Oct.17 (GMM) Andreas Seidl says McLaren needs to change “some concepts” of the car ahead of 2020. Some might argue that car evolution is a better move for the British team next year, having established itself as ‘best of the rest’ behind the top three teams. But even though 2020 is the last year under […]
Russell ‘cannot continue’ with current brakes
Oct.17 (GMM) George Russell has urged Williams to urgently solve an issue with his brakes. The once-great British team is clearly in crisis, as it not only languishes at the bottom of the grid but is struggling to make enough spare parts for grands prix. Robert Kubica said after Suzuka that “certain limits have been […]
Steiner meets Kubica sponsor in Poland
Oct.17 (GMM) Gunther Steiner was in Warsaw this week, according to Polish public television TVP. The report said the Haas boss was in the city to meet with a representative of Robert Kubica’s main sponsor PKN Orlen, a Polish oil company. Kubica is leaving Williams at the end of the season, and Orlen is tipped […]
Mick Schumacher can be world champion – Sabine Kehm
Oct.17 (GMM) Mick Schumacher can follow in his father’s footsteps and become world champion. That is the view of Sabine Kehm, who is F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s manager. She now looks after the burgeoning career of the seven time world champion’s 20-year-old son Mick. “I am sure that Mick will end up in Formula 1. […]
F1’s future still shaping up
Oct.17 (GMM) It is busy times for Formula 1 as the future of the sport continues to shape up. Hopes are now higher that the six dissenting teams have had some of their qualms about Liberty Media’s proposed 2021 rules eased, following a key meeting in Paris on Wednesday. The reverse-grid, qualifying sprint race idea […]
McLaren in talks with F1 over ‘invisible’ Sainz
Oct.16 (GMM) McLaren is having “several talks” with Formula 1 about how the team’s cars have been covered in live television broadcasts of the grands prix in 2019. After the works Honda debacle, the British team has now rebuilt its competitiveness with what is clearly the fourth fastest car on the grid. But after the […]
Marko has ‘very important’ meeting with Honda
Oct.16 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko had what he described as a “very important” meeting with Honda last Monday. The Dutch publication Formule 1 claims that whether the Japanese manufacturer will stay on the grid beyond 2020 was on the agenda. But also discussed was Red Bull’s push for Honda to put even more resources into […]
Renault system would be ‘big advantage’ – Ralf Schumacher
Oct.16 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher says Renault may have been getting a “big advantage” from an automated brake bias system that is now under FIA scrutiny. After Suzuka, Racing Point lodged a 12-page dossier protesting what it claims is French rival Renault’s “pre-set lap distance-dependent brake bias adjustment system”. The ECUs and steering wheels used by […]
Hamilton’s ‘why bother’ posts not about F1 – Mercedes
Oct.16 (GMM) Even Mercedes is confused about Lewis Hamilton’s latest social media posts. Although it was later deleted, the Mercedes driver declared on Instagram that he feels “like giving up on everything”. “Why bother when the world is such a mess and people don’t seem to care. I’m going to take a moment away to […]
Albon ‘making good play’ for 2020 seat – Horner
Oct.16 (GMM) Alex Albon appears to be in pole position to remain at Red Bull in 2020. After Suzuka, Dr Helmut Marko said the British-born Thai rookie is “getting better”, after taking over from Pierre Gasly five races ago. But Marko added: “He has some speed to gain in the race. He takes too long […]
F1 agrees new deal for Miami race
Oct.16 (GMM) Formula 1 is trying once again to get a grand prix up and running in Miami. Earlier this year, it became clear that Liberty Media’s plans for a race in downtown Miami were now dead. The Miami Herald reported that disruption in the city in Florida “would be too great”. However, it then […]
Upgrade helped Vettel solve 2019 crisis
Oct.15 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted that Ferrari’s much-vaunted Singapore upgrade has helped him. The German has struggled with the Maranello-made 2019 car this year, to the point that some believe Charles Leclerc is now the number 1. But Ferrari made a big step forward with an upgrade introduced in Singapore, and his former Red […]
Boss scolds Magnussen for Suzuka outburst
Oct.15 (GMM) Boss Gunther Steiner has scolded Haas driver Kevin Magnussen for criticising the team at Suzuka. According to the Danish newspaper BT, Magnussen was critical not only of his race strategy but also the way the pitstop was carried out. Steiner said the 27-year-old, who is staying with the American team in 2020, should […]
Alonso will only return to top team – Briatore
Oct.15 (GMM) Flavio Briatore says Fernando Alonso will only return to Formula 1 if he gets an offer from a top team. The Spaniard quit the sport last year, insisting he would rather take on challenges in sports car, Indycar and off-road rallying than continue to race in the F1 midfield. “Alonso (returning)? I spoke […]
Briatore tells Ferrari to make Leclerc ‘number 1’
Oct.15 (GMM) Ferrari should declare that Charles Leclerc is the team’s new number 1 driver. That is the view of Flavio Briatore, who famously ran teams that carried first Michael Schumacher and then Fernando Alonso to multiple titles. Ferrari began the year saying quadruple world champion Vettel is number 1, but as 2019 races towards […]
Ferrari has ‘long list’ of concerns about 2021 rules
Oct.15 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has suggested that Formula 1 is in for a difficult meeting in Paris this week. On Wednesday, the ten teams are meeting at the FIA’s headquarters to discuss with the governing body and Liberty Media the proposed rules revolution for 2021. The already-delayed deadline for finalisation of the regulations is October […]
Mercedes has best driver lineup in F1 – Hamilton
Oct.15 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes’ driver pairing is “absolutely” the best in Formula 1. The Mercedes driver was asked by Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper if the combination of him alongside Valtteri Bottas is better than Ferrari’s duo. “Absolutely for sure,” Hamilton answered. “It’s the best combination available. I just do not see a […]
Vettel says Mercedes ‘close to perfection’
Oct.15 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says Mercedes remains “close to perfection” in Formula 1. At Suzuka, the German team secured its sixth consecutive constructors’ world championship, and Lewis Hamilton is on course to winning the drivers’ title wearing silver for the fifth time. It’s an achievement that eclipses even Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher era. “You have to […]
McLaren wants to close gap to top teams in 2020
Oct.15 (GMM) McLaren wants to get closer to the top three teams in 2020, according to team boss Andreas Seidl. After the horror Honda era, the now Renault-powered team is regularly the best behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull in 2019. “I believe that we are now seeing the trend in the last three or […]
Honda not ready to commit to 2021 – Marko
Oct.15 (GMM) Honda is not yet committed to Formula 1 beyond 2020. That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, a top official at Red Bull. He admits that Honda still has work to do to catch Ferrari and Mercedes, even though ExxonMobil introduced an innovative new fuel for the Japanese carmaker’s ‘spec 4’ engine […]