Sep.1 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton admits he started to learn French – and then quickly gave it up. The six-time world champion told Belgium’s RTBF broadcaster that he aimed to learn his second language during the long coronavirus shutdown. “Yes it’s true, I tried, but it didn’t last very long,” Hamilton admitted. “I’m crazy – I […]
Honda to keep improving Red Bull’s engine
Sep.1 (GMM) Honda’s technical boss admits the Japanese manufacturer needs to keep working to improve its power unit. Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko claims that – qualifying aside – Honda is now the best engine manufacturer in Formula 1 behind Mercedes. Honda technical boss Toyoharu Tanabe said: “I am satisfied with our sixth consecutive […]
Ferrari ‘likely’ to court Mercedes’ Cowell
Sep.1 (GMM) Mercedes’ engine guru Andy Cowell could make the switch to Ferrari, according to a respected Italian journalist. Before getting his promotion at Mercedes in 2013, Cowell reportedly began flirting with a move to Maranello. “He changed his mind after the resignation of Stefano Domenicali,” claims Corriere dello Sport’s Daniele Sparisci. “Now he is […]
Pirelli can spice up F1 with soft tyres – Doornbos
Sep.1 (GMM) Former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos has a proposal to spice up what many observers are calling increasingly ‘boring’ races in Formula 1. Red Bull boss Christian Horner think the problem at Spa-Francorchamps was that drivers were able to get through the race with just a single pitstop. “Someone has to tell Pirelli […]
Ferrari needs ‘very, very big step’ for 2021 – Sainz
Sep.1 (GMM) Carlos Sainz, who is moving to the Maranello team next year, says Ferrari needs to take a “very, very, very, very big step” with its engine for 2021. However, the Spaniard backs the fabled Italian team to get it done. “It took Renault three years, and it took Honda some time too,” said […]
Police eject more F1 fans from Spa
Aug.31 (GMM) vBelgian federal police used heat-tracing technology to clamp down on fans watching Sunday’s action at Spa-Francorchamps from nearby wooded areas. The news comes just a day after police turned away from the track a full bus-load of Max Verstappen fans from Holland. The Dutch publication Formule 1 reports that Belgian police even released […]
Haas could sign Ferrari junior for 2021 – Steiner
Aug.31 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has admitted that Haas might sign up a Ferrari junior driver for 2021. In the past weeks, the small American team sidelined the driver issue while owner Gene Haas decided whether to sign the 2021-2025 Concorde Agreement. With that deal now done, the driver rumours have begun. Reports out of Spa […]
Monza could be even ‘worse’ for Ferrari – Leclerc
Aug.31 (GMM) Monza could be even “worse” for crisis-struck Ferrari, according to Charles Leclerc. Actually, team boss Mattia Binotto has hit back at the ‘crisis’ tag, even though most observers of the Belgian GP were left scrambling to recall a more worrying situation for the Maranello team. “I think it’s wrong to talk about a […]
Sainz reveals Renault engine problem
Aug.31 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has broken ranks to reveal that it was a Renault engine failure that meant he could not start Sunday’s Belgian GP. When it became clear the Spaniard would not be taking to the grid, McLaren – set to switch to Mercedes power for 2021 – announced that it was an “exhaust […]
Marko hits back at ‘criticism of Albon’
Aug.31 (GMM) Red Bull is continuing to support Max Verstappen’s struggling teammate Alex Albon. At Spa, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton said he would enjoy a closer race for the world championship – and pointed a finger at Albon. “People downplay it but Red Bull have got a very, very strong car. Unfortunately, both drivers aren’t there […]
F1 needs more circuits like Spa – Wolff
Aug.31 (GMM) In an otherwise “boring” race, the highlight at Spa-Francorchamps was a frightening crash that reinforced the dangers of the legendary Belgian circuit. George Russell struck the loose wheel of Antonio Giovinazzi’s crashed Alfa Romeo, leaving the Williams driver grateful for his Halo device. “I have to say I’m very grateful that we have […]
Pirelli ‘listens’ to drivers like Hamilton – Isola
Aug.30 (GMM) Mario Isola says he always listens to the F1 drivers’ complaints about tyres. Six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said earlier at Spa that because there is no longer a tyre war, the “pressure” for better tyres now needs to come from the drivers. “We listen to the drivers,” Pirelli’s F1 boss Isola insisted. […]
Schumacher says rumours of F1 move ‘a compliment’
Aug.30 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is not getting carried away with reports that he is poised to kick off his Formula 1 race career in 2021. Some days ago, Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto hailed the progress of Michael Schumacher’s son in Formula 2, suggesting he may be poised to enter F1 next year with a smaller […]
Renault engine ‘really fast’ at Spa – Wolff
Aug.30 (GMM) Renault’s 2020 engine is continuing to turn heads. While Dr Helmut Marko claims Red Bull’s Honda power is better in the races, he admitted that the Renault unit has “a good qualifying mode”. That was clear at Spa Francorchamps, where Daniel Ricciardo split the two Red Bulls in qualifying, followed closely by the […]
Patient Verstappen admits title charge ‘not easy’
Aug.30 (GMM) Max Verstappen says Red Bull is “doing our best” even though Mercedes is clearly dominating in 2020. Red Bull officials insist they will not give up on charging for the title, even though the gap between Verstappen and Hamilton at Spa is half a second. When asked what Red Bull can do about […]
Haas to stick with Ferrari amid engine crisis
Aug.30 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says Haas will continue to work with crisis-struck Ferrari. The talk of the paddock at Spa is the famous Italian team’s spectacular 2020 slump towards the back of the grid. It is clear that Ferrari’s power unit – which is also supplied to Haas and Alfa Romeo – is the biggest […]
Wolff questions crisis-struck Ferrari’s ‘priorities’
Aug.30 (GMM) Toto Wolff has questioned whether Ferrari’s “priorities” are right. The talk of the paddock at Spa is not focused on the front of the grid – instead, most the attention is on the depth of the Maranello team’s slump. “What is happening with them is not good for Formula 1 and I very […]
No 2020 Red Bull return for Gasly – Horner
Aug.29 (GMM) Red Bull has dashed Pierre Gasly’s hopes of an immediate return to the senior team. Last year, Gasly was demoted to Red Bull’s second team after struggling alongside Max Verstappen. He is now thriving at Alpha Tauri. The Frenchman is therefore open about wanting to return to Red Bull Racing, but for now […]
2020 won’t be Vettel’s last visit to Spa
Aug.29 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has dropped a big hint about his future. Although reports that he will definitely sign a 2021 Aston Martin contract this weekend at Spa appear to have been wide of the mark, the Ferrari refugee is at least now suggesting that he will not retire. When asked by Sky Deutschland if […]
Alonso to attend Imola, Abu Dhabi races
Aug.29 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says it is possible he will stay in Formula 1 beyond the two-year term of his return with Renault in 2021. “I will do at least two years and I will do one, two, three more after that, or I leave after 2022,” Marca sports newspaper quotes him as saying. “Then […]