Feb.6 (GMM) Max Verstappen insists he will not be following five time world champion Lewis Hamilton out of the back of a plane any time soon. Earlier, it emerged that reigning champion Hamilton had obtained his solo skydiving license as he enjoys the pre-season period before testing. Asked if he too will be jumping out […]
Category: Recent stories
Dutch circuits ‘still in race’ for 2020 GP
Feb.6 (GMM) Two Dutch circuits are reportedly “still in the race” to secure a place on the 2020 grid. RTL Nieuws, a Dutch broadcaster, has leaked a letter from F1 chief executive Chase Carey to officials at the Zandvoort circuit. The letter said that if Liberty Media and Zandvoort do not conclude a 2020 race […]
Force India now ‘Racing Point’ for 2019
Feb.6 (GMM) The Force India name is now officially gone from F1. The name began to fade over the past few years, amid Vijay Mallya and Subrata Roy’s legal troubles and the team’s belief that it must internationalise its branding. With the acquisition by billionaire Lawrence Stroll, Force India introduced the ‘Racing Point’ name in […]
Sirotkin hopes Williams improves in 2019
Feb.6 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin says he hopes Williams improves in 2019. The Russian admits he was devastated to learn that he would be left out of this year’s driver lineup. Williams is instead lining up with Robert Kubica and F2 champion George Russell. “It is a rather strange sensation,” Sirotkin, who is still with the […]
Ferrari parent could now buy Sauber
Feb.6 (GMM) Fiat Chrysler could buy the team formerly known as Sauber. Earlier, it was announced that after more than a quarter of a century on the grid, the Sauber name will be replaced completely by Alfa Romeo from 2019. The deal has been criticised. “Sauber is now under the Alfa Romeo flag,” said respected […]
Disgruntled promoters making ‘noise’ – Carey
Feb.6 (GMM) Chase Carey, F1’s chief executive, says the major group of disgruntled race promoters is making “noise”. Earlier, 16 of the sport’s 21 race organisers hit out at Liberty Media’s management, particularly the large annual fees paid to the F1 owner. “It’s part of life,” American Carey, who took over from long-time F1 supremo […]
F1 tracks to ‘pool’ insurance to cut costs
Feb.5 (GMM) Disgruntled F1 race promoters are making their own joint efforts to cut costs. Recently, 16 of the sport’s 21 grand prix hosts banded together to form the Formula One Promoters’ Association, and threatened to quit F1 over Liberty Media’s management. Their big gripe is the race fees charged by Liberty. Now, F1 business […]
First feeling from 2019 car ‘positive’ – Verstappen
Feb.5 (GMM) Max Verstappen says his first impression of Red Bull’s 2019 car is “positive”. The newly Honda-powered team has announced that its new car will be revealed on February 13 — the same day as world champions Mercedes’ 2019 single seater. Speaking at a sponsor event in Amsterdam, Verstappen sounded upbeat. “I have only […]
Sainz likes the look of ‘very different’ new McLaren
Feb.5 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he has seen the 2019 McLaren and thinks it will be a “good year” for the struggling British team. Sainz has switched from the works Renault team to McLaren for 2019, replacing his Spanish countryman Fernando Alonso. He refused to comment on the new rumours about Alonso’s possible return to […]
Britain approves Mallya extradition
Feb.5 (GMM) Britain’s home office has decided to send Indian fugitive and former Force India boss Vijay Mallya back to his native country. Former billionaire Mallya, who sold his Silverstone based team to Lawrence Stroll, faces jail in India over corruption and huge unpaid debts. A spokesperson for Britain’s home office said home secretary Sajid […]
Red Bull ‘needed’ Honda switch – Webber
Feb.5 (GMM) Mark Webber has backed Red Bull’s decision to switch to Honda power for 2019. Although Honda’s recent history in F1 has been unsuccessful, former Red Bull driver Webber thinks dropping customer Renault power was the right move for the team. “Red Bull needed a change,” he told Speed Week. “You get new energy […]
Gasly ‘under scrutiny’ in 2019 – Marko
Feb.5 (GMM) Pierre Gasly has Red Bull’s full support, but he must perform if he wants to keep his race seat at the senior F1 team. That is the warning of Dr Helmut Marko, who runs Red Bull’s notoriously tough driver programme. Max Verstappen is quoted by Speed Week: “When it became clear that Daniel […]
Vettel and Ferrari ‘deserve’ 2018 title – Wehrlein
Feb.5 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein says his countryman Sebastian Vettel deserves to win the 2019 world championship. Ferrari has announced that German Wehrlein, who also drives in Formula E, will be a Ferrari simulator driver this year. Also in the simulator at Maranello in 2019 will be ousted Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley, even though the […]
Lauda will miss winter tests and Australia – Marko
Feb.4 (GMM) Niki Lauda will miss both the forthcoming Barcelona tests and the first race of the season in Australia. That is the claim of the F1 legend’s Austrian countryman and paddock friend Dr Helmut Marko. Lauda, 69, has had a long and complex recovery from a 2018 lung transplant, but had hoped to be […]
Alonso leaving door open to 2020 return
Feb.4 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says winning a third world championship in formula one would be “the greatest joy”. It is just the latest sign that the recently-retired F1 driver – who will tackle Le Mans and the Indy 500 this year and won the 2019 Daytona 24 hour – is not permanently done with F1. […]
Honda ‘promises much more’ than Renault – Marko
Feb.4 (GMM) Red Bull has set the ultimate target for its first year in works collaboration with Honda. “Our ultimate goal is to make Max Verstappen the world champion in 2019,” said Dr Helmut Marko, the Austrian official who is close to team owner Dietrich Mateschitz. Most experts tip Mercedes and Ferrari to remain in […]
Renault may be competitive in 2019 – Isola
Feb.4 (GMM) F1 could be in for a very close year of competition. That is the view of Mario Isola, the F1 boss for sole tyre supplier Pirelli. He admitted to Spain’s AS newspaper that he has a close eye on the weather forecast ahead of the start of official winter testing in Barcelona. “With […]
McLaren’s Brown eyes ‘big step forward’ in 2019
Feb.4 (GMM) Team boss Zak Brown is targeting points finishes for McLaren’s 2019 car. The once-great British team has lost Fernando Alonso after four years of disappointing performance, but Brown said hopes are now high for a “good car”. “The development in the winter has been very consistent, but obviously we do not know what […]
Mexico to stop funding grand prix
Feb.4 (GMM) The highly popular new Mexican grand prix is now in doubt for the future. Claudia Sheinbaum, the mayor of Mexico City, has announced that there will be no more government backing for the race beyond this year’s event in October. She told El Financiero, Mexico’s major national business newspaper, that the F1 funding […]
Vettel ‘broken’ – Coronel
Feb.4 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is “broken”. That is the view of former racing driver Tom Coronel, who thinks Vettel’s difficult 2018 season with Ferrari may have given the early upper hand for 2019 to new teammate Charles Leclerc. “Vettel is broken because of last year,” Coronel told the Dutch publication Formule 1. “He will not […]