Oct.3 (GMM) Organisers of the French grand prix are seeking a contract extension. This year, Paul Ricard meant that after a ten-year absence, France returned to the F1 calendar. The current contract is for five years. At this year’s event there were notable traffic problems, but promoter Christian Estrosi said the issue can only be […]
Category: Recent stories
Russian driver’s father arrested
Oct.3 (GMM) One Russian driver’s chances of making his F1 debut next year have taken a hit. At Sochi, Formula 2 driver Artem Markelov admitted his chances of a 2019 race seat – ostensibly with Williams – was “50-50”. “I will find out in a month and a half,” he said. But those hopes have […]
FIA sensor causes Ferrari power drop – report
Oct.3 (GMM) Ferrari may have lost its power advantage after the FIA further clamped down on the questionable performance of its power unit. Earlier in 2018, the governing body installed a sensor in the energy recovery systems of the Maranello team’s car, following suspicious about legality. Auto Motor und Sport reports that a second sensor […]
Verstappen thinking in races more now – father
Oct.3 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s father says the young Dutchman is now thinking more during F1 races. The Red Bull driver had a tough start to 2018, but his father Jos said the 21-year-old is now racing more smartly. “You can see the progress he has made during the year,” the former Benetton and Minardi driver […]
Ocon situation not Renault’s fault – Abiteboul
Oct.3 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has hit back at rival team boss Toto Wolff over the plight of French driver Esteban Ocon. Recently, Wolff slammed the chiefs at Renault and McLaren for suggesting Mercedes junior Ocon might find a place at their teams for 2019. Instead, Ocon looks set to exit F1. But Abiteboul, the boss […]
Verstappen backs Kvyat’s F1 return
Oct.2 (GMM) Max Verstappen has backed Red Bull’s decision to resurrect the career of axed Russian Daniil Kvyat. In 2016, Red Bull demoted Kvyat from its senior team to Toro Rosso, and by the end of the following year, he was dropped from F1 altogether. Now 24, the Russian has been rebuilding his career with […]
Next step for Schumacher is F2 – Brawn
Oct.2 (GMM) Mick Schumacher should not be rushed into formula one. That is the view of Ross Brawn, who worked closely with the young German’s famous father Michael during the ultra-successful Ferrari era. Now, Brawn is the sporting boss of F1, and he thinks Schumacher needs more time even though he is currently dominating European […]
Advisor Prost worried Renault ‘regressing’
Oct.2 (GMM) Alain Prost says Renault is struggling because its focus is now firmly on 2019. The French team is worried about being passed by Haas for fourth place, despite signing Daniel Ricciardo for 2019 and targeting wins for the year after. “It’s very difficult at the moment because we are not going to bring […]
Massa supports Mercedes team orders
Oct.2 (GMM) A famous victim of team orders, Felipe Massa has nonetheless backed Mercedes’ decision to rob Valtteri Bottas of victory in Russia. At Hockenheim in 2010, Ferrari famously told Massa to move aside for his teammate by declaring on the radio: “Fernando (Alonso) is faster than you.” But Massa told Corriere della Sera that […]
Former Ferrari drivers hail 2019 lineup
Oct.2 (GMM) Charles Leclerc will give Sebastian Vettel a run for his money at Ferrari next year. That is the view of two experienced former Ferrari drivers. Gerhard Berger told Tagesspiegel newspaper that the Maranello team’s 2019 lineup is “very interesting”. “Leclerc is an excellent driver. However, I think in the first year it will […]
Whiting likes new qualifying format
Oct.2 (GMM) F1 is edging closer to installing a new qualifying format for 2019. Recently, we reported that a ‘Q4’ segment could be added to the format in a bid to spice up the action, with shorter segment durations meaning drivers have less laps to perfect their time. Q4 would then end with a ten […]
Ferrari ‘too Italian’ for title – Ecclestone
Oct.2 (GMM) Ferrari could be set to lose its team boss. After Sochi, the Italian media largely agreed that the Maranello team’s bid for the 2018 title is now definitely over. “How Ferrari loses a world championship in three months,” wrote La Repubblica. “One own goal after the next.” However, the Italian press also criticised […]
Hankook buys Williams car for F1 tyre testing
Oct.2 (GMM) Hankook appears determined to become F1’s next tyre supplier. The South Korean company has joined Pirelli in responding to the FIA’s tender for the role of official tyre supplier starting in 2020. Auto Motor und Sport reports that experienced F1 engineer Hirohide Hamashima, formerly of Bridgestone, has been retained as a consultant. The […]
Vandoorne ‘not fast enough for Toro Rosso’ – Marko
Oct.1 (GMM) Toro Rosso has ruled Stoffel Vandoorne out of the running for a 2019 seat. Belgian Vandoorne admits his hopes of keeping his F1 dream alive following his McLaren axe are close to “zero”. Red Bull has now ruled him out of the running for the second seat at Toro Rosso. “We will not […]
Uncertain Williams future for Sirotkin, Kubica
Oct.1 (GMM) Williams’ driver lineup for next year is not set in stone. The struggling British team is set to lose Lance Stroll to Force India, but it was believed Williams would need to at least retain Sergey Sirotkin and his backing by the Russian bank SMP. But SMP boss Boris Rotenberg told Tass news […]
Hamilton questions Ferrari’s Raikkonen axe
Oct.1 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has questioned Ferrari’s decision to axe Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn and 2007 world champion is keeping his F1 career alive at Sauber for the next two years, but Hamilton thinks Ferrari is making a mistake in letting him go. In an interview with the Swiss newspaper Blick, Hamilton was asked if […]
Fellow boss backs Wolff over team order
Oct.1 (GMM) Otmar Szafnauer has backed fellow team boss Toto Wolff amid the team orders controversy of Sochi. Pole sitter Valtteri Bottas was upset after the Russian grand prix, as Mercedes handed victory instead to championship leader Lewis Hamilton. Wolff defended the decision to swap the places. “It’s better to be a villain today than […]
Ticktum not ready for Toro Rosso – Tost
Sep.30 (GMM) Toro Rosso has ruled Dan Ticktum out of the running for the second Toro Rosso seat alongside Daniil Kvyat for 2019. Ticktum, a 19-year-old Briton, is a title contender in European F3, but at Sochi he was chided by Red Bull boss Christian Horner for recent comments made about Mick Schumacher. Horner also […]
Russia could have own F1 team – deputy PM
Sep.30 (GMM) Russia’s deputy prime minister thinks there could soon be a Russian F1 team on the grid. Next year, Daniil Kvyat could be joined on the grid not only by Sergey Sirotkin but another Russian driver Artem Markelov, while Nikita Mazepin is also knocking on the door. Russian deputy PM Dmitry Kozak says motor […]
Ecclestone wants Pirelli to stay in F1
Sep.30 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he wants Pirelli to remain the official tyre supplier in F1. It is believed Hankook, a South Korean tyre manufacturer, has responded to the FIA’s tender about taking over from Pirelli in 2020. Pirelli is also in the running, and former F1 supremo Ecclestone – who was in charge when […]