May 20 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel’s retirement at 32 would be an “absolute disaster”, according to German motor racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck. The quadruple world champion has already announced his departure from Ferrari at the end of 2020, with many insiders playing down the likelihood that he will switch to Renault. If Vettel retires, Germany will […]
Category: Recent stories
2020 season start ‘not official’ yet – Todt
May 20 (GMM) The re-start of F1’s corona-marred 2020 season is not yet official, according to FIA president Jean Todt. While it appears as though the season will begin in Austria with back-to-back ‘ghost races’ in early July, the government is yet to rubber-stamp the plan. After that, the sport’s plan is to move on […]
Mercedes ‘should consider’ Vettel – Ecclestone
May 19 (GMM) Mercedes “should consider” signing up Sebastian Vettel for 2021. That is the view of former F1 supremo and Vettel confidante Bernie Ecclestone, who only recently advised the German to snub a “super top team” for 2021 and instead “build” up a midfielder like Renault. But Ecclestone now tells f1-insider: “In the current […]
Sainz deal sparks battle for Spanish TV rights
May 19 (GMM) Spanish broadcasters are shaping up to fight over the Formula 1 television rights for 2021 and beyond. Movistar, owned by Telefonica, is the current broadcaster in Spain, but that contract is running out this year. And El Periodico newspaper claims that Dazn, a British sports streaming broadcaster that operates within Spain, wants […]
Opinions divided over Alonso comeback
May 19 (GMM) Opinions are split as to whether Fernando Alonso will return to Formula 1 next year. His manager Flavio Briatore says the Spaniard is “ready” to return after a two-year sabbatical, while Alonso now admits that F1, sports cars or Indycar are all possibilities. The Alonso speculation has ramped up after Daniel Ricciardo […]
Alonso admits F1 return for 2021 possible
May 19 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has admitted he is contemplating a return to Formula 1. Amid speculation the Spaniard is eyeing Daniel Ricciardo’s Renault vacancy for 2021, his manager Flavio Briatore on Monday claimed Alonso is “motivated”, “detoxed” and “ready to return”. When asked about his next challenge during a conversation with University of Real […]
Todt to stay FIA president for another year – report
May 19 (GMM) FIA president Jean Todt looks set to remain FIA president even after the mandatory end of his final term that was set to definitely expire in 2021. However, he indicated recently that he may be asked to stay on board through the exceptional circumstances of the corona crisis. At the same time, […]
Magny Cours rules out 2020 ‘ghost race’
May 19 (GMM) Former French GP venue Magny Cours has ruled out hosting a Formula 1 ‘ghost race’ amid the corona crisis. L’Equipe claims that Liberty Media has reached out to multiple European circuits with FIA homologation to host grands prix, including Magny Cours which last hosted a race in 2008. It is claimed that […]
Marko hopes for spectators at Austria GP
May 19 (GMM) The Austrian government has played down hopes F1’s 2020 ‘season opener’ may be raced in front of spectators. Currently, Red Bull – the promoter of the Austrian GP at Spielberg – is waiting merely to have its ‘ghost race’ plan for July rubber-stamped by authorities. “We hope to receive a response from […]
Sainz is number 2 driver at Ferrari – Briatore
May 19 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has obviously been selected to be Ferrari’s number 2 driver, according to Flavio Briatore. Having presided as Benetton and Renault team boss over four separate titles with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, Briatore always ran a policy of pairing a “very special” driver with a competent teammate. “The situation seems […]
Wolff admits ‘discussing’ Mercedes boss role
May 18 (GMM) Toto Wolff admits he is “currently discussing” what role he will play at Mercedes beyond 2020. Speculation he might leave the team altogether ramped up after Wolff invested millions in the newly Lawrence Stroll-controlled Aston Martin carmaker. He insists it has nothing to do with Stroll’s F1 team. “It is a purely […]
Vettel ‘good marketing’ for Mercedes – Wolff
May 18 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted signing German Sebastian Vettel for 2021 would be a “good marketing story” for Mercedes. Many believe the quadruple world champion, having decided to leave Ferrari, will not settle for a midfield seat like Renault. “There are still some interesting places for him,” Mercedes team boss told the Austrian […]
Sainz a good choice for Ferrari – Marko
May 18 (GMM) Ferrari has made a good choice by signing up Carlos Sainz for 2021, according to Dr Helmut Marko. As the head of Red Bull’s notorious and successful driver development program, Marko brought the Spaniard into Formula 1 in 2015. “First of all, Carlos is a great guy,” Marko is quoted by La […]
Mugello wants to host replacement Italy GP
May 18 (GMM) Mugello is still interested in hosting a replacement Italian GP amid the corona crisis, according to local mayor Federico Ignesti. It is not clear if the regular Italian GP host Monza will be able to host a race, even behind closed doors without spectators. “I have high hopes that the race can […]
McLaren had no negotiations with Vettel – Seidl
May 18 (GMM) Speculation Sebastian Vettel might retire at the end of 2020 is ramping up, with McLaren revealing that it never even negotiated with the Ferrari refugee. “The subject of Sebastian was never raised with us,” team boss Andreas Seidl, who is reported to have been close with the quadruple world champion, told Sky […]
Alonso ‘ready to return’ – Briatore
May 18 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is “ready to return” to Formula 1, according to his long-time manager Flavio Briatore. Speculation that Spaniard Alonso, 38, is close to signing with his former team Renault to replace Daniel Ricciardo in 2021 is now rife. France’s Auto Hebdo is reporting that a pre-agreement is already signed, while Marca […]
Lance Stroll signed up for 2021 – Szafnauer
May 18 (GMM) Lance Stroll is already signed up to remain at Racing Point – to be called Aston Martin by then – in 2021. That is the news of Racing Point boss Otmar Szafnauer. The Silverstone based team is owned by Stroll’s father, Lawrence Stroll. It was already known that Sergio Perez is staying […]
Montezemolo denies eyeing FIA presidency
May 18 (GMM) Luca di Montezemolo has dismissed reports that he could become the next FIA president. Although it is rumoured Jean Todt could try to stay on beyond his expiring term next year because of the corona crisis, former Ferrari president Montezemolo has been linked with the job. “I read about that hypothesis,” Montezemolo, […]
Ecclestone wants to leave Brazil
May 18 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has decided to leave Brazil and return to Europe, according to Germany’s Bild newspaper. For the duration of the pandemic so far, the former F1 supremo has been at his wife Fabiana’s coffee plantation and farm in Brazil. But Ecclestone, 89, says Fabiana’s pregnancy means they now want to go […]
Russia eyes first 2020 race with spectators
May 18 (GMM) Russia could be the first country to host a Formula 1 race with spectators in 2020. That is the view of Alexey Titov, boss of the Sochi race promoter Rosgonki. He says the current plan is for the race to go ahead exactly as scheduled on September 27. “I think our race […]