Oct.28 (GMM) Former Formula 1 driver Nick Heidfeld thinks the hierarchy at the top of the sport is about to change. Mercedes has won the drivers’ and constructors’ championships for a record-setting six times in a row. But Heidfeld now senses a changing of the guard. “It’s difficult to get in a driver’s head, but […]
Haas has written off 2019 car – Magnussen
Oct.28 (GMM) Haas got an early start with development of its 2020 car, Kevin Magnussen has revealed. The Danish driver said the American team has effectively had to write off its 2019 car, which has fallen almost to the back of the field with its problems in handling the Pirelli tyres. “We know this car […]
Leclerc ‘makes too many mistakes’ – Ecclestone
Oct.28 (GMM) Charles Leclerc “makes too many mistakes”. That is the view of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who thinks his “friend” Sebastian Vettel is now making a comeback at Ferrari after a slump. Recently, many thought 22-year-old Leclerc was getting the hierarchical upper-hand at Ferrari over quadruple world champion Vettel. But Leclerc admitted in […]
2020 ‘will be decisive’ for Schumacher – Binotto
Oct.28 (GMM) Mick Schumacher will not step up to Formula 1 next year. It is believed that a decision has been taken by Ferrari’s driver academy and the 20-year-old’s management about Schumacher doing a second season in Formula 2. “Next year will be decisive for him,” Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto told Bild newspaper in […]
Villeneuve slams Racing Point over Renault saga
Oct.28 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has hit out at the way both the FIA and Racing Point handled the recent saga involving Renault’s outlawed brake balance system. Racing Point lodged a protest after Suzuka, and while the FIA said the technology is technically legal, it was deemed a ‘driver aid’ and Renault’s drivers were disqualified. Villeneuve, […]
Qualifying races still possible in 2021 – Seidl
Oct.28 (GMM) Formula 1 may push ahead with plans for a reverse-grid, sprint race qualifying format for 2021. F1 sporting director Ross Brawn actually wanted to trial the concept over three races next year, but the teams did not unanimously agree. “Ross said today that two teams opposed it, so it is currently off the […]
2021 cars ‘not very sexy’ – Marko
Oct.28 (GMM) Red Bull is no fan of Formula 1’s new rules for 2021. Firstly, the team is arguing that the rules should be delayed until 2022, so that the introduction of the budget cap can keep development costs under control. “Without the budget limit, the big teams will spend as much money as they […]
Hamilton hits out at ‘silly’ Verstappen style
Oct.28 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has accused Max Verstappen of being “silly” with his racing aggression. The pair are having somewhat of a war of words at present, after clashing in Mexico over Hamilton’s environmental concerns. Mercedes’ Hamilton then criticised the way Verstappen admitted to ignoring the yellow flags in qualifying. The Red Bull driver subsequently […]
McLaren eyeing regular podiums by 2022 – Seidl
Oct.27 (GMM) McLaren’s new team boss Andreas Seidl is targeting “regular podiums” by 2022. In the wake of the Honda debacle and the end of the Ron Dennis era, the famous British team has rebuilt to become ‘best of the rest’ this season. Former Porsche Le Mans boss Seidl, who started work at Woking in […]
Albon feeling ‘better and better’ at Red Bull
Oct.27 (GMM) Alex Albon says his relationship with Red Bull-Honda is getting “better and better”. Having replaced the struggling Pierre Gasly mid-season, rookie Albon is now waiting to hear if he will be signed up for the full year in 2020. “I think he’s doing a very good job,” team boss Christian Horner said in […]
Sitting out Fridays for Kubica ‘not ideal’ – Grosjean
Oct.27 (GMM) Romain Grosjean says it will not be “ideal” if Haas appoints a regular Friday practice driver in 2020. Both Robert Kubica and Haas boss Gunther Steiner have admitted they may team up next year with a simulator and potentially Friday morning practice role for the Pole. It would mean regular race drivers Grosjean […]
Haas ‘waiting’ for better car in 2020 – Grosjean
Oct.27 (GMM) Haas is putting all its hopes on solving a serious performance problem with its 2020 car. Although fast at times early this season, the American team has struggled more than any other rival to make its 2019 car work with Pirelli’s tyres. Only the Williams cars were slower than Kevin Magnussen and Romain […]
Over 150 join Gasly with Mexico City virus
Oct.27 (GMM) Over 150 members of F1’s travelling circus are not feeling well in Mexico City. Pierre Gasly is the highest profile victim of the stomach virus, which is causing diarrhoea and vomiting, made worse by the high altitude. “If he’s too sick, we’ll have to give him a diaper,” Red Bull chief Dr Helmut […]
Verstappen a ‘bad role model’ – Villeneuve
Oct.27 (GMM) 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve says Max Verstappen is a “bad role model”. The Dutchman has lost his pole position in Mexico after openly admitting that he did not slow down when yellow flags were waved for Valtteri Bottas’ crash. It is believed stewards in Mexico initially did not investigate the incident, because […]
F1 rejects proposed 2022 delay for new rules
Oct.26 (GMM) Formula 1 rejected a proposal to delay the introduction of the 2021 rules revolution until 2022. Next Thursday is the already-postponed deadline for the publication of the 2021 rules, featuring radically different cars and a budget cap. But there are fears that, in preparation for 2021 but not restricted at all by the […]
Ferrari power advantage ‘amazing’ – Verstappen
Oct.26 (GMM) Ferrari’s advantage in Mexico is “massive”, thanks to “amazing” engine horsepower. That is the view of rivals Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) respectively, even if Sebastian Vettel is playing down his practice pace so far. “The times don’t always show everything,” the Ferrari driver said. “I think it’s still a […]
Renault slams Racing Point over brake bias protest
Oct.26 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has slammed rival team Racing Point over the recent protest about Renault’s now-banned brake bias adjustment system. Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg were disqualified from the results of the recent Japanese GP at Suzuka. The FIA found the brake balance system to be a ‘driver aid’, but not technically illegal. But […]
Pirelli criticises F1 over new tyre wear graphic
Oct.26 (GMM) Pirelli boss Mario Isola has hit out at a new on-screen graphic debuted recently by Formula 1. The new graphic purports to show in real-time what percentage of tyre wear remains on the individual four corners of the depicted drivers’ car. Isola says it is not credible. “You cannot know that sort of […]
Zandvoort granted permit for Dutch GP upgrade
Oct.26 (GMM) Crucial upgrade works at Zandvoort to prepare for the 2020 Dutch GP can go ahead for now. We reported this week that environmental opposition groups had gone to court to complain that work at the circuit had started without all the proper permits being granted. But the Noord-Hollands Dagblad newspaper now says the […]
Wehrlein plays down F1 return rumours
Oct.26 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein is not getting too excited about the prospect of a return to Formula 1. The former Sauber and Manor driver has been closely linked with a potential new team for 2021, thanks to his association with Adrian Campos and a Monaco management firm. “First of all, I’m not really looking at […]