Mar.24 (GMM) Pierre Gasly says he can’t take part in the new wave of virtual racing that is filling the void while real Formula 1 engines are silent. “I do it all the time at home,” said the Alpha Tauri driver. “I love it. “But in Dubai, I don’t have a sim, just a Playstation. […]
Crisis ‘will hit small teams’ hard – Villeneuve
Mar.24 (GMM) As concern for the future of Formula 1 ramps up, Jacques Villeneuve has urged the sport to keep planning ahead. On the face of it, the situation is dire. The government has forced Alpha Tauri, in crisis-struck Italy, to close its factory. Asked what his role is now, boss Franz Tost told f1-insider.com: […]
No races until ‘July at the earliest’
Mar.24 (GMM) Chase Carey has now admitted that the original 22-race calendar for 2020 could be slashed to just 15 grands prix amid the coronavirus crisis. The opening eight races have already been postponed or cancelled, now including Baku on June 7 – even though Azerbaijan had earlier been slated as the likely re-start date. […]
Pirelli stops manufacturing 2020 tyres
Mar.23 (GMM) Pirelli has stopped manufacturing F1’s tyres for 2020. After Australia, it emerged that the almost 2000 tyres taken by the sport’s official supplier to Melbourne had to be destroyed and recycled. “It’s not safe to re-use them once they have been fitted to a rim and then removed,” Pirelli’s F1 chief Mario Isola […]
New Vietnam race date known in ‘one or two months’
Mar.23 (GMM) More information about a rescheduled 2020 race season should be forthcoming “within one to two months”. That is the claim of the promoters of the inaugural Vietnam GP, whose postponed race was set to take place next weekend. But organisers are telling disappointed fans to hold onto their tickets. “We hope to have […]
Race boss thinks Italian GP ‘safe’
Mar.23 (GMM) The president of Italy’s automobile club is hopeful the race at Monza can go ahead in September. The country is currently the worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic, but Automobile Club d’Italia chief Angelo Sticchi Damiani has an upbeat outlook for racing fans. “I think and hope that the Monza race is in […]
Vettel seeing ‘beyond’ F1 career
Mar.23 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted he has started to “see beyond” the end of his Formula 1 career. Speculation that the quadruple world champion may not have his deal extended at Ferrari, or that he might either retire or switch to another team, has been constant. “It is not that my passion has diminished […]
Verstappen says no to new F1 virtual series
Mar.23 (GMM) Max Verstappen has counted himself out of the new official virtual F1 series. The Dutchman is an avid gamer, taking part in one of the high-profile unofficial replacement events for the postponed Australian GP. But although earlier named as a contender, Verstappen did not take part in the online replacement events for Bahrain, […]
Virus won’t stop ‘silly season’ – Ricciardo
Mar.23 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo does not think the halted 2020 season will affect the ‘silly season’. Former F1 driver Mika Salo said recently that because of the coronavirus pandemic, contract talks – like the actual grands prix – will also be delayed. “Everything’s messed up right now and it’s hard to say, but my best […]
Ocon doubts Mercedes used DAS in 2018
Mar.23 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has played down suggestions that Mercedes has been using the ‘DAS’ steering system since 2018. On-board footage has emerged of Lewis Hamilton apparently pulling on the controversial steering system as long ago as Hungary 2018. But former Mercedes driver Esteban Ocon denies he knew about it. “Either they were very, very […]
Kubica tells world to ‘stay at home’
Mar.23 (GMM) Robert Kubica has urged Formula 1 fans to take care during the unprecedented global pandemic. “Today, many people are focusing on work and making money, but now health is the most important thing,” the Pole told Przeglad Sportowy. “Without it, everything else goes to the background. “I urge us to join our forces […]
Haas quitting F1 is ‘a possibility’ – Grosjean
Mar.23 (GMM) Romain Grosjean admits there is a “possibility” Haas will be closed down after 2020. Team owner Gene Haas and boss Gunther Steiner have been hinting that deliberations are currently taking place over the future of the American team. “It’s a possibility that must be taken seriously,” team driver Romain Grosjean told Canal Plus. […]
Red Bull still planning to host Austrian GP
Mar.23 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says race promoter Red Bull wants July’s Austrian GP to go ahead. The opening seven races of 2020 have already been postponed or cancelled, and now Baku is set to join them. As for the Red Bull-promoted Austrian GP, though, Marko told Osterreich: “Our marketing activities will start in mid-May. […]
Mercedes switch to go ahead – McLaren
Mar.23 (GMM) McLaren says it will press ahead with switching to Mercedes power for 2021. Some had wondered whether the move from Renault to Mercedes power would go ahead, now that the teams will use their 2020-spec cars next year as well. A McLaren spokesperson told France’s Auto Hebdo: “We will be using Mercedes engines […]
Vasseur worried about future of motorsport
Mar.23 (GMM) The latest decisions made by Formula 1 may have saved some of the smaller teams, according to Frederic Vasseur. The Alfa Romeo boss said bringing forward the August summer break to now is right “because I would have had trouble putting everyone into telework”. The Alfa Romeo team he leads shuts down for […]
F1 launches new virtual series
Mar.23 (GMM) Formula 1 has quickly jumped aboard the new trend of virtual racing. Separate to the existing F1 Esports Series for gamers, the sport’s new series will feature “a number of current F1 drivers”, Formula 1 announced. It follows the immediate launch after the cancellation of the Australian GP of two high-profile non-official series, […]
Now Baku set to be postponed
Mar.23 (GMM) Baku, which until now looked set to host the new 2020 season opener, is now expected to be postponed as well. With the opening seven races on the original schedule now cancelled or postponed, Azerbaijan’s June 7 event then looked set to be the first this year. But international media reports now say […]
Hamilton turned down coronavirus test
Mar.23 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he turned down the opportunity to be tested for coronavirus. Concerns about the Mercedes driver’s health did the rounds after he was photographed with actor Idris Elba and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s wife Sophie, who both subsequently tested positive. Hamilton is now self-isolating, but he turned down the chance to […]
F1 teams to make ventilators to fight virus
Mar.20 (GMM) F1 teams have agreed to get actively involved in the fight against coronavirus. Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren and Williams have responded to the calls from governments to lend their technological and engineering power to the global pandemic. “Among the technologies the teams could help develop are […]
Teams unlikely to ‘risk’ Alonso comeback – Lehto
Mar.20 (GMM) Fernando Alonso may struggle to find a team willing to host his return to Formula 1 in 2021. That is the view of former F1 driver JJ Lehto, after doors for the mercurial Spaniard at Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes and even McLaren reportedly all closed. Lehto thinks the last straw for most bosses […]