Jul.16 (GMM) Formula 1 will cope with Hungary’s draconian anti-coronavirus measures this weekend, according to Christian Horner. The Red Bull team boss is referring to the fact that UK and some other non-European citizens will be completely confined either to the circuit near Budapest or their hotel this weekend. Because the potential penalties involve jail-time, […]
Hulkenberg ‘itching’ to race again in August
Jul.16 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has admitted he is “itching” to go racing again. It has been announced that the 32-year-old German, who was dropped by Renault at the end of last year, will make a guest appearance in mid-August in the ADAC GT Masters race at the Nurburgring. He will drive a Lamborghini Huracan GT3. […]
‘Compromise’ likely in pink Mercedes protest – boss
Jul.16 (GMM) An unnamed F1 team boss thinks the FIA will “find a compromise” to the current dispute about customer cars. After the second race in Austria, the governing body seized parts of Racing Point’s braking system, following an official protest lodged by rival team Renault. The claim is that the ‘pink Mercedes’ is a […]
Red Bull-Honda ‘too slow on straights’ – Verstappen
Jul.16 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks Mercedes could be in for a fight this weekend in Hungary. With Valtteri Bottas on top in race 1 and his teammate Lewis Hamilton winning the second, Mercedes dominated the Austrian double-header. “Obviously, we will continue to work to improve the car but also the engine, because we are also […]
Ferrari will support Vettel in 2020 – Raikkonen
Jul.16 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he doubts his friend Sebastian Vettel’s relationship with Ferrari is so broken that the German cannot complete the season at Maranello. Former Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine said this week that the team should have “just paid” Vettel to leave, as the “really screwed-up dynamic” is “destructive”. But another former Ferrari […]
Team owner Stroll could oust own son – Schumacher
Jul.16 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher is not so sure that Racing Point will oust Sergio Perez at the end of 2020. It is strongly expected that Ferrari refugee Sebastian Vettel will sign up with the Lawrence Stroll-owned team – set to become Aston Martin – for 2021. Most believe Mexican Perez will have to make way, […]
Steiner admits Ferrari ‘engine power’ an issue
Jul.16 (GMM) Engine power is an issue at Haas this year, boss Gunther Steiner has admitted. With team owner Gene Haas yet to decide whether to keep racing, Haas boss Steiner admitted to Ekstra Bladet newspaper that the 2020 car “is in the slower half of the field”. “First I would like to see how […]
Re-signing Bottas makes sense – Salo
Jul.16 (GMM) It makes sense that Mercedes is hanging onto Valtteri Bottas for 2021. That is the view of former F1 driver and fellow Finn Mika Salo, amid reports Bottas is poised to sign – or has already signed – a new contract with the reigning champions. Bottas has already won a race from pole […]
Racing Point denies Vettel deal already done
Jul.16 (GMM) Sergio Perez’s manager is reportedly looking around for an alternative seat for the Mexican driver. The revelation, claimed by ESPN Mexico, follows reports that Ferrari refugee Sebastian Vettel is poised to race alongside Racing Point team owner Lawrence Stroll’s son Lance at the new Aston Martin team in 2021. The source adds that […]
Renault to be in F1 ‘a long time’ – Briatore
Jul.15 (GMM) Renault will be in Formula 1 “for a long time”, according to the French works outfit’s former boss. Flavio Briatore told Italy’s Tuttosport that he helped his protege Fernando Alonso negotiate the Spaniard’s return to Formula 1 for next year. “We negotiated the return together. I have known for two months,” he said. […]
Ricciardo insists Abiteboul relationship ‘cool’
Jul.15 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo insists “everything is cool” between himself and his current team boss Cyril Abiteboul. After it emerged that the Australian driver is moving to McLaren for 2021, a statement issued by Renault indicated that Abiteboul questioned Ricciardo’s loyalty. “In our sport, and particularly within the current extraordinary situation, reciprocated confidence, unity and […]
Vettel not confirming Aston Martin move for 2021
Jul.15 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is poised to rescue his beleaguered Formula 1 career by signing up with Aston Martin for 2021. That is the claim of Germany’s Bild newspaper, reporting that “only details” of the contract with the Lawrence Stroll-owned team that is currently called Racing Point are still to be clarified. It is believed […]
FIA bans Wolff’s clear face shield
Jul.15 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he will no longer wear a clear face shield in the Formula 1 paddock. With the wearing of masks now mandatory amid the corona crisis, Mercedes’ team boss took it a step further in Austria by donning a unique clear face shield that is worn like glasses. “My face shield […]
Ferrari has identified Binotto’s successor – report
Jul.15 (GMM) Mattia Binotto’s successor as Ferrari team boss may already have been found. Formula 1’s media contingent agrees that the Maranello team is in deep crisis after just two races of the 2020 season. “There was a long briefing in Maranello this week to find out what is being done with the car for […]
Honda no match for Mercedes power in 2020
Jul.15 (GMM) The big difference between title contenders Mercedes and Red Bull in 2020 is engine power. That is the claim not only of Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, but also the F1 legend Gerhard Berger. “The Mercedes engine is obviously extremely powerful,” Berger told Servus TV. “Mercedes worked hard through the winter. Honda too, […]
Berger says ‘pink Mercedes’ protest is important
Jul.15 (GMM) Renault’s protest against the ‘pink Mercedes’ fielded by Racing Point this year could be a significant moment for Formula 1. That is the view of F1 legend Gerhard Berger, who said he faced a similar “headwind” when he was co-owner of Red Bull’s second team Toro Rosso. The FIA has seized brake parts […]
Kneeling ‘against the Russian mentality’ – Kvyat
Jul.14 (GMM) It is a “personal choice” whether drivers want to kneel or stand amid the new wave of racial politics that is sweeping through Formula 1, according to Daniil Kvyat. For the second consecutive Sunday, only a minority of the drivers refused to join the Lewis Hamilton-led gesture in support of Black Lives Matter […]
F1 should reject ‘pink Mercedes’ protest – Schumacher
Jul.14 (GMM) Racing Point should get away with fielding its ‘pink Mercedes’ in 2020, according to former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher. The Lawrence Stroll-owned team, which will become Aston Martin next year, says it is “extremely disappointed” that Renault lodged a formal protest about the legality of the car after last Sunday’s race in Austria. […]
Sainz may regret signing for Ferrari – Doornbos
Jul.14 (GMM) Carlos Sainz might be the first ever driver who regrets signing a Ferrari contract before even racing a car with the Prancing Horse logo. That is the view of former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos, who says Spaniard Sainz faces the prospect of swapping a more competitive McLaren for a sluggish red car […]
Constant driver changes ‘not good’ – Abiteboul
Jul.14 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has admitted that Renault has been changing drivers too often in recent years. Since returning to F1 as a full constructor in 2016, the French works team has changed its lineup every single season – and will continue this trend with Fernando Alonso joining next year. Team boss Abiteboul, however, said […]