Oct.12 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has escaped with a slap on the wrist after his Sochi radio outburst. Some had feared that the Haas boss could be banned from the paddock for a race after lashing out at a “stupid idiotic steward” believed to be former F1 driver Emanuele Pirro. Steiner’s outburst was made over the […]
Category: Recent stories
Russia still eyeing Formula 1 team – minister
Oct.12 (GMM) A Russian government minister is still talking about the prospect of a Russian Formula 1 team. At Sochi recently, trade and industry minister Denis Manturov said a Russian team is “not far off”. His comments came at the same time as Formula 1 and the FIA played down the prospect of new teams […]
Teams meet with Carey on ‘typhoon Saturday’
Oct.12 (GMM) Team bosses are spending Saturday discussing Formula 1’s future with CEO Chase Carey. The drivers will be idler on Saturday, bunkered down at Suzuka’s circuit hotel. Only two staff members per team are allowed at the actual track to monitor team equipment as a powerful typhoon moves across the region. “We have packed […]
Vasseur plays down Hulkenberg’s 2020 hopes
Oct.12 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur has dealt a blow to Nico Hulkenberg’s flagging chances of staying on the Formula 1 grid next year. German Hulkenberg, who has lost his Renault seat for 2020 and is no longer in contention to move to Haas or Williams, said at Suzuka that his supporters would have to play “more […]
Honda ups F1 budget to EUR 140 million – report
Oct.11 (GMM) Honda is upping its Formula 1 budget for 2020, according to Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. The move follows pressure on the Red Bull-Honda alliance from Max Verstappen and his father Jos, who have indicated they could be on the move for 2021. The Italian sports newspaper claims that Honda is investing EUR […]
Hulkenberg ‘not right person’ for Williams
Oct.11 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has ruled out returning to Williams, where his Formula 1 career began in 2010. Having lost his current Renault seat for 2020, the 32-year-old’s last option to stay on the grid next year now appears to be Alfa Romeo. Hulkenberg told CNN that he has ruled himself out of contention to […]
Drivers support decision to scrap Saturday at Suzuka
Oct.11 (GMM) Saturday’s track action at Suzuka has been cancelled, as the risk that a ‘violent’ typhoon will hit the local area rises to 100 per cent. Qualifying will instead take place on Sunday morning, and if that is also affected, then the grid will be determined on the order of second Friday practice. Formula […]
Steiner facing race ban for Sochi radio outburst
Oct.11 (GMM) Gunther Steiner is facing a hefty FIA penalty. At Suzuka, the Haas boss has been summoned to the stewards to explain his radio outburst at Sochi. After Kevin Magnussen was penalised for the manner in which he rejoined the track after an off, Steiner had referred to a “stupid, idiot steward”. According to […]
Todt wants to attend F1 race with Schumacher ‘one day’
Oct.11 (GMM) Jean Todt says he wants Michael Schumacher to attend a grand prix “one day”. The FIA president, who is one of the Schumacher family’s closest friends, confirmed recent reports that said he sometimes watches F1 races with the stricken F1 legend. “I told the truth, which is that I have watched grands prix […]
No ‘top team’ exit clause in Ricciardo contract
Oct.11 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has ruled out a move to Ferrari for 2020. With Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc squabbling internally at the Italian team, Ricciardo has been named as a prime candidate should Maranello seek a new driver at short notice. But Ricciardo told Russia’s Championat: “Those rumours are false. “I have an absolutely […]
Climate change alarmism ‘big risk for F1’ – Abiteboul
Oct.11 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has joined those who think Formula 1 should consider tweaking its engine regulations prior to 2025. A proposal is on the table to freeze development of the internal combustion engine element of the power units for 2021, and instead promote further development of the electrical components. “If you look at Greta […]
Kubica to race front wing from winter testing at Suzuka
Oct.11 (GMM) Robert Kubica has revealed that he will race at Suzuka with a front wing that dates all the way back to winter testing. That is despite the fact that Williams has boasted not only about solving its spare parts crisis, but about introducing a brand new front wing design in Japan. It follows […]
Leclerc ‘has taken number 1 status’ – Ralf Schumacher
Oct.11 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted that ignoring team orders at Sochi was “not right”. His teammate Charles Leclerc said separate meetings with Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto took place in the days after the Russian GP. “Obviously it felt like it was a huge deal from the outside, which it definitely wasn’t, but now everything […]
F1 considers axing Saturday at Suzuka
Oct.10 (GMM) Formula 1 is considering calling off all activity at Suzuka on Saturday. Saturday is when the local area is expected to bear the full brunt of a typhoon that has been categorised by the Japan Meteorological Agency as “violent”. Formula 4 support races have already been called off for Sunday morning to give […]
Renault in talks with potential new F1 teams
Oct.10 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul says Renault has been in touch with potential new F1 teams. Last week, despite rumours that up to three potential outfits are interested in joining the grid in 2021, Liberty Media said “no serious discussions” are taking place. But talks are clearly taking place with Renault. When asked about the Silverstone […]
Renault could offer Hulkenberg reserve role
Oct.10 (GMM) Renault could offer Nico Hulkenberg the reserve driver role for 2020. The French team has ousted the German in favour of Esteban Ocon for next season, and Hulkenberg reportedly turned down the chance to switch to Haas. It is believed he is now eyeing Antonio Giovinazzi’s seat at Alfa Romeo, but it appears […]
Ricciardo settles $12m manager lawsuit
Oct.10 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has settled a $12 million lawsuit with his former manager. In July, we reported that Glenn Beavis is suing the Australian driver for a slice of Ricciardo’s big-money deal to move from Red Bull to Renault. It subsequently emerged that Ricciardo’s 2019 and 2020 contract with Renault is worth a staggering […]
Ferrari still supports Vettel – Fittipaldi
Oct.10 (GMM) Ferrari still wants Sebastian Vettel to win races. That is the view of former double world champion Emerson Fittpaldi, even though last time out at Sochi, Ferrari ordered Vettel aside for Charles Leclerc. But Fittipaldi, 72, told Auto Bild: “Ferrari wants both of them to win. “Of course they support him,” the Brazilian […]
Mercedes working hard to catch Ferrari – Hamilton
Oct.10 (GMM) Championship leader Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes is “working hard” to catch up with Ferrari. Although he and Mercedes could mathematically wrap up the championships with a full four races to spare this weekend at Suzuka, Hamilton is concerned about Ferrari’s latest leap forward. “Ferrari has always had a good overall package,” he told […]
Verstappen says ‘wait and see’ to typhoon
Oct.10 (GMM) Amid huge expectations from the Japanese people, Max Verstappen is adopting a “wait and see” approach to the race at Suzuka. But although powered by local Japanese company Honda, the Dutchman was actually referring to a massive typhoon that is expected to disrupt the race weekend. “There’s not much to say about it […]