Dec.18 (GMM) Charles Leclerc had a “clear impact” on Sebastian Vettel’s performance in 2019. That is the admission of Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri, shortly after team boss Mattia Binotto said the pair will head into 2020 “on par”. “He (Leclerc) had a clear impact,” Sky Italia quoted Camilleri as saying. “You can’t avoid it when […]
Month: December 2019
Ocon ‘not disappointed’ to miss Mercedes seat
Dec.18 (GMM) Esteban Ocon insists he is not “disappointed” to be returning to F1 in 2020 with Renault rather than Mercedes. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff considered replacing Valtteri Bottas with 2019 reserve Ocon for next year, after the Frenchman sat out this year following his Force India demise. Asked if he is disappointed that his […]
Albon wants ‘more normal’ 2020
Dec.18 (GMM) Alex Albon says he is looking forward to a “more normal” 2020 season. The British-born Thai rookie had a rollercoaster ride in 2019. He began as a dumped Red Bull junior with a Formula E contract, then got an unexpected call-up to Toro Rosso, and finally replaced Pierre Gasly at the senior team. […]
Bottas ‘open’ to team move for 2021
Dec.18 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he wants to stay at Mercedes for 2020. The Finn had a solid 2019 season and appears to be the perfect teammate for Lewis Hamilton. But Hamilton is being linked with a move for 2021, Max Verstappen reportedly may replace him, and Bottas is also out of contract at the […]
‘No excuses’ for Red Bull in 2020 – Marko
Dec.18 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull has “no excuses for 2020”. After switching to works Honda power, the team remained a top three team in 2019 but is clearly targeting the title with Max Verstappen next year. “We have no excuses for 2020,” Marko told Servus TV. “We learned a lot of things […]
Verstappen says ‘who knows’ to Mercedes switch
Dec.18 (GMM) Max Verstappen is playing down all the talk about his future in Formula 1. Since the end of his strong 2019 season, Ferrari has angrily ruled the Dutchman out of contention for when his contract runs out at the end of 2020. “The one who met with Ferrari was Lewis,” Verstappen told Servus […]
Williams not commenting on Chester rumours
Dec.18 (GMM) Recently ousted Renault technical boss Nick Chester could be set to join F1 backmarker Williams. After a disappointing 2019, Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul said the team’s drivers and engine are now strong, “so by elimination, there is the chassis”. Chester, though, could find refuge at Williams, the once-great independent British team. “We never […]
Rivals don’t return Xmas cards – Vettel
Dec.17 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says F1’s top drivers don’t respond to his Christmas greetings. The Ferrari driver had a fraught year alongside new teammate Charles Leclerc, but he told Blick newspaper: “Charles gets a present from me anyway.” When asked by veteran F1 correspondent Roger Benoit what the Christmas present will be, the German answered: […]
Team boss role ‘less fun’ without Lauda – Wolff
Dec.17 (GMM) Toto Wolff has played down persistent speculation that he is first in line to succeed Chase Carey as F1’s CEO. For the first time since 2012, the Mercedes boss skipped a race – Brazil – last month amid rumours he might be planning his next career move. Another rumour is that he could […]
Valentino Rossi eyes four-wheel switch
Dec.17 (GMM) MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi says he sees the next phase of his career on four wheels rather than two. Last week, the 40-year-old Italian got at the wheel of Lewis Hamilton’s title-winning Mercedes in a high profile PR event. “That would work for me,” Rossi laughed when asked by Sky Italia if he […]
No 25-race F1 calendars yet – Todt
Dec.17 (GMM) Jean Todt thinks Formula 1 needs to lift the throttle when it comes to expanding the annual calendar. Next year, for the first time ever, the schedule is growing to 22 races. “This is a big topic in Formula 1,” Sebastian Vettel told Blick newspaper. “Are the break periods too short now?” he […]
Vettel struggling politically at Ferrari – Marko
Dec.17 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks former Red Bull champion Sebastian Vettel is struggling politically at Ferrari. Marko groomed the then teenaged German into Formula 1 and onto four world championships, but Vettel, now 32, has been less successful over five years at Ferrari. The German website motorsport-total.com put it to Marko, the architect of […]
FIA tests proved Ferrari engine legal – Binotto
Dec.17 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says the flurry of late-season technical directives and checks demonstrated that Ferrari’s 2019 power unit was legal. The Italian marque’s CEO Louis Camilleri admitted his disappointment about the speculation that marred the end of Ferrari’s season. “Ferrari is known worldwide and we are on the stock exchange,” he said. “Integrity and […]
Verstappen doubts he would join Ferrari
Dec.16 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he doubts he would drive for Ferrari. Last week, Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri furiously slammed the door on the Dutchman, insisting: “A driver who accuses Ferrari of cheating cannot think of being with us.” And now, as he ponders his life-long rivalry with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, Red Bull driver […]
Vettel admits trying vegan diet
Dec.16 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has revealed he tried to become a vegan. Six time world champion Lewis Hamilton is an ardent vegan and climate change activist, and even Ferrari’s Vettel admits he supports Greta Thunberg. “I would have no problem eating out with her,” the German said when asked by Blick newspaper about the high-profile […]
Three drivers left Red Bull driver program
Dec.16 (GMM) Three drivers have left Red Bull’s famous driver programme. Dan Ticktum, once strongly touted for a Toro Rosso seat, was the first to go this year, while Dr Helmut Marko said the arrangement with Patricio O’Ward has also “not worked out”. Now, it emerges that F1 legend Gerhard Berger’s nephew Lucas Auer has […]
Wehrlein to remain Ferrari sim driver – Binotto
Dec.16 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein will continue to spearhead Ferrari’s F1 simulator program. “We have very experienced drivers in the simulator for next year,” team boss Mattia Binotto told the German website motorsport-total.com. “Pascal will stay with us in the coming season.” Wehrlein, a former Sauber and Manor driver, also races in the Formula E series. […]
Magnussen not worried about expiring contract
Dec.16 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he is not currently worrying about his future in Formula 1. Like many drivers on the grid, the Dane’s contract runs out at the end of 2020. Magnussen admits that 2019 was a frustrating season for him. “It wasn’t fun to go to the races knowing that the car is […]
Giovinazzi not ready for Ferrari seat – Binotto
Dec.16 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi is not ready to step up to a race seat at Ferrari. That is the view of Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto, after Ferrari development driver Giovinazzi’s first full season in Formula 1 this year at Alfa Romeo. “At the moment it is premature to talk about it,” La Gazzetta dello […]
Stroll’s Aston Martin talks ‘advanced’ – source
Dec.16 (GMM) Aston Martin has admitted it is in talks with potential “investors”. The British luxury carmaker is already the title sponsor at Red Bull, but it is strongly rumoured that Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll may be interested in buying Aston Martin. The Financial Times now reports that executives for the embattled carmaker have […]