Sep.22 (GMM) Ferrari’s rivals are surprised by the Italian team’s pace in Singapore. When reminded after qualifying that it is Charles Leclerc’s third pole on the trot, championship leader Lewis Hamilton exclaimed: “Shit!” Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is also upset about not being faster, telling Ziggo Sport: “I came here to win.” Mercedes’ Hamilton explained […]
Month: September 2019
Teams to discuss ‘open source’ parts idea for 2021
Sep.22 (GMM) Formula 1 teams are still squabbling with Liberty Media and the FIA over the proposed rules for 2021. The budget cap and standard parts are designed to help the smaller teams like Racing Point, but even the Silverstone based outfit is not impressed with the latest car concept called ‘Lima’. “All the cars […]
F1 drivers slam sprint race qualifying idea
Sep.22 (GMM) Formula 1 drivers have slammed a proposal to radically shake up the qualifying format. In meetings with Liberty Media and the FIA in Singapore, team bosses discussed the possibility of scrapping the current format to install a Saturday sprint race. The grid for the sprint race would be in reverse championship order, with […]
Haas eyes Kubica for reserve driver role
Sep.22 (GMM) Haas boss Gunther Steiner has expressed interest in signing up Robert Kubica for 2020. Kubica, who will leave Williams at the end of the season, is being tipped to race in the German touring car series DTM next year. But it is believed he might combine that race seat with a reserve driver […]
Formula E teams showing ‘interest’ – Hulkenberg
Sep.22 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg is no longer completely ruling out a switch to Formula E. Earlier, after losing his Renault seat for 2020, the German said the prospect of racing in the all-electric single seater series was “not exactly exciting”. But since then, potential alternatives at Haas and probably also Alfa Romeo and Red Bull […]
Kvyat not in running for Albon’s seat – Marko
Sep.22 (GMM) Alex Albon looks to be on pole position to keep his seat at Red Bull for 2020. Dr Helmut Marko, the notorious boss of the energy drink marque’s driver programme, said in Singapore that Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat is not in the running to be Max Verstappen’s teammate. “We will do our […]
Grosjean not sure why reputation so bad
Sep.21 (GMM) Romain Grosjean says he is not sure why his reputation in Formula 1 is not so great. Daniel Ricciardo this week said he was “surprised” that Haas decided to keep the Frenchman for 2020 rather than sign up Nico Hulkenberg. Red Bull boss Christian Horner agreed, calling Haas’ call “interesting” and “hard to […]
Hulkenberg thinks shyness hurt F1 career
Sep.21 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg thinks shyness might have held him back in Formula 1. Since 2010, the 32-year-old has driven for Williams, Force India, Sauber and Renault, but he has lost his seat for 2020 and is struggling to find another. Holding the record as the longest-serving F1 driver without a single podium, the German […]
Hulkenberg turns down McLaren Indycar offer
Sep.21 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has turned down an offer to drive for McLaren in the British marque’s first full Indycar season next year. “I have a lot of respect for those who race on ovals, it’s just not my thing,” said the German, after McLaren boss Zak Brown revealed the failed talks in Singapore. Earlier, […]
Williams eyes Latifi, Hulkenberg for 2020
Sep.21 (GMM) Claire Williams has named at least two drivers who are on Williams’ driver shortlist for 2020. The Williams team boss says she was surprised when Robert Kubica, who has struggled this year, told her he had decided to leave the team at the end of the year. “There’s nothing much to comment on,” […]
F1 must learn from Hubert-Correa crash – Green
Sep.21 (GMM) Formula 1 must learn from the crash that killed Anthoine Hubert and left fellow F2 driver Juan Manuel Correa seriously injured. In a London hospital, 20-year-old Correa has now emerged from his artificial coma and life support, but doctors at a London hospital say he needs “major surgery” to avoid “irreversible injuries” to […]
Kvyat not ruling out Red Bull return
Sep.21 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat is not writing off his chances of returning to Red Bull in 2020. Explaining that the available Nico Hulkenberg is “not on our list”, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said the team will choose Max Verstappen’s teammate from a shortlist of three. “All the drivers that are under consideration are […]
Bottas accepts Wolff’s recent criticism
Sep.21 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is determined to catch up with Lewis Hamilton in the areas in which he is lacking. Recently, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff observed that the Finn sometimes “struggles” when he is closely following another car in the slipstream. “Lewis is somehow able to get closer and go for a move. […]
Three-race trial for qualifying races in 2020
Sep.21 (GMM) Christian Horner says the current qualifying format “works fine”. Last week, Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto was quoted as saying that “all the teams” have already agreed that from 2020, reverse-grid qualifying sprint races will instead take place on Saturdays. But it then emerged that Binotto had jumped the gun, because the teams, Liberty […]
Symonds denies 2021 cars to be 6 seconds slower
Sep.21 (GMM) F1 teams have expressed concern about the latest version of the 2021 technical rules. On Monday, they were presented with the latest concept of the 2021 car, codenamed ‘Lima’. The main difference compared to the earlier version is a more elegant front wing. But Auto Motor und Sport claims some teams have calculated […]
No conversation about 2020 yet – Albon
Sep.20 (GMM) Alex Albon admits he isn’t sure if Red Bull Racing will keep him for 2020. The British-born Thai rookie was drafted into the lineup to replace struggling Pierre Gasly after the summer break. But the 2020 ‘silly season’ is currently in overdrive, with Nico Hulkenberg, Sebastian Vettel and even Daniel Ricciardo all tentatively […]
Giovinazzi admits risk of losing Alfa seat
Sep.20 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi says the current uncertainty about his place at Alfa Romeo for 2020 is “part of the game”. After missing out on the Haas seat, Renault refugee Nico Hulkenberg is now pinning his hopes on a potential move to Alfa Romeo. Italian Giovinazzi, despite his strong Ferrari link, has been fending off […]
Hulkenberg hoping for Alfa Romeo seat
Sep.20 (GMM) Alfa Romeo and Williams are emerging as Nico Hulkenberg’s only potential options to remain in Formula 1 next year. The F1 world was surprised in Singapore when Haas announced that it is keeping Romain Grosjean for 2020. “I was talking to Haas seriously, but for a number of reasons we did not get […]
Under-fire Vettel declares ‘I still love racing’
Sep.20 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel in Singapore attempted to play down the firestorm around him by declaring: “I still love racing”. Some are sensationally claiming that the quadruple world champion will leave Ferrari, because his young teammate Charles Leclerc has gained the upper hand as ‘number 1’. “Number 1? I don’t have that feeling,” 21-year-old Leclerc […]
Magnussen backs Haas driver decision
Sep.20 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen is hoping for a much better season for Haas in 2020. The American team has had a horror 2019, and not just because of the problems with its erratic former sponsor Rich Energy. Rich Energy boss William Storey is still causing trouble for Haas, revealing on Twitter that the team is […]