Feb.26 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says a garage fire was a minor blip in an otherwise positive start to McLaren’s 2019 season. During a filming day on Friday, a few team mechanics had to be treated for burns. “It was very small,” driver Sainz told Movistar. “There were little burns on the arms of some mechanics […]
Category: Recent stories
Russell defends Williams after test delay
Feb.26 (GMM) George Russell has defended Williams after the struggling British team’s high profile 2019 car delay. Already dead last in 2018, Williams missed the first two days of testing in Barcelona and Robert Kubica said at the end of the test that he learned “nothing”. But Russell, the baby-faced Formula 2 champion, defended his […]
Ricciardo hopeful passing will be easier
Feb.26 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo is hopeful overtaking will indeed be easier in 2019. The front wings in particular have been changed for this year to allow chasing cars to have a better chance of following and passing his rival. But the early reports based on simulation data and the opening Barcelona test last week indicated […]
Alfa Romeo surprised to have aced front wing design
Feb.26 (GMM) The team formerly known as Sauber says it is surprised to be apparently leading the pack when it comes to front wing design in 2019. The aerodynamic rules have changed for this year to aid overtaking, and it is Alfa Romeo with the innovative design that big teams like Mercedes and Red Bull […]
Hamilton has no interest in ‘triple crown’
Feb.25 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he has no interest in following Fernando Alonso’s lead by targeting the so-called ‘triple crown’. Now retired from F1, Alonso has already added Le Mans to his tally and is now targeting victory at the Indy 500. If he wins, he will become only the second driver after Graham Hill […]
Lauda’s doctor rules out Melbourne flight
Feb.25 (GMM) Niki Lauda’s doctor has confirmed reports that the F1 legend will not be in Australia next month. Lauda, who has just turned 70, has had a long recovery from lung transplant surgery last year. “Niki is doing well at the moment,” Lauda’s younger brother Florian Lauda told ORF television. “Now he has to […]
Female driver to race in Formula 2
Feb.25 (GMM) Tatiana Calderon has moved another step closer to F1. Last year, Sauber’s female test driver drove the Swiss team’s car for a ‘filming’ run after the Mexican grand prix. Now, she has been signed up by the well-known Arden team in Formula 2 for 2019. “It’s a new challenge in my career and […]
Russell says Kubica must ‘cooperate, not compete’
Feb.25 (GMM) George Russell says he and teammate Robert Kubica need to work together rather than fight in the wake of Williams’ delayed start to winter testing. Problems with the design of parts meant that Williams, dead last in 2018, was more than two days late to get its new car up and running in […]
Renault sympathises after Williams delay
Feb.25 (GMM) Nick Chester, the technical boss at Renault, says he sympathises with Williams. Embarrassed team boss Claire Williams apologised to the team’s fans and drivers last week following a more than two day delay for its new 2019 car. But only a week earlier, boss Cyril Abiteboul had also warned that Renault also came […]
Ferrari gets ‘no points’ for strong winter – Horner
Feb.25 (GMM) It is too soon to say that Ferrari is the definite favourite in 2019. That is the view of Christian Horner, the Red Bull boss. He was responding to claims the early pecking order is Ferrari with a clear lead, ahead of Red Bull-Honda and Mercedes. “If there was a winter world championship, […]
Leclerc a ‘luxury problem’ for Ferrari – Wolff
Feb.25 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks two strong drivers is a “luxury problem” for Mercedes’ key F1 rival Ferrari. Some believe Ferrari could struggle to manage its drivers now that Sebastian Vettel has young charger Charles Leclerc as his teammate. But Mercedes boss Wolff, who previously managed the difficult rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, […]
Boullier to help run French GP
Feb.25 (GMM) Eric Boullier is back in formula one. The Frenchman was ousted as McLaren team boss in July of last year. But France’s L’Equipe reports that he is now returning with a role at the French grand prix. While McLaren boss, Boullier already worked to help Paul Ricard return to the calendar. The publication […]
Owner Stroll expects Racing Point to improve
Feb.25 (GMM) The team formerly known as Force India is confident it will improve in 2019. After the first Barcelona test, it was clear that the team – now called Racing Point – is struggling for pace. “The chassis is basically the same as last year’s,” explains technical boss Andy Green. “The gearbox is from […]
Netflix series producer slams Mercedes and Ferrari
Feb.25 (GMM) The producers of a new Netflix documentary series about F1 have hit out at top teams Mercedes and Ferrari. The ten part series called Drive to Survive, set to be released on March 8, features behind-the-scenes access to every team except last year’s title protagonists. “Mercedes and Ferrari wanted to operate under different […]
Montezemolo dislikes new Ferrari colour
Feb.25 (GMM) Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says he does not like the new colour of the Maranello team’s 2019 car. Ferrari has switched to a lightweight matte finish for its 2019 livery, while some have observed that the colour itself appears more orange than in 2018. “In my opinion, the Ferrari red is […]
Overtaking not easier in 2019 – Newey
Feb.25 (GMM) The F1 paddock is sceptical that overtaking will become easier in 2019. The main tweak to the rules for this year – the wider front wings – is designed to make it easier for a following car to chase and pass his rival. Ferrari has the fastest new car so far, but Sebastian […]
Standard gearbox not decided yet – Steiner
Feb.25 (GMM) A final decision about gearboxes for 2021 has not been made. That is the claim of Haas team boss Gunther Steiner, responding to the news that a tender has been put out by the FIA regarding a standard gearbox design for 2021. “There is this proposal, but nothing has been decided about the […]
Brexit could give Haas advantage – Steiner
Feb.25 (GMM) Gunther Steiner thinks ‘Brexit’ could actually be an advantage for the Haas team. Last week, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff said Britain’s exit from the European Union could favour Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, who are based outside the UK. But Steiner thinks Brexit would also leave Haas in a good place. “We are keeping our […]
‘Nothing fundamentally wrong’ with car – Bottas
Feb.25 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas insists there is nothing “fundamentally wrong” with Mercedes’ 2019 car. The Finn was asked about the apparent half a second gap that separates the reigning champions from Ferrari after the first winter test. “Ferrari seems to be ahead of us at the moment,” Bottas admitted. “That’s a fact.” He cautioned that […]
Renault fast but ‘Red Bull faster’ – Hulkenberg
Feb.22 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says Renault has a fight on its hands to stay fourth in 2019. The German actually ended the Barcelona test with the fastest time overall, but he admits that doesn’t mean Renault is about to leapfrog the top three teams. Hulkenberg’s new teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, has switched over the winter from […]