Oct.26 (GMM) Pirelli boss Mario Isola has hit out at a new on-screen graphic debuted recently by Formula 1. The new graphic purports to show in real-time what percentage of tyre wear remains on the individual four corners of the depicted drivers’ car. Isola says it is not credible. “You cannot know that sort of […]
Month: October 2019
Zandvoort granted permit for Dutch GP upgrade
Oct.26 (GMM) Crucial upgrade works at Zandvoort to prepare for the 2020 Dutch GP can go ahead for now. We reported this week that environmental opposition groups had gone to court to complain that work at the circuit had started without all the proper permits being granted. But the Noord-Hollands Dagblad newspaper now says the […]
Wehrlein plays down F1 return rumours
Oct.26 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein is not getting too excited about the prospect of a return to Formula 1. The former Sauber and Manor driver has been closely linked with a potential new team for 2021, thanks to his association with Adrian Campos and a Monaco management firm. “First of all, I’m not really looking at […]
Green issue is ‘biggest threat’ to F1 – Magnussen
Oct.26 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen thinks environmental concerns are the “biggest threat” to Formula 1. After Lewis Hamilton faced backlash for promoting his ‘green’ credentials, Haas driver Magnussen revealed that he too has become a vegan. “There is no doubt that the meat industry accounts for a significant portion of the total CO2 emissions,” he said. […]
Abiteboul admits Renault could quit F1
Oct.26 (GMM) An even darker cloud has moved above Renault’s future in Formula 1. Already weighed down by a difficult 2019 season, the Carlos Ghosn corruption scandal, and now the brake balance system cheating saga, it has now emerged that Renault could quit the sport. “It’s been the most difficult season I have experienced personally,” […]
Two more drivers oppose Hamilton’s vegan message
Oct.25 (GMM) Two of Lewis Hamilton’s rivals have questioned the environmental message proclaimed by the five time world champion. The Mercedes driver caused a stir between the Japanese and Mexican grands prix when he said veganism is the “only way to truly save our planet”. “Everyone tries to do their thing to help,” said Kimi […]
Kubica not denying Haas talks
Oct.25 (GMM) Robert Kubica has not denied that he could be heading to Haas for 2020. The American team’s boss Gunther Steiner confirmed in Mexico that talks with the current Williams race driver are currently taking place about a test role. When asked about Steiner’s comments, Kubica joked in Mexico: “Maybe he was dreaming? I […]
Leclerc says number 1 status call ‘up to Ferrari’
Oct.25 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says it’s “up to Ferrari” whether he will be appointed number 1 driver for 2020. It was his teammate, the quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel, who started this season as the unequivocal top Ferrari driver. But 22-year-old Leclerc has successfully challenged that hierarchy. The only question now is whether it will […]
Haas admits talks with Kubica
Oct.25 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has confirmed he is in talks with Robert Kubica about the Pole becoming a development driver in 2020. Kubica has struggled on his return to F1 this year and fallen out with Williams. His sponsor PKN Orlen is also reportedly in talks about becoming Haas’ title sponsor. But Racing Point has […]
Renault drivers quiet after Suzuka disqualification
Oct.25 (GMM) Renault in Mexico instructed its drivers to limit comments about their exclusion from the results of the recent Japanese GP. The French team has decided not to appeal the disqualification, even though it says a brake balance display system was “fully legal and innovative”. Nico Hulkenberg commented: “I don’t think it’s something that […]
Media ‘exaggerating’ McLaren car concept change – Sainz
Oct.25 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has played down reports about a ‘concept’ change for the 2020 McLaren car. The Woking team has established itself as ‘best of the rest’ in 2019 after the top three teams. But new team boss Andreas Seidl has announced that basic concepts about the McLaren car will change for 2020, in […]
Ferrari ‘confident’ about engine legality – Leclerc
Oct.25 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says Ferrari is “very confident” about the legality of its engine. Ferrari recently made a big step with its 2019 power unit, with some believing the advantage in qualifying is over 50 horsepower over any rival. We reported this week that “several” Ferrari rivals have asked the FIA to check the […]
Verstappen admits ‘no chance’ against Ferrari power
Oct.25 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he has “no chance” to be on pole in Mexico. The Dutchman has won in Mexico for the last two years, but he is less confident for 2019. “I personally have no idea how we’re going to do here,” the Red Bull-Honda driver told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf in […]
Glock tells Hamilton to stay at Mercedes
Oct.25 (GMM) Former F1 driver Timo Glock has urged Lewis Hamilton to sign a new Mercedes contract. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff this week said he wants to discuss the extension of Hamilton’s contract, which runs out at the end of 2020, after the current season. Hamilton’s only real option for 2021 would be Ferrari, but […]
F1 admits push to ‘block’ Miami GP
Oct.24 (GMM) Formula 1 is already striking trouble as it tries to set up a grand prix in Miami. An earlier attempt to establish a race in downtown Miami failed, but a new agreement in principle has now been reached between Liberty Media and Hard Rock Stadium. At a meeting of the Miami Gardens City […]
Prost predicts ‘difficult’ driver situation for Ferrari
Oct.24 (GMM) Charles Leclerc is displaying “impressive maturity” in his first season as a Ferrari driver. That is the view of F1 legend Alain Prost, who told France’s RMC Sport that the Monaco-born driver has already become a “big star” of Formula 1. “He has adapted very quickly to almost number 1 status in a […]
Renault may appeal Japan GP disqualification
Oct.24 (GMM) Renault has been excluded from the results of the recent Japanese GP. It follows a protest lodged by rival Racing Point, in which it was alleged that Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg’s cars feature “pre-set lap distance-dependent brake bias adjustment” systems. The FIA confirmed that Racing Point’s information about the system came from […]
Wolff wants Hamilton to sign new contract
Oct.24 (GMM) Team boss Toto Wolff wants Lewis Hamilton to sign a new Mercedes contract. Hamilton, who could wrap up his sixth world championship during the forthcoming Mexico-Austin double header, signed a new two-year deal in 2018 that extended his commitment to the end of 2020. Now, boss Wolff wants the 34-year-old to sign another. […]
Judge to rule on Zandvoort upgrade works
Oct.23 (GMM) Dutch GP organisers are still battling to prepare Zandvoort for next year’s sellout race. Even before the 2020 deal with Formula 1 was struck, opposition groups were vowing to take legal measures to prevent or delay the event. Construction is already underway to upgrade Zandvoort, but environmental groups have banded together to call […]
Sainz’s father says McLaren ‘delighted with him’
Oct.23 (GMM) Carlos Sainz’s father says the McLaren driver has “the ability to win a world championship”. Sainz, 25, entered F1 with the Red Bull programme, but he also drove for Renault before switching to McLaren this year. Now, he is the top ranked driver outside of the Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull teams, while […]