Nov.23 (GMM) Haas has lodged an official protest against the Force India team. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the dispute is all about money — and up to a whopping $60 million. Haas, the small American outfit, is pointing out that when Lawrence Stroll bought the Force India assets earlier this year, a whole […]
Sainz to test McLaren next week
Nov.23 (GMM) Carlos Sainz will get his McLaren career off to an early start. Both Renault and Red Bull, who have contracts with the Spaniard, have apparently released Sainz to test the 2018 McLaren next week in the post-race Abu Dhabi test. But the 24-year-old says he is still focused on rounding out the season […]
Lauda not in Abu Dhabi – Marko
Nov.23 (GMM) Niki Lauda is not in Abu Dhabi for the F1 finale. Earlier, we reported that despite the Mercedes team chairman’s closest paddock friends saying Lauda had targeted a comeback, he is in fact not well enough to be in Abu Dhabi. The 69-year-old had a lung transplant in early August and is currently […]
Managers say Alonso could return in 2020
Nov.23 (GMM) Fernando Alonso’s managers say it is possible the Spaniard will return to formula one in 2020. Disenchanted with the category, Abu Dhabi is the 37-year-old’s last grand prix for now, as Alonso will focus on the Indy 500, Le Mans and some other “iconic” races in 2019. “Maybe next year by April or […]
Bottas ‘not worried’ about 2020 seat
Nov.23 (GMM) Valtteri Bottas says he is not worried he could lose his seat after 2019. The Finn is all signed up for next year, but Mercedes could be holding the seat open for Force India refugee Esteban Ocon for 2020. Ocon, the top Mercedes junior who looks set to be a ‘super reserve’ for […]
Lauda to miss Abu Dhabi comeback
Nov.22 (GMM) Niki Lauda will not be in Abu Dhabi this weekend. The F1 legend’s closest friends and colleagues including Toto Wolff, Helmut Marko and Bernie Ecclestone had earlier confirmed that the 69-year-old’s ‘secret plan’ was to be at the 2018 finale. But triple world champion and Mercedes team chairman Lauda is still in rehabilitation, […]
Jock Clear to be Leclerc’s race engineer
Nov.22 (GMM) Jock Clear is returning to his familiar role as race engineer for 2019. The 55-year-old rose to prominence in 1997, as he guided Jacques Villeneuve to the world championship with Williams. Clear followed Villeneuve to BAR, with the Brackley team subsequently becoming Honda, Brawn and Mercedes. He switched to Ferrari for 2015, where […]
Ricciardo says Renault switch ‘terrifying’
Nov.22 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo has admitted his move from Red Bull to Renault for 2019 is “terrifying”. Speaking to The Players Tribune, the Australian revealed that amid a difficult 2018 season with the energy drink-owned team, it was a difficult decision to accept a rival offer from Renault. “I’ve talked about rolling with the punches, […]
Kubica sponsor to back entire Williams team
Nov.22 (GMM) Robert Kubica will definitely make his F1 racing return in 2019, multiple authoritative media sources are now confirming. While Williams is expected to announce the news officially on Thursday morning, the 33-year-old Pole’s seven year wait to resume his promising F1 racing career is clearly over. “Our journalists have learned that the sponsor […]
Abu Dhabi happy to stay season finale
Nov.21 (GMM) Abu Dhabi wants to remain the last grand prix on F1’s annual calendar. That is despite that fact that, as is the case in 2018, the world championship has already been decided. But Yas Marina chief executive Al Tareq Al Ameri told The National newspaper that being the last race on the long […]
Red Bull drivers expect Honda progress in 2019
Nov.20 (GMM) Red Bull’s 2019 drivers do not expect Honda to have a field-beating engine at the beginning of next season. Pierre Gasly, who has been using Honda power all year and for 2019 steps up to the senior team, said: “There is still a gap to Mercedes and Ferrari. “Honda knows they have to […]
Renault CEO arrested in Japan
Nov.20 (GMM) Carlos Ghosn, the top executive of the Renault F1 team’s parent car manufacturer, has been arrested in Japan. State prosecutors had earlier questioned the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi CEO on suspicion of under-reporting his $10 million salary. “Numerous other significant acts of misconduct have been uncovered, such as personal use of company assets,” Nissan confirmed. As […]
Friends know nothing of Schumacher condition
Nov.20 (GMM) Even Mick Schumacher’s closest racing friends know nothing about the condition of the 19-year-old F3 champion’s famous father. The entire world is in the dark about the physical condition of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, following his late 2013 skiing accident and brain injuries. One of Mick’s closest racing friends, Nicklas Nielsen, praised the […]
Williams set to announce Kubica on Thursday
Nov.20 (GMM) Williams looks set to announce Robert Kubica as its second driver for 2019 this weekend in Abu Dhabi. Journalist Cezary Gutowski, who writes for the Polish publication PrzeglÄ d Sportowy, said the British team is planning to make the news public on Thursday. The identity of George Russell’s teammate looks likely to be Polish […]
Prost tips Formula 2 move for Schumacher
Nov.19 (GMM) Alain Prost is expecting Mick Schumacher to step up to Formula 2 in 2019. This year, the son of Prost’s fellow F1 legend Michael Schumacher upped his game to dominate and win the competitive European F3 title. Prior to 19-year-old Schumacher competing in the legendary Macau GP race at the weekend, Prost told […]
Prost ‘not unhappy’ Red Bull deal ending
Nov.19 (GMM) Alain Prost says he is not sad that Renault’s long collaboration with Red Bull is finally ending. The two parties achieved much success in formula one, but their collaboration was also fraught at times. “Ultimately we are not unhappy about the end of this partnership, to be honest,” F1 legend and Renault advisor […]
Ticktum, Albon in doubt for Toro Rosso seat
Nov.19 (GMM) A new question mark hangs above the second Toro Rosso cockpit for 2019. Daniil Kvyat has been signed up already, but it is believed Brendon Hartley has been told he is definitely vacating the other seat. Robert Kubica was earlier mentioned as one potential driver, but the Pole said last week: “I will […]
F1 boss Carey visits Rio de Janeiro
Nov.19 (GMM) Rio de Janeiro has emerged as a potential future F1 race host. With Interlagos to be privatised and Liberty Media scrutinising the expiring contract that was negotiated by Bernie Ecclestone, a cloud hangs over the current Brazilian grand prix venue. “We are thinking of replacing a number of existing races with unfavourable contracts […]
Alonso not ruling out F1 return for 2020
Nov.19 (GMM) Fernando Alonso is not ruling out a full-time return to formula one for 2019. Disenchanted with the category, the double world champion is retiring after this weekend’s Abu Dhabi GP and will tackle Le Mans and the Indy 500 next year. But he told international media at the sports car race in Shanghai […]
Hulkenberg aims to beat Ricciardo
Nov.19 (GMM) The arrival of Daniel Ricciardo is an important piece of the puzzle as Renault pushes towards the front in F1, according to David Coulthard. Since announcing his shock departure from Red Bull for 2019, Australian Ricciardo has struggled this year. But Renault is still looking forward to having the grand prix winner on […]