Jun.27 (GMM) Mick Schumacher says he is prepared to do a second season in Formula 2. The son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher arrived in the feeder series this year as the reigning European F3 champion, but only after a mid-year resurgence in his second year in the category. And now, after moving into Formula […]
‘No intention’ of axing Gasly – Marko
Jun.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says Red Bull has “no intention” of axing Pierre Gasly. Gasly arrived from Toro Rosso this year to replace Daniel Ricciardo, but has struggled to get up to speed alongside Max Verstappen. Franz Tost, the Toro Rosso boss, told the German podcast meinsportpodcast that Daniil Kvyat would make a good […]
Marko urges Honda to take ‘more risk’
Jun.27 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is urging Honda to take “more risk” in order to produce a more powerful engine for Red Bull. Amid rumours the team could lose him to Mercedes, Max Verstappen said the 2019 Red Bull package is “not bad” but must take “a big step with the engine”. Marko said Red […]
Hamilton warns Liberty against Silverstone axe
Jun.27 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has warned Liberty Media that dropping Silverstone would be a very bad idea. Historic Silverstone, the scene of the first ever world championship race, is in danger of losing the British grand prix after cancelling its contract post-2019 for financial reasons. World champion Hamilton praised Liberty for concluding new race deals […]
Refuelling return would not fix F1 – Horner
Jun.26 (GMM) F1 figures are not very enthusiastic about the idea of bringing refuelling back to the sport. With Mercedes utterly dominating, many are wondering how Formula 1 should be spiced up ahead of the sweeping rule reforms for 2021. Antti Aarnio-Wihuri, a former sponsor of Valtteri Bottas, told the Finnish media that he thinks […]
Wolff optimistic of finding seat for Ocon
Jun.26 (GMM) Toto Wolff says he is “very optimistic” Esteban Ocon will return to the F1 grid next year. Ocon lost his race seat at Force India at the end of last year when Lawrence Stroll bought the team and signed up his son Lance. Ocon, a 22-year-old Frenchman, is now Mercedes’ reserve driver but […]
Zandvoort boss plays down Dutch GP doubts
Jun.26 (GMM) Zandvoort boss Robert van Overdijk has played down concerns about the circuit’s place on the 2020 calendar. Although a contract between the promoter and Liberty Media has been signed, Pirelli is not keen on Zandvoort’s plans for an 18-degree banked corner. And it is believed the race only has provisional status for 2020 […]
Vettel insider plays down F1 quit rumours
Jun.26 (GMM) A figure who is very close to Sebastian Vettel has played down reports the Ferrari driver is poised to quit Formula 1. For years, Peter Burger has produced the four-time world champion’s famous helmet designs. Vettel, 31, is not just struggling to beat Mercedes in 2019, he is also being challenged for status […]
Sao Paulo not giving up on Brazil GP
Jun.26 (GMM) The governor of Sao Paulo is not giving up on the Brazilian grand prix. Earlier this week, F1 CEO Chase Carey met with Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who declared the chance of Rio de Janeiro hosting a grand prix in 2021 at “99 per cent”. But Carey has now travelled to Sao Paulo, […]
Renault has ‘one of the best engines’ – Prost
Jun.26 (GMM) F1 legend Alain Prost says Renault now has “one of the best engines in Formula 1”. At the end of last year, Renault and top-three F1 team Red Bull parted ways. Renault now has a single customer, McLaren, in addition to its works team. And 2019 did not start very well. “The beginning […]
Vasseur not ruling out top job at Ferrari
Jun.26 (GMM) Frederic Vasseur is not ruling out a future as Ferrari team boss. After the 2018 season, the Maranello team ousted Maurizio Arrivabene and promoted new team principal Mattia Binotto. Binotto has been welcomed as a smart engineer and manager who is much more open with the media. But the effort to catch and […]
Wolff, Hamilton, also want ‘more exciting races’
Jun.26 (GMM) Mercedes’ increasing dominance of Formula 1 is now leading to “internet hate”. That is the concerned view of team boss Toto Wolff, who said Sebastian Vettel’s controversial penalty in Canada recently led to a spate of online abuse. “It’s good to polarise,” the Mercedes chief is quoted by Blick newspaper. “You can argue […]
Ferrari recovery to take ‘months’ – insider
Jun.26 (GMM) A Mercedes engineer thinks it could take Ferrari “months” to alter the basic concept of its 2019 car. Ferrari started the season with high hopes of finally breaking Mercedes’ dominant grip on Formula 1 thanks to a fundamental change in the front wing rules. But it is the Mercedes concept that has ultimately […]
Latest Gasly axe reports ‘a false rumour’ – Marko
Jun.25 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has denied speculation Red Bull is preparing to oust struggling driver Pierre Gasly. Frenchman Gasly, 23, was promoted to replace Daniel Ricciardo at the senior Red Bull team but has notably struggled alongside Max Verstappen. Team boss Christian Horner even admitted to feeling personal “frustration” about Gasly’s lacklustre performance in […]
Vettel plays down F1 quit talk
Jun.25 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel has once again played down suggestions he is contemplating retirement. With Ferrari struggling against Mercedes, Charles Leclerc pushing for priority and Vettel out of love with F1’s strict rules, some believe the German could quit at the age of 31. What is true is that Ferrari’s great hope of finally winning […]
‘No hope’ for Hamilton’s rivals – press
Jun.25 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is inching “closer and closer” to becoming a six-time world champion. That is the view of Emerson Fittipaldi, a two-time F1 title winner whose grandson Pietro is now a Haas test driver. After the French GP, which was dominated by Hamilton, the Brazilian said: “Each victory brings him closer and closer […]
Hamilton not sure Wolff should be F1 CEO
Jun.25 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton says he is not so sure Toto Wolff should be F1’s CEO. It is believed that Liberty Media is pushing for Wolff to leave Mercedes and replace current chief executive Chase Carey after 2020. “I don’t believe there is a better manager than Toto within the whole of Formula 1, but […]
F1 in Rio in 2021 ’99 per cent’ sure – president
Jun.25 (GMM) F1’s move from Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro has taken yet another step forward. On Monday, controversial Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro met with F1 CEO Chase Carey in Brasilia. “We will not lose Formula 1,” Bolsonaro is quoted by Globo. “The contract expires next year with Sao Paulo and they have decided […]
Haas may need to focus on 2020 car – Steiner
Jun.24 (GMM) Gunther Steiner says Haas will need to switch its full focus to designing a new car for 2020 if it cannot determine the reason for the team’s situation. All season, the American team’s boss has pointed the finger at Pirelli’s difficult-to-understand tyres, as Haas is often fast but just as often struggling. In […]
Verstappen asking Honda for more power
Jun.24 (GMM) Max Verstappen has called on Honda to keep on bringing more powerful engines to the grand prix circuits. Red Bull’s works engine partner surprised the F1 world by taking another update for its power unit to Paul Ricard. But Verstappen observed that Renault, Red Bull’s former supplier, is now taking obvious steps forwards. […]