Nov.29 (GMM) Ferrari’s two drivers will still be allowed to race, despite angering bosses with their collision in Brazil. While Sebastian Vettel was absent on Thursday due to the third of his third child, a son, his teammate Charles Leclerc said in Abu Dhabi that they will simply be “a bit less aggressive” in future. […]
Month: November 2019
Doping scandal will not affect Russia GP – official
Nov.29 (GMM) A Russian official has played down suggestions the future of the country’s Formula 1 race could be in danger. The World Anti-Doping Agency is considering banning Russia from hosting major sporting competitions for several years for not cooperating with doping investigations. But Svetlana Shakhova, who is secretary of the Russian Automobile Federation, said […]
Williams did not use my experience – Kubica
Nov.29 (GMM) Robert Kubica says Williams did not make the most of his contribution in 2019. The Pole admitted in Abu Dhabi that this weekend is “probably” his last ever in Formula 1. Next year, he admits he is targeting a race seat in DTM, and aims to combine it with a F1 reserve role […]
Latifi ‘sure’ Williams will improve
Nov.29 (GMM) Nicholas Latifi thinks Williams can bounce back after horror 2018 and 2019 seasons. The 24-year-old Canadian, with the powerful backing of his billionaire father and McLaren co-owner Michael Latifi, has been signed by Williams to replace Robert Kubica in 2020. Latifi denied the seat is a poisoned chalice. “Two bad years do not […]
Vettel and Leclerc ‘get on well’ – Binotto
Nov.28 (GMM) Ferrari’s two drivers “get on well”, team boss Mattia Binotto insists. Binotto, as well as Ferrari’s chairman John Elkann, was openly furious after Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc collided in Brazil. It was just the culmination of a full season that was characterised by the media as a battle for ‘number 1’ billing […]
2019 front wing rule change ‘unnecessary’ – Horner
Nov.28 (GMM) Christian Horner says he still thinks the new front wing regulations for 2019 were “unnecessary”. Liberty Media pushed for the design change to make overtaking easier, but Red Bull boss Horner says the actual result was a big bill for the teams. Horner also admitted to Auto Motor und Sport that it took […]
Albon wants to take on Verstappen in 2020
Nov.28 (GMM) Alex Albon says it is “a matter of time” until he can give Max Verstappen a real run for his money at Red Bull. Red Bull has been happy with the British-born Thai rookie since he replaced underperforming Pierre Gasly mid-season. But Albon admits that he is still not able to match Verstappen’s […]
‘Good chance’ Mugello will replace Monza
Nov.28 (GMM) There is a “good chance” Mugello will eventually take over as host of the Italian GP. That is the claim of Eugenio Giani, who is president of Tuscany’s regional council. In May, it was announced that a new five-year deal with existing race host Monza had been agreed by Liberty Media. The deal […]
Tobacco giant expands McLaren backing
Nov.28 (GMM) British American Tobacco (BAT) will expand its sponsorship of the McLaren team in 2020, it has emerged. This year, the way Ferrari sponsor Philip Morris (Marlboro) and BAT have used their backing has been highly controversial as they promote smoking alternatives. Ferrari’s campaign, called Mission Winnow, insists it is unrelated to Marlboro or […]
Zandvoort’s banked corner ‘intriguing’ – Lammers
Nov.28 (GMM) A severely banked corner will be an exciting feature of the refurbished Zandvoort circuit for the 2020 Dutch GP, according to race spokesman Jan Lammers. Lammers, a former F1 driver who also won Le Mans and later went into team management, is referring to the circuit’s plans for a corner that will have […]
‘Good chance’ Verstappen will stay in 2021 – Marko
Nov.28 (GMM) Red Bull has “a good chance” of keeping Max Verstappen on board for 2021, according to Dr Helmut Marko. Throughout 2019, and even earlier, it has been rumoured that the highly rated Dutchman might be wooed by Mercedes or Ferrari. But after Verstappen won in Brazil, Marko thinks his chances of re-signing the […]
Early Ocon release ‘very important’ – Prost
Nov.28 (GMM) Renault made Esteban Ocon’s availability for the Abu Dhabi test next week a crucial part of his release from Mercedes. That is the claim of F1 legend Alain Prost, who is now a key advisor for the French team. While Renault and Ocon are both French, the 23-year-old driver was firmly under contract […]
Honda talks about 2022, 2023 already underway – Marko
Nov.28 (GMM) Red Bull is already in talks to extend its engine deal with Honda beyond 2021. Both Red Bull-owned teams announced on Wednesday that their Honda contracts have been extended for one more year. The existing deal had been set to run out in 2020. “This is a great relief for us,” Dr Helmut […]
F1 circuit project in Rio still alive – report
Nov.27 (GMM) Moves to relocate the Brazilian GP from Sao Paulo to a brand new circuit in Rio de Janeiro are continuing. Earlier in 2019, controversial Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro said there was a “99 per cent” chance that Rio will host grands prix in the near future. Officials in Sao Paulo hit back at […]
Montoya unlikely to complete ‘triple crown’
Nov.27 (GMM) Juan Pablo Montoya says he is unlikely to complete motor racing’s coveted ‘triple crown’. Fernando Alonso left Formula 1 last year, stating that his main goal is to complete the ‘triple crown’ of wins in Monaco, Le Mans and the Indy 500. The Indy 500 is now his only missing triumph. Colombian Montoya, […]
Driving style the same with 19-inch tyres – Sainz
Nov.27 (GMM) Driving styles will not change in Formula 1 when the sport switches to 18-inch tyres, according to Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard is one of very few current drivers who have tried Pirelli’s developmental 18-inch tyres, after McLaren ran the new rubber at Paul Ricard recently. “The feedback has been positive,” Pirelli’s Mario Isola […]
No retirement in ‘foreseeable future’ – Vettel
Nov.27 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he is not yet ready to retire. The quadruple world champion has had a difficult season for Ferrari, as his earlier status as clear number 1 was challenged by Charles Leclerc, with whom he controversially crashed in Brazil. “It’s a very uncomfortable situation for him,” Ferrari tester Marc Gene told […]
This year better for Williams than 2018 – boss
Nov.27 (GMM) 2019 was a better season for Williams than the previous year, according to team boss Claire Williams. Actually, the struggling British team scored 7 points in 2018 compared to just a single point this year. And George Russell and Robert Kubica have been stranded alone at the back of the grid and field, […]
Vergne recalls ‘difficult’ time under Marko
Nov.27 (GMM) Two-time Formula E champion Jean-Eric Vergne has admitted his time in Formula 1 was “really difficult”. Now 29, the Frenchman is one of many drivers who rose through the notorious Red Bull driver programme only to be ousted at a young age a few years later. “I will not attack them, because without […]
Kvyat should leave Red Bull programme – Martsenko
Nov.27 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat should start to think about leaving Red Bull’s F1 programme. That is the view of another Russian racing driver, Nikolay Martsenko, who raced in the GP3 and Formula Renault 3.5 categories. Martsenko thinks Kvyat has suffered a significant performance dip ever since Pierre Gasly returned to Toro Rosso after a disappointing […]