Feb.7 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton will deserve to match Michael Schumacher’s record tally of seven titles if he wins in 2020, according to Ross Brawn. Brawn, now F1’s sporting boss, was the technical director at Ferrari throughout the ultra-successful Schumacher period some two decades ago. “It’s a bit frustrating for me because it’s a record Michael […]
Aston Martin unlikely to be F1 winner – Kosachenko
Feb.7 (GMM) Aston Martin is unlikely to become a winning works team in Formula 1, according to a former driver manager and team official. Oksana Kosachenko, who was Vitaly Petrov’s manager and also had a commercial role at Caterham, doubts that when Racing Point becomes Aston Martin in 2021, the team will be on the […]
No F1 return for BMW in 2021
Feb.7 (GMM) BMW is still not interested in returning to Formula 1 in the ‘power unit’ era. The German manufacturer pulled out of the sport in 2009, with its main motorsport programme now focusing on Formula E with the Andretti team. F1 has introduced sweeping new rules for 2021, and one aim is to entice […]
Brawn sets deadline for China GP decision
Feb.7 (GMM) The clock is ticking on the likely cancellation or postponement of the 2020 Chinese GP. The coronavirus death toll – currently at 635 – continues to rise by the day, prompting the Shanghai Sports Federation this week to call for the suspension of “all sports events”. The issue was discussed by F1’s strategy […]
Money could break up Hamilton-Mercedes – Horner
Feb.6 (GMM) Christian Horner says it is “the financials” that could break up Mercedes’ successful eight-year relationship with Lewis Hamilton. In that time, the 35-year-old British driver has won four of his six world championships, but Hamilton and Mercedes are reportedly now at a standoff regarding the value of his contract beyond 2020. Horner, the […]
Hamilton contract talks to start soon – Wolff
Feb.6 (GMM) Contract negotiations with Lewis Hamilton will only begin this month, according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. Earlier, it was rumoured that the six time world champion had rejected Mercedes’ offer of a new two-season deal – for 2021 and 2022 – at $50m per year. Hamilton, who has been linked with a […]
Mercedes ‘definitely’ staying in 2021 – Wolff
Feb.6 (GMM) Toto Wolff has moved to end speculation about Mercedes’ withdrawal from Formula 1 by saying the German marque will “definitely” still be on the grid in 2021. Earlier, Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius denied that the proposal to withdraw as a works team but remain in F1 as an engine supplier would be discussed […]
Government says no to Denmark GP plans
Feb.6 (GMM) Plans to organise a grand prix in Denmark have collapsed for now. Organisers of a proposed street race in Copenhagen met with F1 officials in 2018, and reportedly got a circuit approved by renowned circuit designer Herman Tilke. “The city is unique and the proposed circuit will be so beautiful with the iconic […]
Sons of Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, to race in 2020
Feb.6 (GMM) Former Williams teammates Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher are ushering the next generation into the upper categories of junior open-wheeler motor racing. Montoya, a winner of seven grands prix who also raced for McLaren, is supporting his 14-year-old son Sebastian as he signs for the top Italian Formula 4 team Prema Powerteam. […]
Red Bull cannot afford Vettel – Marko
Feb.6 (GMM) Red Bull cannot afford to spend “a lot of money” on bringing Sebastian Vettel back to the team, according to Dr Helmut Marko. Recently, photos emerged of the Ferrari driver attending the Kitzbuhel world cup ski event alongside Red Bull’s four Formula 1 drivers. Vettel won all four of his titles for Red […]
China GP off as Shanghai bans ‘all sports events’
Feb.6 (GMM) China’s grand prix in April looks set to be scrapped completely. At least 560 people have now died of the coronavirus, whose epicentre is the city of Wuhan which is about 800 kilometres from Formula 1 host Shanghai International Circuit. F1’s strategy group met to discuss the coronavirus situation on Wednesday, but the […]
Mercedes admits 2020 engine ‘issues’
Feb.5 (GMM) Mercedes admits “issues” with its engine have affected the reigning world champions as the team prepares for 2020. Last year, it emerged that Mercedes’ engine may no longer be the most impressive on the grid, as Ferrari dominated in top speed, Renault clearly improved, as Honda continued to aggressively develop. Mercedes’ engine boss […]
Ferrari whispers now ‘more encouraging’ – insider
Feb.5 (GMM) The latest whispers out of Maranello are “more encouraging” than they were a few weeks ago, according to well-known Ferrari insider Leo Turrini. On his Quotidiano blog in mid January, Turrini revealed that “the indications from the simulator and the wind tunnel” about Ferrari’s 2020 car “have not impressed the engineers”. But the […]
Vettel still ‘a key person’ at Ferrari – Mekies
Feb.5 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel still enjoys Ferrari’s full backing, according to sporting director Laurent Mekies. On the face of it, the quadruple world champion has lost status at Maranello, as Charles Leclerc successfully challenged his number 1 billing in 2019 and then secured a new five-year deal. 32-year-old Vettel’s contract, on the other hand, runs […]
Verstappen wants ‘two tenths’ gap to Hamilton
Feb.5 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he needs a car within “two tenths” of Lewis Hamilton’s in order to put “pressure” on the six time world champion in 2020. Red Bull-Honda is bullish about its chances of beating Mercedes and Ferrari in the final season of the current regulations. “Beating Hamilton depends a lot on the […]
Ferrari to spend more money in 2020 – Camilleri
Feb.5 (GMM) Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri says the Italian marque is prepared to spend more on Formula 1 ahead of the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Actually, Liberty Media is trying to ramp down the spending of the top teams, imposing a budget cap for 2021 and beyond. But Camilleri said this week that an increased […]
More than 22 races ‘feasible’ – Marko
Feb.5 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks adding even more races to F1’s already unprecedentedly-long calendar is “feasible”. Recently, the boss of Red Bull’s second team, Toro Rosso principal Franz Tost, said the current tally of 22 races is the “absolute limit”. But Dr Helmut Marko, the energy drink company’s top F1 official, thinks Liberty Media’s […]
Albon must ‘do more’ in 2020 – Marko
Feb.5 (GMM) Alex Albon has to “do more” to keep impressing Red Bull-Honda into 2020, according to Dr Helmut Marko. In the space of a single year, Marko resurrected Red Bull’s relationship with the then Formula E driver, gave Albon his F1 debut for Toro Rosso, and then promoted him to replace the struggling Pierre […]
Aston Martin exit makes life ‘easier’ – Marko
Feb.5 (GMM) Losing title sponsor Aston Martin after 2020 should make Red Bull’s collaboration with Honda “even easier” in the future. That is the view of top Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko, as he played down the news that Aston Martin is leaving the team after 2020 to become Racing Point’s new identity. He […]
Verstappen wants to challenge Hamilton – Marko
Feb.5 (GMM) F1 could witness a new Max Verstappen in 2020, with a realistic chance of becoming the sport’s youngest ever world champion. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, who over the winter managed to extend the 22-year-old Dutchman’s contract for 2021, 2022 and 2023. “For him it was important that Honda extended […]