Aug.12 (GMM) Gunther Steiner insists top drivers are “still interested” in driving for the small American team Haas. It has been a particularly difficult fourth season for the team, due to problems with the 2019 Pirelli tyres, Haas’ controversial title sponsor, and the drivers. Romain Grosjean looks likely to depart at the end of the […]
Month: August 2019
Magnussen gets married in F1 break
Aug.12 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has used F1’s August break to get married. Danish media report that the Haas driver married Louise Gjorup in Nyborg, Denmark. The news broke after their friends posted photos of the low-profile event on social media. Magnussen, 26, said in 2019 that he met his now wife after re-assessing his life […]
Verstappen among F1’s ‘more complete’ drivers
Aug.12 (GMM) Max Verstappen thinks he is now one of the “more complete” drivers on the entire F1 grid. Always fast and feisty, many pundits and insiders are now saying the almost 22-year-old Dutchman has notably matured over the past 12 months or so. But the Red Bull-Honda driver says he hasn’t changed his methods […]
20hp engine boost for Ferrari after break – report
Aug.12 (GMM) Toto Wolff is forecasting a “very strong” performance by Ferrari after the summer break. Marca sports newspaper reports that the Maranello team, which was outclassed by Mercedes and Red Bull-Honda in Hungary, will unveil its third-specification engine at Spa. The Spanish publication said the new engine should deliver a 20 horsepower boost. Even […]
Teams to undergo budget cap ‘dry run’ in 2020
Aug.12 (GMM) Formula 1 will carry out a “dry run” of the new budget cap rules next year, CEO Chase Carey has revealed. Actually, the $175 million per team annual budget cap will only be enforced from 2021, but Carey says the teams are supportive of its implementation. “Some teams had concerns or issues going […]
F1 break ‘nice’ for struggling Renault
Aug.12 (GMM) Renault’s race drivers are not disappointed to be heading into F1’s August break. Having set the goal of closing the gap to the sport’s big three teams, Renault is actually behind Toro Rosso in sixth place. Daniel Ricciardo, who switched from Red Bull at the end of last year for a new challenge, […]
W Series champion wants ‘more’ from Williams
Aug.12 (GMM) The first champion of the new all-female single seater category W Series hopes the title will move her closer to Formula 1. Jamie Chadwick, a 21-year-old from Britain, was already a Williams development driver. “I know what I want to achieve,” she said. “I’m doing simulator work with Williams, and I’ll be at […]
Alonso denies not liking Vettel
Aug.9 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says it is not true that he doesn’t like Sebastian Vettel. In Hungary, amid rumours the retired double world champion might return to Formula 1, Ferrari’s Vettel said of Alonso: “I don’t think he ever really liked me.” Alonso denies that. “I heard that but it’s not true at all,” he […]
Hulkenberg ‘not ready’ for Formula E switch
Aug.9 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he is “not ready” to contemplate a switch to Formula E. It is strongly rumoured that if Haas shows the door to Romain Grosjean, the Frenchman will accept an offer he has already received from the all-electric series. Renault driver Hulkenberg’s F1 future is similarly uncertain, but he insists: “I’m […]
Bottas sure F1 career not over
Aug.9 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is not worried that his Formula 1 career may be over. Toto Wolff has offered the Finn a “soft landing” at another team if Mercedes decides to replace him with Esteban Ocon for 2020. And 29-year-old Bottas himself has said he is lining up “plan B and plan C” […]
F1 wants another US race, driver, bigger US team
Aug.9 (GMM) F1 still has a keen eye on America. On Thursday, the sport officially confirmed that Mexico is staying on the calendar until at least 2022. The news means that a jam-packed 22-race calendar for 2020 is now basically set. F1 business journalist Christian Sylt quoted F1 CEO Chase Carey as saying it will […]
Carey says F1’s pay TV trend will continue
Aug.9 (GMM) Liberty Media will continue to push Formula 1 off free-to-air television. The latest news from Italy is that pay broadcaster Sky could be set to give up the rights, with the free-to-air Rai interested in picking them up. It is believed a meeting will take place between a Rai delegation and Chase Carey […]
Williams pushing to bring ‘more upgrades’
Aug.8 (GMM) Williams is now planning to take another step forward. At recent races, the struggling British team finally put some substantial upgrades on its car, which has been easily the slowest overall in 2019. George Russell, clearly the most competitive Williams driver, qualified and finished 16th in Hungary — an obvious step forward. It […]
Wolff would help Bottas find alternative F1 seat
Aug.8 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he would help Valtteri Bottas find a new seat in 2020 if Mercedes lets the Finn go. The Mercedes boss says he will use the August break to decide between Bottas, who has been Lewis Hamilton’s teammate since 2017, and Esteban Ocon for 2020. Former driver Christian Danner thinks Bottas […]
Verstappen ‘not ready’ for August break
Aug.8 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he wouldn’t mind if Formula 1 skipped this year’s August break. Every year now, to give the sport’s travelling circus a break, August is essentially race-free and includes a two-week mandatory factory shutdown period. But the on-form Verstappen says he would be happy to race on. “It’s always nice to […]
Mexico keeps place on F1 calendar
Aug.8 (GMM) Mexico looks to have kept its place on the Formula 1 calendar for 2020. Earlier, the Mexican government pledged to devote the funding formerly allocated for the grand prix to the Mayan train railroad project. But on Wednesday, race organisers declared on Twitter that Formula 1 in Mexico City “will continue”. The deal […]
Schumacher will make it to F1 grid – Alesi
Aug.8 (GMM) Mick Schumacher will “definitely” make it all the way to Formula 1. That is the view of Jean Alesi, a friend of Mick’s famous father Michael Schumacher. This year, 20-year-old Mick, and former Ferrari driver Alesi’s 19-year-old son Giuliano, are competing in Formula 2. Schumacher had his breakthrough F2 victory last weekend in […]
Rival boss says Ricciardo ‘frustrated’
Aug.8 (GMM) A team manager says Daniel Ricciardo is “frustrated” with life at Renault. For 2019, the Australian switched from being Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull to the French works team, declaring that he needed a new challenge. But Renault’s development has been slow and troubled, and according to Racing Point team manager Andy […]
Steiner plays down Fittipaldi’s 2020 chances
Aug.8 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has played down rumours that Haas might sign up Pietro Fittipaldi as a race driver in 2020. With Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean often clashing on track, the American team’s boss has admitted he will use the summer break to think about the next driver lineup. Active drivers including Nico Hulkenberg […]
F1 teams balk at expensive new rules
Aug.8 (GMM) F1 teams are pushing back on proposed new regulations — for reasons of cost. One idea that could be scrapped is the re-introduction of refuelling. The drivers are keen, as it will reduce the weight of the currently heavy cars at the start of races. But Racing Point boss Otmar Szafnauer admitted he […]