Nov.8 (GMM) 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve thinks Lewis Hamilton is contemplating a move to Ferrari. Six time world champion Hamilton’s Mercedes contract expires next year, and Toto Wolff said recently it is “natural” that the Briton is attracted to Ferrari because it’s the “most important brand” in F1. “Lewis is chasing all the records […]
Category: Recent stories
Hamilton can beat Schumacher records – Ralf
Nov.8 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton can beat all of Michael Schumacher’s records, according to the F1 legend’s brother Ralf Schumacher. In Austin, Mercedes’ Hamilton put the lid on his sixth drivers’ title. Only Schumacher, with seven world championships, won more. “Both of them achieved something incredible,” Ralf told Auto Bild. “I think Lewis can break Michael’s […]
2019 ‘year of learning’ for Honda – Verstappen
Nov.8 (GMM) 2019 was a “year of learning” for Red Bull-Honda, according to Max Verstappen. Earlier, it was rumoured the Dutchman was trying to get out of his 2020 contract. But now, he sounds upbeat about aiming for the championship next year. “We have already achieved some good results, but we want to take the […]
2021 rules ‘huge step forward’ – Prost
Nov.8 (GMM) Renault team advisor Alain Prost says the 2021 regulations can be a “huge step forward” for Formula 1. In the past days, rumours have suggested the embattled French team and carmaker could actually quit Formula 1 at the end of the season. But Prost told L’Equipe he sees a lot of positives about […]
Albon ‘very impressive’ at Red Bull – Horner
Nov.8 (GMM) Red Bull “can take our time” before officially confirming the identity of Max Verstappen’s teammate for 2020. That is the claim of team boss Christian Horner, even though Alex Albon is clearly the favourite to keep the seat. “After his accident and the front wing change, he was the fastest driver on the […]
Owner still supportive amid Haas struggles – Grosjean
Nov.7 (GMM) Gene Haas “understands” the struggles of his Formula 1 team in 2019, according to team racer Romain Grosjean. In Austin, the French driver got to test for the Nascar team co-owned by billionaire Haas and Tony Stewart. But of greater interest to many Formula 1 fans was whether Gene Haas is still fully […]
Hulkenberg linked with Indycar switch for 2020
Nov.7 (GMM) Having slammed reports he is set to switch to DTM, Nico Hulkenberg is now being linked with an Indycar drive for 2020. The experienced German has been left without a cockpit for 2020 after being dumped by Renault. Hulkenberg has also been linked with Formula E, but now Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport […]
Wolff admits F1 could scrap 2020 Pirelli tyres
Nov.7 (GMM) Toto Wolff has confirmed reports that Formula 1 could abandon Pirelli’s 2020 tyres. In Austin, the teams and drivers got their first taste of the 2020 tyres. “My first impression is very bad,” said McLaren driver Carlos Sainz. That view was widespread, triggering media reports that suggested the sport and Pirelli could simply […]
Austin does not ‘fear’ second US race in Miami
Nov.7 (GMM) A grand prix in Miami would only make the existing US GP in Austin “stronger”. That is the claim of Rick Abbott, the executive vice president of the Circuit of the Americas. Although there is strong opposition from local groups, Liberty Media is trying for a second time to launch a race in […]
Canada GP boss opposed two-day F1 weekend idea
Nov.7 (GMM) Francois Dumontier has admitted he campaigned against F1’s deliberations to slash the race weekend format to just two days. As Liberty Media looks to expand the calendar to as many as 25 races in the next few years, one idea was to combine practice and qualifying on Saturday before the race on Sunday. […]
Wolff vows to re-assess Bottas’ one-year deals
Nov.7 (GMM) Toto Wolff has vowed to look into the way Valtteri Bottas’ contract uncertainty affects his mid-season performance. Finn Bottas replaced Nico Rosberg for the 2017 season, on a one-year deal. Subsequently, he was also signed one season at a time for 2018, 2019 and now 2020. He admits the constant uncertainty affects him. […]
Mercedes, Honda unsure why Ferrari engine slower in US
Nov.7 (GMM) Mercedes and Honda have stopped short of joining Max Verstappen in accusing Ferrari of “cheating” with its 2019 power unit. In Austin, amid suspicions about Ferrari’s huge power advantage, Red Bull-Honda requested a clarification from the FIA about fuel flow measurements. Suddenly, and coincidentally, Ferrari’s major engine advantage seemed to vanish. “I have […]
Binotto threatened Red Bull with legal action – source
Nov.6 (GMM) Mattia Binotto confronted Christian Horner after the US GP and threatened him with legal action, according to the Spanish source Motorlat. Other photographic evidence emerging in the wake of the Austin race appear to back up correspondent Yhacbec Lopez’s claim about the Ferrari chief’s fury. The normally calm Binotto was enraged after Austin […]
‘No room’ for Ricciardo if Renault quits F1 – Marko
Nov.6 (GMM) There is “no room” for Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull-Honda in the event that Renault decides to quit Formula 1 at the end of the season. That is the news from Red Bull’s notorious driver manager Dr Helmut Marko. At the end of last year, Red Bull was surprised and disappointed when Ricciardo […]
Hamilton and Verstappen ‘agreed’ to stop media war
Nov.6 (GMM) Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have “agreed” to stop bickering in the media. That is the news not only from the Red Bull-Honda driver’s father Jos, but world champion Hamilton himself. Recently, Verstappen and Hamilton have traded verbal barbs in the media, but Jos says he has urged his son to back down. […]
Alfa Romeo parent ‘not satisfied’ with 2019 results
Nov.6 (GMM) Fiat Chrysler, which is Alfa Romeo’s parent company, has endorsed the re-signing of Antonio Giovinazzi for 2020. Dumped by Renault for 2020, Nico Hulkenberg was hoping to keep his F1 career alive by replacing Giovinazzi at Alfa Romeo. But the Hinwil-based team has now announced a new deal with the Italian driver. “There […]
Ferrari not ready to sign up for 2021 – Camilleri
Nov.6 (GMM) Ferrari is a long way from being ready to sign up for the 2021 season, CEO Louis Camilleri has confirmed. We reported this week that although the 2021 rules have now been announced, the teams are not committed beyond 2020 until they sign a new Concorde Agreement. “What was announced over the weekend […]
F1 could scrap Pirelli’s 2020 tyres
Nov.6 (GMM) Pirelli could scrap its proposed 2020 tyres. The teams and drivers were nearly unanimous in their disapproval of the 2020 prototypes when they were tested for the first time in US GP practice. “It is not a positive step, but we have agreed to take a few days for the analysis,” Red Bull […]
Williams ‘do not deserve’ budget cap – Villeneuve
Nov.6 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve says a team like Williams “do not deserve” a budget cap. The outspoken French Canadian is the last driver to have won the world championship for the British team, but he is now highly critical of efforts to make surviving easier for the current backmarker. “What’s the idea with helping the […]
Prost predicts Ferrari driver ‘conflicts’ in 2020
Nov.6 (GMM) F1 legend Alain Prost thinks tougher times could be ahead for Ferrari as Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc grapple for number 1 status. This season, Vettel began the season as the obvious number 1, only to have that status challenged by his 22-year-old teammate by mid-season. But as the season nears its end, […]