Aug.14 (GMM) Between Sergio Perez and Sebastian Vettel, the driver market in Formula 1 is enjoying a particularly exciting moment. At Silverstone, Mexican Perez was not only out with coronavirus, but looking likely to lose his Racing Point – or Aston Martin – seat to Vettel for 2021. But in Barcelona, Perez is virus-free and […]
Category: Recent stories
Sainz would welcome Jerez back to F1
Aug.14 (GMM) Adding Jerez to F1’s 2020 ‘corona calendar’ would be good news for Formula 1 and Spain. That is the view of Spaniard Carlos Sainz, as he prepares for his home race in Barcelona this weekend. There are rumours that with Formula 1 still targeting a full calendar of up to 18 races in […]
Red Bull eyeing pole at Spa after ‘party mode’ ban
Aug.14 (GMM) A sudden and surprise rule change in Formula 1 is a “golden opportunity” for Red Bull. After the earlier-dominant Mercedes struggled badly with mandatory higher tyre pressures at Silverstone, it now emerges that the FIA is planning to immediately ban ‘party mode’ engine settings. “It’s obviously to slow us down, as they’re always […]
Ferrari targeting ‘second place’ in 2021 – Binotto
Aug.13 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says Ferrari’s target for 2021 is second place. It comes after the famous and struggling Maranello team’s chairman John Elkann recently ruled out a realistic title challenge until 2022. Team boss Binotto admits that a big problem is that, amid the pandemic, Formula 1 decided to restrict certain areas of car […]
Portimao admits F1 deal ‘only for 2020’
Aug.13 (GMM) Circuit boss Paulo Pinheiro admits Formula 1’s Portuguese stop in 2020 may be a one-off. The Portimao venue has been drafted onto the calendar to replace one of the originally-scheduled non-European races that had to be cancelled. “The contract only runs for 2020,” circuit boss Pinheiro confirmed to Speed Week. “But if we […]
‘Brutal’ quarantine awaits for Alfa Romeo staff
Aug.13 (GMM) The forthcoming schedule for Alfa Romeo’s staff will be “brutal”, according to team manager Beat Zehnder. While the sport’s UK-based teams have been given a quarantine exemption, Swiss-based Alfa Romeo’s staff will have to go into strict isolation after attending the Spanish GP in Barcelona. “We have to go back to Switzerland before […]
Ferrari has ‘no clear leader’ – Briatore
Aug.13 (GMM) Flavio Briatore agrees with Bernie Ecclestone about Ferrari’s lack of leadership. Amid the Maranello team’s latest crisis, former F1 supremo Ecclestone said his friend and former business partner Briatore would be an “incredibly competent” replacement for Mattia Binotto. Briatore agrees that Ferrari’s troubles are home-made. “There are people who always follow the difficult […]
Vettel plays down Lawrence Stroll ‘elbow bump’
Aug.13 (GMM) Sergio Perez hopes he gets the all-clear to return to his Racing Point cockpit in Barcelona this weekend. Nico Hulkenberg is once again on standby for the Mexican, who missed both races at Silverstone following a positive coronavirus test. Perez said this week that he only ever had “mild symptoms” and is ready […]
Red Bull’s Marko says Racing Point appeal ‘important’
Aug.13 (GMM) Although not formally joining the appeal, Red Bull supports the push to challenge the FIA’s recent ‘pink Mercedes’ ruling. While Racing Point is vowing to appeal the EUR 400,000 penalty and lost 15 points for supposed ‘car copying’, Renault and Ferrari have filed an appeal to challenge the leniency of those sanctions. Mercedes-powered […]
30,000 could attend Russia GP in 2020 – promoter
Aug.13 (GMM) About 30,000 spectators could attend Sochi’s Russian GP in September. That is the claim of race promoter Rosgonki’s boss Alexey Titov, who said tickets are about to go on sale. Russia could therefore become the first GP attended by fans amid the pandemic. “For three months we have not been engaged in sales […]
‘All signs’ point to Haas staying in F1 – Steiner
Aug.13 (GMM) “All the signs” point to Gene Haas signing up to the 2021-2025 Concorde Agreement. That is the view of the small American team’s boss Gunther Steiner, having earlier admitted that owner Gene Haas is contemplating pulling the plug. After Toto Wolff indicated that he is not ready to sign the new commercial agreement […]
New Barcelona boss wants F1 race to stay
Aug.13 (GMM) The new president of the Spanish GP venue says she will do “everything in our power” to keep Formula 1 in Barcelona. This week, the F1 circus is preparing to race at the Circuit de Catalunya. But beyond Sunday, the future is much more clouded. “We don’t want to imagine Barcelona without F1,” […]
‘Impossible’ to combine F1 with Indy after 2020 – Alonso
Aug.13 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says it is “impossible” for him to keep chasing the fabled triple crown in the next two years. This week, the Spaniard is preparing for his third Indy 500 campaign, this time again with a McLaren-linked team. But next year, he will return to Formula 1 full-time with Renault. When asked […]
No need for technical reshuffle – Horner
Aug.13 (GMM) Christian Horner says Red Bull is not planning any significant changes to its technical structure. His comments come after some questioned whether Adrian Newey, one of the most famous and successful designers in F1 history, is still at the top of his game. “I won’t tell you a fairytale,” Max Verstappen is quoted […]
Wolff happy for ‘pink Mercedes’ affair to go to court
Aug.12 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he is not worried about Mercedes’ name being dragged through the mud over the Racing Point car copying affair. An appeal against the leniency of the stewards’ recent ruling on the legality of the ‘pink Mercedes’ will go ahead, the original protester Renault has announced. In a statement, the French […]
Montezemolo hopes Ferrari treating Vettel fairly
Aug.12 (GMM) Ferrari’s former president says he hopes the Maranello team is treating Sebastian Vettel fairly in 2020. Unlike some others, Luca di Montezemolo does not think the driver he selected to replace Fernando Alonso from 2015 will leave Ferrari before the end of the year. “It is a very delicate moment for him,” the […]
F1 journalists doubt Vettel will leave mid-season
Aug.12 (GMM) Two highly respected Formula 1 correspondents do not think Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari will split before the end of the 2020 season. The parties’ 2021 split is already well known, but tensions between the fabled Italian team and the quadruple world champion became palpable at Silverstone last weekend. However, Corriere della Sera correspondent […]
Mercedes to re-commit to F1 for one year only
Aug.12 (GMM) Mercedes will stay in Formula 1 next year – but not commit to the full five years of the proposed Concorde Agreement. That is the claim of Sport1 correspondents Ralf Bach and Bianca Garloff, who cited a “reliable source” in reporting that the reigning world champions will commit only to racing in 2021. […]
Hulkenberg reveals 2021 talks with ‘two teams’
Aug.12 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has revealed he is talking to “two teams” about his future in Formula 1. The German, having substituted at short notice for Sergio Perez at Silverstone, will travel to Barcelona this weekend just in case the Racing Point regular again tests positive for coronavirus. But Hulkenberg will not hang around all […]
Red Bull has ‘solved’ main problem with car – Marko
Aug.11 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull must keep the pressure on Mercedes. As the reigning champions struggled with excessive tyre wear at Silverstone, Max Verstappen said on the radio that he refuses to “drive like a grandma” and went on to beat both Mercedes cars against the odds. “If you have the right […]