Sep.16 (GMM) Jean Todt says Formula 1 will put a stop to the sort of antics that turned qualifying at Monza into a farce. No top runner completed more than an out-lap in the final stages of qualifying at Monza as none of the closely-bunched Q3 group wanted to create a slipstream for his rivals. […]
Binotto rules out Leclerc-Verstappen pairing
Sep.16 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has ruled out signing Max Verstappen to be Charles Leclerc’s future teammate at Ferrari. With quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel struggling at present, many see youngster Leclerc as the obvious new number 1 at the famous Maranello team. Like Vettel, Verstappen is out of contract at Red Bull-Honda after 2020, and […]
Little known about Schumacher or treatment – doctor
Sep.16 (GMM) A top neurosurgeon says almost nothing can be inferred by Michael Schumacher’s recent hospitalisation. The F1 legend was last week at a Paris hospital, triggering rumours he was receiving experimental stem cell therapy to help heal his brain injuries. But stem cell expert Michel Puceat said he thinks it is more likely the […]
Zandvoort already selling tickets for 2021
Sep.16 (GMM) An injunction is being sought against construction works at Zandvoort, the venue for the returning Dutch GP for 2020. RTL reports that an environmental group is seeking the injunction, with documents having been submitted to a court in Haarlem. Despite the potential setback, the Dutch GP looks set to be a massive success. […]
New F1 team confirms 2021 ambition
Sep.16 (GMM) A new team is hoping to make its Formula 1 debut in 2021. During the summer break, reports emerged that a new outfit called Panthera has set up camp near the British GP venue at Silverstone. “I would welcome them,” Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost said at Spa. Germany’s Auto Bild now has […]
Leclerc can ‘lead’ Ferrari like Schumacher – Todt
Sep.16 (GMM) Jean Todt has likened Charles Leclerc to Ferrari’s greatest ever champion, Michael Schumacher. Todt was team boss at Ferrari during the team’s ultra-successful Schumacher era. Now, Todt’s son Nicolas manages Leclerc, the young Spa and Monza winner who looks set to usurp Sebastian Vettel as Ferrari number 1. “Charles is extremely strong mentally,” […]
Vasseur happy with Alfa Romeo progress
Sep.16 (GMM) Boss Frederic Vasseur says he is happy with Alfa Romeo’s progress in 2019. For this year, the Ferrari-linked former Sauber team made a bold step forward by signing up Kimi Raikkonen. Vasseur told France’s Auto Hebdo that he is happy with the results. “Last year, we were behind in pure performance by 2.6 […]
F1 doesn’t need ‘big changes’ – Ecclestone
Sep.16 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has urged F1’s new bosses to resist making radical changes. “The last few races were like Formula 1 should be,” said the sport’s former supremo. “If it stays like that then I see no reason why it can’t be as popular as it used to be.” Liberty Media took over from […]
Smoke haze endangers Singapore GP
Sep.16 (GMM) A literal dark cloud has descended over this weekend’s Singapore GP. Local reports say forest fires in Indonesia have made the air unhealthy to breathe in the city-state. Promoter Singapore GP issued a statement saying a “plan” is now in place. “In the event that the haze causes visibility, public health or operational […]
Doctor doubts Schumacher received brain treatment
Sep.14 (GMM) A surgeon close to the hospital treating Michael Schumacher last week has played down reports that the treatment would have involved the F1 legend’s damaged brain. When it emerged that Schumacher would receive stem cell treatment at Paris’ Hopital Europeen Georges-Pompidou, many of his fans were hopeful that it could help the 50-year-old […]
Qualifying sprint race claims ‘not true’ – report
Sep.14 (GMM) Mattia Binotto may have jumped the gun by announcing that F1’s qualifying format is changing radically for 2020. The Ferrari boss told La Gazzetta dello Sport that all ten teams have agreed to scrap the existing knockout format in favour of a new Saturday sprint race. “All teams have said yes, including us,” […]
Aldo Costa is not joining Haas – Steiner
Sep.12 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says Haas will not benefit from chassis partner Dallara’s new recruit. At Monza, Mercedes announced that its technical advisor Aldo Costa is leaving the championship winning team to join the Italian motorsport company. “My family is in Italy and for us it was quite tough,” Italian Costa said at Monza, having […]
No knee-jerk safety changes for Singapore – Masi
Sep.12 (GMM) Formula 1 will not have any knee-jerk reactions after the serious incidents seen at the last two grands prix. At Spa, Anthoine Hubert crashed and was killed when fellow Formula 2 driver Jean Manuel Fangio, who remains in a coma with critical injuries, struck him at 250kph. The Belgian circuit is now considering […]
Formula E not end of de Vries’ F1 hopes – Wolff
Sep.12 (GMM) Formula 2 title favourite Nyck de Vries has put his F1 hopes on hold for now. Mercedes has announced that the F2 points leader will join Stoffel Vandoorne in the German marque’s inaugural Formula E driver lineup. “Of course every young driver wants to be in Formula 1,” 24-year-old Dutchman de Vries, who […]
Leclerc now Ferrari’s number 1 – Lehto
Sep.12 (GMM) Charles Leclerc is now Ferrari’s “number 1 driver”. That is the view of JJ Lehto, who was once the supporting act for none other than Michael Schumacher at Benetton. “Michael himself was no tyrant,” the 53-year-old Finn told Iltalehti newspaper. “He was an insanely good driver, but he also put all the right […]
Hospital staff member says Schumacher ‘aware’
Sep.11 (GMM) Michael Schumacher is “aware”, according to an anonymous source at the Paris hospital where the F1 legend is currently being treated. Le Parisien newspaper this week revealed that the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver was admitted on Monday to the Hopital Europeen Georges-Pompidou. Reportedly, the 50-year-old – who was brain damaged in a […]
Vettel has lost Leclerc’s ‘killer instinct’ – Berger
Sep.11 (GMM) Charles Leclerc has the sort of “killer instinct” that Sebastian Vettel has lost. That is the view of Gerhard Berger, as the world of Formula 1 considers whether number 1 status at Ferrari has been passed to Leclerc after his back-to-back wins at Spa and Monza. In Monza qualifying, 21-year-old Leclerc had refused […]
Leclerc self-critical, Verstappen not – Alesi
Sep.11 (GMM) The difference between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen is self-criticism. That is the view of Jean Alesi, who was asked by Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport to consider the differences between F1’s hottest two young stars. “It is true that they have different characters,” said the former Ferrari driver. “This could mean they […]
Abiteboul confirms Renault’s 1000hp breakthrough
Sep.11 (GMM) Renault broke the 1000 horsepower barrier some time ago, team boss Cyril Abiteboul has confirmed. Last month, Renault engine boss Remi Taffin made a similar claim, which was ridiculed by Red Bull-Honda’s Max Verstappen. “Well, if they claim to have 1000 horsepower, they have a really bad car!” he scoffed. But Renault had […]
Hulkenberg too ‘negative’ for Renault – Prost
Sep.11 (GMM) Renault ousted Nico Hulkenberg because he is too “pessimistic” and “negative”. That is the claim of Renault advisor and F1 legend Alain Prost, as he explained why the French works team has instead signed up fellow Frenchman Esteban Ocon for 2020. German Hulkenberg, linked with moves to Alfa Romeo or Haas, is currently […]