May 12 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he is “not satisfied” with his current situation in the 2019 pecking order. Although clearly Red Bull’s number 1, a big car upgrade for Barcelona has not moved the team any closer to the top step of the podium. “I am not satisfied,” Verstappen admitted to Ziggo Sport in […]
Wolff hints at Vettel-Hamilton cockpit swap
May 12 (GMM) Comments by Toto Wolff hint that a sensational driver swap between Mercedes and Ferrari could be on the cards. The Mercedes boss is not ruling out a future Mercedes seat for a German driver. Germany’s most prominent F1 driver is Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, and Wolff admitted to Bild am Sonntag newspaper: “We […]
Ferrari return for Alonso ‘impossible’ – Gene
May 12 (GMM) Ferrari test driver Marc Gene thinks Fernando Alonso could return to Formula 1 in 2020. But he doubts his fellow Spaniard will be wearing red. “I think he will return, but not at Ferrari. It’s impossible,” Gene told AS newspaper in Barcelona. “He did not renew his contract with Toyota, and that […]
2019 ‘becoming boring’ already – Tost
May 12 (GMM) The 2019 championship fight is already becoming boring, according to Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost. In Barcelona, Mercedes’ advantage over Ferrari is greater than ever, after four consecutive 1-2 finishes so far. “We have problems in the slow corners,” said Charles Leclerc in Barcelona. “Hopefully a solution will be found soon.” Ferrari’s […]
Mercedes not copying Ferrari’s early engine upgrade
May 12 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes is staying on schedule with its engine plan for 2019. That is despite the fact that main rival Ferrari introduced its first engine upgrade in Barcelona. “I have no idea why they did that,” Wolff told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “It’s possible that it makes them faster, but […]
McLaren boss Seidl looks ahead to 2021
May 12 (GMM) McLaren’s new boss thinks the future looks bright for the once-great team. After a difficult recent era for the former champions, McLaren finally looks credible in 2019 as Zak Brown targets fourth place in the championship. “It’s still early but I am happy that we have a much better race car than […]
Alonso winning Indy 500 ‘very difficult’ – Brown
May 11 (GMM) Zak Brown thinks it will be “very difficult” for Fernando Alonso to win the Indy 500 later this month. Alonso almost won in 2017, but that was in a McLaren entrant that was run by Michael Andretti’s experienced team. “I think the challenge we have taken on is great,” Brown, the McLaren […]
Latifi could replace Kubica at Williams – report
May 11 (GMM) The first rumours that Robert Kubica could be ousted by Williams have emerged. The Pole has struggled alongside George Russell on his return to F1 after an eight year absence with a permanent arm injury. Kubica, 34, has been questioning whether his car is identical to Russell’s, so for Barcelona the pair’s […]
Wolff denies eyeing Chase Carey’s job
May 11 (GMM) Toto Wolff has rubbished speculation that he is eyeing Chase Carey’s job at the top of Formula 1. Reports this week said the Mercedes boss was lining up to replace Carey as F1 CEO, even though Ferrari could apparently veto that move. “Certainly the veto right is something important for Ferrari but […]
Bottas does not need psychological coach
May 11 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says his surge of form in 2019 is due to his improved psychological approach to Formula 1. The Finn was devastated to be roundly beaten by Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in 2018. Hamilton claims a new engineer has helped Bottas so far this year, but Bottas says it is about […]
Ricciardo not surprised about McLaren pace
May 11 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he is not disheartened that at present he is not even driving for the best Renault-powered team. The Australian left Red Bull last year to join the works Renault team, but so far even Renault customer McLaren appears to have the upper hand. “I won’t say I’m surprised by […]
Wolff admits Mercedes ‘super strong’
May 11 (GMM) Toto Wolff has admitted that Mercedes looks “super strong” in Barcelona. It had been expected that, given their performance at the Spanish venue in the winter, Ferrari would finally bounce back this weekend. “Today we looked super strong,” Mercedes’ Wolff said on Friday. “But Baku has shown how fast the pendulum can […]
Ferrari will not supply Pirelli test car
May 11 (GMM) Ferrari will not supply a test car to Pirelli for the development of 18-inch tyres for 2021. Earlier, we claimed that the three teams that have agreed to supply test cars to Pirelli this year are Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault. But Pirelli’s Mario Isola said in Barcelona that the three teams are […]
Magnussen doubts Haas has solved tyre problem
May 11 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen doubts Haas has solved its tyre problem. However, the American team looks highly competitive in Spain, but it is believed that is because the abrasive Barcelona surface ‘turns on’ the Pirelli tyres. Elsewhere, Haas is struggling massively to make the 2019 Pirellis work. “It looks better here, but I’m not […]
Carey set to announce Zandvoort deal
May 11 (GMM) F1 is poised to confirm Zandvoort’s place on the 2020 calendar. We have learned that F1 chief executive Chase Carey is travelling to the Netherlands on Tuesday to announce the return of the Dutch grand prix. Reports suggest Zandvoort will replace Barcelona. “Hopefully they can agree on something,” Carlos Sainz, referring to […]
Sainz happy to be McLaren team leader
May 11 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is happy to be the senior driver at McLaren. The Spaniard joined the British team from Renault, and his teammate in 2019 is the British rookie Lando Norris. Asked if he feels the responsibility of being the McLaren team leader, Sainz told El Mundo: “I do feel it, […]
Sao Paulo not giving up on F1
May 11 (GMM) Sao Paulo governor Joao Doria says he is not giving up on the Brazilian grand prix. The country’s president Jair Bolsonaro announced days ago that Rio de Janeiro will build a new circuit and take the race away from Sao Paulo for 2020. The news shocked Sao Paulo’s governor Doria. “There is […]
US GP safe after $25m lost funding scare
May 10 (GMM) F1’s US grand prix in Austin, Texas, appears back on track. In February, the event seemed in doubt after the organisers missed a paperwork deadline that would ensure a $25 million state government funding payment. The Associated Press now reports: “State lawmakers have stepped in with a measure that would let them […]
Perez backs standard components for 2021
May 10 (GMM) Sergio Perez is backing F1’s move to introduce more standard car components. Tenders have been issued by the FIA for standard components to include the gearbox, wheel rims and braking systems for 2021, and more are expected to follow. “In my opinion, this is one step out of many that we have […]
2021 rules ‘do not break Haas model’ – Steiner
May 10 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says Haas is happy with the proposed changes to the technical regulations for 2021. Earlier, rival teams were reportedly expressing concerns about the ‘Haas model’, which involves buying many of the parts from Ferrari rather than designing them. “The last proposal I saw was in February,” boss Steiner said in […]