Oct.13 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull’s preferred solution for 2022 is to take over the intellectual property of Honda’s power unit and go it alone as a works engine supplier. Former team driver Robert Doornbos told Ziggo Sport that Honda’s shock departure from Formula 1 is in fact an opportunity for Red Bull. […]
Vettel not convinced about two-day race format
Oct.13 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is not convinced that Formula 1 should switch to a two-day format. Ahead of the planned two-day schedule at Imola, the subject came to the fore at the Nurburgring last weekend when the medical helicopter could not fly on Friday. The Mercedes drivers, Max Verstappen and other prominent figures said the […]
Vettel suggests Schumacher better than Hamilton
Oct.13 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says his hero and mentor Michael Schumacher had talent that he has not seen “in anyone else”. As Lewis Hamilton equalled the all-time record for victories – 91 – at the Nurburgring last weekend, German Vettel was wearing a helmet in tribute to Schumacher. “Michael will always be my hero forever,” […]
Red Bull met with Renault’s new CEO
Oct.12 (GMM) As Red Bull seeks to replace its departing Honda engines for 2022, team officials met with their counterparts from Renault at the Nurburgring on Sunday morning. Despite their ultimately broken relationship of the recent past, Christian Horner and Dr Helmut Marko got together with Renault’s Cyril Abiteboul. Footage of the meeting in the […]
Not all tickets sold for Nurburgring race
Oct.12 (GMM) Organisers of last Sunday’s race at the Nurburgring failed to sell all of the limited number of available tickets. Amid the covid crisis, German authorities restricted the on-site audience to just 20,000 members of the public. But DPA news agency claims that only 13,500 were counted at the famous circuit, whose event was […]
Vettel ‘will flourish’ after leaving Ferrari
Oct.12 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel “will flourish” at Aston Martin next year, according to the quadruple world champion’s next F1 team boss. Currently struggling alongside Charles Leclerc after Ferrari decided to oust him for 2021, Vettel has been signed by Racing Point – which will be rebranded as Aston Martin. In the last days, 33-year-old Vettel […]
Red Bull’s Marko phoned Hulkenberg last Friday
Oct.12 (GMM) F1 ‘super sub’ Nico Hulkenberg could have been at the wheel of Alex Albon’s Red Bull last weekend at the Nurburgring. Ultimately, while the former Renault driver sipped a cup of coffee on Saturday, Hulkenberg was called up at the last minute to replace Racing Point’s unwell Lance Stroll in qualifying and the […]
Renault to reassure McLaren over engine failure
Oct.12 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul says Renault needs to reassure McLaren about the quality of the engines being supplied to customer and rival McLaren. At the Nurburgring, the Renault unit powering McLaren’s Lando Norris failed. In the highly lucrative and competitive constructors’ world championship, McLaren leads the works Renault team for fourth place by just two […]
F1 to discuss engine crisis in Portimao meeting
Oct.11 (GMM) Formula 1 bosses will get together next week in Portimao to discuss the future of the sport’s engine regulations. Honda’s decision to quit F1 to focus on greener and more relevant technology has sent shockwaves up and down the paddock. Many insist it is just the latest proof that the current ‘power unit’ […]
Villeneuve slams ill Stroll for missing race
Oct.11 (GMM) 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has slammed Lance Stroll for sitting out this weekend’s racing at the Nurburgring. Fellow Canadian Stroll did not appear on track for Saturday morning practice, with Racing Point boss Otmar Szafnauer explaining that the 21-year-old “couldn’t get off the toilet”. Villeneuve, though, was not convinced. “Even with a […]
Wolff ‘ready to vote’ for two-day race weekends
Oct.11 (GMM) Mercedes’ race drivers and team boss have all come out in support of scratching Fridays from the Formula 1 race format. At the Nurburgring, F1 enthusiasts got a taste of the future when heavy fog meant the medical helicopter could not fly and Friday practice was called off. “Germany wanted to steal the […]
Wolff denies Hamilton talks could ‘fail’
Oct.11 (GMM) Toto Wolff has denied that long-delayed contract negotiations with Lewis Hamilton may ultimately “fail”. The six-time world champion’s current deal with Mercedes expires in less than three months, triggering wild rumours that the parties may be set for a sensational split. Team boss Wolff explained: “Lewis and I simply have not had time […]
‘Completely new’ Ferrari engine for 2021 – Binotto
Oct.11 (GMM) There are signs of life amid Ferrari’s 2020 competitive slump. With parts added to the uncompetitive car at Sochi and again at the Nurburgring, and more new parts coming for Portimao in two weeks, Charles Leclerc qualified a surprising fourth on Saturday. “Perhaps the upgrades are making a small but decisive difference,” Leclerc […]
New parts have made McLaren slower – Sainz
Oct.11 (GMM) Carlos Sainz is concerned that McLaren’s direction of development may be faltering. Recently, the British team debuted a Mercedes-like front nose, and more parts of that 2021 package were added to the orange car at the Nurburgring. “As there was no practice here for Saturday I used everything that is new and Lando […]
Haas closing on Mazepin, Ilott for 2021
Oct.11 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin is poised to sign a deal to race with Haas in 2021, according to the French broadcaster Canal Plus. Team boss Gunther Steiner has already confirmed that he met at Sochi recently with Mazepin’s father, the wealthy Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin. There are rumours Mazepin snr is looking to buy the […]
Mercedes turning focus to 2021 car
Oct.11 (GMM) Car updates are bringing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen closer to the ultimate pace, Lewis Hamilton said after qualifying at the Nurburgring. With Valtteri Bottas on pole, the gap between Mercedes’ Hamilton and Verstappen on Saturday was a tantalising four hundredths of a second. “He’s gotten updates, bringing him a little closer,” Hamilton told […]
Spa to replace asphalt run-off with gravel traps
Oct.10 (GMM) An EUR 80 million upgrade at Spa-Francorchamps will include the return of more gravel traps. The Dutch source RTL Nieuws claims the renovations will also feature improved track safety and two new covered grandstands. The report said the changes have been required by FIM, motor cycling’s international body, ahead of the arrival to […]
Schumacher, Ilott must wait until Abu Dhabi
Oct.10 (GMM) Mick Schumacher and Callum Ilott will not immediately get another chance to drive in Friday practice sessions this year, according to Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto. Formula 2 points leader Schumacher and runner-up Ilott – both Ferrari academy members – were due to drive the Alfa Romeo and Haas cars respectively at the Nurburgring. […]
Carey ‘doesn’t care’ about Nurburgring weather
Oct.10 (GMM) Chase Carey “probably doesn’t care” about this weekend’s action at the Nurburgring. That is the claim of former F1 driver Christian Danner, who told RTL that Formula 1’s CEO and owners Liberty Media are guilty of “ignorance and misjudgement” by organising a race at the Nurburgring in October. “We have known for centuries […]
No Hamilton talks until after Imola – Wolff
Oct.10 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s long-delayed contract negotiations with Mercedes are also unlikely to take place in the month of October. That is the admission of team boss Toto Wolff, amid rumours of uncertainty about Mercedes’ and Wolff’s respective futures, and speculation that Hamilton is holding out for a pay-rise for 2021 and beyond. “We want […]