Feb.4 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve may miss several grands prix in 2019 as he returns to racing. For the past few seasons, the 1997 world champion has been an expert pundit for Canal Plus (France) and Sky (Italy). But this year, the 47-year-old will be racing in the European Nascar series, as well as the Italian […]
Category: Recent stories
Red Bull denies wanting to buy F1
Feb.4 (GMM) Red Bull has denied being interested in buying formula one. It was rumoured last week that Liberty Media, under fire from a majority of disgruntled F1 race promoters, could be looking to sell the sport. Liberty Media would not comment. But when asked about the Red Bull rumours, Dr Helmut Marko told Auto […]
Alfa to reveal innovative 2019 car – report
Feb.4 (GMM) Sauber – now called Alfa Romeo – could have a surprise in store with the design of its 2019 car. That is the claim of Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. The authoritative sports newspaper claims the new Alfa will have a radical shape as it has been designed with “as little caution as […]
Bottas could be back to normal in 2019 – Montoya
Feb.4 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has admitted a few sips of alcohol helped him through the winter period. The Finn struggled alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2018 and it is now rumoured this year will be his last with Mercedes. “I am a normal Finn, and yes on a weekend it (alcohol) sometimes helps,” Bottas smiled to […]
Sauber, now Alfa, gets 2019 budget boost
Feb.2 (GMM) Sauber will reportedly enjoy a big budget boost in 2019. The Hinwil based team has a new name for the new season — Alfa Romeo. “Alfa Romeo Racing, operated by Sauber Motorsport. New name, Same game!” the team announced on Twitter. “It’s a pity that the legendary Sauber name is going,” former F1 […]
Boss suggests Monza prepared to lose F1 race
Feb.1 (GMM) Monza is not the only F1 venue that is worried about the cost of hosting an annual grand prix, according to Italian GP boss Angelo Sticchi Damiani. The Italian automobile club (Aci) president this week confirmed that Monza is among the 16 F1 circuits protesting the race fees charged by Liberty Media. “The […]
‘Difficult’ to be Schumacher’s son – Mick
Feb.1 (GMM) Mick Schumacher has admitted that it is sometimes “difficult” to be the son of F1’s most successful driver of all time. Reigning European F3 champion Schumacher, 19, is stepping up to Formula 2 this year, and he also recently signed up with Ferrari’s driver development programme. Some think Schumacher’s path was made easier […]
Ferrari CEO announces bigger F1 budget for 2019
Feb.1 (GMM) Ferrari will boost its 2019 budget in a bid to finally beat Mercedes to a world championship this decade. The fabled Italian team challenged hard in 2018, but team and driver mistakes ultimately meant Mercedes won its fifth consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ titles. During the course of 2018, Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne died, […]
Haas drivers must work on approach – Steiner
Feb.1 (GMM) Haas’ two race drivers need to get better at being calmly consistent throughout the season. That is the view of Gunther Steiner, the young and small American team’s boss. Last year, the closely Ferrari-aligned team surprised by fielding a truly competitive midfield car, only to eventually finish behind Renault for fifth in the […]
De Vries next in line for F1 promotion
Feb.1 (GMM) Nyck de Vries hopes he is the next Formula 2 driver who makes the big break into formula one. Last year, George Russell, Lando Norris and Alexander Albon finished first, second and third in the F2 championship — and all three are moving into F1 this year. Just behind them in the standings […]
Mercedes, Ferrari have different ‘attitudes’ – Wolff
Feb.1 (GMM) Toto Wolff says the biggest difference between Mercedes and Ferrari is the “attitude”. The Austrian, who has presided over the German marque’s utter domination of F1 since 2014, says he runs Mercedes with a “modest” attitude. “Part of our DNA is that we remain modest as we win,” Wolff told the Dutch magazine […]
Pirelli design new rain tyres for 2019
Pirelli will supply a new design of rain tyres to F1 teams in 2019. It was already known that the Italian supplier has tweaked its dry compounds for the new season, and simplified the colouring process for the fans. But Auto Bild reports that Pirelli has also made new rain and intermediate tyres for 2019, […]
‘Everything ok’ with new Haas sponsor – boss
Haas is not worried about any scepticism surrounding the American team’s new title sponsor. Last October, it was announced that Haas will change its livery for 2019 after signing a deal with British energy drink Rich Energy. However, little is known about Rich Energy, and its long-bearded boss William Storey. “I’ve heard the stories about […]
Alonso set for McLaren test in Barcelona
Fernando Alonso could try McLaren’s 2019 car as early as the forthcoming winter tests in Barcelona. The Spaniard has retired from F1, but team boss Zak Brown has said the two-time champion is welcome to attend grands prix in McLaren colours and even test the car on occasion. Marca sports newspaper claims that, unlike some […]
Sainz ‘excited’ to test 2019 McLaren car
Carlos Sainz is “very excited” to get up and running in McLaren’s 2019 car. The Spanish driver has moved from the Renault works team to the once-great McLaren team, which struggled throughout Fernando Alonso’s final years in F1 since 2015. “Carlos is very excited, very eager to start the tests here in Barcelona,” Sainz’s father […]
2019 champion team ‘up in the air’ – Wolff
Toto Wolff says the identity of this year’s world champion team is very much “up in the air”. Wolff leads the Mercedes team, which has won every world championship since the start of the ‘power unit’ era in 2014. The 2019 silver car will undergo its first “shakedown” test behind closed doors at Silverstone on […]
Lauda to be back in shape ‘soon’ – son
Niki Lauda will be back in action “soon”. That is the claim of the F1 legend’s son, 37-year-old Mathias Lauda. “Dad underwent a complex operation and has had bad moments, but he has a strong character and is fighting,” Lauda told La Gazzetta dello Sport. 69-year-old Niki Lauda, the Mercedes team chairman, has finally returned […]
New Monza F1 deal still ‘far away’
Italian GP boss Angelo Sticchi Damiani says a new F1 race deal for the historic Monza circuit is still “far away”. Monza is among the 16 circuits that is threatening to quit the sport over a dispute with Liberty Media. It is particularly relevant for the Italian GP host, as its existing Liberty deal is […]
Hartley says F1 exit rumours started at Monaco
Brendon Hartley says it was clear as far back as last year’s Monaco grand prix that Red Bull would oust him. The New Zealander was a surprise draft into the junior team Toro Rosso’s lineup following the ousting in late 2017 of Daniil Kvyat. But Kvyat is back for 2019, and the Russian’s teammate will […]
F1 tracks eye end to Liberty dispute
The boss of a big group of current F1 race promoters says he is confident their dispute with Liberty Media will be resolved. Led by Silverstone’s Stuart Pringle, the group of 16 circuits this week warned that they could pull out of the sport if concerns about the Liberty reign are not addressed. The group, […]