Oct.16 (GMM) Ferrari is focusing its efforts on improving the rear of its current car for 2021. Normally, teams produce brand new cars for a new season – but amid the corona pandemic, the FIA is allowing only two ‘tokens’ of development to be done ahead of 2021 for cost reasons. That is particularly bad […]
Abiteboul defends Ocon amid 2021 rumours
Oct.16 (GMM) Esteban Ocon “should not be ashamed” of his performance at Renault so far in 2020. That is the view of his boss Cyril Abiteboul, amid speculation the team might be looking at signing another French driver for 2021 – Monza winner Pierre Gasly. Ocon, who sat out 2019 after being dropped by Force […]
Wolff admits Mercedes’ 2020 car development stopped
Oct.16 (GMM) Toto Wolff has revealed that Mercedes has ceased development of its 2020 car. The dominant team and its multiple champion, Lewis Hamilton, will almost certainly continue to keep cruising towards both world championships this year. “We have not been making any improvements to the car for a long time,” team boss Wolff is […]
Daimler to slash Mercedes’ F1 budget
Oct.15 (GMM) Daimler, the dominant Mercedes team’s carmaker parent, intends to slash the amount of money it spends on Formula 1. It emerged recently that Mercedes spent a stagging $430 million to win last year’s championships – with a $145 budget cap coming in for 2021. Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius has rejected rumours that Mercedes […]
Portimao paying ‘much lower’ price for F1 race
Oct.15 (GMM) Portimao is paying a “much lower” price for joining the Formula 1 calendar in 2020. The Portuguese circuit, set to host its first ever grand prix next weekend, is one of several venues drafted in this year to fill the calendar gaps amid the corona crisis. “Each race in Europe costs EUR 30-50 […]
Still no engine talks with Red Bull – Abiteboul
Oct.15 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul says Red Bull is still yet to ask about a supply of customer engines for 2022. The energy drink-owned outfit needs to replace departing works partner Honda. “The decision should be taken at the end of year, because the engine is an integral part of the design of the car in […]
Honda’s F1 boss explains decision to stay in Indycar
Oct.15 (GMM) Honda has defended its decision to pull out of Formula 1 whilst at the same time extending its commitment to the Indycar series. The Japanese manufacturer cited its push for more future-oriented technology as a key reason for pulling out of F1. But at the very same time, Honda and Indycar announced that […]
Seidl denies McLaren needs prize money boost
Oct.15 (GMM) Andreas Seidl has defended McLaren’s latest car developments. Recently, the British team debuted a Mercedes-style nose alongside other new parts, but Carlos Sainz said at the Nurburgring that the older spec was faster. The Spaniard is switching to Ferrari next year but he doubts McLaren is hiding anything from him about the developments […]
Bottas needs ‘miracle’ to win 2020 title
Oct.15 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas admits he needs a “miracle” to beat his Mercedes teammate to the 2020 title. After starting on pole, the Finn admits he was “very, very disappointed” to have suffered an engine failure at the Nurburgring. It blows the points gap out to 69 in his inter-team battle with Lewis Hamilton. “I […]
‘Oversupply’ of drivers seeking seats – Hulkenberg
Oct.14 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg is not hopeful he will return to Formula 1 full-time next year. Now used three times by Racing Point in 2020, and also contacted by Red Bull at the Nurburgring, the out-of-work driver has become this year’s ‘super sub’. But 33-year-old Hulkenberg said a reserve role is “not really what I’m […]
Rumours of ‘conflict’ between Binotto and Resta
Oct.14 (GMM) Rumours of “conflict” between members of Ferrari’s senior management are emerging. Amid the Maranello based team’s competitive slump in 2020, the highly respected Italian journalist Alberto Sabbatini has been quoted as saying team boss Mattia Binotto and designer Simone Resta are at odds. “They say there is friction between Binotto and Resta,” he […]
Stewart denies ‘knocking down’ Hamilton
Oct.14 (GMM) Sir Jackie Stewart has denied having a ‘bee in his bonnet’ about Lewis Hamilton. As Hamilton raced to equal Michael Schumacher’s all-time victory record at the Nurburgring, he had earlier hit out at consistent critics like F1 legend and triple world champion Stewart. “They still have a bee in their bonnet, I don’t […]
Verstappen not ‘frustrated’ with 2020 season
Oct.14 (GMM) Max Verstappen insists he is not getting “frustrated” even if wins remain out of his reach at present. Red Bull appears to be inching ever closer to Mercedes, with the Dutch driver almost matching Lewis Hamilton’s qualifying time at the Nurburgring. And then in the race, Verstappen managed to post the fastest lap […]
Albon, Ocon, Russell heat up 2021 driver market
Oct.14 (GMM) F1’s 2021 driver market is hotting up once again. Red Bull has been supporting the struggling Alex Albon this year, but Dr Helmut Marko is now admitting that Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez are under consideration for 2021. “We are open to all sides,” the top team official told Servus TV. “Until now, […]
Alonso admits not back to full speed in F1 car
Oct.14 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is not worried about failing to get back up to speed ahead of his return from a two-year sabbatical in 2021. For a 100km ‘filming day’ in Barcelona, the 39-year-old got behind the wheel of Renault’s 2020 car on Tuesday. “Everything felt good,” Alonso said afterwards. “I wasn’t able to maximise […]
Abiteboul blames himself for losing Ricciardo
Oct.13 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul says he blames himself for losing Daniel Ricciardo to McLaren for 2021. As one of the sport’s top drivers, Ricciardo sensationally decided to leaeve Red Bull after 2018 to join the works Renault team – but just two years later he is setting sail again for McLaren. At the Nurburgring, the […]
Grosjean points will not influence Haas’ 2021 decision
Oct.13 (GMM) Haas will not let a single good performance influence its driver decision for 2021, according to team boss Gunther Steiner. At the Nurburgring, it began to become obvious that the American team could oust both Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean at the end of the season. Names including Nikita Mazepin, Callum Ilott, Sergio […]
Three of four Red Bull seats filled for 2021 – Marko
Oct.13 (GMM) Three out of Red Bull’s four Formula 1 seats for 2021 are as good as filled already, Dr Helmut Marko has revealed. It is believed Daniil Kvyat will be ousted at Alpha Tauri and replaced with Honda-backed rookie Yuki Tsunoda, with Pierre Gasly to be his teammate. Max Verstappen is already under contract […]
Alonso in Barcelona for Renault testing
Oct.13 (GMM) Fernando Alonso arrived in Barcelona on Monday to prepare for his test debut at the wheel of Renault’s 2020 car. The Spaniard, returning to Formula 1 next year, will on Tuesday do a 100km ‘filming day’ with the team that will be renamed Alpine in 2021. And then on Wednesday, 39-year-old Alonso will […]
Alfa Romeo to run Schumacher-Raikkonen in 2021 – Marko
Oct.13 (GMM) All the signs are pointing towards a Mick Schumacher-Kimi Raikkonen lineup at Alfa Romeo for 2021. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, a top Red Bull official who is in charge of the energy drink-owned team’s driver program. He told Sport1 that his position means “You can see which drivers are […]