Sep.29 (GMM) New Formula 2 champion Nyck de Vries is not writing off his chances of racing in F1. The 24-year-old Dutchman wrapped up his F2 crown at Sochi, having raced in the category since 2017. But he is not stepping up to Formula 1 next year. Instead, Mercedes has signed him up for the […]
Ferrari form ‘serious situation’ for Mercedes – Hamilton
Sep.29 (GMM) Ferrari may have caught up with Mercedes already, but the Italian team is still looking ahead to 2020. At Sochi, Charles Leclerc put his Ferrari on pole for the fourth time in a row – the first such achievement for the Maranello team since Michael Schumacher in 2001. “I really don’t want to […]
Kvyat slams ‘ridiculous’ helmet colour rule
Sep.28 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat has called a rule preventing him from wearing a special helmet livery for his home race in Russia “ridiculous”. Some years ago, frustrated with the drivers’ constant colour changes, the FIA introduced a rule that allows just a single one-off livery change per year. Kvyat, however, says that after wearing a […]
Correa chose against foot amputation – family
Sep.28 (GMM) Formula 2 driver Juan Manuel Correa has chosen not to have his right lower leg amputated, his family have revealed. The 20-year-old Ecuadorian-American was the driver who struck the rival car of fatally-injured Anthoine Hubert recently at Spa. He is no longer in an artificial coma to recover from lung injuries, but Correa […]
Ferrari driver peace ‘will crack’ – Marko
Sep.28 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks the tentative peace at Ferrari will eventually “crack”. The Red Bull official told Osterreich newspaper that Charles Leclerc is challenging former quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel for his number 1 status. “It’s going to be interesting,” Marko said. “There’s a kid who’s damn fast and unwilling to fall in […]
No F1 return ‘in short term’ – Alonso
Sep.28 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he does not want to return to Formula 1 “in the short term”. At the moment, the highly rated Spaniard is preparing for a forthcoming rally-raid event in Morocco. “I will decide about the Dakar rally based on the next rally in Morocco,” Alonso said at the launch of a […]
2020 teammate ‘up to Red Bull’ – Verstappen
Sep.28 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he doesn’t mind who Red Bull chooses to be his 2020 teammate. Currently, the energy drink outfit is giving Alex Albon a chance at the senior team, but Dr Helmut Marko says Pierre Gasly is also in the running to return from Toro Rosso in 2020. “They are the bosses, […]
Mercedes ‘third fastest team’ at Sochi – Wolff
Sep.28 (GMM) Mercedes is struggling at the scene of the Russian GP at Sochi. The Finnish broadcaster C More says Toto Wolff cancelled a scheduled interview after Friday practice in order to sit in on a crisis meeting about the team’s performance. “We saw that we were behind in practice, but there are always meetings,” […]
McLaren inks Mercedes deal for 2021 – sources
Sep.28 (GMM) McLaren has inked a deal with Mercedes for a supply of customer engines from 2021. The unconfirmed news is being reported from Sochi by authoritative sources like Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. But other sources report that meetings involving Zak Brown, Andreas Seidl and Mercedes’ communications team definitely took place in the McLaren […]
Haas ‘better choice’ for Kubica than Racing Point
Sep.28 (GMM) Robert Kubica’s father thinks the departing Williams driver will choose either between an F1 test role or racing in a series like DTM for 2020. The Polish driver has been linked with test roles at Haas and Racing Point, perhaps splitting it with a race seat in the German touring car series. But […]
Kubica ‘right’ to quit Williams – father
Sep.28 (GMM) Robert Kubica’s father says the Pole made the “right decision” to quit Williams. But Artur Kubica also admitted to the Polish publication Onet that his son is unlikely to find another place on the 2020 grid. “Leaving was the only possible scenario,” Artur Kubica said. “To further cooperate in the conditions Robert finds […]
Ecclestone can imagine St Petersburg switch
Sep.28 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he can imagine the Russian GP relocating to St Petersburg. The former F1 supremo, who is an admitted admirer of controversial president Vladimir Putin, was the mastermind behind F1’s move to Sochi in 2014. Now in the paddock of the former Olympic venue this weekend, he told Ria Novosti news […]
Russian F1 team ‘not far off’ – minister
Sep.28 (GMM) Russia could soon have a Formula 1 team on the grid, according to a government minister. At Sochi, Russia’s trade and industry minister Denis Manturov told Ria Novosti news agency: “I think a Russian team will appear. It is not far off. “When will it appear? So far, these are just thoughts,” he […]
Ferrari not ruling out 2021 rules veto
Sep.28 (GMM) Mattia Binotto is not ruling out using Ferrari’s veto against the 2021 rules. As time goes on, it is clearer that the teams are very much divided over what is currently being proposed by Liberty Media. We have learned from sources at Sochi that Mercedes, Racing Point, Red Bull, Haas and Alfa Romeo […]
Russell wants Hulkenberg as 2020 teammate
Sep.27 (GMM) George Russell says he would like Nico Hulkenberg to be his Williams teammate in 2020. The rookie’s current teammate, Robert Kubica, recently announced that he is leaving the struggling team. But Russell is sure 2020 will be a much better season for Williams. “I am 100 per cent sure that we will not […]
Honda plans for Suzuka with Sochi grid penalty
Sep.27 (GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted Red Bull-Honda is looking beyond this weekend’s Russian GP. The Honda-powered drivers all have new Spec 4 engines fitted at Sochi, which for Verstappen means a five place grid penalty. “We thought ‘Why not do it here?’” he said at Sochi. “The five places is not going to hurt […]
Hulkenberg denies signing with Formula E team
Sep.27 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has denied being signed by a Formula E team for 2020. The German has lost his Renault race seat, and opportunities to move to Alfa Romeo or Williams now appear unlikely. At Sochi, it is rumoured that the 32-year-old has been signed by the Formula E team Mahindra. “No,” Hulkenberg said […]
Russia rejects St Petersburg F1 race rumours
Sep.27 (GMM) Russian officials have denied that the country’s grand prix could be relocated from Sochi. A British newspaper broke the news about Russian president Vladimir Putin apparently wanting the Formula 1 race to instead be held in St Petersburg. “Maybe it’s not a bad idea,” said Russian driver Daniil Kvyat at Sochi. “It would […]
Steiner denies Haas selling to Saudi investors
Sep.27 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has played down suggestions Haas could be sold to investors from Saudi Arabia. After splitting recently as Haas’ title sponsor, Rich Energy boss William Storey said on Twitter: “We wish Haas the best of luck in negotiations selling the team to Saudi investors”. Team boss Steiner responded at Sochi: “I really […]
Abiteboul criticises FIA over penalty
Sep.27 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has accused the FIA of being inconsistent about how it hands out penalties for sporting and technical infractions. In 2019, the tendency to penalise every on-track clash has changed markedly, particularly with the re-introduction of the black and white warning flag. But in Singapore, Daniel Ricciardo was disqualified from qualifying for […]