Jun.19 (GMM) The FIA could rule within hours on Ferrari’s request for a “review” of the time penalty that cost Sebastian Vettel victory in Canada. The review is believed to now be in the hands of the French GP stewards at Paul Ricard, who will connect with the Montreal stewards by video conference. Sources suggest […]
Alonso eyes ‘winning car’ for 2020 F1 return
Jun.19 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has admitted he could return to Formula 1 in 2020. The new back-to-back Le Mans winner will not return to the world endurance championship next year, and now he has told the Italian magazine Man In Town that the F1 door remains open. “If F1 becomes an attractive option again, there […]
F1 may become ‘bookkeeping championship’ – Marko
Jun.19 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko says F1 risks becoming a “bookkeeping world championship”. While confirmation of the 2021 rules has been delayed until October, it is believed the $175 million budget cap is definitely set in stone. F1 CEO Chase Carey stands by the plan. “It took us well over a year to discuss the […]
Carey still planning for 25 race calendars
Jun.19 (GMM) Liberty Media looks set to push ahead with plans for greater than 21-race calendars in the future. Vietnam and Zandvoort are joining the 2020 schedule, but Liberty has decided to keep the 21-race limit for now by ousting two existing promoters. However, F1 CEO Chase Carey seems determined to follow through with an […]
No more ‘futuristic’ look for 2021 cars – report
Jun.19 (GMM) F1 teams are apparently worried about the look of the proposed cars for 2021. Earlier, fans were generally happy with the futuristic appearance of the mocked-up drawings based on the as-yet unconfirmed new rules. But although Liberty Media and the FIA asked the teams to keep quiet in Montreal recently, it is believed […]
Kubica not ruling out Williams exit
Jun.18 (GMM) Robert Kubica is not ruling out a change of teams in Formula 1. The Pole has hinted that Williams is not giving him identical equipment to teammate George Russell, suggesting their cars are in fact often “two different worlds”. It came as Kubica’s sponsor, the Polish oil company PKN Orlen, admitted the 34-year-old […]
Pirelli CEO admits wanting Ferrari race wins
Jun.18 (GMM) The CEO of Pirelli has hit back at suggestions the F1 tyre supplier is favouring Mercedes. Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko triggered the favouritism rumours when he suggested the difficult-to-understand tyres of 2019 are suited mainly to Mercedes. “Unfortunately our drink cans are not delivered with tyres,” he said. But Marco Tronchetti Provera, […]
Spa promoter wants to renegotiate F1 contract
Jun.18 (GMM) Organisers of the Belgian grand prix at Spa Francorchamps say they want to renegotiate their contract with Formula 1. Last year, race promoter Spa Grand Prix signed a new contract with Liberty Media for three more years until 2021. “It is a good agreement that ensures an event that promotes the Wallonia region […]
Carey defends October delay for 2021 rules
Jun.18 (GMM) Chase Carey has defended the decision to postpone the announcement of the rules for 2021. Some see the October delay as a sign that Formula 1 is crippled by a lack of consensus about the direction the sport should head in. But Carey, the F1 chief executive working for Liberty Media, says the […]
Ferrari asks FIA for Vettel penalty ‘review’
Jun.18 (GMM) Ferrari is pushing ahead with its request for a “review” of the penalty that cost Sebastian Vettel victory in Canada. The Maranello team earlier dropped its intention to appeal the controversial stewards decision, instead deciding to pursue another path. “We have the right to request a review,” a spokeswoman said. She said further […]
Sponsor says Kubica could change teams
Jun.17 (GMM) Robert Kubica’s sponsor is not ruling out a change of teams for the struggling Polish driver. Of the ten teammate pairings in 2019, no gap is greater gap than the one between Kubica and his impressive rookie teammate George Russell. But Kubica, who returned to F1 in 2019 with permanent arm injuries after […]
Todt plays down Vettel penalty controversy
Jun.17 (GMM) Jean Todt has played down the controversy about the penalty that cost Sebastian Vettel victory in Canada. Vettel was livid after the Montreal race, and Ferrari is looking into presenting enough evidence for a “review” of the stewards decision. Others insist that it was a perfect example of F1’s overregulation, and that the […]
F1 ‘not always boring’ – Alonso
Jun.17 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has denied that Formula 1 is boring. The mercurial Spaniard quit F1 at the end of last year, and McLaren boss Zak Brown says there is no room at the Woking team for Alonso in 2020. As for a return to Ferrari for Alonso, he told Corriere dello Sport: “I don’t […]
McLaren plays down 2020 F1 return for Alonso
Jun.17 (GMM) Zak Brown has all but ruled out a return to McLaren for Fernando Alonso. The McLaren supremo says the team is happy with its current race drivers, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz. “Lando has not made a rookie mistake yet and Carlos is thriving here,” he told Auto Motor und Sport. “So far, […]
Zandvoort plans spectacular corner banking for Dutch GP
Jun.17 (GMM) Zandvoort is hoping to incorporate a spectacular banked corner in its Formula 1 circuit layout for the 2020 Dutch GP. In 2005, the Michelin tyres struggled to cope with Indianapolis’ famous 9 degree banked corner at that year’s controversial six-car US GP. De Telegraaf reports that Zandvoort wants one of its corners to […]
Red Bull quiet on 2021 involvement at Le Mans
Jun.17 (GMM) It is “too soon” to say what involvement Red Bull will have at the top level of the world endurance championship in the future. New rules for the series including Le Mans have been announced for 2021, in which production ‘hypercars’ will replace LMP1 as the top class for the future. Aston Martin, […]
Vettel ‘even stronger’ after Canada GP – Binotto
Jun.17 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says Sebastian Vettel will “emerge even stronger” from the Canada GP penalty controversy. Last week, Ferrari dropped its intention to simply appeal the German driver’s lost victory, and vowed instead to push for a “review” of the stewards’ decision. For that, Ferrari needs to present new evidence about the incident that […]
Marko rules out MotoGP test for Verstappen
Jun.17 (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has ruled out a MotoGP test for Max Verstappen. Marko said recently that MotoGP supremo Carmelo Ezpeleta would react faster than Liberty Media in addressing Mercedes’ utter dominance. Verstappen agrees, declaring to De Telegraaf: “I like to watch MotoGP because you’re never really sure who will win. “The riders can […]
Ferrari concept change will take ‘weeks’
Jun.17 (GMM) Mattia Binotto says it will take Ferrari “two or three upgrades” before the Italian team can take on Mercedes at every track. Notwithstanding Sebastian Vettel’s controversial penalty, the German driver beat Lewis Hamilton on the track in Canada. But boss Binotto says that was circuit-specific. “As a circuit, Paul Ricard should be more […]
Pirelli design issue should be fixed – Binotto
Jun.17 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has joined Red Bull in calling for Pirelli to change its tyre design. Last week, outspoken Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko suggested Pirelli had favoured Mercedes with the 2019 tyre design that he says only suits a single team. Ferrari boss Binotto agrees. “Many are complaining about not hitting the […]