Sep.21 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has turned down an offer to drive for McLaren in the British marque’s first full Indycar season next year. “I have a lot of respect for those who race on ovals, it’s just not my thing,” said the German, after McLaren boss Zak Brown revealed the failed talks in Singapore. Earlier, […]
Williams eyes Latifi, Hulkenberg for 2020
Sep.21 (GMM) Claire Williams has named at least two drivers who are on Williams’ driver shortlist for 2020. The Williams team boss says she was surprised when Robert Kubica, who has struggled this year, told her he had decided to leave the team at the end of the year. “There’s nothing much to comment on,” […]
F1 must learn from Hubert-Correa crash – Green
Sep.21 (GMM) Formula 1 must learn from the crash that killed Anthoine Hubert and left fellow F2 driver Juan Manuel Correa seriously injured. In a London hospital, 20-year-old Correa has now emerged from his artificial coma and life support, but doctors at a London hospital say he needs “major surgery” to avoid “irreversible injuries” to […]
Kvyat not ruling out Red Bull return
Sep.21 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat is not writing off his chances of returning to Red Bull in 2020. Explaining that the available Nico Hulkenberg is “not on our list”, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said the team will choose Max Verstappen’s teammate from a shortlist of three. “All the drivers that are under consideration are […]
Bottas accepts Wolff’s recent criticism
Sep.21 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is determined to catch up with Lewis Hamilton in the areas in which he is lacking. Recently, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff observed that the Finn sometimes “struggles” when he is closely following another car in the slipstream. “Lewis is somehow able to get closer and go for a move. […]
Three-race trial for qualifying races in 2020
Sep.21 (GMM) Christian Horner says the current qualifying format “works fine”. Last week, Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto was quoted as saying that “all the teams” have already agreed that from 2020, reverse-grid qualifying sprint races will instead take place on Saturdays. But it then emerged that Binotto had jumped the gun, because the teams, Liberty […]
Symonds denies 2021 cars to be 6 seconds slower
Sep.21 (GMM) F1 teams have expressed concern about the latest version of the 2021 technical rules. On Monday, they were presented with the latest concept of the 2021 car, codenamed ‘Lima’. The main difference compared to the earlier version is a more elegant front wing. But Auto Motor und Sport claims some teams have calculated […]
No conversation about 2020 yet – Albon
Sep.20 (GMM) Alex Albon admits he isn’t sure if Red Bull Racing will keep him for 2020. The British-born Thai rookie was drafted into the lineup to replace struggling Pierre Gasly after the summer break. But the 2020 ‘silly season’ is currently in overdrive, with Nico Hulkenberg, Sebastian Vettel and even Daniel Ricciardo all tentatively […]
Giovinazzi admits risk of losing Alfa seat
Sep.20 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi says the current uncertainty about his place at Alfa Romeo for 2020 is “part of the game”. After missing out on the Haas seat, Renault refugee Nico Hulkenberg is now pinning his hopes on a potential move to Alfa Romeo. Italian Giovinazzi, despite his strong Ferrari link, has been fending off […]
Hulkenberg hoping for Alfa Romeo seat
Sep.20 (GMM) Alfa Romeo and Williams are emerging as Nico Hulkenberg’s only potential options to remain in Formula 1 next year. The F1 world was surprised in Singapore when Haas announced that it is keeping Romain Grosjean for 2020. “I was talking to Haas seriously, but for a number of reasons we did not get […]
Under-fire Vettel declares ‘I still love racing’
Sep.20 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel in Singapore attempted to play down the firestorm around him by declaring: “I still love racing”. Some are sensationally claiming that the quadruple world champion will leave Ferrari, because his young teammate Charles Leclerc has gained the upper hand as ‘number 1’. “Number 1? I don’t have that feeling,” 21-year-old Leclerc […]
Magnussen backs Haas driver decision
Sep.20 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen is hoping for a much better season for Haas in 2020. The American team has had a horror 2019, and not just because of the problems with its erratic former sponsor Rich Energy. Rich Energy boss William Storey is still causing trouble for Haas, revealing on Twitter that the team is […]
Ricciardo emerges as potential Vettel replacement
Sep.20 (GMM) A wild rumour has emerged from Italy involving former Red Bull teammates Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel. Some believe that with Charles Leclerc taking over the de-facto ‘number 1’ role at Ferrari, quadruple world champion Vettel’s position has become untenable. “If this continues, I would not be sure that Ferrari will keep him,” […]
Ricciardo ‘surprised’ by Grosjean news
Sep.20 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has admitted he is among those who are “surprised” by Haas’ decision to keep Romain Grosjean in 2020. The F1 paddock had been expecting the American team to drop the Frenchman and replace him with Ricciardo’s current Renault teammate Nico Hulkenberg. “I heard only a few days ago that he was […]
Kubica sponsor wants to stay in F1
Sep.20 (GMM) Robert Kubica’s sponsor says it wants to remain in Formula 1. Williams announced on Thursday that the Polish driver, who has struggled this year on his return to the grid, will not stay at the team in 2020. Kubica’s seat this year is strongly backed by PKN Orlen, the Polish oil company. The […]
Boss says Ferrari ‘loves’ Vettel
Sep.19 (GMM) Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto has issued a strong vote of confidence in Sebastian Vettel. The quadruple world champion began 2019 as the clear number 1, but is now making regular mistakes while 21-year-old newcomer Charles Leclerc rises in status. But Binotto insists that the crisis-struck German’s 2020 contract will be honoured. “The […]
Red Bull driver decisions ‘not healthy’ – Albers
Sep.19 (GMM) A former F1 driver has questioned Red Bull’s recent driver swap. During the summer break, Dr Helmut Marko decided to demote the struggling Pierre Gasly from the senior team and replace him with Toro Rosso’s Alex Albon. “I still don’t understand that choice,” former Minardi driver Christijan Albers told De Telegraaf newspaper. “I […]
Hulkenberg ‘sure’ Schumacher will race in F1
Sep.19 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he is “sure” that Mick Schumacher will soon be in Formula 1. Schumacher, the 20-year-old son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, is eleventh overall with two rounds of his first Formula 2 season to go. “I am sure that we will see him in Formula 1 in two years at […]
Ferrari to join 18-inch testing in 2020 – Isola
Sep.19 (GMM) Pirelli boss Mario Isola thinks Ferrari will start helping next year with the development of Formula 1’s 18-inch tyres for 2021. In a modified 2018 Renault, Sergey Sirotkin was in the cockpit last week as testing of the low-profile tyres began at Paul Ricard. “Unfortunately I am not allowed to answer any questions […]
2019 title ‘far, far away’ – Vettel
Sep.19 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted he is unlikely to win the 2019 world championship. The quadruple world champion actually went into this season as the favourite, but Ferrari’s first wins only came in Spa and Monza and it was Charles Leclerc on the top step. “We are not the favourites for this championship,” Vettel […]