Nov.15 (GMM) Carlos Sainz thinks Pirelli should scrap its planned new tyres for 2020. The drivers got their first taste of the 2020 tyres in practice in Austin, but the new specification – designed to minimise overheating – was almost universally unpopular. “The tyres for this season were I think a step forward. The behaviour […]
Leclerc denies using 2020 engine in Brazil
Nov.15 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has denied that his new engine in Brazil is to test developments for 2020. Ferrari’s 2019 engine is the hottest topic in the Interlagos paddock, after the FIA issued a second technical directive just one race after Max Verstappen accused the Maranello team of being caught “cheating”. “I will get an […]
Ferrari ‘doing nothing wrong’ with engine – Leclerc
Nov.15 (GMM) The off-track battle is heating up between Ferrari and its rivals. Sebastian Vettel said in Brazil that Max Verstappen’s recent accusation of Ferrari cheating was “unprofessional” and “immature”. However, this time not prompted by Red Bull or another team, the FIA has issued a second technical directive believed to be aimed at how […]
Hamilton may change teams for 2021 – Brawn
Nov.14 (GMM) F1’s sporting boss thinks it is possible Lewis Hamilton will seek a “new challenge” for 2021. Hamilton, the new six-time world champion, says he wants to stay in Formula 1 beyond the end of his 2020 Mercedes contract. But both he and his team boss Toto Wolff have admitted that the negotiations should […]
Liberty has ‘plan B’ for 2020 Dutch GP
Nov.14 (GMM) F1’s commercial boss says Liberty Media has a “plan B” in the event that the Dutch GP cannot take place as planned in 2020. Many people in Formula 1 are excited about returning to the Netherlands, especially as Max Verstappen’s millions of fans mean the 2020 race is easily already sold out. But […]
New F1 team waiting for news in December
Nov.14 (GMM) A hopeful new Formula 1 team will discover next month if the sport will consider allowing new entrants. Recently, Formula 2 boss Adrian Campos and his business partner Salvatore Gandolfo announced that they are working on putting together a Spanish F1 team. They have already met with Chase Carey and Ross Brawn, recruited […]
Mercedes’ F1 team photographer quits
Nov.14 (GMM) Mercedes’ team photographer has decided to leave the title-winning F1 team. Nico Rosberg’s manager brought Paul Ripke in to chronicle the 2016 season, which would turn out to be the German driver’s championship winning as well as final year in F1. Ripke stayed on, but according to Bild newspaper, he has decided that […]
DTM boss targets Kubica for 2020
Nov.14 (GMM) The boss of the premier German touring car series DTM has admitted he hopes Robert Kubica races in the category in 2020. The Pole, who has struggled at Williams this year, is linked with a F1 reserve seat for 2020, perhaps in combination with a racing role elsewhere. “Big names like Robert Kubica […]
Former drivers slam F1’s ‘green’ plans
Nov.14 (GMM) Two Formula 1 drivers have slammed the sport’s ‘green’ plans. This week, F1 announced that it wants the sport to be “sustainable” by 2025, and then completely “net-zero carbon” by 2030. “Sometimes, I wonder who is the idiot who comes up with this nonsense,” former F1 driver Olivier Panis told RMC Sport. “Honestly, […]
FIA issues another engine rule clarification
Nov.14 (GMM) F1’s governing body has issued another technical directive about grey areas in the engine rules. The development comes after Red Bull prompted the first technical directive about fuel flow, with many believing it ended Ferrari’s earlier huge power advantage. “Mercedes had researched in the area and we had the courage to make the […]
Mercedes ‘researched’ alleged Ferrari engine breach
Nov.13 (GMM) Mercedes did the research that prompted Red Bull to ask the FIA to clarify the engine regulations in Austin. At present, and although Ferrari denies it, the prevailing wisdom is that the rules clarification is why the Maranello team’s power advantage suddenly vanished two weeks ago. Max Verstappen even accused Ferrari of “cheating”, […]
Honda CEO targets 2020 world title with Red Bull
Nov.13 (GMM) The CEO of Honda says the Japanese carmaker is targeting the world championship for 2020. At present, there is uncertainty not only about Honda’s commitment to Formula 1 for 2021 and beyond. Rumours say interim Renault CEO Clotilde Delbos is considering pulling the French carmaker out, while Toto Wolff has declared that it […]
New engine for Leclerc may include 2020 parts – report
Nov.13 (GMM) Ferrari may test parts for its 2020 engine this weekend in Brazil. The Maranello team’s engine is a hot topic at present, after the FIA in Austin issued a clarification over how the maximum fuel flow is measured. At the same time, Ferrari’s earlier power advantage seemed to vanish. “The reality is that […]
Verstappen vows to push for third place in 2019
Nov.13 (GMM) Max Verstappen has vowed to push to finish third overall in the 2019 drivers’ world championship. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are locked into first and second places with two races to go, but a battle is brewing for that last podium spot in the title standings. Charles Leclerc has a 14 […]
Commentator backs Red Bull driver lineups for 2020
Nov.13 (GMM) A Formula 1 commentator has backed Red Bull’s decision to keep the same drivers at both of its teams for 2020. The energy drink company has announced that Alexander Albon will remain Max Verstappen’s teammate at the senior team next year. And Pierre Gasly, who was replaced by Albon mid-season and relegated to […]
Former sponsor did not pay Williams in full
Nov.12 (GMM) SMP Racing did not pay in full for its sponsorship of the struggling backmarker Williams in 2018. That is the claim of a Russian source at Moscow-based Echo Moskwa radio. Last year, Russian Sergey Sirotkin raced for Williams with backing by SMP Bank’s motorsport programme SMP Racing. “They paid only part of the […]
Honda to decide F1 future by Abu Dhabi – Marko
Nov.12 (GMM) Honda is getting close to making a decision about whether or not to stay in Formula 1. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, a top official at Red Bull. Both of Red Bull’s teams – Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso – are powered by Honda. “Honda hasn’t decided yet,” Marko […]
Verstappen denies dismissing Hamilton success
Nov.12 (GMM) Max Verstappen has fended off a rumour that he has signed a pre-contract with Mercedes to replace Lewis Hamilton if the six-time champion quits Mercedes for 2021. “Slippery question,” the Red Bull-Honda driver smiled to Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper. “I am happy where I am. I want to win with Red Bull. […]
Verstappen says he is too ‘honest’ and ‘direct’
Nov.12 (GMM) After accusing Ferrari of cheating in Austin, Max Verstappen now wants to move on. It is believed Mattia Binotto threatened Verstappen’s Red Bull boss Christian Horner with legal action after the Dutch driver alleged that Ferrari cheated with its 2019 engine. “It’s a sensitive topic that I’m not going back to,” Verstappen told […]
Hans-Joachim Stuck warns against F1 quit threats
Nov.12 (GMM) German motor racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck thinks there is a risk that Formula 1’s top teams will threaten to quit the sport. The ten teams are not only yet to sign the 2021 Concorde Agreement, it has also emerged that the published 2021 regulations are effectively a draft. “What is written down on […]