Sep.7 (GMM) “Question marks” remain about engine failures that occurred at Spa last weekend, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admits. The power units in the customer cars of Sergio Perez (Racing Point) and Robert Kubica (Williams) failed, just days before the F1 circus moved on to Monza. “We started to understand what happened, but we only […]
Bottas ‘completely free’ for 2021
Sep.7 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he will be “completely free” at the end of 2020. After a period of uncertainty and speculation, Mercedes recently confirmed that the Finn is staying at Mercedes next year. Bottas, though, said the process was simple from his perspective. He told Ilta Sanomat newspaper that Mercedes controlled a one-sided 2020 […]
Dutch GP preparations on track – Lammers
Sep.7 (GMM) Work is about to begin to get the Zandvoort circuit ready for the 2020 Dutch GP. Jan Lammers, a former F1 driver and Dutch GP ambassador, told BNR Nieuwsradio: “The whole story will start from the third or fourth week of September.” Formula 1 recently announced that Zandvoort will be the first European […]
Correa in ‘critical’ condition and coma
Sep.7 (GMM) The condition of the other driver involved in Anthoine Hubert’s fatal crash at Spa has deteriorated. 20-year-old Ecuadorian-American Formula 2 driver Juan Manuel Correa slammed into Hubert’s car at about 270kph at the top of Eau Rouge. He sustained broken legs and a minor spinal injury and underwent surgery before recuperating in intensive […]
Honda deficit now ‘minimal’ – Kvyat
Sep.7 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat says the gap between Honda and the other engine manufacturers on the grid is now “minimal”. The Japanese manufacturer, which supplies engines to both Red Bull teams, introduced its ‘Spec 4’ engine at Spa. Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost said at Monza: “With the Spec 4 engine, I don’t think that […]
Drivers hit back at Villeneuve over Hubert death
Sep.7 (GMM) Three drivers have hit back at Jacques Villeneuve, following comments the 1997 world champion made in the wake of Anthoine Hubert’s death. Villeneuve, now an always-outspoken pundit, said one of the issues is that the younger generation spends so much time in simulators that they then underestimate the sport’s real dangers. “I disagree […]
Door to top team could still open – Perez
Sep.6 (GMM) Sergio Perez thinks Racing Point would let him leave if a top team comes knocking. The F1 world was surprised at Spa when a new three-year contract for the Mexican was announced, as he and his sponsors usually prefer one year deals. “I think this team has a lot of potential, especially as […]
Kvyat not impressed by Albon’s first Red Bull race
Sep.6 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat has countered the Red Bull narrative by admitting he was not impressed by former teammate Alex Albon’s move to the top team. Having overlooked Kvyat to replace Pierre Gasly, both Christian Horner and Dr Helmut Marko said after Spa that they had been impressed with Albon’s “great” first weekend at Red […]
Steiner targeting driver announcement for Singapore
Sep.6 (GMM) Gunther Steiner is hoping to decide Haas’ second driver for 2020 by the next race at Singapore. At Spa, amid rumours Nico Hulkenberg is being actively courted, the American team’s boss admitted Haas could be in a position to make an announcement at Monza. But Renault refugee Hulkenberg says he is not rushing. […]
Hamilton admits Ferrari switch ‘an option’
Sep.6 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has admitted switching to Ferrari is “an option” for the future. Earlier, we reported that although the Mercedes driver has over a year to run on his current deal, “I will look at the various options in the months to come”. Ahead of Monza, Sky Italia quotes the five time world […]
Magnussen still has ‘no fear’ when driving
Sep.6 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen says he felt “no fear” when he raced at Spa just 24 hours after the death of Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t deeply affected by the rare fatality. Asked about Daniel Ricciardo’s admission that he considered not racing last Sunday, Magnussen said at Monza: “I […]
Verstappen slams ‘no charisma’ critic Rosberg
Sep.6 (GMM) Max Verstappen has hit back hard at Nico Rosberg, following the 2016 world champion’s latest criticism. On his Youtube channel, Rosberg – now an online and television pundit – said Verstappen was “back to his old self” at Spa with his crash with Kimi Raikkonen. Dutchman Verstappen hit back at Monza: “I am […]
Vettel still number 1 driver – Montezemolo
Sep.6 (GMM) Ferrari is on the way to having “two number 1 drivers”, according to former president Luca di Montezemolo. Having been invited to attend Ferrari’s pre-Italian GP event in Milan, 72-year-old Montezemolo defended the under-fire Sebastian Vettel. Many in the Italian press say Charles Leclerc has now taken over from him as the team’s […]
Sainz tones down Renault rhetoric
Sep.6 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has toned down his rhetoric about McLaren’s engine supplier Renault. The Spaniard surprised the F1 paddock recently by saying he “expected more” from Renault in 2019. Then at Spa, both he and Lando Norris had engine problems, which Sainz called “unacceptable”. It triggered speculation McLaren is eyeing Williams’ customer deal with […]
Raikkonen supports return of F1 ‘warning’ flag
Sep.6 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has backed the return to Formula 1 of the black and white flag for unsportsmanlike behaviour. We reported at Spa that race director Michael Masi told the drivers during their briefing that they will more often be warned about driving infractions rather than instantly penalised. Then, during the race, the black […]
Father says Magnussen ‘in right place’ at Haas
Sep.5 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen’s father says the Danish driver is in “the right place” at Haas. It is believed that Haas will shortly unveil Nico Hulkenberg as Magnussen’s next teammate, although the German may also be looking at the Alfa Romeo and Red Bull seats. Magnussen, though, has a firm 2020 contract at Haas, and […]
Hamilton to soon consider next F1 contract
Sep.5 (GMM) Ferrari was “even faster” than Lewis Hamilton expected at Spa last weekend. “We knew it would be tough after the break with Spa and Monza,” the championship leader told Sky Italia ahead of the Italian GP. “The Ferraris were even faster than I expected in Belgium, but in the end the race was […]
Vettel says ‘why not?’ to longer Ferrari future
Sep.5 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he might stay at Ferrari even beyond the end of his 2020 contract. It is a difficult period for the quadruple world champion, as he loses the faith of the influential Italian media and struggles to keep onto his number 1 status inside the Maranello team. Spa winner Charles Leclerc […]
Former Ferrari boss tips Vettel to hit back
Sep.4 (GMM) Ferrari’s former boss is tipping Sebastian Vettel to bounce back at Monza. It is expected that the Italian team will be very strong at its home race, and will even have an update of its already grid-leading engine in the luggage. “We plan to introduce our third power unit this weekend,” Ferrari confirmed. […]
Bratches’ F1 exit ‘imminent’ – source
Sep.4 (GMM) Sean Bratches looks set to leave Formula 1. The BBC has reported that while Liberty Media’s F1 CEO Chase Carey and sporting boss Ross Brawn are staying put, commercial chief Bratches is tipped to leave. Formula 1 declined to comment. But a source told us that an announcement could be “imminent”. “I have […]