Oct.20 (GMM) The promoter of the Dutch GP has played down reports suggesting Zandvoort has been assigned a firm date on the Formula 1 calendar for 2021. The venue’s highly anticipated return to the sport was a victim of the corona crisis, but now specialist publications are claiming the Zandvoort race will take place on […]
Category: Recent stories
F1 exit ‘99.9pc likely’ for Magnussen – insider
Oct.20 (GMM) Another F1 insider has chimed in to consider Kevin Magnussen’s next move. On Monday, former McLaren communications director Matt Bishop told us that he thought the Danish driver would complete a “brilliant lineup” alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull. Magnussen, 28, appears likely to be ousted at Haas for 2021, with the small […]
Tsunoda on track for 2021 Alpha Tauri seat – Marko
Oct.20 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has confirmed that Yuki Tsunoda is on course to make his Formula 1 debut in 2021. It is an open secret that the 20-year-old Japanese, a F2 frontrunner promoted by both Honda and Red Bull, is a leading candidate to move onto the grid next year with Alpha Tauri. He […]
Haas to assess Ferrari engine situation in 2021
Oct.20 (GMM) Haas will assess whether to remain Ferrari-powered during the course of the 2021 season, team boss Gunther Steiner has admitted. As Ferrari struggles with its underpowered 2020 engine, some have suggested it is the perfect opportunity for Renault to replace departing customer McLaren by making an approach to Haas. But Steiner says Haas […]
Kubica needs ‘time’ to make 2021 decision
Oct.20 (GMM) Robert Kubica says he is not sure what his next move in the motor racing world will be. The Pole made a sensational return to Formula 1 after eight years of serious injury for 2019, but lost his Williams seat at the end of the season. For 2020, he took on a role […]
Marko hopes Aston Martin treats Vettel fairly
Oct.20 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says he hopes Aston Martin treats Sebastian Vettel fairly in 2021. Vettel entered F1 as one of Marko’s Red Bull juniors and went on to win four world championships, but his subsequent Ferrari career is now ending in tatters. “He makes an unusual number of mistakes time and time again,” […]
F1 insider thinks Red Bull should consider Magnussen
Oct.19 (GMM) A former F1 insider says Kevin Magnussen would be a “brilliant” candidate to become Max Verstappen’s next teammate at Red Bull. Dr Helmut Marko has named Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez as the only real contenders should Alex Albon not maintain the performance necessary to stay in 2021. But Matt Bishop, the former […]
Leclerc’s brother not rushing on road to F1
Oct.19 (GMM) Charles Leclerc’s brother says he is not yet dreaming about racing in Formula 1. Three years younger than his brother Charles, who races for Ferrari, 20-year-old Arthur Leclerc is currently a frontrunner in the Formula Regional European F3 championship. “I’ve always wanted to be a driver,” Leclerc told Corriere della Sera. “I once […]
No negotiations with Hulkenberg yet – Steiner
Oct.19 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says he is not actively negotiating with Nico Hulkenberg about a Haas seat for 2021. The revelation follows rumours last week that the small American team is shaping up to run the heavily-backed Russian Nikita Mazepin alongside a Ferrari junior driver next year. “I haven’t spoken to Nico in the last […]
Honda exit ‘very dangerous’ for F1 – Horner
Oct.19 (GMM) Honda’s withdrawal from Formula 1 has put the sport in a “very dangerous situation”, according to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. Michael Schmidt, the correspondent for Auto Motor und Sport, says the energy drink team is threatening to pull out of F1 after 2021 if the FIA does not agree to freeze […]
Portugal reducing spectator numbers for F1 race
Oct.19 (GMM) Portimao is having to reduce the number of spectators allowed into the circuit this weekend. Lusa, Portugal’s largest news agency, quoted circuit director Paulo Pinheiro as saying that while 46,000 tickets for the F1 race went on sale, many fans are unlikely to actually attend due to the latest coronavirus developments. “We are […]
Vettel should retire and be F1 ambassador – Stewart
Oct.19 (GMM) Sir Jackie Stewart says he will be “happy” once Sebastian Vettel decides to hang up his helmet. Quadruple world champion Vettel has admitted that if he hadn’t landed the Aston Martin seat for 2021, he would have quit. “If he wants to continue racing, it’s only because he loves the sport so much,” […]
Racing Point says McLaren, Renault also ‘copied’ Mercedes
Oct.19 (GMM) Racing Point is not the only team that ‘copies’ the concepts of their dominant rival Mercedes. That is the claim of Andy Green, Racing Point’s technical boss. He thinks the sport’s moves to clamp down on car copying are going too far, even though Racing Point agreed in principle with the new measures. […]
Journalist backtracks over Ferrari conflict claims
Oct.19 (GMM) A respected Italian journalist has backtracked after claiming that top members of Ferrari’s management team are at war. Alberto Sabbatini, editor in chief at Autosprint, had reported rumours of “friction” between team boss Mattia Binotto and designer Simone Resta. But he now tells f1sport.it: “Resta has no quarrel with Binotto. This has been […]
Stroll ‘back to normal’ for Portugal
Oct.19 (GMM) Racing Point thinks Lance Stroll will be “back in the car as normal” this weekend in Portugal. 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve last week questioned the team’s explanation that Stroll had to sit out the recent Nurburgring race with a stomach bug. “Even with a stomach ache, you just go racing,” he said. […]
Hulkenberg thinks he can be close to Verstappen
Oct.19 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg thinks he could satisfy Red Bull’s requirements to become the new teammate for Max Verstappen in 2021. Continuing to support Alex Albon for now, Dr Helmut Marko said recently that even Hulkenberg or Sergio Perez would only be able to get within three tenths of Verstappen’s pace. Hulkenberg told motorsport-magazin.com: “On […]
Both Haas seats ‘more or less taken’ for 2021 – Marko
Oct.16 (GMM) Haas has “more or less” already decided who will drive for the small American team in 2021. That is the view of Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, who also thinks Alfa Romeo has decided its 2021 lineup – Mick Schumacher alongside Kimi Raikkonen. Marko is no longer denying that he is exploring his […]
Rio hits back at Hamilton’s F1 project opposition
Oct.16 (GMM) A spokesperson has hit back at Lewis Hamilton’s opposition to a new grand prix going ahead near Rio de Janeiro. F1 CEO Chase Carey recently wrote a letter confirming the sport’s intention to support construction of a new circuit in Rio’s Deodoro neighbourhood. But there have been claims the project would affect the […]
Shwartzman hopes Friday debut goes ahead in Abu Dhabi
Oct.16 (GMM) Robert Shwartzman says he hopes his Friday practice debut in Abu Dhabi will go ahead as scheduled. Two other Ferrari junior drivers, Mick Schumacher and Callum Illot, could not practice for Alfa Romeo and Haas respectively because of the weather conditions at the Nurburgring. Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto said their runs would be […]
Istanbul wants full-time return to F1
Oct.16 (GMM) Istanbul Park wants Turkey to return full-time to the Formula 1 calendar. After an absence, the popular circuit is back on the ‘corona calendar’ this year. But like the other stop-gap events including Mugello, Portimao and Imola, it is a one-off only for 2020. “Our goal is to sign a long-term agreement next […]