Jul.23 (GMM) Alex Zanardi’s son says there are “encouraging signs” after the former F1 driver left hospital this week. The former Lotus and Williams driver’s month-long sedation for severe head and facial injuries is now over and he has been moved to a rehabilitation clinic. But his son Niccolo told Corriere della Sera that his […]
Month: July 2020
Shwartzman should join Alfa Romeo for 2021 – Marko
Jul.23 (GMM) Ferrari should promote the less well-known member of its driver development academy into Formula 1 for 2021. That is the advice offered by Dr Helmut Marko, the architect and boss of Red Bull’s own highly successful driver programme. Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto said this week that it’s “too early” to comment on whether […]
Vettel wants to reveal Ferrari ‘mistake’ – Berger
Jul.23 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel wants to show Ferrari that the Italian team made “a huge mistake” by deciding to drop him. That is the view of Gerhard Berger, the F1 legend who was the eventual quadruple world champion’s first team boss at Toro Rosso back in 2008. Berger told f1-insider.com that he could sense Vettel […]
DAS steering ‘not easy to reproduce’ – Marko
Jul.23 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks Mercedes will hold on to a significant advantage in 2020 by running the ‘DAS’ push-and-pull steering wheel system. Red Bull’s protest against the technology, which will be banned anyway in 2021, was rejected by the FIA at the opening round of the season in Austria. The energy drink owned […]
New ‘spy saga’ set to fire in Formula 1
Jul.23 (GMM) A new ‘spy saga’ could be about to break out in Formula 1. After a horror start to 2020, Ferrari has announced that it has “restructured its technical department”, with Enrico Cardile appointed to head a new Performance Development department at Maranello. But the statement also notably made reference to Rory Byrne, the […]
Nurburgring confirms F1 talks for ‘corona’ race
Jul.23 (GMM) The Nurburgring has emerged as a contender to host a race as Formula 1’s 2020 ‘corona calendar’ continues to take shape on the fly. Earlier, another former German F1 venue – Hockenheim – admitted it was in talks with the sport about filling in for one of the originally-scheduled races. A spokesman for […]
DTM to consider GT3 regulations – Berger
Jul.22 (GMM) Germany’s embattled DTM series may need to adopt GT3 regulations in order to survive. That is the admission of F1 legend Gerhard Berger, who is now boss of the German touring car series that will be down to just a single manufacturer in 2021 after Audi’s withdrawal. There are even rumours that BMW […]
Vettel better than Albon with Newey’s cars – Villeneuve
Jul.22 (GMM) Red Bull should re-hire Sebastian Vettel, because he is better equipped than Alex Albon to drive Adrian Newey’s difficult Formula 1 cars. That is the view of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who says Red Bull designer Newey typically makes cars that are “really difficult to drive”. Quadruple world champion Vettel is close […]
F1 insists anti-racism activism still ‘a priority’
Jul.22 (GMM) Racial activism will continue to be “a clear priority” for Formula 1. The sport’s latest official statement on the subject comes after Lewis Hamilton hit out directly at FIA president Jean Todt and F1 CEO Chase Carey’s alleged lack of action and leadership. The six-time world champion was furious that not enough time […]
Mercedes is not making F1 ‘boring’ – Haug
Jul.22 (GMM) Toto Wolff has hit back at the notion that Mercedes will easily cruise the 2020 title. That is despite the fact that, after the German team’s third consecutive win of the season last Sunday, the Mercedes team boss admitted that the 2020 car is “a weapon” with “a lot of power and a […]
‘Front positions’ unlikely for Renault in 2021 – Alonso
Jul.22 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he will “give it my all” in Formula 1 next year even though he knows he will not have a winning Renault. The two-time world champion is ending his sabbatical in 2021, but he insists that his main focus for now is the Indy 500. “I have been watching the […]
F1’s Michael Masi to inspect Imola circuit
Jul.22 (GMM) Imola’s chances of adding a third Italian venue to the 2020 calendar will take a big step forward on Wednesday. Recently, the former San Marino GP venue upgraded its FIA homologation status to Formula 1-ready Grade 1. Imola boss Uberto Selvatico Estense said earlier in July: “We are delighted that the news about […]
Formula E ‘flattered’ by criticisms from F1
Jul.22 (GMM) Formula E should be “flattered” by criticisms coming from the world of Formula 1. That is the view of Jamie Reigle, the all-electric open wheeler series’ new CEO. Last year, Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko said the energy drink company is definitely not interested in Formula E because “we are pure racers”. “For […]
‘Copying’ in F1 ‘around for decades’ – Todt
Jul.22 (GMM) FIA president Jean Todt says the practice of “copying other teams” has been in Formula 1 “for decades”. His statement comes amid the saga surrounding Racing Point’s so-called ‘pink Mercedes’, with Renault’s protest unofficially supported by several other teams. F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn said earlier this week that “there isn’t a team […]
Zanardi transferred to rehabilitation centre
Jul.22 (GMM) Over a month since his horror hand-cycling crash, Alex Zanardi has left the hospital in Siena, Italy. Doctors at the Santa Maria alle Scotte hospital announced late last week that they would try to bring him out of his coma. In a statement, the hospital confirmed that the “sedo-analgesia program” has indeed now […]
Vettel ‘regrets’ how Red Bull tenure ended
Jul.21 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted he regrets the way in which he left Red Bull at the end of a tough final season with the energy drink team in 2014. Rumours in the past days suggested one of the biggest obstacles standing in the way of a return to Red Bull for Vettel in […]
Hamilton hits back at F1 legends over racism
Jul.21 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has hit back at F1 legends Mario Andretti and Sir Jackie Stewart over their recent criticism of the Mercedes driver’s Black Lives Matter activism. As the six-time world champion spruiks his anti-racism message within the F1 paddock, 1978 title winner Andretti suggests that Hamilton is actually “creating a problem that does […]
Father defends Magnussen over illegal radio penalty
Jul.21 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen’s father has leapt to his defence after the Haas driver was penalised for receiving illegal radio instructions in Hungary. Dane Magnussen’s was one of the most impressive drives last Sunday as he finished P9 thanks to an inspired strategy. But he dropped to P10 when stewards ruled that both he and […]
Montezemolo ‘very worried’ about Ferrari’s future
Jul.21 (GMM) Ferrari must take “courageous decisions” or risk losing more than just the 2020 world championship. That is the warning of former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who told Rai radio that “this season is lost” for the famous Maranello based team. “This season is lost, but the next ones are at risk,” he […]
Vettel says Mercedes cruising to 2020 title
Jul.21 (GMM) After just three races in 2020, Mercedes does not appear to have a viable challenger for the world championship. When asked if he can imagine Lewis Hamilton failing to equal Michael Schumacher’s record tally of seven titles this year, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel told Bild newspaper: “Yes – if Valtteri (Bottas) wins it.” Even […]