Mar.13 (GMM) Christian Horner says Red Bull is not in the market to snap up Sebastian Vettel for 2021. Prior to joining Ferrari, where his current contract runs out this year, 32-year-old Vettel won all four of his world championships at Red Bull. But Dr Helmut Marko said recently that Red Bull cannot afford to […]
Relaxed helmet livery rule ‘nice’ – Verstappen
Mar.13 (GMM) Max Verstappen says the new rule allowing drivers to change their helmets as often as they desire will not change much for him. Because fans were at the time struggling to identify drivers, the FIA ruled ahead of 2015 that drivers could only change their helmet design once per season. When asked if […]
Owner says 2020 could be Haas’ final season
Mar.13 (GMM) Gene Haas has admitted that 2020 could be his team’s last season in Formula 1. This year is the American team’s fifth season on the grid, but owner Gene Haas indicated prior to the Australian GP cancellation that he is undecided about whether to sign the new Concorde Agreement. “I’ll wait and see […]
Hulkenberg comeback ‘difficult’ – Glock
Mar.13 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg will struggle to return to the Formula 1 grid. That is the claim of another former German F1 driver, Timo Glock, who thinks ousted Renault racer Hulkenberg should instead target a DTM race seat. “Once a driver is out, a comeback is always difficult,” Glock told ran.de. “Many young drivers are […]
Leclerc defends FIA over engine scandal
Mar.13 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has defended both the FIA and Ferrari, amid rival teams’ fury over the 2019 engine legality scandal. Earlier, the seven non-Ferrari affiliated teams were not ruling out legal action after a secret settlement was agreed between Ferrari and the FIA. It is believed the seven teams have now become six, after […]
Williams targets Alfa Romeo in 2020
Mar.13 (GMM) Prior to the cancellation of the Australian GP, Williams had been planning to take on Alfa Romeo. After the team finished dead last by a big margin in 2019, George Russell says the new car has “significantly more downforce”. Team boss Claire Williams added: “We are better on a long runs than we […]
Mercedes will assess ‘risk’ of racing DAS – Bottas
Mar.13 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says it is up to Mercedes to decide if the controversial steering system ‘DAS’ will be used in 2020. The team headed to Australia intending to use the new push-pull steering feature, but Red Bull had been poised to lodge a protest before qualifying. “It is up to the team to […]
Vettel can beat Leclerc in 2020 car – Glock
Mar.13 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel can beat Charles Leclerc at the wheel of Ferrari’s 2020 car. That is the view of former F1 driver Timo Glock, who said quadruple world champion Vettel clearly struggled with the handling of last year’s red machine. “When you listen to him, you get the impression that he has a much […]
Williams worried about financial impact of coronavirus
Mar.13 (GMM) Claire Williams is worried about the financial impact of F1’s new coronavirus crisis. Australia and China have been called off, but Bahrain and Vietnam will soon follow suit and most insiders doubt there will be a single race until June. If that happens, it will hurt F1’s smallest and least successful teams like […]
F1 took ‘too long’ with Melbourne decision – Ecclestone
Mar.13 (GMM) Formula 1 took too long to respond to the coronavirus crisis, according to former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. On Friday the 13th, the image presented to the world by the pinnacle of motorsport was utterly shambolic. After a McLaren team member tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, most insiders assumed that cancellation of […]
‘F1 will recover’ from worst ever crisis
Mar.13 (GMM) The world of Formula 1 is coming to terms with the fact that its 2020 season is in tatters over the coronavirus crisis. Initially, the sport’s figureheads – Chase Carey and Jean Todt – are facing the ire of spectators, fans, insiders and observers because of how the Melbourne situation was handled amid […]
Bahrain GP ‘out of the question’ – Horner
Mar.13 (GMM) With Australia and China already called off, F1 insiders are no longer expecting any racing whatsoever until at least June in Baku. After the McLaren team member tested positive for coronavirus in Melbourne on Friday, 14 of his teammates are now in quarantine for two weeks. It is just one reason why Bahrain […]
Steiner defends F1 amid charges of ‘poor management’
Mar.12 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has stopped short of pointing the finger at Liberty Media and the FIA’s “poor management” of the coronavirus crisis that is gripping Formula 1. While sporting events, motor races and large gatherings of all sorts are cancelled the world over, F1 has pressed ahead with the start of the 2020 season […]
Ferrari were ‘bluffing’ with test pace – Wolff
Mar.12 (GMM) Toto Wolff is not ready to write off Ferrari’s chances of winning the 2020 world championship. In testing, the Maranello team’s new car was conspicuously off the pace, having improved in the corners but become significantly slower in a straight line. The obvious conclusion is that the wrangling over the legality of Ferrari’s […]
Amid protest threat, Mercedes to use ‘DAS’ in Melbourne
Mar.12 (GMM) Mercedes will run the risk of a protest by using the controversial new steering system DAS in Melbourne this weekend. Amid the unfolding coronavirus crisis, Red Bull’s top F1 official Dr Helmut Marko has warned that if the reigning champions use DAS at Albert Park, “we will protest”. But Mercedes boss Toto Wolff […]
Even June’s French GP currently in doubt – Boullier
Mar.12 (GMM) With Bahrain, Vietnam and even this weekend’s 2020 season opener in Australia now in serious doubt, attention is beginning to turn to the viability of even F1’s European races this year. F1 CEO Chase Carey, who alongside the FIA is being heavily criticised for his handling of the coronavirus crisis so far, has […]
Vettel not thinking about 2021 contract
Mar.12 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says he is not yet thinking about extending his stay at Ferrari beyond 2020. For months, speculation about the quadruple world champion’s expiring deal has been rife, but recent signs indicated that he was inching towards agreeing a new contract. “For the time being, my focus is on this year,” the […]
Verstappen will beat Hamilton eventually – Ecclestone
Mar.12 (GMM) Formula 1 can still be exciting even if Lewis Hamilton continues to dominate. That is the message from former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, even though he admitted to the Dutch broadcaster NOS that he hopes Max Verstappen can challenge in 2020. “I think there will be some good fighting,” said the 89-year-old. “There’s […]
Coronavirus throws F1 world into total crisis
Mar.12 (GMM) Formula 1 is in an unprecedented crisis as the ever-worsening coronavirus situation grips the Melbourne paddock and threatens the entire 2020 season. The NBA season has been suspended, Formula E is close to halting its entire calendar for two months, the US has banned travel from Europe and the World Health Organisation has […]
Three F1 team members have coronavirus symptoms
Mar.11 (GMM) F1’s coronavirus crisis is hitting a higher gear in Melbourne, with three team staff put in isolation as they suffer from symptoms. Two McLaren staff and one who works for Haas will find out if they are infected in five days after being tested in a special isolation centre at the circuit. But […]