Aug.30 (GMM) Haas’ controversial title sponsor remains on the team’s F1 car at Spa Francorchamps. Prior to the August break, Rich Energy’s boss was locked in a dispute with fellow shareholders and firing off barbs about Haas’ 2019 car, which at one point he described as a “milk float”. Team boss Gunther Steiner said the […]
Marko plays down latest Vettel-Red Bull rumour
Aug.30 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has played down the latest version of the rumour linking Sebastian Vettel with a return to Red Bull for 2020. At Spa, Alex Albon admitted to feeling nervous about taking over the demoted Pierre Gasly’s seat. “These decisions are never easy, but we had to react,” Marko, who founded and […]
Raikkonen, Norris to check leg injuries on Friday
Aug.30 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen has admitted he may need to sit out the Belgian GP. When Marcus Ericsson pulled out of his latest Indycar race to be on standby for Alfa Romeo at Spa, rumours began to emerge that he may be about to replace Antonio Giovinazzi. Actually, the team’s reserve driver returned from the […]
Big news day marks end to August break
Aug.30 (GMM) After the August break, Formula 1 burst back into life at Spa with a spate of news. Valtteri Bottas, for one, has been definitively signed up by Mercedes for 2020. “Well, it wasn’t a big deal. The team had an option on me so one morning I got an email that the signature […]
Vettel penalty steward Pirro returns at Spa
Aug.29 (GMM) Former F1 driver Emanuele Pirro is making his return as an FIA steward this weekend at Spa. After Montreal in June, the former Benetton driver revealed he had to go to the police following “personal threats” made by fans of Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel. Vettel lost his victory in Canada after the stewards […]
Dutch GP ‘will affect’ Spa-Francorchamps – promoter
Aug.29 (GMM) Belgian GP promoter Vanessa Mas has admitted that Zandvoort’s F1 calendar arrival in 2020 signifies direct “competition” for the popular race located in the Ardennes. Not since 1985 has the neighbouring Netherlands had a grand prix. Mas, who has taken over in charge of the Spa race from her father Andre, admitted that […]
Hockenheim says German GP demise ‘no surprise’
Aug.29 (GMM) The demise of the German GP appears complete. The day after a leaked provisional calendar for 2020 started doing the rounds, Hockenheim circuit management said they were not surprised to be omitted. Liberty Media recently received the teams’ agreement to add an unprecedented 22nd race to next year’s calendar, which gave the green […]
Bottas, Ocon news to be confirmed on Thursday
Aug.29 (GMM) One day after his 30th birthday, Valtteri Bottas will on Thursday be confirmed as Lewis Hamilton’s continuing teammate at Mercedes for 2020. The German team’s announcement plans are being reported by multiple British newspapers and other specialist media sources including France’s RMC Sport. It is believed that, also on the sidelines of the […]
Russell ‘deserves’ front-running car – Kubica
Aug.29 (GMM) Robert Kubica says his rookie teammate George Russell “has the skills” to thrive at the front in Formula 1. Actually, the pair are at the back of the grid with Williams. But Russell has been consistently ahead of the sister car throughout 2019. Some believe that is because of Kubica’s permanently injured right […]
Melbourne rules out ‘sneaky’ F1 tobacco branding
Aug.29 (GMM) There will be no comeback for what Melbourne’s state Victorian government calls the “sneaky” way two F1 teams tried to advertise cigarettes at the Australian GP. That is the claim of Jenny Mikakos, who is the Victorian health minister. She is referring to how big tobacco-related sponsors of the Ferrari and McLaren teams […]
Renault got start of ‘power unit’ era wrong – Abiteboul
Aug.28 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has admitted that Renault messed up its start to the current ‘power unit’ era. The French marque is still recovering, but now with its works team, a big step was made over the last winter period. Daniel Ricciardo is at the wheel in 2019 and a key focus is on improving […]
Ferrari CEO boosting F1 investment for 2020, 2021
Aug.28 (GMM) Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri is “increasing investments” into the Maranello marque’s Formula 1 team for the future. That is the news of the authoritative Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, as Ferrari prepares to tackle the forthcoming two high-speed circuits at Spa and Monza. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff thinks the red cars will be […]
Barcelona confirmed as full 2020 calendar emerges
Aug.28 (GMM) The 2020 calendar is finally taking shape. Until mere hours ago, it was not even clear if there would be 21 or 22 races next year, as negotiations about a reduction in winter testing or an additional engine allocation for 2020 were taking place. But a 22-race calendar now seems certain, with Liberty […]
Hulkenberg expects ‘exciting’ driver news at Spa
Aug.28 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg is expecting an “exciting” day at Spa-Francorchamps. But the German was not talking about Sunday’s race. Instead, he joked on social media about the growing ‘silly season’ rumours about the make-up of the 2020 grid. On the cover of its latest magazine edition, France’s Auto Hebdo announced Esteban Ocon’s return to […]
McLaren plays down Norris leg injury
Aug.27 (GMM) McLaren is playing down an injury to race driver Lando Norris. Viewers of one of the avid racing gamer’s online live streams from his home noticed this week that the 19-year-old is wear a brace on his foot. He said during the stream that the injury “frickin hurts”. AFP news agency claims Norris […]
Berger thinks Vettel could quit Ferrari
Aug.27 (GMM) Gerhard Berger thinks it is possible that Sebastian Vettel will pull out of his Ferrari contract. German Vettel, a quadruple world champion, has won a grand total of 52 races — the third highest tally in the sport’s history. But his last win was exactly a year ago, at Spa Francorchamps in 2018. […]
Kubica plays down Russell ‘hate’ claims
Aug.27 (GMM) Robert Kubica has played down teammate George Russell’s claims about online hate directed towards him. Russell, who has dominated Pole Kubica at Williams this year, recently claimed that half of the comments on his social media postings are “hate” from Kubica’s Polish fans. Kubica told the Polish publication Super Express: “I don’t know […]
Kubica unsure about F1 future beyond 2019
Aug.26 (GMM) Robert Kubica says he isn’t sure if he has a future in Formula 1 beyond 2019. After an eight year gap with his permanent arm injury, the inspirational Pole returned to the grid this year but has struggled alongside his rookie teammate George Russell at Williams. Boss Claire Williams says she is happy […]
Kvyat respects Red Bull’s decision on Albon-Gasly
Aug.26 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat says he “respectfully” accepts Red Bull’s decision to overlook him for the second race seat at the energy drink outfit’s top F1 team. The Russian has successfully resurrected his career after being dropped first from Red Bull and then Toro Rosso at the end of 2017. He returned to the podium […]
Honda ‘completely different’ to Renault – Verstappen
Aug.26 (GMM) Max Verstappen is still pleased with how Red Bull’s new works collaboration with Honda is progressing. The Dutchman has won two grands prix so far in 2019, which were the first for the Japanese manufacturer since its return to Formula 1 and the disastrous earlier collaboration with McLaren. Verstappen, Red Bull’s top driver, […]