Jul.3 (GMM) Haas needs to up its game or team owner Gene Haas will pull out of Formula 1. That is the word from the small American team’s Danish race driver, Kevin Magnussen. It follows hot on the heels of team boss Gunther Steiner announcing that, to cut costs amid the corona crisis, the new […]
Category: Recent stories
Giovinazzi admits ‘pressure’ to keep F1 seat
Jul.3 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi has admitted he is under pressure as he bids to stay in Formula 1. The Italian has enjoyed strong support from Ferrari, but there is now speculation that Maranello may recommend a new junior for Alfa Romeo next year – Mick Schumacher. Blick newspaper quoted Giovinazzi as saying this week: “If […]
F1 should race at tracks like Imola – Kvyat
Jul.3 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat thinks Formula 1 should return to older-style circuits like Imola and Mugello. The Russian driver got his first taste of the former San Marino GP circuit at Imola recently with a test for Alpha Tauri. “It was cool to drive there,” he is quoted by Russian media as saying in Austria. […]
‘Good time’ for Mercedes to sell team – Schumacher
Jul.3 (GMM) The end of 2020 would be “a good time to sell” the works Mercedes team, according to former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher. The German told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper that he thinks the German broadcaster RTL decided to quit the sport because Sebastian Vettel looks set to leave F1 at the end of the […]
Alonso’s Renault return may begin in 2020 – report
Jul.3 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s deal to return to Formula 1 next year could now be done. That is the claim of Spanish radio Cadena SER, amid speculation the Spaniard might even replace the McLaren-bound Daniel Ricciardo at Renault within the 2020 season. According to other Spanish reports, the 38-year-old responded to the rumours of a […]
Vettel admits Mercedes ‘an option’ for 2021
Jul.3 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted he would like to drive for Mercedes in 2021. The quadruple world champion made waves on Thursday by revealing that he never even received an offer to remain Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate next year. “In the previous few months it had actually been clear to me that we want […]
Ecclestone names newborn son ‘Ace’
Jul.2 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone and his wife Fabiana have revealed that their newly-born son is named ‘Ace’. The 89-year-old former F1 supremo had announced in April that he was set to be a father for the fourth time – his first with 44-year-old Fabiana and his first son. “I’ve been to Austria many times but […]
Hamilton wants $50m a year for new contract – report
Jul.2 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton wants $50 million a year to renew his contract with Mercedes, according to Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper. The news, reportedly confirmed by a “source close” to the six-time world champion, comes after team boss Toto Wolff revealed that Hamilton was behind the decision to switch from a silver to black livery […]
Rio’s F1 boss meets with president Bolsonaro
Jul.2 (GMM) Organisers in Rio de Janeiro are still pushing to have the Brazilian GP relocated from its current venue in Sao Paulo. According to O Estado de S.Paulo, JR Pereira – the boss of a consortium (Rio Motorsports) that won a bid to build a Formula 1 circuit in Rio – met with Brazilian […]
Marko texted Abiteboul after Red Bull Ring test
Jul.2 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko sent text messages to rival Formula 1 boss Cyril Abiteboul after Renault’s recent test outing at the Red Bull Ring. Marko, Red Bull’s top F1 official, admitted he was upset with management of the Red Bull Ring for allowing the test of a two-year-old Renault to take place ahead of […]
Major upgrades ‘impossible’ for Austria – Binotto
Jul.2 (GMM) Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto insists it was “impossible” to make substantial changes to the Italian team’s Melbourne-spec car ahead of the 2020 season re-start in Austria. Although admitting that a major upgrade and concept shift is coming for Hungary later in July, Binotto’s comments suggest he is sceptical about the reportedly sizeable upgrade […]
Honda ‘wants to fight for 2020 title’ – Verstappen
Jul.2 (GMM) Honda is pushing as hard as Red Bull to win the 2020 world championship, according to Max Verstappen. It is a clear statement of the Dutchman’s intent for the re-starting season, amid reports that Honda will debut a new specification engine in Austria this weekend. Verstappen says he is “very happy” with Honda’s […]
Abiteboul hints Vettel, Bottas options for 2021
Jul.2 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul is playing down hopes that Fernando Alonso might return to Formula 1 with Renault in 2021. The team boss issued a firm “no” when asked by France’s L’Equipe about the Spaniard’s candidature for the seat set to be vacated by Daniel Ricciardo. Valtteri Bottas and Sebastian Vettel, however, are still options. […]
Red Bull to ‘think about’ Mercedes DAS protest
Jul.2 (GMM) Mercedes intends to use its controversial ‘DAS’ steering system this weekend in Austria – and main rival Red Bull is not ruling out an official protest. It is a repeat of the situation in Australia, where it emerged that Red Bull was prepared to press its claim that Mercedes’ innovative push-pull steering wheel […]
Albon must ‘earn his seat’ in 2020 – Marko
Jul.1 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Alexander Albon needs to “earn his seat” in 2020. Red Bull’s top Austrian chief is playing down the likelihood of Sebastian Vettel returning in 2021, but that doesn’t mean the pressure on Albon’s shoulders will lift. “He has to earn his seat,” Marko said, when asked what the British […]
Teams should survive corona crisis – Marko
Jul.1 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks all of the current Formula 1 teams will survive the ‘corona crisis’. It has been an unprecedentedly tumultuous period for the sport and many others, as the world ground to a halt for a global pandemic. McLaren has survived thanks only to a $185 bank loan, Haas’ future is […]
Giovinazzi says he must beat Raikkonen in 2020
Jul.1 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi has admitted his Formula 1 career could stall if he is unable to beat his famous Alfa Romeo teammate in 2020. With Ferrari’s backing, the 26-year-old Italian completed his first full season in 2019, but he admits he needs to up his game this year. “If my dreams are to continue, […]
Team boss denies McLaren at risk of collapse
Jul.1 (GMM) Team boss Andreas Seidl has denied that McLaren could have collapsed financially in 2020. Recent London High Court documents showed that the Woking based team required a huge cash injection to avoid insolvency within the month of July. This week, it emerged that a $185 million loan has been secured from the National […]
Ferrari admits ‘B’ Ferrari car in the works
Jul.1 (GMM) Ferrari has admitted it is making a “significant change of direction” with the concept of its 2020 car. After winter testing showed the Maranello team is easily off Mercedes and Red Bull’s pace, there was speculation Ferrari was readying a ‘B’ car. The team denied that its Austria-spec car is significantly different to […]
Virus means F1 teams lining up reserve drivers
Jul.1 (GMM) Formula 1 teams are organising their respective reserve drivers as the sport prepares to get back to racing amid the corona pandemic. Max Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen has told De Limburger newspaper that F1 is looking at the Austrian GP this weekend “almost as a military operation”. “There is no role for Jos […]