Jun.15 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is advising his friend Fernando Alonso to take a sabbatical in 2021. With the seat at Mercedes now looking unlikely for the Ferrari refugee, former F1 supremo Ecclestone told f1-insider.com: “He should take a year off and then position himself for 2022.” Red Bull has also repeatedly closed the door to […]
Opinions split over Alonso return
Jun.15 (GMM) Opinions are split over whether Fernando Alonso should return to Formula 1 with Renault next year. The Spaniard’s friend and former rival Mark Webber thinks Alonso is “not at his peak anymore”, while his first boss Giancarlo Minardi says Renault is not the right destination for the two-time champion. “He has no chance […]
No grid, podium or driver parade in 2020
Jun.15 (GMM) The absence of spectators will not be the only major change when Formula 1 gets back up and racing in Austria next month. F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn says the usual pre-race grid activities and even the traditional podium will be missing as F1 enforces strict social distancing. DPA news agency quotes him […]
Budget cap giving top teams ‘headache’ – Green
Jun.15 (GMM) Those in charge of F1’s biggest budget teams must be suffering from a “massive headache”, according to Racing Point technical boss Andy Green. While admitting to Auto Motor und Sport that the $145 million spending cap for 2021 will require some reorganisation, Green said the Silverstone based team actually has a smaller budget […]
No surgery for Schumacher amid coronavirus
Jun.12 (GMM) Michael Schumacher will in fact not undergo surgery any time soon, according to the Guardian newspaper. International reports this week said the F1 legend would have another round of heart cell transfusion therapy carried out by Professor Philippe Menasche, who said the goal was to “regenerate Michael’s nervous system”. Neurosurgeon Dr Nicola Acciari […]
Staying at Ferrari risked Vettel’s reputation – Alesi
Jun.12 (GMM) It is “good” that Sebastian Vettel is leaving Ferrari, according to former team driver Jean Alesi. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen admitted he was surprised when it was announced that the quadruple world champion and the Maranello team will split after 2020. “I expected that he would drive there for another year or two, […]
No pre-Austria test not a disadvantage – Verstappen
Jun.12 (GMM) Max Verstappen says it is no disadvantage that he will not do any testing prior to the resumption of racing next month. Mercedes’ two drivers ran a 2018 car around the Silverstone circuit this week, and Ferrari is expected to follow suit with a test at Fiorano prior to Austria. Mercedes team boss […]
Canada not giving up on 2020 race in ‘fall’
Jun.12 (GMM) Organisers of the popular Canadian GP are not giving up on rescheduling the Montreal race this year. While some other venues have already cancelled or are poised to pull the plug on 2020, Montreal promoter Francois Dumontier is hanging in there amid the corona crisis for now. “Discussions are continuing with the various […]
Imola now eligible for F1 return
Jun.12 (GMM) Imola has boosted its chances of securing a shock return to the F1 calendar in 2020. F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn admits that a “contingency” is being put in place in case more current grand prix hosts are unable to reorganise their races amid the pandemic. “I think Bahrain and Abu Dhabi will […]
Team driver hierarchies do not work – Wolff
Jun.12 (GMM) Driver hierarchies do not work in Formula 1, according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. Although Lewis Hamilton would seem to be number 1, Wolff insists that Valtteri Bottas has “always” been able to race his teammate from the beginning of each season. He said hierarchies should only form naturally “resulting from performance”. […]
Wolff not committing to 2021 team boss role
Jun.12 (GMM) Toto Wolff is not ready to commit to remaining Mercedes’ team boss beyond the end of 2020. After buying into Lawrence Stroll’s new Aston Martin project, the Austrian has admitted he is currently discussing his future at Mercedes with Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius. When asked how long he will remain team principal, Wolff […]
Wolff admits Vettel not Mercedes’ ‘priority’
Jun.12 (GMM) Toto Wolff admits that Sebastian Vettel is not Mercedes’ “first priority” when considering the team’s driver lineup for 2021. Technical boss James Allison admitted this week it is “difficult to imagine” the quadruple world champion switching from Ferrari to Mercedes. And Valtteri Bottas’ revealed that he received a “pretty straight message” from his […]
Raikkonen, Verstappen not expecting to be ‘rusty’
Jun.12 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen is not expecting to struggle in Austria next month even though Formula 1 drivers have not raced since late last year. Some, like the Alfa Romeo driver’s teammate Antonio Giovinazzi, think the drivers will be “rusty” once the initial eight-race European season kicks off. But Finn Raikkonen – F1’s oldest and […]
Austria GP preparations ‘like clockwork’ – Marko
Jun.11 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says preparations for Formula 1’s return to racing next month are “going like clockwork”. “Now all we have to do is keep calm,” the Red Bull official, who has been the leading figure in organising the first ‘ghost races’ of the coronavirus era, told f1-insider.com. Amid face masks and other […]
F1 driver lineups ‘looking to the future’ – Russell
Jun.11 (GMM) Top Formula 1 teams are “looking to the future”, according to George Russell. The 22-year-old made his debut last year for Williams, but he is also the cream of Mercedes’ driver program and tipped to make the step up to the works team for 2021. He said Ferrari’s decision to pair Carlos Sainz […]
Bottas only needs to beat ‘one driver’ – Hakkinen
Jun.11 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas could win the 2020 world championship by beating just “one driver”. That is the view of Mika Hakkinen, the retired double world champion who remains involved in the management of his fellow Finn’s career. “I’ve seen Valtteri’s development and passionate dedication to the work,” the 51-year-old told Helsingin Sanomat newspaper. “He […]
Shutdown could shake up F1 hierarchy – Hakkinen
Jun.11 (GMM) Experienced drivers in smaller teams may benefit the most from F1’s long coronavirus shutdown period, according to Mika Hakkinen. The sport is currently counting down the days before the first ‘ghost races’ of the badly corona-affected 2020 season get underway. When the engines fire in Austria, it will be seven months since the […]
Only 10 journalists to attend first ‘ghost races’
Jun.11 (GMM) A very minimal number of media representatives will be permitted to attend the first ‘ghost races’ in Austria and Hungary next month. Those with permanent FIA media passes have been informed that the FIA will select the initial group of ten that will be confined to the Red Bull Ring’s media centre. The […]
Bottas says Mercedes ‘not considering’ Vettel
Jun.11 (GMM) Mercedes is “not considering” signing up Sebastian Vettel for 2021. That is the claim of Valtteri Bottas, who would presumably have been the victim of the Ferrari refugee’s switch to silver. When asked about the speculation, the Finn told Sky: “It’s the same as every year for me. “I find it quite funny […]
Norris ‘glad’ to lose followers over politics
Jun.11 (GMM) Lando Norris says he faced a backlash among his social media followers after wading into the current political moment. At the tail end of the corona crisis, and amid widespread protests and racial tension, the McLaren driver heeded Lewis Hamilton’s call for his fellow drivers to publicly support the Black Lives Matter movement. […]