Apr.15 (GMM) Robert Kubica has admitted that the coronavirus crisis has made his plans for 2020 “very difficult” to execute. The Pole had intended to combine his Alfa Romeo reserve role this year with a race seat in the German touring car series DTM. “This season promised to be very busy for me, because I […]
Raikkonen helps with team ‘development’ – Vasseur
Apr.14 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen enjoys taking part in the “development” of the Alfa Romeo team, according to team boss Frederic Vasseur. At 40, Finn Raikkonen is clearly the oldest and most experienced driver in Formula 1. Even after being dropped by Ferrari at the end of 2018, he elected to sign on with Alfa Romeo […]
Mosley regrets not making F1 ‘path’ easier
Apr.14 (GMM) Max Mosley says his biggest regret as FIA president was failing to make it easier for young drivers with a “normal family” to target a career in Formula 1. Mosley, who turned 80 on Easter Monday, told DPA news agency he is proud to have improved safety. But he rues another personal goal […]
Isola still driving coronavirus ambulance
Apr.14 (GMM) Pirelli boss Mario Isola is not sitting out the coronavirus crisis at home. For years, one of the Italian’s hobbies has been driving ambulances in his native country, according to Corriere della Sera newspaper. “If I told you I’m not afraid I’d be telling a lie,” Isola, who has stepped up amid Italy’s […]
Todt confirms FIA exit for 2021
Apr.14 (GMM) Jean Todt says he will not push to remain FIA president beyond 2021. The Frenchman, 74, is currently serving his third four-year term – the maximum under the current FIA statutes. And even amid F1’s unprecedented crisis due to the coronavirus crisis, Todt insists he will depart late next year as scheduled. “Despite […]
F1’s 2020 season ‘not possible’ – Ecclestone
Apr.14 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is still urging Formula 1 to simply cancel the entire 2020 season. When asked by Italy’s Corriere della Sera if he has been following the sport’s crisis amid the coronavirus pandemic, he answered: “Yes, it was easy – nothing happened.” What has happened is that, one by one, race promoters have […]
Austria GP without spectators ‘conceivable’ – minister
Apr.14 (GMM) Austria and Red Bull could be set to throw a lifeline to F1’s endangered 2020 season. Red Bull – the owner of the Red Bull Ring – has said it wants to proceed with its scheduled July race, even though surrounding events France and Britain now look set to be postponed. Even politically, […]
Briatore will not return amid crisis
Apr.14 (GMM) Flavio Briatore doubts there would be buyers for teams who cannot make it through the coronavirus crisis. Asked if he would consider returning to the paddock as a team owner, the former title-winning Renault boss said: “Why should I? “I was successful and made a lot of money in Formula 1. Only if […]
F1 delays ‘crucial’ budget cap decision – Todt
Apr.14 (GMM) F1 has delayed making a decision about how to proceed with further cost cutting measures amid the coronavirus crisis. With several teams – now including Renault – having furloughed staff, a debate is raging about how severely to further reduce the planned 2021 budget cap from $175 million. “On Thursday we had a […]
Sundays ‘really strange’ without F1 – Domenicali
Apr.9 (GMM) For the sake of “morale” and the “economy”, former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali hopes Formula 1 racing will return to the world soon. “Sundays without F1 are really strange,” the current Lamborghini CEO told L’Equipe. So far in 2020, nine of the planned 22 grands prix have been either postponed or cancelled over […]
Public will switch off to coronavirus – commentator
Apr.9 (GMM) Austrian commentator Ernst Hausleitner thinks people will begin to switch off to the coronavirus hype. Like most people all around the world, the commentator – who works for the broadcaster ORF – says his life has “completely changed”. “I miss Formula 1 tremendously,” he told Speed Week. “That’s the most difficult part for […]
Second Portuguese venue eyes F1 race
Apr.9 (GMM) Two Portuguese circuits have suddenly emerged as potential stand-in venues amid F1’s coronavirus crisis. We reported this week that the Algarve circuit, located in Portimao, has received FIA certification to host grands prix. And now, the Portuguese source sportmotores.com claims that the former Portuguese GP venue at Estoril has also received Grade 1 […]
Todt wanted Ferrari to reveal ‘secret’ agreement
Apr.9 (GMM) Jean Todt admits that the legality of Ferrari’s 2019 engine will “absolutely” remain questioned by some. The FIA president has been blasted for agreeing a ‘secret’ settlement with the Maranello team he once led. But Todt has now defended the federation’s actions in conversation with France’s L’Equipe. “The FIA has a few engineers […]
Dutch GP boss proposes Tuesday races
Apr.9 (GMM) One way through the coronavirus situation for Formula 1 may be midweek races. That is the view of Jan Lammers, chief spokesman of the postponed Dutch GP at Zandvoort. With nine grands prix postponed or cancelled so far, F1 is scrambling to put together an alternative schedule for the second half of the […]
Kubica regains ‘a lot of desire’ for F1
Apr.9 (GMM) Robert Kubica says he has regained “a lot of desire for Formula 1” after a tough season with Williams last year. The Pole lost that race seat and instead signed up with Alfa Romeo to be reserve driver this year, combining it with a racing role in the DTM series. But then the […]
World must start to ‘live with’ virus – Briatore
Apr.9 (GMM) “Nothing will be the same” in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, former F1 team boss Flavio Briatore has warned. Apart from the health risks and deaths, the Italian says the global crisis is “a catastrophe for the entire economy”. “In a few months, the Chinese will buy up all the best Italian […]
Pandemic ‘peak’ not reached yet – Villeneuve
Apr.9 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve is not surprised that Canada’s Montreal race has been postponed. “We have not yet reached the peak of the pandemic,” said the 1997 world champion and French Canadian, who is stuck at home on the outskirts of Milan. “We are allowed to go out for basic needs, but the restricted measures […]
Haas in talks to reduce race drivers’ pay
Apr.9 (GMM) Haas’ two race drivers are in talks about reducing their pay during the coronavirus pandemic. The small American team is one of those taking advantage of government staff furloughing programs. “We cannot develop for three months while we have no income,” boss Gunther Steiner told motorsport-magazin.com. “Some teams can do that, but all […]
Red Bull ‘tailor made’ for Verstappen – Gasly
Apr.9 (GMM) Pierre Gasly says Red Bull is now a “tailor-made” team for Max Verstappen. Last year, Frenchman Gasly struggled to match Verstappen when he stepped up from the junior team. By year end, he had been replaced by Alex Albon. Gasly has argued that he didn’t get long to prove himself at the top […]
Alfa Romeo also furloughs F1 team staff
Apr.9 (GMM) Alfa Romeo has joined four other F1 teams in furloughing staff amid the coronavirus crisis. Already, McLaren, Williams, Haas and Racing Point have taken advantage of a scheme in which the UK government pays most of staff salaries during the global shutdown period. And now Blick newspaper claims Hinwil-based Alfa Romeo is accessing […]