Sep.4 (GMM) Monza is now “very close” to cementing its place on the 2020 calendar. After a period of uncertainty, the Italian GP has now been given a race date on the provisional schedule that was published by Liberty Media recently. But Monza’s 6 September date included an asterisk next to it, warning that confirmation […]
No Alonso comeback in 2020 – de la Rosa
Sep.4 (GMM) Pedro de la Rosa does not think Fernando Alonso will return to Formula 1 in 2020. Spaniard Alonso is suddenly back on the radar, as he will meet with McLaren officials at Monza to discuss the future. But is believed those talks will be focused on McLaren’s 2020 Indycar and Indy 500 projects. […]
Seidl unsure about Alonso contract situation
Sep.4 (GMM) Andreas Seidl has played down suggestions that Fernando Alonso will advance plans to return to Formula 1 this weekend at Monza. Recently, we quoted McLaren supremo Zak Brown as saying that he will “talk” to Alonso at Monza about the new Indycar project. “He is aware and we will talk about it at […]
Verstappen ‘almost better’ than Hamilton – Sainz
Sep.4 (GMM) Carlos Sainz has made a frank assessment of some of his rivals on the F1 grid. “Hamilton, I give a 9 or a 10,” the McLaren driver told the Spanish broadcaster Movistar. “Since Rosberg left, he’s been at a very high level with less pressure. Verstappen is almost better, but at Spa he […]
Salo defends Red Bull driver decisions
Sep.4 (GMM) Former F1 driver Mika Salo has defended Red Bull’s notorious driver development programme. Many in the paddock have criticised Dr Helmut Marko’s regime, saying the ‘junior team’ puts too much expectation on young drivers like Pierre Gasly before unceremoniously dropping them. “But don’t forget, they joined the programme deliberately — Red Bull gave […]
F2 fatality no risk to Spa future
Sep.3 (GMM) Spa Francorchamps will make circuit modifications before F1’s return to Belgium in 2020. The news comes as both Belgian authorities and F1’s governing FIA launch investigations into the death of Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert. The Belgian police investigation concerns the “involuntary manslaughter” of French driver Hubert, even though such a probe is […]
Binotto denies Vettel now number 2 driver
Sep.3 (GMM) Team boss Mattia Binotto has denied that Sebastian Vettel is now Ferrari’s number 2 driver. His denial comes after the Italian media said Charles Leclerc’s first win at Spa last Sunday marked a turning point in the Ferrari hierarchy. “Vettel must clear the way for Leclerc,” declared La Repubblica newspaper. Corriere dello Sport […]
Giovanazzi future in doubt once again
Sep.3 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi’s future is suddenly under a dark cloud once again. Prior to Sunday’s Belgian GP, we reported that the struggling Italian’s Alfa Romeo seat for 2020 no longer seemed in such danger. “In my view, he is not under pressure,” team boss Frederic Vasseur said. But the race at Spa Francorchamps then […]
Schumacher needs another F2 season – Domenicali
Sep.3 (GMM) Mick Schumacher should spend another season in Formula 2. That is the view of Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali, who worked closely with Mick’s father Michael Schumacher during his ultra-successful Ferrari career. A rumour is doing the rounds suggesting that Alfa Romeo could oust Antonio Giovinazzi at the end of the year, with Ferrari […]
Ricciardo expects to ‘learn’ from Ocon
Sep.3 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he welcomes the arrival of a new teammate for 2020. Renault has decided to oust Nico Hulkenberg and replace him with Esteban Ocon, the current Mercedes reserve driver who will remain managed by Toto Wolff next year. “It’s a huge opportunity for me to work with such a big manufacturer […]
Honda must help solve poor race starts – Verstappen
Sep.3 (GMM) Max Verstappen says Red Bull-Honda has to improve the way his car gets off the line at the start of races. The Dutchman says the start procedure hasn’t changed in his four seasons with the team, but what has changed for 2019 is the success of his getaways. “We are struggling this year […]
McLaren eyeing return to Mercedes power – report
Sep.3 (GMM) McLaren could be looking to return to Mercedes power. Days ago, Carlos Sainz surprised some in the paddock by saying he “expected more” from Renault’s latest engine upgrade. “There have been three engine evolutions,” he said. “I didn’t notice the first or the second ones either.” Then at Spa, both Sainz and Lando […]
Albon was ‘great’ on Red Bull debut – Marko
Sep.3 (GMM) Alex Albon has now secured the full public backing of his other Red Bull boss, Dr Helmut Marko. After Spa, Christian Horner said Albon had a “very good start” to his stint with the senior team, after replacing the struggling Pierre Gasly. And now, Red Bull’s notoriously tough driver manager, Marko, has also […]
‘Very good start’ to Albon’s Red Bull career – Horner
Sep.2 (GMM) Alex Albon has made a “great” first impression on his new team boss Christian Horner. Just 12 races into his F1 career, the former Toro Rosso driver was drafted into Red Bull’s senior team to replace struggling Pierre Gasly from Spa. Red Bull says it will choose between Albon, Gasly and Daniil Kvyat […]
Barcelona boss says 2020 Spanish GP talks ‘not easy’
Sep.2 (GMM) Barcelona circuit boss Joan Fontsere says keeping the Spanish GP alive was not easy. The venue only secured a new one-year deal for 2020 after the F1 teams agreed to attend an unprecedented 22 races next year. “It was not easy,” Fontsere told Marcador Competicion. “There was the limitation of 21 races, but […]
Opinions must be respected after fatality – Vasseur
Sep.2 (GMM) Sunday was a difficult day for the F1 paddock, as the racing went on despite the death less than 24 hours earlier of Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert. Many drivers on the grid, including Pierre Gasly, George Russell, Mercedes reserve Esteban Ocon and race winner Charles Leclerc, knew Frenchman Hubert personally. “On the […]
Monza to be ‘happy weekend’ for Ferrari – Hamilton
Sep.2 (GMM) Ferrari will be strong again at Monza this weekend, according to Mercedes’ two drivers and boss Toto Wolff. Although Ferrari’s advantage in the race at Spa was not as great as in qualifying, the Italian team looks set to dominate the speed traps again at home. “Monza is going to be a happy […]
Monza even worse for Honda than Spa – Verstappen
Sep.1 (GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted that Monza next week will be another difficult weekend for Red Bull. Despite riding a crest of form prior to the August break, the Dutchman is just fifth on the Spa grid – and over a full second off pole. “During the vacation I already realised that things would […]
Modern F1 ‘so demotivating’ – Magnussen
Sep.1 (GMM) Haas is continuing to struggle with Pirelli’s 2019 tyres, according to Kevin Magnussen. The underlying pace of the American team’s car is good, but Haas has struggled all season to ‘turn on’ the 2019 tyres that feature thinner tread than last year. “The tyres feel like plastic,” Magnussen, tenth on the grid at […]
Giovinazzi seat looking safer for 2020
Sep.1 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi’s place at Alfa Romeo appears to be safe for 2020. Earlier, with Kimi Raikkonen having scored 31 of the team’s 32 points so far this year, it appeared likely that Giovinazzi could lose Ferrari’s backing for the seat. But La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Italian’s fate is actually looking […]