Nov.14 (GMM) The boss of the premier German touring car series DTM has admitted he hopes Robert Kubica races in the category in 2020. The Pole, who has struggled at Williams this year, is linked with a F1 reserve seat for 2020, perhaps in combination with a racing role elsewhere. “Big names like Robert Kubica […]
Former drivers slam F1’s ‘green’ plans
Nov.14 (GMM) Two Formula 1 drivers have slammed the sport’s ‘green’ plans. This week, F1 announced that it wants the sport to be “sustainable” by 2025, and then completely “net-zero carbon” by 2030. “Sometimes, I wonder who is the idiot who comes up with this nonsense,” former F1 driver Olivier Panis told RMC Sport. “Honestly, […]
FIA issues another engine rule clarification
Nov.14 (GMM) F1’s governing body has issued another technical directive about grey areas in the engine rules. The development comes after Red Bull prompted the first technical directive about fuel flow, with many believing it ended Ferrari’s earlier huge power advantage. “Mercedes had researched in the area and we had the courage to make the […]
Mercedes ‘researched’ alleged Ferrari engine breach
Nov.13 (GMM) Mercedes did the research that prompted Red Bull to ask the FIA to clarify the engine regulations in Austin. At present, and although Ferrari denies it, the prevailing wisdom is that the rules clarification is why the Maranello team’s power advantage suddenly vanished two weeks ago. Max Verstappen even accused Ferrari of “cheating”, […]
Honda CEO targets 2020 world title with Red Bull
Nov.13 (GMM) The CEO of Honda says the Japanese carmaker is targeting the world championship for 2020. At present, there is uncertainty not only about Honda’s commitment to Formula 1 for 2021 and beyond. Rumours say interim Renault CEO Clotilde Delbos is considering pulling the French carmaker out, while Toto Wolff has declared that it […]
New engine for Leclerc may include 2020 parts – report
Nov.13 (GMM) Ferrari may test parts for its 2020 engine this weekend in Brazil. The Maranello team’s engine is a hot topic at present, after the FIA in Austin issued a clarification over how the maximum fuel flow is measured. At the same time, Ferrari’s earlier power advantage seemed to vanish. “The reality is that […]
Verstappen vows to push for third place in 2019
Nov.13 (GMM) Max Verstappen has vowed to push to finish third overall in the 2019 drivers’ world championship. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are locked into first and second places with two races to go, but a battle is brewing for that last podium spot in the title standings. Charles Leclerc has a 14 […]
Commentator backs Red Bull driver lineups for 2020
Nov.13 (GMM) A Formula 1 commentator has backed Red Bull’s decision to keep the same drivers at both of its teams for 2020. The energy drink company has announced that Alexander Albon will remain Max Verstappen’s teammate at the senior team next year. And Pierre Gasly, who was replaced by Albon mid-season and relegated to […]
Former sponsor did not pay Williams in full
Nov.12 (GMM) SMP Racing did not pay in full for its sponsorship of the struggling backmarker Williams in 2018. That is the claim of a Russian source at Moscow-based Echo Moskwa radio. Last year, Russian Sergey Sirotkin raced for Williams with backing by SMP Bank’s motorsport programme SMP Racing. “They paid only part of the […]
Honda to decide F1 future by Abu Dhabi – Marko
Nov.12 (GMM) Honda is getting close to making a decision about whether or not to stay in Formula 1. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, a top official at Red Bull. Both of Red Bull’s teams – Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso – are powered by Honda. “Honda hasn’t decided yet,” Marko […]
Verstappen denies dismissing Hamilton success
Nov.12 (GMM) Max Verstappen has fended off a rumour that he has signed a pre-contract with Mercedes to replace Lewis Hamilton if the six-time champion quits Mercedes for 2021. “Slippery question,” the Red Bull-Honda driver smiled to Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper. “I am happy where I am. I want to win with Red Bull. […]
Verstappen says he is too ‘honest’ and ‘direct’
Nov.12 (GMM) After accusing Ferrari of cheating in Austin, Max Verstappen now wants to move on. It is believed Mattia Binotto threatened Verstappen’s Red Bull boss Christian Horner with legal action after the Dutch driver alleged that Ferrari cheated with its 2019 engine. “It’s a sensitive topic that I’m not going back to,” Verstappen told […]
Hans-Joachim Stuck warns against F1 quit threats
Nov.12 (GMM) German motor racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck thinks there is a risk that Formula 1’s top teams will threaten to quit the sport. The ten teams are not only yet to sign the 2021 Concorde Agreement, it has also emerged that the published 2021 regulations are effectively a draft. “What is written down on […]
Alonso enjoys watching Verstappen in ‘attack mode’
Nov.12 (GMM) Former F1 driver Fernando Alonso has admitted he enjoys watching Max Verstappen race. Frustrated with the sport last year, Spaniard Alonso quit at the age of 37 and is currently preparing to contest the fabled Dakar rally. “I find the motivation to try new categories due to my passion to win,” he told […]
Toto Wolff to miss Brazilian GP
Nov.12 (GMM) Toto Wolff will this weekend sit out a grand prix for the first time since 2013. Now the Mercedes boss, 47-year-old Wolff began attending races regularly in 2019 when he bought a share of Williams. He left in 2013 when he and fellow Austrian Niki Lauda bought into Mercedes. Last week, Wolff was […]
Carey admits ‘fatigue’ due to longer calendars
Nov.11 (GMM) Chase Carey has acknowledged that rumours of 25-race calendars for the future at not popular in the Formula 1 paddock. Next year, the calendar will swell to an unprecedented 22 races. But in the new regulations for 2021 and beyond, provisions for up to 25 races in the future have been made. “We […]
Mayor rejects moves to block Miami race
Nov.11 (GMM) Efforts to organise a grand prix in Miami have received a reprieve following a recent setback. The plans for a race mainly on the grounds of the Hard Rock Stadium were dealt a blow recently at the Miami-Dade commission. Amid a local outcry from local groups, it was decided recently that road closures […]
Former manager thinks Schumacher will recover
Nov.11 (GMM) Michael Schumacher’s former manager thinks the F1 legend will recover from his brain injuries. Willi Weber who brought Schumacher into the sport in 1991, and worked with the seven time world champion until his less successful comeback in 2010. But he told Kolner Express newspaper that he was completely shut out by the […]
Renault plays down F1 quit rumours
Nov.11 (GMM) Renault has played down rumours it might quit Formula 1. Last week, reports suggested that amid on and off-track scandals, poor results and the loss of engine customers Red Bull and McLaren, new Renault CEO Clotilde Delbos might be poised to pull the carmaker out of F1. But a Renault spokesperson told f1only.fr […]
Team owner has ‘doubts’ about Haas future
Nov.11 (GMM) Team owner Gene Haas has “doubts” about the American team’s future in Formula 1. That is the admission of team boss Gunther Steiner, who says he had to discuss the team’s more-than-difficult 2019 season with owner Gene Haas in Austin. “The biggest problem he has is with our performance,” Steiner told Racer magazine. […]