Mar.15 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says he can “completely understand” why he has been designated Ferrari’s number 2 driver for 2019. While many are predicting a meteoric first season at Ferrari for the Monaco-born newcomer, it is Sebastian Vettel who has secured new boss Mattia Binotto’s early backing. “It is a decision that I completely understand,” […]
Category: Recent stories
2019 ‘make or break’ for Vettel – Villeneuve
Mar.14 (GMM) 2019 is “make or break” for Sebastian Vettel. That is the view of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who thinks the German cannot squander another chance to win the world championship for Ferrari. “It’s make or break for Sebastian Vettel this season,” the outspoken Canadian told Le Journal de Montreal. “He has made […]
McLaren also removes tobacco sponsor in Australia
Mar.14 (GMM) McLaren has also had to change its livery for the 2019 season opener. Already, Ferrari has unveiled a special 90th anniversary livery to replace the Mission Winnow branding, which came under the spotlight of local health authorities over its links to Philip Morris. But McLaren also has a new tobacco sponsor for 2019 […]
Wolff hits back at Marko’s pecking order
Mar.14 (GMM) Toto Wolff has hit back at Dr Helmut Marko’s estimation of the 2019 pecking order. Marko, the Red Bull-Honda official, has stated on multiple occasions that he thinks Ferrari is leading Red Bull by two tenths, followed by Mercedes. “I don’t think anyone can tell if someone is two tenths ahead or two […]
Sirotkin hopes to test Renault car in 2019
Mar.14 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin says he is hoping to get time at the wheel of Renault’s 2019 car this year. Dumped by Williams, the Russian will race Le Mans sports cars this year but has also been signed up as a Renault reserve. “It is not the role I dream of because I would have […]
Alonso ‘not at all’ missing Melbourne
Mar.14 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he does not miss being in Melbourne for the 2019 season opener. For the first time since making his F1 debut in 2001, the Spaniard is not present for the Australian grand prix. While still a McLaren ambassador and tester, the 37-year-old is instead in Florida where he will race […]
Most Germans vote against Vettel title win
Mar.14 (GMM) Most Germans do not think Sebastian Vettel will win the 2019 world championship. DPA news agency commissioned YouGov, a global market research company, to see how many of the Ferrari driver’s countrymen think he can beat Mercedes in 2019. Only 27 per cent answered yes, with 37 per cent believing Vettel’s title tally […]
F1 to ‘investigate’ Bahrain jailing case
Mar.14 (GMM) F1 has vowed to “investigate” the jailing of an activist who protested against the Bahrain grand prix. Human rights activists have been putting pressure on the sport to respond after the activist, Najah Yousif, was jailed by the Bahrain regime for “broadcasting false and biased news”. F1 was asked to “uphold its commitment […]
2019 to show ‘how good Stroll really is’ – Surer
Mar.14 (GMM) F1 will find out “how good Stroll really is” in 2019. That is the view of Marc Surer, a former driver who is now a F1 television pundit. Lance Stroll has moved from Williams, the backmarker team, to his father Lawrence’s Racing Point outfit for 2019. Many dismiss the 20-year-old Canadian as a […]
New ‘point for fastest lap’ rule criticised
Mar.14 (GMM) Figures in the F1 paddock have criticised a new rule that will grant an extra point to the driver who posts the fastest lap of each race. From 2019, if a driver finishes in the top ten, he will get an extra point if he also posts the fastest lap of the race. […]
Charlie Whiting dies in Melbourne
Mar.14 (GMM) Charlie Whiting has died in Melbourne. The long-serving FIA race director and official starter passed away in his Melbourne hotel room on Wednesday, just days before the 2019 season opener. The FIA and Liberty Media confirmed that he died of a pulmonary embolism. “I’m devastated,” said Ross Brawn, Liberty’s sporting boss. Whiting, who […]
Kvyat not ruling out Red Bull comeback
Mar.13 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat is not ruling out a shock return to Red Bull Racing. Dr Helmut Marko, the manager of the Red Bull driver programme, says the Russian driver’s return to Toro Rosso in 2019 is his “last chance” in F1. Indeed, Kvyat formerly had a meteoric rise to Red Bull Racing and an […]
Ricciardo refused to be no.2 to Verstappen – Hill
Mar.13 (GMM) 1996 world champion Damon Hill has backed Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull exit. Ricciardo’s Australian countryman Mark Webber said Ricciardo deciding to join Renault for 2019 was “weird”, but Hill says it actually reflects a deep desire to succeed. “He always has a massive grin on but deep down there is a burning desire […]
Podium drought may not end in 2019 – Hulkenberg
Mar.13 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg admits it is possible his podium drought could be extended even further in 2019. The German holds the ignominious record of being the longest-serving driver without a single podium. “I want to break this spell sooner rather than later,” the 31-year-old told SID news agency. Once an obvious star of the […]
Vettel ‘lacked support’ in 2018 – Rosberg
Mar.13 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel now has the support he needs to win the title for Ferrari. That is the belief of Nico Rosberg, the 2016 world champion. Another former F1 driver, Ralf Schumacher, says the “biggest mistake” made by Ferrari last year was not giving Vettel “everything he wanted”. Rosberg agrees, telling Auto Bild that […]
‘Fully motivated’ Newey ‘barely sleeps’ – Marko
Mar.13 (GMM) Adrian Newey is back at “full throttle” in formula one. That is the news from Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko. In recent years, renowned but disillusioned F1 designer Newey has taken a step back from the sport. But Marko says the Honda collaboration has piqued Newey’s interest. “Our goal is to win […]
Verstappen ‘fairly relaxed’ for 2019 opener
Mar.13 (GMM) Max Verstappen has confirmed his boss’s view about his maturity and patience in 2019. Red Bull boss Dr Helmut Marko said the 21-year-old Dutchman, once seen as impetuous and overly aggressive, is now ready to be a title-winning driver. “I am generally fairly relaxed before the first race,” Verstappen told De Telegraaf as […]
Beating Michael’s records not easy for Hamilton – Ralf
Mar.13 (GMM) It will not be easy for Lewis Hamilton to break Michael Schumacher’s record tally of seven world championships. That is the view of Michael’s brother Ralf, who also raced in F1. Hamilton won his fifth world championship last year, and now many are expecting him to dislodge Schumacher as the most successful driver […]
Hard for Gasly in ‘Team Verstappen’ – Villeneuve
Mar.13 (GMM) Pierre Gasly needs to look good alongside Max Verstappen in 2019. That is the view of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. In just his second season on the grid, Frenchman Gasly has replaced Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull. “For Gasly, the only goal is to compare himself to Max Verstappen,” the Canadian […]
Giovinazzi must be careful early in 2019 – Trulli
Mar.13 (GMM) Another driver has urged Antonio Giovinazzi to take it steady in 2019. Days ago, Giancarlo Fisichella said his fellow Italian should “keep a margin in his pocket” when out on track with Alfa Romeo. “At least in the first races it is important not to retire or break the car,” said the former […]