Jun.30 (GMM) Amid controversy over allegedly racist comments, Bernie Ecclestone has received some support from a retired American racing driver. Days after the former F1 supremo received scathing rebukes for saying that “in many cases black people are more racist than white people”, Willy T Ribbs says Ecclestone actually gave him a shot at a […]
F1 reinstates pre-race grid procedure for Austria
Jun.30 (GMM) Contrary to earlier reports, Formula 1 fans will get to see the teams and drivers prepare for Sunday’s Austrian GP ‘ghost race’ on the actual grid. It had been proposed that, as part of the sport’s strict measures to guard against coronavirus, the drivers would instead simply drive out of their garages onto […]
Vettel, Alonso eye ‘pink Mercedes’ for 2021
Jun.29 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso are both in the running to drive for the new Aston Martin works team from 2021. That is the claim of La Gazzetta dello Sport, even though the earlier rumour was that the former world champions were in fact vying for a Renault seat. However, it is now […]
Crisis could move Raikkonen towards F1 exit – Salo
Jun.29 (GMM) The corona crisis could have inched Kimi Raikkonen closer to retirement, according to former F1 driver Mika Salo. As is clear from the 2007 world champion’s social media accounts, Finn Raikkonen has enjoyed the long break from Formula 1. “It’s hard to say how Kimi has reacted to this long vacation,” Salo, who […]
Second part of 2020 calendar to be released
Jun.29 (GMM) It is rumoured that the second and final part of Formula 1’s ‘corona calendar’ for 2020 will be released on Monday. Mugello, a Ferrari-owned circuit, is tipped to secure the sport’s 1000th race a week after Monza, with Italian media saying the FIA is expected to approve the schedule on Monday “or in […]
McLaren’s financial problems ‘solved’ – Brown
Jun.29 (GMM) McLaren’s financial problems “have been solved”. That is the claim of team supremo Zak Brown, mere days after it emerged that McLaren was actually looking towards a July hearing in the London High Court to avoid insolvency. Shortly after that news, rumours that McLaren could be rescued by a loan from the National […]
Domenicali thinks Vettel will ‘behave’ in 2020
Jun.29 (GMM) Former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has tipped Sebastian Vettel to “behave correctly” during the 2020 season. Some, like 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, are predicting fireworks between the departing quadruple world champion and new Ferrari number 1 Charles Leclerc. “The tension won’t help anyone – not even Leclerc,” Villeneuve told La Gazzetta dello […]
Hamilton says Africa should be on F1 calendar
Jun.29 (GMM) Africa is “the most important place” that should be added to the Formula 1 race calendar. That is the view of Lewis Hamilton, who has been heavily involved in the new Black Lives Matter movement that is sweeping America and the world. Africa is the only habitable continent missing from the sport’s annual […]
No Renault freeze for McLaren-bound Ricciardo
Jun.29 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo will not be locked out of Renault’s car development program in 2020, team boss Cyril Abiteboul insists. Ricciardo will move from the French works team to McLaren for 2021, but Abiteboul said he is not worried the Australian will take secrets with him. “McLaren has to use both of its development […]
Corona outbreak means F1 teams could miss Austria
Jun.29 (GMM) Ferrari has admitted teams may need to miss this weekend’s Austrian GP if there is a coronavirus outbreak. Laurent Mekies, the Maranello team’s sporting boss, told Sky Italia that the two sides of the Ferrari garage will be divided into two anti-corona “bubbles”. “In the event that someone has a symptom, they will […]
Wolff expects ‘tight fight’ with Red Bull
Jun.29 (GMM) 2020 is shaping up as a two-man fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. “I would put my money on Hamilton, but it certainly won’t be an Oktoberfest for him,” said former F1 driver and president of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, Alex Wurz. “It will certainly be closer than last year,” he […]
Ecclestone slams Carey over racism controversy
Jun.29 (GMM) Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has aimed fire at his successor amid a new movement of racial politics within the sport. Both Formula 1 and its six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton reacted with astonishment after Ecclestone, 90, said during an interview with CNN that “in many cases black people are more racist than […]
Alfa Romeo holds fire on 2021 driver decision
Jun.26 (GMM) Alfa Romeo has no plans to make an early decision about its driver lineup for 2021. Other teams, including Ferrari and McLaren, got in early by locking out their new lineups without a single race having taken place in 2020 so far. Alfa Romeo will not follow suit. “We are in a different […]
Expiring contract ‘nothing to worry about’ – Bottas
Jun.26 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas insists he has “nothing to worry about” despite heading into the delayed 2020 season without a contract in place for next year. Mika Hakkinen, part of the Finn’s management team, insists that the Mercedes driver has “prepared himself to a very high physical and psychological level” to take on Lewis Hamilton […]
McLaren switch decision was ‘not easy’ – Ricciardo
Jun.26 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says “time will tell” if he has made the right decision to switch to McLaren for 2021. On the face of it, it is a sideways move for the Australian, who will continue to race for the works Renault team this year. Ricciardo told the Australian Grand Prix Corporation podcast In […]
Mercedes’ Cowell could switch to Aston Martin
Jun.26 (GMM) Mercedes’ departing engine guru Andy Cowell could be moving to Aston Martin, according to Germany’s Auto Bild. Last week, Mercedes’ works team announced that after 16 years, Cowell is leaving his post in July but he will “consult to Mercedes-Benz AG on a major future project” until 2021. “Now is the right time […]
Spa not going back on ‘ghost race’ plan
Jun.26 (GMM) Spa-Francorchamps will not alter its plans to host the Belgian GP this year without spectators. Dutch regional newspaper Het Belang van Limburg reports that although mass events were forbidden in Belgium at the time promoter Spa Grand Prix did the ‘ghost race’ deal with Liberty Media, things have now changed. The suggestion now […]
China ‘fixed’ on extended 2020 calendar – Marko
Jun.26 (GMM) China has “fixed” itself a place on the 2020 corona crisis race calendar, according to Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko. Marko, a top Red Bull official who is close to Dietrich Mateschitz, was instrumental in getting the 2020 season up and running next week in Austria. Now, F1 is planning the second part […]
Latifi buying Williams would be ‘terrific’
Jun.26 (GMM) Williams will on Friday reveal a “sharp” and “smart” revised livery for its 2020 car. It comes after the struggling British backmarker, which is for sale, suddenly lost the backing of its title sponsor Rokit. The phone company is being linked with a move to world champions Mercedes. Ahead of the reveal of […]
Bottas, Verstappen to attack Hamilton – Hakkinen
Jun.26 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen could put up a real challenge to reigning six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in 2020. That is the view of former double world champion Mika Hakkinen, who is part of the management team looking after Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Bottas. “Valtteri is in super shape and has prepared himself […]