Jun.3 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has praised Renault for reacting to early engine problems in 2019. Amid Renault’s performance and reliability struggles this year, the German is actually being linked with a move to Red Bull for 2019. But Hulkenberg said he was actually impressed with how the French works team fixed an engine flaw that […]
Category: Recent stories
Montreal confident about long-term F1 future
Jun.3 (GMM) With its brand new facilities, the Canadian GP venue in Montreal looks safe for the long term. That is the view of promoter Francois Dumontier, who played down suggestions the new pit building will not be ready for this weekend’s race. “There is no embarrassment for Montreal,” he told Le Journal de Montreal […]
Vettel struggling for number 1 status – Berger
Jun.3 (GMM) Rumours are now swirling around Sebastian Vettel’s suddenly unclear future. The German, who headed into 2019 as Ferrari’s undisputed number 1, is now being blamed in part for the team’s crisis and under pressure from teammate Charles Leclerc. “Seb is a hard worker, as Schumacher was,” F1 legend Gerhard Berger told La Gazzetta […]
Briatore hints Alonso-McLaren Indy 500 project over
May 31 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has given a strong hint that Fernando Alonso will not return to the Indy 500 with McLaren. Fully competitive with an Andretti car in 2017 before an engine problem, Spaniard Alonso tried to complete his ‘triple crown’ this year but the full McLaren entry failed even to qualify. It has […]
Briatore slams Ferrari strategy blunder
May 31 (GMM) Flavio Briatore has slammed the strategy mistake made by Ferrari in Monaco. To save tyres, Charles Leclerc – fastest in the final practice session – was kept in the pits after a single run in Q1 and therefore qualified near the back of the grid. Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri this week apologised […]
Honda driver ‘dreaming’ of F1 move
May 31 (GMM) A Japanese driver is moving closer to his goal of Formula 1. Honda not only supplies engines to Red Bull and Toro Rosso, it also supports Nobuharu Matsushita, a leading Formula 2 driver. “I’m still dreaming of Formula 1 and getting a seat there,” the 25-year-old said. “This is a big dream […]
Kubica sponsor says too early to consider 2020
May 31 (GMM) Robert Kubica’s major sponsor is not yet willing to talk about 2020. There has been speculation that because the Pole is struggling alongside teammate George Russell this year, Williams or his backer PKN Orlen could drop him. “I have read a lot of different comments and speculation about Robert’s future, but only […]
Drivers query Monaco track change for 2019
May 30 (GMM) Some drivers believe the Monaco layout was tweaked without their knowledge ahead of the 2019 race. Officially, the circuit remained at precisely 3.337 kilometres from 2018 to 2019. But some drivers disagree, and according to Auto Motor und Sport raised the issue at the driver briefing. They claim the second part of […]
Kubica happy to prove doubters wrong
May 30 (GMM) Robert Kubica may be last at almost every race, but he says he has shown he can still race a Formula 1 car. Due to his permanent arm injuries sustained in a 2011 rallying crash, some doubted the Pole would be able to handle the twistiest circuits like Monaco. “I knew everything […]
Ferrari CEO apologises to Leclerc
May 30 (GMM) Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri has apologised publicly for the errors that messed up local driver Charles Leclerc’s qualifying in Monaco. The Monaco born 21-year-old was fastest in the final practice session before qualifying, only to be knocked out in Q1 when Ferrari strategists decided not to let him back out of the […]
Still no Mistral straight for French GP
May 30 (GMM) Using the full Mistral straight has once again been ruled out by organisers of the French GP. Last year, F1 returned to Paul Ricard, but a chicane in the middle of the epic Mistral straight was used. Asked if the chicane would be skipped for 2019, French GP director Gilles Dufeigneux told […]
2020 driver ‘silly season’ kicking off
May 30 (GMM) Six races into 2019, the driver ‘silly season’ looks set to kick off. The most explosive rumour is that four time world champion Sebastian Vettel, under huge pressure at Ferrari this year, could be contemplating retirement at the end of the season. In Monaco, he admitted his role in Ferrari’s issues. “Well, […]
Mercedes to have ‘new engine’ in Canada
May 30 (GMM) Mercedes’ rivals should be worried about the latest news coming out of the dominant F1 team. Lewis Hamilton, who attended Niki Lauda’s funeral on Wednesday, had said before leaving Monaco last weekend that “we will probably have a new engine” for Canada. “So the car will continue to move forwards,” he said. […]
Bratches confident over US GP future
May 30 (GMM) Sean Bratches is confident about the future of the US GP in Austin. Recently, the race looked in doubt after organisers missed a paperwork deadline that meant a lost $25 million in state funding. It was reported that the issue had been resolved. But Autoweek now reports that the legislative session in […]
Teams split over standard parts
May 30 (GMM) F1 teams are split over whether the idea of standardised components should be kept alive. Recently, the FIA has been sending out tenders for single suppliers to design and make gearboxes, wheels, brakes and fuel systems for 2021. But it emerged that the tender for standard gearboxes has been withdrawn, with the […]
Vettel denies Ferrari suspension problem
May 30 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has played down rumours Ferrari’s rear suspension layout is a major cause of the problem in 2019. It is believed Ferrari’s aerodynamic concept is one reason for the lack of performance, with the car working well in a straight line but slow compared to Mercedes in the corners. “The balance […]
Gap too big for points in 2019 – Kubica
May 29 (GMM) Robert Kubica thinks Williams may go the entire 2019 season without a single point. On his return to F1 this year, the Pole is regularly dead last in both qualifying and the race. “Formula 1 changes very fast, but I hope that this season will end well for us,” he told the […]
Wolff says 2019 clean sweep ‘not realistic’
May 29 (GMM) Toto Wolff has played down the notion that Mercedes could win every single grand prix in 2019. So far, the dominant German team is on track, with Lewis Hamilton winning four races and an on-form Valtteri Bottas the other two. Wolff, the team boss, backed Bottas to keep impressing in 2019, even […]
Boullier confirms F1 return ‘rumours’
May 28 (GMM) Eric Boullier says he could return to Formula 1. The Frenchman was ousted as McLaren boss last year, as the once-great British team failed to return to strength even after the dismal Honda collaboration. “I did everything I could with the means I had been given,” the 45-year-old told f1only.fr. But there […]
Ecclestone will not attend Lauda funeral
May 28 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he will not be attending F1 legend Niki Lauda’s funeral on Wednesday. Having died late last Monday, 70-year-old Lauda will be buried in his racing suit after a funeral at a gothic Vienna cathedral. Toto Wolff is expected to make a speech, and Lewis Hamilton answered “of course” when […]