Jul.19 (GMM) Another war front has opened up for the Racing Point team. Already, Renault is tipped to lodge a second official protest against the Lawrence Stroll-owned team over its ‘pink Mercedes’ car. Reports indicate that the investigation over whether the team illegally copied Mercedes’ 2019 brake inlets, or actively collaborated with the reigning champions, […]
Category: Recent stories
Wolff scoffs at Binotto’s engine power claims
Jul.19 (GMM) Toto Wolff used an expletive to describe his feelings about Ferrari’s apparent engine power drop from 2019 to 2020. Teams were already unhappy with Ferrari for refusing to release the details of the Maranello outfit’s secret agreement with the FIA, following last year’s engine legality saga. But now Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto claims […]
Wolff slams Ferrari over Concorde comments
Jul.19 (GMM) Toto Wolff has slammed Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto for making “ridiculous” comments in Hungary about the new Concorde Agreement. The sport’s new commercial deal, set to begin in 2021 and run for five years, was held up by the corona crisis and Formula 1 shutdown. But team boss Binotto says Ferrari is now […]
Wolff ‘not involved’ in Vettel-Aston Martin talks
Jul.19 (GMM) Mercedes’ 2021 driver lineup appears to now be set in stone. In Austria, Damiler CEO Ola Kallenius dismissed speculation George Russell or Sebastian Vettel might join by insisting: “We’re staying with our two boys.” Those ‘boys’ are Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, who have dominated so far in 2020. “Why would we wish […]
Albon has ‘huge support from Thailand’ – Gasly
Jul.19 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he is still yet to decide how to proceed with his life in 2021 and beyond after being dropped by Ferrari. The quadruple world champion had appeared destined for Aston Martin – the team currently known as Racing Point. Sources indicate he is being given until the end of July […]
2020 Red Bull car design ‘in wrong direction’ – Marko
Jul.19 (GMM) As Ferrari and now Red Bull notably struggle, Mercedes are racing “in a different universe”. That is Sebastian Vettel’s conclusion after the utter dominance in qualifying not only of the works Mercedes cars, but also Racing Point’s ‘pink Mercedes’ as together they lock out the top two rows in Hungary. “They’re not on […]
Corona cases to have ‘no impact’ on Hungary GP
Jul.18 (GMM) Two people have tested positive to Covid-19 in the Hungaroring paddock. Before now, the only positive test was recorded in Australia in March, prompting the cancellation of the Melbourne season opener. F1’s governing body revealed on Friday that over the last week, 5000 corona tests were carried out on F1 personnel and “two […]
Wolff ponders becoming Vettel’s manager
Jul.18 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks he would “get along very well” if he were to become Sebastian Vettel’s new manager. Although Mercedes team boss, Wolff has also dabbled in the world of driver management, including his former promotion of Valtteri Bottas and now with Esteban Ocon. Now, DPA news agency quotes Wolff as pondering supporting […]
Sainz will not be pressured to kneel for racism
Jul.18 (GMM) Carlos Sainz insists he will not be pressured to kneel for Black Lives Matter. The McLaren driver is just one of a handful of his Formula 1 rivals who stand on the grid before races rather than kneel, which is becoming a widespread anti-racism gesture. Lewis Hamilton is leading the political activism, revealing […]
Ferrari’s Binotto has ‘support of my bosses’
Jul.18 (GMM) Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto says he thinks he will keep his job. The Italian finally admitted in Hungary that the engine legality saga of 2019 has resulted in a less powerful power unit for this year. It comes amid speculation Binotto might go the way of Stefano Domenicali, Marco Mattiacci and Maurizio […]
Grosjean apologises for Haas future comments
Jul.18 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has backtracked after saying Haas’ future in Formula 1 is an “elephant in the room”. It is widely known in the paddock that owner Gene Haas is considering pulling out of the sport. But team boss Gunther Steiner said it was “wrong” of Grosjean to make the public comments about those […]
Red Bull went ‘wrong way’ with 2020 car – Doornbos
Jul.18 (GMM) Red Bull went “the wrong way” with development of its 2020 car, according to former team driver Robert Doornbos. Max Verstappen, billed as the best challenger to Mercedes’ dominance for this year, admits that Red Bull is “a little further away” than the team wanted for the new season. “Red Bull seems lost […]
Pink Mercedes ‘positive’ for F1 – Grosjean
Jul.18 (GMM) Romain Grosjean says it might be “cool” for Haas to explore a ‘pink Mercedes’-type solution in the future. In Hungary, a week after Renault lodged a protest against Racing Point’s so-called ‘pink Mercedes’, a debate is raging about whether the FIA should simply allow customer cars. “This is more of a philosophical than […]
Doctors set to end Zanardi’s coma
Jul.17 (GMM) Doctors are beginning to bring Alex Zanardi out of his almost month-long artificial coma. The former F1 driver suffered serious head and facial injuries in a June hand-cycling race in Italy. Critical care doctor at the Santa Maria Alle Scotte hospital in Siena, Dr Sabino Scolletta, told La Gazzetta dello Sport that his […]
Haas drivers unsure about team’s F1 future
Jul.17 (GMM) Haas’ race drivers have admitted they are not sure the small American team will still be on the grid in 2021. Kevin Magnussen revealed this week that team owner Gene Haas is expected to be in Hungary. Haas, 67, entered Formula 1 in 2016 with a team in close collaboration with Ferrari, but […]
Racing Point ‘good interim solution’ for Vettel – Marko
Jul.17 (GMM) Signing up with Racing Point would be a “good interim solution” for Ferrari refugee Sebastian Vettel. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, the Red Bull chief who brought Vettel into F1 but has told the quadruple world champion there is no room for 2021. “Sebastian is at the best age at […]
Red Bull ‘must be at the front’ in Hungary – Marko
Jul.17 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko insists Red Bull-Honda “have to be at the front” this weekend in Hungary. He admits that Mercedes is currently the favourite for the world championship that he had hoped would make Max Verstappen the youngest ever title winner. “We are not positioned as we had imagined,” Marko, who says Mercedes […]
Sainz denies regretting Ferrari move
Jul.17 (GMM) Carlos Sainz insists he does not regret signing for Ferrari for 2021 and beyond. Former F1 driver Robert Doornbos said this week that given the Maranello team’s current lack of pace, Spaniard Sainz could be “the first” ever driver who isn’t “happy with a Ferrari contract”. Sainz said in Hungary: “I’m a little […]
Russell staying at Williams ‘good for team’ – Bottas
Jul.17 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas on Thursday admitted he is in talks with Mercedes about a new contract. “I can only say that we have started talking about it,” said the Finn in Hungary. But behind the scenes, it is clear that a deal for 2021 is all but done. That scenario only became more likely […]
No ruling on ‘pink Mercedes’ protest in Hungary
Jul.17 (GMM) There will be no news in Hungary this weekend about Renault’s protest against the ‘pink Mercedes’ fielded by Racing Point. Renault officially complained about the team’s Mercedes-style braking components last Sunday in Austria. But Spanish journalist Alberto Fabrega reports that a ruling is not expected until the next races at Silverstone at the […]