May 26 (GMM) Formula 1 drivers are starting to look forward to the resumption of racing in July. It now appears likely that initial plans for ‘ghost races’ in Austria, Silverstone, Hockenheim and Hungary starting in July will get the green light. “I am still in the simulator a lot, but not as often as […]
Category: Recent stories
Austrian government to give F1 green light
May 26 (GMM) Austrian officials look set to show a green light to Formula 1’s plans to re-start the 2020 season in July. Health and sports ministers Rudolf Anschober and Werner Kogler have given the strongest indication yet that the plan for back-to-back ‘ghost races’ will be approved. “There are entry and exit regulations, provisions […]
Massa not revealing Schumacher health ‘information’
May 25 (GMM) Felipe Massa says he is not going to divulge the “information” he knows about the health of his former Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher. Ever since his late 2013 skiing crash, Schumacher’s family has managed to keep the extent of the seven time world champion’s brain injuries almost completely secret. One of the […]
Leclerc denies Sainz will be Ferrari number 2
May 25 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has denied that he will be the undisputed ‘number 1’ at Ferrari from 2021. Ferrari’s move to oust Sebastian Vettel and replace him with Carlos Sainz has been interpreted as a clear hierarchical shift for the Maranello team. But after driving a Ferrari sports car around the Monaco circuit on […]
Pundit thinks Vettel to Aston Martin ‘possible’
May 25 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel will join “a winning team” for 2021 or quit the sport, according to his former boss Dr Helmut Marko. Speculation about the quadruple world champion’s future is rife after Ferrari announced that he will be replaced by Carlos Sainz next year. “I have spoken to Sebastian and of course we […]
Alonso will help Sainz adjust to Ferrari – Domenicali
May 25 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has tipped former Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso to help his countryman Carlos Sainz “a lot” with his adjustment to life with the Italian team. “It will be important for Carlos to prepare well this year to be able to withstand the pressure he will experience at Ferrari,” said Domenicali, who […]
Minister admits Renault ‘may disappear’
May 25 (GMM) France’s finance minister has admitted Renault may “disappear” as a result of the corona crisis. It was reported last week that the government, which owns a 15 percent stake in the French carmaker, will step in with a EUR 5 billion loan to rescue the embattled marque. But minister Bruno Le Maire […]
Hockenheim ready if Silverstone plans collapse
May 25 (GMM) Hockenheim is ready to step in if Formula 1 needs to abandon plans to race at Silverstone. The sport wants to return to racing with spectator-less ‘ghost races’ in Austria in July, before moving on to the home of the British GP. But 14-day quarantine rules for international visitors to Britain means […]
Bottas’ name added to 2021 ‘silly season’
May 22 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas’ name is the latest to join the 2021 driver ‘silly season’. Speculation is gaining speed that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff sees George Russell, not Sebastian Vettel, as the ideal next teammate for Lewis Hamilton. Reports in Germany suggest that Bottas’ manager Didier Coton has been in talks with Renault, who […]
Ferrari has re-opened F1 factory – Gene
May 22 (GMM) Following a long factory lockdown amid Italy’s coronavirus epidemic, Ferrari’s fabled headquarters at Maranello have now re-opened. “On Monday we opened the F1 division,” test driver Marc Gene told Radio Marca. “Everything has been prepared for, with many corona tests.” The Spaniard said Ferrari will now work hard to improve its 2020 […]
Team co-owner says Ferrari eyeing Indy 500
May 22 (GMM) Ferrari vice chairman and 10 percent owner Piero Ferrari has suggested the Maranello marque may tackle the fabled Indianapolis 500 in future. Team boss Mattia Binotto recently admitted that the ever-lowering budget cap in Formula 1 means Ferrari is now “looking at Indycar”. “Ferrari feels a lot of social responsibility towards its […]
Sirotkin eyes return to Williams
May 22 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin is hoping to return to Formula 1. The Russian raced for Williams in 2018 before serving as McLaren and Renault’s reserve driver last year. This year, though, his mission is to put together a 2021 race deal. “I am more concerned than anyone on the question of a return,” said […]
Austria GP eyes 2020 green light by ‘end of May’
May 22 (GMM) The world of Formula 1 could know by the end of next week if the 2020 season will get up and running in July. Red Bull, the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, and Formula 1 have applied to relevant authorities in Austria for approval for back-to-back ‘ghost races’ in early to mid […]
Sainz ‘well connected with Todt family’ – Glock
May 22 (GMM) 2021 Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is “well connected with the Todt family”, according to former F1 driver Timo Glock. Spaniard Sainz, whose father is the rallying legend of the same name, has been selected by the Maranello team as Sebastian Vettel’s successor. And according to Glock, Ferrari’s notorious politics may have helped […]
No pressure for Vettel in 2020 – Ecclestone
May 21 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel will put his throttle to the floor when he contests his last races with Ferrari later in 2020. That is the prediction of the quadruple world champion’s friend and former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. “Don’t underestimate who Sebastian gets plenty of counsel from – Bernie,” Vettel’s former Red Bull teammate […]
Montezemolo almost became F1 boss
May 21 (GMM) Luca di Montezemolo claims that he almost became boss of Formula 1. The former Ferrari president was asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport this week to comment on the one-year anniversary of the death of the great Niki Lauda. Lauda and Montezemolo worked together closely at Ferrari some decades ago, but Montezemolo […]
Todt not worried about Ferrari ‘veto’ amid corona
May 21 (GMM) FIA president Jean Todt is not worried Ferrari will wield its unique and controversial ‘veto’ to derail Formula 1’s course through the corona crisis. The most contentious measure – the reduction of the $175 million budget cap for 2021 – is finally set to be voted on after a delay and much […]
Alonso ‘knows best’ about Renault return – Sainz snr
May 21 (GMM) Fernando Alonso “knows best” when it comes to deciding whether to return to Formula 1 next year. That is the view of future Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s father and namesake, when asked by Italy’s Sky Sport 24 to comment on speculation linking family friend Alonso with Renault for 2021. On the face […]
F1 missing Lauda’s voice amid corona crisis – Wolff
May 21 (GMM) Niki Lauda’s voice is conspicuously “missing” during the corona crisis, according to his former business partner Toto Wolff. It is now a full year since Lauda, the F1 legend and former Mercedes chairman, passed away at the age of 70. “The more the time passes, the more I realise how much I […]
Wolff says ‘no negotiations’ with Vettel
May 21 (GMM) There are no negotiations with Sebastian Vettel at present, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff insists. Rumours suggest that Wolff is under pressure from Daimler to sign the quadruple world champion, who will leave Ferrari at the end of the year. It is believed Wolff is more inclined to promote George Russell for […]