Ferrari has made yet another change to its team ahead of the 2019 season. Earlier, following the 2018 death of president Sergio Marchionne, team boss Maurizio Arrivabene has been ousted and Charles Leclerc appointed as 2019 race driver. Now, Alberto Antonini has left the Maranello team. Antonini, formerly a prominent Italian journalist, was the head […]
Category: Recent stories
Liberty Media could sell F1 – report
Liberty Media could be looking to sell F1 already. The American company, having bought the rights in 2016 and appointed Chase Carey to replace long-time F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone in 2017, is reportedly now considering its place in the sport. According to the sports business news publication johnwallstreet.com, Liberty is “exploring scenarios that would decrease […]
F1 may have to quit petrol engines – Rosberg
2016 world champion Nico Rosberg says F1 may have to give up its fuel-powered engines some day. Since retiring from F1, the German has made several ‘E-mobility’ investments, including in the all-electric single seater series Formula E. Rosberg says battery power could be the future of F1, too. “If the whole world is buying electric […]
Argentine track not targeting F1 race
One Argentinean official says the country is not looking for a place on the F1 calendar. Despite the already bustling calendar, Liberty Media is pushing for new races. Vietnam is joining for 2020, Finland is also linked with a race, and according to F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, rights holder Liberty Media has trademarked the […]
Bottas aims to ‘be better’ in 2019
Valtteri Bottas has got his 2019 season off to a good start with a competitive rally performance. In his first professional rally, at the Arctic Lapland event in Finland, the Mercedes driver finished fifth overall including a stage win. “Tricky but truly enjoyable stages,” Bottas said. For the looming F1 season, however, the pressure is […]
Force India adding blue to 2019 livery
Force India could add the colour blue to its livery for 2019. Last week, the Silverstone based team – set to be officially renamed ‘Racing Point’ following the Lawrence Stroll acquisition – would not comment on reports that the familiar pink will be dropped this year. It followed reports that the team was close to […]
Alonso eyes F1 paddock return for ‘rest’
Although retired from formula one, Fernando Alonso says he is busier than ever. Just hours ago, the Spaniard and 2018 Le Mans winner also won the Daytona 24 hour race. Later this year, he will once again vie for Indy 500 victory, and he has been linked with a Dakar rally tilt for 2020. According […]
Budget cap not close to agreement – Marko
Dr Helmut Marko has slammed the brakes on reports that F1 is now close to reaching an agreement about a 2021 budget cap. In recent days, it was reported that at the January meeting of the strategy group, the big teams basically agreed with Liberty Media and the FIA about the imposition of maximum annual […]
Vettel ‘massively overrated’ – Irvine
Former Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine thinks Sebastian Vettel is “massively overrated”. German Vettel was criticised on all sides for his performance in 2018, having failed to win the world championship despite having a car widely regarded as a match for the Mercedes. “I think Vettel is a good driver, but as a four times world […]
Haas ‘better and better’ every year – Grosjean
Haas is getting better at the formula one game. That is the news from leading players at the small American team, including driver Romain Grosjean, and chief engineer Ayao Komatsu. Komatsu says the biggest change in 2018, compared to Haas’ first two years on the grid, was how the car was developed. “It was the […]
Newey’s 2019 car on schedule – Marko
Jan.24 (GMM) Red Bull is on schedule with production of its 2019 car. That is the news from Dr Helmut Marko, the closest team official to owner and fellow Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz. Some teams have already announced that their 2019 chassis have passed the mandatory crash tests, while others have revealed a reveal date. Red […]
Correspondent says McLaren ‘lost focus’
Jan.24 (GMM) One of struggling McLaren’s biggest problems is that it “lost focus”. That is the view of Peter Nygaard, a correspondent for the Danish newspaper BT. McLaren is one of F1’s greatest ever team names, but last year failed to recover in the wake of the Honda divorce and for 2019 has lost Fernando […]
Verstappen ‘in the fight’ in 2019 – Hamilton
Jan.24 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton thinks Max Verstappen could be “in the fight” to win the 2019 world championship. Verstappen’s 2018 teammate Daniel Ricciardo has fled to the works Renault team, but has also admitted that the Dutchman could have a title winning car this year. “Max drove very well throughout last year, showing his consistency,” […]
Schumacher needs super license points in 2019
Jan.24 (GMM) The system for awarding F1 ‘super licenses’ to aspiring drivers could see Mick Schumacher left off the grid for 2020. Many are tipping the 19-year-old son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher to make his debut next year, having signed up with manager Nicolas Todt and the Ferrari development programme. He will race in […]
Liberty official says F1 wants second Chinese race
Jan.24 (GMM) Liberty Media is looking to add a second Chinese race to the F1 calendar. A race in the important Chinese market was introduced in 2004, and still takes place at the expansive circuit in Shanghai. But Murray Barnett, who is Formula One Management’s head of global sponsorship, says Liberty would like another race […]
Sochi to make F1 track surface more abrasive
Jan.24 (GMM) Organisers of the Russian grand prix are looking into ramping up the track action at Sochi. Promoter Rosgonki’s CEO Alexey Titov says the actual Sochi track layout will not change. “We are inside the Olympic Park and surrounded by stunning views,” he said. “To alter the route inside the Olympic Park is quite […]
Pirelli to test 18-inch tyres this year
Jan.24 (GMM) Pirelli will start thinking about the low-profile tyres for 2021 in the second half of this year. Despite competition from Hankook, Pirelli last year won the FIA tender to keep supplying the only make of tyres to formula one teams for the 2020-2023 period. In 2021, the regulations stipulate that 18 inch wheels […]
Norris wants to beat Sainz in 2019
Jan.23 (GMM) Lando Norris has admitted he wants to beat his teammate Carlos Sainz in 2019. The British rookie is making his debut this year alongside Spaniard Sainz, who debuted for Toro Rosso in 2015. Sainz switches from the works Renault team to McLaren for 2019. “Every driver tries to beat his teammate,” Norris, 19, […]
Raikkonen’s book ‘best seller’ of 2018
Jan.23 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen’s book was the Finnish best-seller of 2018. The 2007 world champion’s official biography, written by Kari Hotakainen and called ‘The Unknown Kimi Raikkonen’, was hailed for its sensational revelations. Ilta Sanomat newspaper reports that the book sold over 191,000 copies, making it “by far the best-selling book of 2018”. “It’s just […]
Force India not confirming end of pink livery
Jan.23 (GMM) Force India is not commenting on reports that it could drop its pink livery for 2019. SportsPro reports that the newly Lawrence Stroll-owned team has secured a $18 million deal with SportPesa, an African sports betting platform. In 2017 and 2018, Force India – to almost certainly be renamed ‘Racing Point’ for 2019 […]