Feb.5 (GMM) Mercedes admits “issues” with its engine have affected the reigning world champions as the team prepares for 2020. Last year, it emerged that Mercedes’ engine may no longer be the most impressive on the grid, as Ferrari dominated in top speed, Renault clearly improved, as Honda continued to aggressively develop. Mercedes’ engine boss […]
Ferrari whispers now ‘more encouraging’ – insider
Feb.5 (GMM) The latest whispers out of Maranello are “more encouraging” than they were a few weeks ago, according to well-known Ferrari insider Leo Turrini. On his Quotidiano blog in mid January, Turrini revealed that “the indications from the simulator and the wind tunnel” about Ferrari’s 2020 car “have not impressed the engineers”. But the […]
Vettel still ‘a key person’ at Ferrari – Mekies
Feb.5 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel still enjoys Ferrari’s full backing, according to sporting director Laurent Mekies. On the face of it, the quadruple world champion has lost status at Maranello, as Charles Leclerc successfully challenged his number 1 billing in 2019 and then secured a new five-year deal. 32-year-old Vettel’s contract, on the other hand, runs […]
Verstappen wants ‘two tenths’ gap to Hamilton
Feb.5 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he needs a car within “two tenths” of Lewis Hamilton’s in order to put “pressure” on the six time world champion in 2020. Red Bull-Honda is bullish about its chances of beating Mercedes and Ferrari in the final season of the current regulations. “Beating Hamilton depends a lot on the […]
Ferrari to spend more money in 2020 – Camilleri
Feb.5 (GMM) Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri says the Italian marque is prepared to spend more on Formula 1 ahead of the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Actually, Liberty Media is trying to ramp down the spending of the top teams, imposing a budget cap for 2021 and beyond. But Camilleri said this week that an increased […]
More than 22 races ‘feasible’ – Marko
Feb.5 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko thinks adding even more races to F1’s already unprecedentedly-long calendar is “feasible”. Recently, the boss of Red Bull’s second team, Toro Rosso principal Franz Tost, said the current tally of 22 races is the “absolute limit”. But Dr Helmut Marko, the energy drink company’s top F1 official, thinks Liberty Media’s […]
Albon must ‘do more’ in 2020 – Marko
Feb.5 (GMM) Alex Albon has to “do more” to keep impressing Red Bull-Honda into 2020, according to Dr Helmut Marko. In the space of a single year, Marko resurrected Red Bull’s relationship with the then Formula E driver, gave Albon his F1 debut for Toro Rosso, and then promoted him to replace the struggling Pierre […]
Aston Martin exit makes life ‘easier’ – Marko
Feb.5 (GMM) Losing title sponsor Aston Martin after 2020 should make Red Bull’s collaboration with Honda “even easier” in the future. That is the view of top Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko, as he played down the news that Aston Martin is leaving the team after 2020 to become Racing Point’s new identity. He […]
Verstappen wants to challenge Hamilton – Marko
Feb.5 (GMM) F1 could witness a new Max Verstappen in 2020, with a realistic chance of becoming the sport’s youngest ever world champion. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, who over the winter managed to extend the 22-year-old Dutchman’s contract for 2021, 2022 and 2023. “For him it was important that Honda extended […]
2020 Haas should be ‘clearly better’ – Magnussen
Feb.5 (GMM) Haas’ 2020 car should be “clearly better” than its predecessor, according to team driver Kevin Magnussen. The small American team had a promising start to 2019, but spent most of the season pointing fingers at Pirelli’s difficult-to-understand tyres. However, as it slumped to second to last in the standings, Haas eventually admitted that […]
Magnussen eyes F1 future with ‘big teams’
Feb.5 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen admits he still dreams of being signed up by “one of the big teams” in Formula 1. The Dane admits he uses his aggressive driving style to stand out from Haas teammate Romain Grosjean in order to get closer to his target of race wins and titles. “It’s a tough process,” […]
Netflix put F1 ‘on the map’ in US – Ricciardo
Feb.5 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says the Netflix series about Formula 1, Drive to Survive, has put the sport “on the map” in America. Last year, the high quality streaming series gave a behind-the-scenes look at the major players in the sport. The second series launches on Netflix on February 28. “I definitely feel F1 is […]
No news about F1 return to Jerez until ‘May or June’
Feb.4 (GMM) F1’s return to Jerez for 2021 is still on the cards. Spain is still on the 2020 schedule, but only because Barcelona received an eleventh-hour reprieve in the form of a single-year deal. We reported last November that Jerez, the scene of the climactic finale of the 1997 season, is in talks with […]
Hamilton strong but ‘beatable’ – Briatore
Feb.4 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton can be beaten if a rival manages to “put pressure on him”, according to former F1 team boss Flavio Briatore. Since Nico Rosberg’s 2016 breakthrough, Hamilton won three world championships on the trot to add to his existing tally of three titles. “Lewis is very good,” Red Bull-Honda’s Max Verstappen said […]
Russia says no F1 date swap with China
Feb.4 (GMM) Formula 1 teams are set to discuss how to handle the deepening coronavirus crisis. As the epidemic’s death toll rises to 425 and the number of cases to above 20,000, we reported on Monday that delaying April’s Shanghai race is on the table. But Russia has played down the possibility of swapping places […]
Verstappen to be more diplomatic in 2020 – Marko
Feb.3 (GMM) Max Verstappen has learned the need to sometimes be more diplomatic when speaking publicly, according to his boss Dr Helmut Marko. The outspoken Dutchman caused a stir on several occasions in 2019, notably when he admitted to ignoring yellow flags in Mexico, and when he accused Ferrari of cheating. “Such an attitude fits […]
Giovinazzi sees ‘chance’ of Ferrari seat
Feb.3 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi says he has “a chance” to become Charles Leclerc’s next teammate at Ferrari. With Sebastian Vettel’s deal with the Maranello team expiring, Lewis Hamilton has been linked with the vacant seat alongside Leclerc. But Giovinazzi, a Ferrari-backed Italian driver who currently races for Alfa Romeo, also sees himself as a candidate. […]
Paul Ricard eyes 2021 winter testing
Feb.3 (GMM) French GP venue Paul Ricard says it would like to host F1’s pre-season testing early next year. The six days of official winter running kicks off later this month at the now-customary pre-season venue in Barcelona. But Paul Ricard circuit director Stephane Clair told f1only.fr: “We are candidates to host the winter tests. […]
New $26m per year sponsor deal for Mercedes
Feb.3 (GMM) On the eve of the 2020 season, six-time consecutive world champion Mercedes has reportedly secured a $26m per year sponsorship deal. At Christmas, the German team announced a new “performance partnership” with the Ineos-branded Tour de France and America’s Cup teams. Now, the Financial Times reports that Ineos, a major British chemicals company […]
F1 still ‘very profitable’ for Mercedes – CEO
Feb.3 (GMM) Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius has continued to play down rumours that Mercedes will no longer operate as a full works team in Formula 1 after 2020. He had already declared that speculation a bombshell decision will be made at a board meeting on February 12 is “not truer”. And now he is quoted […]