Nov.17 (GMM) Robert Kubica is set to make two more Friday practice appearances this season at the wheel of Alfa Romeo’s 2020 car. The Pole, who is the Swiss based team’s reserve driver this year with the support of major sponsor Orlen, told TVP Sport that he will drive at one of the forthcoming race […]
Isola plays down slippery Istanbul surface ‘drama’
Nov.17 (GMM) Pirelli boss Mario Isola has played down the controversy about the condition of Istanbul’s track surface for the Turkish GP last weekend. Williams’ George Russell was among the fiercest critics of the slipperiness of the track surface which was re-laid by race organisers just two weeks before the weekend. “The weekend had nothing […]
Raikkonen tips Ferrari to bounce back quickly
Nov.17 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has tipped Ferrari to quickly solve its 2020 performance crisis. Another former Ferrari driver, Gerhard Berger, recently predicted that getting back to race wins and title contention will take the Maranello team several years. But Raikkonen, the last Ferrari champion of 2007, says he has seen similar situations at the team […]
Hamilton ‘more expensive’ with seventh title – Wolff
Nov.16 (GMM) Toto Wolff is still not rushing to get new seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton under contract for 2021. After Hamilton wrapped up the championship in Istanbul on Sunday, fans’ attention immediately turned to the Mercedes driver’s expiring deal. Hamilton sounds keen to race on. “I don’t think I’ll be here in my […]
‘No criticism’ of Stroll after Turkey pole – Villeneuve
Nov.16 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has a rare compliment for his countryman Lance Stroll after the Turkish GP. Although Stroll finished ninth on Sunday, he actually commandingly led the race after powering to his first-ever pole position on super-slippery Saturday. 1997 world champion and fellow French Canadian Villeneuve is a regular critic of Stroll’s, insisting he […]
Magnussen not ruling out Haas reserve role, Indy 500
Nov.16 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen is not ruling out staying in F1 as a reserve driver next year – but he is also keen on races like Le Mans and even the Indy 500. Haas is tipped to replace the departing 28-year-old Dane with an all-rookie lineup for 2021, with Magnussen admitting he lacks the funding […]
Binotto set to also sit out Bahrain races
Nov.16 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says he is pleased that his experiment of sitting out a grand prix at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters over the weekend was a success. For the first time since becoming team boss, the Italian did not travel to the race location at the weekend. Ultimately, Istanbul turned out to be Sebastian Vettel’s […]
Masi defends Turkey over track surface condition
Nov.16 (GMM) F1 race director Michael Masi has defended organisers of the Turkish GP for the state of the Istanbul circuit’s new asphalt surface. Even in Sunday’s race, drivers continued to complain about what they described as the lowest-grip surface they have ever encountered in Formula 1. “This weekend was not what we expect in […]
Vettel to remain ‘Ferrari fan’ for life
Nov.15 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he will remain a “Ferrari fan” even after leaving the Maranello team next month. The 33-year-old joined Ferrari in 2015 amid high hopes of winning a fifth title, but this year he is struggling to match teammate Charles Leclerc after being told in May that he would be replaced for […]
Nikita Mazepin denies being arrested
Nov.15 (GMM) Likely 2021 F1 rookie Nikita Mazepin has denied rumours that he was arrested in Abu Dhabi for breaking a coronavirus quarantine. “I heard that there were rumours I was arrested in Abu Dhabi,” the 21-year-old Russian, who is set to be Mick Schumacher’s teammate at Haas next year, reportedly said. “I can assure […]
Kubica turned down world rally offer
Nov.15 (GMM) Robert Kubica has revealed that he turned down an offer to make a guest appearance in a forthcoming round of the world rally championship. The Pole, who turned to rallying full-time amid his recovery from a near-fatal crash some decade ago, told Eleven Sports he could not do the rally this year because […]
F1 ‘won’t work’ long term amid corona crisis – Marko
Nov.15 (GMM) The current state of Formula 1 amid the coronavirus pandemic “won’t work in the long term”, according to Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko. An unnamed team boss was recently quoted as saying that another full year of ‘ghost races’, quarantining and social distancing could bankrupt teams. “The fact that we were able […]
‘Flexibility’ in 2021 calendar – Carey
Nov.15 (GMM) Chase Carey admits there is some “flexibility” in the unprecedentedly-long 23-race calendar for 2021. Some have expressed surprise that, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage, Formula 1 is planning its longest ever calendar – with every race scheduled to host spectators as well. “We are quite optimistic,” said Carey, the F1 CEO. […]
Wolff denies shaping up to switch F1 teams
Nov.15 (GMM) Toto Wolff has rejected renewed speculation that he may be on the verge of quitting Mercedes and joining the Aston Martin team. The Austrian bought shares in Lawrence Stroll’s new project earlier this year but Wolff denies that is a sign that he could switch camps in Formula 1. “I have no stake […]
Juri Vips denies eyeing Red Bull seat for 2021
Nov.14 (GMM) Juri Vips has denied rumours that he could be on the cusp of a Formula 1 race debut in 2021. Although seats are limited for next year, it is notable that Red Bull has pushed to secure a super licence for the 20-year-old from Estonia. “I know that getting the super licence means […]
Marko eyes 2022 ‘compromise’ with departing Honda
Nov.14 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko will fly to Japan next week to discuss Red Bull’s future with Honda. Officially, the Japanese manufacturer is pulling out of Formula 1 completely at the end of next year. Red Bull had floated the idea of taking over Honda’s engine IP and operations for 2022, but rivals Ferrari and […]
Two F1 drivers eye 2021 sabbaticals
Nov.14 (GMM) Two current Formula 1 drivers are floating the possibility of taking sabbaticals in 2021. Alongside Nico Hulkenberg, Sergio Perez is in the running to replace the struggling Alex Albon at Red Bull – but the team is giving its current driver until the end of the season to claim the seat. “We can […]
Hamilton says Istanbul conditions ‘terrifying’
Nov.14 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has described track conditions in Istanbul this weekend as “terrifying”. Formula 1 has not used the Turkish venue since 2011, but Istanbul stepped up at the eleventh hour to help the sport through its corona crisis. The circuit was resurfaced just two weeks ago, and it provided an unprecedented lack of […]
Alonso to resume F1 testing on Sunday
Nov.14 (GMM) A fully motivated Fernando Alonso will continue his preparations to return to Formula 1 next year with two days of testing in Abu Dhabi. Renault had hoped the 39-year-old Spaniard would be able to drive the 2020 car at the same Yas Marina circuit at the forthcoming ‘young drivers test’. Rival teams did […]
F1 discussing wind tunnel ban from 2030
Nov.14 (GMM) Formula 1 is discussing the possibility of banning wind tunnels from 2030. The matter was reportedly discussed in the F1 Commission meeting held on the Monday after the recent race at Portimao. “I think everything is possible as technology gets better, so I think maybe it would be the right thing to do,” […]