Williams has confirmed that Robert Kubica is a contender to complete the British team’s 2019 driver lineup. George Russell has been confirmed for one seat, and deputy boss Williams said last week that Esteban Ocon is in the running for the other. So too is Sergey Sirotkin. “We have a shortlist and […]
Vandoorne arrived late after Formula E test
Oct.20 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne arrived late to the paddock ahead of the US grand prix. The Belgian has been ousted by McLaren, and so he got his new Formula E adventure off to an early start with a test in Valencia last week. “It’s true that I arrived here quite late but I think there […]
Stroll to race out 2018 with Williams
Oct.20 (GMM) Lance Stroll says he is staying at Williams for the final few races of 2019. Earlier, it seemed clear that the Canadian would leave the struggling British team to join his new team-owning father Lawrence Stroll at Force India. “There are a lot of politics behind the scenes,” Lance told Le Journal de […]
Verstappen quiet over female-only series
Oct.20 (GMM) Max Verstappen is keeping his mouth shut about the new female-only open wheeler category. When the ‘W Series’ concept was launched, some said it was a great opportunity for women. But others think it is a sexist idea based on the notion that women are not good enough to compete with men. “Everybody […]
No ‘splits’ at Ferrari – Arrivabene
Oct.20 (GMM) Maurizio Arrivabene has played down rumours that Ferrari is splitting apart. With the Maranello team’s 2018 title hopes in tatters, some believe Arrivabene could leave the team while Sebastian Vettel could be ousted after 2019. “To me this story is a bit funny. As soon as things do not go in the direction […]
Schumacher should not skip F2 – Hulkenberg
Oct.20 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg thinks Mick Schumacher should do a season of Formula 2 next year. Some believe the 19-year-old son of Michael Schumacher should skip Formula 2 and snap up an opportunity in F1 next year after winning the European F3 title. “It depends on the offers he gets,” Max Verstappen said in Austin. […]
Pirelli simplifies tyre colours for 2019
Oct.20 (GMM) Pirelli has simplified its system for colouring and naming the tyres for each grand prix. Currently, there are various compound names and colours brought to each race, which some believe is confusing the fans. So in 2019, despite the continuing existence of different compounds, the three tyres at each race will always be […]
Vettel says Austin penalty ‘wrong’
Oct.20 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has hit out at the penalty that has further dented his small chances of keeping his championship hopes alive. In Austin, where Lewis Hamilton can mathematically clinch the title, Vettel has been penalised 3 grid positions for not slowing down enough for a red flag. “I saw the flag and went […]
Lauda ‘will come back’ to F1 – Hamilton
Oct.20 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has revealed he spoke to Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda earlier this week. F1 legend Lauda has been in intensive care for over two months following a lung transplant. “He called me two days ago. I was shocked to hear from him,” Hamilton told Austria’s O3 radio. “I said ‘You sound […]
Sirotkin not worried about Williams rumours
Oct.19 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin says he is not worrying about suggestions his F1 career could be cut short after November’s Abu Dhabi finale. Speculation in Austin suggests Robert Kubica and Esteban Ocon are vying for the second seat at the British team alongside rookie George Russell in 2019. Russian Sirotkin said: “At every stage of […]