Sep.7 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is “very motivated” to return to Formula 1 with a car in iconic French colours. That is the word from Luca de Meo, who in the wake of the Carlos Ghosn corruption scandal emerged from the crisis to lead Groupe Renault. It was announced at Monza that Renault will switch from […]
Category: Recent stories
2020 Red Bull ‘simply not good enough’ – Verstappen
Sep.7 (GMM) Hopes that the ‘party mode’ ban would play right into Red Bull’s hands came crumbling down at Monza. Even Lewis Hamilton, who had dominated qualifying and only failed to win due to a penalty, managed to keep smiling at the end of the Italian GP. “We still came seventh and got the fastest […]
‘Wishful thinking’ brought down Ferrari – Berger
Sep.7 (GMM) Life at crisis-struck Ferrari “sucks” for Sebastian Vettel. “I don’t know what happens next,” the quadruple world champion, who so far this year has grappled with a highly-uncompetitive car after being told he was not wanted for 2021, said at Monza. On Sunday at the fabled Italian circuit, he retired with brake failure. […]
Red Bull did not treat Gasly ‘fairly’ – Hamilton
Sep.7 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says shock Monza winner Pierre Gasly “wasn’t treated fairly” by Red Bull last year. Frenchman Gasly emerged from the unusual Italian GP – in which top teams Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari struck trouble and turmoil – to declare that he is “ready” to return to the team that demoted him […]
F1 still ‘fun’ as Raikkonen retirement rumours fade
Sep.6 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he is still having fun in Formula 1. That is despite the fact that many pundits are predicting that Alfa Romeo’s struggle in 2020 is the final straw for the 40-year-old’s motivation. “Of course we would all be happier if the results were a little better,” the 2007 world champion […]
Wolff set to ‘stay’ with Mercedes
Sep.6 (GMM) Toto Wolff looks set to remain at Mercedes beyond 2020. The team boss has made clear that he has been discussing his contract renewal over the past weeks with new Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius. Earlier, he even weighed up the top job at Liberty Media. “(Sergio) Marchionne wanted me out of Mercedes to […]
‘No alternative to Binotto’ for Ferrari – Domenicali
Sep.6 (GMM) Former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has called for a stop to the criticism of Mattia Binotto. As team boss today, Binotto is under fire as the famous Maranello outfit slumps towards the back of the field. Domenicali told Il Resto del Carlino newspaper that Binotto needs support. “From personal experience, I know how […]
Cowell can have ‘any job he wants’ – Wolff
Sep.6 (GMM) Andy Cowell can have “any job he wants”, according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. Although Cowell is still working on a project at Mercedes, the dominant team’s engine boss has decided to leave the German outfit. It was rumoured that Ferrari was interested in snapping him up, but Italian reports suggest Cowell […]
Wolff denies claims of Hamilton favouritism
Sep.6 (GMM) Toto Wolff has denied the claims of his Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner about Valtteri Bottas’ status at Mercedes. Horner said at Monza that it is “obvious” that Mercedes favours Lewis Hamilton. “You can see it in the strategy and the way they position the cars,” he added. “Valtteri only has a chance […]
Horner hits back at old rival Abiteboul
Sep.6 (GMM) Christian Horner and Cyril Abiteboul have revived their old feud at Monza. Renault boss Abiteboul started it when he said former customer Red Bull “missed a trick of modern Formula 1” by not getting into a much closer engine collaboration with a partner. “He’s basically saying we can’t win as long as we […]
F1 should consider Indy-style quali – Ericsson
Sep.6 (GMM) F1 should look to the Indy 500 in order to solve the problem with qualifying at Monza. That is the view of former F1 driver turned Indycar driver Marcus Ericsson, who watched Saturday’s qualifying session on TV. In chaotic scenes similar to those seen in 2019, drivers jostled for position in a big […]
Hamilton future decision ‘not liked’ to Wolff’s
Sep.6 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he does not regret never racing for Ferrari. “No,” said the six-time world champion, who is poised to match Michael Schumacher’s all-time records for race wins and titles this year. However, the Mercedes driver says he owns Ferrari road cars and loves the brand. “It was never a secret – […]
Party goes on without ‘party mode’ – Wolff
Sep.6 (GMM) ‘Party mode’ may be gone, but Toto Wolff says the party will go on for Mercedes in 2020. The dominant F1 team’s boss poked fun at rivals like Red Bull who pushed hard for the FIA to restrict engine usage to a single mode from Monza. “We still had a very good party,” […]
Renault shaping up for re-branding as Alpine
Sep.5 (GMM) Renault could have a brand new name and identity for 2021 and beyond. The carmaker’s CEO Luca de Meo has announced that, while continuing to run the F1 team, Cyril Abiteboul will also head up the Renault-owned Automobiles Alpine brand. “He has big expectations indeed for Alpine and what he has asked me […]
‘Mature’ Verstappen says Monza win ‘impossible’
Sep.5 (GMM) Winning on Sunday will be “impossible”, Max Verstappen declared at Monza. “We are losing a lot of ground on all those straights, but we’ll see,” said the Dutchman. Red Bull had been hopeful Mercedes’ banned ‘party mode’ engine setting would help, but Mercedes appears well clear of the field so far at Monza. […]
Ferrari to have ‘brand new engine’ for 2020
Sep.5 (GMM) Mattia Binotto is keeping his job in charge of Ferrari’s struggling team. That is the news from Louis Camilleri, the Maranello company’s CEO. He was speaking with the New York Times amid Ferrari’s worrying performance slump in 2020. “I have to say I have every confidence in Mattia Binotto and his team,” he […]
Magnussen to meet Gene Haas over F1 future
Sep.5 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he wants to meet team owner Gene Haas in person to discuss his Formula 1 future. For 2021, Haas team boss Gunther Steiner has left the door open to either keeping Magnussen and Romain Grosjean, or potentially replacing one or both of them – even with “two rookies”. Steiner even […]
Sainz urges ‘calm’ to avoid ‘dangerous’ qualifying
Sep.5 (GMM) Qualifying may be more “dangerous” than usual at Monza, according to McLaren driver Carlos Sainz. A 2019-like situation at the Italian GP venue looks to be shaping up again this season, with drivers expected to jostle for position at low speeds to prepare for the best slipstream for their fast qualifying laps. In […]
Ferrari pushing ahead with ‘pink Mercedes’ appeal
Sep.5 (GMM) Ferrari is pressing ahead with its appeal against Racing Point’s ‘pink Mercedes’ car. After Renault – the instigator of the protests against the Mercedes-like copy – recently withdrew its intention to appeal, it was rumoured that Ferrari would soon follow suit. “Yes, we confirmed our protest,” Mattia Binotto said at Monza when asked […]
Williams needs ‘good team boss’ – van der Garde
Sep.5 (GMM) Williams needs to appoint “a good team boss” to replace the departing Claire Williams. That is the view of former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, commenting on news that following the team buyout, Claire and her father Sir Frank will not be involved at Williams after this weekend at Monza. “Williams has […]