Jul.27 (GMM) Toro Rosso says it wants to keep its current drivers for 2020. This year, a returning Daniil Kvyat has looked consistent and mature, while rookie Alex Albon is a standout of the grid’s newcomers. “We have two really good drivers,” team boss Franz Tost said at Hockenheim. “We already knew that Daniil Kvyat […]
McLaren wants Alonso for full Indycar season
Jul.27 (GMM) Zak Brown says there will be a seat for Fernando Alonso if McLaren does the full Indycar calendar next year. The McLaren supremo denied that the British team’s relationship with Alonso soured after the Indy 500 debacle of 2019. Those rumours only gained strength when McLaren announced recently that Sergey Sirotkin, not Alonso, […]
Vettel crisis similar to 2014 – Ricciardo
Jul.27 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has likened Sebastian Vettel’s current ‘crisis’ to his time alongside the German at Red Bull in 2014. Then as the reigning quadruple world champion, Vettel suddenly slumped in form in 2014 after the arrival to the team of Australian Ricciardo. “That was very different,” said Vettel recently when told that his […]
Red Bull running out of spare parts
Jul.27 (GMM) Red Bull is running out of spare parts, according to team official Dr Helmut Marko. He was speaking after Pierre Gasly crashed out of Friday practice at Hockenheim. When asked what is damaged, Marko laughed: “It’s better to ask what’s not damaged.” The timing of Gasly’s crash was bad for two reasons. Firstly, […]
Ferrari ‘expects more’ from Vettel – Binotto
Jul.27 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says those at Ferrari “expect more” from Sebastian Vettel. At the mid-point of the 2019 season, some think the German driver is clearly in crisis. The quadruple world champion disagrees. “Crisis would be if I had no idea how to do better, or if my speed wasn’t there,” he told the […]
German GP demise about ‘dollar bills’ – Vettel
Jul.27 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel thinks the demise of the German GP is about “dollar bills”. With Vietnam and Zandvoort joining the already bustling calendar for 2020, it appears that Hockenheim will be ousted. “We’ve had this situation before,” German Vettel, who drives for Ferrari, said at Hockenheim. “It depends on whether we find someone who […]
Wolff undecided over Bottas or Ocon for 2020
Jul.27 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he needs to do some more “thinking” about Mercedes’ 2020 driver lineup. Rumours in the past days suggest that the German team is close to extending Valtteri Bottas’ contract for another year. But Wolff is also working on finding a place on the grid next year for Esteban Ocon. When […]
Renault to be first to test 18 inch tyres
Jul.26 (GMM) Renault will be the first F1 team to test Pirelli’s 18 inch tyres for 2021. Earlier, the top teams agreed informally that testing of the low-profile tyres should be delayed until next year. But then Renault asked Pirelli if it could be the first to test in 2019. That test will take place […]
Gasly now using Verstappen’s car setup
Jul.26 (GMM) The secret of Pierre Gasly’s sudden form boost may now have emerged. At Silverstone, amid intense rumours that Red Bull may need to oust him, the Frenchman was suddenly a lot closer to Max Verstappen’s pace. “There were many factors and changes,” Gasly said at Silverstone. “Altogether, they made a big difference. “I […]
Drivers present ‘four point plan’ to improve F1
Jul.26 (GMM) F1 drivers on Tuesday presented the FIA and Liberty with a ‘four point plan’ to improve the sport. A recent meeting about the 2021 rules was attended by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Hulkenberg. And on Tuesday in Geneva, Sebastian Vettel and Romain Grosjean were there to similarly represent the now-united Grand Prix Drivers’ […]
Ferrari could veto 2021 budget cap – rumour
Jul.26 (GMM) Claire Williams is not commenting on rumours that Ferrari may “veto” the 2021 budget cap. Although not yet announced, it is believed the teams have all agreed with the FIA and Liberty to lock in the $175 million per-team budget cap for 2021. But the announcement will not be made until October, and […]
Russell ‘fully focused’ on Williams
Jul.26 (GMM) George Russell says he can now see “light at the end of the tunnel” at Williams. The reigning Formula 2 champion has kept his spirits notably high in 2019 despite struggling at the back of the grid in F1’s slowest car by far. And it seems he is staying put for 2020. “The […]
F1 still discussing refuelling return – Steiner
Jul.26 (GMM) F1 is still discussing the potential return of refuelling for 2020. On Tuesday this week, the sport’s key stakeholders met once again in Geneva, and one of the items on the agenda was Jean Todt’s plan to bring back refuelling. “Yes, but we didn’t agree to anything,” Haas team boss Gunther Steiner revealed. […]
Hamilton still worried about cooling
Jul.26 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton remains worried about the cooling systems aboard his otherwise dominant 2019 Mercedes. The championship leader’s run of dominant form ended temporarily in Austria recently when the car could not cope with the high ambient temperatures. And it’s even hotter so far at Hockenheim, where the mercury heading for 40C on Thursday. […]
Title sponsorship could change after summer – Steiner
Jul.26 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says Haas’ title sponsorship situation could change after the summer break. At Silverstone, a farcical saga involving the controversial energy drink Rich Energy and its boss William Storey cast a shadow over Haas’ sponsor deal. Team boss Steiner hinted at Hockenheim that the situation could soon change. “We are still where […]
‘First goal’ to stay at Haas – Grosjean
Jul.26 (GMM) Romain Grosjean has admitted his place at Haas for 2020 may not be secure. According to paddock rumours, there are several candidates to replace him, including Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez. Teammate Kevin Magnussen, on the other hand, is relaxed. “I have a contract for next year and so I don’t […]
‘No panic’ about 2020 Mercedes deal – Bottas
Jul.26 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas has dropped a strong hint about his future at Mercedes. The Finn’s current single-year deal runs out at the end of season, and names including Esteban Ocon and even Fernando Alonso have been linked with the seat. But there are now strong rumours that Mercedes will extend Bottas’ deal for 2020. […]
Quitting F1 ‘not an option’ – Vettel
Jul.26 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel says quitting Formula 1 is “not an option”. Clearly under pressure at Ferrari, the 32-year-old German insists he is still enjoying driving “the fastest cars there are”. And so he told the German broadcaster RTL ahead of his home race at Hockenheim that quitting is “not an option”. “The goal is […]
Midfield drivers ‘deserve more credit’ – Sainz
Jul.25 (GMM) Carlos Sainz believes many drivers in Formula 1’s midfield “deserve more credit” for their skills. When he quit the sport at the end of last year, Sainz’s countryman Fernando Alonso said the problem with F1 is that it no longer excited him. “F1 should have the best drivers in the world and Fernando […]
‘Interesting drivers’ may rival Hamilton – Carey
Jul.25 (GMM) Some “interesting drivers” of the new generation can rival Lewis Hamilton’s place in Formula 1. That is the view of Chase Carey, the sport’s chief executive. Amid a general recent decline in television ratings, some are worried that the eventual retirement of F1’s only real superstar would be a massive further blow. But […]