Oct.2 (GMM) Mick Schumacher should not be rushed into formula one. That is the view of Ross Brawn, who worked closely with the young German’s famous father Michael during the ultra-successful Ferrari era. Now, Brawn is the sporting boss of F1, and he thinks Schumacher needs more time even though he is currently dominating European […]
Month: October 2018
Advisor Prost worried Renault ‘regressing’
Oct.2 (GMM) Alain Prost says Renault is struggling because its focus is now firmly on 2019. The French team is worried about being passed by Haas for fourth place, despite signing Daniel Ricciardo for 2019 and targeting wins for the year after. “It’s very difficult at the moment because we are not going to bring […]
Massa supports Mercedes team orders
Oct.2 (GMM) A famous victim of team orders, Felipe Massa has nonetheless backed Mercedes’ decision to rob Valtteri Bottas of victory in Russia. At Hockenheim in 2010, Ferrari famously told Massa to move aside for his teammate by declaring on the radio: “Fernando (Alonso) is faster than you.” But Massa told Corriere della Sera that […]
Former Ferrari drivers hail 2019 lineup
Oct.2 (GMM) Charles Leclerc will give Sebastian Vettel a run for his money at Ferrari next year. That is the view of two experienced former Ferrari drivers. Gerhard Berger told Tagesspiegel newspaper that the Maranello team’s 2019 lineup is “very interesting”. “Leclerc is an excellent driver. However, I think in the first year it will […]
Whiting likes new qualifying format
Oct.2 (GMM) F1 is edging closer to installing a new qualifying format for 2019. Recently, we reported that a ‘Q4’ segment could be added to the format in a bid to spice up the action, with shorter segment durations meaning drivers have less laps to perfect their time. Q4 would then end with a ten […]
Ferrari ‘too Italian’ for title – Ecclestone
Oct.2 (GMM) Ferrari could be set to lose its team boss. After Sochi, the Italian media largely agreed that the Maranello team’s bid for the 2018 title is now definitely over. “How Ferrari loses a world championship in three months,” wrote La Repubblica. “One own goal after the next.” However, the Italian press also criticised […]
Hankook buys Williams car for F1 tyre testing
Oct.2 (GMM) Hankook appears determined to become F1’s next tyre supplier. The South Korean company has joined Pirelli in responding to the FIA’s tender for the role of official tyre supplier starting in 2020. Auto Motor und Sport reports that experienced F1 engineer Hirohide Hamashima, formerly of Bridgestone, has been retained as a consultant. The […]
Vandoorne ‘not fast enough for Toro Rosso’ – Marko
Oct.1 (GMM) Toro Rosso has ruled Stoffel Vandoorne out of the running for a 2019 seat. Belgian Vandoorne admits his hopes of keeping his F1 dream alive following his McLaren axe are close to “zero”. Red Bull has now ruled him out of the running for the second seat at Toro Rosso. “We will not […]
Uncertain Williams future for Sirotkin, Kubica
Oct.1 (GMM) Williams’ driver lineup for next year is not set in stone. The struggling British team is set to lose Lance Stroll to Force India, but it was believed Williams would need to at least retain Sergey Sirotkin and his backing by the Russian bank SMP. But SMP boss Boris Rotenberg told Tass news […]
Hamilton questions Ferrari’s Raikkonen axe
Oct.1 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has questioned Ferrari’s decision to axe Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn and 2007 world champion is keeping his F1 career alive at Sauber for the next two years, but Hamilton thinks Ferrari is making a mistake in letting him go. In an interview with the Swiss newspaper Blick, Hamilton was asked if […]
Fellow boss backs Wolff over team order
Oct.1 (GMM) Otmar Szafnauer has backed fellow team boss Toto Wolff amid the team orders controversy of Sochi. Pole sitter Valtteri Bottas was upset after the Russian grand prix, as Mercedes handed victory instead to championship leader Lewis Hamilton. Wolff defended the decision to swap the places. “It’s better to be a villain today than […]