Nov.17 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has told the F1 world not to dismiss rumours about Mercedes quitting the sport. In Brazil, after Mercedes won its sixth consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ championships this season, there are rumours that American racing legend Roger Penske could buy the German team. Penske immediately denied it, former F1 supremo Ecclestone told […]
Hamilton better than Schumacher and Senna – Irvine
Nov.17 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is a better driver than both Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna. That is the claim of Eddie Irvine, who is perhaps best known in Formula 1 for having been Schumacher’s teammate at Ferrari between 1996 and 1999. “Hamilton is the best ever driver,” he is quoted by Germany’s RTL. “Much better […]
Mercedes working hard on 2020 car – Allison
Nov.17 (GMM) Mercedes is already working hard on its car for 2020. Indeed, team boss Toto Wolff is this weekend missing his first grand prix since 2013, given that Mercedes has already wrapped up both titles. “We obviously want a good result here, but the bulk of the team in Brackley is already preparing for […]
Verstappen manager admits Honda could quit
Nov.17 (GMM) Max Verstappen’s manager has admitted the possibility that Honda could quit Formula 1 after 2020. Next year is Verstappen’s last chance to break the record as the youngest ever world champion. And key to that chance, the Dutch driver’s manager Raymond Vermeulen declared, is Red Bull’s works engine supplier. “We – that means […]
Red Bull tells Mercedes to protest Ferrari engine
Nov.17 (GMM) Ferrari’s rivals in Brazil held fire on lodging an official protest against the Maranello team’s engine. With two technical directives already issued and both Mercedes and Red Bull-Honda teaming up against Ferrari, rumours that a protest was imminent died down as qualifying took place at Interlagos. “We did our part,” Dr Helmut Marko […]
F1 owner looked into buying Indycar – reports
Nov.16 (GMM) Liberty Media, F1’s owner since 2016, looked into also buying the premier American open wheeler series. Last week, American racing legend and billionaire Roger Penske shocked the racing world by announcing he has bought Indycar as well as the fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims that Liberty was […]
Penske could buy Mercedes’ F1 team – source
Nov.16 (GMM) Mercedes’ Formula 1 team is for sale. That is the claim of the German publication Auto Bild, citing the information of a ‘reliable source’. Correspondent Ralf Bach says the buyer could be Dmitry Mazepin, the wealthy Russian father of a Formula 2 driver, as well as American racing legend Roger Penske. Penske, 82, […]
Polish sponsor says Williams broke contract
Nov.16 (GMM) Robert Kubica’s sponsor says Williams broke “certain provisions” of its contract in 2019. It is now certain that PKN Orlen, the Polish oil company, will leave Williams along with Kubica after the forthcoming 2019 finale in Abu Dhabi. “Robert was quite critical of the organisation and preparation of the team after each grand […]
Hulkenberg’s F1 career definitely ‘over’ – Villeneuve
Nov.16 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg’s Formula 1 career is “over”. That is the view of outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, even though the Renault refugee is refusing to say he will not return after 2020. “He’s been here for a long time,” Villeneuve told Canal Plus. “He has the record for the most races without […]
Vettel ‘expects’ to stay in F1 beyond 2020
Nov.16 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has indicated he wants to stay in Formula 1 beyond 2020. Earlier, some suggested the quadruple world champion could bow out of the sport after having his number 1 status at Ferrari challenged this year by Charles Leclerc. When asked by Sky Deutschland if he wants to be in F1 in […]
Team boss admits Gene Haas could quit F1
Nov.16 (GMM) Team boss Gunther Steiner says he is waiting to hear if Haas owner Gene Haas will commit to Formula 1 beyond 2020. The American team had a poor 2019 season – its fourth on the grid – and boss Steiner has already admitted that Gene Haas is contemplating the future. “First of all, […]
Ocon hoping for early Renault test
Nov.16 (GMM) Esteban Ocon is hoping to get his Renault career off to an early start. Although he has been announced as Daniel Ricciardo’s teammate for 2020, the Frenchman is still trackside with Mercedes in his reserve driver role. Asked when he will get started at Renault, Ocon was quoted by the German press from […]
Latifi to announce 2020 plans ‘very soon’
Nov.16 (GMM) Nicholas Latifi says his plans for 2020 should be known “very soon”. It is essentially an open secret in the paddock that the 24-year-old Canadian, whose father is the billionaire McLaren co-owner Michael Latifi, will replace Robert Kubica at Williams. At Interlagos, where Latifi drove the British team’s car once again in Friday […]
Brazil GP promoter slams Rio switch rumours
Nov.16 (GMM) Brazilian GP promoter Tamas Rohonyi says he is not worried about losing the Formula 1 race to Rio de Janeiro. The prospect of a switch from Interlagos to Rio is a hot topic in the paddock, but Rohonyi told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he is “99 per cent” sure F1 is staying […]
Ferrari engine back on song in Brazil
Nov.16 (GMM) Despite two technical directives and a poor showing in Austin, Ferrari’s controversial engine is back on song in Brazil. According to Auto Motor und Sport, Red Bull-Honda is calculating its laptime loss to Ferrari on the straight at 7 tenths, with Mercedes lagging behind by even more. “Obviously Ferrari is fast again this […]
Staying in F1 ‘worthwhile’ says Mercedes CEO
Nov.15 (GMM) Mercedes looks set to stay in Formula 1 in 2021 and beyond. Team boss Toto Wolff had warned earlier this week that, given Mercedes’ recent utter dominance of Formula 1 and the looming end of the Concorde Agreement, it is “not a given” that the German marque will sign up for more. However, […]
Raikkonen, Hamilton, not keen on Rio move
Nov.15 (GMM) F1’s most experienced drivers are not keen on the idea of moving the Brazilian GP to Rio de Janeiro. The sport is openly contemplating abandoning Interlagos, where crime problems affect the F1 world almost annually, and switching to a new circuit in Rio for 2021. “I’m always happy to go to new venues, […]
Fittipaldi ‘close’ to signing new Haas deal
Nov.15 (GMM) Pietro Fittipaldi says he is close to extending his stay as a Haas test driver. The 23-year-old grandson of F1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi combines his work with the American team with his race seat in the German series DTM. Fittipaldi revealed in his native Brazil that he is now close to re-signing with […]
Hulkenberg admits Indycar an option for 2020
Nov.15 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has confirmed reports that he might switch to Indycar for 2020. Although it was clear the potential F1 cockpits were filling up fast, the German finally announced in Brazil that he will not be on the 2020 grid. “Now I can choose from pizza maker, hairdresser, dentist or gynaecologist,” he joked […]
Keeping Albon as teammate ‘smartest choice’ – Verstappen
Nov.15 (GMM) Max Verstappen says keeping Alex Albon as his teammate was the “smartest choice” for Red Bull. Earlier this year, Red Bull relegated Pierre Gasly back to Toro Rosso and gave British-born Thai rookie Albon a chance to shine at the senior team. Red Bull has now confirmed that Albon will stay in 2020. […]