Nov.16 (GMM) Mercedes’ Formula 1 team is for sale. That is the claim of the German publication Auto Bild, citing the information of a ‘reliable source’. Correspondent Ralf Bach says the buyer could be Dmitry Mazepin, the wealthy Russian father of a Formula 2 driver, as well as American racing legend Roger Penske. Penske, 82, […]
Month: November 2019
Polish sponsor says Williams broke contract
Nov.16 (GMM) Robert Kubica’s sponsor says Williams broke “certain provisions” of its contract in 2019. It is now certain that PKN Orlen, the Polish oil company, will leave Williams along with Kubica after the forthcoming 2019 finale in Abu Dhabi. “Robert was quite critical of the organisation and preparation of the team after each grand […]
Hulkenberg’s F1 career definitely ‘over’ – Villeneuve
Nov.16 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg’s Formula 1 career is “over”. That is the view of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, even though the Renault refugee is refusing to say he will not return after 2020. “He’s been here for a long time,” Villeneuve told Canal Plus. “He has the record for the most races without […]
Vettel ‘expects’ to stay in F1 beyond 2020
Nov.16 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has indicated he wants to stay in Formula 1 beyond 2020. Earlier, some suggested the quadruple world champion could bow out of the sport after having his number 1 status at Ferrari challenged this year by Charles Leclerc. When asked by Sky Deutschland if he wants to be in F1 in […]
Team boss admits Gene Haas could quit F1
Nov.16 (GMM) Team boss Gunther Steiner says he is waiting to hear if Haas owner Gene Haas will commit to Formula 1 beyond 2020. The American team had a poor 2019 season – its fourth on the grid – and boss Steiner has already admitted that Gene Haas is contemplating the future. “First of all, […]
Ocon hoping for early Renault test
Nov.16 (GMM) Esteban Ocon is hoping to get his Renault career off to an early start. Although he has been announced as Daniel Ricciardo’s teammate for 2020, the Frenchman is still trackside with Mercedes in his reserve driver role. Asked when he will get started at Renault, Ocon was quoted by the German press from […]
Latifi to announce 2020 plans ‘very soon’
Nov.16 (GMM) Nicholas Latifi says his plans for 2020 should be known “very soon”. It is essentially an open secret in the paddock that the 24-year-old Canadian, whose father is the billionaire McLaren co-owner Michael Latifi, will replace Robert Kubica at Williams. At Interlagos, where Latifi drove the British team’s car once again in Friday […]
Brazil GP promoter slams Rio switch rumours
Nov.16 (GMM) Brazilian GP promoter Tamas Rohonyi says he is not worried about losing the Formula 1 race to Rio de Janeiro. The prospect of a switch from Interlagos to Rio is a hot topic in the paddock, but Rohonyi told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he is “99 per cent” sure F1 is staying […]
Ferrari engine back on song in Brazil
Nov.16 (GMM) Despite two technical directives and a poor showing in Austin, Ferrari’s controversial engine is back on song in Brazil. According to Auto Motor und Sport, Red Bull-Honda is calculating its laptime loss to Ferrari on the straight at 7 tenths, with Mercedes lagging behind by even more. “Obviously Ferrari is fast again this […]
Staying in F1 ‘worthwhile’ says Mercedes CEO
Nov.15 (GMM) Mercedes looks set to stay in Formula 1 in 2021 and beyond. Team boss Toto Wolff had warned earlier this week that, given Mercedes’ recent utter dominance of Formula 1 and the looming end of the Concorde Agreement, it is “not a given” that the German marque will sign up for more. However, […]
Raikkonen, Hamilton, not keen on Rio move
Nov.15 (GMM) F1’s most experienced drivers are not keen on the idea of moving the Brazilian GP to Rio de Janeiro. The sport is openly contemplating abandoning Interlagos, where crime problems affect the F1 world almost annually, and switching to a new circuit in Rio for 2021. “I’m always happy to go to new venues, […]
Fittipaldi ‘close’ to signing new Haas deal
Nov.15 (GMM) Pietro Fittipaldi says he is close to extending his stay as a Haas test driver. The 23-year-old grandson of F1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi combines his work with the American team with his race seat in the German series DTM. Fittipaldi revealed in his native Brazil that he is now close to re-signing with […]
Hulkenberg admits Indycar an option for 2020
Nov.15 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has confirmed reports that he might switch to Indycar for 2020. Although it was clear the potential F1 cockpits were filling up fast, the German finally announced in Brazil that he will not be on the 2020 grid. “Now I can choose from pizza maker, hairdresser, dentist or gynaecologist,” he joked […]
Keeping Albon as teammate ‘smartest choice’ – Verstappen
Nov.15 (GMM) Max Verstappen says keeping Alex Albon as his teammate was the “smartest choice” for Red Bull. Earlier this year, Red Bull relegated Pierre Gasly back to Toro Rosso and gave British-born Thai rookie Albon a chance to shine at the senior team. Red Bull has now confirmed that Albon will stay in 2020. […]
Sainz wants Pirelli to scrap 2020 tyres
Nov.15 (GMM) Carlos Sainz thinks Pirelli should scrap its planned new tyres for 2020. The drivers got their first taste of the 2020 tyres in practice in Austin, but the new specification – designed to minimise overheating – was almost universally unpopular. “The tyres for this season were I think a step forward. The behaviour […]
Leclerc denies using 2020 engine in Brazil
Nov.15 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has denied that his new engine in Brazil is to test developments for 2020. Ferrari’s 2019 engine is the hottest topic in the Interlagos paddock, after the FIA issued a second technical directive just one race after Max Verstappen accused the Maranello team of being caught “cheating”. “I will get an […]
Ferrari ‘doing nothing wrong’ with engine – Leclerc
Nov.15 (GMM) The off-track battle is heating up between Ferrari and its rivals. Sebastian Vettel said in Brazil that Max Verstappen’s recent accusation of Ferrari cheating was “unprofessional” and “immature”. However, this time not prompted by Red Bull or another team, the FIA has issued a second technical directive believed to be aimed at how […]
Hamilton may change teams for 2021 – Brawn
Nov.14 (GMM) F1’s sporting boss thinks it is possible Lewis Hamilton will seek a “new challenge” for 2021. Hamilton, the new six-time world champion, says he wants to stay in Formula 1 beyond the end of his 2020 Mercedes contract. But both he and his team boss Toto Wolff have admitted that the negotiations should […]
Liberty has ‘plan B’ for 2020 Dutch GP
Nov.14 (GMM) F1’s commercial boss says Liberty Media has a “plan B” in the event that the Dutch GP cannot take place as planned in 2020. Many people in Formula 1 are excited about returning to the Netherlands, especially as Max Verstappen’s millions of fans mean the 2020 race is easily already sold out. But […]
New F1 team waiting for news in December
Nov.14 (GMM) A hopeful new Formula 1 team will discover next month if the sport will consider allowing new entrants. Recently, Formula 2 boss Adrian Campos and his business partner Salvatore Gandolfo announced that they are working on putting together a Spanish F1 team. They have already met with Chase Carey and Ross Brawn, recruited […]