May 25 (GMM) France’s finance minister has admitted Renault may “disappear” as a result of the corona crisis. It was reported last week that the government, which owns a 15 percent stake in the French carmaker, will step in with a EUR 5 billion loan to rescue the embattled marque. But minister Bruno Le Maire […]
Hockenheim ready if Silverstone plans collapse
May 25 (GMM) Hockenheim is ready to step in if Formula 1 needs to abandon plans to race at Silverstone. The sport wants to return to racing with spectator-less ‘ghost races’ in Austria in July, before moving on to the home of the British GP. But 14-day quarantine rules for international visitors to Britain means […]
Bottas’ name added to 2021 ‘silly season’
May 22 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas’ name is the latest to join the 2021 driver ‘silly season’. Speculation is gaining speed that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff sees George Russell, not Sebastian Vettel, as the ideal next teammate for Lewis Hamilton. Reports in Germany suggest that Bottas’ manager Didier Coton has been in talks with Renault, who […]
Ferrari has re-opened F1 factory – Gene
May 22 (GMM) Following a long factory lockdown amid Italy’s coronavirus epidemic, Ferrari’s fabled headquarters at Maranello have now re-opened. “On Monday we opened the F1 division,” test driver Marc Gene told Radio Marca. “Everything has been prepared for, with many corona tests.” The Spaniard said Ferrari will now work hard to improve its 2020 […]
Team co-owner says Ferrari eyeing Indy 500
May 22 (GMM) Ferrari vice chairman and 10 percent owner Piero Ferrari has suggested the Maranello marque may tackle the fabled Indianapolis 500 in future. Team boss Mattia Binotto recently admitted that the ever-lowering budget cap in Formula 1 means Ferrari is now “looking at Indycar”. “Ferrari feels a lot of social responsibility towards its […]
Sirotkin eyes return to Williams
May 22 (GMM) Sergey Sirotkin is hoping to return to Formula 1. The Russian raced for Williams in 2018 before serving as McLaren and Renault’s reserve driver last year. This year, though, his mission is to put together a 2021 race deal. “I am more concerned than anyone on the question of a return,” said […]
Austria GP eyes 2020 green light by ‘end of May’
May 22 (GMM) The world of Formula 1 could know by the end of next week if the 2020 season will get up and running in July. Red Bull, the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, and Formula 1 have applied to relevant authorities in Austria for approval for back-to-back ‘ghost races’ in early to mid […]
Sainz ‘well connected with Todt family’ – Glock
May 22 (GMM) 2021 Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is “well connected with the Todt family”, according to former F1 driver Timo Glock. Spaniard Sainz, whose father is the rallying legend of the same name, has been selected by the Maranello team as Sebastian Vettel’s successor. And according to Glock, Ferrari’s notorious politics may have helped […]
No pressure for Vettel in 2020 – Ecclestone
May 21 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel will put his throttle to the floor when he contests his last races with Ferrari later in 2020. That is the prediction of the quadruple world champion’s friend and former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. “Don’t underestimate who Sebastian gets plenty of counsel from – Bernie,” Vettel’s former Red Bull teammate […]
Montezemolo almost became F1 boss
May 21 (GMM) Luca di Montezemolo claims that he almost became boss of Formula 1. The former Ferrari president was asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport this week to comment on the one-year anniversary of the death of the great Niki Lauda. Lauda and Montezemolo worked together closely at Ferrari some decades ago, but Montezemolo […]
Todt not worried about Ferrari ‘veto’ amid corona
May 21 (GMM) FIA president Jean Todt is not worried Ferrari will wield its unique and controversial ‘veto’ to derail Formula 1’s course through the corona crisis. The most contentious measure – the reduction of the $175 million budget cap for 2021 – is finally set to be voted on after a delay and much […]
Alonso ‘knows best’ about Renault return – Sainz snr
May 21 (GMM) Fernando Alonso “knows best” when it comes to deciding whether to return to Formula 1 next year. That is the view of future Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s father and namesake, when asked by Italy’s Sky Sport 24 to comment on speculation linking family friend Alonso with Renault for 2021. On the face […]
F1 missing Lauda’s voice amid corona crisis – Wolff
May 21 (GMM) Niki Lauda’s voice is conspicuously “missing” during the corona crisis, according to his former business partner Toto Wolff. It is now a full year since Lauda, the F1 legend and former Mercedes chairman, passed away at the age of 70. “The more the time passes, the more I realise how much I […]
Wolff says ‘no negotiations’ with Vettel
May 21 (GMM) There are no negotiations with Sebastian Vettel at present, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff insists. Rumours suggest that Wolff is under pressure from Daimler to sign the quadruple world champion, who will leave Ferrari at the end of the year. It is believed Wolff is more inclined to promote George Russell for […]
Silverstone ghost race axe ‘unfortunate’ – Brown
May 21 (GMM) Zak Brown says it would be “unfortunate” if Britain counts itself out of Formula 1’s attempt to get back up and racing in 2020. Seven of the ten F1 teams, including Brown-led McLaren, are based in the UK. But the British government’s 14-day quarantine rule could rule out Silverstone as the host […]
Sainz hopes Ferrari deal helps Spanish GP
May 20 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he hopes his move to Ferrari will give the future of the Spanish GP at boost. We have already reported that Spanish broadcasters are shaping up for a EUR 100 million fight for the F1 television rights, after Spaniard Sainz was signed up by Ferrari for 2021. Also in […]
‘No rush’ to decide Ricciardo replacement – source
May 20 (GMM) A source at Renault’s works team reports that there is “no rush” to decide the identity of Daniel Ricciardo’s replacement for 2021. On the face of it, the team may be seen to be in crisis, with big-name signing Ricciardo defecting to McLaren and the parent company struggling financially amid the corona […]
Customer car idea ‘unthinkable’ – Prost
May 20 (GMM) Alain Prost has hit back at suggestions ‘customer cars’ could be a solution amid F1’s corona crisis. Red Bull’s Christian Horner and Ferrari’s Mattia Binotto have suggested the smaller teams could substantially cut costs amid the crisis by simply buying complete year-old cars from their bigger rivals. F1 legend Prost, now a […]
Alonso should not go to Renault – Minardi
May 20 (GMM) Former F1 team owner and boss Giancarlo Minardi is not sure that Fernando Alonso should make his return to Formula 1 with Renault. Alonso, who made his debut back in 2001 in a Minardi, is now linked with returning from a two-year sabbatical to replace the McLaren-bound Daniel Ricciardo at Renault for […]
Mercedes seat ‘difficult’ for Vettel – Mol
May 20 (GMM) Dutch commentator Olav Mol has played down hopes that Sebastian Vettel might keep his Formula 1 career alive at Mercedes. With the quadruple world champion and Ferrari splitting at the end of the year, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has indicated that Vettel is an option for 2021. “As far as I am […]