Nov.18 (GMM) Alexey Popov hopes Formula 1 returns to Sepang next year. With the new Vietnam GP no longer scheduled for 2021, Formula 1 has marked that date on the calendar as ‘to be confirmed’. “They immediately started talking about Sepang or Istanbul,” Popov, the Russian F1 commentator for Match TV, said. “I am a […]
Month: November 2020
Verstappen dismisses critical F1 ‘experts’
Nov.18 (GMM) Max Verstappen has dismissed the opinions of “experts” who were critical of the Dutch driver after the Turkish GP. Countryman Robert Doornbos called it “one of Max’s worst performances”, Timo Glock said he “took too many risks”, and Jacques Villeneuve said Istanbul reminded him of the 23-year-old’s “first years in Formula 1”. Another […]
Alonso still waiting for ‘young driver test’ answer
Nov.18 (GMM) Renault is still waiting to hear if Fernando Alonso will be permitted to do the forthcoming ‘young driver test’ in Abu Dhabi. Although the Spanish driver is a 39-year-old double world champion, team boss Cyril Abiteboul argued that Alonso’s two-year sabbatical is reason enough to ask the FIA for special dispensation. Multiple rival […]
Kubica may return to world rallying in 2021
Nov.18 (GMM) Robert Kubica could return full-time to the world rally championship in 2021, according to Poland’s Przeglad Sportowy newspaper. Mere days ago, the Pole revealed that he was “tempted” by an offer to do world rally’s forthcoming Monza round, but it would have clashed with his Alfa Romeo reserve driver duties in Bahrain. At […]
Aston Martin to supply F1 safety car from 2021
Nov.18 (GMM) Aston Martin will share F1 safety car duties with Mercedes from 2021, according to authoritative sources. Italy’s respected Autosprint and La Gazzetta dello Sport publications claim a deal has been done between Formula 1 and Lawrence Stroll-controlled Aston Martin to supply the safety and medical cars at half of the grands prix. Mercedes, […]
Hamilton had ‘several’ Ferrari talks
Nov.18 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has admitted he has spoken with Ferrari chiefs “several times” about potentially joining the Maranello team. After matching Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher’s seven-title record last Sunday, the Mercedes driver told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I have never really been close to signing for Ferrari. “We spoke several times but we did […]
New engine for 2021, 2022 ‘very promising’ – Binotto
Nov.18 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says Ferrari’s new engine for 2021 and 2022 is looking “very promising”. The Maranello team has struggled with its 2020 power unit in the wake of last year’s legality saga. “Currently, we don’t have the best engine but next year we can have a completely new one,” he said. “At Ferrari […]
Hulkenberg admits ‘contact’ but no contract
Nov.18 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he is keeping himself “fit” in case another opportunity to race in Formula 1 crops up. Appearing on Red Bull’s Servus TV broadcaster, the German was asked if he is any closer to knowing his future. “I’ve signed a new contract,” he smiled. “A home loan contract – I hope […]
Schumacher ‘following’ son Mick’s F1 career – Todt
Nov.17 (GMM) Michael Schumacher is “following” the progress of his son’s rise to Formula 1. That is the word from FIA president Jean Todt, who remains a close friend of the Schumacher family after his time as Ferrari’s ultra successful team boss. RTL France asked the 74-year-old if he can update the world about the […]
Wolff tips Hamilton to race into 2022
Nov.17 (GMM) Toto Wolff appears to have played down speculation that Lewis Hamilton could be shaping up to sign a mere one-year contract for 2021. Top drivers like new seven time world champion Hamilton typically sign long and lucrative contracts, but the current situation is notably different. For instance, Mercedes’ long term future in F1 […]
Verstappen blames front wing for Turkey performance
Nov.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen says there was a technical reason why he underperformed in last Sunday’s Turkish GP. Despite missing pole to Lance Stroll, the Dutchman had gone into the race as the hot favourite to win. But countryman Robert Doornbos said when happened next was “one of Max’s worst performances in his Formula 1 […]
Two more F1 Friday appearances for Kubica in 2020
Nov.17 (GMM) Robert Kubica is set to make two more Friday practice appearances this season at the wheel of Alfa Romeo’s 2020 car. The Pole, who is the Swiss based team’s reserve driver this year with the support of major sponsor Orlen, told TVP Sport that he will drive at one of the forthcoming race […]
Isola plays down slippery Istanbul surface ‘drama’
Nov.17 (GMM) Pirelli boss Mario Isola has played down the controversy about the condition of Istanbul’s track surface for the Turkish GP last weekend. Williams’ George Russell was among the fiercest critics of the slipperiness of the track surface which was re-laid by race organisers just two weeks before the weekend. “The weekend had nothing […]
Raikkonen tips Ferrari to bounce back quickly
Nov.17 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has tipped Ferrari to quickly solve its 2020 performance crisis. Another former Ferrari driver, Gerhard Berger, recently predicted that getting back to race wins and title contention will take the Maranello team several years. But Raikkonen, the last Ferrari champion of 2007, says he has seen similar situations at the team […]
Hamilton ‘more expensive’ with seventh title – Wolff
Nov.16 (GMM) Toto Wolff is still not rushing to get new seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton under contract for 2021. After Hamilton wrapped up the championship in Istanbul on Sunday, fans’ attention immediately turned to the Mercedes driver’s expiring deal. Hamilton sounds keen to race on. “I don’t think I’ll be here in my […]
‘No criticism’ of Stroll after Turkey pole – Villeneuve
Nov.16 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has a rare compliment for his countryman Lance Stroll after the Turkish GP. Although Stroll finished ninth on Sunday, he actually commandingly led the race after powering to his first-ever pole position on super-slippery Saturday. 1997 world champion and fellow French Canadian Villeneuve is a regular critic of Stroll’s, insisting he […]
Magnussen not ruling out Haas reserve role, Indy 500
Nov.16 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen is not ruling out staying in F1 as a reserve driver next year – but he is also keen on races like Le Mans and even the Indy 500. Haas is tipped to replace the departing 28-year-old Dane with an all-rookie lineup for 2021, with Magnussen admitting he lacks the funding […]
Binotto set to also sit out Bahrain races
Nov.16 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says he is pleased that his experiment of sitting out a grand prix at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters over the weekend was a success. For the first time since becoming team boss, the Italian did not travel to the race location at the weekend. Ultimately, Istanbul turned out to be Sebastian Vettel’s […]
Masi defends Turkey over track surface condition
Nov.16 (GMM) F1 race director Michael Masi has defended organisers of the Turkish GP for the state of the Istanbul circuit’s new asphalt surface. Even in Sunday’s race, drivers continued to complain about what they described as the lowest-grip surface they have ever encountered in Formula 1. “This weekend was not what we expect in […]
Vettel to remain ‘Ferrari fan’ for life
Nov.15 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he will remain a “Ferrari fan” even after leaving the Maranello team next month. The 33-year-old joined Ferrari in 2015 amid high hopes of winning a fifth title, but this year he is struggling to match teammate Charles Leclerc after being told in May that he would be replaced for […]