Aug.24 (GMM) “Several teams” are worried about the looming return of spectators to Formula 1 races. Amid the global coronavirus crisis, the sport only got up and running again thanks to the ‘ghost races’ concept which excluded fans from attending. But organisers of the Russian GP are currently selling about 30,000 tickets for the Sochi […]
Party mode ban ‘must first be defined’ – Wolff
Aug.21 (GMM) Mercedes will be stronger in the races once ‘party mode’ engine settings are banned. That is the warning of dominant Mercedes’ team boss Toto Wolff, as news breaks that the proposed ban for the next race at Spa-Francorchamps has been postponed. Other reports claim the ban, which would limit cars to a single […]
Ferrari ‘very satisfied’ with Concorde terms – Binotto
Aug.21 (GMM) Ferrari is “very satisfied” with the terms of its deal with Formula 1 under the newly-signed 2021-2025 Concorde Agreement. Earlier, it was believed Mercedes’ unwillingness to sign was because it felt the more attractive terms offered to Ferrari were unfair. “All the teams have also signed,” noted Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto, “so […]
No F1 ‘corona calendar’ race for Jerez in 2020
Aug.21 (GMM) Jerez will not host a race on Formula 1’s ‘corona calendar’. Earlier, it was believed the sport was poised to add single races at Jerez, Istanbul and Abu Dhabi, and a double-header in Bahrain, to the existing 13-race schedule. “I know the track well so I’m ready for that weekend,” Renault driver Esteban […]
Kvyat ‘not performing as we expect’ – Marko
Aug.21 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has admitted he is not currently happy with Daniil Kvyat’s performance at Alpha Tauri. His comments come amid speculation the second Red Bull-owned team could replace the 26-year-old Russian with Honda-linked Formula 2 rookie Yuki Tsunoda. “I do expect that, sooner or later, he will sit at the wheel of […]
Racing Point expecting to fall behind
Aug.21 (GMM) Racing Point expects to fall behind as the 2020 season races on. Currently, the ‘pink Mercedes’ is making waves both on and off the circuit, with the team under fire for copying Mercedes’ 2019 car and racing it to a strong third in the constructors’ standings. Just behind Racing Point in the championship […]
Portimao planning for F1 spectators
Aug.20 (GMM) The trend for ‘ghost races’ on Formula 1’s amended 2020 calendar looks set to gradually ease. Race organisers at Sochi are actively trying to sell around 30,000 tickets for September’s Russian GP, and now Portimao has announced that it wants some fans to attend the Portuguese event the following month. “When we realised […]
Alonso admits Indy 500 win ‘difficult’
Aug.20 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has admitted he is unlikely to complete his target of securing the ‘triple crown’ this weekend. The two-time world champion, who is returning to Formula 1 with Renault next year after a two year sabbatical, only needs victory at the Indy 500 to add to his previous Monaco and Le Mans […]
Ferrari’s ‘first win of 2020’ is Concorde deal
Aug.20 (GMM) Every team has signed up to the 2021-2025 Concorde Agreement, finally ending a long period of uncertainty for Formula 1. Earlier, clouds floated over the commitment of teams like Renault and even Mercedes, whose boss Toto Wolff said as recently as Silverstone that the reigning champions are the “biggest victims” of Liberty’s proposed […]
Enzo Ferrari would have treated Vettel better – Forghieri
Aug.19 (GMM) Legendary Ferrari figure Mauro Forghieri has critiqued Mattia Binotto’s management of the struggling Italian team’s drivers. Speaking to Italian insider Leo Turrini’s Quotidiano blog, Forghieri – a major player at Ferrari from the 60s to the 80s – claims Maranello has “a human resources problem”. “There is no lack of money at Maranello,” […]
Wolff warns F1 rivals over data sharing accusations
Aug.19 (GMM) Toto Wolff has slammed as “complete nonsense” claims that Mercedes is in the wrong over the ‘pink Mercedes’ affair. With the matter set to proceed to the international court of appeal, tensions continue to rise amid reports Mercedes gave Racing Point a scale wind tunnel model of its 2019 car. Racing Point, to […]
Red Bull has ‘enough time’ to catch Mercedes – boss
Aug.19 (GMM) Red Bull bosses believe the team has enough time to challenge Mercedes for the 2020 world championship. Although Lewis Hamilton eased to victory in Barcelona, Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull will roll out car updates at the next race at Spa. “It should bring a noticeable improvement on the chassis side,” he […]
Renault CEO ‘reassuring’ about F1 future – Abiteboul
Aug.19 (GMM) The French carmaker Renault’s new group CEO had “reassuring messages” for the Formula 1 team when he visited the paddock in Barcelona last weekend. That is the news from the mouth of boss Cyril Abiteboul, after a tumultuous and uncertain period for the team’s parent company. Formerly with Volkswagen and SEAT, Luca de […]
Wolff ‘frustrated’ by Concorde Agreement disunity
Aug.19 (GMM) The first three teams have signed up for the 2021-2025 Concorde Agreement – but one of them is not Mercedes. Ferrari, McLaren and Williams are the first to announce that they have officially agreed to Liberty Media’s proposed new regime. Prior to last weekend’s Spanish GP, Toto Wolff had indicated that Mercedes is […]
FIA looking into legality of energy recovery systems
Aug.19 (GMM) Formula 1 is looking into the legality of the engine manufacturers’ 2020-spec energy recovery systems, according to Auto Motor und Sport. The development follows the shock news in Barcelona last week that ‘party mode’ engine settings will be banned from Spa-Francorchamps, even though the precise wording of the technical directive is not yet […]
Kubica admits slow DTM pace ‘not normal’
Aug.19 (GMM) Robert Kubica has admitted his pace since switching from Formula 1 to DTM for 2020 is “not normal”. Having spent his entire comeback season in Formula 1 at the back of the grid last year, the Pole lost his Williams seat but signed up to race in the German touring car series for […]
Black suit not reason for hot Bottas – Wolff
Aug.19 (GMM) Toto Wolff has played down Valtteri Bottas’ comments about his black racing suit for 2020. As the Finn admitted in Barcelona that his championship hopes are “drifting away”, he complained that he lost 3kg during the Spanish GP because his overalls are “f*****g hot”. Mercedes switched its car livery and driver suits to […]
Ex-Red Bull driver says Albon has ‘lost his way’
Aug.18 (GMM) Alex Albon has “lost his way” at Red Bull, according to former team driver Robert Doornbos. While the team is for now standing behind the struggling British-born Thai driver, it is clear that his shoulders have slumped in recent races. “It’s really tough for him,” Doornbos, who briefly raced for the energy drink […]
Danner slams Leclerc for driving without seatbelts
Aug.18 (GMM) Charles Leclerc is coming under fire for completing two full laps of the Spanish GP after unbuckling his seatbelts. When his Ferrari shut off on lap 37 in Barcelona, Leclerc undid his belts in anticipation of getting out the stricken car – only for it to re-fire. He then drove two full laps […]
Barcelona not a ‘boring’ race – Albers
Aug.18 (GMM) Sunday’s race in Barcelona was not “boring”, according to former F1 driver Christijan Albers. Lewis Hamilton cruised to victory in Spain, prompting Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas to agree that the six-time world champion is on target for a seventh. But Albers told De Telegraaf: “I didn’t think the race was boring. For […]