Sep.3 (GMM) Formula 1 is leaving Kevin Magnussen behind, according to former Le Mans winner John Nielsen. He thinks that while his fellow Dane is likely to stay at Haas for 2021, the undeveloped and underpowered car is leaving Magnussen in a “bad place” psychologically. “It’s a bad situation for Kevin, because on the one […]
2020 season ‘not boring’ – Petrov
Sep.3 (GMM) Former F1 driver Vitaly Petrov has hit back at claims that Formula 1 is “boring” in 2020. Even title contenders Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen admitted after Spa that it had been a boring race, caused mainly by the one-stop strategy, the nature of the current cars and tyres, and Mercedes’ dominance. Some […]
Steiner ramps up pressure on Haas supplier Ferrari
Sep.3 (GMM) Gunther Steiner is ramping up the pressure on Haas’ crisis-struck engine supplier Ferrari. The Haas boss was asked if it was satisfying to see the small American team’s Romain Grosjean duelling with the struggling works Ferraris at Spa. “Well, at least Romain was able to fight, but let’s be honest,” Steiner responded. “We […]
‘Political’ reason for Renault surge – report
Sep.3 (GMM) There is a “political” factor behind Renault’s surge towards the front of the grid. That is the claim of Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper, after the French works team’s sudden show of much stronger form at Spa. “If Renault continues like that, I will not be surprised to see them on the second […]
‘Too early’ to decide Kvyat’s future – Marko
Sep.3 (GMM) It is “too early to speculate” about Daniil Kvyat’s future in Formula 1. That is the news from Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s notoriously tough driver manager. Recently, he warned that Russian Kvyat is not performing up to standard at Alpha Tauri. When asked if the Russian should be worrying about 2021, Marko […]
Vettel stopped feeling Ferrari support – Montezemolo
Sep.3 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel was never a troublemaker at Ferrari, the team’s former president Luca di Montezemolo insists. Although he was ousted in 2014, 73-year-old Montezemolo’s final major act was to sign Vettel for the following season. Five years on, the quadruple world champion has also been ousted for 2021 – and Montezemolo says the […]
Ferrari management made mistakes – Montezemolo
Sep.3 (GMM) Ferrari “paid a very high price” for Formula 1’s move to hybrid engine technology in 2014. Although highly competitive with its 2019 power unit, the Italian team has slumped this year in the wake of the engine legality scandal and subsequent secret FIA agreement. Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said the team […]
Red Bull scraps plans for ‘DAS’ copy
Sep.3 (GMM) Red Bull has scrapped plans to copy Mercedes’ ‘DAS’ steering system. Even though the innovative system has been banned for 2021, Red Bull considered designing its own version of the push-pull steering wheel. “DAS is finished for us,” Dr Helmut Marko now tells motorsport-magazin.com. “On the one hand it is of course a […]
Red Bull applied pressure for ‘party mode’ ban – Marko
Sep.3 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has admitted Red Bull applied “necessary pressure” to help get what he describes as Mercedes’ “extreme” party mode engine settings banned. Although the ban will apply to every engine manufacturer from this weekend at Monza, Marko admitted that Red Bull’s focus was F1’s dominant team. “It was legal,” he told […]
Turkey eyes 100,000 spectators, longer F1 deal
Sep.2 (GMM) For Ferrari, the absence of the Tifosi at Monza this weekend may actually be a blessing. Amid Ferrari’s deep competitive slump, Sebastian Vettel was asked if he thinks the wildly partisan Italian spectators might actually boo the fabled team. “I don’t think we’d be booed,” he answered. “The fans are probably suffering as […]
Binotto has ‘nothing’ to say after Wolff comments
Sep.2 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says there is “nothing” he wants to say in reply to his Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff. As Ferrari descended into one of its worst-ever slumps at Spa, Wolff said he blames “certain team members” rather than the fabled Maranello camp as a whole and feels sorry for the Tifosi. Many think […]
Vettel rumours ‘suddenly quiet’ – Schumacher
Sep.2 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel may now have decided to take a sabbatical in 2021, according to his countryman and former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher. Schumacher notes that after all the hype about a potential Aston Martin seat for the quadruple world champion, it has suddenly become “very, very quiet around him”. Indeed, Sergio Perez has […]
Tsunoda getting closer to Alpha Tauri debut
Sep.2 (GMM) Yuki Tsunoda is shaping up as the most likely rookie on Formula 1’s 2021 grid. The 20-year-old Japanese, who won the Formula 2 feature race at Spa Francorchamps, is strongly backed by Honda as well as Red Bull’s famous driver program. “We are waiting for a Japanese driver in Formula 1, and we […]
Melbourne 2021 in doubt, rival venue could step in
Sep.2 (GMM) A small town in South Australia has emerged as a potential Formula 1 venue for 2021. The country’s usual grand prix host, Melbourne, is currently in full lockdown, with the local Victorian government just announcing the extension of state of emergency provisions for the next six months at least. Rival state South Australia […]
Just three days of winter testing in 2021
Sep.2 (GMM) There will be just three days of winter testing before the 2021 season kicks off, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. The amount of winter testing has been reducing steadily over the past seasons, with two three-day tests taking place in Barcelona in late-February this year. But that number is reportedly going […]
F1 owners Liberty ‘a bit naive’ – Marko
Sep.1 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says the top bosses at F1’s owner Liberty Media are often “a bit naive”. The Red Bull chief was asked by Der Spiegel to comment on the fact that, after three decades, Formula 1 is scrapping its deal with German free to air broadcaster RTL in favour of a more […]
Too soon to write off Kvyat – Petrov
Sep.1 (GMM) It is too soon to write off Daniil Kvyat’s Formula 1 career. That is the view of Vitaly Petrov, who before Kvyat was the sport’s first ever Russian driver. Following criticism from Red Bull’s driver guru Dr Helmut Marko recently, many are now predicting that Kvyat will be ousted to make room for […]
FIA to investigate Giovinazzi crash
Sep.1 (GMM) The FIA is investigating the way in which George Russell’s car struck a flying wheel at high speed during the Belgian GP. In a highlight of the race at Spa, Russell struck the bouncing wheel of Antonio Giovinazzi’s Alfa Romeo after the Italian driver crashed. “It was bad luck that I hit it, […]
Hamilton admits quitting French lessons
Sep.1 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton admits he started to learn French – and then quickly gave it up. The six-time world champion told Belgium’s RTBF broadcaster that he aimed to learn his second language during the long coronavirus shutdown. “Yes it’s true, I tried, but it didn’t last very long,” Hamilton admitted. “I’m crazy – I […]
Honda to keep improving Red Bull’s engine
Sep.1 (GMM) Honda’s technical boss admits the Japanese manufacturer needs to keep working to improve its power unit. Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko claims that – qualifying aside – Honda is now the best engine manufacturer in Formula 1 behind Mercedes. Honda technical boss Toyoharu Tanabe said: “I am satisfied with our sixth consecutive […]