Dec.5 (GMM) Cyril Abiteboul says he is not sure that Renault is ready to take on Red Bull in 2019. The French works team was fourth overall in 2018, but a long way behind the top three teams in terms of pace and points. Part of the reason for that is Renault’s budget, which boss […]
Top two teams could tempt Alonso – Briatore
Dec.4 (GMM) Fernando Alonso will return to formula one “if Mercedes or Ferrari” come knocking. That is the view of Flavio Briatore, the former F1 personality who is still involved with the retiring Alonso’s management. Spanish sports newspapers quote the Italian as saying: “If there is an offer from Mercedes or Ferrari, would he come […]
Ferrari would have won with Hamilton – Montezemolo
Dec.4 (GMM) With Lewis Hamilton at the wheel, Ferrari would have won the 2018 world championship. That is the view of Luca di Montezemolo, the former Ferrari president. He told Rai radio that Hamilton fully deserved his fifth drivers’ title this year, secured at the wheel of his Mercedes. “This year Hamilton made the difference […]
‘Racing Point’ to change name again for 2019
Dec.4 (GMM) Force India’s new name for 2019 is not yet set in stone. On the official 2019 entry list, the FIA revealed that following the buyout by Lawrence Stroll, the Silverstone based team is now known only as ‘Racing Point’. But the name will change again prior to the start of the new season, […]
Ecclestone wants better race seat for Kubica
Dec.4 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone would have secured a better cockpit for Robert Kubica. That is the claim of Marcin Czachorski, a former official spokesman for the Polish driver. Kubica, 33, is returning to the grid in 2019 after an eight year absence due to serious injuries sustained in a rally crash, including a nearly-severed hand. […]
Verstappen admits post-2020 ‘plan B’
Dec.4 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he has a ‘plan B’ for the future. Openly frustrated with Renault power in the past seasons, the Dutchman is now looking ahead to Red Bull’s new works collaboration with Honda. “I really like this team, and I’m sure that we can make the fastest car,” he told La Gazzetta […]
Ricciardo denies wanting ‘too much money’ from Ferrari
Dec.3 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has played down claims he missed out on a Ferrari seat for 2019 because of money. The Australian is instead heading from Red Bull to Renault, with many believing Ricciardo felt the momentum of the energy drink-owned team had shifted to Max Verstappen. The Italian publication Automoto thinks Ricciardo fell out […]
Magnussen ‘established’ in F1 now – father
Dec.3 (GMM) Kevin Magnussen’s father says he is glad the Haas driver is now fully established in formula one. Magnussen, 26, has had a stop-start career to date, with less successful stints at McLaren and Renault before he made the move to Haas. But in 2018, he fared strongly against Romain Grosjean and will remain […]
Billionaire Stroll not in F1 ‘to lose money’
Dec.3 (GMM) Lawrence Stroll says he bought Force India because it was a “phenomenal business opportunity”. The Canadian billionaire and fashion mogul sponsored his teenage son Lance at Williams in 2017 and 2018, but the British team’s performance crashed this year. At the same time, Force India – an impressive upper-midfield team – almost collapsed […]
Bottas could lose seat during 2019 – Villeneuve
Dec.3 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve thinks Valtteri Bottas’ days at Mercedes could be numbered. Ross Brawn, the F1 sporting boss, thinks the Finnish driver’s performance was the champion team’s only significant weakness in 2018. Some have suggested Bottas could benefit from the advice of Nico Rosberg, the former Mercedes driver who overcame defeat to beat Lewis […]
Toro Rosso happy with ‘guinea pig’ role
Dec.3 (GMM) Toro Rosso is happy to keep playing a supporting role for Red Bull and Honda in 2019. This year, the Italian-based team enjoyed full works status after switching to Honda power. But in June, it was announced that the senior Red Bull-owned team would also switch to the Japanese engines for 2019. It […]
Hamilton crashes during motorbike test
Dec.3 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has fallen while testing a superbike. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the five time world champion was riding an all-black Mv Agusta bike at Jerez in Spain when he fell. “Luckily, only the bike came out badly,” the Italian report reads. The Mercedes driver reportedly continued his session aboard another […]
Kubica return ‘a miracle’ – father
Dec.3 (GMM) Robert Kubica’s father says it is a “miracle” the Pole is returning to F1 in 2019. Eight years after almost severing his right arm in a rallying crash, the former BMW and Renault driver will race for Williams next season. “If miracles happen, then yes, it is a miracle,” Artur Kubica, the 33-year-old’s […]
Ferrari did not support Vettel enough – Ecclestone
Dec.3 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has leapt to the defence of Sebastian Vettel. The former F1 supremo said Ferrari did not adequately support the German driver as he pushed for the world championship in 2018. “Lewis was outstanding, but he also got total support from his team,” Ecclestone told Germany’s Auto Bild. “You cannot say that […]
Verstappen ‘regrets’ not having raced Alonso
Nov.30 (GMM) Max Verstappen says he regrets not being able to take on Fernando Alonso in F1. Dutchman Verstappen, 21, is arguably a F1 great of the future, but he grew up watching Alonso take on legends like Michael Schumacher. “It’s a shame that I have never been able to face him,” the Red Bull […]
Renault sets podium target for 2019
Nov.30 (GMM) Outgoing Renault racing president Jerome Stoll has set the target of a podium for the French works team in 2019. Renault had targeted getting closer to the top three teams this year, and although fourth overall, team officials and drivers admitted the performance and development could have been better. Stoll, who is retiring […]
Polish minister defends Kubica sponsorship
Nov.30 (GMM) Poland has defended the financial investment into Robert Kubica’s return to formula one. Just days after signing Kubica for 2019, Williams also announced that Polish oil company PKN Orlen is sponsoring the British team. Poland’s State Treasury is PKN Orlen’s leading shareholder with almost 28 per cent of the shares and votes. The […]
Bottas slump was Mercedes’ only 2018 flaw – Brawn
Nov.30 (GMM) The only real flaw in Mercedes’ title-winning 2018 season was the performance of Valtteri Bottas. That is the view of F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn. An experienced team boss after his time with Ferrari and Mercedes, Brawn praised Toto Wolff for upping the German team’s game in the face of the stronger challenge […]
Schumacher ‘perceives encounters’ – archbishop
Nov.30 (GMM) A German archbishop has given key insights into the physical condition of F1 legend Michael Schumacher. Before the archbishop Georg Ganswein’s comments to the German magazine Bunte, the world was basically in the dark about the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver’s health. But Ganswein, who met with Schumacher in the summer of 2016, […]
Ricciardo admits 2018 ‘hardest season’
Nov.30 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo thinks 2018 will make him “stronger” in the future. That is despite the fact that he said this year was actually the “hardest” in his entire career. “100 per cent yes,” the Australian said. Ricciardo had highs in 2018, but also lows amid technical trouble with his Red Bull, the strength […]