Feb.18 (GMM) F1 teams rejected Liberty Media’s proposal of a pre-season group photo with all the 2020 cars at this week’s winter testing. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the sport’s commercial rights holder wanted all the new cars to be assembled on the grid in Barcelona for a photo. “The teams refused because they […]
F1 to lose China’s $43m race fee – report
Feb.18 (GMM) Formula 1 looks set to take at least a $43 million hit due to the coronavirus crisis. Because Shanghai’s scheduled April race has had to be postponed and probably cancelled due to ‘force majeure’, the promoter Juss Sports Group may be subject to a refund of the race fee it paid to Liberty […]
Kubica not closing door on F1 return
Feb.18 (GMM) Robert Kubica says it is “possible” that he could return to Formula 1 someday. But at 35, having returned in 2019 with his permanent arm injury and struggled, the Pole told Przeglad Sportowy that he is “of course aware” that he may not be back on the grid again. Indeed, Kubica is staying […]
Verstappen ‘ready to attack’ in 2020 – Marko
Feb.18 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits he is looking forward to the start of winter testing on Wednesday. The top Red Bull official confirmed to Kurier newspaper that he will be in Barcelona to watch the 2020 car be prepared for Melbourne and the new season. “Mercedes with Hamilton is the favourite but we see […]
McLaren needed Honda split – Brawn
Feb.18 (GMM) McLaren did the right thing by dumping its works supply of Honda engines after 2017, according to F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn. Brawn was actually team boss at Honda’s works team well over a decade ago, but he says “clever people” at McLaren concluded that the ill-fated collaboration had to stop. “They have […]
Renault engine ‘close to Mercedes’ now – Key
Feb.18 (GMM) Renault’s F1 engine is now “very close to Mercedes”, according to James Key. He is the technical director at McLaren, the only team apart from Renault’s works outfit to use the French marque’s engines in Formula 1. Renault has lagged behind the leading engine manufacturers in the ‘power unit’ era, but Key said […]
Leclerc knows not to go skydiving – Binotto
Feb.18 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has admitted that he is unhappy about Charles Leclerc’s pre-season skydiving antics. Last month, the Ferrari driver admitted he had engaged in the dangerous feat without the permission of his team. “I said to myself that even if there was a problem I don’t think I would have the opportunity to […]
No ‘miracle’ for Williams in 2020 – boss
Feb.18 (GMM) Claire Williams says she knows there will be no “miracle” for the struggling British team in 2020. However, she says that while the newly-launched and liveried car is based on its uncompetitive predecessor, it has been substantially improved. “Our 2020 campaign is about making progress,” said Williams, the team founded by her father […]
Red Bull likely to sign up for 2021 – Mateschitz
Feb.17 (GMM) Only the “details” of the new agreements with Formula 1 are left to be determined before top teams like Red Bull sign up for 2021 and beyond. That is the claim of Dietrich Mateschitz, the low-profile owner of both Red Bull and Alpha Tauri and promoter of the Austrian GP. Asked if the […]
Vettel no longer Ferrari number 1 – Marko
Feb.17 (GMM) Quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel needs a “really good season” to get his F1 career back on track. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, the top Red Bull official who brought a then teenaged Vettel into Formula 1 some thirteen years ago. Now 32, the German driver has struggled more recently […]
Verstappen, Leclerc could be options for Mercedes – Wolff
Feb.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc may not have “closed the door” to a potential move to Mercedes. That is the fascinating view of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who is currently negotiating with Lewis Hamilton about extending the Briton’s deal for 2021. But Wolff says Mercedes could have some high-profile alternatives, even though Verstappen […]
Imola wants to replace 2020 Chinese GP
Feb.17 (GMM) Imola has put itself forward as a potential substitute for the postponed Chinese GP this April. The former F1 venue has admitted for some time that it would like to return to the calendar, and sees the coronavirus crisis as a potential opening. “We have indeed submitted an application to the FIA and […]
‘No options’ for Alonso comeback – Coulthard
Feb.17 (GMM) Fernando Alonso can probably forget about returning to Formula 1 in 2021. That is the view of his former contemporary David Coulthard, who told Spain’s EFE news agency that he cannot see where the two-time world champion could slot back into the grid. “I know he wants to come back, but he seems […]
Alpha Tauri eyes Honda driver Tsunoda
Feb.17 (GMM) A Japanese driver could be fast-tracked into Formula 1 later this year. It is no secret that Honda would like a home-grown talent for its F1 programme, and the leading contender at present is Yuki Tsunoda. In his first season out of Japan last year, the 19-year-old impressed in Formula 3 and, with […]
Gasly keeps eye on Red Bull return
Feb.17 (GMM) Pierre Gasly admits he is still keeping one eye on a potential return to Red Bull. Although praised for his recovery after being demoted by the senior team mid last year, the Frenchman says he still wants to win races and the title. “It’s too early to talk about it, but of course […]
Alpha Tauri ‘six months behind’ Red Bull – Marko
Feb.17 (GMM) Now officially called Alpha Tauri, the former Toro Rosso outfit will benefit from many of “sister team” Red Bull’s technology by mid-season. That is the news from Dr Helmut Marko, who said the Faenza based team’s spectacular re-branding means Alpha Tauri is no longer the junior squad but the “sister team”. “They are […]
Mercedes reserve Vandoorne to focus on Formula E
Feb.17 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says his main focus will be on Formula E in 2020. The former McLaren driver may now be a frontrunner in the electric series, but he has just been signed up as Mercedes’ new F1 reserve. “It’s very nice to go a step up within in the Mercedes family,” the Belgian […]
Hamilton expects top drivers to stay put in 2021
Feb.17 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has hit back at what he sees as “a sign of weakness” in his likely title challenger in 2020. While always noting the six-time world champion’s talent and achievements, Red Bull-Honda driver Max Verstappen has often pointed out that a big part of Hamilton’s recent dominance has been his Mercedes car. […]
Renault denies being late with 2020 car
Feb.14 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has denied that Renault is behind schedule with its 2020 car. Heads were scratching this week when team figures and the world’s media assembled in Paris for the ‘launch’ event – but the actual 2020 car was missing. Boss Abiteboul explained that because the car was being assembled, he did not […]
Combining F1 with DTM will be ‘difficult’ – Kubica
Feb.14 (GMM) Robert Kubica admits he will have a very busy year in 2020. On Thursday, it was announced that with the Pole’s sponsor PKN Orlen, he will combine his Alfa Romeo reserve driver role with a full race seat in the German touring car series DTM. Kubica, 35, will race a BMW car run […]