Apr.1 (GMM) Huge pressure is back on the shoulders of Sebastian Vettel. Ferrari granted the German full number 1 status for 2019, but it was new teammate Charles Leclerc setting the pace all weekend in Bahrain. And then Vettel spun in the race. “It’s the same Sebastian as last year,” 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg […]
Ferrari advantage could be even bigger in China – Bottas
Apr.1 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton may have won in Bahrain, but he says Mercedes has serious work to do ahead of round three in China in a fortnight. Immediately after winning on Sunday, the reigning world champion got out of his car to commiserate with Charles Leclerc, who should have won from pole. “He’s got a […]
Schumacher needs ‘time’ to speed up in F2 – Rosberg
Mar.31 (GMM) Mick Schumacher needs more time to adjust to life in Formula 2. That is the view of Nico Rosberg, the retired 2016 world champion. In Bahrain, just days ahead of his maiden F1 tests for Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, 20-year-old Schumacher qualified tenth and finished his first F2 race eighth. “That was definitely […]
Leclerc pole ‘good for the fans’ – Rossi
Mar.31 (GMM) Charles Leclerc’s first pole in F1 for Ferrari is “good for the fans”. That is the view of Valentino Rossi, speaking from Argentina for a MotoGP race. “I’m happy because Ferrari is strong and it’s nice to see a young guy like him going so well,” the Italian is quoted by La Gazzetta […]
Brawn hints at more than 21 races for 2020
Mar.31 (GMM) Ross Brawn has suggested Liberty Media’s plan to expand the calendar to 25 races is on track. Currently, there are 21 races, but most teams argue that they are on the limit in terms of being able to cope with that logistically. And it is rumoured that a Dutch GP at Zandvoort is […]
Steiner aims fire at Renault over B teams debate
Mar.31 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has aimed fire at Renault, as so-called ‘B teams’ come under assault. With Ferrari allying with Haas and Alfa Romeo, and Red Bull with Toro Rosso, teams like Renault and McLaren think the rules should be changed to make strategic alliances more difficult. And no wonder. In Bahrain, while Haas split […]
Red Bull can fix car in ‘two or three races’ – Verstappen
Mar.31 (GMM) Red Bull has work to do on its 2019 chassis. That is the view in Bahrain of Max Verstappen, who only narrowly stayed ahead of Haas’ Kevin Magnussen in qualifying rather than challenge the top teams Ferrari and Mercedes. “We are actually better than best of the rest here,” Dane Magnussen said. Verstappen […]
Haas sponsor targets world championship
Mar.31 (GMM) William Storey, the top sponsor at Haas, says he wants the American team to be world champion. The long-bearded Briton caused a stir earlier this year by saying he wanted the Rich Energy-branded black cars to beat Red Bull in 2019. “We don’t just want to beat Red Bull,” said Storey, referring to […]
Vettel, Ferrari, not yet committing to F1 in 2021
Mar.31 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel is not committing to F1 beyond 2020. The Ferrari driver says there is too much uncertainty about what the regulations will look like under the new Concorde Agreement. “I’m certain I really want to drive this year and next year, then I don’t know what happens to the regulations,” Vettel, a […]
Ferrari engine ‘goes like hell’ – Marko
Mar.31 (GMM) Ferrari literally powered its way back to the front in Bahrain, according to Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko. “It goes like hell,” Marko said, observing that five of the top ten runners on the grid have an Italian-made engine. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff admitted: “Yes, we are lacking top speed on the straights. “Whether […]
Surname ‘only positive’ for Schumacher – Verstappen
Mar.30 (GMM) Max Verstappen thinks a famous surname will only benefit Mick Schumacher’s quest for a F1 cockpit. Earlier, Carlos Sainz – whose father was a rallying legend – and Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, said the Schumacher name is a burden for the 20-year-old son of the F1 legend. Corinna Schumacher, who is Mick’s […]
‘Green light’ for 2020 Dutch GP – report
Mar.30 (GMM) Zandvoort looks set to get the green light for a F1 race in 2020. Speculation about the return to the calendar of a Dutch grand prix has been rife in recent days ahead of a March 31 deadline imposed by Liberty Media. Kolner Express newspaper now reports that the deal is essentially done. […]
No 2021 agreement yet – Camilleri
Mar.30 (GMM) The steering wheel will be among many standard components in 2021. That is the claim in Bahrain of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, as more details of the sport’s new regime leak out following recent meetings. However, a new Concorde Agreement isn’t done yet. Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri told Sky Italia in Bahrain: […]
Patrick Head ‘exactly what Williams needs’ – Russell
Mar.30 (GMM) Crisis-struck Williams is once again working with Sir Patrick Head. After a dire winter period and season opener in Australia, the once-great British team’s troubles have deepened in Bahrain amid a shortage of spare parts. And Robert Kubica is off the pace of his rookie teammate George Russell. “We can see that despite […]
Alonso still not ruling out 2020 return
Mar.30 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is still not ruling out a potential return to F1 for 2020. The Spaniard quit at the end of last year but in Bahrain has agreed to test for McLaren in the post-grand prix test. “It came up because my team could use a second car for Pirelli,” said the former […]
Honda only 10hp behind now – Hamilton
Mar.30 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton thinks Honda is now just 10hp behind the top engines in F1. The Japanese manufacturer struggled when it returned to the sport in 2015-2017 with McLaren. But now with Red Bull and Toro Rosso, Honda is thriving. “Without a doubt, Red Bull has a much better power unit than a year […]
Ferrari ‘understood everything’ after Australia – CEO
Mar.30 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has confirmed that Ferrari is being much more open in 2019. In the former Maurizio Arrivabene era, the Italian team operated a closed door policy when it came to communication and the press. But Vettel doesn’t think the new media policies operated by Mattia Binotto will make him any faster this […]
Ferrari ‘way faster’ in Bahrain – Bottas
Mar.30 (GMM) After a disappointing showing in Australia, Ferrari is back on song in Bahrain. The Italian team spent the two weeks between the opening grands prix of 2019 getting to the bottom of the sudden slump in form after a strong winter. “In Melbourne we had to explain why Ferrari was so slow. Two […]
F1 to fix start light visibility problem
Mar.29 (GMM) Changes are being made to help drivers at the back of the grid to see the starting lights in Bahrain. In Australia, as an unforeseen consequence of the taller rear wings for 2019, drivers including Robert Kubica, Pierre Gasly and George Russell said they could not see the five lights on the Melbourne […]
Haas best team behind top three – Hulkenberg
Mar.29 (GMM) Two midfield drivers think Haas is the best team behind the ‘top three’ Mercedes, Red Bull-Honda and Ferrari. Nico Hulkenberg drives for Renault, the works French team that had targeted closing the gap to the top teams in 2019. But he says Haas has jumped ahead. “I think Haas are currently leading the […]