Nov.5 (GMM) Jos Verstappen says it is “understandable” that his son Max accused Ferrari of cheating. Ferrari reacted angrily when the Red Bull-Honda driver said Ferrari’s sudden loss of performance in Austin was because they had been forced to “stop cheating”. “I think we all know that something is wrong, but you can’t say it […]
Masi unsure if FIA ruling hurt Ferrari power
Nov.5 (GMM) Race director Michael Masi says he has “no idea” if the FIA’s clarification of the engine rules hurt Ferrari’s performance in Austin. With the Italian team’s sudden loss of pace coinciding with the FIA’s Red Bull-inspired technical directive about the fuel flow rules, Max Verstappen concluded that Ferrari had been caught “cheating”. Ferrari […]
F1 teams ‘free to not sign’ new Concorde – Abiteboul
Nov.5 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul does not think a new Concorde Agreement will be quickly signed by the ten Formula 1 teams. Although the 2021 regulations have finally been published, the equally consequential commercial and governance agreements with the teams must now be agreed and signed. The teams will meet with Liberty Media and the FIA […]
Hulkenberg slams DTM reports as ‘fake news’
Nov.5 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has slammed as “fake news” reports he will on Tuesday be unveiled as a DTM driver for 2020. The German’s comments come as his last real option to stay on the F1 grid next year, the race seat alongside Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo, is filled. “Antonio (Giovinazzi) has emerged as […]
New Indy owner eyes F1 return
Nov.5 (GMM) Another potential candidate for a second grand prix in the United States may have emerged. Having already failed to get a downtown race off the ground, Liberty Media is trying again to organise a grand prix in Miami, this time mainly on the grounds of the Hard Rock Stadium. But that campaign is […]
Kubica has ‘interesting options’ for 2020
Nov.4 (GMM) Robert Kubica says he has “interesting options” on the table for the future. The departing Williams driver could leave Formula 1 altogether, but he has also been linked with test roles at Haas or Racing Point. And now it is rumoured that Ferrari might be interested in the popular Pole, who has struggled […]
Sauber would survive Alfa Romeo exit – pundit
Nov.4 (GMM) F1’s Swiss-based team will survive even if it loses its Alfa Romeo backing. That is the claim of Ossi Oikarinen, a former BMW Sauber engineer who is now a pundit for Finnish broadcaster C More. Rumours in Austin suggested that amid the Hinwil based team’s current performance slump, Alfa Romeo – having only […]
Steiner would welcome F1 engine freeze
Nov.4 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has backed discussions about a potential engine development freeze in Formula 1. As the sport looks towards brand new rules for 2021, it is also being suggested that development of the normal combustion elements of the ‘power units’ should be frozen. “I’m not involved in the talks, but there are examples […]
No more McLaren testing for Alonso – Seidl
Nov.4 (GMM) McLaren has also closed the door to a test role for Fernando Alonso. In Austin, team supremo Zak Brown suggested there is no room at the Woking team for a 2021 return for Spaniard Alonso, who quit at the end of last year. And even though Alonso did some testing for McLaren this […]
Hulkenberg and manager deny DTM switch rumours
Nov.4 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has played down reports linking him with a switch to DTM in 2020. The press on Sunday reported rumours in Austin that the Renault driver has definitely failed to secure a F1 race seat for 2020. Instead, he has reportedly accepted an offer from BMW to switch to the German touring […]
2020 to be F1’s most expensive year ‘ever’ – Horner
Nov.4 (GMM) Christian Horner thinks 2020 could be “the most expensive year ever in Formula 1”. The Red Bull-Honda team boss’ recent proposal to delay the new rules until 2022, a year after the budget cap comes into force, was rejected. “We are all busy with two types of car because of these regulations,” Horner […]
Ferrari hits back at ‘cheating’ accusation
Nov.4 (GMM) Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has hit back at Max Verstappen’s “cheating” accusation. In Austin, amid suspicions about Ferrari’s powerful engine, Red Bull-Honda requested a clarification about a technical trick relating to fuel flow. The FIA responded with a technical directive, and Ferrari subsequently suffered an apparent drop in form not only in qualifying […]
Kvyat says F1 helmet colour rule ‘unnecessary’
Nov.3 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat says he does not want to get involved in a fight between the drivers and the FIA over a controversial helmet rule. At his home race in Russia, the Toro Rosso driver was forbidden from using a special livery because of the rule allowing only one helmet colour change per season. […]
McLaren closes door on Alonso’s F1 return
Nov.3 (GMM) McLaren has apparently closed the door to a Formula 1 return for Fernando Alonso. Alonso, who quit at the end of last year, said this week that he would study the 2021 regulations in view of a potential return. But McLaren supremo Zak Brown said in Austin: “We have a clear direction in […]
Ricciardo defends bumpy Austin circuit
Nov.3 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has defended the bumpy Austin circuit. Multiple F1 drivers have railed against the bumps this weekend. Lewis Hamilton said he had to lie down with a severe headache on Friday, and Max Verstappen said he was worried about the health of his back. Sergio Perez called it “unacceptable” and “dangerous” for […]
Latifi not confirming 2020 Williams race deal
Nov.3 (GMM) Nicholas Latifi is not willing to confirm that he will make his Formula 1 race debut with Williams in 2020. Le Journal de Montreal newspaper is certain that the well-funded 24-year-old Canadian will be George Russell’s next teammate. But Latifi, whose billionaire father Michael co-owns McLaren, is not admitting that. “It’s too early […]
Positives of F1 return ‘overshadowed’ – Kubica
Nov.3 (GMM) Robert Kubica says he succeeded in his mission to once again be seen as a Formula 1 driver in his own right. The Pole returned to the grid in 2019 after an eight year absence with permanent right arm injuries. But the hype of that return soon faded when it was clear that […]
Top teams will keep advantage in 2021 – Binotto
Nov.3 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has warned that the 2021 regulations will turn out to be an “advantage” for the biggest teams. When the new rules were finally revealed on Thursday, Formula 1 declared that they will lead to “a more balanced competition”, where success is about “how well a team spends its money, not how […]
FIA ruling may have stopped Ferrari engine advantage
Nov.3 (GMM) World champion Lewis Hamilton suspects the FIA might be getting to the bottom of Ferrari’s engine power advantage. Ever since the Maranello team took a giant leap forward with its 2019 power unit, rumours have swept the paddock that its technical secret may be illegal. “They should protest!” Ferrari’s Mattia Binotto said this […]
Top drivers big winners of F1 budget cap – Marko
Nov.2 (GMM) The drivers could be the big financial winners of the newly-released rules for 2021. After a long and controversial period of uncertainty, Liberty Media finally unveiled the rules in Austin. But the sage doesn’t end there. On November 5, negotiations over the next Concorde Agreement begin. And although Ferrari did not use its […]