Aug.3 (GMM) An explosion of intense silly season rumours could finally come to an end on Sunday. Authoritative sources, including Italy’s Corriere della Sera, claim that the lineups at all top three teams – Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull – are up for grabs. Fernando Alonso is being linked with an unlikely union with Red […]
Category: Recent stories
Teams concerned about fines for safety-based penalties
Aug.2 (GMM) A new penalty issued by the FIA in Hockenheim looks set to have a short shelf-life. For unsafely releasing Charles Leclerc from a pitstop into the path of Romain Grosjean, Ferrari received a EUR 5,000 team fine rather than an actual sporting penalty for the driver. Indeed, for the same infraction at Monaco, […]
‘No idea’ how Alfa appeal will go – Raikkonen
Aug.2 (GMM) Alfa Romeo is pushing ahead with its appeal against lost points in Hockenheim. In a highly complex ruling, the FIA found discrepancies between the drivers’ use of the clutch at the race start and the actual delivery of torque. The implication is that the former Sauber team was mimicking traction control. Another rumour […]
Perez eyes new Racing Point contract
Aug.2 (GMM) Sergio Perez has revealed that he is in talks about extending his stay at Racing Point. Last year, the Mexican and his backers were instrumental in the Lawrence Stroll-owned team’s transition from Force India. And the 29-year-old says he now wants a multi-year deal. “I’ve seen the team evolve over the past year,” […]
Angry Hulkenberg sure his future is ‘in Formula 1’
Aug.2 (GMM) In Hungary on Thursday, it was clear that Nico Hulkenberg’s mood had not significantly improved since he crashed out of the wet Hockenheim race just days ago. The German had looked set to end his unenviable record as the longest-serving Formula 1 driver without a single podium finish. And with his Renault contract […]
F1 teams to decide 2020 Spanish GP fate
Aug.2 (GMM) It could be up to the teams whether Barcelona keeps its place on the Formula 1 calendar for 2020. Earlier, with Zandvoort and Vietnam joining for 2020, it seemed clear that Barcelona and Hockenheim were the two races that would be axed so that next year’s calendar stays at 21 races. But now […]
Hulkenberg ‘interesting’ candidate for Haas – Steiner
Aug.2 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg is an “interesting option” for Haas for 2020. That is the admission of team boss Gunther Steiner, as the Sword of Damocles hangs over current Haas racer Romain Grosjean’s head. Steiner was even asked at Hockenheim if he had thought about axing a driver mid-season, following a spate of collisions between […]
Russell admits 2020 Mercedes seat ‘unlikely’
Aug.2 (GMM) George Russell has admitted that a 2020 seat at Mercedes is “unlikely”. That is despite the fact that, alongside Esteban Ocon, he is one of the German marque’s top development drivers. And Valtteri Bottas’ seat is in doubt, arguably even more so after he crashed out at Hockenheim. “It definitely wasn’t good for […]
‘Clear’ that Verstappen staying put – Marko
Aug.2 (GMM) Max Verstappen has played down sensational rumours that he could still switch to Mercedes for 2020. “I used to say Lewis was the best driver in Formula 1 at the moment, but now I think it’s Max,” 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg said after Hockenheim. Indeed, the Dutchman has won two of the […]
Alfa Romeo undecided over German GP penalty appeal
Aug.1 (GMM) Alfa Romeo has not decided whether to push ahead with its appeal against a penalty that cost both race drivers points at Hockenheim. Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi actually finished 7th and 8th, but four hours after the race they were relegated out of the points when the FIA found a problem with […]
Former F1 players think Alonso return possible
Aug.1 (GMM) Two experienced former F1 personalities think it is possible that Fernando Alonso will return to the grid. Disgruntled with the state of the sport and his lack of opportunities to win, the two-time world champion quit Formula 1 at the end of last year. He has been linked with a potential return, but […]
Leclerc ‘coping better’ than Vettel – Vasseur
Aug.1 (GMM) Charles Leclerc’s former boss says he is surprised how quickly the 21-year-old has put serious pressure on Ferrari number 1 Sebastian Vettel. Last year, Frederic Vasseur was Leclerc’s first Formula 1 team boss, when the Monaco-born driver made his debut for Sauber. “I did not expect that Charles would settle in at Ferrari […]
Current rules make catching up too hard – Prost
Jul.31 (GMM) The current regulations are making it difficult for Renault to catch the top teams, according to Alain Prost. The F1 legend has been promoted from an advisory role at the French works team to become a Niki Lauda-style non-executive director. The development comes as Renault struggles to meet its goal of closing the […]
Verstappen better than Hamilton – van Lennep
Jul.31 (GMM) Max Verstappen is already a better driver than Lewis Hamilton. That is the claim of Gijs van Lennep, a former F1 driver who like Verstappen is Dutch. 77-year-old van Lennep, who raced 8 times in the 70s, thinks Verstappen is now ready to take on five time world champion Hamilton even at the […]
Ocon hopes for 2020 ‘answers’ during August break
Jul.31 (GMM) Esteban Ocon is expecting his mobile phone to have a busy August break. Most of the rest of the Formula 1 world will take a well-deserved break in August as the factories mandatorily shut down. But Haas boss Gunther Steiner thinks Mercedes reserve Ocon is the key to the 2020 silly season, as […]
Red Bull lacking Gasly alternatives – Villeneuve
Jul.31 (GMM) Pierre Gasly is only keeping his seat at Red Bull for now because of a lack of alternatives. That is the view of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who thinks Red Bull has been surprisingly lenient on the struggling French driver in 2019. “It’s more than difficult,” he said when asked about […]
Mercedes names Lauda successor
Jul.31 (GMM) Mercedes has appointed a replacement for the late Niki Lauda. At the time of his death in May, the F1 legend was the team’s non-executive chairman, reporting directly to Daimler’s management board. Lauda was also a 10 per cent owner of the F1 team, but it is not known what will happen to […]
Williams says Russell ‘going nowhere’ for 2020
Jul.31 (GMM) Williams is not going to let George Russell flee to the Mercedes works team without a fight. At Hockenheim, Toto Wolff suggested that Valtteri Bottas’ 2020 seat is not secure because of the promise of Mercedes’ juniors Russell and Esteban Ocon. “We are very happy with their development. The aim is to make […]
Marko not ruling out Verstappen title
Jul.31 (GMM) Red Bull-Honda could soon close the gap completely to Mercedes. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, after Max Verstappen won two of the past three grands prix. “I would not rule it out,” the Red Bull official told Auto Motor und Sport when asked if the world championship is still a […]
Gasly ‘too weak when fighting’ – Marko
Jul.31 (GMM) Pierre Gasly is still under the microscope at Red Bull. Early season struggles for the Frenchman triggered rumours he could be ousted within his first season with the premier energy drink owned team. But then he bounced back with a strong showing at Silverstone — before crashing twice at Hockenheim. “In (German GP) […]