Oct.11 (GMM) Honda is upping its Formula 1 budget for 2020, according to Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. The move follows pressure on the Red Bull-Honda alliance from Max Verstappen and his father Jos, who have indicated they could be on the move for 2021. The Italian sports newspaper claims that Honda is investing EUR […]
Hulkenberg ‘not right person’ for Williams
Oct.11 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has ruled out returning to Williams, where his Formula 1 career began in 2010. Having lost his current Renault seat for 2020, the 32-year-old’s last option to stay on the grid next year now appears to be Alfa Romeo. Hulkenberg told CNN that he has ruled himself out of contention to […]
Drivers support decision to scrap Saturday at Suzuka
Oct.11 (GMM) Saturday’s track action at Suzuka has been cancelled, as the risk that a ‘violent’ typhoon will hit the local area rises to 100 per cent. Qualifying will instead take place on Sunday morning, and if that is also affected, then the grid will be determined on the order of second Friday practice. Formula […]
Steiner facing race ban for Sochi radio outburst
Oct.11 (GMM) Gunther Steiner is facing a hefty FIA penalty. At Suzuka, the Haas boss has been summoned to the stewards to explain his radio outburst at Sochi. After Kevin Magnussen was penalised for the manner in which he rejoined the track after an off, Steiner had referred to a “stupid, idiot steward”. According to […]
Todt wants to attend F1 race with Schumacher ‘one day’
Oct.11 (GMM) Jean Todt says he wants Michael Schumacher to attend a grand prix “one day”. The FIA president, who is one of the Schumacher family’s closest friends, confirmed recent reports that said he sometimes watches F1 races with the stricken F1 legend. “I told the truth, which is that I have watched grands prix […]
No ‘top team’ exit clause in Ricciardo contract
Oct.11 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has ruled out a move to Ferrari for 2020. With Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc squabbling internally at the Italian team, Ricciardo has been named as a prime candidate should Maranello seek a new driver at short notice. But Ricciardo told Russia’s Championat: “Those rumours are false. “I have an absolutely […]
Climate change alarmism ‘big risk for F1’ – Abiteboul
Oct.11 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has joined those who think Formula 1 should consider tweaking its engine regulations prior to 2025. A proposal is on the table to freeze development of the internal combustion engine element of the power units for 2021, and instead promote further development of the electrical components. “If you look at Greta […]
Kubica to race front wing from winter testing at Suzuka
Oct.11 (GMM) Robert Kubica has revealed that he will race at Suzuka with a front wing that dates all the way back to winter testing. That is despite the fact that Williams has boasted not only about solving its spare parts crisis, but about introducing a brand new front wing design in Japan. It follows […]
Leclerc ‘has taken number 1 status’ – Ralf Schumacher
Oct.11 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has admitted that ignoring team orders at Sochi was “not right”. His teammate Charles Leclerc said separate meetings with Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto took place in the days after the Russian GP. “Obviously it felt like it was a huge deal from the outside, which it definitely wasn’t, but now everything […]
F1 considers axing Saturday at Suzuka
Oct.10 (GMM) Formula 1 is considering calling off all activity at Suzuka on Saturday. Saturday is when the local area is expected to bear the full brunt of a typhoon that has been categorised by the Japan Meteorological Agency as “violent”. Formula 4 support races have already been called off for Sunday morning to give […]
Renault in talks with potential new F1 teams
Oct.10 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul says Renault has been in touch with potential new F1 teams. Last week, despite rumours that up to three potential outfits are interested in joining the grid in 2021, Liberty Media said “no serious discussions” are taking place. But talks are clearly taking place with Renault. When asked about the Silverstone […]
Renault could offer Hulkenberg reserve role
Oct.10 (GMM) Renault could offer Nico Hulkenberg the reserve driver role for 2020. The French team has ousted the German in favour of Esteban Ocon for next season, and Hulkenberg reportedly turned down the chance to switch to Haas. It is believed he is now eyeing Antonio Giovinazzi’s seat at Alfa Romeo, but it appears […]
Ricciardo settles $12m manager lawsuit
Oct.10 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has settled a $12 million lawsuit with his former manager. In July, we reported that Glenn Beavis is suing the Australian driver for a slice of Ricciardo’s big-money deal to move from Red Bull to Renault. It subsequently emerged that Ricciardo’s 2019 and 2020 contract with Renault is worth a staggering […]
Ferrari still supports Vettel – Fittipaldi
Oct.10 (GMM) Ferrari still wants Sebastian Vettel to win races. That is the view of former double world champion Emerson Fittpaldi, even though last time out at Sochi, Ferrari ordered Vettel aside for Charles Leclerc. But Fittipaldi, 72, told Auto Bild: “Ferrari wants both of them to win. “Of course they support him,” the Brazilian […]
Mercedes working hard to catch Ferrari – Hamilton
Oct.10 (GMM) Championship leader Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes is “working hard” to catch up with Ferrari. Although he and Mercedes could mathematically wrap up the championships with a full four races to spare this weekend at Suzuka, Hamilton is concerned about Ferrari’s latest leap forward. “Ferrari has always had a good overall package,” he told […]
Verstappen says ‘wait and see’ to typhoon
Oct.10 (GMM) Amid huge expectations from the Japanese people, Max Verstappen is adopting a “wait and see” approach to the race at Suzuka. But although powered by local Japanese company Honda, the Dutchman was actually referring to a massive typhoon that is expected to disrupt the race weekend. “There’s not much to say about it […]
F1 making ‘plans’ for Suzuka typhoon
Oct.10 (GMM) Formula 1 has “plans” in place as a top-category typhoon races into Suzuka. Named ‘Hagibis’, the typhoon which is categorised at the top descriptor known in Japan as ‘violent’ is expected to bring torrential rain and winds up to 225kph. Qualifying day at the Japanese GP is expected to be the most affected. […]
F1 considering combustion engine freeze for 2021
Oct.9 (GMM) F1 is considering a freeze on the internal combustion engine part of the current ‘power units’ from 2021. Earlier, it was thought that the engine rules would remain stable until 2025. But concerns about the high development costs are now driving speculation that a freeze before then could be on the cards, with […]
Mercedes pays Wolff 8 million euros per year
Oct.9 (GMM) Toto Wolff is paid 8 million euros a year to be Mercedes’ team boss. The information was revealed by Austria’s Osterreich newspaper, reportedly based on the release of Mercedes’ balance sheet for last year. The numbers are fascinating. For instance, Mercedes spent 350 million euros to run the team for a year, but […]
Zandvoort denies agreeing to scrap non-F1 races
Oct.9 (GMM) Zandvoort has denied that it will cancel a number of motor racing events in order to ensure that the Dutch GP takes place as scheduled next May. It has emerged that several environmental groups are causing legal trouble for the race organisers, which at best could delay the track’s necessary upgrade works. “They […]