Jun.9 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has vowed to stay out of the “political games” in Formula 1. One reading of the 21-year-old’s situation is that he is steadily eroding Sebastian Vettel’s number 1 status at Ferrari. But Leclerc says he is just trying his best to succeed. “I do not need politics and I like everyone […]
Marko ‘worried’ Red Bull could lose Verstappen
Jun.9 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has admitted he is “worried” Max Verstappen may leave Red Bull. “Of course I am,” the Red Bull driver manager told Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. He is also worried Pirelli is supplying what he describes as “Mercedes tyres” in 2019. “At the moment there is only one car that […]
F1 war brewing over 2021 rules
Jun.9 (GMM) A war is brewing over the proposed rules for 2021. Firstly, the $175 million budget cap does not include driver, engine, travel and marketing costs. “If we count that, we are back at 250 million,” said Renault’s Cyril Abiteboul. Tellingly, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff does not mind the $175m figure, and he thinks his […]
Marko slams Pirelli over 2019 ‘Mercedes tyres’
Jun.9 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has lost his temper with the tyre situation in Formula 1 this year. He has branded the thinner-treaded tyres for 2019, which are causing problems for many teams up and down the grid, as “Mercedes tyres”. “Unfortunately our drink cans are not delivered with tyres,” Marko told Auto Bild. “Seriously, […]
Williams ‘impossible to drive’ – Kubica
Jun.9 (GMM) Robert Kubica has admitted he is unhappy with his situation at Williams. Until now, the Pole has said that despite his and the team’s struggle in 2019, he is enjoying his return to Formula 1. But in Canada, Kubica is not just dead last again, but a huge eight tenths behind his impressive […]
Wolff worried about new Mercedes engine
Jun.9 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted he is worried about the reliability of Mercedes’ new engine. Dominant so far in 2019, Mercedes has waited until Montreal to introduce an updated power unit. It is being used by all six Mercedes-powered cars in Canada. But the engine in Lance Stroll’s Racing Point failed in spectacular fashion […]
No F1 for Stroll without money – Tagliani
Jun.8 (GMM) Lance Stroll would not be in Formula 1 if not for his billionaire father’s money. That is the view of Alex Tagliani, a former Indycar driver who like Stroll is from Canada. “I’m not taking away his talent, but I’m going to give you my opinion,” Tagliani told Canadian broadcaster TVA Sports on […]
Abiteboul slams $175m budget cap figure
Jun.8 (GMM) The F1 teams are divided over Liberty Media’s handling of the 2021 rules reform. Firstly, it emerges that the F1 owner has settled on a US $175 million annual budget cap per team for the period between 2021 and 2025. Excluded are driver, engine, travel and marketing costs. “This is not a new […]
Binotto ‘satisfied’ with Vettel
Jun.8 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has indicated Ferrari will definitely head into the 2020 season with the same drivers. Recently, there have been rumours that suggest Vettel, whose career according to Mark Webber is at “the crossroads”, could retire or be ousted. Not just that, the combination of Vettel and the younger Charles Leclerc has the […]
Mazepin hits back at Marko’s mockery
Jun.8 (GMM) Nikita Mazepin has hit back at Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko. After the recent post-Spanish GP test in Barcelona, Marko said the fact a “second rate Formula 2 driver” topped the times shows that Mercedes is “more superior than ever”. Marko joked that the car setting used by the Russian driver, whose father […]
Mercedes to appear in 2019 Netflix series – Wolff
Jun.8 (GMM) Mercedes’ Toto Wolff has confirmed reports that the team will appear in the 2019 edition of the Netflix documentary series. We claimed recently that, after both Mercedes and Ferrari opted out of the inaugural 2018 edition, Liberty Media had convinced both to take part for series two. “We didn’t participate because it was […]
Haas removes ‘stag’ logo in Canada
Jun.8 (GMM) Haas has removed the ‘stag’ logo from its F1 livery in Canada. Recently, title sponsor Rich Energy lost a trademark dispute with a bicycle manufacturer that alleged its antler-like logo was stolen by the energy drink brand. Rich Energy said it subsequently asked Haas to remove the logo to avoid a “media circus”. […]
Hamilton ‘unbeatable’ in Canada – Rosberg
Jun.8 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton will surely win Sunday’s Canadian GP. That is the view of his former teammate Nico Rosberg, even though Friday in Montreal indicated that the race could actually be closer. Valtteri Bottas, for instance, is in top form as Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate this year, while Ferrari was fastest of all in Friday […]
Ocon ‘working hard’ for 2020 race seat
Jun.8 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says his hopes of returning to the grid next year remain high. Having missed out on a seat for 2019, the former Force India driver now travels the calendar as Mercedes’ reserve. He is strongly backed by Toto Wolff, but with Valtteri Bottas performing so well so far this year, Ocon […]
Father eyes 2020 Williams race seat for Latifi
Jun.8 (GMM) Nicholas Latifi’s influential father says the Canadian driver wants a place on the 2020 grid. This weekend, the 23-year-old Formula 2 championship leader appeared for Williams in the Friday morning session. Latifi has been linked with Robert Kubica’s seat for 2020. “Williams is a good fit for Nicholas,” Michael Latifi, a billionaire and […]
Wolff admits Hockenheim future ‘bleak’
Jun.8 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted both Hockenheim and Barcelona will “probably” be missing from the 2020 calendar. With Vietnam and Zandvoort set to host new races, Liberty Media says it doesn’t want to expand the schedule beyond 21 races for now. It means two current races will go. Mercedes boss Wolff admits that the […]
No 2020 contract talk for Bottas yet
Jun.8 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas’ future remains unclear. The Finn is enjoying a surge in personal form this year, and currently appears to be Lewis Hamilton’s only real competitor for the title. But after replacing Nico Rosberg for 2017, he is currently on a one-year contract. “We have not talked a word about the future,” Bottas […]
Upgrade not enough to match Ferrari engine – Bottas
Jun.7 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is expecting a “tough fight” in Montreal. On the face of it, given its utter dominance in 2019, another race should not pose a problem for Mercedes. But the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is perfect for the Ferrari concept, which favours straight line speed over cornering. And Hamilton also thinks Red Bull-Honda […]
Ericsson shows how F1 must improve – Sainz
Jun.7 (GMM) Marcus Ericsson is a good example of how Formula 1 must improve. That is the view of McLaren driver Carlos Sainz, as the new rules for 2021 begin to shape up this weekend in Montreal. Auto Motor und Sport reports that the draft 2021 regulations have finally now landed on the teams’ desks, […]
Kubica plays down battle with Russell
Jun.7 (GMM) Robert Kubica has played down his battle with Williams teammate George Russell. There was much fanfare about Kubica’s return to F1 this year after an eight year absence with permanent arm injuries. But so far it has been his rookie teammate Russell, the reigning Formula 2 champion, dominating within the struggling British team. […]