Aug.29 (GMM) Flavio Briatore will on Saturday be discharged from a Milan hospital. The former Renault boss went to hospital for a prostate problem last week, but was then isolated when a mandatory corona test came back positive. “The general clinical conditions allow the patient to continue therapy in home isolation, as is expected in […]
3,000 spectators to be allowed at Mugello
Aug.29 (GMM) The president of Italy’s Tuscany region, Enrico Rossi, looks set to approve a maximum of 3,000 spectators per day for the Mugello race in two weeks. Sky Italia claims Rossi will sign an order allowing the coronavirus exception “in the next few hours”. The 3,000 spectators will be divided between the circuit’s three […]
Schumacher set for Alfa Romeo test
Aug.29 (GMM) Mick Schumacher looks set to get a test at the wheel of Alfa Romeo’s 2020 car later this year. Earlier, the career momentum of Michael Schumacher’s son had appeared to dwindle – but Frederic Vasseur says the young German is in fact performing well in Formula 2 so far this year. “I think […]
Wolff doubts ‘pink Mercedes’ appeal will go ahead
Aug.29 (GMM) Toto Wolff is not expecting the ‘pink Mercedes’ affair to head to the international court of appeal. Last week, Renault dropped its intention to appeal, explaining that it is happy that the FIA will prevent direct car copies for 2021 and beyond. However, Ferrari is yet to withdraw its own appeal against the […]
10 percent downforce reduction for 2021 – Tombazis
Aug.29 (GMM) Downforce will be slashed by 10 percent next year, predominantly to help official tyre supplier Pirelli to cope. Six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has been highly critical of Pirelli’s products in recent weeks, particularly after his problems at Silverstone. “We constantly complain that we can’t attack with these tyres,” he told Speed Week. […]
Sub-1 minute qualifying in Bahrain – Symonds
Aug.29 (GMM) Top FIA official Pat Symonds thinks the second race in Bahrain in December will be a “great spectacle”. He was speaking at Spa, after Formula 1 announced that the second leg of the newly announced Bahrain double header will be held on the ‘almost oval’ short version of the circuit. The layout is […]
Ecclestone denies buying Williams
Aug.29 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has denied that he is involved in the Williams buyout. Although the team announced that it has been acquired by New York-based investment firm Dorilton Capital, it emerges that it is actually a subsidiary of BCE Limited. Former F1 supremo Ecclestone’s full initials is BCE – Bernard Charles Ecclestone. “I’m not […]
Ecclestone may be involved in Williams buyout
Aug.28 (GMM) A Formula 1 journalist is wondering if Bernie Ecclestone is involved in the Williams buyout. Earlier in 2020, when the struggling British team announced it was for sale, the former F1 supremo said Williams would be “a great loss” to the sport. “I am looking around to find people who could and might […]
Haas drivers keen to start contract talks
Aug.28 (GMM) With Haas now committed to Formula 1 beyond 2020, the American team’s current drivers are keen to start contract negotiations. It is widely expected that Kevin Magnussen, who is already under contractual ‘option’ with the team for 2021, will keep his seat. “There’s not that much to talk about,” he is quoted by […]
Belgian GP boycott unlikely over US political unrest
Aug.28 (GMM) A boycott of the Belgian GP at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend appears highly unlikely. That is despite the fact that Lewis Hamilton has been championing the cause of the Black Lives Matter movement within Formula 1. This week, multiple top sporting events were boycotted by athletes over the latest police shooting of a black […]
Mugello becomes fourth 2020 race wanting spectators
Aug.28 (GMM) Mugello has become a fourth 2020 race host hoping to welcome spectators back to Formula 1. Sochi, Imola and Portugal are all planning for varying numbers of spectators to be able to watch the races trackside amid the corona crisis. And now Mugello, scheduled to host F1 in just two weeks time, has […]
Marko reveals Concorde Agreement annual break clause
Aug.28 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has confirmed reports that teams will be able to pull out of Formula 1 at the end of each season. That is despite the fact that all ten teams signed up for the new 2021-2025 Concorde Agreement. However, as Mercedes momentarily dithered over signing up, it then emerged that break […]
VW boss prefers Formula 1 over Formula E
Aug.28 (GMM) Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess has dropped a tantalising hint about the German carmaker giant’s potential future in Formula 1. Even though VW brands Audi and Porsche are in Formula E, Diess says he prefers motor racing’s top class of open wheel racing – even when considering the future of technology. “In my personal […]
No workout for Vettel’s contract pen at Spa
Aug.28 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel’s future looks set to remain unclear for now. There were reports that the German would bring a pen to Spa-Francorchamps this weekend to finally sign his 2021 Aston Martin deal. But Sergio Perez is actually sounding increasingly confident about retaining the seat. “We don’t see the reasoning why we should change […]
Schumacher manager Weber suffers a stroke
Aug.27 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s former manager is recovering from a stroke. Until the seven time world champion’s less successful return to Formula 1 in 2010, Willi Weber guided Schumacher’s motor racing career. Bild newspaper claims the now 70-year-old recently suffered a stroke, spending 9 days in a Stuttgart hospital and then weeks in rehabilitation. “I […]
McLaren pulling out of pro cycling
Aug.27 (GMM) McLaren is pulling out of the Tour de France. Last weekend, Fernando Alonso finished just 21st in the Indy 500, having failed even to qualify in a similarly McLaren-branded entry a year earlier. And now, McLaren is pulling out of the top level of cycling. The British outfit surprised motorsport fans late last […]
‘Hamilton’s Mercedes better than Schumacher’s Ferrari’
Aug.27 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton’s team and car are better than the ones raced to similar levels of success by seven time world champion Michael Schumacher. That is the claim of former Mercedes boss Norbert Haug, with Hamilton poised to soon race past Schumacher’s all time record for the number of grand prix wins (91). Hamilton […]
Ocon happy with Renault’s engine performance
Aug.27 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says Renault is happy with the performance of its 2020 engine. Having ended Red Bull’s difficult relationship with the French outfit at the end of 2018, Dr Helmut Marko claimed that while Renault has a “good qualifying mode” this year, Honda is now stronger in the race. Works Renault driver Ocon, […]
Dutch GP nervous about 2021 ‘ghost race’
Aug.27 (GMM) Dutch GP organisers are not ruling out asking for a later race date on the 2021 calendar. Contractually, the race at Zandvoort – whose return to F1 was cancelled this year due to covid-19 – has another early May date pencilled in on the unpublished 2021 schedule. But after Dutch organisers opted against […]
Sochi plays down F1 teams’ corona concerns
Aug.27 (GMM) Organisers of the Russian GP have hit back at concerns raised about the return of spectators to the Formula 1 circuits. Sochi was the first to announce that fans will be welcome at its September race, but Portimao and Imola are also making plans to end the ‘ghost race’ trend. “According to our […]