Aug.26 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he has no interest in finishing runner-up in 2019. After a strong surge in form with Red Bull-Honda recently, some are predicting that even a championship challenge might be possible for the Dutchman. “That’s almost impossible,” Verstappen insisted to De Telegraaf. “Hamilton would have to have a lot of bad […]
More reports say Bottas staying at Mercedes
Aug.26 (GMM) Multiple authoritative media sources are now reporting that Valtteri Bottas will stay at Mercedes in 2020. Both Finland’s Turun Sanomat newspaper, and the major French sports daily L’Equipe, say the German team could announce the news this week, as the August summer break ends. Earlier, it was believed Mercedes boss Toto Wolff could […]
Magnussen has ‘nothing against’ Hulkenberg
Aug.23 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has played down his former spat with Nico Hulkenberg. After a clash in 2017 in which Hulkenberg confronted Magnussen in front of the world’s media, the Dane bluntly told his German rival to “suck my balls”. Haas driver Magnussen is still questioned about the altercation today. “The whole episode and the […]
Kubica’s F1 future ‘doesn’t look good’ – van der Garde
Aug.23 (GMM) Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde says Robert Kubica’s future on the grid “doesn’t look good”. After a long absence from Formula 1 following his 2011 rallying crash, the now 34-year-old Pole returned to the sport this year with Williams. Some are hailing Kubica’s renewed presence in F1 with his permanent arm […]
Lauda family to sell Mercedes stake – Wolff
Aug.23 (GMM) Niki Lauda’s family will sell the late F1 legend’s shareholding of the Mercedes team. In 2013, just before the German marque began to dominate Formula 1, Austrians Lauda and Toto Wolff bought into the team. Triple world champion Lauda, who died in May as Mercedes’ team chairman, was thought to own 10pc of […]
Alan Jones may quit as ‘disillusioned’ F1 steward
Aug.23 (GMM) “Disillusioned” 1980 world champion Alan Jones has indicated he might quit as a Formula 1 steward. The outspoken Australian, who is 72, told speedcafe.com that he may step down so that he can become more critical about how the sport’s officials operate. “At the end of the day I’m a little bit, shall […]
Formula E changes ‘nothing’ about F1 project – Wolff
Aug.23 (GMM) Despite racing ahead with its Formula E plans, Mercedes remains committed to Formula 1. That is the news from team boss Toto Wolff, even though the German marque has announced that its new Formula E outfit will be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. But in terms of F1, Wolff told […]
Ocon-Renault deal not yet signed – report
Aug.23 (GMM) Esteban Ocon’s rumoured return to the F1 grid for 2020 may not yet be set in stone. It is believed that Mercedes has opted to stick with Valtteri Bottas for another year, with boss Toto Wolff negotiating a deal to loan Frenchman Ocon to Renault instead. There are several reasons for Mercedes to […]
Leclerc hails Hamilton’s ‘mental strength’
Aug.22 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has hailed five time world champion Lewis Hamilton’s “consistency and mental strength”. The young Ferrari driver told Italian magazine Sette: “What would I take from Lewis? His consistency and his mental strength. And his ability to always know how to extract the maximum. “Everyone can do a good lap, the difference […]
Gasly issues ‘psychological’ – Marko
Aug.22 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says “psychological problems” caused Pierre Gasly to lose his Red Bull seat. For the remaining nine races of 2019, Gasly will swap places with Toro Rosso rookie Alex Albon. Marko, Red Bull’s driver manager, said he chose British-born Thai driver Albon over the alternative Daniil Kvyat. “I think Albon is […]
Governor says F1 ‘will not leave Sao Paulo’
Aug.22 (GMM) Sao Paulo governor Joao Doria says Formula 1 is staying at Interlagos. In recent weeks, the race beyond 2020 has seemed endangered after Liberty officials met with counterparts in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has even said a switch to Rio is “99 per cent” certain. But Sao Paulo governor Doria […]
Bottas ‘answering calls’ about F1 future
Aug.22 (GMM) Both Valtteri Bottas and Toto Wolff say the Finnish driver will be in Formula 1 next year. Wolff, the Mercedes boss, has said he will use the August break to choose between Bottas and Esteban Ocon to be Lewis Hamilton’s 2020 teammate. In the past days, Bottas has been testing a world rally […]
McLaren needs new rules to beat top teams – Sainz
Aug.22 (GMM) Only a big change to the F1 rules for 2021 will make it possible for a team like McLaren to challenge the top three, according to Carlos Sainz. After years of recent struggles, the once-great British team is now the most competitive in the closely-contested midfield. But Sainz fears that McLaren’s progress will […]
Carmakers propose F1 engine freeze
Aug.22 (GMM) F1 engine makers are proposing that development of the hybrid technology be frozen for performance and cost reasons. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the idea is being championed by Renault, who are struggling to compete with the top three teams both in terms of performance and budget. “With the budget cap and […]
Wolff rules out Alonso for Mercedes
Aug.22 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Fernando Alonso will not return to Formula 1 with Mercedes. Recently, 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg joked that a petition should be created to bring two-time Alonso back to the grid. However, the 38-year-old’s 2020 project actually looks set to be the off-road Dakar Rally with Toyota. The Japanese carmaker […]
Engine rivals ‘have caught up’ – Wolff
Aug.22 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes’ F1 engine rivals have “caught up”. The German manufacturer has dominated the sport since the introduction of the new ‘power unit’ rules in 2014. But boss Wolff says that Honda’s performance surge this season indicates that all of the engine makers in Formula 1 are now closely matched. “Honda […]
Vettel defends Ferrari boss Binotto
Aug.14 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has defended his Ferrari team boss. At the end of last year, presumably because of another failed world championship bid, former Ferrari chief Maurizio Arrivabene was ousted. He was replaced by then technical boss Mattia Binotto, whose much more open and relaxed style has been hailed by the press. But on […]
Villeneuve tells Mercedes to keep Bottas
Aug.14 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve does not think Mercedes should drop Valtteri Bottas. Many pundits believe it is likely that team boss Toto Wolff will replace the Finn for 2020 with Mercedes reserve driver Esteban Ocon. Bottas, 29, is currently testing an unbranded M-Sport world rally championship-spec Ford Fiesta in Germany. “You always learn something when […]
Briatore starts political movement
Aug.14 (GMM) Flavio Briatore is entering politics. The former world championship-winning F1 team boss has announced the formation of an Italian political movement he calls Il Movimento del Fare. The 69-year-old said he was motivated amid a “critical moment for our country”. Briatore said it is “totally independent of any current political party” and “at […]
Brown to discuss Alonso’s 2020 plans at Monza
Aug.14 (GMM) Zak Brown says he will talk about Fernando Alonso’s future at the forthcoming Italian GP. It appears that Alonso is not returning to Formula 1 next year, and there are rumours that his 2020 project will in fact be his debut at the off-road Dakar rally. But McLaren is entering the full Indycar […]