Dec.3 (GMM) 2020 “should be our year”, according to Red Bull’s confident top official Dr Helmut Marko. The Honda-powered team is under pressure to finally break through with a title-winning package for 2020, in order to keep Max Verstappen for 2021. “I don’t know if we should talk to everyone, but we should at least […]
DRS failure in Abu Dhabi was ‘great’ – Villeneuve
Dec.3 (GMM) Abu Dhabi demonstrated that F1 can survive without DRS. That is the view of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, an outspoken critic of the artificial overtaking-boosting system. Daniel Ricciardo said after the 2019 finale that F1’s DRS system failure over the first 20 laps last Sunday demonstrated that the sport still needs the […]
Sainz says TV absences in 2019 ‘strange’
Dec.3 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says it is “strange” that he has been battling for television coverage in 2019. Several times this year, the McLaren driver has pointed out his conspicuous absence from F1’s live broadcasts of the grands prix. “I’m not going to talk too much about it,” the Spaniard told the Dutch publication Formule […]
Zandvoort admits Pirelli ‘worried’ about banked corner
Dec.3 (GMM) Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers has defended the decision to install steep banking on a corner at Zandvoort ahead of the 2020 race. The banking, which is currently being installed, will be steeper even than the banking at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Given the Michelin chaos at the 2005 US GP, it is […]
Ferrari breach highlighted ‘strange rule’ – Villeneuve
Dec.3 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve says he doesn’t understand the rule that cost Ferrari EUR 50,000 in Abu Dhabi. The Italian team was reportedly lucky to escape disqualification after a discrepancy was found between the fuel in Charles Leclerc’s tank, and the amount that was actually declared to the FIA by Ferrari. “It’s one of those […]
Ocon too tall to replace Russell in Abu Dhabi
Dec.3 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he could not race in Abu Dhabi last weekend because of his height. When George Russell had his undisclosed personal issues at the 2019 finale, Williams reached out to Mercedes’ reserve driver, Frenchman Ocon. “George was sick and I was the only one who could replace him,” Ocon, who is […]
Renault will not win in 2020 – Ocon
Dec.3 (GMM) Esteban Ocon says he knows he will not win races in 2020. After a year on the bench with Mercedes, the Frenchman is currently preparing in Abu Dhabi for his first test with his new race team for 2020 – Renault. Team boss Cyril Abiteboul said last weekend that he sees Ocon, 23, […]
Williams slammed over Abu Dhabi test plans
Dec.3 (GMM) An F1 commentator has slammed Williams’ plans for the post-grand prix Abu Dhabi test this week. The struggling British team has announced that while George Russell and Nicholas Latifi will each have only half a day at the wheel, Israeli driver Roy Nissany will get a full day in total. “The test is […]
Leclerc held Ferrari back in 2019 – Villeneuve
Dec.3 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve thinks Charles Leclerc’s impatience may have held Ferrari back in 2019. The always-outspoken 1997 world champion thinks Ferrari’s early championship promise ultimately “fell apart” during the course of the season. “A lot depends on the chemistry of the two drivers,” Villeneuve told the Dutch publication Formule 1. “Ferrari never said to […]
Schumacher must ‘improve’ for F1 – Danner
Dec.3 (GMM) Mick Schumacher needs to “improve a lot” before he is ready for Formula 1. That is the view of former driver and now German-language commentator Christian Danner. “Mick did a good first season in Formula 2 and has improved,” he told RTL. “But there are areas where he still has to improve a […]
Briatore unsure about Hamilton to Ferrari rumour
Dec.3 (GMM) Flavio Briatore is not getting carried away with rumours linking Lewis Hamilton with Ferrari for 2021. The former Renault boss told the Italian news agency Adnkronos that the six-time world champion is a “great driver”. “But I would wait a while, because perhaps Ferrari already has a driver of Hamilton’s worth,” said Briatore, […]
Wolff not ruling out another Kubica comeback
Dec.3 (GMM) Robert Kubica can become a “world champion in a different role”, according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. Wolff told the Polish broadcaster TVP that it is “a pity” the 2019 Williams driver will not be on the grid next year. “I was very happy when he returned to the world of Formula […]
Vettel jokes about Ferrari exit rumours
Dec.3 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has issued a smiling rebuke to rumours that he could be forced out of Ferrari. The German was asked about speculation that Lewis Hamilton could be heading to the Maranello team to become Charles Leclerc’s future teammate. “But Hamilton is already a Ferrari driver,” Vettel smiled. “I think he already has […]
Mercedes can stay in F1 ‘for many years’ – Wolff
Dec.3 (GMM) Toto Wolff thinks Mercedes can remain in Formula 1 “for many years”. Recently, new Daimler chairman Ola Kallenius appeared to indicate that Mercedes will stay on the grid for the sport’s new era beginning in 2021. But Wolff admitted that the German marque’s motorsport programme, which he heads, could be “reviewed in accordance […]
Wolff plays down new Ferrari switch rumour
Dec.3 (GMM) Toto Wolff has played down a rumour that he might switch to Ferrari. Rumours that Lewis Hamilton could be heading to the Italian team for 2021 team are already rife, but it is also being whispered that Mercedes’ team boss might follow suit. “Ferrari is a great brand, but what I have done […]
Mercedes tests for Russell ‘not a trial’ – Wolff
Dec.2 (GMM) Toto Wolff has played down the significance of a busy forthcoming period for Williams driver George Russell. Already part of the Mercedes development stable, Russell is set to drive the title-winning silver car in the post-race Abu Dhabi test this week. And then he will return a week later for Mercedes’ test of […]
Ferrari used ‘usual procedure’ amid fuel breach
Dec.2 (GMM) Mattia Binotto claims Ferrari did not mean to breach a technical rule in Abu Dhabi. Charles Leclerc’s podium remained under a cloud until almost four hours after the chequered flag, as suspicions about the legality of the Ferrari entered yet another phase. Prior to the race, the FIA discovered during a random check […]
Top drivers should stay put for 2021 – Horner
Dec.2 (GMM) The drivers at every top team should all keep their seats for 2021, according to Christian Horner. 2020 looks set to be a fascinating year for the ‘silly season’, with Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) all out of contract. “Everyone should stay with their same team for […]
‘No doubt’ Vettel will race in 2020 – Binotto
Dec.2 (GMM) As the long 2019 season came to its conclusion, Mattia Binotto rejected a rumour that swept the Abu Dhabi paddock on Sunday. Some were whispering that Sebastian Vettel might not return to Ferrari after the winter break. The quadruple world champion even admitted that 2019 was not a good season for him. “This […]
Sainz made ‘biggest ever step’ in 2019 – father
Dec.2 (GMM) 2019 was a “very big step” forward for Carlos Sainz. That is the view of his father, the rallying legend with the same name. He told EFE news agency that the McLaren driver might even be world champion material. “I am cautious about it, but I am convinced that Carlos has the talent […]