Apr.15 (GMM) Haas says it has serious work to do before the next race in Baku. Having earlier looked ‘best of the rest’ behind the big three teams in 2019, the American team’s race pace has collapsed both in Bahrain and now in China. Team boss Gunther Steiner told Ekstra Bladet newspaper that the problem […]
Month: April 2019
Ferrari should make Leclerc ‘captain’ – press
Apr.15 (GMM) Ferrari failed to put its once-promising 2019 hopes back on track in China. The Italian team looked on track to take on Mercedes this year, but in Australia, Bahrain and now in Shanghai it was the German outfit with 1-2 finishes. Not just that, Ferrari is now embroiled in a team orders scandal […]
I remember how to drive – Ricciardo
Apr.14 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he is being “patient” about getting up to speed in 2019, even if some are wondering if the Australian has lost his mojo. Many raised their eyebrows when Ricciardo decided to quit Red Bull last year, and they are still raised as the 29-year-old struggles to shine alongside new Renault […]
‘Strange’ Haas problem not fixed yet – Magnussen
Apr.14 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says Haas has not solved the problem that affected the American team so badly in Bahrain. The outfit looked to have started 2019 with a car that was ‘best of the rest’, but Haas’ race pace plummeted during the race a fortnight ago in Bahrain. The team brought a new rear […]
Vettel plays down F1 quit claims
Apr.14 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has denied suggestions he could soon quit F1. Heavily criticised for his start to the 2019 season, some believe the German will struggle to have his Ferrari contract renewed beyond its expiry late next year. Not just that, Vettel recently admitted there are aspects of today’s F1 ‘show’ that he doesn’t […]
F1 needs another race in China – Wolff
Apr.14 (GMM) Toto Wolff says F1 should consider adding a second race in China to the F1 calendar. This weekend’s event in Shanghai marks the 1000th grand prix in the history of the modern world championship. Wolff says it is a good country for F1 races. “Formula E has two races in China, so why […]
Gasly needs ‘a bit of time’ – Horner
Apr.14 (GMM) Christian Horner has once again defended Pierre Gasly amid suggestions the Frenchman may lose his Red Bull seat. Struggling to adjust to his new car after being promoted from Toro Rosso, some are saying the Frenchman’s days will be numbered at the senior team. But Red Bull team boss Horner told De Telegraaf […]
Vettel ‘not a magician’ – Verstappen
Apr.13 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he has not been surprised by the early success of Charles Leclerc’s move to Ferrari. The pair were wheel-to-wheel back in their karting days, with Leclerc now joining Verstappen in challenging the likes of top F1 drivers Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. But Verstappen said of Leclerc: “I knew how […]
Kubica ‘exchanged things’ with teammate Russell
Apr.13 (GMM) Robert Kubica is happier at the wheel of his Williams this weekend in China. In Australia and Bahrain, the Pole – having returned to F1 after an eight year injury break – suspected that his chassis was not the same as his teammate George Russell’s. “The balance is completely different here but we […]
Sainz urges Renault to improve reliability
Apr.13 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has backed Renault’s efforts to improve the reliability of its power unit. Renault, supplying engines not just to its own works team but also customer McLaren, has taken a big step forward with its 2019 unit. But works driver Nico Hulkenberg, for instance, had to have not just his combustion engine […]
Hamilton doesn’t care about ‘triple crown’
Apr.13 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton insists he “couldn’t care less” about the so-called triple crown. Fernando Alonso repopularised the triple crown achievement by declaring that he wants to add victory at the Indy 500 and Le Mans to his Monaco GP win. He won Le Mans last year, and next month will try for the second […]
Gasly struggle could benefit Kvyat – Petrov
Apr.13 (GMM) Another former driver thinks Pierre Gasly is at risk of being demoted at Red Bull. After a difficult start for former Toro Rosso driver Gasly in 2019, Jacques Villeneuve said he can imagine the Frenchman being dropped by Red Bull this year. But for now, Dr Helmut Marko is backing Gasly. “In Bahrain, […]
Wolff not denying Racing Point ‘B team’ rumour
Apr.13 (GMM) Toto Wolff has not completely denied wanting to make Racing Point a sort of Haas-like ‘B team’ for Mercedes. It has emerged that Racing Point will stop working in the Toyota wind tunnel in Cologne after signing a wind tunnel deal with Mercedes. Racing Point denies becoming an outright Mercedes satellite. “Our aero […]
Ferrari could ‘change’ driver status – Binotto
Apr.13 (GMM) For the first time, Mattia Binotto says Ferrari could “change” its number 1 driver in 2019. But for now, he is backing the heavily criticised Sebastian Vettel, who in Bahrain struggled to shine alongside newcomer Charles Leclerc. “As I said at the start of the season, if there is a 50-50 situation then […]
Binotto denies not having Ferrari backing
Apr.13 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has slammed as “completely wrong” claims he could become isolated at Ferrari. Binotto took over as team boss for 2019, but former president Luca di Montezemolo told La Repubblica newspaper that bigger bosses John Elkann and Louis Camilleri are inexperienced. “This year, Ferrari will fight until the last for the title, […]
Mercedes tweaks illegal new front wing
Apr.13 (GMM) Mercedes in Shanghai had to tweak a new front wing design after the FIA declared it illegal. Auto Motor und Sport confirmed that the German team had to add a small piece to the endplate because its original shape did not conform to the regulations. Reportedly, Red Bull and Williams made similar tweaks […]
Stewart unsure Hamilton best ever driver
Apr.13 (GMM) F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart is not sure Lewis Hamilton is any more talented than the other top drivers on the grid. The triple world champion says Hamilton was a “lucky boy” to have made the move to Mercedes just before the German giant started to dominate. “Lewis is a very lucky boy […]
Hard to overtake at Zandvoort – Hamilton
Apr.12 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has welcomed F1’s speculated return to Zandvoort for 2020, but notes that the former grand prix circuit is hard to overtake on. With official confirmation still lacking, it is believed race organisers have inked a five-year contract with Liberty Media for a Dutch grand prix starting in 2020. Speaking in Shanghai, […]
Verstappen ‘surprised’ to hear Mercedes switch rumours
Apr.12 (GMM) Max Verstappen has joined his father in slamming suggestions he regularly talks on the phone to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. The rumours, triggered by Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, sparked suggestions the 21-year-old Dutchman might try to exercise a break clause in his contract and switch to Mercedes for 2020. Verstappen’s father Jos […]
Steiner plays down claims about sweet-smelling fuel
Apr.12 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has played down claims the secret of Ferrari’s success in 2019 is a sweet-smelling fuel. Although the Italian team is yet to win a race, rivals including Mercedes and Red Bull-Honda were stunned in Bahrain to see Ferrari so much faster in a straight line. In the days after, Red Bull’s […]