Jul.13 (GMM) Christian Horner has played down speculation he might be in the running to replace Chase Carey as F1’s post-2020 chief executive. Liberty Media’s 65-year-old Carey, however, is not fuelling the retirement talk. “What, just retire?” he told the Daily Mail. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff is the big name linked with the sport’s top job, […]
McLaren would release Alonso for 2020 return
Jul.13 (GMM) McLaren will “support” Fernando Alonso’s potential return to Formula 1 next year. That is the claim of Zak Brown, the McLaren supremo who recently denied that the British team has split with Alonso as a brand ambassador. However, McLaren has re-signed Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz for 2020, meaning that if Alonso does […]
Williams admits struggling Kubica ‘frustrated’
Jul.12 (GMM) In the midst of its awful 2019 season, Williams is looking ahead to the future. The once-great British team has been easily dead last at every grand prix so far this year, but there are crucial new parts mounted on the car at Silverstone. “They’re on the car to show us which way […]
Vettel not keen on ‘fancy’ London GP
Jul.12 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has suggested that Formula 1 should scrap its plans to take the sport to the city of London. On the eve of the British GP, the Ferrari driver admitted that Silverstone’s new five-year race contract is “fabulous news” for Formula 1. “I am happy that we are staying here and keeping […]
Ferrari has ‘found answers’ to problems – Vettel
Jul.12 (GMM) Ferrari’s 2019 title challenge appears to be slipping away, but the Italian team insists it is making steady progress. Sebastian Vettel told reporters at Silverstone that he has not yet written off his chances of winning the world championship. But boss Mattia Binotto has already warned that the 2019 car is not suited […]
Red Bull pushed Honda for power boost – Verstappen
Jul.12 (GMM) Max Verstappen has fended off a question about his future by saying Red Bull and Honda need to keep making “progress”. The Dutchman stopped Mercedes’ eight-race run of victory in 2019 by winning in Austria, despite speculation he could quit the team thanks to a performance clause in his contract. “Yes, we made […]
Monza on verge of new five-year F1 contract
Jul.12 (GMM) Monza is now on the cusp of sealing its place on the 2020 F1 calendar. There had been doubts about the future not only of Monza, but also another historic venue on the current calendar, Silverstone. A new British GP deal until 2024 has now been announced, and Italian GP boss Angelo Sticchi […]
Contract news no surprise to Sainz
Jul.12 (GMM) Carlos Sainz says he is not surprised that he is staying put at McLaren for 2020. Ending speculation that Fernando Alonso might return, the British team announced that Sainz and Lando Norris will remain next year. Norris has signed a new two-year contract. “It’s a big load off my shoulders,” the 19-year-old Briton […]
Lehto tips Bottas to keep Mercedes seat
Jul.12 (GMM) Former F1 driver JJ Lehto thinks Valtteri Bottas could keep his race seat at Mercedes. Earlier, former Lotus boss Matthew Carter said he has heard from “sources” that Mercedes reserve Esteban Ocon will replace Bottas for 2020. But Lehto told Iltalehti newspaper: “Valtteri has done such a good job that I see the […]
Refugees found in Ferrari team truck
Jul.12 (GMM) Two refugees were discovered hiding in a Ferrari team truck when it arrived at Silverstone for the British GP. “Two men were detained by Northamptonshire police on Wednesday night after being found in the back of a truck at the Silverstone Circuit,” local police told the German newspaper Bild. “They were arrested on […]
Kvyat ‘calm’ amid Gasly speculation
Jul.12 (GMM) Daniil Kvyat insists he is “calm” amid speculation about Pierre Gasly’s future at Red Bull. With Gasly struggling at the senior team, boss Christian Horner told the media this week that the Frenchman needs to do a “control-alt-delete” reset. “What I listen to is what is said inside when we are together at […]
Perez welcomes new gravel at Silverstone
Jul.12 (GMM) Sergio Perez has welcomed the addition of new gravel traps at Silverstone. Amid ongoing debates about asphalt run-off areas that do not properly punish driver mistakes, British GP organisers have added new gravel at turns 7, 11 and 12. “I like this idea. It should be done at all the tracks,” Racing Point […]
Title sponsor drama continues at Haas
Jul.12 (GMM) A ludicrous drama about Haas’ title sponsor is continuing to dominate the headlines ahead of the British GP. The boss of the controversial energy drink company Rich Energy has continued his tirade after announcing that he has terminated the sponsor deal. “A milk float at the back of the grid is a disaster […]
Ricciardo not ready to sign new Renault deal
Jul.11 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says he is not ready to sign a contract extension at Renault. In the past days, the Australian denied that he might be a contender to replace Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari, due to his new two-year Renault deal. But Ricciardo has also expressed concern about Renault’s progress. “Patience is the keyword […]
Van der Garde tells Verstappen to stay at Red Bull
Jul.11 (GMM) Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde has urged Max Verstappen to stay put at Red Bull-Honda. In recent days and weeks, it has emerged that the Dutch driver has a performance-related exit clause in his contract that might theoretically allow a move to Mercedes for 2020. But van der Garde, who drove […]
Berger not sure Hamilton best ever driver
Jul.11 (GMM) Gerhard Berger is not so sure that Lewis Hamilton is the best F1 driver of all time. This year, Lewis Hamilton looks certain to win a sixth drivers’ world championship. Only Michael Schumacher – with seven titles – was more successful. “He is a great driver,” F1 legend Berger told Abendzeitung. “But the […]
2020 race seat for Ocon ‘100pc’ sure – source
Jul.11 (GMM) Esteban Ocon’s chances of returning to the Formula 1 grid next year stand at “100 per cent”. That is the claim of Matthew Carter, the former chief executive of the now defunct Lotus team. Frenchman Ocon had to sit out 2019 as Mercedes’ reserve driver, having lost his Force India seat. Toto Wolff […]
Lando Norris plays down father’s wealth
Jul.11 (GMM) Lando Norris has defended his father’s wealth. The McLaren driver has been impressive in his rookie season in Formula 1, securing a new deal for 2020. “Lando is extremely fast and he quickly come up to the pace that he needs in Formula 1,” new McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl is quoted by […]
Haas title sponsor terminates F1 deal
Jul.11 (GMM) Haas’ controversial title sponsor has pulled the plug. In a single bizarre tweet, Rich Energy announced that the deal has been “terminated” in the days before the British grand prix. “We aim to beat Red Bull, and being behind Williams in Austria is unacceptable,” the tweet read. “The politics and PC attitude in […]
Silverstone still concerned about London GP
Jul.11 (GMM) Even with a new five-year contract signed with Silverstone, Liberty is not ruling out a Formula 1 race in London. The F1 owner and the Silverstone-owning BRDC on Wednesday ended months of speculation by announcing that the British GP is staying on the calendar at least until 2024. “We always said that, if […]