May 12 (GMM) Alpha Tauri has a plan in the event that a coronavirus infection is confirmed during F1’s planned return to racing from July. F1 doctor Professor Gerard Saillant recently declared that, unlike in Melbourne, the sport will keep racing even if a new infection emerges in the paddock. “If an employee is infected […]
Hulkenberg eyes racing outside of F1
May 12 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he might return to racing – even if it is not Formula 1. “It depends on the sporting perspective,” the former Renault driver, who lost his seat at the end of 2019, told DPA news agency. Hulkenberg, 32, contested almost 180 grands prix in a decade-long career, but never […]
BMW accuses Audi of ‘jeopardising’ DTM
Apr.11 (GMM) BMW has accused fellow German carmaker Audi of “jeopardising” the future of the German touring car series DTM. The category’s viability is hanging by a thread after Audi decided to pull out after 2020, which would leave BMW as the only competitor. Klaus Frohlich, a BMW board member, told Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper that […]
Dutch broadcaster says no to ‘ghost races’
Apr.11 (GMM) Ziggo Sport, the Dutch broadcaster of Formula 1, will not be present at July’s planned re-start of the 2020 season in Austria. Although it was understood that members of the media would be excluded at the ‘ghost race’ anyway, Ziggo reporter Jack Plooij said the company has been in contact with F1. “We […]
Ferrari should enter Indycar – Andretti
Apr.11 (GMM) Ferrari should consider entering the Indycar championship. That is the view of Mario Andretti, a legend of both the top category of American open wheeler racing as well as Formula 1. Recently, as talk about reducing the F1 budget cap for 2021 intensified, Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto suggested the Italian marque could consider […]
Williams ‘closer to other teams’ in 2020 – Latifi
Apr.11 (GMM) Nicholas Latifi is settling in for “several more weeks” away from the world of Formula 1. The Canadian said it was “really strange” when he travelled to Australia for his debut race, only for it to be cancelled at the last minute over coronavirus. “At the start, we weren’t sure what to do, […]
Alonso eyes ‘good future’ for friend Sainz
Apr.11 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is hoping his countryman and friend Carlos Sainz has a “good future” in Formula 1. Spaniard Sainz, who currently drives for Alonso’s former team McLaren, is being linked with a move to Ferrari for 2021. “If an agreement is not reached with Sebastian Vettel, I quietly doubt that Ricciardo would be […]
Barcelona wants new contract through 2024
Apr.11 (GMM) Barcelona is still hoping to remain on the F1 calendar beyond 2020. On the face of it, the Spanish circuit is firmly established in the sport, having hosted its first F1 race in 1991 and now serving as the exclusive winter test venue. But the 2020 race contract was actually a one-off, agreed […]
July ‘late’ for 2021 contract talks – Ricciardo
Apr.11 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has admitted that his own future in Formula 1 is on his mind during the corona crisis. First team advisor Alain Prost, and now boss Cyril Abiteboul, have revealed in recent days that it is possible Australian Ricciardo will leave after 2020. Sebastian Vettel could be a candidate to replace him. […]
Tost bets F1 season will re-start in Austria
Apr.11 (GMM) Franz Tost is hopeful F1’s plan for ‘ghost races’ starting in July will work out. That is despite the fact that there are obvious issues with that plan to re-start amid the corona crisis. For instance, British PM Boris Johnson has announced that all international travellers will need to quarantine for a full […]
Insider says Ecclestone’s corona advice ‘disingenuous’
May 8 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone’s advice that Formula 1 should cancel the 2020 season altogether is “disingenuous”, according to an insider. With so much at stake due to the sport’s shutdown for the corona crisis, Liberty Media is working desperately on a plan to start running again from July with ‘ghost races’. Alexey Popov, the […]
Two Schumachers in F1 again would be ‘cool’ – Weber
May 8 (GMM) Willi Weber says it would be “cool” to see two new Schumachers on the Formula 1 grid. Although he fell out with the family after Michael Schumacher’s skiing accident, Willi Weber was a key figure in the seven time world champion’s meteoric F1 career. Now, Michael’s son Mick is knocking on the […]
Carey admits ‘no racing’ possible in 2020
May 8 (GMM) F1 CEO Chase Carey has admitted it is possible there will be “no racing” at all in 2020. Currently, Liberty Media is working on a plan to get back up and running amid the corona crisis with back-to-back ‘ghost race’ weekends in Austria in July. Indycar and MotoGP have similar plans to […]
Spa waiting for government ‘green light’
May 7 (GMM) Spa-Francorchamps is waiting for the “green light from the government” to push ahead with plans for a 2020 Belgian GP. The famous circuit has a August 30 date on the original 2020 calendar – but the Belgian government has banned mass events until the 31st. Race promoter Vanessa Maes told RTBF that […]
Vandoorne would consider F1 return
May 7 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says he would consider returning to Formula 1 under the right circumstances. But the former McLaren driver says he is enjoying his new career in Formula E – even though the entire world of motor racing is currently shut down. “I am really looking forward to doing my job again,” […]
Another F1 sponsor ‘on standby’ amid crisis
May 7 (GMM) Another F1 sponsor has admitted its concern about the corona crisis. We have already reported that the Carlos Sainz and McLaren backer Estrella Galicia has “great concern” about the impact of the shutdown. And now, Heikki Hultunen, boss of the digital locking company Iloq, has added his worries to the topic. Iloq […]
Renault must ‘consider’ Ricciardo alternatives – boss
May 7 (GMM) Renault’s boss has admitted the French team could say goodbye to Daniel Ricciardo at the end of 2020. Cyril Abiteboul revealed that until the corona crisis struck, the plan for this year was to make an assessment about the Australian driver’s place on the team during the race season. “It is complicated […]
Liberty paying teams in full amid crisis – Brown
May 7 (GMM) Liberty Media appears determined to keep all ten of the current teams in business throughout the corona crisis. Williams finished dead last in 2019 and many fear that the once-great British team is most at risk of going out of business amid the sport’s shutdown. “It’s scary that you could not just […]
Bottas tipped to keep Mercedes seat for 2021
May 7 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is likely to stay at Mercedes beyond 2020, according to former F1 driver Karun Chandhok. Chandhok, an Indian driver who raced for Lotus and HRT, told the Finnish news agency STT that Bottas “has the best job in the world – he gets to drive for Mercedes”. “On the other […]
Ricciardo won’t be forced into sim racing – boss
May 7 (GMM) Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul says he will not force Daniel Ricciardo to get involved in online sim racing. Australian Ricciardo, sitting out the corona crisis at his family’s farm outside Perth, said this week that he does not think “spending hours” on a home simulator is a good idea. “Before you know […]