Apr.12 (GMM) Three struggling teams are determined to bounce back this weekend in Shanghai. Haas went into Bahrain two weeks ago looking inferior only to the top three teams, but the American outfit’s pace collapsed in the race. “There were many reasons, but we highlighted three,” said Kevin Magnussen. However, the Dane expects Red Bull […]
Month: April 2019
Leclerc not denying he wants to be number 1
Apr.12 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has refused to deny he thinks Ferrari should switch the order of the team’s number 1 and number 2 drivers. Prior to the season, boss Mattia Binotto said that despite Leclerc’s obvious promise, it is Sebastian Vettel who will get Ferrari’s full support for the title. But Vettel is now under […]
Weber slams Ecclestone over Schumacher comments
Apr.11 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s former manager has slammed Bernie Ecclestone for comments about the F1 legend. In an interview with Sport Bild, former F1 supremo Ecclestone said of Schumacher: “His problem was that he had no limits.” The 88-year-old was referring to incidents like Jerez 1997, when Schumacher turned in on his championship rival Jacques […]
Forghieri says F1 should ‘get rid of DRS’
Apr.11 (GMM) Legendary Ferrari designer Mauro Forghieri says F1 should “get rid of DRS”. Best known for his scarlet F1 cars of the 60s and 70s, the now 84-year-old is using the occasion of this weekend’s 1000th grand prix to consider where the sport should be heading. “I think the move to hybrids is correct,” […]
Sweet-smelling Ferrari ‘not illegal’ – Marko
Apr.11 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has dismissed claims that Ferrari’s 2019 car is illegal. However, the Italian team stunned rivals Mercedes and Red Bull in Bahrain with a power unit that was superior to the tune of a huge five tenths per lap on the straights alone. In the days since, Red Bull team boss […]
Ferrari should have kept Raikkonen – Ecclestone
Apr.11 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone still thinks Ferrari should have kept Kimi Raikkonen in 2019. A friend of Sebastian Vettel’s, former F1 supremo Ecclestone thinks Finn Raikkonen was a better number 2 driver than Charles Leclerc is. “I thought Ferrari made a mistake by releasing Kimi,” he told France’s Auto Hebdo. “He was a good teammate […]
Hamilton causes Vettel ‘mental block’ – Ecclestone
Apr.11 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says that despite Sebastian Vettel’s four titles, the German remains “underestimated”. Many are predicting that the arrival at Ferrari of Charles Leclerc is basically the end of the Vettel era. But former F1 supremo Ecclestone, who remains friends with the 31-year-old, told Sport Bild: “Formula one needs a Sebastian who wins. […]
Ecclestone concerned about Formula E success
Apr.11 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is concerned about the success of Formula E. The former F1 supremo, ousted by Liberty Media in 2017, says he can imagine the city-focused, all-electric series resonating with people. Asked by France’s Auto Hebdo to say what he wishes for F1 in the future, 88-year-old Ecclestone said: “To be better. “I […]
Williams situation ‘terrible’ – Ecclestone
Apr.11 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has described Williams’ current situation as “terrible”. And the former F1 supremo, who was at the sport’s helm for the entire duration of Williams’ 9 constructors’ and 7 drivers’ championships, is concerned the British team will struggle to recover. “Williams is in a terrible situation,” he told France’s Auto Hebdo. “Just […]
Ecclestone not in China for 1000th race
Apr.11 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone will not be in China this weekend for F1’s 1000th race. Liberty Media, the sport’s new owner that ousted long-time chief executive Ecclestone in early 2017, is making a lot of noise about the historic milestone. Ecclestone, 88, said someone told him recently that he has attended “more than 800” of […]
Hamilton says Netflix series ‘good’ for F1
Apr.11 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says the recent Netflix series about F1 was a “good thing”, even though he did not take part. No Ferrari or Mercedes driver, or the top two teams as a whole, took part in the popular series called Drive to Survive. World champion Hamilton says the producers actually wanted him to […]
Alonso not sure McLaren can win Indy 500
Apr.10 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is not sure he will be able to win next month’s Indy 500. The Spaniard, who quit F1 altogether at the end of last year, almost won the fabled event in 2017 as he pushes for the ‘triple crown’. He tested his car, operated by McLaren and painted in the orange […]
Red Bull building team around Verstappen – Villeneuve
Apr.10 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has applauded the way Max Verstappen and his father took control of the Red Bull team. But the always outspoken 1997 world champion also said that fact will make Pierre Gasly, Dutchman Verstappen’s new teammate in 2019, struggle to get up to speed. “Red Bull is built around Verstappen, so Gasly […]
Monza boss says Liberty negotiations ‘difficult’
Apr.10 (GMM) Italian grand prix boss Angelo Sticchi Damiani says he is locked in “complicated and difficult” negotiations with Liberty Media over the future of Monza’s F1 race. With the race in doubt beyond 2019 for financial reasons, we reported this week that the Lega political party introduced a bill to parliament pledging EUR 10 […]
Red Bull could axe Gasly in 2019 – Villeneuve
Apr.9 (GMM) Pierre Gasly could lose his seat at Red Bull within the 2019 season. That is the warning of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, following a difficult start to Frenchman Gasly’s first year with the senior team. Gasly impressed during his first full F1 season with Toro Rosso last year, and received the […]
Silverstone set for new F1 contract – sources
Apr.9 (GMM) Reports that Silverstone is set to secure its place on the F1 calendar are gaining more steam. Last week, we reported that after race organisers terminated the contract for financial reasons, Liberty Media was now ready to ink a new deal within the month of May. The Financial Times, citing “multiple people familiar […]
Schumacher tipped for Friday morning F1 seat
Apr.9 (GMM) Mick Schumacher’s F1 aspirations are racing ahead. Last week, the 20-year-old son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher made his test debut at the wheel of the Ferrari and Alfa Romeo cars. And now, Kolner Express newspaper claims the Formula 2 driver will drive a Ferrari-powered F1 car in the Friday morning practice session […]
Father denies Verstappen talks to Mercedes’ Wolff
Apr.9 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father has slammed suggestions Mercedes boss Toto Wolff calls the Red Bull driver “repeatedly”. Earlier, Red Bull driver manager Dr Helmut Marko told Auto Bild that the calls have been going on for “months”. It is also rumoured that Verstappen’s Red Bull contract contains a team performance clause that could allow […]
Five-year Dutch GP race deal reports ‘premature’
Apr.9 (GMM) Dutch GP spokesman Jan Lammers has dismissed as “premature” reports that Zandvoort will definitely be on the 2020 calendar. On the day before a Liberty Media-dictated March 31 deadline, we reported that the race had finally received the green light. The same news is now being reported by authoritative Dutch publications and sources, […]
Miami GP vote delayed amid corruption rumour
Apr.9 (GMM) Plans for a grand prix in Miami remain dead in the water. Liberty Media had wanted to put a second US grand prix on the calendar for 2019, but despite delays F1 CEO Chase Carey insisted negotiations were still “going on” regarding 2020. However, F1 business journalist Christian Sylt reports that local lawmakers […]