Aug.16 (GMM) Pirelli did not request a further reduction in downforce for 2021 in response to the tyre problems seen at Silverstone. That is the claim of Mario Isola, boss of F1’s official tyre supplier. Days ago, as news about the looming ‘party mode’ engine settings ban emerged, it also became clear that the FIA […]
Category: Recent stories
Pre-Belgian GP quarantine ‘not easy’ for Alfa Romeo
Aug.16 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur has confirmed that Alfa Romeo staff will need to go into strict quarantine after Sunday’s Spanish GP. While the rest of the sport looks forward to a weekend off following another gruelling ‘corona triple header’, a less exciting adventure lies ahead for F1’s Swiss-based team. Earlier, team manager Beat Zehnder confirmed […]
Bottas called Rosberg for Hamilton-beating advice
Aug.16 (GMM) The only way to beat Lewis Hamilton is to “get inside his head”. That is the view of Nico Rosberg, who says he learned how to apply psychological pressure on the Mercedes driver en route to title victory in 2016. The German then promptly retired – much to the annoyance of his team […]
F1 is ‘next logical step’ for Schumacher – Binotto
Aug.16 (GMM) “The next logical step” for Mick Schumacher is a Formula 1 seat. That is the view of Mattia Binotto, the Ferrari team boss. Schumacher, 21, is the son of seven time world champion Michael Schumacher and a leading member of Ferrari’s driver development academy. He started his second season of Formula 2 this […]
Vettel to sign Aston Martin deal at Spa – report
Aug.16 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel will sign a multi-year contract at the next race at Spa-Francorchamps. Citing sources, Kronen Zeitung newspaper claims that despite the most recent speculation to the contrary, the German will be an Aston Martin driver from 2021. However, speculation continues to swirl around the more immediate future of the struggling Ferrari driver. […]
F1 to announce four more races next week
Aug.16 (GMM) Formula 1 is preparing to add another four races to the 2020 ‘corona calendar’. In addition to the 13 already-scheduled or contested rounds, F1 CEO Chase Carey says he is targeting up to 18 grands prix overall. According to sources, F1 will announce four new ones next week, including two in Bahrain and […]
Party mode ban ‘very important’ for Red Bull – Marko
Aug.16 (GMM) Pole position will be possible for Red Bull once the FIA bans ‘party mode’ engine settings. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, after Max Verstappen once again qualified behind the two Mercedes in Barcelona. When asked about reports that only one engine setting will be allowed from the next race at […]
Wolff to withdraw as F1 team ‘mediator’
Aug.16 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he may no longer volunteer to act as a “mediator” between rival Formula 1 teams in future. Earlier in Barcelona, the Austrian admitted that some of his activities beyond his role as Mercedes team boss “p**ses some people off”. His comments followed reports that Wolff was getting involved in talks […]
Hamilton says Wolff not key to contract decision
Aug.16 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says Toto Wolff’s next career move will not influence his decision about whether to sign a new deal with Mercedes for 2021 and beyond. The six-time world champion has previously said that his decision will in fact be influenced by whether Wolff decides to remain Mercedes team boss. “It’s flattering that […]
No Indy 500 ‘distraction’ for Alonso in 2021 – Abiteboul
Aug.15 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has admitted he is a distant and nervous spectator of the Indianapolis 500 this month. As practice kicked off at the fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the past days, Alonso admitted that returning in 2021 and 2022 will be “impossible”. “I would have to miss a F1 qualifying if I wanted […]
Honda driver Yuki Tsunoda eyes Alpha Tauri seat
Aug.15 (GMM) A clear frontrunner for an Alpha Tauri seat in 2021 has emerged. Honda-linked Formula 2 driver Yuki Tsunoda, 20, is sixth overall in his first Formula 2 campaign this year. After winning an F2 race for the first time at Silverstone, the Japanese said: “For sure I need lots of wins and above […]
Friend admits Raikkonen’s retirement is looming
Aug.15 (GMM) The signs are growing stronger that 2020 may turn out to be Kimi Raikkonen’s eighteenth and final season in Formula 1. The 2007 world champion is now regularly among the very slowest drivers in the field, as Ferrari-powered Alfa Romeo openly struggles with its 2020 car. And Raikkonen’s long-time racing driver friend Toni […]
Mercedes ‘will not like’ party mode ban – Verstappen
Aug.15 (GMM) Toto Wolff has warned Mercedes’ rivals against celebrating the forthcoming ban on so-called ‘party mode’ engine settings too soon. Earlier in Barcelona, Lewis Hamilton said he thinks the FIA’s plans to mandate just a single engine setting for both qualifying and the grand prix from the next race at Spa is a clear […]
Verstappen ‘not thinking about’ 2020 title yet
Aug.15 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he is “not thinking about” winning the 2020 world championship yet. That is despite the fact that he beat both earlier-dominant Mercedes cars last weekend at Silverstone, when the reigning world champions struck tyre trouble. But Dutchman Verstappen says that isn’t enough to declare his Red Bull-Honda a title-winning car. […]
Ferrari, Vettel will not split mid-season – Binotto
Aug.15 (GMM) Mattia Binotto insists that Ferrari will not split with Sebastian Vettel before the end of the 2020 season. As their relationship appeared to break down almost completely at Silverstone, rumours abounded that Ferrari might choose to imminently replace the quadruple world champion with a candidate like Kimi Raikkonen. “Oh I don’t know, I […]
Mercedes ready to sign 2021 Concorde – Wolff
Aug.15 (GMM) Mercedes is now ready to sign the new Concorde Agreement. At Silverstone recently, it emerged that Toto Wolff was essentially the only team boss unhappy with the financial terms of the new deal which he said would leave Mercedes as the “biggest victim”. “I’ve changed my opinion,” he now says at Silverstone, following […]
Wolff admits he might take on new F1 ‘role’
Aug.15 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted he might step down as Mercedes’ team boss. It is well known that the Austrian is discussing his future with Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius, amid rumours their relationship is shaky. Wolff denies that, but he does admit that after many years of leading the dominant works team to multiple […]
Ecclestone scolds Stroll over ‘pink Mercedes’ affair
Aug.14 (GMM) Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has scolded Lawrence Stroll following his fellow billionaire’s comments about the ‘pink Mercedes’ affair. As the legality of Racing Point’s 2020 car looks set to move on to the international court of appeal, team owner Stroll launched a vigorous defence of his integrity. “I do not often speak […]
Ocon admits not yet back up to speed in F1
Aug.14 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he is still getting back up to speed in Formula 1. The Frenchman lost his Force India seat at the end of 2018, but he retained the support of Mercedes and for this year has returned on a two-year deal with the works Renault team. However, while teammate Daniel Ricciardo […]
Alfa Romeo, Haas confirm Hulkenberg talks
Aug.14 (GMM) After Nico Hulkenberg revealed talks with ‘two teams’ about 2021, the identity of those teams is now clear. “The short answer is yes,” said the German driver when asked if he has talked with Frederic Vasseur, a friend and former boss from his junior series days and now in charge of the Alfa […]