Sep.28 (GMM) Mercedes is struggling at the scene of the Russian GP at Sochi. The Finnish broadcaster C More says Toto Wolff cancelled a scheduled interview after Friday practice in order to sit in on a crisis meeting about the team’s performance. “We saw that we were behind in practice, but there are always meetings,” […]
McLaren inks Mercedes deal for 2021 – sources
Sep.28 (GMM) McLaren has inked a deal with Mercedes for a supply of customer engines from 2021. The unconfirmed news is being reported from Sochi by authoritative sources like Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. But other sources report that meetings involving Zak Brown, Andreas Seidl and Mercedes’ communications team definitely took place in the McLaren […]
Haas ‘better choice’ for Kubica than Racing Point
Sep.28 (GMM) Robert Kubica’s father thinks the departing Williams driver will choose either between an F1 test role or racing in a series like DTM for 2020. The Polish driver has been linked with test roles at Haas and Racing Point, perhaps splitting it with a race seat in the German touring car series. But […]
Kubica ‘right’ to quit Williams – father
Sep.28 (GMM) Robert Kubica’s father says the Pole made the “right decision” to quit Williams. But Artur Kubica also admitted to the Polish publication Onet that his son is unlikely to find another place on the 2020 grid. “Leaving was the only possible scenario,” Artur Kubica said. “To further cooperate in the conditions Robert finds […]
Ecclestone can imagine St Petersburg switch
Sep.28 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone says he can imagine the Russian GP relocating to St Petersburg. The former F1 supremo, who is an admitted admirer of controversial president Vladimir Putin, was the mastermind behind F1’s move to Sochi in 2014. Now in the paddock of the former Olympic venue this weekend, he told Ria Novosti news […]
Russian F1 team ‘not far off’ – minister
Sep.28 (GMM) Russia could soon have a Formula 1 team on the grid, according to a government minister. At Sochi, Russia’s trade and industry minister Denis Manturov told Ria Novosti news agency: “I think a Russian team will appear. It is not far off. “When will it appear? So far, these are just thoughts,” he […]
Ferrari not ruling out 2021 rules veto
Sep.28 (GMM) Mattia Binotto is not ruling out using Ferrari’s veto against the 2021 rules. As time goes on, it is clearer that the teams are very much divided over what is currently being proposed by Liberty Media. We have learned from sources at Sochi that Mercedes, Racing Point, Red Bull, Haas and Alfa Romeo […]
Russell wants Hulkenberg as 2020 teammate
Sep.27 (GMM) George Russell says he would like Nico Hulkenberg to be his Williams teammate in 2020. The rookie’s current teammate, Robert Kubica, recently announced that he is leaving the struggling team. But Russell is sure 2020 will be a much better season for Williams. “I am 100 per cent sure that we will not […]
Honda plans for Suzuka with Sochi grid penalty
Sep.27 (GMM) Max Verstappen has admitted Red Bull-Honda is looking beyond this weekend’s Russian GP. The Honda-powered drivers all have new Spec 4 engines fitted at Sochi, which for Verstappen means a five place grid penalty. “We thought ‘Why not do it here?’” he said at Sochi. “The five places is not going to hurt […]
Hulkenberg denies signing with Formula E team
Sep.27 (GMM) Nico Hulkenberg has denied being signed by a Formula E team for 2020. The German has lost his Renault race seat, and opportunities to move to Alfa Romeo or Williams now appear unlikely. At Sochi, it is rumoured that the 32-year-old has been signed by the Formula E team Mahindra. “No,” Hulkenberg said […]
Russia rejects St Petersburg F1 race rumours
Sep.27 (GMM) Russian officials have denied that the country’s grand prix could be relocated from Sochi. A British newspaper broke the news about Russian president Vladimir Putin apparently wanting the Formula 1 race to instead be held in St Petersburg. “Maybe it’s not a bad idea,” said Russian driver Daniil Kvyat at Sochi. “It would […]
Steiner denies Haas selling to Saudi investors
Sep.27 (GMM) Gunther Steiner has played down suggestions Haas could be sold to investors from Saudi Arabia. After splitting recently as Haas’ title sponsor, Rich Energy boss William Storey said on Twitter: “We wish Haas the best of luck in negotiations selling the team to Saudi investors”. Team boss Steiner responded at Sochi: “I really […]
Abiteboul criticises FIA over penalty
Sep.27 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul has accused the FIA of being inconsistent about how it hands out penalties for sporting and technical infractions. In 2019, the tendency to penalise every on-track clash has changed markedly, particularly with the re-introduction of the black and white warning flag. But in Singapore, Daniel Ricciardo was disqualified from qualifying for […]
Latest 2021 rules debate ‘normal’ – Steiner
Sep.27 (GMM) The latest squabble about the controversial 2021 rules is just a “normal exchange of views”, according to Haas boss Gunther Steiner. It is rumoured that only half of the F1 teams are currently willing to sign up to Liberty Media’s proposed technical rules for 2021. “The latest visualisation of the new rules looks […]
Kvyat staying at Toro Rosso in 2020 – Tost
Sep.27 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat is definitely staying at Toro Rosso next year. At Sochi, after Dr Helmut Marko said Kvyat is out of the running to return to Red Bull in 2020, Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost said of the Russian: “He will continue with us next season.” Kvyat, 25, agreed that in his mind, […]
No news about future yet – Mick Schumacher
Sep.27 (GMM) Mick Schumacher says he has no news to announce about his future yet. F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s 20-year-old son is a member of Ferrari’s development academy and has tested for the Italian team this year. But Mick is expected to stay in Formula 2 for another season next year. “It’s probably going to […]
Mercedes no longer favourites – Hamilton
Sep.27 (GMM) Mercedes will no longer be the favourite at any of the remaining races in 2019, according to Lewis Hamilton. Despite his almost 100 point lead over the nearest Ferrari, the Mercedes driver said at Sochi: “There are no more tracks on which we are the favourite. “If we want to beat Ferrari, we […]
Ricciardo ‘regretting’ Renault move – Webber
Sep.26 (GMM) Mark Webber thinks his countryman Daniel Ricciardo could be “regretting” his move to Renault. Immediately after Ricciardo’s shock decision to quit Red Bull last year, former F1 winner Webber called it a “strange decision”. “He’s made his bed over there with Renault, which I think is a weird decision, but that’s what he […]
Todt cautious about Panthera team ‘rumours’
Sep.26 (GMM) Jean Todt has played down the reports about an eleventh team in Formula 1. It has emerged that a new outfit called Panthera Team Asia F1 has set up camp at Silverstone. Team boss Benjamin Durand, formerly of the SMP Racing organisation, confirmed recently: “Our goal is Formula 1 in 2021.” F1 sporting […]
Ferrari to build new F1 simulator
Sep.26 (GMM) Ferrari has decided to build a brand new F1 simulator at Maranello. Because it resembles the eight-legged arachnid, Ferrari’s current EUR 5 million simulator – powered by ten interlinked computers – is nicknamed ‘The Spider’. But after a decade, the simulator is soon to be retired, according to Spain’s Marca. The apparent reason […]