Jul.12 (GMM) Sochi race organiser Alexey Titov is hoping the grandstands are full when Russia welcomes Formula 1 in September. With F1 currently embarking on a string of ‘ghost races’, Russia looks likely to be the first grand prix since the start of the coronavirus pandemic to be attended by spectators. “At the moment, we […]
Vettel denies preparing retirement announcement
Jul.12 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has denied he is preparing to announce his retirement from Formula 1. Highly respected British commentator Martin Brundle revealed on Saturday that the quadruple world champion has requested an interview ahead of next weekend’s Hungarian GP. It follows speculation Vettel might even quit Ferrari before the end of the 2020 season, […]
F1 may scrap next week’s Hungarian GP
Jul.12 (GMM) A dark cloud has suddenly moved above next weekend’s scheduled race in Hungary. The talk in the Austrian paddock after qualifying on Saturday was that British drivers and team personnel risk jail for breaking draconian coronavirus protocols in Budapest next week. “We have to be at the track or the hotel but I […]
Alonso tells Renault to focus on 2022
Jul.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is telling Renault to focus the hardest on the 2022 season, team boss Cyril Abiteboul has revealed. In July of 2020, the French team confirmed that Spaniard Alonso will return to Formula 1 in 2021. But Abiteboul says the 38-year-old in fact already has his eyes on 2022, when the sweeping […]
Hockenheim, Imola, hope to host F1 races in 2020
Jul.12 (GMM) The bosses of two European F1 circuits are hoping to be the next to be added to the sport’s 2020 ‘corona calendar’. This weekend in Austria, Formula 1 announced that Mugello and Sochi have joined the now ten-race schedule, with others set to follow shortly. And with the sport unlikely to travel to […]
Verstappen can beat Hamilton on Sunday – Wolff
Jul.12 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on Saturday set themselves apart from the rest of the Formula 1 field in Austria’s rain, according to Ralf Schumacher. “They were in their own league,” the former F1 driver, referring to the respective Mercedes and Red Bull drivers, told Sky Deutschland. “The difference to their teammates was […]
Official says US GP ‘in serious jeopardy’
Jul.11 (GMM) US GP official Bobby Epstein has admitted the Austin race is likely to be called off for 2020. As F1 adds Russia and Mugello to its now 10-race ‘corona calendar’, other rounds at Hockenheim, Imola, Portimao, Hanoi, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi are tipped to soon follow. But due to the ongoing pandemic, North […]
F1 coronavirus measures ‘a bit strange’ – Coulthard
Jul.11 (GMM) Former F1 driver turned highly respected broadcaster David Coulthard says the ‘ghost race’ measures in Austria “seem a bit strange to me”. Strict procedures are in place at the Red Bull Ring, and for subsequent races, to guard against the risk of coronavirus infections. Widespread testing, the scrapping of the traditional podium, personnel […]
Aston Martin to ‘think about’ Vettel for 2021
Jul.11 (GMM) Racing Point – to be Aston Martin next year – appears to be Sebastian Vettel’s last hope of remaining in Formula 1 in 2021. Despite a renewed flurry of speculation, Red Bull continue to slam the door in its former quadruple world champion’s face. “It’s a definite no I’m afraid, and Sebastian is […]
Kubica not hoping for Giovinazzi to replace Vettel
Jul.11 (GMM) Robert Kubica smiled on Friday when asked if he is hoping to race Alfa Romeo’s 2020 car later this season. As the team’s reserve driver, the Pole drove in the Friday practice session in Austria. But he was then asked if he is hoping a driver reshuffle – with Sebastian Vettel potentially stepping […]
Sochi plans to welcome spectators to September race
Jul.11 (GMM) Sochi could be the first race of 2020 that is watched trackside by spectators. Formula 1 on Friday announced two additions to its ‘corona calendar’ – Mugello on September 13, and Russia two weeks later. “Both races will be a huge boost for fans with more announcements on the next races in our […]
‘Bottas 3.0’ gets better every year – Wolff
Jul.11 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has taken another step forward, according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. In Austria last weekend, the Finn won from pole, and on Friday at the same Red Bull Ring, his advantage over six-time world champion Hamilton blew out to six tenths. Wolff told RTL that the balance on Hamilton’s black […]
Rain may force cancellation of qualifying – Masi
Jul.11 (GMM) Eyes are turning to the skies above the Red Bull Ring, with qualifying likely to be affected by heavy rain. Max Verstappen is happier with his Red Bull than he was a week ago, but his boss Dr Helmut Marko told Osterreich the weather forecast “can mess everything up”. “It is supposed to […]
Driver ‘shocked’ by Ferrari power loss
Jul.10 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is not yet worrying about his move to Ferrari for 2021. The Spaniard will replace Sebastian Vettel, but he will presumably not enjoy a substantially better car than the German as the current machines are being carried over to 2021 for reasons of cost. Asked if he is therefore […]
Schumacher hoping for Friday outings in 2020
Jul.10 (GMM) Mick Schumacher is hoping to be able to drive a Formula 1 car again in 2020. Last year, the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher got to test both Ferrari and Alfa Romeo’s up-to-date cars. But any similar plans for 2020 were scuppered by the coronavirus situation. “Because corona has shortened the year, […]
FIA warns teams over coronavirus breaches
Jul.10 (GMM) Ferrari and Mercedes have been warned about a breach of the strict coronavirus measures in force for the back-to-back races in Austria. While most of the paddock remained in their ‘bubbles’ between the first and second race weekends, it emerges that Charles Leclerc and Valtteri Bottas each travelled back to Monaco earlier this […]
Mercedes duo look to sign new deals for 2021
Jul.10 (GMM) Mercedes’ current drivers appear to be making moves to ink new deals for 2021. Last weekend in Austria, Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius nixed speculation Sebastian Vettel might join the works team by declaring: “We’re staying with our two boys.” One of those boys is Valtteri Bottas, who earlier also looked at risk of […]
Political activism not a distraction – Hamilton
Jul.10 (GMM) World champion Lewis Hamilton insists he is not “distracted” by his political activism in 2020. In recent weeks, the six-time title winner has been advancing the cause of the Black Lives Matter movement, and on the grid last Sunday he led 13 other drivers in ‘taking a knee’. Hamilton is not ruling out […]
Giovinazzi not focused on replacing Vettel in 2020
Jul.10 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi insists he is not giving up on his Formula 1 career. The Italian rose through Ferrari’s driver academy to secure the seat at Alfa Romeo, but Ferrari overlooked him in favour of Carlos Sainz to be Sebastian Vettel’s 2021 replacement. Giovinazzi, however, insists he is not giving up. “The hope I […]
China, Canada unlikely to host races in 2020
Jul.10 (GMM) China’s hopes of returning to the 2020 calendar are fading. The Shanghai race was among the very first casualties of the pandemic that started in China, but it had been rumoured that one or even two events might be rescheduled there this year. However, the Chinese government has now announced that no international […]