Jan.17 (GMM) F1 witnessed a “different” Sebastian Vettel in 2018. That is the view of Massimo Rivola, a former top Ferrari engineer who also worked with the German driver in his Toro Rosso days. Vettel looked the favourite to win the world championship last year until a mid-season slump. “I don’t know what happened,” Rivola […]
Category: Recent stories
Lauda leaves hospital after influenza
Jan.17 (GMM) Niki Lauda has left hospital following his latest health setback. After a long period of hospitalisation and rehabilitation, the F1 legend was holidaying in Ibiza over the New Year period when he contracted influenza A. He returned to Vienna where he was treated in intensive care, but just over two weeks later – […]
Elkann denies turmoil still afoot at Ferrari
Jan.16 (GMM) Fiat Chrysler chairman John Elkann has hit back at rumours that turmoil is still afoot at Ferrari. Following the death of Sergio Marchionne in 2018, Elkann stepped up to be his replacement and Louis Camilleri installed as the new Ferrari president. Now, Maurizio Arrivabene has been ousted as Ferrari team boss, replaced by […]
Bottas targets ‘best season of my career’
Jan.16 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says his goal is to drive the season of his career. Although driving for F1’s fastest team, the Finn is under pressure. He struggled alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2018 and now Esteban Ocon is threatening to take his place for 2020. “The holidays are basically over now,” Bottas is quoted by […]
Norris not worried about becoming next Vandoorne
Jan.16 (GMM) McLaren has been working hard to make changes and improve, according to new driver Lando Norris. The once-great British team had yet another poor season in 2018, and has lost Fernando Alonso to retirement. Replacing him is Carlos Sainz alongside Lando Norris, the Formula 2 runner-up. Norris told Auto Motor und Sport that […]
Mercedes ‘blocked’ next Ocon move – Villeneuve
Jan.16 (GMM) His links to Mercedes are both a blessing and a curse for Esteban Ocon. That is the claim of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, referring to Frenchman Ocon whose F1 race career has been halted. Ocon has been replaced at Force India by Lance Stroll, the son of the team’s new billionaire owner. […]
More Ferrari changes ‘in coming months’
Jan.16 (GMM) More changes at Ferrari could be looming in “the coming months”. That is the claim of John Elkann, who took over at the Maranello marque in the wake of Sergio Marchionne’s shock death last year. His first major act was to oust team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, reportedly in order to ensure that his […]
McLaren to race ‘very different car’ in 2019
Jan.15 (GMM) McLaren will head into the 2019 season with a “very different car”. That is the claim of team boss Zak Brown, who indicated that the once-great British team’s recent struggles may now be coming to an end. “It will be a very different car compared to 2018,” he is quoted by Italy’s Autosprint. […]
Haas to continue Ferrari collaboration – Steiner
Jan.15 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says Haas will continue to benefit from its close collaboration with Ferrari. Last year, the small American team finished fifth overall, amid complaints that it effectively uses a Ferrari ‘clone’ single seater. But boss Steiner says the team has proved it does nothing wrong. “We’ve invited everyone to come and take […]
Arrivabene exit no surprise – Audetto
Jan.15 (GMM) A former Ferrari team manager says he is not surprised the Maranello team ousted Maurizio Arrivabene. “If you don’t win, after four years it’s difficult to remain in a leading position,” said Daniele Audetto, an experienced former F1 manager who was most recently involved with Super Aguri and HRT. “At a team like […]
Schumacher tipped to sign Ferrari deal
Jan.15 (GMM) Mick Schumacher could be about to sign up with Ferrari’s driver development ‘academy’. International publications including La Repubblica, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Autosprint and RTL claim the son of F1’s most successful driver could sign the deal in the coming days. Schumacher, 19, won the European F3 title this year and is tipped […]
Mercedes to use all-new engine in 2019 – report
Jan.14 (GMM) Mercedes could once again be about to pull away from its rivals in the horse power department. Last year, Ferrari closed the gap on the German team, and also Renault and Honda made progress in 2018. But La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that a brand new, “deeply redesigned” power unit has been produced […]
Perez not worried about Lance Stroll as teammate
Jan.14 (GMM) Sergio Perez says he is not worried about becoming the number 2 driver at the team formerly known as Force India. The 28-year-old Mexican has been at the Silverstone based team since 2014. But now Lawrence Stroll has arrived as the new team owner, and he has installed his own son Lance as […]
F1 return now ‘long term’ goal – Sirotkin
Jan.14 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin admits returning to formula one has become more of a “long term” goal. The Russian driver, backed by Russia’s SMP Bank, has lost his Williams race seat to Robert Kubica. Since receiving the bad news, he has already tested a DTM car for Audi, is slated to race in LMP1 sports […]
Haas boss targets fifth place again
Jan.14 (GMM) Gunther Steiner thinks Haas can do “a good job” once again in 2019. In 2018, the new American team surprised in its second year on the grid by finishing fifth overall. And boss Steiner thinks Haas can do it again. “When I look at the numbers, I’m sure we will have a good […]
Renault ‘attack years’ begin in 2019 – Budkowski
Jan.14 (GMM) Renault is about to begin “three years of attack”. That is the view of Marcin Budkowski, the French works team’s new executive director. Last year he caused a paddock stir when he was poached from a top FIA role. Now, he has been appointed to be centrally involved in the next phase of […]
Sources say Domenicali could return to Ferrari
Jan.14 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali could return to formula one. The Italian was ousted by Ferrari in 2014, following the great Maranello team’s failed attempts to win the title. But Ferrari has now ousted Maurizio Arrivabene and replaced him with technical boss Mattia Binotto. Some think Binotto handling both the team boss role and the technical […]
Formula E driver hits out at Verstappen ‘punishment’
Jan.14 (GMM) A Formula E driver has hit out at the FIA’s ‘community service’ for Max Verstappen. As punishment for shoving Esteban Ocon in Brazil last November, the FIA sentenced the Red Bull driver to unspecified community service. Dutchman Verstappen duly served his punishment by attending the weekend’s Formula E race in Morocco as “an […]
Arrivabene linked with Sauber role
Jan.11 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen thinks Sauber can do “great things” from 2019. The Swiss team took a big step forward last year with its up-to-date Ferrari engine, leadership by Frederic Vasseur, and backing by the Fiat brand Alfa Romeo. And now, Germany’s Auto Bild reports that with his existing Ferrari-Fiat links, ousted Ferrari boss Maurizio […]
Wehrlein admits to Ferrari ‘talks’
Jan.11 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein has admitted to having “talks” with Ferrari. Reports suggest the former Manor and Sauber driver, who recently split with Mercedes and is now a Formula E driver, will work in Ferrari’s simulator in 2019. “The situation is that talks are taking place, but nothing has been confirmed yet,” German Wehrlein told […]