Jan.21 (GMM) Honda is no longer “far away” from its more powerful engine rivals in F1. That is the view of Franz Tost, the Toro Rosso team boss. The Red Bull-owned team used works Honda power in 2018, after the three failed years of the McLaren-Honda collaboration. And now, Red Bull’s senior team will also […]
Month: January 2019
Cars to take ‘huge’ performance hit in 2019 – Green
Jan.18 (GMM) F1 car performance has taken a “huge” hit with the advent of the new technical regulations for 2019, according to a current technical director. In a bid to improve overtaking, the FIA has mandated a raft of changes for this year, most notably to the front wing. Force India technical boss Andy Green […]
Vettel must ‘regain his head’ in 2019 – Tavoni
Jan.18 (GMM) A great name from Ferrari’s past, Romolo Tavoni, is expecting that Mattia Binotto will get assistance as he becomes team boss in 2019. As it stands following the ousting of Maurizio Arrivabene, Binotto has been tasked with replacing him as team boss and continuing to be technical director. 93-year-old Tavoni, a Ferrari team […]
Sponsor to decide on Sirotkin’s F1 return – Aleshin
Jan.18 (GMM) A return to formula one is a possibility for Sergey Sirotkin. That is the view of Mikhail Aleshin, a senior driver for the Russian bank SMP’s motor sport programme. Fellow Russian Sirotkin made his F1 debut for Williams in 2018, but one year later he has lost his seat. But when asked by […]
Albon wants to be on the pace ‘immediately’
Jan.18 (GMM) 2019 rookie Alexander Albon says his goal is to be “immediately” on the pace this season. The 22-year-old Thai driver, who was actually born in London, is Red Bull’s surprise pick to race for Toro Rosso this year in the place of Brendon Hartley. So late was the call-up that Red Bull had […]
Wolff expects close battle in 2019
Jan.18 (GMM) Toto Wolff is expecting a close battle at the front in 2019. Last year, Mercedes was being strongly challenged by Ferrari until the Italian team suffered a mid-season slump. But Wolff thinks Ferrari will be strong again in 2019. “Ferrari has ramped up its game over the last years tremendously and I think […]
‘Leaked’ McLaren 2019 photo was a fake
Jan.18 (GMM) McLaren has denied that a teaser image of its 2019 car revealed a major new sponsorship. Late last season, the struggling British team announced a minor on-car deal with Coca-Cola. “I think they are a great entry into the sport,” team boss Zak Brown said at the time. “They will help bring a […]
New rules to make ‘small difference’ for overtaking
Jan.17 (GMM) The 2019 rule changes will make a “small difference” when it comes to overtaking. That is the view of Renault technical boss Nick Chester. This week, his colleague at Force India said the tweaks to the front wing and other parts of the car will add multiple seconds to the laptime and badly […]
Ferrari admits ‘interest’ in Mick Schumacher
Jan.17 (GMM) Ferrari has confirmed its interest in Mick Schumacher. This week, multiple authoritative sources have claimed that the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher is about to sign up with the Ferrari young driver ‘academy’. The deal is slated to include F1 outings in the post-race young driver tests after the Bahrain and Spanish […]
Vettel ‘different’ in 2018 – Rivola
Jan.17 (GMM) F1 witnessed a “different” Sebastian Vettel in 2018. That is the view of Massimo Rivola, a former top Ferrari engineer who also worked with the German driver in his Toro Rosso days. Vettel looked the favourite to win the world championship last year until a mid-season slump. “I don’t know what happened,” Rivola […]
Lauda leaves hospital after influenza
Jan.17 (GMM) Niki Lauda has left hospital following his latest health setback. After a long period of hospitalisation and rehabilitation, the F1 legend was holidaying in Ibiza over the New Year period when he contracted influenza A. He returned to Vienna where he was treated in intensive care, but just over two weeks later – […]
Elkann denies turmoil still afoot at Ferrari
Jan.16 (GMM) Fiat Chrysler chairman John Elkann has hit back at rumours that turmoil is still afoot at Ferrari. Following the death of Sergio Marchionne in 2018, Elkann stepped up to be his replacement and Louis Camilleri installed as the new Ferrari president. Now, Maurizio Arrivabene has been ousted as Ferrari team boss, replaced by […]
Bottas targets ‘best season of my career’
Jan.16 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says his goal is to drive the season of his career. Although driving for F1’s fastest team, the Finn is under pressure. He struggled alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2018 and now Esteban Ocon is threatening to take his place for 2020. “The holidays are basically over now,” Bottas is quoted by […]
Norris not worried about becoming next Vandoorne
Jan.16 (GMM) McLaren has been working hard to make changes and improve, according to new driver Lando Norris. The once-great British team had yet another poor season in 2018, and has lost Fernando Alonso to retirement. Replacing him is Carlos Sainz alongside Lando Norris, the Formula 2 runner-up. Norris told Auto Motor und Sport that […]
Mercedes ‘blocked’ next Ocon move – Villeneuve
Jan.16 (GMM) His links to Mercedes are both a blessing and a curse for Esteban Ocon. That is the claim of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, referring to Frenchman Ocon whose F1 race career has been halted. Ocon has been replaced at Force India by Lance Stroll, the son of the team’s new billionaire owner. […]
More Ferrari changes ‘in coming months’
Jan.16 (GMM) More changes at Ferrari could be looming in “the coming months”. That is the claim of John Elkann, who took over at the Maranello marque in the wake of Sergio Marchionne’s shock death last year. His first major act was to oust team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, reportedly in order to ensure that his […]
McLaren to race ‘very different car’ in 2019
Jan.15 (GMM) McLaren will head into the 2019 season with a “very different car”. That is the claim of team boss Zak Brown, who indicated that the once-great British team’s recent struggles may now be coming to an end. “It will be a very different car compared to 2018,” he is quoted by Italy’s Autosprint. […]
Haas to continue Ferrari collaboration – Steiner
Jan.15 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says Haas will continue to benefit from its close collaboration with Ferrari. Last year, the small American team finished fifth overall, amid complaints that it effectively uses a Ferrari ‘clone’ single seater. But boss Steiner says the team has proved it does nothing wrong. “We’ve invited everyone to come and take […]
Arrivabene exit no surprise – Audetto
Jan.15 (GMM) A former Ferrari team manager says he is not surprised the Maranello team ousted Maurizio Arrivabene. “If you don’t win, after four years it’s difficult to remain in a leading position,” said Daniele Audetto, an experienced former F1 manager who was most recently involved with Super Aguri and HRT. “At a team like […]
Schumacher tipped to sign Ferrari deal
Jan.15 (GMM) Mick Schumacher could be about to sign up with Ferrari’s driver development ‘academy’. International publications including La Repubblica, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Autosprint and RTL claim the son of F1’s most successful driver could sign the deal in the coming days. Schumacher, 19, won the European F3 title this year and is tipped […]