Sep.9 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has hit out at Lewis Hamilton’s recent criticism of Red Bull. After suggesting that Alex Albon is not good enough to be Max Verstappen’s teammate, Hamilton accused Red Bull of not treating Monza winner Pierre Gasly fairly when he was demoted to Alpha Tauri last year. Marko, the architect of […]
F1 should ‘artificially slow’ Mercedes – Seidl
Sep.9 (GMM) The only way Formula 1 can ensure “more interesting races” is for the sport’s authorities to intervene. That is the view of McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl, whose driver Carlos Sainz finished second behind Pierre Gasly last weekend at Monza. The result was widely hailed, if only because it was a temporary break […]
Title will guarantee F1 seat for Schumacher – Petrov
Sep.9 (GMM) The Formula 2 title will guarantee a route into Formula 1 for Mick Schumacher. That is the view of former F1 driver Vitaly Petrov, in the wake of Ferrari junior Schumacher’s victory at Monza last weekend. The 21-year-old son of F1 great Michael Schumacher has had a mixed run in Formula 2 to […]
‘No negotiations’ with Haas yet – Magnussen
Sep.8 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says there are “no negotiations” yet with Haas over his place at Haas beyond 2020. The small American team is not ruling out a wholesale driver change for 2021, adding that whoever is signed up will also race into the new era in 2022. “Everyone is asking what we are doing […]
F1 loses ‘heart and soul’ with Williams family exit
Sep.8 (GMM) Two former F1 figures say the departure of the Williams family from Formula 1 is a poignant moment for the sport. “A sad moment, a historic exit,” former F1 team Minardi’s founder Gian Carlo Minardi told La Gazzetta dello Sport. In recent days, it was announced not only that the Oxfordshire based team […]
Kneeling absence ‘not end of the world’ – Hamilton
Sep.8 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says missing his moment to kneel for Black Lives Matter at Monza last Sunday was “not the end of the world”. The six-time world champion, who has championed the race-based push for social justice inside Formula 1 this season, was conspicuously absent when the rest of the drivers gathered on the […]
Ferrari signing proves F1 credentials – Sainz
Sep.8 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he has nothing else to prove as a top Formula 1 driver. The Spaniard has not won a title or a race, but he came close to the latter last Sunday when he chased Pierre Gasly home at Monza. The McLaren driver’s future boss, Ferrari principal Mattia Binotto, applauded Sainz […]
‘Better to be quiet’ about Ferrari – Montezemolo
Sep.8 (GMM) Luca di Montezemolo is suddenly not offering any advice to the Ferrari team that he led so successfully in the past. The Maranello company’s former long-time president has been vocal about Ferrari’s struggles in recent weeks and days. But after the debacle of Monza, where the red car was not only woefully uncompetitive […]
Gasly still not Red Bull candidate – Marko
Sep.8 (GMM) Monza winner Pierre Gasly is still “not a consideration” for a re-promotion to Red Bull Racing. That is the news from Dr Helmut Marko, after the French driver suggested “strong results should be rewarded with something”. Gasly told L’Equipe: “I delivered the team’s second win. The first was Sebastian Vettel. “This year Mercedes […]
‘Something has changed’ after party mode ban
Sep.8 (GMM) The jury is out as to whether the ‘party mode’ ban that began at Monza has kicked off a new era of better racing in Formula 1. Mercedes scoffed at those, like Red Bull, who predicted that the ban would ease the reigning world champion team’s utter dominance. However, it did at least […]
Masi not angry Hamilton confronted stewards
Sep.7 (GMM) F1 race director Michael Masi says he doesn’t mind that Lewis Hamilton confronted the stewards at Monza to personally protest the penalty that cost him victory on Sunday. Using a scooter to speed up his mission during the red flag stoppage in the Italian GP, some thought the Mercedes driver wanted a ‘nature […]
‘All teams’ signed to end car copying saga – Todt
Sep.7 (GMM) The ‘pink Mercedes’ saga is over, after the last teams vowing to take the matter to the international court of appeal dropped their cases at Monza. Mattia Binotto said earlier last weekend that Ferrari would join Renault in withdrawing their appeal if clear rules were put in place for 2021 that ensure “it […]
Alonso ‘motivated’ to lead Alpine team – de Meo
Sep.7 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is “very motivated” to return to Formula 1 with a car in iconic French colours. That is the word from Luca de Meo, who in the wake of the Carlos Ghosn corruption scandal emerged from the crisis to lead Groupe Renault. It was announced at Monza that Renault will switch from […]
2020 Red Bull ‘simply not good enough’ – Verstappen
Sep.7 (GMM) Hopes that the ‘party mode’ ban would play right into Red Bull’s hands came crumbling down at Monza. Even Lewis Hamilton, who had dominated qualifying and only failed to win due to a penalty, managed to keep smiling at the end of the Italian GP. “We still came seventh and got the fastest […]
‘Wishful thinking’ brought down Ferrari – Berger
Sep.7 (GMM) Life at crisis-struck Ferrari “sucks” for Sebastian Vettel. “I don’t know what happens next,” the quadruple world champion, who so far this year has grappled with a highly-uncompetitive car after being told he was not wanted for 2021, said at Monza. On Sunday at the fabled Italian circuit, he retired with brake failure. […]
Red Bull did not treat Gasly ‘fairly’ – Hamilton
Sep.7 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says shock Monza winner Pierre Gasly “wasn’t treated fairly” by Red Bull last year. Frenchman Gasly emerged from the unusual Italian GP – in which top teams Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari struck trouble and turmoil – to declare that he is “ready” to return to the team that demoted him […]
F1 still ‘fun’ as Raikkonen retirement rumours fade
Sep.6 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he is still having fun in Formula 1. That is despite the fact that many pundits are predicting that Alfa Romeo’s struggle in 2020 is the final straw for the 40-year-old’s motivation. “Of course we would all be happier if the results were a little better,” the 2007 world champion […]
Wolff set to ‘stay’ with Mercedes
Sep.6 (GMM) Toto Wolff looks set to remain at Mercedes beyond 2020. The team boss has made clear that he has been discussing his contract renewal over the past weeks with new Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius. Earlier, he even weighed up the top job at Liberty Media. “(Sergio) Marchionne wanted me out of Mercedes to […]
‘No alternative to Binotto’ for Ferrari – Domenicali
Sep.6 (GMM) Former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has called for a stop to the criticism of Mattia Binotto. As team boss today, Binotto is under fire as the famous Maranello outfit slumps towards the back of the field. Domenicali told Il Resto del Carlino newspaper that Binotto needs support. “From personal experience, I know how […]
Cowell can have ‘any job he wants’ – Wolff
Sep.6 (GMM) Andy Cowell can have “any job he wants”, according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. Although Cowell is still working on a project at Mercedes, the dominant team’s engine boss has decided to leave the German outfit. It was rumoured that Ferrari was interested in snapping him up, but Italian reports suggest Cowell […]