Apr.28 (GMM) Amid the corona crisis, the German touring car series DTM has been left in tatters with Audi’s shock decision to withdraw after 2020. Following Mercedes’ earlier departure, it will leave the series with a single manufacturer – BMW. “Today is a difficult day for motorsport in Germany and Europe,” said Gerhard Berger, who […]
Category: Recent stories
‘Public’ to be part of Zandvoort 2020 decision – Lammers
Apr.28 (GMM) “The sentiment of the public” will be part of Zandvoort’s deliberations about hosting a Formula 1 race behind closed doors later in 2020. That is the news from Jan Lammers, a former driver who now represents the promoters of the Dutch GP. Earlier, Lammers indicated that Zandvoort was not interested in a ‘ghost […]
Now Norris eyeing ‘real’ Indycar race
Apr.28 (GMM) Lando Norris says he would like to take part in an Indycar race – in the real world. The McLaren driver, who has been a star during F1’s shutdown period with his online racing antics, turned heads by winning the latest official Indycar event against the series’ regular drivers on the iRacing platform. […]
Inflexible Ferrari ‘should leave F1’ – Schumacher
Apr.28 (GMM) Ferrari should leave Formula 1 if it is not willing to drastically reduce costs amid the corona crisis. That is the view not only of McLaren’s Zak Brown, but of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher. Team boss Mattia Binotto made comments last week that were interpreted as a threat by Ferrari that it […]
F1 returning to racing ‘important’ – Ocon
Apr.28 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has admitted his “huge disappointment” that he will not be able to contest his home grand prix in 2020. French GP boss Eric Boullier has announced that because of the “decisions of the French state”, racing at Paul Ricard this year is “impossible”. “Up to now, the upheaval in the calendar […]
Sainz says ‘capable’ of thriving at Ferrari
Apr.28 (GMM) Carlos Sainz insists he is “not going to tell you anything new” as rumours grow that he is high on Ferrari’s wish-list for 2021. It is claimed that, along with Daniel Ricciardo, the Spaniard could replace Sebastian Vettel after the quadruple world champion was offered only a one-year deal and pay-cut. “I try […]
F1’s comeback plan ‘reckless’ – Hembery
Apr.28 (GMM) Former Pirelli boss Paul Hembery has slammed F1’s “reckless” plan to get racing amid the corona crisis. With F1’s support, and now in coordination with the Austrian government, Red Bull is pushing hard to organise back-to-back race weekends without spectators at the Red Bull Ring. A similar plan is being hatched for Silverstone, […]
Government looking into F1 race return – Marko
Apr.28 (GMM) Red Bull’s enthusiasm about re-starting the stalled 2020 season is a “positive statement”, according to Dr Helmut Marko. F1 CEO Chase Carey is now saying he is “increasingly confident” that a plan to get racing without spectators can start in July. “All of our plans are subject to change as we still have […]
Baku and Russia want spectators at 2020 F1 races
Apr.27 (GMM) Both Azerbaijan – a former Soviet state – and Russia are hoping to host their respective Formula 1 races with spectators later in 2020. The Baku street race has already been postponed, and now the promoter is denying that the event could be rescheduled as a spectator-less ‘ghost race’. “We do not consider […]
Wolff says Hamilton to Aston Martin rumours ‘nonsense’
Apr.27 (GMM) Toto Wolff insists his new involvement with Aston Martin is a mere “personal financial investment”. The Mercedes boss is raising eyebrows and triggering widespread speculation after the transaction was recently revealed. In recent months, Wolff had become obviously close with Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll, who plans to re-name his Silverstone based team […]
Domenicali denies eyeing Binotto’s job
Apr.27 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has denied any suggestion he is shaping up to return to Ferrari. After failing to oversee a title since becoming team boss in 2008, the 54-year-old stepped down in 2014. He is currently CEO of the Italian sports car maker Lamborghini. Recent reports suggested that Ferrari chairman John Elkann had tapped […]
Ferrari retains power of veto – report
Apr.27 (GMM) Ferrari’s controversial veto remains intact, despite the FIA moving to make it easier to implement crucial rule changes amid the corona crisis. The FIA announced that because the crisis is “unparalleled”, a new measure will “overcome” the current requirement of total unanimity among the teams before rule changes are made. Now, only a […]
Schumacher plays down ‘reverse’ race idea
Apr.27 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher has played down the possibility that F1 could fill in the gaps in a cobbled-together 2020 calendar with ‘reverse’ races. Charles Leclerc said last week that he likes the idea of heading to a circuit and racing on it several times – including in the opposite direction to normal. But former […]
Fan-less races ‘better than no races’ – Magnussen
Apr.27 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has confirmed reports that he and Haas teammate Romain Grosjean have agreed to pay-cuts amid the corona crisis. “It was our way of showing solidarity with the team,” he told BT newspaper. “That we were all in the same boat. And it was appreciated.” The Dane didn’t want to say by […]
‘Pay drivers’ could take over F1 seats – Magnussen
Apr.27 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says there is a risk drivers like him will be excluded from Formula 1 if the coronavirus changes the sport dramatically. Teams are scrambling merely to survive amid the current global lockdown, with F1 business journalist Christian Sylt reporting that the McLaren Group’s shareholders have just released an extra $370 million. […]
‘All requirements met’ for Austria plan – Marko
Apr.27 (GMM) Red Bull is pushing ahead with its plan for back-to-back spectator-less races in Austria held on consecutive weekends in July. “Two races, each on Sunday, on July 5 and 12,” Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko told public radio O3. Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner said it is a “positive target for the […]
Media should not be barred from ‘ghost races’
Apr.24 (GMM) It would be a mistake to lock the media out of any ‘ghost races’ that take place amid the corona crisis. That is the view of respected Auto Motor und Sport editor Michael Schmidt, who suspects that even the actual broadcasters may have to simply accept their exclusion from the races. “Imagine that […]
F1 eyes radical wind tunnel time idea
Apr.24 (GMM) F1 is reportedly considering a radical proposal to help smaller teams catch up with their bigger rivals. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the plan would involve restricting wind tunnel time for those teams who are doing the best in the constructors’ championship. “The first three would be allowed to use the wind […]
Circuit designer to try ‘virtual’ Zandvoort
Apr.24 (GMM) Having overseen Zandvoort’s transformation, circuit architect Jarno Zaffelli says will now have to try driving it – in the virtual world. Dutch GP promoters admit the country’s ban on mass events through September could mean that a grand prix is not held at all in 2020. “The entire circuit is ready – everything […]
‘Too early’ to contemplate 2021 drivers – Steiner
Apr.24 (GMM) It is “too early” to look ahead to Haas’ 2021 driver lineup, according to team boss Gunther Steiner. Both Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean are out of contract at the end of 2020, but Steiner says he is currently preoccupied with the corona crisis. “I don’t even think about what is going to […]