Oct.30 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has reassured his fans that he will remain in Formula 1 next year – even though he is yet sign a contract. The reasons for the delay are not clear, with theories ranging from Hamilton’s demands for a pay increase to complex questions about the future of the Mercedes team and […]
Month: October 2020
Marko denies trying to ‘blackmail’ Todt over engines
Oct.30 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has denied Jean Todt’s charge that he is trying to “blackmail” the FIA president over his demands regarding Red Bull’s engine decision for 2022. Red Bull has threatened to quit Formula 1 if it cannot take over the departing Honda’s engine program, insisting it will require a 2022 development ‘freeze’. […]
Hamilton’s political power surprises Ecclestone
Oct.29 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is surprised about the success of Lewis Hamilton’s political influence at Mercedes. Earlier in 2020, the former F1 supremo was criticised by Hamilton, who said comments made by the 90-year-old about racism were “uneducated and ignorant”. “Don’t think about what your skin colour is – think about what colour your mind […]
Ecclestone tells Red Bull to sign Hulkenberg
Oct.29 (GMM) Half of Red Bull’s Formula 1 driver lineups for 2020 remain uncertain. Max Verstappen is certainly leading the top team, while the energy drink company announced on Wednesday that Pierre Gasly is definitely staying at Alpha Tauri next year. The identity of Gasly’s teammate is not clear, however. Daniil Kvyat looks likely to […]
Hamilton plays poker ‘with four aces’ – Ecclestone
Oct.29 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says it is “tragic” that those who laid the foundations of Mercedes’ utter dominance of Formula 1 are not getting the credit. As Lewis Hamilton cruises to his sixth world championship in silver this year, having broken Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 91 wins last time out, Ecclestone said the British […]
Ecclestone told Aston Martin to sign Vettel
Oct.29 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that he helped Sebastian Vettel to secure a seat at Aston Martin for 2021. The pair have long been friends and backgammon partners, with former F1 supremo Ecclestone revealing on his 90th birthday on Wednesday that he still speaks with quadruple world champion Vettel. “Yes, we talk on the […]
Red Bull sets deadline for engine decision
Oct.29 (GMM) Red Bull has set a deadline for clarity about its engine plans for 2022. ‘Plan A’ is clearly to take over the IP of departing engine partner Honda’s technology and operations, but Dr Helmut Marko is demanding that a corresponding ‘freeze’ be put on engine development up and down pitlane. “It’s postponed,” he […]
Ferrari not aiming for 2021 title – Binotto
Oct.29 (GMM) Ferrari’s goal for 2021 is a return to podium positions, according to team boss Mattia Binotto. The Maranello team has struggled in 2020, but consecutive car upgrades over the last three races culminated in P4 for Charles Leclerc in Portimao. Binotto said: “We have to check if that was because of the car […]
Teams agree to $30m driver salary cap
Oct.29 (GMM) Formula 1 looks set to impose a salary cap for Formula 1 drivers. The Daily Mail and other sources report that teams will only be allowed to spend $30 million on drivers from 2023. The teams reportedly voted unanimously for the measure in Monday’s key meeting in Portimao, during which the reverse grid […]
Authorities ban spectators from Imola
Oct.29 (GMM) At the eleventh hour, local authorities have banned spectators from this weekend’s race at Imola. We reported on Monday that despite the promoters being earlier granted permission for 13,000 spectators, rising covid infections meant that was now in doubt. Indeed, Formula Imola announced on Wednesday that “negotiations on the interpretation of the prime […]
Toto Wolff defends F1’s ‘pay drivers’
Oct.28 (GMM) Toto Wolff has defended some of F1’s so-called ‘pay drivers’, insisting their disparaging image is unfair. “Just name one driver who doesn’t deserve to be here this season,” the Mercedes team boss told motorsport-magazin.com. It is no surprise that Wolff, a minor Aston Martin shareholder, is defending Lance Stroll, the son of Racing […]
Abiteboul denies Ocon-Gasly rumours
Oct.28 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has denied rumours suggesting Renault might oust Esteban Ocon. Rumours in Portimao had claimed the works team is so disappointed with Ocon’s performance on his return to Formula 1 this year that Renault is now eyeing fellow Frenchman and Monza winner Pierre Gasly for 2021. Team boss Abiteboul denies it. “Next […]
Ferrari not ready to discuss Red Bull engine ‘freeze’
Oct.28 (GMM) Red Bull’s plans to run its own engine program from 2022 have hit a snag. In a key meeting in Portimao early this week, the sport’s stakeholders discussed Red Bull’s request that engine performance be frozen from 2022 so that the energy drink company is able to run the Honda engines for itself. […]
Binotto ‘very happy’ with Sainz for 2021
Oct.28 (GMM) Mattia Binotto remains “very happy” with Ferrari’s choice of successor for struggling quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel. The fabled Maranello team has signed up Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who last Sunday stunned the F1 world by briefly leading the race in Portimao in his McLaren. “It was definitely a fantastic start and a great […]
Rio de Janeiro F1 plans hit environmental snag
Oct.28 (GMM) Rio de Janeiro’s hopes of securing a Formula 1 race have been dealt a blow. Earlier this month, F1 CEO Chase Carey wrote to the Brazilian city’s mayor to inform him that a deal with race promoters has been reached in principle. “These agreements are ready for execution and announcement by Formula 1 […]
Ecclestone says drivers still call for advice
Oct.28 (GMM) On the occasion of his 90th birthday, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone still thinks the move to today’s power unit regulations was “insane”. “When these hybrid engines were introduced in 2014, I said the rulers were insane because Mercedes would win everything,” he told Blick newspaper. “Until then, the fans loved the sport, […]
Mercedes ups Aston Martin stake to 20pc
Oct.28 (GMM) The collaboration between Mercedes and Aston Martin is being expanded. For months, there has been speculation that Mercedes’ F1 team boss Toto Wolff, who is already an Aston Martin shareholder, is getting fascinatingly close to Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll. Stroll plans to rebrand the Silverstone based team as Aston Martin for 2021. […]
F1 plans ‘normal’ 23-race calendar for 2021
Oct.28 (GMM) There could be as many as an unprecedented 23 races next year, as reports about the 2021 calendar emerge following a key meeting. All the sport’s stakeholders, including FIA president Jean Todt and even Chase Carey’s 2021 successor Stefano Domenicali, got together for a six-hour meeting early this week in Portimao. Afterwards, RTL […]
‘Stupid’ Norris apologises to Stroll, Hamilton
Oct.28 (GMM) Lando Norris has issued an apology after making comments about rivals Lewis Hamilton and Lance Stroll in Portimao. Following a crash, the McLaren driver described Stroll as a “c**t” and a “d***head”, but after the race he also played down Hamilton’s record-setting successes. “He has to beat one or two other drivers, that’s […]
No mid-year changes to ‘penalty points’ system – Masi
Oct.27 (GMM) F1 race director Michael Masi has ruled out making any immediate changes to the controversial ‘penalty points’ system. Multiple drivers have complained in recent days and weeks about the system whereby a range of errors and infractions – including breaching ‘track limits’ – earn them points on their super licence, which culminate in […]