Aug.14 (GMM) Robert Kubica’s major sponsor is continuing to support the Pole. On his high-profile return to Formula 1, the 34-year-old has been consistently outperformed by his rookie teammate George Russell. But team boss Claire Williams says she is happy with Kubica. “We needed a driver like Robert with his engineering and technical intelligence,” she […]
Category: Recent stories
Verstappen supports Red Bull’s driver decision
Aug.14 (GMM) Max Verstappen has backed Red Bull’s decision to axe Pierre Gasly. “Of course it’s a pity for Pierre,” the Dutchman told De Telegraaf newspaper. “But personally I don’t care who my teammate is.” Verstappen’s new teammate is Alex Albon, a British-born Thai driver who is promoted from the junior team Toro Rosso. Dr […]
Verstappen’s father thinks Hamilton is rattled
Aug.13 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father thinks the on-form Red Bull driver has rattled reigning five time world champion and 2019 championship leader Lewis Hamilton. “When you see what kind of races Max has been driving, I don’t think you can be surprised,” Jos Verstappen, himself a former F1 driver, said of his son. He thinks […]
F1 looking into alternative fuels – Carey
Aug.13 (GMM) Chase Carey has vowed to push ahead with introducing non-fossil fuels in Formula 1. In June, we quoted Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul as saying one way the sport could rev up its green credentials would be to contemplate carbon neutral fuels. It appears that F1 CEO Carey agrees. He is not a critic […]
‘No reason’ to change Ferrari drivers – Binotto
Aug.13 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says Ferrari will head into 2020 with an unchanged driver lineup. There has been high speculation about the future of Sebastian Vettel, with the latest theory being that he could return to Red Bull next year. Indeed, German Vettel gives himself just five out of ten for his first half of […]
Raikkonen ‘drives without instructions’ – Zehnder
Aug.13 (GMM) Alfa Romeo, formerly Sauber, is more than impressed with Kimi Raikkonen. Raikkonen actually started his F1 career at Sauber as a controversially-inexperienced 21-year-old, with Beat Zehnder as the team manager. Zehnder is still at Hinwil, and he told Auto Motor und Sport he is now even more impressed with Raikkonen after his 21 […]
Gasly to show ‘true value’ back at Toro Rosso
Aug.13 (GMM) Pierre Gasly is vowing to push on after being dumped by Red Bull’s premier team. Despite repeatedly insisting that the struggling Frenchman would stay at least for the rest of 2019, Red Bull announced on Monday that he will in fact be replaced immediately after the summer break by Alex Albon. “The team […]
Journalists predict F1 exit for Kubica
Aug.12 (GMM) Two well known F1 journalists think Robert Kubica is likely to lose his place on the grid. After an eight year break with his permanent arm injuries, the 34-year-old Pole returned to Formula 1 this year with Williams but has struggled. “George Russell is clearly the faster man at Williams,” said veteran Swiss […]
Drivers ‘interested’ in Haas – Steiner
Aug.12 (GMM) Gunther Steiner insists top drivers are “still interested” in driving for the small American team Haas. It has been a particularly difficult fourth season for the team, due to problems with the 2019 Pirelli tyres, Haas’ controversial title sponsor, and the drivers. Romain Grosjean looks likely to depart at the end of the […]
Magnussen gets married in F1 break
Aug.12 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has used F1’s August break to get married. Danish media report that the Haas driver married Louise Gjorup in Nyborg, Denmark. The news broke after their friends posted photos of the low-profile event on social media. Magnussen, 26, said in 2019 that he met his now wife after re-assessing his life […]
Verstappen among F1’s ‘more complete’ drivers
Aug.12 (GMM) Max Verstappen thinks he is now one of the “more complete” drivers on the entire F1 grid. Always fast and feisty, many pundits and insiders are now saying the almost 22-year-old Dutchman has notably matured over the past 12 months or so. But the Red Bull-Honda driver says he hasn’t changed his methods […]
20hp engine boost for Ferrari after break – report
Aug.12 (GMM) Toto Wolff is forecasting a “very strong” performance by Ferrari after the summer break. Marca sports newspaper reports that the Maranello team, which was outclassed by Mercedes and Red Bull-Honda in Hungary, will unveil its third-specification engine at Spa. The Spanish publication said the new engine should deliver a 20 horsepower boost. Even […]
Teams to undergo budget cap ‘dry run’ in 2020
Aug.12 (GMM) Formula 1 will carry out a “dry run” of the new budget cap rules next year, CEO Chase Carey has revealed. Actually, the $175 million per team annual budget cap will only be enforced from 2021, but Carey says the teams are supportive of its implementation. “Some teams had concerns or issues going […]
F1 break ‘nice’ for struggling Renault
Aug.12 (GMM) Renault’s race drivers are not disappointed to be heading into F1’s August break. Having set the goal of closing the gap to the sport’s big three teams, Renault is actually behind Toro Rosso in sixth place. Daniel Ricciardo, who switched from Red Bull at the end of last year for a new challenge, […]
W Series champion wants ‘more’ from Williams
Aug.12 (GMM) The first champion of the new all-female single seater category W Series hopes the title will move her closer to Formula 1. Jamie Chadwick, a 21-year-old from Britain, was already a Williams development driver. “I know what I want to achieve,” she said. “I’m doing simulator work with Williams, and I’ll be at […]
Alonso denies not liking Vettel
Aug.9 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says it is not true that he doesn’t like Sebastian Vettel. In Hungary, amid rumours the retired double world champion might return to Formula 1, Ferrari’s Vettel said of Alonso: “I don’t think he ever really liked me.” Alonso denies that. “I heard that but it’s not true at all,” he […]
Hulkenberg ‘not ready’ for Formula E switch
Aug.9 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he is “not ready” to contemplate a switch to Formula E. It is strongly rumoured that if Haas shows the door to Romain Grosjean, the Frenchman will accept an offer he has already received from the all-electric series. Renault driver Hulkenberg’s F1 future is similarly uncertain, but he insists: “I’m […]
Bottas sure F1 career not over
Aug.9 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is not worried that his Formula 1 career may be over. Toto Wolff has offered the Finn a “soft landing” at another team if Mercedes decides to replace him with Esteban Ocon for 2020. And 29-year-old Bottas himself has said he is lining up “plan B and plan C” […]
F1 wants another US race, driver, bigger US team
Aug.9 (GMM) F1 still has a keen eye on America. On Thursday, the sport officially confirmed that Mexico is staying on the calendar until at least 2022. The news means that a jam-packed 22-race calendar for 2020 is now basically set. F1 business journalist Christian Sylt quoted F1 CEO Chase Carey as saying it will […]
Carey says F1’s pay TV trend will continue
Aug.9 (GMM) Liberty Media will continue to push Formula 1 off free-to-air television. The latest news from Italy is that pay broadcaster Sky could be set to give up the rights, with the free-to-air Rai interested in picking them up. It is believed a meeting will take place between a Rai delegation and Chase Carey […]