Sep.17 (GMM) Alongside Mick Schumacher, another Formula 2 star is now shaping up as a likely 2021 rookie. It is believed that Schumacher, who leads the 2020 points standings, is the frontrunner to move up to Formula 1 next year with Alfa Romeo. Alfa Romeo, currently running another Ferrari academy member Antonio Giovinazzi, is believed […]
Vettel move ‘great’ for F1 and for Toto Wolff
Sep.17 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel staying in Formula 1 beyond 2020 is “great” not just for Formula 1, but for Toto Wolff as well. It was announced at Mugello, where Ferrari was celebrating its 1000th race, that Vettel is switching to the rebranded Aston Martin project from 2021. Wolff is the Mercedes team boss, but he […]
Selling McLaren factory a ‘good decision’ – Brown
Sep.17 (GMM) Zak Brown insists that selling McLaren’s factory for about $350 million is a “very good decision”. The American, who emerged as the famous brand’s supremo in the wake of a power struggle and Ron Dennis’ departure some years ago, says the money can be used more wisely. “I think most companies in the […]
F1’s ‘ghost race’ era finally ending
Sep.17 (GMM) F1’s ‘ghost race’ trend of 2020 is finally ending. For the first time since the corona crisis struck, spectators – just under 3000 of them last weekend at Mugello – were back in the F1 grandstands. But even bigger crowds will attend a series of forthcoming races. Organisers at Sochi have been selling […]
F2 driver opposed to ‘young driver test’ for Alonso
Sep.17 (GMM) Formula 2 driver Louis Deletraz admits he is opposed to Fernando Alonso being invited to take part in F1’s ‘young driver test’ in Abu Dhabi later this year. Reports claim that Cyril Abiteboul has made an application for an exemption to the rule limiting the F1 test to drivers with less than two […]
Briatore says coronavirus ‘can be defeated’
Sep.17 (GMM) Flavio Briatore says the coronavirus pandemic that has wreaked havoc on Formula 1 and the world in 2020 “can be defeated”. The former Renault boss was speaking after recovering from his own recent infection with the famous virus. “I don’t want to play down the illness but last year I was very ill. […]
Sponsor exit was ‘end of story’ – Claire Williams
Sep.17 (GMM) It was the departure of Williams’ title sponsor this year that prompted the sale of the team. That is the admission of Claire Williams, the daughter of founder Sir Frank Williams, as they both depart Formula 1 following the sale to Dorilton Capital. “I had my chance and I’ve run out of energy,” […]
Ferrari slump ‘not comparable’ to 1993 – Todt
Sep.17 (GMM) Jean Todt thinks Ferrari should be able to recover from its surprisingly-deep 2020 slump. Ever since the FIA president reached a controversial secret agreement with Maranello over its questionably-legal 2019 engine, Ferrari has moved into the midfield. Despite the famous team’s highs, it is familiar territory for Ferrari. Indeed, Todt signed to be […]
Todt hopes Volkswagen boss serious about F1
Sep.16 (GMM) Jean Todt says he hopes Volkswagen is contemplating a move into Formula 1. Late last month, and although VW brands Audi and Porsche are in Formula E, Volkswagen chief Herbert Diess said F1 with “synthetic fuels” would be “a much more exciting and fun tech-competition than Formula E”. FIA president Todt told Auto […]
Red Bull must give Verstappen ‘competitive engine’
Sep.16 (GMM) Red Bull must supply Max Verstappen with “a competitive engine” in order to keep him at the team beyond 2021. That is the surprising admission of Dr Helmut Marko, even though in the opening days of this year, the team announced that it had signed a deal with the Dutch driver through 2023. […]
F1 unlikely to return to Mugello
Sep.16 (GMM) Formula 1 appears unlikely to return to Mugello next year, despite the success of last weekend’s race at the Ferrari-owned circuit. Up and down the pitlane, drivers raved about the challenge of the high-speed and ‘old school’ layout in Tuscany, which was drafted onto the 2020 calendar at late notice due to the […]
F2 title no guarantee of F1 seat – Schumacher
Sep.16 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is not getting carried away with speculation that he is looking likely to follow his famous father into Formula 1. In an interview with RTL, the 21-year-old German would not comment on suggestions he will get a Friday practice outing for Alfa Romeo at the Nurburgring next month. But Schumacher, whose […]
No FIA penalty for Hamilton over political t-shirt
Sep.16 (GMM) The FIA has backed away from issuing a potential penalty to Lewis Hamilton over his wearing of a politically-themed t-shirt on the Mugello podium. Earlier, a spokesman for F1’s governing body admitted that “active consideration” was being given to determining whether the six-time world champion breached the sport’s anti-political rules. It is believed, […]
Mercedes denies ‘bringing politics into F1’
Sep.15 (GMM) Mercedes has denied “bringing politics into Formula 1”. The denial from the dominant championship-winning team comes amid reports the FIA is looking into whether Lewis Hamilton broke the sport’s rules about political messaging with a t-shirt he wore at Mugello. While the six-time world champion has worn a ‘Black Lives Matter’-branded t-shirt whilst […]
F1 steward Salo says Bottas ‘did nothing wrong’
Sep.15 (GMM) Mugello steward Mika Salo insists that Valtteri Bottas “did nothing wrong” before the midfield race re-start pileup last Sunday. Some of the drivers caught up in the scary incident pointed the finger at the very front of the field, where a weaving leader Bottas left his charge notably late after the safety car […]
Vettel denies fatigue behind F1 incidents
Sep.15 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has denied that driver fatigue could be behind a spate of recent incidents in Formula 1. Last weekend, the highly physically-demanding Mugello circuit rounded out yet another treble of back-to-back races on the unusual 2020 ‘corona calendar’. Some have pointed out that as the races have rolled on, driver incidents, safety […]
2021 can be ‘much better’ for Ferrari – Sainz
Sep.15 (GMM) Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri hopes “flexibility” in the F1 rules helps the famous Maranello team pull itself out of its “hole”. The partisan Italian press is now blasting Ferrari after each race, with Corriere dello Sport predicting that it will take “a long time” for the situation to change. “While the other teams […]
Nurburgring hopes for Friday run for Schumacher
Sep.15 (GMM) The boss of the Nurburgring hopes the rumours are true that Mick Schumacher will get a Friday practice outing at the German circuit next month. Prior to Mugello, it was rumoured that the Formula 2 championship leader would in fact make his Friday appearance at the Italian venue – but that was wide […]
2020 Ferrari ‘project’ is fundamentally flawed – Binotto
Sep.14 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says Ferrari is yet to get its head around a fundamental problem with the woefully uncompetitive 2020 car. So far in 2020, the narrative has been that Ferrari’s struggles are mainly because of the 2019 engine legality saga, which has obviously left the famous team underpowered. But the drivers insist that […]
Richest team ‘will always win’ in current F1 – Sainz
Sep.14 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has admitted to “frustration” that the current situation in Formula 1 means that the richest team is always the most likely to win. The technical rules are changing markedly for 2022, while the income distribution system will already become fairer next year, when the budget cap will also debut. But at […]