Jun.10 (GMM) Formula 1 teams will have only a limited car development program in 2020, according to Racing Point technical boss Andy Green. “We will have fewer updates than planned,” he told Auto Motor und Sport when asked about the start of the ‘corona calendar’ in Austria next month. “We didn’t even use our first […]
Baku cancellation now imminent – source
Jun.10 (GMM) Baku, Singapore and Suzuka are set to be definitively scratched from the 2020 calendar. That is the word from Andrea Cremonesi, a respected correspondent for Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. “In days, if not hours, the official cancellation of the race in Baku will be announced,” the Italian source Formula Passion quotes him […]
Mercedes to set pace in Austria – Alesi
Jun.10 (GMM) Jean Alesi thinks Mercedes will be the team to beat when the revised world championship kicks off next month in Austria. “The teams have not been able to develop much,” the former F1 driver told Italy’s Autosprint. “Maybe we will see some minor changes in the hierarchy, but I think the Mercedes advantage […]
‘Old school’ Mugello to be F1’s 1000th race
Jun.10 (GMM) Mugello looks set to join the other six European ‘ghost race’ venues on the initial corona-induced 2020 calendar. It is believed a race at the Ferrari-owned circuit will be paired with the other Italian venue, Monza, in mid-September. “Mugello has everything to offer a spectacle,” said Jarno Zaffelli, a circuit architect who also […]
Hungary reveals $20m ‘ghost race’ discount
Jun.10 (GMM) Hungaroring boss Zsolt Guylay admits the F1 race promoters got a discount on their 2020 race fee. The circuit near Budapest is among the eight confirmed ‘ghost races’ on this year’s initial amended calendar. “All in all, we managed to save the Hungarian budget almost six billion forints (US $20 million),” the Magyar […]
Ricciardo didn’t quit Renault ‘on a whim’
Jun.10 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo insists he did not decide to quit Renault “on a whim”. With the French carmaker continuing next year even amid the corona-induced recession, some have expressed surprise that the Australian decided to take the arguably sideways move to McLaren for 2021. “It was not an easy decision to make,” Ricciardo is […]
Russell admits eye on Mercedes seat
Jun.10 (GMM) George Russell has admitted he has a keen eye on a potential Mercedes race seat for 2021. Team boss Toto Wolff, who already works closely with the Mercedes development driver, has named the 22-year-old as a contender for the works seat. “They are the best team, they have been so dominant,” he told […]
Raikkonen could retire after 2020 season
Jun.10 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has left open the door to possible retirement at the end of 2020. At the age of 40, and with over 300 grands prix to his name, the 2007 world champion is the oldest and most experienced driver in Formula 1. When asked if this year will be his last, Raikkonen […]
Ferrari legality saga not over yet
Jun.10 (GMM) As Formula 1 begins to race out of the corona crisis, the 2019 Ferrari engine legality saga looks set to return. The FIA has issued a range of new technical directives regarding operation of the hybrid engines, believed to be based on the controversial secret agreement reached with Ferrari. One of the new […]
Indy eyes F1 race as soon as 2021
Jun.10 (GMM) Another grand prix in the United States could take place as soon as 2021 – but not in Miami. Rather, the idea is being championed by new Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske. He said he is looking into whether there is the “opportunity for a Formula 1 race” there in “2021, 2022 […]
Michael Schumacher to undergo treatment
Jun.10 (GMM) Michael Schumacher is set to undergo an operation, according to the Italian source Contro Copertina. Cardiac expert professor Philippe Menasche, who reportedly treated the F1 legend last year as well, is said to be in charge of another round of heart cell transfusion. “The goal is to regenerate Michael’s nervous system,” he is […]
New Campos F1 team ‘still alive’ – partner
Jun.9 (GMM) A potential new Formula 1 team is still clinging to its project through the corona crisis. Late last year, Formula 2 boss Adrian Campos and business partner Salvatore Gandolfo announced that they are working on a new F1 team project. But last week, former Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein, who was initially named as […]
‘Everyone affected’ amid F1 corona crisis – Todt
Jun.9 (GMM) More than two teams are hurting amid the corona crisis, according to FIA president Jean Todt. In fact, the Frenchman is quoted by La Presse as saying the shutdown of factories, racing and income has “affected everyone” in Formula 1. “The epidemic has financial consequences not limited to one or two teams in […]
Middle East set to join ‘corona calendar’ – Wolff
Jun.9 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks the first overseas races will soon be added to the alternative ‘corona calendar’ for 2020. Only eight spectator-less races at six European venues have been unveiled so far for the initial post-shutdown period beginning in July. But Mercedes boss Wolff thinks that will soon change. “I believe and I hope […]
Sim drivers to have an edge in Austria – Rosberg
Jun.9 (GMM) Nico Rosberg thinks F1 drivers who have spent the corona shutdown at the wheel of home simulators will be the best prepared for the resumption of racing next month. Like Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Valtteri Bottas and other active F1 stars, retired 2016 world champion Rosberg also spends time at the […]
F1 supports Hamilton’s political views
Jun.9 (GMM) F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn says he “completely” supports Lewis Hamilton’s political views. In a series of recent social media posts, six time world champion Hamilton hit out at those staying silent about the policy custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Not just that, the Mercedes driver is scathing of British PM […]
No more ’50 million’ contracts for Hamilton – Ecclestone
Jun.8 (GMM) The days when Lewis Hamilton earns eye-popping amounts of money per year from Formula 1 are over. That is the view of Bernie Ecclestone, who warned the six-time world champion against “playing poker” with Mercedes over his expiring current contract. “Lewis will never make EUR 50 million (per year) again,” the former F1 […]
Bill Gates tipped to attend F1’s ‘corona’ re-start
Jun.8 (GMM) Bill Gates is slated to attend the opening ‘ghost race’ of 2020 in Austria. Austrian reports suggest that Red Bull owner and fellow billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz has personally invited the American magnate – who made his money at Microsoft and now fronts the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – to attend. When asked […]
Binotto chides Mercedes for reverse grid veto
Jun.8 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has revealed that Ferrari was in favour of Liberty Media’s ‘reverse grid’ idea for the initial spectator-less races in 2020. It was reported that both Mercedes and its ally Racing Point had vetoed the plan, arguing it was too gimmicky for Formula 1. Ferrari team boss Binotto is not happy about […]
Wolff buys back some Williams shares – source
Jun.8 (GMM) Toto Wolff has reportedly bought back into struggling F1 team Williams. The British team, which recently revealed that it is for sale, was actually Wolff’s route into Formula 1 when he bought shares in 2009. Wolff become Williams’ executive director in 2012 but joined Mercedes the following year. He sold 20 percent of […]