Sep.16 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has urged F1’s new bosses to resist making radical changes. “The last few races were like Formula 1 should be,” said the sport’s former supremo. “If it stays like that then I see no reason why it can’t be as popular as it used to be.” Liberty Media took over from […]
Category: Recent stories
Smoke haze endangers Singapore GP
Sep.16 (GMM) A literal dark cloud has descended over this weekend’s Singapore GP. Local reports say forest fires in Indonesia have made the air unhealthy to breathe in the city-state. Promoter Singapore GP issued a statement saying a “plan” is now in place. “In the event that the haze causes visibility, public health or operational […]
Doctor doubts Schumacher received brain treatment
Sep.14 (GMM) A surgeon close to the hospital treating Michael Schumacher last week has played down reports that the treatment would have involved the F1 legend’s damaged brain. When it emerged that Schumacher would receive stem cell treatment at Paris’ Hopital Europeen Georges-Pompidou, many of his fans were hopeful that it could help the 50-year-old […]
Qualifying sprint race claims ‘not true’ – report
Sep.14 (GMM) Mattia Binotto may have jumped the gun by announcing that F1’s qualifying format is changing radically for 2020. The Ferrari boss told La Gazzetta dello Sport that all ten teams have agreed to scrap the existing knockout format in favour of a new Saturday sprint race. “All teams have said yes, including us,” […]
Aldo Costa is not joining Haas – Steiner
Sep.12 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says Haas will not benefit from chassis partner Dallara’s new recruit. At Monza, Mercedes announced that its technical advisor Aldo Costa is leaving the championship winning team to join the Italian motorsport company. “My family is in Italy and for us it was quite tough,” Italian Costa said at Monza, having […]
No knee-jerk safety changes for Singapore – Masi
Sep.12 (GMM) Formula 1 will not have any knee-jerk reactions after the serious incidents seen at the last two grands prix. At Spa, Anthoine Hubert crashed and was killed when fellow Formula 2 driver Jean Manuel Fangio, who remains in a coma with critical injuries, struck him at 250kph. The Belgian circuit is now considering […]
Formula E not end of de Vries’ F1 hopes – Wolff
Sep.12 (GMM) Formula 2 title favourite Nyck de Vries has put his F1 hopes on hold for now. Mercedes has announced that the F2 points leader will join Stoffel Vandoorne in the German marque’s inaugural Formula E driver lineup. “Of course every young driver wants to be in Formula 1,” 24-year-old Dutchman de Vries, who […]
Leclerc now Ferrari’s number 1 – Lehto
Sep.12 (GMM) Charles Leclerc is now Ferrari’s “number 1 driver”. That is the view of JJ Lehto, who was once the supporting act for none other than Michael Schumacher at Benetton. “Michael himself was no tyrant,” the 53-year-old Finn told Iltalehti newspaper. “He was an insanely good driver, but he also put all the right […]
Hospital staff member says Schumacher ‘aware’
Sep.11 (GMM) Michael Schumacher is “aware”, according to an anonymous source at the Paris hospital where the F1 legend is currently being treated. Le Parisien newspaper this week revealed that the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver was admitted on Monday to the Hopital Europeen Georges-Pompidou. Reportedly, the 50-year-old – who was brain damaged in a […]
Vettel has lost Leclerc’s ‘killer instinct’ – Berger
Sep.11 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has the sort of “killer instinct” that Sebastian Vettel has lost. That is the view of Gerhard Berger, as the world of Formula 1 considers whether number 1 status at Ferrari has been passed to Leclerc after his back-to-back wins at Spa and Monza. In Monza qualifying, 21-year-old Leclerc had refused […]
Leclerc self-critical, Verstappen not – Alesi
Sep.11 (GMM) The difference between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen is self-criticism. That is the view of Jean Alesi, who was asked by Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport to consider the differences between F1’s hottest two young stars. “It is true that they have different characters,” said the former Ferrari driver. “This could mean they […]
Abiteboul confirms Renault’s 1000hp breakthrough
Sep.11 (GMM) Renault broke the 1000 horsepower barrier some time ago, team boss Cyril Abiteboul has confirmed. Last month, Renault engine boss Remi Taffin made a similar claim, which was ridiculed by Red Bull-Honda’s Max Verstappen. “Well, if they claim to have 1000 horsepower, they have a really bad car!” he scoffed. But Renault had […]
Hulkenberg too ‘negative’ for Renault – Prost
Sep.11 (GMM) Renault ousted Nico Hulkenberg because he is too “pessimistic” and “negative”. That is the claim of Renault advisor and F1 legend Alain Prost, as he explained why the French works team has instead signed up fellow Frenchman Esteban Ocon for 2020. German Hulkenberg, linked with moves to Alfa Romeo or Haas, is currently […]
Imola joins Mugello in eyeing F1 race
Sep.11 (GMM) Imola has followed in the footsteps of fellow Italian circuit Mugello in saying it too wants to host a Formula 1 race. Monza recently secured a new five-year deal to host the Italian GP until at least 2024. “In five years, we will think about applying to bring Formula 1 to Tuscany,” Ferrari-owned […]
F1 to re-consider gravel for Parabolica
Sep.11 (GMM) F1 race director Michael Masi says the governing FIA will consider resurrecting the gravel trap at Monza’s famous Parabolica corner. The gravel was controversially replaced with asphalt a few years ago, requiring the FIA to install a ‘sausage’ kerb to prevent drivers from exploiting track limits. But that kerb had to be quickly […]
Michael Schumacher in Paris hospital
Sep.10 (GMM) Michael Schumacher is in a Paris hospital. The F1 legend, who has not been seen or heard of publicly since sustaining brain injuries in a 2013 skiing crash, was admitted to the Hopital Europeen Georges-Pompidou on Monday, according to Le Parisien newspaper. The report said the 50-year-old is receiving treatment in a cardiovascular […]
Verstappen says he could be Leclerc’s teammate
Sep.10 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he would be happy to be Charles Leclerc’s teammate in Formula 1. It is a scintillating prospect, as the young duo – both 21 – are regarded as the cream of the sport’s exciting new generation of drivers. “There are so many drivers who in just a few years have […]
Red Bull to decide 2020 lineups after Austin
Sep.10 (GMM) Red Bull will decide its driver lineups for 2020 before the end of the season. The energy drink stable demoted Pierre Gasly from the senior team after the summer break, instead relying on rookie Alex Albon to be Max Verstappen’s teammate. Daniil Kvyat said at Monza that he was not impressed with Albon’s […]
Russell expected Kubica relationship to suffer
Sep.10 (GMM) George Russell says he gets along well with his Williams teammate Robert Kubica. That may surprise some, as Pole Kubica’s future looks clouded because of how consistently he is out-performed by rookie Russell at the back of the field. “Honestly, when it comes to our relationship, it’s better than I thought,” Russell told […]
Giovinazzi confident about 2020 seat
Sep.10 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi thinks he is doing enough to hang on to his seat at Alfa Romeo. Earlier in 2019, the Ferrari-backed Italian’s future looked grim as he struggled to match teammate Kimi Raikkonen’s consistent points scoring. He started to look better mid-season, but then crashed in a comfortable points-scoring position on the penultimate […]