Apr.28 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo calls life in the midfield “very intense”. The Australian left Red Bull at the end of last year to join the works Renault team, but insists he can be “patient” for success. “It is intense and in some ways more difficult because I want to be at the front, but in […]
Month: April 2019
Verstappen can still win 2019 title – Marko
Apr.28 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks Max Verstappen remains on track to win the 2019 title. One would be forgiven for thinking 2019 is now a two-team fight between Mercedes and Ferrari. But Marko said of Red Bull: “Our goal is still the world title. “We are still in it. Max has been sensational and […]
Hamilton feels for Leclerc after ‘painful’ mistake
Apr.28 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he understands why Charles Leclerc was so hard on himself after crashing out of qualifying in Baku. The young Ferrari driver looked on course for pole on the tough Azerbaijan street track until he crashed into the barriers. “I’m stupid. I’m stupid. I’m stupid,” Leclerc said on the radio afterwards. […]
Todt quiet on Ecclestone ‘provocation’
Apr.27 (GMM) Jean Todt says he will not respond to Bernie Ecclestone’s recent comments about Formula E. 88-year-old Ecclestone was ousted by F1’s new owners Liberty Media in 2017. He said recently that the category should be “concerned” about the growing popularity of the all-electric category Formula E. “I do not react to such provocations,” […]
Bratches confirms support for Brazil GP in Rio
Apr.27 (GMM) F1 commercial boss Sean Bratches has written to Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro in support of moving the Brazilian grand prix to Rio. O Globo newspaper reports that Bratches also sent the letter to Rio de Janeiro governor Wilson Witzel and mayor Marcelo Crivella asking for meetings “in person or by telephone”. Apparently, moves […]
Bratches admits Dutch GP ‘deal’ is done
Apr.27 (GMM) Zandvoort appears to have “a deal” in place with Liberty Media for a Dutch GP in 2020. After a March 31 deadline, and subsequent media reports that a deal has been struck, the story about Zandvoort returning to the F1 calendar suddenly went quiet. So Olav Mol, the well-known commentator for Dutch television […]
Manhole incident ‘nothing to do with FIA’ – Salo
Apr.27 (GMM) Williams will seek to be compensated for damage caused to George Russell’s chassis on Friday. The British driver ran over a manhole cover that had been loosened by the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. “It just seems like it’s one thing after another for our team at the moment,” team boss Claire Williams said. […]
Ferrari ‘sure’ Mercedes will be fast in Baku
Apr.27 (GMM) Ferrari has played down claims it is the obvious favourite to win in Baku. After China, the famous team returned to its Maranello base and worked on a new rear wing and aerodynamic package that produces more downforce for Baku. Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc then dominated Friday practice with a car that […]
Boss says Williams ‘not for sale’
Apr.27 (GMM) Claire Williams has denied that the famous F1 team she leads is in negotiations to be sold. We reported this week that Dmitry Mazepin, a Russian billionaire who runs the fertiliser company Uralkali, opened talks recently in Shanghai. Uralkali, having last year tried to buy Force India, denied it. And now Claire Williams, […]
New Honda not 20hp better – Marko
Apr.26 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has played down reports that Honda’s new engine is 20 horse power better than its predecessor. We had quoted the Red Bull official as mentioning the 20hp figure in anticipation of Honda’s ‘Spec 2’ power unit debut this weekend in Baku. “20 horse power more is not correct,” Marko told […]
Perez eyes ‘big step forward’ for Barcelona
Apr.26 (GMM) Racing Point should look more competitive at the forthcoming Spanish grand prix. That is the view of Sergio Perez, who along with new teammate Lance Stroll has had a particularly low-profile start to 2019. The Mexican driver says that is because new team owner Lawrence Stroll only took over Force India late last […]
Williams to use new rear wing in Baku
Apr.26 (GMM) Struggling backmarker Williams has brought a new rear wing to Baku. It is the first obvious upgrade for 2019, but Robert Kubica in Baku said championship points remain “almost impossible”. The performance of the 2019 car is woeful, but the Polish driver also said it is inconsistent. “Sometimes the balance shifts from one […]
Steiner ‘not optimistic’ for Baku
Apr.26 (GMM) Haas boss Gunther Steiner says he is “not so optimistic” for Baku. In the last races, the American team has made it into Q3 with an obviously fast car, only to slump to almost the slowest in the field in the race. “We can clearly see in the data where we are wrong, […]
F2 boss confirms no Ferrari test for Schumacher
Apr.26 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s Formula 2 boss has confirmed reports the young German will not be testing for Ferrari next month. We reported earlier that, after the son of Michael Schumacher drove the Ferrari for the first time in Bahrain, he will not get the same chance in the post-Spanish GP test. Italy’s La Gazzetta […]
Number 1 rivalry brings Ferrari ‘unrest’ – Heidfeld
Apr.26 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he sympathises with Ferrari ‘number 2’ Charles Leclerc. The five time world champion says the situation reminds him of his own F1 debut in 2007, when his teammate was then reigning champion Fernando Alonso. “There are scenarios where multiple world champions demand the number 1 position, and therefore you become […]
Formula E challenges ‘essence of motor sport’ – Hamilton
Apr.25 (GMM) Electric cars threaten the “basic essence of motor sport”. That is the view of five time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, who nonetheless says he enjoys watching Formula E. “The cars are getting cooler every year,” he told Sport Bild. “I watch the races and find it fascinating to see the future of […]
Schumacher set to miss next Ferrari test
Apr.25 (GMM) Mick Schumacher looks set to miss out on another Ferrari test in the days after the Spanish grand prix in May. The high profile Formula 2 and Ferrari academy driver got to drive both the Ferrari and the Alfa Romeo in the post-Bahrain GP test earlier this month. But Italy’s Autosprint reports that […]
Hamilton fighting ‘both’ Vettel and Leclerc
Apr.25 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he is fighting both Ferrari drivers for the 2019 title. After China, a controversy ignited in Italy because meteoric Ferrari newcomer Leclerc was ordered aside for team ‘number 1’ Vettel. F1 legend Gerhard Berger is not sure Ferrari’s policy is right. “I don’t think it’s enough to say ‘one is […]
Senna-Hamilton race ‘would be exciting’ – Massa
Apr.25 (GMM) A wheel to wheel race between Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton would be “exciting”. That is the view of Felipe Massa, who in 2008 almost beat Hamilton to his first title. “It would be exciting to see, no question,” the Brazilian told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper. “But we will never know who would be […]
F1 racing not in ‘female nature’ – Marko
Apr.25 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko doubts women are up to the job of racing in F1. Currently, a full grid of female drivers is preparing to race in the inaugural ‘W Series’. Red Bull’s Marko doubts any of them will make it to F1. “Wheel to wheel fighting at 300kph means you must have some […]