Feb.19 (GMM) Max Verstappen is perhaps “the best” driver on the Formula 1 grid, according to his former teammate Pierre Gasly. Gasly was disappointed last year when he struggled to keep up with Verstappen at Red Bull Racing and was demoted to Toro Rosso after half a season. But the Frenchman has no hard feelings […]
Drivers should control on-track discipline – Villeneuve
Feb.19 (GMM) Formula 1 was better when driver discipline was left up to the drivers rather than “too many rules and too many decisions”. That is the view of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who remembers a time when drivers were left to sort out grievances on the track. “Today there is the action […]
Ferrari ‘ready to discuss’ new Vettel contract
Feb.19 (GMM) Ferrari is “ready to discuss” extending Sebastian Vettel’s contract. That is the claim of Leo Turrini, a well-known Ferrari insider. His latest views, aired on his Quotidiano blog, follow Mattia Binotto’s recent comment that Vettel is the “priority” as Ferrari considers its 2021 lineup. “It is only the first move of a delicate […]
F1 could have ‘Russian team’ soon – Aleshin
Feb.19 (GMM) A “Russian team” could soon be on the Formula 1 grid. That is the claim of Mikhail Aleshin, a 32-year-old Russian who is a senior driver for the SMP Racing program that brought Sergey Sirotkin into F1. When asked if SMP’s next step could be a F1 team, Aleshin told Sportbox: “That is […]
Hulkenberg on ‘temporary’ break from racing
Feb.19 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg says he is on a “temporary break” from motor racing. Despite never finishing on the podium, the 32-year-old was on the grid for a decade until Renault ousted him at the end of last year. “I feel comfortable in the phase I am in,” said the German, “(which is) not having […]
2020 Renault affected by ‘turbulent’ winter
Feb.19 (GMM) Renault has admitted it is coming out of a “turbulent” period inside the French works team. The outfit has been criticised for its low-profile winter and lacklustre objectives for 2020. Executive director Marcin Budkowski admits the new car was affected by unrest. “The initial concept was set with a different technical director and […]
Verstappen contract has an exit clause – Marko
Feb.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has admitted that Max Verstappen’s new contract does contain an exit clause. “There are some,” the Red Bull official admitted to Auto Bild, after Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said he would be surprised if a talent like Verstappen would have locked himself into a watertight deal through 2023. “But as […]
Red Bull increases budget for 2020
Feb.19 (GMM) Red Bull has upped its budget for 2020. Recently, Ferrari said that ahead of the $175 million budget cap for 2021, the Maranello team would spend more to prepare this year. Red Bull is following suit. “The increase is within limits,” Dr Helmut Marko told Auto Motor und Sport. “We are already very […]
Racing Point may drop pink livery for 2021
Feb.18 (GMM) Racing Point may need to drop its pink livery ahead of the team’s 2021 rebranding as Aston Martin. When the Silverstone based team’s pink livery for 2020 was unveiled on Monday, it was clear that last year’s title sponsor Sportpesa had been dropped. We reported last year that the Kenyan sports betting platform […]
Teams said no to 2020 car group photo
Feb.18 (GMM) F1 teams rejected Liberty Media’s proposal of a pre-season group photo with all the 2020 cars at this week’s winter testing. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the sport’s commercial rights holder wanted all the new cars to be assembled on the grid in Barcelona for a photo. “The teams refused because they […]
F1 to lose China’s $43m race fee – report
Feb.18 (GMM) Formula 1 looks set to take at least a $43 million hit due to the coronavirus crisis. Because Shanghai’s scheduled April race has had to be postponed and probably cancelled due to ‘force majeure’, the promoter Juss Sports Group may be subject to a refund of the race fee it paid to Liberty […]
Kubica not closing door on F1 return
Feb.18 (GMM) Robert Kubica says it is “possible” that he could return to Formula 1 someday. But at 35, having returned in 2019 with his permanent arm injury and struggled, the Pole told Przeglad Sportowy that he is “of course aware” that he may not be back on the grid again. Indeed, Kubica is staying […]
Verstappen ‘ready to attack’ in 2020 – Marko
Feb.18 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko admits he is looking forward to the start of winter testing on Wednesday. The top Red Bull official confirmed to Kurier newspaper that he will be in Barcelona to watch the 2020 car be prepared for Melbourne and the new season. “Mercedes with Hamilton is the favourite but we see […]
McLaren needed Honda split – Brawn
Feb.18 (GMM) McLaren did the right thing by dumping its works supply of Honda engines after 2017, according to F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn. Brawn was actually team boss at Honda’s works team well over a decade ago, but he says “clever people” at McLaren concluded that the ill-fated collaboration had to stop. “They have […]
Renault engine ‘close to Mercedes’ now – Key
Feb.18 (GMM) Renault’s F1 engine is now “very close to Mercedes”, according to James Key. He is the technical director at McLaren, the only team apart from Renault’s works outfit to use the French marque’s engines in Formula 1. Renault has lagged behind the leading engine manufacturers in the ‘power unit’ era, but Key said […]
Leclerc knows not to go skydiving – Binotto
Feb.18 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has admitted that he is unhappy about Charles Leclerc’s pre-season skydiving antics. Last month, the Ferrari driver admitted he had engaged in the dangerous feat without the permission of his team. “I said to myself that even if there was a problem I don’t think I would have the opportunity to […]
No ‘miracle’ for Williams in 2020 – boss
Feb.18 (GMM) Claire Williams says she knows there will be no “miracle” for the struggling British team in 2020. However, she says that while the newly-launched and liveried car is based on its uncompetitive predecessor, it has been substantially improved. “Our 2020 campaign is about making progress,” said Williams, the team founded by her father […]
Red Bull likely to sign up for 2021 – Mateschitz
Feb.17 (GMM) Only the “details” of the new agreements with Formula 1 are left to be determined before top teams like Red Bull sign up for 2021 and beyond. That is the claim of Dietrich Mateschitz, the low-profile owner of both Red Bull and Alpha Tauri and promoter of the Austrian GP. Asked if the […]
Vettel no longer Ferrari number 1 – Marko
Feb.17 (GMM) Quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel needs a “really good season” to get his F1 career back on track. That is the view of Dr Helmut Marko, the top Red Bull official who brought a then teenaged Vettel into Formula 1 some thirteen years ago. Now 32, the German driver has struggled more recently […]
Verstappen, Leclerc could be options for Mercedes – Wolff
Feb.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc may not have “closed the door” to a potential move to Mercedes. That is the fascinating view of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who is currently negotiating with Lewis Hamilton about extending the Briton’s deal for 2021. But Wolff says Mercedes could have some high-profile alternatives, even though Verstappen […]