Aug.5 (GMM) Barcelona looks to have been shown the green light to organise a grand prix in 2020. Earlier, the fate of the Spanish GP looked grim, but in the past few days the local Catalan government emerged in support of a one-off race deal for 2020. However, with the calendar currently capped at 21 […]
Category: Recent stories
Kubica ‘eating different dish’ to Russell
Aug.5 (GMM) Robert Kubica is yet to benefit from what seems to have been a clear step forward for Williams and George Russell. Over the last few races, the once-great backmarker team has introduced car upgrades, but Pole Kubica has remained dead last. In contrast, his teammate Russell finally pulled himself off the back row […]
Hamilton hits back at critical Rosberg
Aug.5 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has hit back at former teammate Nico Rosberg following a string of recent comments by the 2016 world champion. In his video blog and elsewhere, Rosberg has recently said Max Verstappen is now a better driver than the five time world champion, partly because of 34-year-old Hamilton’s age. Hamilton, who had […]
Alfa Romeo can’t control private life – Raikkonen
Aug.5 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he will not stop doing dangerous activities just because he is in Formula 1. Well known for loving rallying, motocross and most recently jumping from a building into a swimming pool, the 39-year-old Finn insists that his life away from F1 is up to him. “I haven’t read my contract […]
Bottas admits he has ‘plan B’ for 2020
Aug.5 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has revealed he has a “plan B” in case Mercedes does not keep him for 2020. Team boss Toto Wolff is openly weighing up between keeping the Finn, or promoting reserve driver Esteban Ocon to become Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate. Bottas’ case was not helped in Hungary, where he had his […]
Hulkenberg unhappy with Renault ‘situation’
Aug.4 (GMM) Whilst riding a crest of form with Honda power, Max Verstappen has launched a stinging jibe at Red Bull’s former engine supplier. After the team split with Renault for 2019, the Dutchman has won two of the last three grands prix and his first-ever pole position in Hungary. At the same time, Renault […]
F1 could reduce winter testing by two days
Aug.4 (GMM) F1 could reduce the amount of pre-season testing to free up capacity for another race. Liberty Media has asked the teams for their agreement to sign a 2020 race deal with Barcelona, which would bring the calendar to an unprecedented 22 grands prix. “I think in principle, yes is the answer,” Red Bull […]
Red Bull, Ferrari say no to Alonso for 2020
Aug.4 (GMM) There is no place for Fernando Alonso at any of the top three Formula 1 teams for 2020. Mercedes has named its candidates for Lewis Hamilton’s next teammate, while Dr Helmut Marko gave a clear answer when asked about whether Alonso might end his sabbatical by joining Red Bull. “No,” he sternly told […]
FIA asks teams, drivers, about F1 penalties
Aug.4 (GMM) The FIA has asked F1’s ten team bosses and 20 drivers for their opinions about how on-track incidents should be penalised. In Hungary, race director Michael Masi presented them with an anonymous questionnaire about 12 controversial incidents over the past few years. It follows intense discussions over how often the stewards intervene with […]
Verstappen talks not about 2020 seat – Wolff
Aug.4 (GMM) It has been a busy weekend so far for Max Verstappen’s management. Amid a spate of ‘Verstappen mania’ in Formula 1, the Dutchman has been linked with a shock switch to Mercedes for 2020. One German report revealed that Toto Wolff met for dinner in Budapest with Max’s father Jos. “That is not […]
Mercedes ‘must take Verstappen seriously’ – Wolff
Aug.4 (GMM) Max Verstappen is a genuine contender for the 2019 world championship. That is the view of Toto Wolff, after Red Bull driver Verstappen in Hungary added his first ever pole to his run of impressive recent form. Verstappen is 63 points behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton. “There are still 260 points available for […]
Magnussen says he ‘needs’ August break
Aug.4 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he is more than looking forward to the August break. It has been an incredibly intense first half of the season for Haas, with the Pirelli tyre situation, the farcical title sponsor saga, and a spate of collisions between the drivers. Now, the confused American team is experimenting with its […]
Russell better off at Williams for now – Wolff
Aug.4 (GMM) Toto Wolff has ruled George Russell out of the running for the seat alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next year. Earlier, team boss Wolff had already admitted that Valtteri Bottas and Esteban Ocon were solely in competition for the 2020 cockpit. He says Russell is better off spending another year at Williams. “He […]
Two drivers in running for 2020 seat – Wolff
Aug.3 (GMM) Toto Wolff says there are only two candidates in the running to be Lewis Hamilton’s teammate in 2020. Since Nico Rosberg suddenly retired at the end of 2016, Hamilton has been teamed up with Finn Valtteri Bottas. But now team boss Wolff is considering replacing him with Esteban Ocon, the former Force India […]
F1 will still use fuel in 20 years – Taffin
Aug.3 (GMM) Renault’s engine boss doubts Formula 1 will leave behind its fuel-powered era within the next 20 years. In an ever more ‘green’-minded world, and the ever rising success of Formula E, it is speculated that F1 could eventually ramp up its hybrid credentials to do away with fuel altogether. But Renault’s Remi Taffin […]
Binotto, Vettel looking ahead to 2020
Aug.3 (GMM) Ferrari appears to be looking ahead to 2020. But Sebastian Vettel, despite his 84 point gap to the championship lead, says it would make no sense to “throw in the towel” this year either. “The rules aren’t changing much next year, so it doesn’t make sense to throw in the towel,” the German […]
Italian driver on Toro Rosso radar – report
Aug.3 (GMM) A new driver has emerged on Toro Rosso’s radar for 2020. Pierre Gasly has struggled at the senior Red Bull team this year, but boss Christian Horner says he is not considering a mid-year driver change. “He now has the second half of the season to get everything right. But we do not […]
Hulkenberg thinks Renault wants to keep him
Aug.3 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has dismissed suggestions that Renault is preparing to oust him. Team boss Cyril Abiteboul has been quoted by France’s Auto Hebdo as saying: “Whenever Nico is about to achieve great things, he seems to sabotage himself.” He is referring to Hulkenberg’s crash at Hockenheim, within sight of his first ever podium […]
Verstappen plays down Hamilton’s five titles
Aug.3 (GMM) Max Verstappen has played down Lewis Hamilton’s achievements. The silly season is really firing in Hungary, with speculation raging that the duo could be teammates in the not-too-distant future. Recently, Red Bull boss Christian Horner said he thinks Verstappen is now a better driver than Hamilton. “It’s always nice when your boss says […]
Honda ‘not behind Mercedes’ anymore – Hamilton
Aug.3 (GMM) The days are over when Mercedes could easily out-power Red Bull. That is the view not only of Max Verstappen, but also Mercedes’ championship leader Lewis Hamilton. “They always have a good car,” Hamilton, who says he is feeling “a million times better” physically than he did at Hockenheim, said in Hungary when […]