Nov.25 (GMM) Ferrari says “the air is now fully cleared” between the drivers and boss Mattia Binotto ahead of the Abu Dhabi season finale this weekend. Binotto and Ferrari chairman John Elkann were admittedly furious after Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc collided in Brazil. Reports had indicated that the drivers were summoned to Maranello for […]
2021 F1 comeback ‘tempting’ – Wehrlein
Nov.25 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein says he does not want to return to Formula 1 in order to race at the back. The German lost his race seat after stints at Manor and Sauber, and he now races in Formula E. At the Saudi Arabia opener last weekend, he finished a best of 11th. Wehrlein has […]
Hulkenberg exit shows things ‘wrong’ in F1 – Vettel
Nov.25 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg’s departure from F1 shows that “some things are wrong” about the category. That is the view of Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel, who like Hulkenberg is German. Hulkenberg never finished on the podium during his decade on the grid, but Vettel says there is no doubt that he is good enough for […]
McLaren always favoured Alonso – Vandoorne
Nov.25 (GMM) Stoffel Vandoorne says the McLaren team was built around Fernando Alonso. Despite much fanfare after his junior career, Belgian Vandoorne struggled as Alonso’s teammate with both Honda and Renault power. He is now a works Mercedes driver in Formula E, and he got his new season off to a good start with podium […]
F1 will still be competitive in 2021 – Jordan
Nov.25 (GMM) Eddie Jordan says he isn’t worried that Formula 1 will be uncompetitive in 2021. Often, major regulations changes lead to utter dominance. Indeed, since the ‘power unit’ era began in 2014, Mercedes has won every single title. Ferrari and Red Bull-Honda have arguably now caught up, but former team boss and owner Jordan […]
F1 will not go all-electric – Symonds
Nov.25 (GMM) Formula 1 will work to become the authority in the area of biofuels rather than join Formula E in the world of electric power. That is the view of Pat Symonds, a former F1 engineer who now works with the FIA. “Formula 1 didn’t invent the hybrid, but Formula 1 showed what a […]
Honda ‘even better than expected’ – Bottas
Nov.25 (GMM) F1 looks set to be heading for a three-team battle for the 2020 championship. After Max Verstappen’s win in Brazil, six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton says it is “often the case” that Red Bull finishes a season strongly. But Hamilton says it is clear that Honda is catching up. “It’s great to see […]
Latifi hints at 2020 Williams seat
Nov.25 (GMM) Nicholas Latifi has given another strong indication that he will move into Formula 1 in 2020. It is essentially an open secret that the 24-year-old son of billionaire McLaren co-owner Michael Latifi will replace Robert Kubica at Williams. In Brazil, where he drove the Williams in Friday practice, he said: “I hope to […]
Porsche rules out F1 project
Nov.25 (GMM) Porsche has ruled out entering Formula 1. The VW-owned German sports car marque has switched from Le Mans success to Formula E, and Mark Webber says Porsche wants to dominate the electric series. “The gloves are off now. We have got to do our best,” said the former Porsche sports car driver. But […]
Kaltenborn eyes move into football management
Nov.25 (GMM) Monisha Kaltenborn’s next move could be into the world of football. The 48-year-old became the first female team boss and owner until the takeover of the Sauber team in 2016. Germany’s Auto Bild now reports that she is supporting Martin Bruckner’s bid to become president of the Austrian football club SK Rapid Wien. […]
2019 tyres would mean higher pressures in 2020 – Pirelli
Nov.25 (GMM) Mario Isola has warned that Pirelli would have to increase mandatory running pressures if the teams reject the 2020 tyres. In Austin, teams got their first taste of the proposed 2020 tyres, and the feedback was nearly universally negative. However, Pirelli boss Isola is hoping the teams get a better impression when the […]
Indycar no distraction for F1 team – Seidl
Nov.25 (GMM) McLaren’s full-time Indycar project for 2020 will not distract the improving British team in Formula 1. “No,” team boss Andreas Seidl insisted to the Spanish daily AS. “It is important to understand how we manage these projects,” he added. “They are independent of one another, each one focusing on its own programme in […]
Kubica ‘cheerful’ as F1 race career ends
Nov.25 (GMM) Robert Kubica is in a “very good mood” even though he is bowing out of Williams and Formula 1. It is expected that the Pole will race elsewhere in 2020, whilst potentially serving as Racing Point’s new F1 reserve driver. However, former driver Christian Danner – now a commentator – told the German […]
McLaren ‘absolutely’ happy with current drivers
Nov.25 (GMM) McLaren is more than happy with its current driver lineup. This year, despite Fernando Alonso’s departure, the British team has become ‘best of the rest’ behind the sport’s top three outfits. Even Christian Horner, a top official at Red Bull who released former junior driver Carlos Sainz to McLaren, is happy for the […]
Formula E now plan B for F1 drivers – Massa
Nov.22 (GMM) Formula E is fast becoming the obvious ‘plan B’ for Formula 1 drivers. That is the view of Felipe Massa, the former 11-time grand prix winner for Ferrari who now drives in the increasingly popular all-electric series. Mercedes and Porsche have signed up for the new Formula E season, which kicks off this […]
Brazil GP promoter says Rio bid ‘not serious’
Nov.22 (GMM) Brazilian GP promoter Tamas Rohonyi does not believe a bid to switch the race to a new circuit in Rio de Janeiro is “serious”. Interlagos officials have and are meeting with Liberty Media to discuss paying an annual fee in order to keep the Formula 1 race in Sao Paulo for the next […]
FIA confirms fuel systems seized for ‘check’
Nov.22 (GMM) The FIA has played down suggestions Ferrari’s fuel system has been “confiscated” amid suspicions of cheating. Amid questions surrounding the legality of Ferrari’s 2019 power unit, a third technical directive has now been issued by the sport’s governing body. It means that from 2020, a new sensor will be added to monitor whether […]
Vettel in danger if conflict worsens – Schumacher
Nov.22 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher thinks Ferrari will be prioritising the team’s driver issue in the coming weeks and months. Ferrari’s chairman John Elkann has even weighed into the clash in Brazil between Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc, admitting he is “very angry” about it. “It has made clear how important Ferrari is,” La Repubblica quotes […]
Ocon to test Renault in Abu Dhabi
Nov.21 (GMM) Esteban Ocon has received his wish of getting an early start to his Renault career. The Mercedes reserve driver said in Brazil that he hopes Mercedes lets him carry out the post-race Abu Dhabi test with Renault. “I hope I can do the test in Abu Dhabi, but the two teams will have […]
Hulkenberg not switching to Indycar – boss
Nov.21 (GMM) Yet another of Nico Hulkenberg’s reported options for 2020 has closed. Since being dropped by Renault for 2020, alternatives for the German in Formula 1 at Haas, Alfa Romeo and even Williams have all been ruled out. Hulkenberg then admitted that he might be a contender to do the road courses in Indycar […]