Oct.22 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says he will give thought “next summer” to the idea of returning to Formula 1 in 2021. The 38-year-old quit F1 at the end of 2018, but he never ruled out a return. He has raced at Le Mans, the Indy 500, and is currently preparing for the 2020 Dakar Rally. […]
McLaren can close gap to top teams in 2020 – de la Rosa
Oct.22 (GMM) McLaren can close the gap to the top three teams in 2020, according to former driver Pedro de la Rosa. De la Rosa, now 48, was a long time McLaren test driver during the team’s successful works Mercedes days. Since then, McLaren slipped behind with the Honda debacle and the end of the […]
Ferrari has ‘fantastic chance’ to win in 2020 – Domenicali
Oct.22 (GMM) The Formula 1 grid has rarely been as rich with driver talent, according to former Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali. “After many years, we are facing a new situation,” the now Lamborghini CEO is quoted by Italian radio Rai. “There have never been so many strong drivers,” Domenicali added. The 54-year-old Italian is […]
Japan needs another driver in F1 – Sato
Oct.22 (GMM) Takuma Sato says Formula 1 needs a new Japanese driver. At Suzuka, the former Jordan, BAR and Super Aguri driver was in the paddock to support Honda and the Japanese driver Naoki Yamamoto. 31-year-old Yamamoto, poised to win his third Super Formula title this year, got his first taste of F1 with a […]
Verstappen will make 2021 call ‘quickly’ – Doornbos
Oct.22 (GMM) Max Verstappen will know within “one or two” races next year if he will stay at Red Bull in 2021. That is the view of former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos. 2020 is the final year on Verstappen’s current contract, and he has made noises about potentially switching to a faster top team […]
Binotto can be ‘tough’ as Ferrari boss – Leclerc
Oct.22 (GMM) Charles Leclerc says Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto is able to be “tough” when necessary. Some have questioned whether Binotto, having stepped up from being technical boss, is the right man to manage Ferrari’s increasingly tetchy driver lineup. “He’s a calm person, which is important in an environment like Formula 1,” Leclerc is quoted […]
Vettel not saying if Leclerc best ever teammate
Oct.22 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is not willing to say if Charles Leclerc is his best ever teammate in Formula 1. In less than a full season, 22-year-old Leclerc has managed to challenge quadruple world champion Vettel’s number 1 status at Ferrari. “He’s young, he’s very fast. I don’t think anyone doubts that,” Vettel is quoted […]
Kubica ‘not 100pc sure’ about 2020 plans
Oct.22 (GMM) Robert Kubica is not ready to say what he will be doing in 2020. The Pole has struggled on his highly anticipated return to Formula 1 this year, and will leave the crisis-struck Williams team at the end of the season. His sponsor, Polish oil company PKN Orlen, is tipped to switch its […]
Leclerc impressed Pirelli boss in 2019
Oct.22 (GMM) Pirelli boss Mario Isola says he has been surprised by Charles Leclerc in 2019. With just a single season at Sauber under his belt, Leclerc made his Ferrari debut this year at the age of 21. He began the season as number 2, but has since challenged that hierarchy and put a cloud […]
Teams ask FIA to check Ferrari engine legality
Oct.21 (GMM) “Several” Ferrari rivals have asked the FIA to look into the legality of the Italian team’s engine. After the latest Ferrari upgrade, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said the power produced by the Maranello-made power unit is “ridiculous”. Germany’s Auto Bild reported: “Several teams have called on the FIA to verify that the […]
McLaren’s Petrobras sponsorship ‘terminated’
Oct.21 (GMM) A major Formula 1 sponsor has announced it is leaving McLaren. In May, we reported that Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras was looking to exit the five-year, $200 million deal it signed just last year. “At the moment, by decision of my government, Petrobras seeks a way to terminate the contract,” controversial new […]
Ricciardo responds to Webber criticism
Oct.21 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has replied to his countryman after Mark Webber said the Renault driver may be “regretting” leaving Red Bull. Webber recently said the risk for Ricciardo is that he could become irrelevant in the midfield as “young guys” enter the sport and impress. “I get what Mark’s saying,” Ricciardo told Fairfax Media, […]
Verstappen supports end of F1 ‘sprint race’ idea
Oct.21 (GMM) Max Verstappen has backed Formula 1’s retention of the existing knockout qualifying format for 2020 and beyond. At a decisive meeting last week to discuss the 2021 rules, the teams reportedly rejected Ross Brawn’s proposal to run a three-event test of the qualifying ‘sprint race’ idea for 2020. “I don’t know what they […]
Ferrari to keep ‘veto’ power after 2020
Oct.21 (GMM) Ferrari is keeping its historic and highly controversial right to “veto” Formula 1 rules. That is the claim of La Gazzetta dello Sport, after the teams last week met with the FIA and Liberty Media to discuss the 2021 regulations for the final time before the end of October deadline. Germany’s Auto Bild […]
Verstappen met to learn Honda future
Oct.21 (GMM) Max Verstappen is getting involved in Honda’s plans for the future. It has emerged that Red Bull’s works engine partner is currently not willing to commit to Formula 1 until it sees the highly controversial new 2021 rules. Amid that, Dutchman Verstappen recently got involved at the highest levels of those deliberations. “Max […]
GPDA president no fan of 18-inch wheels
Oct.21 (GMM) Alex Wurz is no fan of the introduction of low-profile wheels in Formula 1. The move from 13 to 18-inch rims for 2021 has been decided, but Grand Prix Drivers’ Association chief Wurz is not impressed. However, the former F1 driver acknowledges that there is little Formula 1 can do now about the […]
F1 return ‘getting harder’ – Alonso
Oct.21 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has answered “we’ll see” and “maybe” to the latest question about whether he might return to Formula 1. Still with ties to the Spaniard’s management, Flavio Briatore last week said Alonso, 38, would only return to the grid with Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull. When asked about a potential return, Alonso […]
Magnussen helping father keep racing
Oct.21 (GMM) Jan Magnussen says his son Kevin will help him keep racing. After many years racing sports cars with Corvette, former F1 driver Jan Magnussen is leaving the marque. “I am talking to Kevin about the situation and the direction I should take and the opportunities that are there,” 46-year-old Magnussen told TV2. “He […]
Verstappen wants Red Bull-Honda to ‘risk more’
Oct.21 (GMM) Max Verstappen has urged Red Bull to “risk a little more” at the final four races of 2019 and beyond. The Honda-powered team has fallen behind Mercedes and Ferrari in the latter portion of the season, so Dutchman Verstappen told Ziggo Sport: “We don’t have much to lose. “We could certainly risk a […]
Tost wants Gasly, Kvyat to stay in 2020
Oct.17 (GMM) Franz Tost says he wants Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat to remain at Toro Rosso in 2020. The Faenza based team will be renamed AlphaTauri next year, after Red Bull’s fashion brand. But team boss Tost says he is happy to keep the driver lineup the same in 2020, even though Gasly is […]