Apr.6 (GMM) A further factory shutdown period because of the coronavirus crisis is likely in Formula 1, according to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. To help cope with the crisis, the teams agreed to bring forward the usual August shutdown to now, and extend it to three weeks instead of two. “It’s fixed for three weeks, […]
Wolff remaining Mercedes boss in ‘short term’
Apr.6 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he is staying in charge of Mercedes’ works F1 team for “the short term”. The Austrian has been linked strongly with Lawrence Stroll’s Aston Martin project, amid rumours Wolff has fallen out with new Daimler boss Ola Kallenius. But he told Osterreich newspaper: “In most of the stories I read […]
Dutch GP boss says ‘ethical’ to stop F1 speculation
Apr.6 (GMM) Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers has called for speculation about re-starting Formula 1 to stop for now. “We actually want to stop reporting until there is more clarity,” the former F1 driver, who is the lead spokesman for the Zandvoort event, told the Dutch publication Formule 1. “Every answer raises new questions, and […]
F1 should consider scrapping 2020 title – Villeneuve
Apr.6 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve says it would be a mistake for Formula 1 to rush together an alternate 2020 calendar. As the coronavirus crisis continues, Liberty Media has flagged its ambition for a 15-18 race schedule to kick off in the second half of the year. But 1997 world champion Villeneuve said: “The first races […]
Silverstone open to reversing layout amid crisis
Apr.3 (GMM) Silverstone is still hopeful it will be able to host the British GP amid the global pandemic. While the entire world of sport is essentially furloughed for now, circuit boss Stuart Pringle is open to becoming fully flexible in order to host a race – or even two. “The majority of the teams […]
F1’s financial outlook drops to ‘negative’
Apr.3 (GMM) The bond credit rating service Moody’s has altered the financial outlook of Formula 1 from positive to “negative”. It is the latest blow for the sport that is furloughed due to the global pandemic, with its FWONK share price on the NASDAQ having crashed from $48 to as low as $20 in recent […]
Ecclestone, 89, to be father again
Apr.3 (GMM) Amid the doom and gloom of the coronavirus pandemic, Bernie Ecclestone has injected some good news into the world of Formula 1. At the age of 89, the former F1 supremo has announced that he is set to be a father for the fourth time. “It will be a boy,” his wife Fabiana, […]
Axed Vietnam GP ‘hurts so much’ – Tilke
Apr.3 (GMM) F1 track designer Hermann Tilke says it “hurts” that Formula 1 has not touched down in Vietnam this weekend for the inaugural Hanoi street race. So far in 2020, the coronavirus pandemic has meant that all racing and most other sports all around the world have stopped for now. Asked to explain his […]
‘Cracks’ in Wolff-Mercedes relationship – Albers
Apr.3 (GMM) “Hairline cracks” have emerged in the otherwise seamless F1 operation at Mercedes. That is the view of former F1 driver Christijan Albers, who according to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf retains links to Mercedes after his time in DTM. “I have heard from my network that hairline cracks are developing at Mercedes,” said […]
Teams to discuss lower 2021 budget cap
Apr.3 (GMM) Formula 1 teams are vowing to be “flexible” in order to pave the way for a “recovery” from the coronavirus crisis. That is the claim of Frederic Vasseur, boss of the Alfa Romeo team who along with Haas and Williams are the most obviously exposed by the current lack of racing. “We are […]
Giovinazzi joins Leclerc for virtual GP
Apr.3 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi is jumping into the world of virtual racing as he joins the rest of the world in adjusting to the coronavirus pandemic. As his country grapples with hundreds of deaths per day, the Italian is holed up alone at home. “I am taking the opportunity to do physical activity, I am […]
McLaren first F1 team to furlough staff
Apr.2 (GMM) McLaren is the first Formula 1 team to officially furlough most of its 850 staff amid the coronavirus pandemic. The temporary leave measure means that the British outfit can now make use of British government schemes to pay for much of McLaren’s staff costs. “These measures are focused on protecting jobs in the […]
Rosberg shelves smartphone amid pandemic
Apr.2 (GMM) Nico Rosberg has developed a shrewd and simple method for coping with the coronavirus pandemic – putting his smartphone away. All over the globe, stress levels about the fate of the world are skyrocketing amid the tsunami of bad news relating to the infectious disease. But 2016 world champion Rosberg told DPA news […]
F1 authorities working on survival plan – Vasseur
Apr.2 (GMM) F1’s authorities may be considering economic support to teams at risk of collapse during the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, amid rumours that both small and larger teams may not survive this period without races, Dr Helmut Marko said the FIA and FOM are working on a plan. “None of them (the teams) are […]
F1 must change to ‘save itself’ – Domenicali
Apr.2 (GMM) 2020 will be a “year of transition” for Formula 1 as it works together to survive the global pandemic. That is the prediction of former Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali, who told Italy’s Autosprint that the sport has been stopped to prioritise health. “To start the championship, you need the authorisation of countries […]
Wolff ‘discussing’ F1 future with Daimler
Apr.2 (GMM) Toto Wolff says working with Mercedes remains the “priority” in his career. In recent weeks and months, speculation has linked the Austrian with Lawrence Stroll, who announced on Wednesday that plans to rebrand Racing Point as Aston Martin from 2021 remain on track despite the pandemic. “I am committed to Formula 1 with […]
Racing in July ‘would be a miracle’
Apr.2 (GMM) British GP promoters will decide by the end of this month if the F1 race at Silverstone can go ahead in July. On the official Formula 1 website, the race calendar has been removed completely and replaced with an explanation that an alternative schedule is “likely to differ significantly”. However, Silverstone is yet […]
Idle racing drivers’ mental health at risk – Zlobin
Apr.2 (GMM) A former F1 test driver says he fears for the mental health of fellow racers who are currently sitting on the sidelines amid the pandemic. “I am afraid that many drivers will be having serious stress and depression,” said Sergey Zlobin, who over a decade ago became the first Russian test driver in […]
2020 Canada GP ‘impossible’ – Carpentier
Apr.2 (GMM) Patrick Carpentier, a Canadian racing driver, thinks it is basically “impossible” that Montreal will be able to host its grand prix in June. Race promoter Francois Dumontier estimates the probability of a Canadian GP this year at 50-50, but Carpentier told La Presse that he is much less optimistic. “Ferrari is an important […]
Horner trusts owner Liberty to stand by F1
Apr.1 (GMM) Christian Horner says he trusts Liberty Media to stand firm with Formula 1 throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of crowning winners in Australia and Bahrain and looking ahead to round three in Vietnam, the sport is currently at a complete and indefinite standstill. Initially, there were fears the smallest teams may not survive […]