Mar.13 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel can beat Charles Leclerc at the wheel of Ferrari’s 2020 car. That is the view of former F1 driver Timo Glock, who said quadruple world champion Vettel clearly struggled with the handling of last year’s red machine. “When you listen to him, you get the impression that he has a much […]
Williams worried about financial impact of coronavirus
Mar.13 (GMM) Claire Williams is worried about the financial impact of F1’s new coronavirus crisis. Australia and China have been called off, but Bahrain and Vietnam will soon follow suit and most insiders doubt there will be a single race until June. If that happens, it will hurt F1’s smallest and least successful teams like […]
F1 took ‘too long’ with Melbourne decision – Ecclestone
Mar.13 (GMM) Formula 1 took too long to respond to the coronavirus crisis, according to former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. On Friday the 13th, the image presented to the world by the pinnacle of motorsport was utterly shambolic. After a McLaren team member tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, most insiders assumed that cancellation of […]
‘F1 will recover’ from worst ever crisis
Mar.13 (GMM) The world of Formula 1 is coming to terms with the fact that its 2020 season is in tatters over the coronavirus crisis. Initially, the sport’s figureheads – Chase Carey and Jean Todt – are facing the ire of spectators, fans, insiders and observers because of how the Melbourne situation was handled amid […]
Bahrain GP ‘out of the question’ – Horner
Mar.13 (GMM) With Australia and China already called off, F1 insiders are no longer expecting any racing whatsoever until at least June in Baku. After the McLaren team member tested positive for coronavirus in Melbourne on Friday, 14 of his teammates are now in quarantine for two weeks. It is just one reason why Bahrain […]
Steiner defends F1 amid charges of ‘poor management’
Mar.12 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has stopped short of pointing the finger at Liberty Media and the FIA’s “poor management” of the coronavirus crisis that is gripping Formula 1. While sporting events, motor races and large gatherings of all sorts are cancelled the world over, F1 has pressed ahead with the start of the 2020 season […]
Ferrari were ‘bluffing’ with test pace – Wolff
Mar.12 (GMM) Toto Wolff is not ready to write off Ferrari’s chances of winning the 2020 world championship. In testing, the Maranello team’s new car was conspicuously off the pace, having improved in the corners but become significantly slower in a straight line. The obvious conclusion is that the wrangling over the legality of Ferrari’s […]
Amid protest threat, Mercedes to use ‘DAS’ in Melbourne
Mar.12 (GMM) Mercedes will run the risk of a protest by using the controversial new steering system DAS in Melbourne this weekend. Amid the unfolding coronavirus crisis, Red Bull’s top F1 official Dr Helmut Marko has warned that if the reigning champions use DAS at Albert Park, “we will protest”. But Mercedes boss Toto Wolff […]
Even June’s French GP currently in doubt – Boullier
Mar.12 (GMM) With Bahrain, Vietnam and even this weekend’s 2020 season opener in Australia now in serious doubt, attention is beginning to turn to the viability of even F1’s European races this year. F1 CEO Chase Carey, who alongside the FIA is being heavily criticised for his handling of the coronavirus crisis so far, has […]
Vettel not thinking about 2021 contract
Mar.12 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he is not yet thinking about extending his stay at Ferrari beyond 2020. For months, speculation about the quadruple world champion’s expiring deal has been rife, but recent signs indicated that he was inching towards agreeing a new contract. “For the time being, my focus is on this year,” the […]
Verstappen will beat Hamilton eventually – Ecclestone
Mar.12 (GMM) Formula 1 can still be exciting even if Lewis Hamilton continues to dominate. That is the message from former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, even though he admitted to the Dutch broadcaster NOS that he hopes Max Verstappen can challenge in 2020. “I think there will be some good fighting,” said the 89-year-old. “There’s […]
Coronavirus throws F1 world into total crisis
Mar.12 (GMM) Formula 1 is in an unprecedented crisis as the ever-worsening coronavirus situation grips the Melbourne paddock and threatens the entire 2020 season. The NBA season has been suspended, Formula E is close to halting its entire calendar for two months, the US has banned travel from Europe and the World Health Organisation has […]
Three F1 team members have coronavirus symptoms
Mar.11 (GMM) F1’s coronavirus crisis is hitting a higher gear in Melbourne, with three team staff put in isolation as they suffer from symptoms. Two McLaren staff and one who works for Haas will find out if they are infected in five days after being tested in a special isolation centre at the circuit. But […]
F1 already ‘greener’ than Formula E – Schumacher
Mar.11 (GMM) Formula 1’s environmental credentials already outpace Formula E. That is the claim of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, who said carmakers have been “rushing” to the all-electric series. “If you look at the diesel generators they (Formula E) use to charge their high performance batteries, then I almost guarantee that the overall carbon […]
Todt spoke to Carey about secret Ferrari settlement
Mar.11 (GMM) Jean Todt has revealed that he consulted with Chase Carey before agreeing the secret settlement with Ferrari over the legality of the Italian team’s 2019 engine. The seven non-Ferrari affiliated teams are threatening to sue over the controversy. “It looks like Ferrari cheated with its engine in 2019,” former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone […]
Gap to Mercedes must be within three tenths – Verstappen
Mar.11 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he hopes Red Bull’s 2020 car is within “two to three tenths” of Mercedes’ pace. Many are expecting Red Bull-Honda and the Dutchman to give the previously dominant Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton a run for their money this year. “I hope we can be there immediately,” Verstappen, 22, told De […]
Melbourne win ‘seems difficult’ for Ferrari – Leclerc
Mar.11 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says he isn’t sure how competitive Ferrari’s 2020 car is compared to its rivals. Team boss Mattia Binotto has warned publicly, and also in an internal letter to members of the race team, that the car is not fast enough to win in Melbourne. But Leclerc says he isn’t sure. “It […]
Red Bull to protest Mercedes’ DAS system in Melbourne
Mar.11 (GMM) Two teams could throw yet another cloud over the 2020 season opener in Melbourne, according to Germany’s Auto Bild. Correspondent Ralf Bach said there is a very real possibility that Red Bull will lodge an official protest against the legality of Mercedes’ new ‘DAS’ steering system. “From our perspective, the system does not […]
Designer doubts Vettel will switch helmet colours
Mar.11 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel will not immediately take advantage of the newly-axed rule restricting helmet livery changes. Before he joined Ferrari, Vettel’s habit of changing his helmet colours ahead of almost every race was one of the main reasons the FIA decided to ban the practice. But the rule has been scrapped for 2020. The […]
Coronavirus infection hits Albert Park
Mar.11 (GMM) The coronavirus threat continues to close in on the start of F1’s 2020 season. With preparations in full swing for the season opener and the teams and drivers already in Melbourne, news suddenly broke that a man confirmed to have coronavirus recently visited the Albert Park hotel. The hotel is now locked down. […]