Aug.18 (GMM) The pressure is continuing to mount on Racing Point and Toto Wolff over the ‘pink Mercedes’ affair. With the case now set to proceed to the international court of appeal, more details of how Racing Point’s 2020 car was supposedly put together are coming to light. Colin Kolles, the former Spyker and Hispania […]
‘Too early’ to dream about 2021 F1 debut – Ilott
Aug.18 (GMM) Mick Schumacher may face some stiff competition for an Alfa Romeo race seat for 2020. While the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher attracts the most media attention, he is only fifth in the Formula 2 standings so far. His Prema teammate, Robert Shwartzman, is second, behind yet another Ferrari academy driver […]
Ocon happy if Turkey, Jerez added to calendar
Aug.18 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he would be happy if Istanbul and Jerez are added to the 2020 ‘corona calendar’. It is rumoured that Formula 1 is poised to add up to five more races to the already 13-round strong calendar for the virus-affected 2020 world championship. Bahrain is expected to host two races, with […]
‘Party mode’ ban could be postponed – Tanabe
Aug.18 (GMM) Honda F1 boss Toyoharu Tanabe says it is possible the ‘party mode’ ban will be postponed. In Barcelona, it emerged that the FIA intends to ban the way some engine manufacturers – notably the dominant Mercedes team – are able to significantly ‘turn up’ their engine power particularly in qualifying. Tanabe said the […]
Journalist criticises Hamilton’s ‘solidarity’
Aug.18 (GMM) A respected correspondent has accused Lewis Hamilton of being the one who is politically dividing the Formula 1 drivers. Throughout the ‘corona calendar’ races so far this year, the six-time world champion has been leading the Black Lives Matter-inspired moments of kneeling on the grid. 12 other drivers join Hamilton in kneeling, with […]
Bottas unhappy with Mercedes’ black overalls
Aug.18 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas is not happy with Mercedes’ new black overalls for 2020. Actually, the reigning champions intended to race in silver as per usual this year – until Lewis Hamilton began to push for action with regards to the Black Lives Matter protests against the death of George Floyd. Finn Bottas said the […]
FIA pushing ahead with ‘party mode’ ban
Aug.17 (GMM) The FIA is pressing ahead with reported plans to ban so-called ‘party mode’ engine settings ahead of the next race at Spa-Francorchamps. Many see the move as a clear attack on Mercedes’ dominance – but not everyone thinks it will succeed. “Everyone talks about Mercedes being hurt more than the others,” said former […]
Ferrari has not ‘abandoned’ 2020 car – Binotto
Aug.17 (GMM) Mattia Binotto insists that Ferrari has not “abandoned” development of its 2020 car. Ferrari chairman John Elkann admitted recently that, given the depth of the 2020 package’s problems, wins and titles will have to wait until 2022. The obvious implication is that Ferrari has given up on this season. “We have not abandoned […]
‘Engineer’ Binotto should not be Ferrari boss – Kolles
Aug.17 (GMM) Former F1 team boss Colin Kolles does not think Mattia Binotto can steer Ferrari out of crisis and back to producing world championship-winning cars. Having replaced Maurizio Arrivabene as team boss from 2019, Binotto is now overseeing a worrying slump for the fabled Maranello team. “Binotto is a very good engineer,” Kolles, who […]
Grosjean slams ‘worst car I have ever driven’
Aug.17 (GMM) Romain Grosjean says he endured “one of the worst races of my career” in Barcelona on Sunday. Finishing two laps down and dead last was a far cry from the Frenchman’s pace on Friday, when he was fifth and sixth fastest in the two practice sessions. But L’Equipe quoted the Haas driver as […]
Vettel disappointed to be leaving Ferrari – Binotto
Aug.17 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has continued to play down the obviously fractured relationship between Ferrari and departing former number 1 Sebastian Vettel. After again publicly scolding the team’s strategic decisions on the radio during the Spanish GP, the quadruple world champion then told Sky Deutschland: “My opinion is no longer important.” Ferrari team boss Binotto […]
Verstappen plays down 2020 title chances
Aug.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen does not agree with his boss that he is still a major contender for the 2020 title. Having won at Silverstone, and with the ‘party mode’ engine setting ban now looming, Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko said in Barcelona: “We haven’t given up our big goal yet. “We still want to […]
Pirelli did not request downforce cut for 2021
Aug.16 (GMM) Pirelli did not request a further reduction in downforce for 2021 in response to the tyre problems seen at Silverstone. That is the claim of Mario Isola, boss of F1’s official tyre supplier. Days ago, as news about the looming ‘party mode’ engine settings ban emerged, it also became clear that the FIA […]
Pre-Belgian GP quarantine ‘not easy’ for Alfa Romeo
Aug.16 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur has confirmed that Alfa Romeo staff will need to go into strict quarantine after Sunday’s Spanish GP. While the rest of the sport looks forward to a weekend off following another gruelling ‘corona triple header’, a less exciting adventure lies ahead for F1’s Swiss-based team. Earlier, team manager Beat Zehnder confirmed […]
Bottas called Rosberg for Hamilton-beating advice
Aug.16 (GMM) The only way to beat Lewis Hamilton is to “get inside his head”. That is the view of Nico Rosberg, who says he learned how to apply psychological pressure on the Mercedes driver en route to title victory in 2016. The German then promptly retired – much to the annoyance of his team […]
F1 is ‘next logical step’ for Schumacher – Binotto
Aug.16 (GMM) “The next logical step” for Mick Schumacher is a Formula 1 seat. That is the view of Mattia Binotto, the Ferrari team boss. Schumacher, 21, is the son of seven time world champion Michael Schumacher and a leading member of Ferrari’s driver development academy. He started his second season of Formula 2 this […]
Vettel to sign Aston Martin deal at Spa – report
Aug.16 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel will sign a multi-year contract at the next race at Spa-Francorchamps. Citing sources, Kronen Zeitung newspaper claims that despite the most recent speculation to the contrary, the German will be an Aston Martin driver from 2021. However, speculation continues to swirl around the more immediate future of the struggling Ferrari driver. […]
F1 to announce four more races next week
Aug.16 (GMM) Formula 1 is preparing to add another four races to the 2020 ‘corona calendar’. In addition to the 13 already-scheduled or contested rounds, F1 CEO Chase Carey says he is targeting up to 18 grands prix overall. According to sources, F1 will announce four new ones next week, including two in Bahrain and […]
Party mode ban ‘very important’ for Red Bull – Marko
Aug.16 (GMM) Pole position will be possible for Red Bull once the FIA bans ‘party mode’ engine settings. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, after Max Verstappen once again qualified behind the two Mercedes in Barcelona. When asked about reports that only one engine setting will be allowed from the next race at […]
Wolff to withdraw as F1 team ‘mediator’
Aug.16 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he may no longer volunteer to act as a “mediator” between rival Formula 1 teams in future. Earlier in Barcelona, the Austrian admitted that some of his activities beyond his role as Mercedes team boss “p**ses some people off”. His comments followed reports that Wolff was getting involved in talks […]