May 27 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul admits he is “disappointed” to lose Daniel Ricciardo for 2021. Earlier in May, the Renault team boss took a parting shot at Australian Ricciardo, saying that amid the corona crisis “reciprocated confidence, unity and commitment are, more than ever, critical values for a works team”. Ricciardo, widely regarded as having […]
Report names potential Renault F1 buyer
May 27 (GMM) A potential buyer for embattled Renault’s works Formula 1 team has emerged. On Tuesday, it emerged that about 75 members of the McLaren team are losing their jobs, with chairman Paul Walsh admitting it is a “challenging time for our company”. At the same time, reports suggest that Renault’s obvious financial problems […]
FIA to scrap complex ‘MGU-H’ for 2025
May 26 (GMM) F1’s governing FIA is preparing to scrap the ‘MGU-H’ element of the current engine formula for 2025. The news was broken by Spanish correspondent Albert Fabrega, who says the ‘motor generator unit – heat’ is ground-breaking technology that has obvious weaknesses in F1. For instance, he says the technology is expensive, complex, […]
Rosberg achievements ‘not appreciated’ – Kovalainen
May 26 (GMM) The extent of Nico Rosberg’s career achievements in Formula 1 is not fully appreciated. That is the view of Heikki Kovalainen, a former F1 driver who – like Rosberg – was once paired inside a team with Lewis Hamilton. “Formula 1 is mentally and physically gruelling enough without having such a virtuoso […]
Binotto tasked with ‘difficult situation’ – Piero Ferrari
May 26 (GMM) Mattia Binotto will be tasked with a “difficult and unusual situation” once the racing kicks off in 2020. That is the view of Piero Ferrari, the son of founder Enzo Ferrari who is also the fabled Italian marque’s vice president and co-owner. And he is not just referring to the corona crisis. […]
Mick Schumacher tipped for mid-season 2020 debut
May 26 (GMM) Mick Schumacher could make his Formula 1 race debut much earlier than expected. Officially, Michael Schumacher’s son is taking his rise to the top steadily, as he plans to do another full year of Formula 2 in 2020. “The good thing about the Schumacher family is that they know exactly what to […]
Mercedes man tipped to run Aston Martin
May 26 (GMM) Intrigue about the future of Mercedes’ works team is only intensifying. In the past days, weeks and months, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has been clearly moving in the direction of fellow Aston Martin investor Lawrence Stroll. Wolff admits he is in talks with new Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius about his role […]
Renault not rushing to replace Ricciardo
May 26 (GMM) Renault will not rush to name Daniel Ricciardo’s replacement for 2021. Amid rumours the parent carmaker is in serious financial trouble, Australian Ricciardo decided recently to switch next year to McLaren. Team boss Cyril Abiteboul told Dutch media including De Telegraaf and Ziggo Sport that there is no rush to name a […]
F1 drivers ‘impatient’ for 2020 season to restart
May 26 (GMM) Formula 1 drivers are starting to look forward to the resumption of racing in July. It now appears likely that initial plans for ‘ghost races’ in Austria, Silverstone, Hockenheim and Hungary starting in July will get the green light. “I am still in the simulator a lot, but not as often as […]
Austrian government to give F1 green light
May 26 (GMM) Austrian officials look set to show a green light to Formula 1’s plans to re-start the 2020 season in July. Health and sports ministers Rudolf Anschober and Werner Kogler have given the strongest indication yet that the plan for back-to-back ‘ghost races’ will be approved. “There are entry and exit regulations, provisions […]
Massa not revealing Schumacher health ‘information’
May 25 (GMM) Felipe Massa says he is not going to divulge the “information” he knows about the health of his former Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher. Ever since his late 2013 skiing crash, Schumacher’s family has managed to keep the extent of the seven time world champion’s brain injuries almost completely secret. One of the […]
Leclerc denies Sainz will be Ferrari number 2
May 25 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has denied that he will be the undisputed ‘number 1’ at Ferrari from 2021. Ferrari’s move to oust Sebastian Vettel and replace him with Carlos Sainz has been interpreted as a clear hierarchical shift for the Maranello team. But after driving a Ferrari sports car around the Monaco circuit on […]
Pundit thinks Vettel to Aston Martin ‘possible’
May 25 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel will join “a winning team” for 2021 or quit the sport, according to his former boss Dr Helmut Marko. Speculation about the quadruple world champion’s future is rife after Ferrari announced that he will be replaced by Carlos Sainz next year. “I have spoken to Sebastian and of course we […]
Alonso will help Sainz adjust to Ferrari – Domenicali
May 25 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali has tipped former Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso to help his countryman Carlos Sainz “a lot” with his adjustment to life with the Italian team. “It will be important for Carlos to prepare well this year to be able to withstand the pressure he will experience at Ferrari,” said Domenicali, who […]
Minister admits Renault ‘may disappear’
May 25 (GMM) France’s finance minister has admitted Renault may “disappear” as a result of the corona crisis. It was reported last week that the government, which owns a 15 percent stake in the French carmaker, will step in with a EUR 5 billion loan to rescue the embattled marque. But minister Bruno Le Maire […]
Hockenheim ready if Silverstone plans collapse
May 25 (GMM) Hockenheim is ready to step in if Formula 1 needs to abandon plans to race at Silverstone. The sport wants to return to racing with spectator-less ‘ghost races’ in Austria in July, before moving on to the home of the British GP. But 14-day quarantine rules for international visitors to Britain means […]
Bottas’ name added to 2021 ‘silly season’
May 22 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas’ name is the latest to join the 2021 driver ‘silly season’. Speculation is gaining speed that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff sees George Russell, not Sebastian Vettel, as the ideal next teammate for Lewis Hamilton. Reports in Germany suggest that Bottas’ manager Didier Coton has been in talks with Renault, who […]
Ferrari has re-opened F1 factory – Gene
May 22 (GMM) Following a long factory lockdown amid Italy’s coronavirus epidemic, Ferrari’s fabled headquarters at Maranello have now re-opened. “On Monday we opened the F1 division,” test driver Marc Gene told Radio Marca. “Everything has been prepared for, with many corona tests.” The Spaniard said Ferrari will now work hard to improve its 2020 […]
Team co-owner says Ferrari eyeing Indy 500
May 22 (GMM) Ferrari vice chairman and 10 percent owner Piero Ferrari has suggested the Maranello marque may tackle the fabled Indianapolis 500 in future. Team boss Mattia Binotto recently admitted that the ever-lowering budget cap in Formula 1 means Ferrari is now “looking at Indycar”. “Ferrari feels a lot of social responsibility towards its […]
Sirotkin eyes return to Williams
May 22 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin is hoping to return to Formula 1. The Russian raced for Williams in 2018 before serving as McLaren and Renault’s reserve driver last year. This year, though, his mission is to put together a 2021 race deal. “I am more concerned than anyone on the question of a return,” said […]