Jul.10 (GMM) His protege Fernando Alonso may be returning to Formula 1, but Flavio Briatore insists he definitely is not. “If Fernando needs it, I am ready to help him,” the former Renault boss told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “But I personally have no desire to return to a Formula 1 team. In 2021 Alonso […]
Sirotkin defends Kvyat over refusal to kneel
Jul.10 (GMM) Renault’s Russian reserve driver Sergey Sirotkin has defended his countryman Daniil Kvyat’s decision to refuse to kneel on the grid last Sunday. Lewis Hamilton led the push for the drivers to make the gesture in deference to the Black Lives Matter political movement. But six drivers refused to kneel, including Kvyat, who said […]
‘Angry’ Verstappen says he can still win title
Jul.10 (GMM) Max Verstappen insists that his chances of winning the 2020 title remain alive. That is despite the fact that his boss Dr Helmut Marko admitted the Dutchman was “really angry” after retiring in Austria last weekend with a Honda-related problem. “Max was really angry, which I understand,” Marko told Osterreich newspaper. “Hopefully we […]
Alonso signing ‘not just marketing’ – Prost
Jul.10 (GMM) Renault advisor Alain Prost says a question mark about Sebastian Vettel’s motivation may have thwarted his chances of joining the French team. The Enstone based team decided instead to sign up Fernando Alonso for 2021, with German Vettel admitting he had talks. “They made a different choice, but that doesn’t change my plans,” […]
Still ‘no place’ for Vettel at Red Bull – Marko
Jul.10 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has once again dashed Sebastian Vettel’s hopes of a return to Red Bull next year. This week, rumours gained steam that the energy drink company’s boss Dietrich Mateschitz had given Marko the green light to rescue the Ferrari refugee’s career. Indeed, the 33-year-old quadruple world champion confirmed on Thursday that […]
F1 dream has ‘no plan B’ – Mick Schumacher
Jul.9 (GMM) Mick Schumacher says he has “no plan B” in the event that his Formula 1 dream fades. The burgeoning career of Michael Schumacher’s son has been on the rise for the past several years, but he is now facing a crucial second season in Formula 2. When asked by Playboy about what would […]
Without top seat, Vettel should retire – Berger
Jul.9 (GMM) F1 legend Gerhard Berger thinks Sebastian Vettel should quit Formula 1 rather than switch to a midfield team. With Fernando Alonso signed up at Renault, Ferrari refugee Vettel’s only options for 2021 are a plum seat at Mercedes, or a move to a smaller team. In Austria last weekend, Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius […]
Kvyat explains why he refused to kneel
Jul.9 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat has explained why he refused to kneel on the grid last weekend in Austria. In support of the Black Lives Matter movement, Lewis Hamilton and 13 other Formula 1 drivers followed the trend started by former NRL star Colin Kaepernick in 2016. Russian Kvyat was among six drivers who remained standing. […]
Verstappen’s Honda engine being analysed in Japan
Jul.9 (GMM) Red Bull is still waiting for the cause of Max Verstappen’s retirement in Austria last Sunday to be confirmed. Initially, the team said it was an “electrical” problem that leaves the Dutch driver with zero points after the first race. “We still have to determine that together with Honda,” Dr Helmut Marko told […]
No Friday sessions for Alonso in 2020
Jul.9 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has played down suggestions he might make an appearance this year during a Friday practice session. Some have suggested it would be a wise move for the 38-year-old to prepare for his return to Formula 1 next year with Renault. But the Spaniard insisted: “I don’t think I will drive a […]
Alonso was sick for ‘several weeks’
Jul.9 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has revealed that, amid the coronavirus pandemic, he suffered “for several weeks” with a mystery illness. Many have noticed that the almost 39-year-old Spaniard, who is returning to Formula 1 next year with Renault, has appeared visibly thinner in recent weeks. Alonso admits he was sick “for several weeks”. “I went […]
Alonso admits he will not win in 2021
Jul.9 (GMM) Fernando Alonso admits he will not be able to win next year after returning to Formula 1 with Renault. After days of rampant speculation, the French team confirmed on Wednesday that the almost-39-year-old will replace Daniel Ricciardo next year. Alonso has clearly signed a two-year contract, as the Spaniard said he knows that […]
Webber suggests Vettel should quit Ferrari in 2020
Jul.8 (GMM) Mark Webber thinks it could be “better” if his former teammate Sebastian Vettel quits Ferrari before the end of the current season. The Ferrari-Vettel relationship took a further dive in Austria last weekend when the quadruple world champion revealed that his ousting was in fact not a mutual decision. Then, on Red Bull-owned […]
New Renault CEO approves Alonso contract – report
Jul.8 (GMM) Multiple authoritative media sources are now reporting that Fernando Alonso will definitely return to Formula 1 with Renault in 2021. We reported on Tuesday that, with Spanish radio Cadena SER and Movistar correspondent Noemi de Miguel having broken the news in the past days, the French team was shaping up to announce Daniel […]
Red Bull looking into ‘more extreme’ DAS system
Jul.8 (GMM) Red Bull is looking into designing a “more extreme solution” now that the FIA has declared Mercedes’ innovative DAS steering system fully legal. In Austria, the energy drink owned team lodged an official protest against the technology, which allows Mercedes’ drivers to adjust the ‘toe’ of the front wheels by pulling and pushing […]
Red Bull enters world of F1 broadcasting
Jul.8 (GMM) Red Bull has now entered the world of Formula 1 broadcasting. Already an owner of two teams and the promoter of the Austrian GP, it has now been confirmed that Red Bull-owned Servus TV will keep Formula 1 on free-to-air television in Austria. The broadcaster will share the coverage with existing F1 broadcaster […]
‘Gloves are off’ in Mercedes vs Red Bull battle
Jul.7 (GMM) Tensions are heating up between title contenders Mercedes and Red Bull. In Austria, it became clear that the fight this year would not just be between their respective drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. On Friday, Red Bull launched a protest against Mercedes’ innovative ‘DAS’ steering system. And on Sunday, the energy drink […]
Renault may announce Alonso news on Wednesday
Jul.7 (GMM) Renault is shaping up to reveal Fernando Alonso as the works team’s driver for 2021. The rumours gained new momentum last week, when Spanish radio Cadena SER said the two-time world champion could even return to Formula 1 this season to replace McLaren-bound Daniel Ricciardo. Team boss Cyril Abiteboul denied that, insisting that […]
Failure makes title ‘a lot harder now’ – Verstappen
Jul.7 (GMM) The opening race weekend of 2020 has made Max Verstappen’s big title target “a lot more difficult to achieve”. The Dutchman, and his Red Bull team, want the 22-year-old to beat Sebastian Vettel’s old record to become the youngest ever world champion this year. But Verstappen retired during the season opener last Sunday […]
Activism ‘a distraction’ for Hamilton – Schumacher
Jul.7 (GMM) The first race of 2020 in Austria was “certainly not the best weekend” for Lewis Hamilton. That is the view of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, who has been vocally critical of the way Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel performed at the Red Bull Ring. But while in the spotlight for his Black Lives Matter […]