Jul.3 (GMM) Formula 1 should receive an exemption from Britain’s mandatory quarantine laws ahead of the forthcoming back-to-back races at Silverstone. As it stands, the world of Formula 1 faces 14 days in quarantine after entering Britain for the August races. “Now that the pubs have opened in the UK and there is still a […]
Bottas denies Mercedes engine flaw
Jul.3 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has played down rumours that a fault has been uncovered with Mercedes’ new engine specification in Austria. It was already known that a tweaked engine spec had been sent from Mercedes’ Brixworth base to the first ‘ghost race’ of 2020. But subsequent reports hinted that a problem had also been discovered, […]
Abiteboul texted Marko after 2020 engine test claim
Jul.3 (GMM) More text messages have been going back and forth between Dr Helmut Marko and Cyril Abiteboul. Renault boss Abiteboul, who shared an acrimonious relationship in the past with Red Bull’s chiefs, revealed that Marko texted him when the French team tested at the Red Bull Ring recently. “It got me some comments from […]
Marko eyes ‘psychological’ edge over Mercedes
Jul.3 (GMM) Mercedes vetoed the reverse grid experiment because it was afraid Max Verstappen would cope better than Lewis Hamilton. That is the latest provocative view of Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, referring to the fact that F1’s plans for qualifying sprint races and reverse grids in 2020 were scuppered by a single vote. “I […]
Sainz worried about Racing Point and Renault
Jul.3 (GMM) McLaren is at risk of being overtaken by two teams in 2020. That is the warning of Carlos Sainz, after the British team finished behind only the top three – Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull – last year. But now, the Spaniard says Racing Point and Renault are set to challenge. Red Bull’s […]
Verstappen ‘very careful’ amid racial politics
Jul.3 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he will remain “very careful” about getting involved in Formula 1’s new political moment. In Austria, Lewis Hamilton revealed he has added ‘Black Lives Matter’ branding to his all black 2020 helmet design, while the drivers are under pressure to ‘take a knee’ in support of the progressive movement on […]
Renault will not share Sirotkin in 2020
Jul.3 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin doubts he will stretch his time beyond his newly-appointed role as Renault’s 2020 reserve driver. The Russian had a similar role last year, but he was also nominated reserve for the Renault-powered McLaren team as well. But amid the corona crisis and the risk that a race driver may become infected, […]
Haas will quit if team doesn’t improve – Magnussen
Jul.3 (GMM) Haas needs to up its game or team owner Gene Haas will pull out of Formula 1. That is the word from the small American team’s Danish race driver, Kevin Magnussen. It follows hot on the heels of team boss Gunther Steiner announcing that, to cut costs amid the corona crisis, the new […]
Giovinazzi admits ‘pressure’ to keep F1 seat
Jul.3 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi has admitted he is under pressure as he bids to stay in Formula 1. The Italian has enjoyed strong support from Ferrari, but there is now speculation that Maranello may recommend a new junior for Alfa Romeo next year – Mick Schumacher. Blick newspaper quoted Giovinazzi as saying this week: “If […]
F1 should race at tracks like Imola – Kvyat
Jul.3 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat thinks Formula 1 should return to older-style circuits like Imola and Mugello. The Russian driver got his first taste of the former San Marino GP circuit at Imola recently with a test for Alpha Tauri. “It was cool to drive there,” he is quoted by Russian media as saying in Austria. […]
‘Good time’ for Mercedes to sell team – Schumacher
Jul.3 (GMM) The end of 2020 would be “a good time to sell” the works Mercedes team, according to former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher. The German told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper that he thinks the German broadcaster RTL decided to quit the sport because Sebastian Vettel looks set to leave F1 at the end of the […]
Alonso’s Renault return may begin in 2020 – report
Jul.3 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s deal to return to Formula 1 next year could now be done. That is the claim of Spanish radio Cadena SER, amid speculation the Spaniard might even replace the McLaren-bound Daniel Ricciardo at Renault within the 2020 season. According to other Spanish reports, the 38-year-old responded to the rumours of a […]
Vettel admits Mercedes ‘an option’ for 2021
Jul.3 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted he would like to drive for Mercedes in 2021. The quadruple world champion made waves on Thursday by revealing that he never even received an offer to remain Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate next year. “In the previous few months it had actually been clear to me that we want […]
Ecclestone names newborn son ‘Ace’
Jul.2 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone and his wife Fabiana have revealed that their newly-born son is named ‘Ace’. The 89-year-old former F1 supremo had announced in April that he was set to be a father for the fourth time – his first with 44-year-old Fabiana and his first son. “I’ve been to Austria many times but […]
Hamilton wants $50m a year for new contract – report
Jul.2 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton wants $50 million a year to renew his contract with Mercedes, according to Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper. The news, reportedly confirmed by a “source close” to the six-time world champion, comes after team boss Toto Wolff revealed that Hamilton was behind the decision to switch from a silver to black livery […]
Rio’s F1 boss meets with president Bolsonaro
Jul.2 (GMM) Organisers in Rio de Janeiro are still pushing to have the Brazilian GP relocated from its current venue in Sao Paulo. According to O Estado de S.Paulo, JR Pereira – the boss of a consortium (Rio Motorsports) that won a bid to build a Formula 1 circuit in Rio – met with Brazilian […]
Marko texted Abiteboul after Red Bull Ring test
Jul.2 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko sent text messages to rival Formula 1 boss Cyril Abiteboul after Renault’s recent test outing at the Red Bull Ring. Marko, Red Bull’s top F1 official, admitted he was upset with management of the Red Bull Ring for allowing the test of a two-year-old Renault to take place ahead of […]
Major upgrades ‘impossible’ for Austria – Binotto
Jul.2 (GMM) Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto insists it was “impossible” to make substantial changes to the Italian team’s Melbourne-spec car ahead of the 2020 season re-start in Austria. Although admitting that a major upgrade and concept shift is coming for Hungary later in July, Binotto’s comments suggest he is sceptical about the reportedly sizeable upgrade […]
Honda ‘wants to fight for 2020 title’ – Verstappen
Jul.2 (GMM) Honda is pushing as hard as Red Bull to win the 2020 world championship, according to Max Verstappen. It is a clear statement of the Dutchman’s intent for the re-starting season, amid reports that Honda will debut a new specification engine in Austria this weekend. Verstappen says he is “very happy” with Honda’s […]
Abiteboul hints Vettel, Bottas options for 2021
Jul.2 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul is playing down hopes that Fernando Alonso might return to Formula 1 with Renault in 2021. The team boss issued a firm “no” when asked by France’s L’Equipe about the Spaniard’s candidature for the seat set to be vacated by Daniel Ricciardo. Valtteri Bottas and Sebastian Vettel, however, are still options. […]