Apr.25 (GMM) Electric cars threaten the “basic essence of motor sport”. That is the view of five time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, who nonetheless says he enjoys watching Formula E. “The cars are getting cooler every year,” he told Sport Bild. “I watch the races and find it fascinating to see the future of […]
Schumacher set to miss next Ferrari test
Apr.25 (GMM) Mick Schumacher looks set to miss out on another Ferrari test in the days after the Spanish grand prix in May. The high profile Formula 2 and Ferrari academy driver got to drive both the Ferrari and the Alfa Romeo in the post-Bahrain GP test earlier this month. But Italy’s Autosprint reports that […]
Hamilton fighting ‘both’ Vettel and Leclerc
Apr.25 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he is fighting both Ferrari drivers for the 2019 title. After China, a controversy ignited in Italy because meteoric Ferrari newcomer Leclerc was ordered aside for team ‘number 1’ Vettel. F1 legend Gerhard Berger is not sure Ferrari’s policy is right. “I don’t think it’s enough to say ‘one is […]
Senna-Hamilton race ‘would be exciting’ – Massa
Apr.25 (GMM) A wheel to wheel race between Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton would be “exciting”. That is the view of Felipe Massa, who in 2008 almost beat Hamilton to his first title. “It would be exciting to see, no question,” the Brazilian told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper. “But we will never know who would be […]
F1 racing not in ‘female nature’ – Marko
Apr.25 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko doubts women are up to the job of racing in F1. Currently, a full grid of female drivers is preparing to race in the inaugural ‘W Series’. Red Bull’s Marko doubts any of them will make it to F1. “Wheel to wheel fighting at 300kph means you must have some […]
‘Hobby’ driver Raikkonen fully motivated – boss
Apr.25 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur has played down Kimi Raikkonen’s claim that F1 is now “a hobby” for him. “It’s become more of a hobby for me lately than anything else and probably that’s why it’s more fun again,” the Finnish driver said recently. Set to turn 40 in October, Raikkonen is the most experienced driver […]
Ferrari still ‘at eye level’ – Hamilton
Apr.25 (GMM) Ferrari is far from giving up on the 2019 season, according to boss Mattia Binotto. After a winter of promise, the Maranello team is yet to win a race so far while Mercedes has had the best start to a F1 season since Nigel Mansell in 1992. “In Barcelona, Bahrain and China, the […]
Miami street race plans now dead
Apr.25 (GMM) Plans for a street race in downtown Miami are now definitely dead. The Miami Herald reports that race organisers and Liberty Media “have mutually decided to scrap” the F1 plans because city disruption “would be too great”. However, it is reportedly now possible that a future race could take place near Hard Rock […]
Honda confirms new engine for Baku
Apr.24 (GMM) Honda has confirmed that it is taking a more powerful engine to Baku this weekend. Last week, Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko said the new engine is 20 horse power better than the power unit used in Melbourne, Bahrain and China. And Christian Horner said: “There are things in the pipeline that should […]
GP promoter wants Russian to buy Williams
Apr.24 (GMM) The promoter of Russia’s grand prix at Sochi thinks now is a good time for billionaire Dmitry Mazepin to take over Williams. Mazepin’s company Uralkali has denied rumours that the Russian, whose son is Formula 2 driver Nikita Mazepin, is “negotiating” to buy the struggling British team. “I don’t want to comment on […]
Vettel shaves moustache for Baku
Apr.24 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has followed the advice of an Italian newspaper ahead of the grand prix in Baku. Amid intense criticism of his start to the 2019 season alongside the exciting newcomer Charles Leclerc, La Stampa said of Vettel after China: “He should shave his moustache”. Some thought Vettel’s moustache was a tribute to […]
Russell expects Williams to stay slowest
Apr.24 (GMM) Williams’ race drivers seem resigned to a full season at the back of the grid. The once-great British team’s slump is so severe that co-founder Sir Patrick Head has been brought out of retirement. “It’s the right step,” Robert Kubica is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. “But Patrick Head can do nothing […]
‘Impressive’ Albon used to Red Bull pressure
Apr.24 (GMM) Alexander Albon says he is used to the pressure of the Red Bull environment. The Thai-British driver has been hailed by Dr Helmut Marko as the surprise of the 2019 season so far. But it was not always smooth sailing, as Albon was actually once kicked out of the Red Bull development programme. […]
Prost slams Senna movie
Apr.24 (GMM) Alain Prost has slammed the 2010 movie about Ayrton Senna. “I hate the Senna movie. I really hate it,” the F1 legend said. In the film, British film makers depicted a strong and personal rivalry between Prost and Senna, who was killed in a crash in 1994. “They could have made something fantastic. […]
Giovinazzi wants more ‘time to learn’
Apr.24 (GMM) Antonio Giovinazzi will soon look better alongside his Alfa Romeo teammate Kimi Raikkonen. That is the view of team boss Frederic Vasseur, after the Italian struggled to shine early in 2019 during his first full season on the grid. Giovinazzi actually raced twice for Sauber in 2017 when Pascal Wehrlein was injured, but […]
Renault to have ‘best’ F1 engine – Prost
Apr.23 (GMM) Renault is on the right path to having “one of the best engines” on the grid. That is the view of the French works team’s famous advisor Alain Prost, even though Renault has started 2019 with high-profile reliability problems. “We know we are very close to the limit right now,” he is quoted […]
Verstappen has right approach in 2019 – Marko
Apr.23 (GMM) Max Verstappen is being patient as Red Bull-Honda ramps up in 2019. Rumours that the Dutch driver is in talks about a switch to Mercedes have been denied by all sides. Rather, Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko says Verstappen is comfortable. “Max knows what our programme is, how things are going, and what […]
Raikkonen took beer sponsor to Alfa Romeo
Apr.23 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen took a personal sponsor with him to Alfa Romeo. Until last year, the Thai beer Singha appeared on the Ferrari livery. It was not widely known that it was Finn Raikkonen’s personal sponsor. The brand now has a much larger presence on the Alfa Romeo livery. Voravud Bhirombhakdi, the Singha vice […]
Gasly ‘too aggressive’ with Red Bull car
Apr.23 (GMM) Pierre Gasly says he has identified how to change his driving style for the rest of the 2019 season. Gasly stepped up from Toro Rosso this year to replace Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull, but so far has struggled to shine alongside Max Verstappen. After China, he acknowledged that he needs to adjust […]
Leclerc ‘calm’ amid Ferrari rumblings – Danner
Apr.23 (GMM) Charles Leclerc is “calm” even though he is making big waves at Ferrari. That is the view of former F1 driver Christian Danner, referring to how Leclerc is being backed by the Italian press as the Ferrari number 1 of the future. The 21-year-old was moved aside for Sebastian Vettel in China, and […]